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Migraine: A Surprisingly Visible Invisible Illness
By Kerrie | January 17, 2008
Writer Anne Lamott
I noticed long ago that I get dark circles under my eyes during a migraine. After reading Lamott’s line, I realized my eyes also appear to sink in their sockets.
To the untrained onlooker, migraine is an invisible illness. My loved ones have copious experience and can tell immediately when I have one — Hart’s the hardest to fool.
Flickr supports Lamott’s claim too. One of my favorite photos, by Jessica Reynolds, is above. Jenyepher’s migraine photos are excellent. Others to check out:
How are your migraines or headaches visible? Do many people notice?
Topics: Community, Coping, Society |
January 18th, 2008 at 7:14 am
My family and some of my co-workers can tell I have a migraine just by looking at me. My daughter even noticed a prodrome I hadn’t recognized: she says sometimes when I’m getting a migraine I tell a bunch of stupid jokes and laugh loudly at them. I didn’t believe her at first but since then I’ve noticed that it’s true!
January 18th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I’ve become an expert at functioning and sometimes even smiling through pain because the job requires it. But those closest to me can tell by the sunken-ness of my eyes when I’m hurting.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
A friend of mine can always tell by looking in my eyes. I asked her once what she saw and she said she can’t describe it, she just sees the pain. Once I got a migraine at work while talking to her–seriously, it just came from out of nowhere and hit me and she said I went white, almost gray, in the face and my eyes got that look to them. It freaked me out how it just hit me, and it freaked her out seeing it happen right before her eyes.
Christy–that’s really interesting about the prodome and how your daughter noticed! I get really confused & irritable with my prodome, so it’s often mistaken for something else.
January 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
the thing i’ve heard most is about the eyes, too…. friends have said that they can see the pain in my eyes.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:13 am
without a doubt, the eyes give it all away! My hubs will just look at me and tell me straight out, “you don’t look good, it’s coming.” Even my kids will tell HIM that I haven’t been looking good/well.
Dark circles, sunken eyes. they tear up and become blood-shot. My pupils become enlarged, and the right eye will cast itself lower than the left, in it’s “sleepy” way. Now that the migraine has manifested itself to both sides of my head, I no longer get the tears on just the right, but the left as well.
This started about three days ago, slow and steady; working it’s way up, I might add.
Yes, we all have a certain “look” about us.
January 19th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I’ve gotten good at hiding the pain, but I tend to get dark circles under my eyes when I don’t feel well. I think the most obvious thing is my personality change though… I’m usually very energetic when I’m feeling fine, but I get really impatient when I’m not.
January 20th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Never had anyone be able to tell by looking at me - but they say they can hear it in my voice - a kind of strain - to quote paper wings - one of the migraineurs whose photos you link to above “Trying to hold myself still enough so the pain might not notice me.” That blew me away - I’m sure there’s a face that shows that for me, too, but it’s definitely in my voice - losing my usual dramatic delivery!
- Megs
http://www.meganoltmanfreemybrain.typepad.com
January 20th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Ditto, pretty much. My husband in particular can tell from the pain-dulled eyes, pallor, trouble finding words or thinking clearly. He and my (adult) children can tell just by hearing me say “hello” on the phone.
My husband also recognizes one coming if the day before I’m super energetic and feel really healthy. He’s convinced that if I just wasn’t so active the day before, the migraines wouldn’t come. It’s such a rip-off to feel so good, only to be cut down my the next-day’s migraine!
January 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I agree that we all have a distinct look… wether with the eyes, or just looking tired, pale, sallow… when a true migraine hits- it effects our “vibe”. Most people can just look at me nd they can tell.
Thanks for writing about this.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Yes, my friends and family say I have a certain “look” when I have a migraine.
My son says I make a certain noise.
My husband says my face and eyes look a different way.
I look at myself and see a pale face, and sunken eyes.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
With a really bad one (which I almost never get anymore), I am told I turn a sort of pale greenish-white.
With medium-bad ones, I sort of sink into myself, and people can tell by the change in my demeanor.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I just discovered this blog (the day after a migraine kept me in bed all day) and I am so thrilled that it’s hear.
my best friend says that my eyes get glassy and sink in.