This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: COMMON MIGRAINE
2. My migraine attack frequency is: VARIES, though presently approximately ONE 36-48 HOUR BOUT EVERY 2 WEEKS
3. I was diagnosed in: 2004
4. My comorbid conditions include: SEASONAL ALLERGIES, IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME AND OCCASIONAL LOW IRON
5. I take __0-2__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and __2-3__ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: HORRIBLE AND SCARY, THE MOST DEBILITATING HEALTH EPISODE TO EVER HAPPEN TO ME
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: LEFT SIDE DRILLING HEAD PAIN, NAUSEA, SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT AND SOUND
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: AN INCREASE IN URINATION
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: STRESS, STRONG SCENTS (PERFUME), RED WINE, LACK OF SLEEP
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I GET “A FEELING” AND MY LEFT SHOULDER STARTS TO CRAMP UP
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: NOT BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES WITH MY FAMILY, FEELING HELPLESS AND USELESS
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: THE HEADACHE NEVER GOING AWAY OR THAT THE HEADACHE WILL CONTINUE LONGER OR MORE FREQUENTLY
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: I REALLY TRY NOT TO, I HAVE A FEELING OF FEAR: IF I THINK OF IT TOO MUCH, ONE WILL COME ON
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: OH, SORRY
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: HOW AWFUL, I WONDER IF THE PERSON HAS THE SAME DEPTH OF SYMPTOMS AND WHAT (IF ANY) TREATMENTS WORK FOR THEM?
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: YEAH, BUT I CAN’T REALLY TRY THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I’M NURSING
17. My best coping tools are: STAYING FOCUSED ON WHATEVER I NEED TO GET DONE BEFORE GOING DOWN FOR THE COUNT, SLEEP
18. I find comfort in: SLEEP, DARK ROOMS DEVOID OF SMELLS, MY SONS HUGS, HOLDING MY BABY DAUGHTER
19. I get angry when people say: HAVE YOU TRIED “X”? WHEN IT’S CLEAR FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND TIME OF TRYING “X”, THAT IT DIDN’T WORK
20. I like it when people say: I UNDERSTAND, I GET MIGRAINES TOO, HOW CAN I HELP? WHAT DO YOU NEED?
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: TAKE THE KIDS OUT
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: WE CAN FIND A PREVENTIVE TREATMENT TO LESSEN THE NUMBER OF ATTACKS
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: I CAN’T PARTICIPATE IN ANYTHING IN A MEANINGFUL WAY WHEN I HAVE A MIGRAINE
24. Migraine has taught me: I WILL COME OUT ALIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND I NEED TO BE MORE MINDFUL OF MY TRIGGERS
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: TOMORROW, TOMORROW, THERE’S ALWAYS TOMORROW, IT’S ONLY A DAY AWAY…
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR TRIGGERS AND DON’T TRY TO PUSH THROUGH AND STOP POPPING SO MANY DARN PILLS! YOU’RE GOING TO GET A REBOUND!
27. The people who support me most are: MY HUSBAND AND MY FRIENDS (WHEN THEY ARE AWARE)
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: IT’S NOT MY FAULT. IT MAKES ME FEEL MORE AWFUL THAN I EVER WISH ANYONE TO FEEL AND I WOULD NEVER CHOOSE THIS. IT AFFECTS MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY HUSBAND, MY CHILDREN AND MY WORK. IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT MYSELF, IT WOULD BE TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF GETTING A MIGRAINE
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because:I NEVER KNEW ABOUT IT AND I THINK IT’S SUCH AN IMPORTANT HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUE THAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: IT SUCKS BUTT
Reader-submitted stories solely 
represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres. Follow this link to learn how to share YOUR 30 Things about living with a headache disorder.