This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: chronic migraines
2. My migraine attack frequency is: almost every day
3. I was diagnosed in: 2013
4. My comorbid conditions include: IBS, Hep. C, anxiety, panic attacks.
5. I take one medications/supplements each day for prevention and one medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: so many years ago I can’t even remember.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: headache, nausea, neck pain and light sensitivity.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: odd lights and shapes dancing in front of my eyes.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: weather, certain foods and smells.
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I can’t stop yawning.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: I have to stop all activity and lie down. My whole day or my whole week just wastes away.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: All the things that need to get done.
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: How I can beat the next attack.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Very positive
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: Poor thing. Let’s see how I can help.
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: There’s no way over the counter medications can help. Been there – done that.
17. My best coping tools are: My vivid imagination. I escape to my dream world.
18. I find comfort in: I believe that one day migraines will be a thing of the past just like all other illnesses.
19. I get angry when people say: It must have been something you ate.
20. I like it when people say: You poor thing. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Not make any noise.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: So far, I haven’t received any good news but let’s keep hoping.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: That it’s chronic and so far I haven’t been able to get rid of it.
24. Migraine has taught me: To take one day at a time.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: “For all the things I have the strength through the one who gives me power” (Philippians 4:13)
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Sit back and hold on because you are in for a bumpy ride.
27. The people who support me most are: My daughter and my husband.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: That IT IS NOT a regular headache.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: It brings awareness about a very real and debilitating disease that affects millions of people.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: I don’t live with migraine. Migraine lives with me. I live with my family. I love my God. I have friends. There are days when I have to lie down but as soon as I can, I get up. Sick yes, but not vanquished.
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.
My first year of getting my first migraine was last year. I had no idea what was happening to me. I was constantly dizzy, nauseous, and sensitive to light. When I first went to the doctor, they told me right away that it was a migraine. I was wondering if caffeine had any affect on the symptoms of a migraine? Does it make the migraine worse or better? If the migraine ever comes back I want to know what the best treatment options are. This blog really gave me some clues to what really helps a migraine. Thanks for the article!