Author: reader

This is a reader-submitted story. Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.

1. I have had NDPH for __8__ years.
2. It started after: June 2007, just before my son’s 1st Birthday.
3. After the headache started, it took 5 years to get a diagnosis for NDPH.
4. My pain level is steady/fluctuates: Fluctuates.
5. My typical pain level ranges from: Anywhere between 2 to 9 (maybe 9-3/4 on some days…)

6. In addition to pain, my symptoms include: Irritability, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, depression.
7. Treatments I have tried include: Acupuncture, acupressure, massage, chiropractic, oxygen, biofeedback, ice packs, electro-stimulation (TENS) Botox (5 times), nerve block injections (3 times), TMJ splint, meds, meds, meds and more meds. Cannibis, alcohol.
8. I take 8 vitamin supplements and thyroid meds each day for prevention and tramadol, hydrocodone, ice packs and cannibis when the pain becomes unbearable
9. When the pain gets bad, I: have to lie down with an ice pack, ear plugs/muffs in a dark room.
10. The most frustrating part about having NDPH is: Having little to no patience when my children get a little too loud or don’t listen. I fly off the handle much too easily. My kids are 10 and 8 and only know me as being irritable, short-tempered and in pain.
11. Because of NDPH, I worry about: Losing hope. I can’t imagine ever reaching the point of ending my life but losing purpose and responsibility is a real factor.
12. When I tell someone I have NDPH, the response is usually: “oh, like a migraine? I get headaches sometimes too. You should try (fill in the blank).”
13. When I see how little research and information exists on NDPH, I feel: Dejected. Like it’s a rubber-stamp diagnosis because doctors don’t really know what it is.
14. Having NDPH has affected my work/school life by: Causing me to pass up on promotions, advancements because I can’t add more stress to my life on top of NDPH. Who knows how much money I’ve passed up by telling my bosses ‘no thank you’ or not pursuing new/other positions?
15. Having NDPH has affected my family life by: changing who I used to be. I was happy, outgoing, helpful, patient. Now my kids only know me as being Headache Dad. My wife is frustrated because she’s seen how much I have changed over the last 8 years (we’ve been together for 20).
16. The one word that best describes my experience with NDPH is: Hell
17. My best coping tools are: Ice, quiet.
18. I find comfort in: Reading, movies, television, playing with my kids when I can.
19. I get angry when people say: “you need to see my doctor/chiropractor. They can fix you.”
20. I like it when people say: “I’m sorry. That’s terrible. Let me know how I can help.”
21. Something kind someone has done for me in relation to NDPH is: My company has really tried to accommodate me and put me in a position to keep me on board until I’m more healthy. They see my value and don’t want to quit because I can’t handle things anymore.
22. The best thing a doctor has ever said to me about NDPH is: We’re still learning. Someday there will be a treatment that works.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having NDPH is: No known cause/cure. It is related to something. Too many people are suffering the same way for there to not be a connection.
24. Having NDPH has taught me: Not to complain about the little things.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that helps me cope with NDPH is: One day this will all be over.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Don’t take all of those meds. They were throwing anything and everything at me to just get me back out the door and on to their next patient.
27. The people who support me most are: My family, wife and kids. My parents. Even my employers (I have missed some days over the last 8 years but for the most part I still work everyday, except when I filling out questioners on the clock). ;o)
28. The thing I most wish people understood about NDPH is: Just because ‘you don’t look like you’re in pain,’ doesn’t mean you’re not miserable all the time. It’s amazing what you can get used to… I really do try to do all that I can to keep up with everyday life, but some days are worse than other and I need some down-time.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: Awareness. I am truly floored by seeing how many people are affected by the same thing I am yet every time you tell someone about NDPH the majority of people have never even heard of it.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about living with NDPH is: Someday. Someday this will be figured out. They will find the root cause and then one day they will find a real treatment, solution.

This is a reader-submitted story. Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.

1. My diagnosis is: Migraine with aura
2. My migraine attack frequency is: about once a month
3. I was diagnosed in: 1984
4. My comorbid conditions include:
5. I take _3_ medications/supplements each day for prevention and 1__ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: 1977
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: blindness, confusion, word scramble
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: see above
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: perfumes, scents, lack of sleep, hunger, stress
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I start to get blind spots
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: the unpredictability, loss of activity
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: how bad will the pain get
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: I try not to think about them
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: I don’t really talk about them
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: oh you poor thing!
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: yeah.. Tried it!
17. My best coping tools are: breathe, yoga
18. I find comfort in:
19. I get angry when people say:
20. I like it when people say: I’m sorry you get migraines
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: rub my head
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: I’m also a sufferer
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: there is no cure
24. Migraine has taught me: I am not always in control and to go with the flow.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: just breathe and they all end.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: keep looking for a doc who specializes in migraine
27. The people who support me most are: my husband and daughters
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: it’s a physical disease
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because:
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: it’s a ROYAL PAIN!!

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is:Migraine with Aura
2. My migraine attack frequency is:1-4 times per month varies
3. I was diagnosed in:2004
4. My comorbid conditions include:Starts with small zig zag in either eye can be random mostly the left, not crippling pain , sometimes no pain. Lasting a day or so.
5. I take _0___ medications/supplements each day for prevention and _4 tylenol___ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was:2002
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are:the hang over of migraine , also I get really scared when I have the aura.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are:the aura and feeling like I have the flu after the migraine goes away , dizziness, brain fog etc. seeing visual snow. Floaters and flashers in my eyes
9. My biggest migraine triggers are:I have no idea
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when:I have the aura
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is:Not knowing how long it will last start to finish. Nobody understanding how it feels.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about:Having a stroke
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think:
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually:Take tylenol
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: I feel your pain and want to talk to them about their experiences
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think:I iwished I could take those otc things like advil but i am allergic
17. My best coping tools are:lying down, ice pack. Relaxing music
18. I find comfort in only I comfort I get is when it’s all over
19. I get angry when people say:It’s a headache/migraine get over it stop being a wimp
20. I like it when people say: Is there anything they can do..massage etc
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is:massage , get ice packs
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is:nothing
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is:All of it , how it steals my life. When i want to be outside or with friends and I am laying in a dark room in bed
24. Migraine has taught me:Understanding Of people who suffer from them
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is:
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself:
27. The people who support me most are:Boyfriend
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is:How debilitating they are.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because:
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is:I just hope one day a cure is found that is not toxic or has a billion side effects.

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.