Aside from the pain itself, which issue is the most difficult for you as a migraineur?

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Redheadspeaks
New Member


Date Joined Dec 2007
Total Posts : 8
 		   Posted 1/9/2008 6:12 PM (GMT -6)   
Hello fellow migraineurs -

I'm doing some writing on the subject and it would really help me if you would answer the question below,selecting which issue you consider most difficult.

(And if I left your issue off, let me know that, too!)

Thanks a lot - pain-free days to all.

- Megan

Free our brains from migraine pain
my blog: www.meganoltmanfreemybrain.typepad.com

Question:
Aside from the pain itself, which issue is the most difficult for you as a migraineur?

Choices:
1. Tracking and managing multiple triggers and treatments
2. Limitations in my ability to work due to migraine
3. Not being able to do things I enjoy
4. Impact on my relationships
5. Fear and anxiety about my condition
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Earthmother
New Member


Date Joined Nov 2007
Total Posts : 15
 		   Posted 1/9/2008 11:14 PM (GMT -6)   
I hope this helps you, Redhead,
The biggest problem I had as I suffered migraine was in the combination of medications and the resulting side effects.  The migraine medication triggered depression; the depression medication triggered dehydration; the dehydration triggered migraine.  I was on a vicious cycle and was holding the prescription in my hand for the 8th medication when I decided I needed to take another route to wellness.  I purchased magnetic insoles, a magnetic necklace, purified my water and started taking organic barley grass whole food supplements.  Within one year I had successfully eliminated all medication and have had NO migraine headache in over two years.  I also have been able to manage situational depression without medication. The lost time from work, lost wages, lost opportunities and lost relationships were a steep price to pay for the knowledge I have gained.  I am so grateful to be off all meds and will gladly share my story with anyone who wants to hear it.  Good luck with your writing.  Angels on your shoulders.
Earthmother
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Mandalynn210
Regular Member


Date Joined Dec 2006
Total Posts : 48
 		   Posted 1/15/2008 9:24 AM (GMT -6)   
Good question...
 
Over the years I would honestly say that my struggle is, as a young adult... my relationships. Not just intimate ones, but with friends and family as well.
 
Migraines put me to bed. I am sick when I get them. I remember my friends always giving me hell over me having a "headache" and not being able to come out and party or whatever. I also remember when my parents weren't quite sure what was wrong with me, when I had just started having them really bad... they would say, "OH its just a headache!" Its been very frustrating as I have had them since I was around 10 and am now 22 years old. People have slowly become more understanding, but the hardest is the boyfriends.
 
It really does give new meaning to the "Honey, I have a headache. I really am not in the mood." Cause I probably WILL throw up on you! I remember one night I was spending the night with an ex boyfriend... ended up sickkkkk all night... he had to drive me home to get my imitrex. Ohhh it was horrrrrrible. He also said "You always have headaches" Just like evvvery one else.
 
 Now I have a new boyfriend who thinks I shouldn't be on any medication and doesn't understand the migraines. (I'm on Topamax) Who too also says "You alllllllllways have headaches" But gives me good suggestions like more exercise and eating right... which I'm trying and doing well with.
 
Everyone has become more and more understanding over the years and have finally seen that this is a condition that I deal with, not something I WANT to have... I mean come on. You all know! But I guess there will always be new people who will come and go in our lives who don't understand them and will give us hell for having "just headaches"

Mandy

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tysmyboo
Veteran Member


Date Joined Dec 2004
Total Posts : 921
 		   Posted 1/21/2008 11:39 PM (GMT -6)   
In no particular order:
 
Relationships- family, friends and spouses at times feel helpless and distance themselves because they do not understand as well as the ones who don't seem to care or have any desire to understand and learn more. Then guilt comes as a result of relationships falling apart.
 
Finances- finding medications, treatments and physicians are all very costly, as well as affecting a job/career and the ability to be there, much less move up the "food chain"
 
Jobs/Hobbies- it is hard to do ANYTHING when migraines take over your life. Losing jobs is difficult because again, that ties in to money and relationships as well. Losing hobbies puts things into perspective...How bad is it that I can't do things I (used to) enjoy?
 
I think, for most, there is less fear and anxiety about having migraines in general BUT it's more of a "when are they going to hit?" I am engaged and have been terrified that I will have a "bad one" on my wedding day.
 
Medications/Treatments/Triggers- I have found that taking different medications and treatments is hard on your body in general. Starting and stopping medications, losing and gaining weight, side effects from each thing. AND Finding triggers..wow, that one is fun. How many diaries have I been through? ha ha
 
If I had to pick ONE thing, I would have to say that my finances in general have suffered more than anything. I had hit rock bottom at one point and lost everything, I am still trying to dig out of medical bills and probably will for some time to come.
 
I hope this helps!
 
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hcat
New Member


Date Joined Feb 2006
Total Posts : 13
 		   Posted 1/22/2008 12:02 PM (GMT -6)   
for me the order is:
 
1.  anxiety about migraines
2.  not being able to do things I enjoy.  I hope this helps.
 
Heather
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lothianjavert
New Member


Date Joined Jan 2007
Total Posts : 16
 		   Posted 1/22/2008 2:02 PM (GMT -6)   
A good part of it is trying to get people to understand that it's NOT "just a headache". I think my husband got the idea when I ended up spending 2 days in front of the toilet and he had to take me to the ER for fluids and meds.

I WISH they were "just headaches"!

The other part would be the frustration of trying to find something that works. I've tried so many things, with no success. The neuro now wants to try me on beta blockers, but the asthma specialist says hell no. I tried calcium channel blockers, but they tanked my blood pressure: I have low blood pressure to begin with, so dropping it more makes it so that I literally can't function.

I can count the # of diaries I've kept, the "migraine diets" (which the current neuro wants me to redo again, but restrict my foods to only rice, oatmeal, potatoes and chicken and do that for 6 mo. I said NO, not for that time period, and I've done it before, why do I have to do it AGAIN??!)

Topamax is probably going to be the next one I try. I just hope something works, and that whatever works has minimal side effects.

It's just all so frustrating.
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Bunnyfer
New Member


Date Joined Jan 2008
Total Posts : 3
 		   Posted 1/22/2008 7:27 PM (GMT -6)   
My most difficult things to deal with...

- My husband does not understand. He thinks its all because of my diet, and if I ate better it would all go away. Unfortunately, its not that easy. He has seen me spend time in front of the toilet, or in a dark cool room and is beginning to understand better.

- The fact it hurts so much I cant function

- Fear that I am going to get one while either out, or on vacation or something like that, and I will be without meds. I go into a panic if I notice I forgot to pack my Imitrex.
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