chronic migraine · daily prompt · Humor · Writing

I Battle Chronic Migraine

Amy

What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?

A tongue in cheek title, but it’s a serious post today, folks. I received a spam comment from a “life-of-the-party” type telling me that WordPress can easily access all of my information and surely I could make up some stories. Well, clearly this person doesn’t read my blog at all, which means I take little value from the statement. But they do have a point. Much to the spammer’s chagrin, today I won’t be making up a story or writing a poem. nor will I be performing interpretive dance.

In my leisure time I enjoy battling migraine. In my workday, I battle migraine. When I’m writing a story, I battle migraine. It’s a war, made up of many battles. Some battles migraine wins, and some I do.

I wear purple battle armor

I’ve suffered from migraine since I was 12 years old. I’m going to scream this from the rooftops: migraine is not a headache, although that is the most commonly known symptom of migraine. Many symptoms accompany migraine. And there are many types of migraine. I started out with the headache type when I was 12. And then progressed to the aura which is followed by headache as a young adult. Then I got slammed with the shadiest, dirtiest, low down piece of crap migraine I’ve ever had: vestibular migraine. Vestibular migraine is characterized by vertigo, which is the sensation of spinning. It is also characterized by a rocking boat sensation, where you don’t have balance and you walk funny. A headache, sweating, stomach upset, vomiting, tinnitus, and a host of other unusual symptoms are also seen with this type of migraine. This migraine seems to be chronic for me. I live with it every day, all day. Migraines are often genetic. They can also be traumatic brain injury induced. Migraine is a neurological condition, not a headache. There are several types of migraine, and some of them are quite shocking. They are all beasts.

Types of migraine

I consider myself a bad ass for dealing with this shit every single day of my life, continuing to work and trying to live a somewhat normal life. Having vertigo for over 24 hours and throwing up nonstop, ending with a trip to the ER, where they can’t help, is not something I would wish on any enemy that I would ever have – infinitum. Many of my family members have migraine of varying types, severity and chronic states. If you line up my family members next to each other, put on a blindfold, move to the side, wave your arms around in front of your face, you will poke every single one of my family members in the nose and yes, you will have poked a migraineur.

What causes or exacerbates it? Having a brain. Also, the barometer rising, the barometer falling, the barometer being too high, being dehydrated, not getting enough sleep, getting too much sleep, too much stress, not enough exercise, turning your head wrong, these are all things I can bring on a vestibular migraine for me which, as I explained is chronic. It’s running in the background in my code. It comes to the forefront when it wants.

I have medication, but they don’t work quite as well as they should, and it’s always about tweaking the medications for us chronic migraineurs. You cannot cure migraine. Migraine is a neurological condition. It is controllable. For me, medication is essential. CBT and other types of behavioral therapies help. Vestibular rehabilitation exercises help. Getting up out of bed when you feel like you’re going throw up yet again and you can’t stop spinning helps. But imagine having to do that every day.

This is key to understanding

I don’t expect to ever be cured of this, and I don’t expect anyone to understand how you can be completely disabled at times by something you can’t see. But people who have an invisible condition or disability will understand what I’m talking about. What I do in my leisure time is I fight migraine. It is a war. I will fight to the death.

In my other free time I poke fun at Blahganuary, because I can create. I write stories and poems because I am a creative. There’s a section of my brain that isn’t filled with misfiring neurotransmitters and conductivity overstimulation or hypersensitivity. The calm area is where I get into the writing zone and chill.. I just also happen to have a chronic neurological condition that at times is disabling. I never let it win, and I never will.

While I was writing this piece using dictation, WordPress heard me say vestibular wrong. It typed out “Mr. Buler.“

(“Buehler? Beuhler? Buehler?” anyone?)

So to WordPress, thank you. I now have a nickname for my condition. When it acts up, as it is known to do, I will tell Mr. Buler he can kick rocks. I may even say it out loud in public, just for fun. “Mr. Buler, could you not have stayed home today? I mean, you didn’t even bring your battle gear. I have mine. And I’m going to use it.”

©️2024, itsamyisaid.com, All Rights Reserved.

June is Migraine Awareness month
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Published by Amy

I love words. And animals. Photography and fedoras. Welcome. And stay awhile.

63 thoughts on “I Battle Chronic Migraine”

  1. First of all, Appreciate your toughness for dealing with it for a long time. Secondly, very well written in terms of writing down what migraine it and how it affects your life. Keep going strong!

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    1. I’m sorry you had one yesterday. I’m sorry you suffer from this beast. I hope today is a better day for you, and thanks for your comment. Hopefully in the future, they’ll figure out how to cure this

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  4. I’m sorry that you have to endure all of this. I’ve only experienced the headache variety. Even that, I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy.

    I learned more about migraine from your post today (including the fact that the plural form is also migraine) than any doctor ever told me!

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    1. I’m sorry you have the headache part. It’s awful. I’m glad I was able to educate you a bit about migraine. I agree, I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.

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      2. Definitely. I have to take preventative medication’s and keep on top of hydration, eating at regular times, exercising, I’m trying not to absorb stress. The last thing is the big problem. Weather fluctuations I can’t really help. My particular kind of migraine does not respond to “Rescue” medications as they’re called. I instead need to use prophylactic treatment. Many people with chronic migraine take more than one medication to try to keep it under control.

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  5. Adding vertigo to migraine sounds hideous! I’m so sorry you have to deal with that. I’ve had vertigo throughout my life, periodically, and it’s the worst feeling ever… I do those vestibular rehab exercises every day to ward it off.

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    1. Thanks MaryG. Good idea to do those vestibular rehab exercises every day. When I was in the ER, the physical therapist told me to get up and move. Even when I felt like I couldn’t. Even the more typically known migraine has a component of vertigo sometimes. The disease is so insidious and overlapping with symptoms that it is confusing. The overall picture is though that it is a neurological disorder due to some misfiring and overactivity in the cerebellum.

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  6. Very comprehensive post, Amy. I know from our previous exchange that these haunt you regularly, and it’s unfortunate that some don’t understand how impactful these can be. Hopefully this post sheds some light on it. Stay tough!

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  7. Wow, that’s a lot Amy. Dealing with all that, you are definitely a strong person. My wife suffers the occasional migraine and when she is down, she is down and out. I learned a lot from your post today. I didn’t know that there was a Migraine Awareness Month, so now I know. Also, you mentioned CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy, right?), what techniques are you using or used? I use CBT for other things but this is the first time I heard someone mentioning as a possible migraine therapy. Also, don’t pay attention to haters. Your posts are awesome.

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    1. Thanks, Edward. I appreciate your kindness. I’m sorry your wife knows what migraine is like. Yes, I’ve read CBT is helpful for aware of what you’re feeling but not reacting to what you’re feeling. Changing the way you think about your experience. So I’m starting to try that. it’s easy to start panicking and thinking it’s happening again or I’ll never get rid of this. But really, that’s not helpful. Essentially, I’m just trying to talk myself down when I feel my anxiety raising due to a symptom coming on.
      Thanks. I appreciate you liking my posts. I’m not sure why that person decided to make that comment. They must be really fun at parties.

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      2. Yes, definitely mention it to her. Also mentioned to her that riboflavin/B2 is suggested for migraine patients at 400 mg per day. Also magnesium is essential. I think at about 400 to 600 mg per day. CoQ10 is also essential. And tons of water.

        This recommendation is from several ENT specialists and neurologists. It’s also recommended for every migraineur, not specifically only for Edward’s wife. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Migraine is an awful condition. As said before I suffered for years. Each one would settle on the right side of my face and felt as though a metal plate was constantly being screwed into my skull. I just had to carry on and sometimes work through them because I had to. I would not have wanted to write though, not for pleasure. Spammers be gone!

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    1. When I am in the throes of vertigo, there is no way that I can write. It’s in the times of more normalcy that I can write. I find that if I keep my mind off of it, it helps me. I agree, sometimes you just have to work through it. But vertigo is a different beast. No way I can work through it. So my best bet is to keep it away as much as possible. Yeah what’s up with spammers?

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      2. It is awful. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, if I had one. First spammer I ever had was the one I mentioned. I hope you don’t get too many.

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  10. my youngest daughter, who is late 20’s now, since she was a toddler. You have my sympathies sweetheart, because I agonized watching my baby girl suffer… she manages them better, now that she is an adult, but there are some that still take her down for sometimes a week straight… and she has 3 children to juggle too… God Bless love… hugs

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    1. I’m so sorry your daughter has this. Especially to see her as she was a baby struggling. I can’t imagine. The one thing it does is build resilience. So I know for sure she is a strong woman who will do anything for her kids, including Powering through the beast of migraine. Thanks for sharing your story and her story. Hugs to you both

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  11. Not a migraines myself but had a beloved second cousin who dealt with them for much of her life. The closest I ever came to understanding was a recent headache that felt like there were two steel hexagonal prisms on either side of my corpus collosum. Sending you positive thoughts, for all the good they do. Just wanted to say I care!

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    1. Thanks, Susan! I appreciate your care. You’re very kind. I’m sorry you had a really bad headache. That’s sort of what the headache portion of migraine is like, yes, I’ll never turn away positive thoughts. Thinking positive is always helpful.

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      1. I am so sorry! Your comments were put in spam by WP! I am only now seeing them. CBD is cannibas with the stuff that makes you high.

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  18. ugh, you sound like me. My new year’s resolution was to start a blog on migraines to help me reframe the nightmare into something more positive – but migraines keep getting in the way. Your comment about never wishing this on your worst enemy is so true. I’m glad you can reframe your illness and still see yourself as ‘badass’. Take care, and here’s to hoping some genius somewhere invents a cure (if not for us then our genetically-at-risk children). x

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    1. again, apologies for not seeing your comments until now. WP does not show me all of them, and randomly puts people in spam. I’m trying, but it’s hard. I hope writing the blog helps, but honestly I think sometimes the screen time and the eye strain from computers makes it worse! I tend to dictate my blog posts and text, for that reason. maybe try that? hang in there, we have migraine, it doesn’t have us. x

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      2. That’s also a useful mindset. I tried to think around the migraine. A physical therapist once told me that I need to get up and move as much as possible even when I don’t feel like it. So I try to remember that. It’s like vestibular rehabilitation in a way, but really just trying to live a normal life. Sometimes that’s not so easy. Hang in there.

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  19. I have them too, not so bad as yours usually, but enough to make me need time off work each month.
    I’m lucky enough to be self employed so I don’t have a boss to grovel to, but it must annoy my clients.
    I feel for you, migraine warrior x

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