The first time I remember having a migraine attack I was approximately 8 years old, and had a friend from school over for tea. I started with a really bad headache and started to feel nauseous. I could not eat my tea and my mum sent me to bed and took my friend home. I remember being really upset that I had to hand some maths homework in the next day, and I had not finished it. The following day I explained to my teacher what had happened, and rather than offering me support, I was made to stay in during playtime and finish my homework. The memory is so clear in my mind, I can remember every detail of that evening and following day, down to the colour of my homework book (blue, in case you were interested!)
That is where my migraine journey began. The following 21 years have contained hundreds more occasions like this. My life was literally turned upside down. I was only officially diagnosed with 'Classical Migraine' when I was 15 years old. It was around the time I was taking my GCSE's, and my GP put it down to stress. Nothing further was do e about it until I was 17. I had a long term boyfriend and started taking the contraceptive pill Microgynon. This was when the attacks became erratic and more severe. I would spend every day in pain, feeling sick and with strange pixelated vision. I went to see my GP who told me to stop taking the pill straight away, and was prescribed the beta blocker, Propranalol to take every day as a preventative measure, and Sumitriptan when I had an attack. The side effects from the Sumitriptan were horrendous, but relieved the migraine I and felt that beggars can't be choosers!
This cocktail seemed to control the attacks and they became much less frequent. Over the years I came to learn my 'triggers' (perfume, lime, coconut scent, strong perfume, not eating regularly, not drinking enough, caffeine, milk, Chinese food... The list is ENORMOUS!) and avoided them as best I could. Then at 21 I was involved in a serious car accident, and everything changed again. I fractured my spine in 2 places which meant I was taking a lot of strong opiate pain killers regularly for quite a number of months. The side effects triggered migraine attacks. I felt like I could not win. I needed pain relief for my back, but the knock on effect of a migraine meant I had a poor quality of life. Then out of the blue, I discovered I was pregnant. The extra hormones hit me like a ton of bricks. I had only been in a relationship for 5 months and the thought of us having a baby together obviously sent my stress levels through the roof. My migraines spiralled out of control, and being pregnant there was nothing other than paracetamol I could take. It was a horrible time, and I didn't enjoy a single second of the pregnancy.
Within weeks of the arrival of my son, I discovered I was pregnant again (mental note: get a hobby!). This time around things were even worse. I was sleep deprived, trying to diet, and now the hormones were everywhere again. I spent the majority of my second pregnancy in bed, in complete darkness with ice packs on my head. Not fun at all!
After the birth of my second son went to see my GP again. They restarted my Propranalol, Sumitriptan and I tried a couple of different contraceptive pills. Both triggered my attacks, so I gave up on that idea. I plodded along and got used to the fact that this was my life. I knew my triggers, I knew that hormone surges made it worse so I could expect a bad attack at least once a month, and I could usually pinpoint the week it would occur. After a while the Propranalol seemed to become less effective. My GP tried me on Amitriptyline as a preventative medication. This made me feel hungover every morning so clearly was not the option for me with 2 children to look after. Back to the Propranalol.
After the birth of my third (and final!!) child I suffered with severe post natal depression. Around this time I visted my GP again as my attack symptoms changed. Usually my attacks started on the right hand side, in my orbital and temporal areas. Now they were occurring on the left side in the same areas. The GP changed my preventative medication to Sodium Valporate, an anti epilepsy drug. I remember reading that Migraine was an extremely mild form of epilepsy, affecting the brain in a similar way, so hoped this new medication would help. I was also referred to a neurologist, and had an MR scan of my brain. This was normal which was a massive relief. Things had got so bad I was convinced I had a tumour.
I felt the need to do this post, as I get so fed up of people who have never experienced a true migraine, thinking it is "just a headache". It infuriates me when well meaning friends and family ask me stupid questions and give me their wisdom around the subject, when they have never experienced what I go through. People don't seem to understand I don't choose to live like this. I do everything possible to avoid an attack. This means I have been pretty much tee total for a year now. I avoid all my triggers like the plague. I have had to have awkward conversations at work regarding colleagues wearing perfume that sets off an attack within minutes. I try to eat every 4 hours , which can be inconvenient. I have to take my own tea bags with me when I go anywhere because otherwise I can't have a brew! None of this is amazingly fun.
What also infuriates me is people who say they have a migraine when they have got a headache. Now clearly I can not judge anyone else's pain, but for me, when an attack strikes I become pretty much disabled for the rest of the day AT LEAST! I have been known to still be suffering a week later.
Over the years I have also tried different alternative therapies. I visited a chiropractor for some sessions. This made things worse and after a particularly bad attack I did not return for any more sessions. I tried acupuncture which did seem to help. I had 6 sessions free through my private health care at work. It was expensive to keep up with sessions so was not really an option to continue. I have also had some Reiki sessions. This has neither helped nor made it worse, and was enjoyable so I would definitely have it done again.
I treat my symptoms with Sumitriptan, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. I apply an ice pack to the part of my head that is painful. I take myself off to bed, shut the blind and open the window to keep the room cool. This is what works for me (most of the time!)
This must seem like a long moaning post, but I find it helps me to find out about other people's experiences. If anyone gets any help or support from this post it has been worth it.
