Maxine Portugal-Mackey (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:48:18 +0000): Lot's of good information. Thank you.GodsGirl IsReal (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:51:58 +0000): this is a great article.Rhonda Jarvis Budd (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:12:16 +0000): Great article. It's an awful disease.Gabrielle Mickels Brooks (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:02:25 +0000): Great article about how a migraine sufferer feels and what we want to tell our friends & family... Please read if u have someone with this disease.Gabrielle Mickels Brooks (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:16:27 +0000): if you don't read the article, here is one of the most important...."Migraine is a genetic neurological disease. Although the cause and pathophysiology of the disease is not yet fully understood, current research indicates that it’s caused by genetics and overly sensitive neurons in the brain that fire in a wave when someone with Migraine disease encounters a Migraine trigger. At this time, there is no cure for Migraine disease." migraine.comTeri Robert (Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:40:53 +0000): Gabrielle Mickels Brooks Thanks!Ginny Weltzin (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:03:05 +0000): Great Article. Migraines can be so scary when you get the aura symptoms, they mimic a stroke. For years I worried, it nice to finally understand, know what to expect & know there are many others who experience this.Rebecca Chase-Keates (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:17:51 +0000): So true! Everyone, please read.Joanne Glynn (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:44:50 +0000): I'm sending this to all my friends and family in hopes the read and comprehend it. My guess is they still won't get it! I started a blog for them too but the depth of it all is very hard to put into words. This article came very close. Good luck with the holidays fellow sufferers. Migraine-madness.bloodspot.comJennifer Kessler (Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:16:59 +0000): I recommend all my fellow migraine sufferers read and share this.Teri Robert (Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:40:44 +0000): Thanks, Jennifer!Laurie Nueske Weil (Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:33:23 +0000): Thanks for sharing.Val Milo (Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:19:02 +0000): Very important info to share with those who care about someone with migraines...They're scary for us, so imagine how scary they are for friends or our kids who don't understand.Bear Peterson (Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:51:48 +0000): Thanks for another great article Teri! On Mom's side of the family my grandparent had 27 grandchildren, 17 of us have moderate to extreme problems with migraine, That's just a hair under 63%, I think that is pretty good anecdotal evidence that #1 is correct. When it comes to doctors, one thing that happens to us that shouldn't is if we have bad luck with one doctor after another, we often get accused of being a "drug seeker" and get documented as such in our medical record. I don't know of any other group who get treated that way when seeking relief from their ailments, do you?Teri Robert (Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:40:34 +0000): You're welcome, Bear, and thank you! There was Migraine on both sides of my family. My brother and I both have it as do both of his children. My kids aren't mine biologically, but they both married Migraineurs, and four out of nine grandkids have Migraine so far. :-( You're right about the issue with doctors. Migraine is invisible, and there's no diagnostic test to confirm it. So many people HAVE lied about having a Migraine to get meds in the ER that we're now all paying for it.Dawn Forrester Price (Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:17:12 +0000): This is a good introduction for people who think migraine is just "a bad headache." There is so little real information available that even some migraineurs don't understand the extent of their disease. They continue to put themselves at risk by trying to "tough it out" through devastating migraine attacks, since people (yes, even some doctors) keep telling them that it is all in their head. No folks, even the symptoms are not all in our heads. Please share this information. If 37 million Americans suffer from this disease then no doubt you know a migraineur who would benefit from your understanding and support!Teri Robert (Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:41:55 +0000): Thanks to all of you who commented. I keep copies of this in my purse so I always have one with me to share with people who need a bit of educating about Migraine disease.Kristen Fitzgerald (Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:46:26 +0000): good idea Teri! Happy Thanksgiving!!!Pam Horgan (Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:59:44 +0000): Very informative! Thanks for sharing, Teri and I hope you are having a nice thanksgiving. I did.Anne Callister (Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:02:58 +0000): My migraines began when I was 13 and for the first year, I always told my parents that I just had a bad headache. I had of course secretly convinced myself that I must have a brain tumour and I felt so alone and afraid. My migraines were full-blown, with every classic symptom, and I always had to leave school when I saw the "aura" flickering. I knew that I had about 15 minutes to get home, and hopefully fall asleep before the nausea and throbbing pain began. (no medication was available at that time) That first year, I had an attack every 2 weeks, so eventually the school notified my parents, implying that I was skipping school! They met with my teacher who intuitively asked if anyone in our family suffered from migraines! My father suddenly recalled that as a teen, he had been diagnosed with what was known at that time as "sick headaches"! So finally we knew that there was a hereditary connection! The frequency and severity of my migraines subsided during my parenting days. However, I'm now 62, and lately I have been experiencing auras without pain, but I understand that this is normal for my age. This migraine website is a wealth of information, and has certainly answered many of my questions! Its a real blessing to all of us, and to those who care about us! Thank you!Cherise Bratcher Enterline (Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:15:54 +0000): I got a migraine Thursday, threw up, felt better, and then it came back. Is that possible? It's been three days now of it being really intense and then feeling better. Medication has not helped. In fact I have had reactions to most so far. Just want to cry, but that hurts too much,Christine Busby (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:40:57 +0000): I was the only person I knew of locally that actually has migraines, until my son and niece started having them too. We see a neurologist to help, but they just handed us pills. I take so many pills that my stomach is torn up most of the time. I've searched for a migraine specialist near by but cannot find one. If anyone knows of a specialist near SC, I'd appreciate the information. I've had them for 23yrs and they are getting worse. Also, I hate having to explain to my son that his true friends will still be there after each headache is gone. It is lonely when no one else is going through the same things. You start to feel as if you're crazy, which is crazy. Thank you Migraine.com for showing us that we aren't alone.Teri Robert (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:30:07 +0000): Hi, Christine, Check out my list of patient recommended Migraine specialists at http://www.helpforheadaches.com/doctors/migraine-headache-specialists.htm Hope this helps! TeriChristine Busby (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:46:00 +0000): Teri Robert thank you. There were three in NCTeri Robert (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:58:34 +0000): Christine Busby, you're very welcome.Debra Parnell Turberville (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:36:53 +0000): I feel terrible for my daughter right at this very moment. She has suffered since her teen years with migraines and I haven't always been as understanding as I should have been. We need to get the word out for all migraine sufferers. This has been in our family for generations.Deb Bair (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:39:26 +0000): Aw, it's been in my family for generations as well. Which daughter has migraines?Debra Parnell Turberville (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:43:14 +0000): My mom had them real bad for years, BJ the same and Erin, but not as bad as BJ. Hopefully they won't increase as she gets olderDeb Bair (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:43:58 +0000): Yeah, i hope not. =/Debra Parnell Turberville (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:50:31 +0000): Every time I see one of your posts about your migraines I pray for you. I think you and BJ have them almost the same. She has them over 15 times a month. We went to a seminar about the Reed Procedure where they implant a battery with the electronic stimulus that you can control that has been very successful. Most insurances pay the cost and you try it out first to see if it works and you can tolerate it. There is a doctor in our area that is affiliated with Dr. Reed. Dr. Reed is from Texas. You can check them out on the web.Diane Rivard Hart (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 19:25:24 +0000): This was an interesting paragraph. People think perfumes and cologne are benign ... to MANY, they are not: Migraine attacks are precipitated by the Migraineur’s exposure to Migraine triggers. Migraine triggers are physiological, not emotional. Each Migraineur’s triggers are different from those of other Migraineurs. Potential triggers include: •Perfumes and fragrances. Just being around someone wearing fragrance can trigger a devastating Migraine attack for some people. •Bright and/or flickering lights, including fluorescent lighting. Some Migraineurs cannot work in fluorescent lighting. Some need to wear sunglasses at times, even indoors. •Loud noises and crowded places. •Changes in the weather and/or altitude. •Cigarette smoke; exhaust fumes; odors or fumes from chemicals, including some cleaning products. •Certain foods, especially foods prepared with MSG and other preservatives.Diane Rivard Hart (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 19:27:13 +0000): I have a friend who had migraines for years ... turns out she was allergic to carpeting. She removed the carpeting from her home and within a week or 2 the migraines were gone ... one can't always avoid carpeting, though.Emily Glasson Craig (Sun, 25 Dec 2011 19:20:30 +0000): Great article.Lijdia Voogdt (Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:59:22 +0000): Great article, thank you Teri!Teri Robert (Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:49:58 +0000): You're very welcome! Josie Hernandez Janz (Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:42:15 +0000): Thanks to Ashlie for this.Sara Batchelder (Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:25:00 +0000): Thanks Teri!Teri Robert (Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:33:55 +0000): You're welcome, Sara!Kimberly Rice (Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:57:44 +0000): Thank you for all the work you do, and everyone you help to educate, on our behalf! After 30 years of this, I am ready for a little more understanding and a little less doubt!Teri Robert (Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:05:58 +0000): You're welcome, Kimberly! I'm with you on more understanding and less doubt! Let's make 2012 a year to make some of that happen. :-)JeffnLisa Wagner (Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:33:27 +0000): Great article Teri. I have had this disease since I was a young girl but we were always able to control them. The past three years, they have become debillitating and have ruined my life! I lost my job, friends. I never attend social events. But the worst is that my family and especially my husband still does not understand. He has gone to appointments with me and asked questions. I have printed off articles before. I am at my end. I know a lot of marriages end when migraines become chronic and debilitating but where do I go, what do I do, how do I live? I am going to print this off and put it on our fridge for my family. I have five grown kids so maybe something will click! Thanks Teri!Teri Robert (Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:47:01 +0000): {{{{{{Lisa}}}}}} Thank you. Oh, honey, I'm been nearly where you are. Ten years ago, I couldn't work or attend social events. Friends disappeared into thin air. I was luck though - my dear husband learned about Migraine and worked to understand. He's been my rock. Get your family to read this piece, and let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I just sent you a friend request. Let's put our heads together on how we can get your family to understand. OK?Craig Talley (Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:29:19 +0000): I think its worth reminding that a migraine is dangerous to those of us with other chronic disease like hypertension or COPD. The pain can trigger spikes in blood pressure leading to fatalities. I have a kit of medications from my very good doctor to treat the migraine and blood pressure that can be used by injection and other non oral means. The nausea and vomiting from migraine can prevent the use of normal meds so alternate administration must be ready. As soon as the aura and pain starts my frontline remedy is sumatriptan and it thankfully works wonders. Great article and very informative!Mintando Wonnyer (Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:11:36 +0000): http://paynize.com/ref.php?page=act/ref&invcod=103787Mintando Wonnyer (Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:12:05 +0000): http://www.onlinejobsopen.com/?id=922066Sharon N Ty Burdette (Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:17:21 +0000): Wonderful article...I have suffered from migraines since I was 19 and now at 42 still suffering...and my daughter has servere ones too. This was great information, thank you!