How am I suppose to respond?
Hello, I am new to the community but a long time sufferer. I have been battling my family and the doctors for years now because, all of the diagnostic tests are normal and I can fake wellness for a short period of time. I recently had a conversation with a close friend who told me that my illness is not that special and many of people are worse off and live normal lives. These types of conversations and the fact that no validation from a medical profession makes me think, well maybe it is all in my head. Can someone please help me come to come to terms with this illness even if the doctors can not measure it nor can it be seen from the outside.
Thank you
Hi Felicia,
I'm sorry you are feeling so alone right now, but let me assure you you are one of 37 million Americans with migraine. One of the biggest issues with this disorder is it's considered an invisible illness and those who've not experienced a migraine attack seem unable to grasp how severe our attacks can be.
Coming to terms with a chronic illness is not easy, in fact can be an ongoing process. We aren't born to cope with something as catastrophic as chronic illness and in my opinion, it's important to seek out the expertise of a counselor who specializes in chronic illness. This doesn't mean we have to seen one for the rest of our lives, it may take only a few visits to learn the coping skills needed to deal with chronic illness. My counselor has helped me tremendously.
Here is a wonderful article on how one of our contributors discusses migraine with others; https://migraine.com/blog/changing-way-talk-migraine/.
Happy Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
Nancy
I have had migraines since I was 17. I had been to a small army of doctors, chiropractors, and other 'specialists' but I was about 40 before a doctor actually gave me a diagnosis of migraine. It wasn't until I was 43 that a headache specialist found a way to deal with them. That was 26 years of undiagnosed pain. Finding the right person can make a world of difference. Don't give up!
There is no test for migraines, so "testing normal" doesn't mean anything. People who don't have them won't understand; that's just the way it is. Listen to what your body is telling you. You know yourself better than anyone else.
