Seventh grade attack
I will never forget my first migraine. I was in Mr. Osborne's 7th grade math class in my junior high school. I remember going up to his desk and telling him I needed to go to the nurse. He told me to sit back down. I said I was going to vomit on his desk if he didn't let me go to the nurse. He finally agreed.
I got to the nurse's office. She took one look at me and called my mom immediately. My mom told me when she got there it looked like I had made a paste of flour and water and put it all over my face, that's how pale I was, which is pretty pale considering I'm pretty pale-skinned.
I just remember agonizing head pain, and extreme nausea, it was the worst headache that I had ever had experienced in my 12 years. Unfortunately, that was merely the beginning of my migraine journey. I had a pretty good doctor at the time, but all they could give me at that point was a heavy anti-inflammatory. Getting proper treatment for the migraines took many years beyond the diagnosis time.
That sounds like a very memorable first migraine,
. And thank goodness you pushed Mr. Osborne to let you get to the nurse. I don't know any 7th grader who wants to be sick in front of their classmates. It sounds like your mom (and doctor) were good supports for you at the time, although I wish getting proper treatment hadn't taken so long from that initial diagnosis. Can I ask what treatment started brining you relief? -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member) since I've been on this journey for 47 years, I don't know how easily I could actually list the things that brought me relief at different times in my life. I can tell you that for a long time my favorite abortive was midrin, but they took it off the market. Over the years, I went from occasional migraines, to daily chronic migraines. The new cgrp blockers were a miracle for me. I currently take emgality, and it works fairly well. I can always tell when it's close to the end of the month, because I start getting more migraines again. I have several triggers that I have identified over the years. Some are avoidable, some are not. Food triggers are avoidable, weather triggers are not. I had a wonderful neurologist about 8 years ago, that spent 4 years trying various preventatives for me, until we found a cocktail that worked.. after about a month, and you can only have it every 3 or 4 months. I do have other conditions that are being treated by medications, but the majority of my medications have dual purposes. For example, I take effexor, but that's good for my depression and for my migraines. I take gabapentin, which helps with the migraines, and my fibromyalgia. that is wonderful that you've been able to find some treatments that give you relief! And handy that some medications can serve dual purposes for your various symptoms and conditions. Living with migraine for 47 years sounds like has given you opportunity to fine-tune your treatment, especially with the help of your wonderful neurologist, and figure out triggers to avoid (at least the ones you are able to avoid). I'm glad to hear that you've found some things that bring you relief! Wishing you a gentle day. -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)
