Surviving a Migraine on My Honeymoon: Lessons Learned

With decades of experience under my belt, I knew how to manage a migraine to the best of my ability. Medication + dark room + ice pack + sleep = the migraine eventually passes. What I had absolutely no experience in doing was preventing a migraine from ruining my honeymoon.

How could I avoid ruining my husband's experience?

I had disappointments of canceled and ruined plans over the years, but this event wasn’t just about me. I didn’t want to tarnish this experience in any way for my husband.

I don’t know about you, but migraine guilt can weigh heavy on me sometimes. I didn’t want to hold my husband back from enjoying every second of our trip and every excursion we had been looking forward to doing together. Yet, the reality was, I had a migraine. It wasn’t my fault, I knew that, but I needed to figure out a way to care for myself and allow us both to enjoy our honeymoon.

Here’s how I attempted to navigate this situation. (Spoiler alert: It’s not perfect because I’m not perfect. However, in the spirit that sharing our stories can help us all to navigate life with migraines a little easier, I’m here for it.)

Lesson #1

Be honest. The first step is to be honest with your spouse about how you're feeling. Ugh, I hated having to tell him that I was feeling a migraine coming on, but let’s be honest, most people can see it on us before we have to say anything. It’s not always easy to hide it. But I have found that being upfront about it is far better than trying to hide it. Honestly, we could easily appear disinterested in a situation or with someone sending a completely wrong message when really, we’re just in pain and dealing with the disappointment of a migraine looming. Be honest about your feeling and your symptoms so your partner knows what you're dealing with.

Lesson #2

Let them know how they can help. Your spouse will likely want to know how they can help you. Let them know what you need, whether it's a glass of water, medication, or just some time to rest. Be specific, so your partner knows exactly what they can do to support you. For example, you could say, "I really need some quiet rest right now. Why don’t you go to the pool or the beach for a couple of hours so I can try to sleep some of this off? And can you set a bottle of water on my nightstand before you leave?"

Lesson #3

Be open to compromise. You may not be able to do everything you had planned on your honeymoon, and that's okay. Be open to compromise and work together to find a solution that works for both of you. Maybe you need to take a break from an activity or skip it altogether. For example, I really wanted to go on the catamaran ride we planned. I had never been on one and was looking forward to it the most. So, I said that I needed to have a low-key day the day prior to it so I had the best chance of feeling well enough for it. Whatever it is, be honest with your partner and work together to make the most of the situation.

Lesson #4

Be patient. Dealing with migraines can be frustrating, both for you and your partner. Be patient with each other – nobody needs to add tension to this situation. You're both in this together, and you'll get through it together.

Lesson #5

Keep the communication open. Because migraines can linger a lot longer than we want, it’s helpful to check in with each other to see how each of you is feeling. This can help you both stay on the same page and manage any feelings or situations that may come up.

Okay, now I want to hear from you. How do you mange migraines when you have plans with someone?