Living with Migraine

As someone who has struggled with migraines since childhood, I know I have a few very identifiable triggers. Unfortunately, I've also learned that often, when a migraine is coming due...

A month or two ago, a purple-haired migraine advocate said, "I dye my hair purple to advocate for migraine. Are you willing to do this too?" My flip response: "for...

In part one of this article, I share a detailed account of what led me to my most recent migraine in the ER experience, and basically, how terrible it was...

Living with a long-term health condition requires us to stay on top of everything: doctor’s appointments, new symptoms, insurance, and, of course, managing treatment – all while taking care of...

Going to the emergency room is the last resort for established cluster headache patients. However, it's often the first step for someone experiencing their first few attacks. The sudden nature...

Let me set the scene for you. It's day 5 of an earth-shattering migraine, and you're lost in the sea of emergency medicine and other abortive techniques you've collected over...

There is a demanding multi-stage cycle involved in trying new treatments. It is a complex, time-consuming, and depleting process. I've found that there are 7 stages involved in this cycle:...

When I was first trying migraine treatments, I researched the side effects of every medication in minute detail. I read the package inserts and looked for patients’ experiences online. I...

We’ve all done it. You forget about that self-care appointment or double book yourself and forget to cancel. These instances are frustrating for businesses, so they’ve adopted a 24-hour cancellation...

For a while, I thought my migraines might be gone for good. Then I realized they weren’t gone; they’d changed. I rarely got an aura, or if I did, I...

Angie has been living with migraines for years. They started shortly after she underwent brain surgery in 2008 for a seizure disorder. Her biggest challenge today is managing her migraines...

"Mom," my son begins timidly, "are there different types of lies?" Well, now my 8-year-old has my attention. I think back through our day, wondering if a particular event triggered...

Migraine attacks come with a plethora of symptoms and side effects. These can be from both the migraine itself or even our self-care measures like the abortive medications we use...

I live in the midwest, which is known for its whiplash in weather changes, including warm and cold fronts. We had a pretty calm fall in terms of cold fronts...

Any visit to your doctor's office, let alone the first appointment, can be a nerve-wracking experience. You can make lists, practice your questions out loud, and take other measures, but...

I lived in Philadelphia for four years in my twenties. The Philadelphia region has nine medical schools. No matter what kind of doctor I went to, whether my primary care...

Feeling cheerful about bringing in a new year may be daunting. It means another year in pain for me — a new year for many means new resolutions and, of...

Being a migraine advocate has completely changed the way I look at migraine. I started my journey all those years ago, stumbling across triggers and fighting through the pain as...

The other day I realized that my migraine and advocacy journey started ten years ago to the day this Christmas! When thinking about Christmas 2011, it's hard to believe how...

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I love the Christmas season, but it doesn't love me?" Well, that's how I feel at times. It's not because I don't love Christmas...