Tell us about your symptoms and treatment experience. Take our survey here.

The Complexity Of My Migraines

I'm 40 years old and have suffered from severe health issues since adolescence. In 2003 I had my entire colon removed due to ulcerative colitis but for some unexplained reason the autoimmune disease has stayed in my body and now attacks my joints and connective tissue. On top of this I have suffered debilitating migraines since my 20s, thought to be brought on by both the autoimmune disease as well as PTSD from childhood trauma.

In the past 6 months I've worked with a pain specialist who has me weaned off several strong narcotics and between that and Botox, my migraines have been more manageable. I have visual auras and am extremely sensitive to smells so I've been able to catch a few of my migraines and treat them with Imitrex before they are out of control. However, I have begun experiencing abdominal migraines which I can't catch early and they are terrifying. I see a GI regularly so we've ruled out the symptoms being GI related and based on the research I could find they fit the criteria. The pain is excruciating. If I can catch the symptoms early Imitrex will help but I am still stuck in bed for hours with these form of migraines. I'd love to know what could trigger the onset when I'm 40.

By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Migraine.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

Community Poll

Do you feel comfortable advocating for yourself to your healthcare provider?