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Is your Mom a Vampire?

I am 50 years old and have had migraines as long as I can remember. As I was writing my story I realized I could write a book! So I deleted everything and decided to condense 44 years of migraines and all of my diagnoses into a paragraph.

I was 16 when I went to our family doctor for migraines. He referred me to a neurologist. My mother and I were told most likely I had a brain tumor. We both were devastated! I had my first MRI. Thankfully, I didn’t have a brain tumor. I was introduced to prescribed narcotic and triptans.

Since then I have been treated for seizures, depression, told I had MS. I have had so many MRI's I lost count. At least 3 spinal taps, EEG's, EKG's, vision test....you name it I have done it. I have seen physiatrists and physiologists. I have been locked up in a mental hospital for suicidal attempts. I spent 2 weeks in Michigan Pain clinic. I have had at least 5 different neurologists. I have had a PFO closure. For those of you that don't know what PFO is, it is a whole in your heart from birth. In some cases closing the whole in your heart will relieve some if not all of your migraines. In my case the PFO closure did not help my migraines. I have had back surgery. I have had Botox injections. I have been to the ER so many times they look at me like I am a drug addict. I have EVERY migraine trigger known to mankind. If I am in the sun to long I get a migraine, If I overheat, smells, not enough sleep, too much sleep, hormones, weather, sex (yes an orgasms will trigger a migraine), caffeine, chocolate, alcohol. The list is endless and along with my triggers I have visual migraines and my whole left side feels like pins and needles sticking me. In 100 degree weather the wind can blow against my skin and I get goose bumps because the left side of my body is so sensitive.

All of my symptoms are blamed on “Complicated Migraines”. I get so sick I vomit for hours until there is nothing left to vomit. Then I dry heave for hours more. Two husbands, 4 children, 2 grandchildren and many test, many ER visits, medicines out the ying yang, medical bills that have left us bankrupt 2 times, and 44 years later I still have the same migraines I had at the age of 16. I have lost several jobs. I can't make any kind of plans. I don't have a social life. My 2nd husband of 20 years and I are now going through a divorce. I have to blame some of it on my health. Friends of my youngest two children, ask if there Mom is a Vampire? Because our house is always so dark and cool and they never see me outside. I don’t like to live like this, but it is how I have to live. My migraines dictate my life! I do get disability, but it isn't enough to live on and I would much rather work my butt off than to have migraines! My name is Nora Kiefer and migraines rule my life!

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