Migraine Life Ruiner

By annabellaa

1 min read

Hi guys. I’m 26 years old and have been suffering from migraines for 5 years now. I’ve lost a lot of friends over my migraines who claim I’m always “sick” or faking it. They don’t seem to comprehend migraines are the worst pain ever. How does everyone cope with friends and the pain?

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Member
That's a tough one. 🙁 People who don't get migraines (or who get them very rarely) often don't REALLY get it. If they are a true friend, you can share with them an article from this site maybe? Otherwise, try not to worry. You'll develop better friends with time and effort.
megan33 Member
I'm 27 and have had migraines for over half my life now, so maybe the friends I have just know this is part of me at this point, but I find it's helpful to share your whole experience with migraines with people who are important to you. I've found it helpful to share with friends when we're out that I don't have more than one drink at a time because I get headaches after two which turn into vicious four day migraines or the same thing with sharp cheeses or other strong flavors (obviously a lot of my triggers are food). I find that if I talk about my migraines when I don't have one, it's not such a shock to them when I cancel plans because of one, because they've heard what an issue they are in my life. I agree with the other comment though, your real friends will understand, sympathize, and ideally help you avoid triggers.
1. mikespringer Member
 I wish I knew what my triggers were. I have had chronic daily migraines now for six years. I’m on disability and had to retire at 55 because of them. I’ve pretty well exhausted all avenues of drugs to try, Accupuncture, massage therapy, Botox, meditation etc etc etc. I’m always amazed that migraine sufferers who know what triggers their migraines just don’t stop eating or participating in the triggering event!!! Duh......... Isn’t that just common sense?
2. annabellaa Member
 I'm sorry Mike! Doesn't it feel so helpless. You don't even know what else to do 🙁
jean Member
This is part of an education sheet I give to people around me. It is up to us to educate the people around us and ourselves. If people do not want to understand then at some time you have to decide where you can afford to use your energy. Courage. While most people associate migraine with sensitivity to light and headaches, migraine disease affects every person differently. Migraine symptoms vary greatly from person to person- and they can even change from migraine attack to migraine attack. Migraine attacks can be unpredictable, debilitating, and challenging. It’s a neurological condition that causes a multitude of symptoms and can affect every aspect of a person’s life. People with migraine are at risk of other serious disease such as stroke, depression, anxiety, and epilepsy... Migraine is a disease of the brain. The ion channels, the cerebral cortex and the brain stem are probably key in the start of a migraine attack. Migraine brains react differently than non-migraine brains, even when an attack is not happening.
ronan Member
I come right out and ask, "Do you have migraines?", "Have you ever had one?". It's a good starting point and I can guage how much I need to tell them. Mostly I tell people that haven't experienced one is that it is a firestorm in my head. It is not a headache. It's the other nonpain related symptoms that are hard to explain. At 47 I come to a point that people who think I am faking it or can completely prevent them can go on the back burner. My nearest and dearest know best.
missy75 Member
Yeah, it gets to a point where it only matters that the most important people in your life "get it" & understand that you're not making up excuses for not participating in life. When you've suffered thru several major migraine attacks, along with the throwing up, etc. & have come out the other side still alive & well, you begin to realize who really cares.