Migraines stole my life
Following chemotherapy, I had had a couple of migraine like headaches with mild nausea. One day, I was sitting in a classroom during a teaching workshop and, much to my horror, realised that I couldn't understand what was being said! The head pain followed a few hours later. That was my first introduction to the brain fog. Life continued much as normal because the attacks were very infrequent.
However, a few years later (at the age of 53) my life was turned upside down! I was at work and had a migraine headache. I fought the nausea and brain fog but, as the headache started to ease, I began shivering. It was 38 degrees centigrade, but I couldn't stop shivering violently. The school nurse took one look at me and wrapped me in a blanket. The shakes would be followed by a high temperature and extreme weakness. The migraines came every five days and lasted about 48 hours. I took sick leave from work because the intensity increased, causing vomiting, leg weakness, inability to comprehend; even how to use my mobile. I would be shaking under four thick blankets for at least an hour in mid Summer! I couldn't make arrangements with anyone and felt isolated from all the joys in life. Chemotherapy had been easier than this!
After several trips to doctors, I finally found one who put me on Amitriptyline. The migraines lessened to one every three weeks, enabling me to return to work. On this website I saw someone mention that cutting gluten from his diet had helped. I have cut gluten out of my diet by about 95%, and the migraines are now about once a month. They may last two to three days, but are much milder with no vomiting or chills. I feel more in control of life again.
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