Paranoia

I'm a 26 year old Chef. My Migraines started around the age of 17 but were only a once or twice a year occurrence. But shortly after i turned 25 they became almost incapacitating. I would suffer from up to 5 migraines a week (Sometimes 2 a day, sometimes 1 would last 2-3 days) and be too "HUNGOVER" the rest of the days to function properly.

When my headaches became more severe i was eventually able to distinguish the "AURA" that warned me one was on the way. I would struggle to 'find words' or muddle my words while i was speaking. Stiffness in my neck and shoulders. My left foot would sometimes drag a bit or i would stumble/bump into things.

This would then give me the chance to take a 'migraine kit' early and miss the pain. The Migraine kit is a pill pack that my local chemist sells, (1x muscle relaxant, 1x painkiller, 2x menograine, 1 x nausea tablet) This worked great, but made me very drowsy and was not kind to my stomach lining. Also with the frequency that i was having to take these, i was putting myself at risk of rebound headaches.

In Feb 2011 i had a 'Life Shattering' Migraine. It wouldn't break. My mother said i lay on the bathroom floor, hysterical, for 3 hours. I just wanted to die. I was afraid i wouldn't die...

The next day, i could barely speak, i struggled to walk for days afterwards. I went to my GP and he sent me for blood tests. Tests told nothing. He suggested i go on Sebelium and Maxalt.

My experience with Sebelium is that it stopped all the "little" Migraines, the scale 1-6, but i still got the very severe ones, approx 1-2 a month. But what had also happened was that my "AURA" was gone. So i had no warning about when the Migraine would happen, which makes it almost impossible to use Maxalt, because you need to take it BEFORE it happens.

When i did take the Maxalt i found that it would knock out EVERY pain receptor in my body. So i wouln't feel the Migraine. But i could still 'hear' it happening. I could still feel the throb, but without the blinding pain. I also burnt my hand badly (Chef) because of no functioning pain receptors. This wasn't going to work.

I the went to see a Homeopath. He told me the Migraines were so severe and frequent because the acidity in my body was too high. He then told me to have Alkaline powder and Citro Soda in a little water, 3 times a day. It works just as well as the sebelium, stopping all the minor, daily Migraines. But nothing will stop the very severe ones.

I come from a family with a history of Migraine, my Grandfather, my Mother and Myself. So while it sucks having the whole hereditary thing, at least I am surrounded by people who KNOW.

I had to leave art class because a Migraine started. I was so embarrassed. I felt like i was damaged or an invalid. Most of my class mates didn't understand why i would need someone to fetch me because i was getting a headache. But i guess they didn't realize that within 10 min of leaving i was screaming.

I live in constant fear that one will start when i'm out in public or i'll be caught without any medication. Stuck out in the light and noise. I have a restaurant and am self employed. I can't take a sick day. I work through most of my Migraines. Sticking my head in a dark cupboard, just to get a break from the light and the noise before i have to go back out there and carry on. Hoping i won't throw up or faint.

My Mother and Grandfather say that at this age for them it was also at its worst and that it will get better as i get older. I can only PRAY that's true...