My Personal, Painful, Frustrating Migraine Story

My name is Vicki and I'm one of the millions of suffering Americans with Migraine disease. I believe mine started when I was around 13. I am 43 now. That's only 30 years, seems a LOT longer.

I have been diagnosed with Migraine and Chronic Daily Headache. The "daily" headaches are mostly a mild version of migraine. At the very least, I feel head pressure most every day. I take a preventative every day, which helps a great deal. I'm very thankful that it works. I'm thankful that most abortives work also. I know some folks aren't as lucky.

My trigger list isn't as long as some, and about as common. And most of the triggers are not consistent. Consistent triggers are red wine (instant), hot tubs, consuming too much aged cheese on an empty stomach, not eating regularly. My inconsistent triggers are more a trigger if I already have a base-line headache, as I call them, i.e. head pressure, dull pain. These triggers are bright light, loud noises, certain strong ongoing smells, tension, wind, dusty air. Then there's the triggers that remain oblivious to me.

Most of what I've learned about Migraine disease, I've learned on the internet. Wow. So glad all that info is out there! I recently started rinsing my sinuses to see if that would help with some of the daily headaches in the fall. Day 3, and it helps.

Since these started some 50 years ago, ok, 30 years ago! I've wondered how much of my life it has robbed me of. I would conservatively guess at least half. Since there's not much I can do about the past, I look to the future. Next January, when my insurance starts over again, I plan to ask for an MRI, just to take a look. I also welcome menopause! From all my reading, most women stricken with migraine, their symptoms drop dramatically! C'mon hot flashes! Bring 'em on!