redrumj

My story started back in my teens but I didn't realize I was experiencing migraines. I was taking a lot of ibuprofen for almost daily headaches. This was back in the late 70s. I don't think menstrual migraines or migraines in general were words of the day. I just got "headaches" really easily. Of course, I was also living with my mother and sister and brother. My mother and sister are toxic. They are both undiagnosed narcissists with borderline personality disorders. Let's just say there was always tension in the house.

I am now happily married for over 30 years with 4 grown children (two get migraines but only occasionally). Mine are daily - usually several times per day - level 7-8. It's been awhile since I've had a defcon 10 migraine. There's always some kind of pain in my head - usually in between migraines, the pain is around a level 2 or 3 so I don't take anything. I usually take some kind of pain meds every 6-7 hours. Saturday, wow. I realized it had been a full 9 hours between meds. That means I was feeling really good. I love those kinds of days. They are rare.

Most days I go to work as I can't afford to be out of work for a year before getting disability. I'm in my mid 50s so I'm looking forward to retiring. It's closer than it used to be. I know my migraines have impacted my life and those around me. In fact, there are days when I can't move off the couch. And it's always on a weekend because I know I don't have to get up for work and the vacuuming can wait. Hubby is supportive but I know it both frustrates him and worries him.

I don't want to miss out on the rest of my life. I probably have about 30 years still to go - MAYBE. I can't imagine living my retirement on the couch. I want to travel (not a lot, but enough) and I want to be a bit busy.

I am grateful to my family for their support. They are all slowly coming around to realizing that I am not faking the pain, or taking meds for the hell of it. It seems that the more symptoms I develop (auras especially), the more valid my pain is. I impressed the heck out of them all just the other day with my second ever aura of little stars flashing around my eyes. HA! It was actually really cool but I knew that the pain would follow so my hubby retrieved my meds from my purse and helped get me all settled on the couch. It was nice to be pampered and understood at the same time.

I'm a member of a couple of migraine pages on Facebook and that seems to help. I often wonder if it was my childhood that caused the migraines. Maybe a combination of the toxic drama within my home and the stupid stupid (but oddly fun) adventure of riding our bikes behind the mosquito truck as it sprayed during the summer (I am not kidding). That had to have altered something in my brain. But it's never been confirmed.

In the meantime, I am on an experimental dose of 2 Imitrex per day every day. I take one immediately when I wake up in the morning. Usually I need the second dose within 3-4 hours. Then I'm okay. It's weird. I'm working closely with my neuro and getting my heart, liver, and brain tested as needed. So far, so good. And it's been over a year. :)

Yes, I still get daily migraines, but the severity of them is significantly decreased. I used to get defcon 10s every day with defcon 11s or 12s periodically. That would mean an ER visit, along with cold chills, deep bags under my eyes, shaking, complete weakness. But I have not had anything this bad in since I started my daily meds. We'll see.

One day at a time, folks.