Life with Chronic Migraines
My name is Ann. I had years of fibromyalgia symptoms before being diagnosed. This in turn led to migraines, which is common. I do not get severe head pain but I get tired and cold/light sensitive. It often looks like I got punched in my glossy, puffy right eye. The symptoms can be so similar to fibro, especially the fog, that I don't know if it's a migraine until day 2. I was told to take Imitrex immediately, not to try to guess.
Navigating my invisible diseases
My migraines have become worse in the past year. I have them almost every day. Both diseases are invisible to others because I hide out when I am sick. I put my smile on and show up when I am not. The unpredictability of it is the hard part. I don't know how I am going to feel hour-to-hour, let alone day-to-day.
The hard part is dealing with the shame. People are always bashing disability. "I'm tired too. I get headaches too. I suck it it up and suffer through them". Mine are hard to treat, intractable. I'm not just tired on day 2. I feel like I have the flu. I feel like I am trying to function at 3am out of a sound sleep. My legs and feet feel like I have weights tied to them and I feel like I am submerged in an ice bath from the waist down.
Treating migraine and fibromyalgia pain
I did start on Topamax to go with my Gabapentin. I'm having good luck so far. I hope it's the answer to my prayers. It's only been a week.
I am an artist and would like to get back to doing what I do best. Hugs to all who go through this miserable curse. Hopefully one day they will find a cure.
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