I created this post as part of a campaign by Teva Pharmaceuticals. I received an American Express gift card for participating.
If Migraines Disrupt YOUR Life- You are NOT Alone!
I can speak from experience- a MIGRAINE is much more than just a headache! Can you relate? Read below to find out more about migraines and how they disrupt your life!
What is migraine?
- Migraine is an inherited neurological disorder that is characterized by hyperexcitable brain networks that may be triggered by a variety of stimuli (e.g. alcohol, menstruation, fragrances, light glare), or become active spontaneously (even during sleep), leading to attacks.
- The attacks often begin with a premonitory phase that may be characterized by severe fatigue, increased urination, yawning, neck pain, or sensitivity to light, noise or odors.
- In one-third of sufferers, the attacks may proceed into an aura phase prior to onset of the headache. The most common type of aura consists of visual symptoms such as seeing flashing lights, squiggly lines, or losing vision in small areas of the visual field. The aura may also be associated with tingling/numbness on one side of the face and hand, and difficulty understanding or expressing speech.
- The headache phase of migraine is often moderate or severe in intensity, and can be extremely disabling for sufferers, painful enough to cause work loss and absence from activities with family and friends
- Head pain is often made worse with routine activities (e.g. walking, climbing stairs).
- In addition to headache, migraine attacks are often associated with increased sensitivity to environmental stimuli (e.g. lights, sounds, and odors), nausea or vomiting.
- Migraine attacks may also be associated with sinus pain or pressure, neck pain, dizziness, difficulty with concentration and mental processing, anxiety and other changes in mood.
- (Source: American Migraine Foundation, Facts about Migraines)
My Story:
I have had migraines as long as I can remember. I remember having them as a teenager and not being able to go to school because I was too nauseous and could hardly move my head. We could never figure out what triggered it.
My migraines are rarely just a headache. In fact, I don’t think people with headaches understand what a migraine feels like. It can be stabbing pain, throbbing pain – not the dull ache of a headache. Mine are accompanied by sensitivity to light and noise and the REALLY bad ones make me vomit. When I was pregnant, my migraines were the worst they had ever been. My doctor told me they were most likely due to hormones. I had them a few times a week and I had nothing to take to help with the pain. There was no help available to me at all. Once I made it to my second trimester, the migraines subsided.
After my son was born, I couldn’t go a week without a migraine. My doctor was definitely sure that they were related to my hormones. Since I was breastfeeding, I really couldn’t take any medication to control the pain. I did try some natural methods that helped me a little.
Migraine is more than just a headache. Migraine can have a variety of components, including nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light or sound, and each attack can feel entirely different for individuals.
- Statistics/Facts
- Migraines usually last between 4 and 72 hours.
- Migraine ranks in the top 3 of the world’s most prevalent medical conditions.
- Nearly 36 million Americans suffer from migraines, including its various characteristics.
- About 18% of American women and 6% of men suffer from migraine.
- How does a migraine disrupt your day? Whether it’s lost time at the office, missing important moments with your children, or losing a full night’s sleep, how does a migraine affect your daily life? Tell us what this lost time means to you personally and how it has affected your life.
Migraines have disrupted my life by leaving me unable to function for hours. I couldn’t play with my son, I couldn’t join in with family outings, I couldn’t volunteer at his school. I never knew when I would get a migraine and have to take myself out of “life” until I could function. I missed things my son did, some of them I’m too embarrassed to admit to.
Losing time out of my life to migraines is frustrating and confusing. Why can’t they find out what causes migraines so I can avoid those things and be pain free? One thing we all need to advocate for is Migraine Research! We need a better quality of life and we need it now!
Why we Need Migraine Research:
Migraine is an exceedingly common disorder that causes substantial pain, disability and societal burden. Unfortunately, most of the biology that causes migraine is poorly understood. Many treatments are insufficient, inadequate, or associated with significant risks, such as overuse, abuse or addiction. Ongoing funding is needed to support migraine research and educational efforts are needed to further improve the quality of care of those with headache. (Source: American Migraine Foundation, Migraine Research)
Source: American Migraine Foundation
Don’t give up! If you have migraines, talk to your doctor. Migraines should NOT disrupt your life.
Take a stand and let others know they are not alone!
