I got my first migraine when I was 14. I know what triggered it. I knew there was nothing I could do to stop it. I also knew that they ran in my family. My grandfather called them “that damn headache”. My mother had them. Two of my three siblings have them. I have cousins to have them. It’s strong on that side of the family.
I just happened to have them more than anybody. My siblings that have migraines get upset with me because they assumed that my migraines are exactly like theirs. They are not. I have tried every medication tossed me three or four fold whether it’s in the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) book or not. I have tried every single snake oil or old wive’s tale treatment anybody has suggested to me. For longer than I care to admit, I considered having the trigeminal nerves in my face severed. If someone would suggest me that sitting on a John Deere tractor in a Minnesota wheatfield and eating blueberry muffins would do something, I’d be on a plane with a box of Duncan Hines by morning.
I wish I had known this about you sooner. As they say, pain shared is pain halved. I still hope this lessens what you going through even just a little.
I’ve had migraines all my life - once a month for the last few decades. I recently was prescribed a daily dose of 10mg of topiramate, which is epilepsy medication. The migraines have mostly stopped. I still get the occasional headache, after a long stretch of work for example, but I have regained days out of every month. This is my second year on topiramate and it feels like a miracle.
Have you ever tried Migraine glasses? They look very dumb but I have a bunch of pairs in different severities because they help me have almost no migraines, along with pills and other stuff.
My migraines are rarely bad enough to send me to bed. Mine are associated with major changes in barometric pressure, like storms rolling in or coming soon and I've learned to live with them. The migraines have even been food for writing. Migraines are the subject of several of the dozens of personal essays I've published in the last two+ years. Like this one: https://www.recoveringself.com/health/me-and-my-migraines
I have always counted myself lucky. I’ve always had mild synesthesia, I’ve experienced the ‘Alice in Wonderland syndrome’ much of my life, and I have experienced complex auras that can occasionally extend to temporary blindness – but the pain, the actual headache, has rarely been part of my experience. As I say, I have always counted myself very, very lucky because of this.
That's interesting, I've met several people whose synesthesia faded either due to injury, aging, or surgery. I, personally, don't really miss it, but if I saw music as color, I would.
Thank you so much for talking about this!!! I also recently got treatment for my migraines after ending up in the ER from one. I was put on reglan, rizatriptan, magnesium and gabapentin, head injections i can't remember the name of and Botox. I just thought I had to live with the pain. Finding a neurologist who cared changed my life. I didn't know the "big little feeling" was migraine related. Again thanks for sharing this.
I used to have them that started at the base of my skull and expand forward till it reached my eyes and excruciating. Since my heart attack how ever I have this maybe twice. Not the way I would go to relieve this. Glad you are feeling better,
Oh my, Colleen. And such beautiful, joyous, delicate art.
I got my first migraine when I was 14. I know what triggered it. I knew there was nothing I could do to stop it. I also knew that they ran in my family. My grandfather called them “that damn headache”. My mother had them. Two of my three siblings have them. I have cousins to have them. It’s strong on that side of the family.
I just happened to have them more than anybody. My siblings that have migraines get upset with me because they assumed that my migraines are exactly like theirs. They are not. I have tried every medication tossed me three or four fold whether it’s in the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) book or not. I have tried every single snake oil or old wive’s tale treatment anybody has suggested to me. For longer than I care to admit, I considered having the trigeminal nerves in my face severed. If someone would suggest me that sitting on a John Deere tractor in a Minnesota wheatfield and eating blueberry muffins would do something, I’d be on a plane with a box of Duncan Hines by morning.
I wish I had known this about you sooner. As they say, pain shared is pain halved. I still hope this lessens what you going through even just a little.
I’ll keep you updated about the muffins.
I’ve had migraines all my life - once a month for the last few decades. I recently was prescribed a daily dose of 10mg of topiramate, which is epilepsy medication. The migraines have mostly stopped. I still get the occasional headache, after a long stretch of work for example, but I have regained days out of every month. This is my second year on topiramate and it feels like a miracle.
Actually, it’s 25mg of topiramate daily. I got mixed up :)
Have you ever tried Migraine glasses? They look very dumb but I have a bunch of pairs in different severities because they help me have almost no migraines, along with pills and other stuff.
My migraines are rarely bad enough to send me to bed. Mine are associated with major changes in barometric pressure, like storms rolling in or coming soon and I've learned to live with them. The migraines have even been food for writing. Migraines are the subject of several of the dozens of personal essays I've published in the last two+ years. Like this one: https://www.recoveringself.com/health/me-and-my-migraines
I have always counted myself lucky. I’ve always had mild synesthesia, I’ve experienced the ‘Alice in Wonderland syndrome’ much of my life, and I have experienced complex auras that can occasionally extend to temporary blindness – but the pain, the actual headache, has rarely been part of my experience. As I say, I have always counted myself very, very lucky because of this.
My wife's synesthesia faded in the aftermath of surgery to correct trigeminal neuralgia -- she saw music as color, and really misses it.
That's interesting, I've met several people whose synesthesia faded either due to injury, aging, or surgery. I, personally, don't really miss it, but if I saw music as color, I would.
Me too, especially since I take voice lessons and we often talk about how to color a line or even a specific word.....
Thank you so much for talking about this!!! I also recently got treatment for my migraines after ending up in the ER from one. I was put on reglan, rizatriptan, magnesium and gabapentin, head injections i can't remember the name of and Botox. I just thought I had to live with the pain. Finding a neurologist who cared changed my life. I didn't know the "big little feeling" was migraine related. Again thanks for sharing this.
And thank YOU, and I really, really hope you are feeling much better.
Gabapentin made me feel weird. In a good month, I only get three migraines and Fioricet usually makes them go away.
I used to have them that started at the base of my skull and expand forward till it reached my eyes and excruciating. Since my heart attack how ever I have this maybe twice. Not the way I would go to relieve this. Glad you are feeling better,
You are amazing, Colleen^^
It is a true inspiration for all of us who encounter adversity along the way, thank you.