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Jan. 28th, 2005 09:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andverygingerNormally, I don't like reading anything on MSN. This, however, is an exception.
Having been a migraine sufferer for about eight years now, I'm still learning to manage the pain. My doc and I have finally found some medication that works without completely knocking me out, and I try to do things to lessen the impact of stress in my life -- karate, writing, etc. I've even started watching what I eat, and avoiding my trigger foods -- dry red wines, MSG, really sharp cheeses. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome, however, has been trying to get people to understand that it's not just a "headache" -- that there's a lot more involved. For instance, my own experiences include auras, slight nausea (only been sick once, and that was the first attack), slow-thinking, and a lack/loss of fine motor control (i.e. my typing goes to crap in a hurry), in addition to the excruciating pain. Trying to get people to understand that I can't simply take some Tylenol and get back to work has been a chore. Even worse is when I have to call in because I really am immobilized, curled up in bed with a mask over my eyes to keep things dark enough. People can say the most insensitive things (even at good times), but the middle of a migraine attack is NOT the place to say "Oh, it's just a headache." It might get you clobbered.
Having been a migraine sufferer for about eight years now, I'm still learning to manage the pain. My doc and I have finally found some medication that works without completely knocking me out, and I try to do things to lessen the impact of stress in my life -- karate, writing, etc. I've even started watching what I eat, and avoiding my trigger foods -- dry red wines, MSG, really sharp cheeses. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome, however, has been trying to get people to understand that it's not just a "headache" -- that there's a lot more involved. For instance, my own experiences include auras, slight nausea (only been sick once, and that was the first attack), slow-thinking, and a lack/loss of fine motor control (i.e. my typing goes to crap in a hurry), in addition to the excruciating pain. Trying to get people to understand that I can't simply take some Tylenol and get back to work has been a chore. Even worse is when I have to call in because I really am immobilized, curled up in bed with a mask over my eyes to keep things dark enough. People can say the most insensitive things (even at good times), but the middle of a migraine attack is NOT the place to say "Oh, it's just a headache." It might get you clobbered.
