Migraine

This happens so rarely, I felt the need to share it with all of you.

I posted an extremely long entry on my blog, which I won't repost here. Basically the entry was a mini history of my struggle with migraine and headache disease, and where I'm at now: currently my migraines are way out of control, I have good docs working with me, but still not feeling as good as I could be. I'm still coming to terms with my illness, learning to accept my limits and work with them.

Three friends of mine, none of whom have migraines or chronic headaches, posted comments that I wanted to share with all of you.

1. "Just keep holding on, my friend. Things will improve eventually."

2. "On choice: Most people simply make their choices and leave the momentous decisions for things like buying a house. It sounds to me like the difference is that simple choices become decisions for you. So in that sense you don't get choices. You're forced to make decisions, and the weight of each decision carries with it a stress load quite unlike that of mere choices. And since other folks don't have that load, they really aren't likely to get how the process affects every other aspect of life. 'Well, why can't you just...?' You can never 'just...' anything. All of this is, of course, conjecture on my part."

3. "Over the summer I was diagnosed with a condition that also currently requires planning and escape routes for everyday life. Although my situation pales in comparison to the severity of yours, I understand a little how the constant maintenance can wear on you in addition to the symptoms. What I have found to help recently is just remembering a prayer/saying. Although it's technically Christian, the message is also really a mantra. 'God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.' It's helped me chill out during certain things I used to try to control, and realize that no matter my symptoms I can still at least try to be happy in my life as it is. *shrug, maybe it will help."


Sometimes, words of support and encouragement can come from the most unlikely places. Just wanted to share that with all of you.

I do believe that people who have never had migraines can not conceive of the pain. That's something I don't say about too many things; I generally believe people can understand experiences they've never had. But some people are able to be empathetic even though they may not be able to conceive of the pain. Like the person who said to me that since she'd never had one, she couldn't imagine how awful it must be. Support like that is invaluable.

MJ, Thank you so much for sharing those posts from your friends. It is wonderful to hear and to know that you are getting that kind of support and understanding from friends that don't have migraines. It is wonderful to hear what they have to say. Thank you again for sharing.
Kelly