A Steady Decrease in Migraine Episodes: Does It Mean I'm Healed?
As I sit here and type today, I've been without a migraine for two weeks. That is a big deal for me! There have been seasons of my life when I would have a migraine almost every day. I started to feel like I was just 'migraine Michele,' and that's just how it was going to be.
But one day, I met a compassionate doctor who said I didn't have to live that way. And so began a 10-plus year journey to bring my migraines under control. You see, they were so disruptive to my life. So I went to my own migraine school. I studied, read, and interrogated doctors; if they didn't help me, I'd find a new doctor. I tried medications and a host of alternative therapies. I got acupuncture, I sought advice from a nutritionist. I got off coffee, I allowed a cup a day back in, and then I quit again.
I went on a quest to limit stress. I limited the amount of time I watched the news. I upped my yoga and traded 'night murder,' as my husband calls it, for reruns of Golden Girls.
And then one day, I noticed that all the things I've been trying for years were making a difference. I started writing about my experience and sharing advice with other people battling migraine. I recently wondered: 'Am I cured?'
Unfortunately, there is no cure for migraine, but they can be managed to a point where it might feel like you're cured. I have some theories about why I'm benefiting from more migraine-free days.
My hormones have changed. I used to get migraine attacks like clockwork a few days before my period. One of my OB/GYNs explained that it had to do with fluctuating hormones. It was often the first sign that my cycle was on the way. I didn't have bad cramps like some of my friends, but my period migraine attacks could shut me down! As I've gotten older, closer to perimenopause, my migraine episodes are less frequent. Unfortunately, lots of other symptoms (night sweats, brain fog, etc.) have taken their place.
I'm transparent about them. I used to keep my migraine attacks a secret. Only those closest to me knew about them. I was a little embarrassed to be sidelined by 'just a headache.' But that approach just didn't work. I don't have to tell all my business, but I'll speak up when I need to.
'Michele, can you attend my party tonight? So sorry, I feel a migraine coming on, so I'll stay home.'
'Michele, can you pick up this extra project at work? Unfortunately, my plate is full, and I don't want to run this risk of triggering a series of migraines. Could we revisit in about a week or so?'
'Michele, we really need to discuss this controversial issue right now! It's not a good time for me. Could you give me a day to rest, and let's meet for coffee tomorrow? I'm having some migraine symptoms.'
I feed myself. My migraine episodes started when I was a teen, but I was well into adulthood when I learned that skipping meals could trigger them. A nutritionist challenged me to try eating every three to four hours as recommended, and it made a huge difference in my migraine frequency and intensity. The cool thing is it didn't even have to be a meal. I could get by with a snack, too.
I don't like them, but I respect them. I wouldn't wish migraine episodes on my worst enemy. For years, I thought if I ignored them, they'd go away. I would be in denial each time the typical symptoms would emerge. That type of approach led to painful, day-ruining, life-altering migraines. I would delay treating them, hoping time or simply lying down would do the trick. Oh, how naive I was! These days, the moment I feel a migraine coming on, I pay attention. I get to a quiet space. I take my medication. I begin rearranging my schedule to accommodate some downtime.
While I've come to terms that I'll likely never be 'cured' of migraines, I can enjoy more and more days that are free of them.
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As I sit here and type today, I've been without a migraine for two weeks. That is a big deal for me! There have been seasons of my life when I would have a migraine almost every day. I started to feel like I was just 'migraine Michele,' and that's just how it was going to be. But one day, I met a compassionate doctor who said I didn't have to live that way. And so began a 10-plus year journey to bring my migraines under control. You see, they were so disruptive to my life. So I went to my own migraine school. I studied, read, and interrogated doctors; if they didn't help me, I'd find a new doctor. I tried medications and a host of alternative therapies. I got acupuncture, I sought advice from a nutritionist. I got off coffee, I allowed a cup a day back in, and then I quit again. I went on a quest to limit stress. I limited the amount of time I watched the news. I upped my yoga and traded 'night murder,' as my husband calls it, for reruns of Golden Girls. And then one day, I noticed that all the things I've been trying for years were making a difference. I started writing about my experience and sharing advice with other people battling migraine. I recently wondered: 'Am I cured?' Unfortunately, there is no cure for migraine, but they can be managed to a point where it might feel like you're cured. I have some theories about why I'm benefiting from more migraine-free days. My hormones have changed. I used to get migraine attacks like clockwork a few days before my period. One of my OB/GYNs explained that it had to do with fluctuating hormones. It was often the first sign that my cycle was on the way. I didn't have bad cramps like some of my friends, but my period migraine attacks could shut me down! As I've gotten older, closer to perimenopause, my migraine episodes are less frequent. Unfortunately, lots of other symptoms (night sweats, brain fog, etc.) have taken their place. I'm transparent about them. I used to keep my migraine attacks a secret. Only those closest to me knew about them. I was a little embarrassed to be sidelined by 'just a headache.' But that approach just didn't work. I don't have to tell all my business, but I'll speak up when I need to. 'Michele, can you attend my party tonight? So sorry, I feel a migraine coming on, so I'll stay home.' 'Michele, can you pick up this extra project at work? Unfortunately, my plate is full, and I don't want to run this risk of triggering a series of migraines. Could we revisit in about a week or so?' 'Michele, we really need to discuss this controversial issue right now! It's not a good time for me. Could you give me a day to rest, and let's meet for coffee tomorrow? I'm having some migraine symptoms.' I feed myself. My migraine episodes started when I was a teen, but I was well into adulthood when I learned that skipping meals could trigger them. A nutritionist challenged me to try eating every three to four hours as recommended, and it made a huge difference in my migraine frequency and intensity. The cool thing is it didn't even have to be a meal. I could get by with a snack, too. I don't like them, but I respect them. I wouldn't wish migraine episodes on my worst enemy. For years, I thought if I ignored them, they'd go away. I would be in denial each time the typical symptoms would emerge. That type of approach led to painful, day-ruining, life-altering migraines. I would delay treating them, hoping time or simply lying down would do the trick. Oh, how naive I was! These days, the moment I feel a migraine coming on, I pay attention. I get to a quiet space. I take my medication. I begin rearranging my schedule to accommodate some downtime. While I've come to terms that I'll likely never be 'cured' of migraines, I can enjoy more and more days that are free of them.
