This is my personal experience dealing with migraines and how I have personally coped with the pain and all the procedures. This is not meant to serve as medical advice.
I have struggled with headaches for most of my teenage years and I thought that it was normal and happened to everyone. I would have headaches all the time and would try Advil and it didn’t seem to do the trick and if it did it would take the pain away temporarily.
I started going to doctors at 13 years old with multiple headaches a week. I didn’t think anything of it at the time and I thought that it would be an easy cure with the right medication and treatment plan. I never knew the extent of my headaches and why they would be occurring to me. Why me? I have been a pretty healthy girl, so why would I be experiencing this type of pain at such a young age?
The pain that I experience is a sharp and throbbing pain in the center of my forehead that feels like someone is stabbing me repeatedly. Finding relief is something that I have struggled with throughout the years and is something that I still struggle with today. I have been on so many medications and done so many procedures it just feels like everything that I have tried has been extensive.
I have been on numerous medications and have had three rounds of medical Botox, two rounds of nerve blocks, I have given myself multiple injections at home and have had three MRIs. I also got a daith piercing since it has been successful for many people, but it has not given me any relief. There has not been a single solution for me that has worked which has been defeating and honestly made me want to give up all treatment for my migraines.
Throughout my life I have played soccer and have had to play through the pain. I thought that I would have to give up soccer because of the pain and that was something that I wasn’t ready to give up yet. Everything I have tried never seemed to work but I continued to play through the pain even if it did make my head feel worse. I wasn’t ready to give up that part of my life yet.
I have gone days with the same migraine and there was nothing that I could do to prevent them. Having constant pain throughout the day is draining. It makes the smallest of tasks seem big and I worry that I will miss out on big events because I am in such pain. I would take Advil a couple of times a week and then I would get a rebound headache from taking Advil so much. Something that was supposed to give me relief was also causing my pain and it just didn’t make sense to me.
For me there has not been a solution that works for me. It feels like I have tried everything possible. Some things that I do when I do get a migraine to try and help relieve the pain is taking a hot shower or bath, wearing a headache cap, sleeping, and even drinking caffeine. Nothing works completely for me but feeling any sort of relief is a win for me.
Certain things that I would never expect to be a trigger for my migraines are things like light, certain scents, loud noises, weather changes, and more. When I get a migraine, these things can make them worse and is a hard thing when you are a student and have go to classes and sit in long classes with bright lights and loud noises.
It is hard for me to focus in class most of the time when I do have a migraine, and it is the only thing I can think of which is very distracting. I lose focus and have a hard time grasping the information that is being given to me. I try and push through but sometimes it’s just too much for me. I try not to miss class but sometimes the pain is too much that I just cannot focus.
Things that I have learned from my experiences is that no matter how much pain I am in, I can push through and get things done even when things get hard. Migraines don’t define me as a person and even though they come with limitations I can still have fun while in pain.
Things I would recommend if you are experiencing migraines is to look into buying a headcap. This is something that helps relieve my pain and is something that feels good when I am experiencing a migraine. Also, I would recommend advocating for yourself and never stop. I have seen a lot of doctors and been on a lot of medications that have not worked for me, and it is frustrating, but if I were to stop now I may never find the relief I am looking for. Finding the right treatment for you and finding relief is important, so don’t give up even when things get hard.