**Migraines are a very serious matter and are not simply just a “bad headache.” If you think you may suffer from chronic migraines, please go see a neurologist so they can diagnose the problem and help you out.
I don’t really remember a day that I’ve woken up and not had a migraine. For years now, I’ve always had this intense tension inside my head no matter what I do to try and avoid it. In high school I was diagnosed with chronic migraine syndrome, which means I suffer from migraines multiple times a month. These migraines are regularly debilitating and severe. There are times where just moving my finger sends intense pain throughout my head. The pain mainly rests behind my left eye, shooting a sharp jolt throughout the rest of my head. A lot of the time, my migraines are dormant. I can always feel the pressure in my head, but there are some days that are worse than others.
Living with migraines makes life extremely challenging. Just getting up and getting dressed can be a difficult task. People assume I’m just lazy, but these migraines cause extreme nausea and discomfort almost every day. Going to class is another problem that I face daily. Sitting there and constantly looking at the bright screens with the blaring classroom lights causes problems as well. A lot of people assume that having a migraine is the same thing as having a headache. If you’ve ever experienced a migraine you would know this is not true. Migraines are so much more intense. This year is the first year that I’ve been able to not skip at least one class every week.
After dealing with migraines for so long, I’ve learned ways to deal with them. Life cannot simply stop just because of a migraine. If I stayed home every day I had a migraine, I would quickly fail every class I’ve taken and probably get fired from my job. I have to constantly push myself through the day and hold myself together until I can be done. The problem mainly comes when I have homework to do for my classes. Going to class is already so draining for me that even thinking about doing homework makes me feel ill. As a STEM major, a lot of the work I have to do is either math-based or memorization. These tasks are extremely challenging and almost impossible to do after a day of class. This then leads to extreme procrastination because I’m constantly just waiting for my head to not hurt. I put it off to do it “when I feel better,” but that time never comes. There’s a constant battle between me and my migraines that, usually, I lose.
Some days are worse than others. Although the migraines are always there, some days they are so much stronger. When my migraines are bad, the only thing I can do to help them is sit in the dark with no sounds. This means there are moments where I even have to unplug my fish’s filter because the faint humming of the air pump drives me crazy. Any sound or light, no matter how quiet or minimal it is, causes the pain to pulse even harder in my head. I have to shut the blinds in my room and unplug anything that makes a sound. The only thing that makes me feel better is either taking medicine or going to sleep and hoping that it goes away. I try not to take medicine as my initial response because I know it’s terrible for my liver to be taking it every single day. Sometimes, though, that’s the only option I have.
There are still many things I’m willing to try when it comes to suppressing the migraines. I’m planning on getting my daith pierced soon. The daith is a pressure point for migraines, so getting it pierced acts as acupuncture. It’s not always effective, but I’ve heard that it does work for some people, so it’s worth a shot. Another option that I’m interested in trying is actual acupuncture or chiropractic care. Migraines can possibly be caused by the spine not being adjusted properly. While I haven’t noticed anything off with my spine, it’s also worth a shot.
Migraines are extremely challenging to live with, but it’s not impossible. I will continue to fight my way through the hard days until I can find some type of relief from them.
For more information on migraines visit: Migraine Research Foundation