Living with migraines; What works for me

I'm writing this through one eye, something all you fellow migraine sufferers will be able to relate to.

I deliberately waited until I had a migraine to write this post, because as soon as it's over my body seems to erase the hideous memory and I think 'What was all the fuss about, surely it can't have been that bad?'

I've suffered with migraines since my early teens, maybe even a little before that, and they run in the family. My poor mum used to be wiped out for three days every month, during her period, with an excruciating headache and sickness. My nan also suffered, although I don't think hers were linked to 'that time of the month'.

Mine also don't seem to be hormone-related. Instead, I have key triggers which I try hard to avoid although, inevitably, this isn't always possible. The main three things which bring on a migraine for me are hunger, dehydration and stress and one of them normally wins at least twice a month.

I have to be religious about eating regularly so, instead of eating three main meals a day, I tend to graze, having a snack every one-two hours. I also always carry water with me and sip continuously all day.

Today's episode, I think, has been brought on by not drinking enough after my morning run and spending too long in the sunshine without a hat.

So, what does it feel like to have a migraine? Horrendous! Mine start with a fuzzy feeling in my head for about an hour, and it feels like someone is pushing on the back of my neck. I also get an odd sensation on the bridge of my nose, again as if it's being pushed. At this stage I still don't know which eye it's going to go to.

Then, after an hour, it's as if all the pain that was dispersed in my head, neck and nose comes together on one of my temples, and it feels like there's a big, angry, hot knot inside my head. And this is when it becomes unbearable and I have to start thinking about how I'm going to get out of whatever situation I'm in and find somewhere dark to lie down.

When it's like this I envisage taking my eyeball out and rolling it around in my hand as, in my delirious state, it feels like that would help. I also imagine sticking a pin into my temple to draw out the pain although, oddly, acupuncture had no effect on me.

My migraines usually last for 12 hours and nine times out of ten I'm able to sleep them off, unless they start late at night. Quite often though, once my migraine has finished, I'll get a day of respite and then it'll return 24 hours later on the other side, but less severe.

Until about three years ago I was never sick with my migraines, I just felt nauseous. However, in recent years they've started making me physically sick (making it even harder to disguise if I'm at work, out with friends etc). A couple of times my migraine has completely disappeared after being sick and for a while I actually started making myself sick to see if it would help, but the jury's still out on this one.

Migraines are debilitating. You feel like you want to float around, so as not to jar your head, and holding half decent conversations is virtually impossible. So many occasions have been ruined for me by migraines; new year's eve, a friend's wedding, a job interview. The list is endless.

I do, however, have a few vices I swear by to get me through difficult situations (they're not miracle cures, but they do enable you to at least function).

Some of my tried and tested vices

The first I have to mention is Anadin Extra (I'm not sponsored by them, I promise). I have tried a lot of painkillers in my time and these are literally the only ones which touch my migraines. I think it might be the caffeine in them. I have to take them at just the right time though, in the window of fuzziness I spoke about earlier. If it gets to the temple stage it's too late. However, I have to be careful how many I take, as they are liable to give me a gnawing sensation in my stomach, especially if I don't take them with food.

Coca-cola is also a God send (it has to be the original one, not diet) and especially helps if I'm feeling sick, the same goes for sparkling water.

In terms of food, I always crave things which are salty when I'm suffering with a migraine. My all time favourite thing is Salt and Vinegar Squares, by Walkers. Marmite on toast has also revived me on days when I've woken up with the remains of a migraine from the day before.

When it gets to the stage where I have to retreat to bed, I like to place a cold, damp flannel on my head and also gently massage my temple. Don't, whatever you do, put something warm on your head! I tried this once and had the worst migraine I've ever had.

Obviously, over the years, I have spoken to doctors about my migraines. I started taking the pill several years ago to see if this would help. I think it did a bit but I found that, if I took two packs back-to-back, I'd get a severe three day migraine. And, about six months ago the frequency of my migraines increased to more than one a week. I'm now on a different pill, which you take continuously, and I think I've seen a slight improvement in the frequency and severity of my migraines. So, perhaps they are hormone-related after all.

All these suggestions are purely based on what I've tried in the past, and aren't based on any scientific research (although I'd love it if they conducted experiments with Squares and Marmite!). But hopefully some of you can relate to this post and I've suggested a couple of things you haven't tried before.

Right, I'm off to a dark room to eat a marmite sandwich.

Until next time.

Josie x



This post is not sponsored.