A Day in the Life

By Katie M. Golden, as informed to Kara Mayer Robinson

As somebody residing with power migraine, every single day is totally different. There’s no remedy for this genetic neurologic illness, however there are issues I do to handle my day-to-day life.

I am 40 years previous and I stay in Santa Monica, CA. I’m an expert author and an advocate for folks with power ache circumstances. I discover power to get by way of my days with this private mantra: By no means let your ache go to waste.

Let me clarify.

I had my first migraine assault after I was 5 years previous. All through grade faculty, faculty, and into my skilled life, I continued to have migraine assaults. Throughout a few of these intervals, I undoubtedly met the standards for having power migraine illness. However I didn’t notice it till later.

Eleven years in the past, I had a migraine assault that I couldn’t shake. I missed 2 straight months of labor and was utterly bedridden.

How It Feels to Have Power Migraine

Mild and sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting are what most individuals consider after they hear the phrase migraine. I want that was all I needed to cope with.

I expertise:

• Cognitive impairment
• Lack of phrases
• Hassle making selections
• Excessive fatigue
• Numbness and tingling
• Clumsiness
• Ringing in my ears
• Sensitivity to the touch

My migraine assaults could be very painful and disabling. The ache is louder than any rock live performance I’ve ever been to. My face feels prefer it’s melting or drooping. My physique tenses up and all I can take into consideration is attending to mattress.

This could final for 4 hours or every week. When the worst of it’s over, I’ve to push myself through the restoration interval in order that I can escape of the cycle.

How I Handle the Ache

I take drugs and dietary supplements every single day to attempt to stop my ache from spiking. I do know it’s time to achieve for acute remedy when the pounding in my left temple and the stabbing ache behind my eyes is all I can take into consideration. However it doesn’t all the time assist.

About every year, I’ve inpatient remedy that lasts for five days. My docs give me a cocktail of medicines that assist to carry my common ache ranges down just a few notches. The consequences final 6-8 months.

There are some things I do after I’m within the thick of a horrible migraine. Getting a therapeutic massage or utilizing an at-home therapeutic massage curler or ball helps. I like utilizing important oils like lavender or peppermint. I additionally love utilizing a weighted blanket. And though it is extremely laborious, I attempt to stand up and stroll. The earlier I begin shifting, the earlier I start to really feel higher. 

Ups and Downs

There’s actually no typical day for me. What every day is like depends upon how intense my ache is and for a way lengthy. Since I’ve power intractable migraine, I all the time have some degree of ache.

On high-functioning days, my ache is low and tolerable.

I’m best within the morning. I eat breakfast. I attempt to do some type of train, even when it’s only for 20 minutes. I additionally take remedy to maintain the ache degree tolerable.

I could take time to put in writing, make physician’s appointments, or do a small quantity of house responsibilities. If my ache degree spikes, I could take a nap. Once I get up, I could really feel just a little higher.

Typically I’ve bursts of vitality and wish to get the whole lot finished. However I’ve discovered that an excessive amount of exercise can burn me out for days to come back. I unfold out my errands and family chores all through the week.

I additionally attempt to maintain an everyday sleep schedule. However my head ache usually spikes at evening, which may make it laborious to get to sleep. I could take extra remedy to forestall it from getting worse and to regulate my signs for the following day.

On high-pain days, I’m fortunate if I make it away from bed.

On these low-functioning days, any plans I had are thrown out the window. Leaving my house is out of the query. Studying, watching TV, and even my telephone makes it worse. I could fall asleep, hoping the ache alerts cease firing whereas I’m resting.

Dwelling With Unpredictability

The folks closest to me know and perceive the unpredictable nature of this illness. If I make plans, it’s all the time with the caveat that it depends upon how I really feel. I attempt to not overpromise. I nonetheless get FOMO, or worry of lacking out. However I do know my limitations and the way my physique will really feel if I do an excessive amount of.

How Life-style Adjustments Assist

Yoga, strolling, and mindfulness have helped me. However typically even minor bodily exertion could make my ache worse.

It’s taken a very long time for me to grow to be in tune with my migraine physique. It took me 2 years of working with a coach to get again to my yoga mat and learn to use modified variations of poses.

I can’t change the best way my life is from each day. However I attempt to use my experiences with power migraine to assist others. I’m now the migraine advocacy liaison for the U.S. Ache Basis. I’m additionally the director of affected person relations for the Coalition for Headache and Migraine Sufferers (CHAMP). It comes again to my private mantra: By no means let your ache go to waste.