Migraine mum is feeling washed out from 2 days of pain, noise and light phobia. It all started on Thursday night when I woke up at 2am with an excruciating stomach pain, (I'm only used to head pain and know what to do with that!) I thought I was going to be sick. It felt like a reaction to something and bearing in mind I've not been eating gluten for nearly two weeks, I wondered if maybe I had eaten some by accident.
So, I went downstairs, doubled up in pain, made a hot water bottle, took an anti sickness pill and started to google food I had eaten......doubled up over my laptop!!....why did I put Guinness in my Steak and Guinness stew?? ..all beer and ales have gluten in!! Well, I know that now......
The headache reared its ugly head on Saturday. "Oh I can get rid of that with aspirin!" I said to myself optimistically. But no I couldn't......I took the triptan and said to my husband, "I know I get migraines very frequently, but at least I don't have to go to bed much these days with them, they're much milder than they used to be!"...
The Ugly Beast heard these confident words and decided to show me that the Ugly Beast is still in charge.......the pain (in my head this time) woke me up in the night and I resorted to another snort of triptan. I was bed bound on Sunday morning but managed to sleep. When I woke up, the Ugly Beast made sure I felt rubbish, low, weepy and unable to deal effectively with my boundary testing children.
Later I began to feel some more energy and managed to convince myself to go out with my family for a meal. I wanted to grasp the day, but I found myself following child number 3 around the overheated pub, standing at fruit machines (with my Migraine glasses on), and going in and out of toilets (she has an obsession with going to public toilets) On the third visit just after she had shouted "I'm going to have a squidgy pooh!" while everyone was eating their Sunday roast (the gravy suddenly didn't look too appetising!), I rushed her in to the toilet, locked the door..........and watched her rip toilet paper up, flinging it into the air and shouting, "mum, we're locked in the dungeon!".........she didn't need the toilet.......
She summed it all up. I felt I was locked in the dungeon.......trapped on my own with the Ugly Beast (who is not my child I hasten to add!) I realised that even when the pain has gone, the post migraine phase can be as debilitating as the migraine pain itself. The impact of having a migraine when you need to be social and energetic is asking too much of anyone's brain. The Ugly Beast sends you into solitary confinement, isolating you from everyone and it's very hard to combat.
The Ugly Beast is still lurking but I've had stern words with it. I have told the Ugly Beast that if I find that I cannot get rid of it with a gluten or a dairy free diet, then having tried every prophylactic drug under the sun, and alternative therapies, I may get rescued by the new Knight in shining armour....Botox.........I can feel Ugly Beast's power is now shrinking away as this new hope emerges for migraine sufferers and may be for me......
So I could end up migraine free and looking like Angelina Jolie! What a result!
(See the links for more information on Botox)
Monday, 14 May 2012
Monday, 7 May 2012
Migraine Toolkit Part 3: Preventing Migraines..it's not easy!
Migraine Mum is yawning her way into the virtual world of Blogdom. In fact, I'm not sure I can be blogged to blog.
Knowing that sitting at the computer is one of my triggers for migraine is frankly very inconvenient when I am trying to blog about having migraines! (NEE-NAR NEE-NAR. The migraine police has just entered the room and correctly told Migraine mum to sit at the table with the laptop (not the settee!) and put the light on so Migraine mum can actually see the keyboard!!)
There, that's better, I've even got a cushion behind me to support my back.
Right, I am going to keep this short.
I have been in a migrainous state for 2 days....this means that I feel as though one is coming but luckily, something is keeping it at bay. I feel tired, sore in the head, neck and shoulders, irritable, light sensitive and slightly anxious (I have to be on form for tomorrow as we are back to normal routines with me parenting on my own for chunks of the day. I can't be ill!)
This migrainous state is utterly explainable when you look at the pace of family life. We have had an amazingly social and lovely weekend. A family farewell, a late night in the pub, a duck race (plastic ones!), a walk with friends, church, socialising with family, 2 children's parties....not to mention the gigantic loads of washing, shopping and tidying up that has to go on inbetween all these exciting events!
When I see that list, I think, no wonder I'm not feeling right. However, instead of just feeling tired, my body decides it is going to kindly remind me I've overdone it by provoking symptoms of migraine. It is, I believe, a warning sign and is raising the alarm, reminding me to pace myself........
But despite this migrainous state I haven't had to take a tablet. Something is preventing me from having one. I'm really pleased with this!
I am looking after myself during and either side of this busyness......
All in all, living with migraine can turn you into a control freak who can't be wild, spontaneous or lazy!! You have to be prepared and organized for everything!! Oh and stay relaxed!
Anyway, last week, I decided to do an experiment and give up Gluten.......the jury is out on this, but I have noticed that I feel a spark in me....a spark of energy, lightness, clearheadedness. It is early days but I am keen to continue with this experiment as it may be helping me to raise my threshold for migraine. There is a strong chance it is a placebo but time will tell. I'm not expecting this to be a miracle and cure me.....I know there are many reasons why I get migraine but I just want to try to tackle the number of migraines I get, and subsequently the number of drugs I take..
So, with this in mind, I'm off to breathe, stretch, drink, eat (gluten free) and sleep. Night Night, don't let the migraine bite! x
Knowing that sitting at the computer is one of my triggers for migraine is frankly very inconvenient when I am trying to blog about having migraines! (NEE-NAR NEE-NAR. The migraine police has just entered the room and correctly told Migraine mum to sit at the table with the laptop (not the settee!) and put the light on so Migraine mum can actually see the keyboard!!)
There, that's better, I've even got a cushion behind me to support my back.
Right, I am going to keep this short.
I have been in a migrainous state for 2 days....this means that I feel as though one is coming but luckily, something is keeping it at bay. I feel tired, sore in the head, neck and shoulders, irritable, light sensitive and slightly anxious (I have to be on form for tomorrow as we are back to normal routines with me parenting on my own for chunks of the day. I can't be ill!)
This migrainous state is utterly explainable when you look at the pace of family life. We have had an amazingly social and lovely weekend. A family farewell, a late night in the pub, a duck race (plastic ones!), a walk with friends, church, socialising with family, 2 children's parties....not to mention the gigantic loads of washing, shopping and tidying up that has to go on inbetween all these exciting events!
When I see that list, I think, no wonder I'm not feeling right. However, instead of just feeling tired, my body decides it is going to kindly remind me I've overdone it by provoking symptoms of migraine. It is, I believe, a warning sign and is raising the alarm, reminding me to pace myself........
But despite this migrainous state I haven't had to take a tablet. Something is preventing me from having one. I'm really pleased with this!
I am looking after myself during and either side of this busyness......
- drinking water,
- trying to eat little and often,
- breathing (I'm not joking.....I've been catching myself holding my breath!!),
- stretching (I do pilates...more on this another time!),
- going to bed and getting up roughly the same times each day (apparently lying in can give you a migraine.....oh, and so can having late nights too)......
All in all, living with migraine can turn you into a control freak who can't be wild, spontaneous or lazy!! You have to be prepared and organized for everything!! Oh and stay relaxed!
Anyway, last week, I decided to do an experiment and give up Gluten.......the jury is out on this, but I have noticed that I feel a spark in me....a spark of energy, lightness, clearheadedness. It is early days but I am keen to continue with this experiment as it may be helping me to raise my threshold for migraine. There is a strong chance it is a placebo but time will tell. I'm not expecting this to be a miracle and cure me.....I know there are many reasons why I get migraine but I just want to try to tackle the number of migraines I get, and subsequently the number of drugs I take..
So, with this in mind, I'm off to breathe, stretch, drink, eat (gluten free) and sleep. Night Night, don't let the migraine bite! x
Monday, 30 April 2012
Migraine and Diet: the search for the Holy Grail......
Over the years that I have had migraine I have developed a tense relationship with certain food and drink! I cover it up as much as I can but quite clearly this is impossible. The other day my 3 year old girl looked at my unusual lunchtime choice of rice and chicken tikka (I normally have a sandwich) and she said to me "mummy, have you got a migraine?".......
Clearly my relationship with food is complex......and the more I hear and read, the more I realise what a complex area it is.......this is where I stand at the moment with the food and drink in my life......
I have fallen out with alcohol big time because of the number of self induced migraines it has caused me. I only ever consumed a small(ish) amount but it made me sick (in the toilet) and sick (in the head). I called it a day a fair few years ago when even a glass of wine seemed to wipe out the following day or two. However, I understand from reading around that it's not the alcohol itself but something called congeners. These are found in wine in large amounts but not as much in vodka or gin........that cheers me up no end and when I feel fabulous, I am going to introduce a vodka or two into my life.......
I'm not talking to citrus fruit either.......no more satsumas or oranges. This might seem unfair to the unassuming satsuma as I have no evidence that it does cause migraines at all, I'm just being very cautious.
I'm deeply in love with cheese. I love the smell, the texture, the way it melts......hmmmm, and it pains me to say that (sniff) I have had to say a fond farewell (sniff), with tears in my eyes......
(sorry, I just need a break.....)......(sniff, blow nose)........to brie, mature cheddar and parmesan. Again, I'm not absolutely completely sure that there is a link.....so I may be depriving myself for absolutely completely no reason......but all the books mention it and everyone who doesn't suffer from migraine seems to know that cheese is a trigger.
Chocolate....again I'm not giving it any of my attention......the children have it and I vacate the room as I am lured in by its tempting aroma. It sits there in my sweet cupboard and calls to me.....Migraine mum.....come to me...you want me........I get seduced, give into temptation and then like an elicit affair, feel really guilty......
I have had many well meaning people tell me their migraine stories. "have you tried giving up tomotoes?"or "my migraines completely and absolutely stopped when I gave up eating chocolate and cheese together" or once in a health food shop the shop assistant said to me "have you tried giving up dairy, sugar, wheat, caffeine, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus fruit, chocolate, eggs, and gluten....?" ....AND LIFE??????
But I'm left with this gnawing feeling that may be thats what I've got to do.......to face up to reality that the shere frequency of my migraines must be linked to something else in my diet,,,,and if I could just find that bit of my diet that is causing all this pain then there would be no more migraines......or less migraines...I'd settle for that!
So the search for the Holy Grail begins........more to follow next week..........
Clearly my relationship with food is complex......and the more I hear and read, the more I realise what a complex area it is.......this is where I stand at the moment with the food and drink in my life......
I have fallen out with alcohol big time because of the number of self induced migraines it has caused me. I only ever consumed a small(ish) amount but it made me sick (in the toilet) and sick (in the head). I called it a day a fair few years ago when even a glass of wine seemed to wipe out the following day or two. However, I understand from reading around that it's not the alcohol itself but something called congeners. These are found in wine in large amounts but not as much in vodka or gin........that cheers me up no end and when I feel fabulous, I am going to introduce a vodka or two into my life.......
I'm not talking to citrus fruit either.......no more satsumas or oranges. This might seem unfair to the unassuming satsuma as I have no evidence that it does cause migraines at all, I'm just being very cautious.
I'm deeply in love with cheese. I love the smell, the texture, the way it melts......hmmmm, and it pains me to say that (sniff) I have had to say a fond farewell (sniff), with tears in my eyes......
(sorry, I just need a break.....)......(sniff, blow nose)........to brie, mature cheddar and parmesan. Again, I'm not absolutely completely sure that there is a link.....so I may be depriving myself for absolutely completely no reason......but all the books mention it and everyone who doesn't suffer from migraine seems to know that cheese is a trigger.
Chocolate....again I'm not giving it any of my attention......the children have it and I vacate the room as I am lured in by its tempting aroma. It sits there in my sweet cupboard and calls to me.....Migraine mum.....come to me...you want me........I get seduced, give into temptation and then like an elicit affair, feel really guilty......
I have had many well meaning people tell me their migraine stories. "have you tried giving up tomotoes?"or "my migraines completely and absolutely stopped when I gave up eating chocolate and cheese together" or once in a health food shop the shop assistant said to me "have you tried giving up dairy, sugar, wheat, caffeine, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus fruit, chocolate, eggs, and gluten....?" ....AND LIFE??????
But I'm left with this gnawing feeling that may be thats what I've got to do.......to face up to reality that the shere frequency of my migraines must be linked to something else in my diet,,,,and if I could just find that bit of my diet that is causing all this pain then there would be no more migraines......or less migraines...I'd settle for that!
So the search for the Holy Grail begins........more to follow next week..........
Monday, 23 April 2012
1 wedding, 2 sick children and a migraine........
Health Warning: it has been brought to Migraine Mum's attention that this blog entry may trigger a migraine.
Get in the Tardis with me, I'm going to take you back to Thursday night 1am, my house (whirring noise).......Ah! Here we are.....look! I'm in bed, asleep, and then
Child no 2: "mummy, I'm going to be sick!" Migraine mum quickly catapaults herself out of bed and rushes this poor child to the bathroom. She is expertly sick into the toilet and then Migraine mum settles child no 2 back to bed......
Migraine mum lies awake and thinks....."oh no, we are travelling 3 hours in the car tomorrow. We are going to a family wedding!! Child no 2 can't be ill, she's going to be a bridesmaid!!! Don't get stresssed, you need your sleep......you may get a migraine.....Deep breaths.......
Friday morning: packing....Packing is now a different ball game. Not only am I packing for the wedding but now I'm thinking she may be sick all over the car, her clothes, my clothes. Someone else may get the bug, so better take more clothes, cleaning products, sick bags, four different types of medicine for the children (not to mention the crate load I take for myself!!), jelly, biscuits, tic tacs, bottles of water with colour coded stickers on to make sure child no 2 keeps her germs to herself............oh, and I mustn't forget to pack my migraine........it always comes with me when I travel! I don't think it likes being left at home on its own.......
Friday evening: we made it!!!! No more sick!!!! Child no 2 is ok. I'm so pleased for her. Hang on, I'm feeling rough....oh, it's because its 7pm and I haven't eaten my tea yet.....quick order that food, I need it now!! I can't get a migraine!
Friday night: arggh, hotel said they could cater for 5 of us in a family room but there are only enough beds for 4........child no 3 is in bed with us, wriggling, and she wakes us all up at 3.45am shouting "I want to go in the other bed!!!!!". Everyone settles back, but migraine mum lies awake (again).....can't sleep....get to sleep....you don't want to get a migraine......did I pack the bridesmaid dresses?! what if I left them at home? Did my husband pack his trousers...I don't remember seeing them...I get up and start rustling through the bags to check....phew, ok, all is ok. Stress, don't stress, you may get a migraine........
Saturday morning: We wake up....child no 2 is fine and I have no migraine! wow! We have a lovely walk in the countryside with everyone. I get the children dressed (they look gorgeous!) we go to the wedding. Hang on I forgot to eat lunch!! whoops! Wedding is lovely....I'm starving...canapes, I need canapes.........oooh, a glass of champagne!! oh, go on then.......(what am I thinking?????)......
Saturday afternoon: the food is here!!!!!! ...I gulp it down.....water, I really need water.. smile, someone is taking a photo.........I start to wilt and conversation is getting harder, then a bit later child no 1 is in tears and says he feels awful......he has a raging temperature!! We leave the wedding and luckily I get a surge of adrenaline to help him.............
Saturday evening: back in hotel, all are asleep. My lovely husband sleeps with the wriggler (yawn) and.......I (yawn), fall asleep, (yawn), too, so.....tired!! I've put my body (yawn) through a lot today, sleep (yawn) will help.........and then, oh no...........
I wake up with a pounding head. I turn on my phone to see what time it is (12.45am) and the light shines so brightly I think I'm going to be sick!! quick, emergency triptan, emergency!!! I take it. Thank God for triptans........always pack the triptans..............
Get in the Tardis with me, I'm going to take you back to Thursday night 1am, my house (whirring noise).......Ah! Here we are.....look! I'm in bed, asleep, and then
Child no 2: "mummy, I'm going to be sick!" Migraine mum quickly catapaults herself out of bed and rushes this poor child to the bathroom. She is expertly sick into the toilet and then Migraine mum settles child no 2 back to bed......
Migraine mum lies awake and thinks....."oh no, we are travelling 3 hours in the car tomorrow. We are going to a family wedding!! Child no 2 can't be ill, she's going to be a bridesmaid!!! Don't get stresssed, you need your sleep......you may get a migraine.....Deep breaths.......
Friday morning: packing....Packing is now a different ball game. Not only am I packing for the wedding but now I'm thinking she may be sick all over the car, her clothes, my clothes. Someone else may get the bug, so better take more clothes, cleaning products, sick bags, four different types of medicine for the children (not to mention the crate load I take for myself!!), jelly, biscuits, tic tacs, bottles of water with colour coded stickers on to make sure child no 2 keeps her germs to herself............oh, and I mustn't forget to pack my migraine........it always comes with me when I travel! I don't think it likes being left at home on its own.......
Friday evening: we made it!!!! No more sick!!!! Child no 2 is ok. I'm so pleased for her. Hang on, I'm feeling rough....oh, it's because its 7pm and I haven't eaten my tea yet.....quick order that food, I need it now!! I can't get a migraine!
Friday night: arggh, hotel said they could cater for 5 of us in a family room but there are only enough beds for 4........child no 3 is in bed with us, wriggling, and she wakes us all up at 3.45am shouting "I want to go in the other bed!!!!!". Everyone settles back, but migraine mum lies awake (again).....can't sleep....get to sleep....you don't want to get a migraine......did I pack the bridesmaid dresses?! what if I left them at home? Did my husband pack his trousers...I don't remember seeing them...I get up and start rustling through the bags to check....phew, ok, all is ok. Stress, don't stress, you may get a migraine........
Saturday morning: We wake up....child no 2 is fine and I have no migraine! wow! We have a lovely walk in the countryside with everyone. I get the children dressed (they look gorgeous!) we go to the wedding. Hang on I forgot to eat lunch!! whoops! Wedding is lovely....I'm starving...canapes, I need canapes.........oooh, a glass of champagne!! oh, go on then.......(what am I thinking?????)......
Saturday afternoon: the food is here!!!!!! ...I gulp it down.....water, I really need water.. smile, someone is taking a photo.........I start to wilt and conversation is getting harder, then a bit later child no 1 is in tears and says he feels awful......he has a raging temperature!! We leave the wedding and luckily I get a surge of adrenaline to help him.............
Saturday evening: back in hotel, all are asleep. My lovely husband sleeps with the wriggler (yawn) and.......I (yawn), fall asleep, (yawn), too, so.....tired!! I've put my body (yawn) through a lot today, sleep (yawn) will help.........and then, oh no...........
I wake up with a pounding head. I turn on my phone to see what time it is (12.45am) and the light shines so brightly I think I'm going to be sick!! quick, emergency triptan, emergency!!! I take it. Thank God for triptans........always pack the triptans..............
Monday, 16 April 2012
Migraine Tool Kit part 2: pacing yourself
Migraine mum is easing herself back into life........
Cup of decaf tea in hand, warming myself into Monday morning and a new term. It's gloriously sunny out there...and even though I don't have a migraine, I feel as blue as the sky..........
Any chronic illness can lead to a negative impact on every aspect of your life. But I am learning (slowly) that it is vital to pace yourself, otherwise everything just gets worse.....
This is a hard thing to do: I love saying yes and I hate missing out. I love being with people but being with people drains me. I need space to rejuvenate myself. Sometimes I wonder if my body generates a migraine to force me into stopping and giving myself space......
But why do I plough on?? One of the reasons is that I don't want to be defined by this illness. Ironically if I only got one migraine every so often, I probably would allow myself to stop. But because I get them so regularly I feel it is a necessity for myself to carry on.......regardless of the impact on my physical and inner self.
I can do that for awhile but eventually I get caught out and the lows hit me hard. I know when they are coming because I start to view the world with criticism, anxiety and low confidence. Then, I end up using even more energy to cope.. and rather cleverly and predictably creating more lows and more migraines........anyone telling me this story would fill me with sympathy and I would say "you need a rest".....
Yesterday I listened to my own advice and took myself off for a rest. Then my children found me hiding in my bed!! My initial internal reaction was to think "oh no! I'm going to have to find the energy to be Jeremy or the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or a sausage (sizzling not raw*)...........but they were sensitive and lovely, giving me kisses, cuddles and saying they loved me. The hope started to glow a little and it made me realize that although family life can drain me, it can also give me hope and prove to me that I am more than a migraine.
(If you suffer from migraine, take a rest today, do something that gives energy back to you. Promise yourself 30 minutes of space.)
* this was once a request by my youngest child. I was a sizzling sausage and she played the part of an egg (fried).
Cup of decaf tea in hand, warming myself into Monday morning and a new term. It's gloriously sunny out there...and even though I don't have a migraine, I feel as blue as the sky..........
Any chronic illness can lead to a negative impact on every aspect of your life. But I am learning (slowly) that it is vital to pace yourself, otherwise everything just gets worse.....
This is a hard thing to do: I love saying yes and I hate missing out. I love being with people but being with people drains me. I need space to rejuvenate myself. Sometimes I wonder if my body generates a migraine to force me into stopping and giving myself space......
But why do I plough on?? One of the reasons is that I don't want to be defined by this illness. Ironically if I only got one migraine every so often, I probably would allow myself to stop. But because I get them so regularly I feel it is a necessity for myself to carry on.......regardless of the impact on my physical and inner self.
I can do that for awhile but eventually I get caught out and the lows hit me hard. I know when they are coming because I start to view the world with criticism, anxiety and low confidence. Then, I end up using even more energy to cope.. and rather cleverly and predictably creating more lows and more migraines........anyone telling me this story would fill me with sympathy and I would say "you need a rest".....
Yesterday I listened to my own advice and took myself off for a rest. Then my children found me hiding in my bed!! My initial internal reaction was to think "oh no! I'm going to have to find the energy to be Jeremy or the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or a sausage (sizzling not raw*)...........but they were sensitive and lovely, giving me kisses, cuddles and saying they loved me. The hope started to glow a little and it made me realize that although family life can drain me, it can also give me hope and prove to me that I am more than a migraine.
(If you suffer from migraine, take a rest today, do something that gives energy back to you. Promise yourself 30 minutes of space.)
* this was once a request by my youngest child. I was a sizzling sausage and she played the part of an egg (fried).
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Dilemma: chocolate, friend or foe?
Specialist migraine detective reporting back to HQ........
It's nearly Easter and I'm looking forward to seeing if the Easter bunny brings me any chocolate! (milk chocolate please, if you are reading this Easter Bunny)
Officially, I can absolutely, completely stuff myself with Easter chocolate from midnight tonight.......I gave up chocolate for Lent, with slight ulterior motives I have to confess, as I wanted to see if it may be a trigger for some of the migraines I get......
Medically, the jury is still out......no chocolate this last 6 weeks yet I have had 25 days with headache and migraine.......
I know my sister is affected by caffeine, a friend of mine is convinced his migraines got better when he cut out tomatoes, and I'm wondering if I'm just plain thick!! Why can't I find a trigger that I can say, "if I just cut that out then I can reduce the mumber of migraines I get"?!
What I do know is I often crave sweet things just before my migraine comes. Research backs this up (at least I can have that certainty!) and adds that once you start to crave sweet things, your migraine is most likely on its ways already. As chocolate is the last thing you may eat before the pain of the migraine starts, you associate migraine with the chocolate.
Dilemma: What do I do tomorrow when my house will be full of Easter eggs. (No one will buy me any as I've stupidly told them it may be one of my migraine triggers) Will I sneakily eat some of my children's Easter Chocolate? 3 children = tons of Easter eggs..........they won't notice) (I hope) What if I get a migraine....won't I always be wondering that may be I caused that one myself?!
So, to eat or not to eat that is the question. Well, yes.....no....oh may be....yes.....possibly....don't be silly I might get a migraine.......I probably will anyway....I might as well then....no that's just being wreckless...................ok, yes I will eat some chocolate, but with tons of guilt! Sorry children for nicking your chocolate and sorry brain for may be, just possibly but probably not causing a migraine!
Happy Migraine Free Easter to you all. x
It's nearly Easter and I'm looking forward to seeing if the Easter bunny brings me any chocolate! (milk chocolate please, if you are reading this Easter Bunny)
Officially, I can absolutely, completely stuff myself with Easter chocolate from midnight tonight.......I gave up chocolate for Lent, with slight ulterior motives I have to confess, as I wanted to see if it may be a trigger for some of the migraines I get......
Medically, the jury is still out......no chocolate this last 6 weeks yet I have had 25 days with headache and migraine.......
I know my sister is affected by caffeine, a friend of mine is convinced his migraines got better when he cut out tomatoes, and I'm wondering if I'm just plain thick!! Why can't I find a trigger that I can say, "if I just cut that out then I can reduce the mumber of migraines I get"?!
What I do know is I often crave sweet things just before my migraine comes. Research backs this up (at least I can have that certainty!) and adds that once you start to crave sweet things, your migraine is most likely on its ways already. As chocolate is the last thing you may eat before the pain of the migraine starts, you associate migraine with the chocolate.
Dilemma: What do I do tomorrow when my house will be full of Easter eggs. (No one will buy me any as I've stupidly told them it may be one of my migraine triggers) Will I sneakily eat some of my children's Easter Chocolate? 3 children = tons of Easter eggs..........they won't notice) (I hope) What if I get a migraine....won't I always be wondering that may be I caused that one myself?!
So, to eat or not to eat that is the question. Well, yes.....no....oh may be....yes.....possibly....don't be silly I might get a migraine.......I probably will anyway....I might as well then....no that's just being wreckless...................ok, yes I will eat some chocolate, but with tons of guilt! Sorry children for nicking your chocolate and sorry brain for may be, just possibly but probably not causing a migraine!
Happy Migraine Free Easter to you all. x
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Migraine Tool Kit Part 1.......a new approach to managing your migraines!
Migraine usually develops because of multiple triggers. Apparently, everyone has the potential for migraine. For some it takes 15 triggers, for others, like myself, it takes 2 or 3. This is known as your threshold for migraine. The tip for managing your migraines is, I've been told, common sense.......
My migraine head tells me that it's a little more complicated than that.........
Migraine Tool Kit Part 1:
Want to catch your migraine as early as possible? Then you need the specialist anti-migraine bag carried by all mums who suffer migraine. This contains:
nappies, a babybel (melted), packets of raisins (out of date), tissues, used tissues, a tennis ball,
a sock, wipes, nappy sacks (one with sick in), a toy car with 3 wheels, lollipops, a book, an apple core, a pair of pants (not mine!) and a lock of hair from child no. 3.
Migraine tool kit part 2 to follow.............just off to clean my bag...........
Warning: cleaning out your bag may be a trigger for migraine. Be prepared!
My migraine head tells me that it's a little more complicated than that.........
Migraine mum prefers to think of herself as a specialist migraine detective.......who is always prepared for migraine and on the look out for possible triggers. This is accomplished by using the Migraine Tool Kit (patent pending):
Migraine Tool Kit Part 1:
Want to catch your migraine as early as possible? Then you need the specialist anti-migraine bag carried by all mums who suffer migraine. This contains:
- domperidome (to help you absorb drugs), 4 doses of aspirin (soluble), 2 triptans and a cup (to dissolve aspirin in if out and about)
- a bottle of water to keep hydrated
- a pair of Mediview Migraine sunglasses (to be available all year round as it is not only the sunlight, but also articifial light in shops, low energy light bulbs, computer screens, flickering lights etc that can be a problem).
- a low GI snack (nuts, fruit etc) to keep blood sugar levels even. Eat every 3 hours.
nappies, a babybel (melted), packets of raisins (out of date), tissues, used tissues, a tennis ball,
a sock, wipes, nappy sacks (one with sick in), a toy car with 3 wheels, lollipops, a book, an apple core, a pair of pants (not mine!) and a lock of hair from child no. 3.
Migraine tool kit part 2 to follow.............just off to clean my bag...........
Warning: cleaning out your bag may be a trigger for migraine. Be prepared!
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