Category: Migraine

We Need to Talk

Let’s talk about chronic pain. I mean, big whoop… Man up, right?

NO!

Let’s go for some empathy here… Ladies – imagine having bad period cramps all month long. Guys – imagine being kicked in the balls and being told that lingering pain is going to stick with you every day for the rest of your life. Ever broken a bone? That pain is here to stay! Got a bikini wax? Yep, you guessed it, that pain becomes chronic.

Now, that’s not reality (praise Jesus!) But let’s just think about a pain that we get, and then imagine it never going away… Ever.

Enter stage left – chronic pain! Enter stage right – medication overuse syndrome, causing even more chronic pain. A vicious cycle of pain.

Pain, pain, pain.

… Did I mention pain? 😉

It’s something so easy to overlook. I even did it myself for many many years, before the universe kicked me in the ass and said “Dear Laura, we think you could use some daily pain. Please see attached. Kind regards, The Universe.”

Slowly, but surely, I started to understand. And regretted every single day that I lived in ignorance, that I scoffed at people ‘complaining’ about their pain. Well, I got my comeuppance for that, let me tell you!

But in all seriousness, the affect that chronic pain has on all aspect of a person’s quality of life, as well as mental health, is a really freaking huge issue. It SUCKS! 

I’m a happy, positive, and bubbly human. But when that pain hits… BAM! I’m irritable, down in the dumps, and straight up pissed off. Not to mention the anxiety and panic attacks! Because being able to do everything I used to do on a daily basis would be pretty darn sweet, but apparently too much to ask.  *Face palm*

The frustration is real, it’s constant, it’s debilitating and confusing. Do I stay in bed and rest? Do I try walk it off? Do some stretches? Heat therapy? Magnesium oil? Pain killers…? All of the above (most likely?)

Let’s talk about loss. Every little thing that you stop being able to do, or stop being able to do as often. Loss of jobs, ability to exercise, ability to socialise, ability to drink a bottle of wine and not pay for it for a whole week… Let’s talk about relationships – the ones who have stayed and the ones who have left. The friends and family that patiently sit on the sidelines, trying to be supportive, while also incredibly frustrated.
And I feel for them – because we all want so desperately to have someone to blame, but lacking that element. Wanting to point a finger and scream at someone until all that frustration is out and you feel SO much better. They wish they could blame me, but know very well that it’s not my fault. I often wonder if I’d feel better if they did blame me – if that would ease the inexplicable and unrelenting guilt I feel.

What about all the times that I wish to God that I could work off my frustration and anger during a flare up by going for a jog or bashing the crap out of my boxing bag, but my pain prevents me… LOL – universe kicking us in the balls again, am I right?!

So, you lie there, resting, using any type of therapy possible to get through the pain, while suffocating in a plastic bubble of frustration and anxiety. You literally can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t focus, can’t even verbalise how you’re feeling to your loved ones – because you’re being thrown around in a huge dumping wave, thrashing, trapped in a reality that not only isn’t fair, but should never have been yours to begin with.

I’m in pain almost every single night when I’m trying to sleep – did you know that? My hips, my knees, my legs in general… Occasionally my elbows and/or my head. My medications make the day time pain less of an issue, but it’s always there. Simply being repressed by medicine.

Does that sound restful? Let me answer that for you… It’s not.

Guys, how are your balls feeling? Ladies, picturing that bikini wax? I hope you’ve kept that in mind while reading this. I hope it’s given you even a small amount of understanding for what chronic pain sufferers deal with almost every single day of their lives – all while attempting to act normal, for fear that everyone will abandon you if they knew the truth.

Because those people? They’re what keeps them going. Don’t forget that.

Thirty-one Needles

Are you afraid of needles? Well, so am I. Not so much afraid of the needles themselves, but more of the pain they inflict when they’re stabbed into your skin.

Yes, I am a wuss when it comes to anything sharp and prickly. Especially when what’s being injected happens to have it’s own painful effect.

So, it may surprise all of you, including myself, to hear that I had 31 needles of Botox injected into my forehead, head, neck and shoulders today. I’m still in a state of ‘WTF just happened?!’

When I left the house today to go to my second appointment with my neurologist, I knew we would discuss the possibility of Botox, since she had mentioned in my first appointment that I was eligible early due to the severity and consistency of my migraines. So, I had planned to tell her that yes, I would very much be interested and discussing Botox further, as I would sick of using so many medications to stabilise my condition.

I walked into her office and told her how my migraines and headaches have both improved on the medications, but that I was still somewhat afflicted. She told me that I was sweet, and she could see that I’m smiling through it, but that my answers were pointing towards too much of a problem, that it was her job to do better.

Let’s all just take a second to thank whatever god we all believe in that there are doctors with as much compassion and empathy as her in this world. She restored my hope, that’s for sure. She had no intention to give up on me or my unexplained pain.

But, what she said next had my palms sweating instantly. “Well, you came on a good day, I can do the Botox right now if you like.”

The look on my face told her exactly what I was feeling. “You’re not good with needles are you?” No Doctor, I most certainly am not. That being said, I’ve had enough blood tests in the past 2 years to not even blink when I get them done… But 31 needles into my head is a whole other kettle of fish.

My response surprised both of us. “I have this gut feeling that I should just man up and do it right now before I change my mind.”

So, she didn’t waste any time in getting the injections ready while I laid down on the table, holding a little purple stress ball in the shape of a brain, to help me relax (and prevent me from passing the fuck out!)

Then began the torture. One needle at a time, each a different degree of pain, each making me stress more than the last – all while my doctor tried to make jokes to calm me down. She didn’t do too bad either I must say. She had me giggling through the pain, and told me I’d done the best she’s seen so far, not one swear word left my mouth!

I left the office with my head feeling like it was on fire. ‘Stingy’, which is how she described it, is an understatement. Knowing that in 12 weeks I will have to do it all over again, and again, and again, and may not notice a difference until the second of third treatment (lord help me.)

I also happen to have a very delayed response when it comes to the whole ‘passing out’ thing. So I felt like I was in another world and like I would fall down any second as I started the very long and torturous one and a half hour train ride home. On a 40 degree day I might add.

I felt very sore and sorry for myself by the end of that day. I felt emotionally exhausted. Another painful treatment, another $300, another doctors visit that I went through alone with no one to hold my hand other than a purple brain for a stress ball and the stranger that is my doctor (no matter how lovely she is.)

I feel like a test subject on any given day, still waiting for answers and having no idea what is causing these painful and debilitating symptoms. Enduring judgement and unsolicited advice left, right, and center. Everyone telling me what’s best for my health and trying to make important life decisions for me. Losing friends because I simply can’t do what I used to, and some people can’t understand that. Looking healthy, but feeling broken.

Thirty-one needles – a treatment for chronic migraines but a symbol for the ongoing painful treatments for a condition that can’t be explained, and the isolation that comes with that.

How Am I Supposed To Love A Body Like This?

If you want to include both my battle with endometriosis and with an autoimmune condition, I have been fighting my body, and medical professionals, for ten long years. Ten years of chronic pain, chronic illness, and chronic anger towards my body for never giving me any relief.

With Endometriosis comes not only extremely painful periods, but also back pain, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, extreme mood swings, pelvic pain all month long, fatigue, general malaise – and the list goes on and on.

With my autoimmune condition comes chronic fatigue & malaise, severe chest pain & palpitations (occasionally landing me in the ER,) tachycardia, panic attacks, muscle pain, joint pain, chronic migraines, brain fog, muscle weakness, rashes, and just a general lack of discomfort and feeling like shit to be honest.

So, how does one love their body, when their body only ever causes them distress and discomfort on a daily basis? It’s not easy – it usually feels impossible. I spend so much time pushing through the pain and illness every day, that I’m left feeling extremely pissed off and frustrated with my body. Why can’t you be pain free for just one day? Why can’t you let me live my life? Why do you have to take everything from me? Why can’t you give me a break?

One day it occurred to me, as I looked at myself in the mirror, that I had started feeling separate from my body because I spent all of my time fighting it. It was no longer a part of myself, but instead a monster that I had to slay. That one thought shocked me. This sounds ridiculous, but I stood there and had to touch my arms, my face, my neck, my stomach, and my legs, just to feel connected to my own body again. To remind myself that it’s a part of me and that I still need to love and care for it.

So started my self care regime. Pilates twice a week, higher quality skin and hair care, meditation, walking every day, and most importantly, attending each doctors appointment with the goal to fight FOR my body, rather than against it.

It’s not really enough just to dutifully take our medications, just to push through pain and deal with the frustration and anger, to let ourselves hate the very part of us that keeps us alive and who we are. Our broken bodies aren’t actually stopping us from living our lives – they’re giving us the ability to keep living it, even if limited.

So keep caring for your body, no matter how broken it may seem. Stay connected to it and keep loving it. Nobody can love and fight for our bodies like we can. ❤

Feeding the Stigma

This is entirely my fault. For two years I have been suffering with health issues and chronic widespread pain, spending thousands of dollars on appointments, tests, medications, hospital visits and surgery. Unable to work full time or have a normal social life.

And apparantly unable to let my own family in on this huge life changing illness. Whoops! 🤦‍♀️

I made an assumption. A stupid one. You know what they say when you assume, right? I did that. I made an ass out of u & me. Or them and me, if you want to get technical.

My mum and dad knew most of the details, so I had just assumed they would have let everyone else know. I kept the details close to my heart, not wanting anyone to know how much I was really struggling, but hoping my parents would give them the general gist.

Apparently they didn’t. And so, two years after this all started, my brother and sister-in-law asked me why I had resigned from my job and what was going on with my health. When I mentioned my migraines, my possible Lupus diagnosis, my brother asked if that’s the reason I go to bed insanely early, like a light bulb just went off in his brain and everything suddenly made sense. Because guess what? Everything suddenly DID make sense! When you actually explain the facts to people, first hand, everything falls into place. Funny that!

Now, after that conversation, I realise that I’m guilty of exactly what I’ve been ‘preaching’ against! Not talking openly to my own family for fear of judgement and simply hoping someone else would do my dirty work hasn’t done me, or them, any favours. Sure, judgement is a part of life. So why are we so scared of it? I think that’s a hard one, because we don’t want to know the people we love the most don’t understand what we’re going through. That’s so damn isolating!

But they didn’t judge, even if they didn’t fully empathise with my situation. They just wanted to know, to understand. Because they’re my family, and they love and care for me. It seems so crazy to me now that I didn’t trust in that.

I’ve heard people say there’s no stigma with chronic illness, only with mental illness. But I disagree. There is a stigma, if there wasn’t I wouldn’t have been so scared of judgement. That fear had come from somewhere, and it caused me to hide what I should have been sharing as abundantly as possible. The stigma is based around chronic, invisible, undiagnosed illnesses. Am I making it up? Bunging it on?

Every time someone asks me how I am, genuinely wanting to know if I’m okay, my response is always “I’m okay. Same old.” I kick myself every time. What does that even mean?! Same old? REALLY? Just tell them the truth, that I’m struggling with migraines and I’m tired of pushing through. That I’m desperate for a break. That I’m trapped in a body that’s constantly in pain and all I want to do is live my life. That I HATE that I had to quit my job.

THAT’S the truth I should be telling. So why is it so difficult? My fear is damaging not only to myself, but to everyone else.

I’ve been totally honest with all these strangers via my blog – but not with my own flesh and blood. Maybe it’s easier to face being judged by strangers, than by those we love. Maybe it’s less scary – less hurtful. But I am causing harm nonetheless. I am unintentionally feeding a stigma.

Well… No more. I AM SICK. I am a barely functionally, chronically sick person. I go to bed at 5pm because I’m bone achingly tired and I’m trying to beat my migraine by going to bed before the pain gets too bad. I avoid social outings because I’m scared I’ll have to leave early which either forces my boyfriend to have to leave early with me or forces me to either explain the truth to everyone or make up a lie. I’m not sure which is worse. I can’t work full time because I’m physically and mentally exhausted from having to push through daily pain. I’m terrified of doctors visits because I’m tired of being told that they can’t figure out exactly what’s wrong, and I’m embarrassed every time I have to explain that fact to everyone else waiting to hear my diagnosis. I’m dead broke, partly because I can’t work enough and partly because doctors, medications and tests are SO expensive. I hide my pain and fatigue until it’s really bad simply because I’m tired of complaining. I hide pain from my own boyfriend who just recently said “how come you don’t get migraines on weekends?” Ha! Well, I do. I just medicate more and push through it more so that he won’t see the full extent of how broken his girlfriend is. Even though I know he’d understand, I’m scared that maybe one day he won’t anymore. I work every day to protect myself both physically and mentally.

I’m a sister, a girlfriend, a daughter, a friend. I’m a person – and I’m chronically ill. Welcome to Laura in real life.

The Importance of Mental Health in Chronic Illness

For most people with a chronic illness, there comes with it a care plan that includes multiple specialists. One of these specialists is a psychologist. This makes complete sense, given the toll it takes on the person, body and mind.

However, I hadn’t really been thinking much about it lately, just going along with the flow. Going to each doctors visit and every specialist like a good little patient, without really thinking about what each of them means in my care plan. I hadn’t received the answers I needed from any of them, so I stopped expecting anything from them, and in turn stopped reaping any benefits.

I just kept going to the appointments, adjusting my medications as instructed, doing whatever else they told me, in a numb like zombie state. I thought I had simply accepted my lack of diagnosis and was going on with life, but really I was avoiding feeling that constant frustration, disappointment and guilt.

With my health condition (which may or may not be Lupus) comes many symptoms and many obstacles – the latest being chronic (almost daily) migraines. Even if I don’t have a full blown migraine, I do have some degree of head pain or malaise. If you have never had a migraine, imagine something that caused you horrible pain… Like menstrual cramps or being kicked in the balls (sorry boys.) Now imagine feeling that pain on varying levels daily… It would become kind of hard to think about anything else, right?

That’s what I realised was happening to me as I sat in front of my psychologist after not having seen her for 3 months. I realised in all my effort to look after my physical health, I had actually forgotten something just as important – my mental health.

Now imagine this – I’m sitting in front of a highly experienced clinical psychologist, with 24 years of experience and a PhD. After approximately 40 minutes of her trying to find out what’s been going on in my life and how I’d been feeling, she actually laughed at how difficult it was to get an answer. She was so stumped that she actually laughed, in a very awkward way. I’d once been told many years ago by a different psychologist that getting information from me was like getting blood from a stone. In this moment, I finally understood her frustration.

Now, let me be clear, I wasn’t intentionally being difficult. I’m a very honest person. If I had known how I’d been feeling lately, I most definitely would have shared it with her. But the thing is, I hadn’t thought about it much. When she asked me how I’d been feeling, the only answer that came to mind was physical pain – which wasn’t actually what she was asking about. But when I tried to think about emotions in regards to any situation we had just been talking about, my mind actually went completely blank!

We did get somewhere in the end, she managed to get one emotion out of me and we managed to get to the root of it. All in the last 5 minutes – proving what a skilled doctor she is! But the entire session did actually highlight one major issue to me, and probably to her. That I was not looking after my mental health in the slightest. I was… I AM, so consumed by my physical health, and in my chronic pain, that I completely overlooked my mental health.

That is an incredible mistake – one I’ve never made before. I was genuinely shocked by this revelation.

This highlighted for me the importance of managing your mental health, even while in the midst of a physical health debacle – ESPECIALLY while in the midst of a physical health debacle. Both physical and mental health go hand in hand, and one most certainly can affect the other.

This brings me briefly to the topic of trauma. One would expect trauma to come in the form of a car accident or abuse – but it can also come in the form of an illness. During or after a trauma, people can experience a kind of ‘numbing’ effect (I don’t know the exact clinical term.) This is something I’ve experienced in the past, so I was deeply surprised that I had slipped up and forgotten to focus on something so important.

This is something that should be remembered not only for those suffering from any kind of chronic illness, but also for their loved ones. There is a VERY good reason why psychology plays a part in our care plans, and it’s not something we should be taking a part in just for the sake of it. If you’re going to look after your health, look after ALL of it. If you’re going to check in on someone suffering from a chronic illness, ask them how they’re feeling emotionally also. It may just be the reminder they need.

I don’t want to complain…

I don’t like complaining, and I don’t want to complain anymore. I really don’t. I don’t like seeing the looks on people’s faces thinking “she’s complaining yet again.” Seeing the looks of frustration and simply being ‘over’ hearing about my health issues. But guess what, feeling sick every day has become my life at the moment, and I didn’t choose it, nor do I enjoy it. And sometimes, I just need to vent and complain. Because it downright sucks!

Feeling sick or being in pain every day isn’t something I EVER wanted. It’s exhausting and frustrating to say the least. Especially when all I want to do is live my life, to be the bubbly and energetic girl I used to be. I’m a ball of energy trapped inside a failing body. I suspect this is a lot what prison feels like, an actual life sentence.

All that being said, let me rephrase my earlier statement. I don’t want to HAVE to complain anymore. You’re tired of hearing me complain? That’s NOTHING compared to the frustration I feel on a daily basis.

I can see it when people ask me how I am. They sound sincere when they ask, and I’m simply a really honest person, an open book really. So I answer them. “I’ve been better. I had a migraine all night.” And I see their eyes glaze over. They don’t want to hear that, they wanted me to say the perfunctory “I’m good thanks, how are you?” They want me to pretend so we can move on to more interesting topics of conversation, like hair and nails and which party they went to on the weekend.

So I started doing that. I started saying “I’m okay,” even when I’m not. Even when I’m home, achingly exhausted, dizzy, overcome with nausea and trying desperately to push through this migraine. I’m still “okay.” Every day that I work is a struggle. Staring at a computer screen all day under constant fluorescent lighting, struggling through fatigue and fighting off the pain with medication that is only going to cause worse side effects later on. But I still answer “I’m okay.” When I finally complain, it means I’ve really hit that wall of not being able to even pretend anymore.

But this tactic is damaging. It isolates those of us suffering with any kind of chronic illness, whether it be physical or mental. Anxiety or migraines. Depression or Chronic Fatigue. It applies to all illnesses. The less we talk about it, the more the stigma grows, the more people think we’re just bunging it on. It’s not good for us, and it’s not good for them. How can they understand better, how can they gain any awareness, if we’re constantly holding back what we’re going through?

That being said, we have good reason to hold back. Because of those people who don’t actually care to hear how we’re going, those people that instilled that fear in us.

You think I like the attention? Here’s the truth, I would give ANYTHING to not be sick anymore. If I wanted attention, I’d just run down the street in the nude, I wouldn’t need to be ill to get it. I’ve had to quit my job, a job that I loved that had become like a home and second family to me. I quit, purely so I could focus on my health and attempt to get it back on track. So that I could go back to living my life. It was not an easy decision, or a happy one.

If I just wanted attention, do you really think I would have done something so drastic? My complaints are annoying for you, but the reason I’m complaining is a LOT more ‘annoying’ for me. So remember that the next time my need to vent is a drain on your day. Remember that any time ANYONE with an illness of any kind is needing to vent. They’re struggling hard, the least you can do is endure listening to them, and maybe, just maybe, giving them some semblance of relief because you ACTUALLY cared. It’s not hard to be kind, especially if you just put yourself in someone else’s shoes for 5 minutes. Especially if you step out of your bubble and see the pain that surrounds so many people in the world.

Let’s be real. Speak up more when you’re struggling, break the stigma. Complain whenever you feel the need to complain. Vent, get it all out. Force people to hear you and to see the truth. Help them understand. If they get bored, if they don’t care… Well, fuck em! From here on out, I make no apologies for voicing my pain.

Brain Fog Fury

Brain fog is a fickle and complicated symptom of many diseases. I don’t have dementia, so why can’t I remember why I entered this room? I’m 29 years old, why can’t I remember that person’s name?

Now, let’s be real, those things have happened to all of us. But imagine being in a Pilates class, and not actually FEELING like you’re in a Pilates class. Trippy, right? Let me tell you from experience, NOT a fun feeling.

Brain fog can mimic some mental disorders including Depression, ADHD, or Dissociation. It’s like being trapped, trying to grasp at something that should be so easy but just falling short.

This week has been a bad one for me. A three day migraine, constant chest discomfort, UNBEARABLE sleepiness, generally just feeling like aids (sorry for my lack of descriptive abilities at the moment,) and the real fear that these feelings may not pass. But the worst part of all, I’ve had several people ask me “what do you mean?” when I’m trying to have a conversation with them. It’s not their fault, I simply can’t focus enough to explain anything properly because I’m suffering from brain fog along with my other symptoms. Luckily for all of us, as I write this, I’m the most lucid I’ve been in days. Hallelujah! (…I should probably hire an editor.)

I’m definitely not used to people being confused by what I’m trying to say to them so many times within a few days. I make sense to my own addled brain, and I just can’t grasp another way to explain what I’m trying to say. Sound frustrating? That’s because IT IS! The worst part is, I can’t explain to anyone what I’m feeling without sounding looney, so I just go about my day looking and sounding completely spaced out and incompetent.

Brain fog is scary as hell. I want to be able to go through my normal every day life without forgetting what I’m doing. I don’t want to feel embarrassed when I can’t remember someone’s name, someone who I’ve known for 3 years. I don’t want to be constantly reminded that “you’ve already told me that, a few times”. I don’t want to be in Pilates having to mentally push myself like I’m Michelle Bridges from The Biggest Loser, just to get into position for a simple stretch! All because I’m suffering temporary migraine induced dissociation.

I don’t want to feel like I’m sleep walking through my life. Bad health has taken over my body, does it have to take over my mind too? Big events, special memories, they could all pass by in a literal blur, and there’s nothing I’d be able to do about it. I don’t get to choose when a flare up happens, or when that flare up will affect my cognitive function.

You know what? I hate that. I’m positive on most days despite my health battles, but today I get to hate it. Today I choose not to fight it, but to go home and rest. And that’s totally okay, because even superheroes need rest! 🤷‍♀️ 🦸‍♀️

Life of the Party

Once upon a time, I was definitely considered a party girl, even occasionally the life of the party. When I started at my current job, which is a construction company, that’s definitely how I was viewed. My first night out at the pub with the guys had me keeping up with them doing shots, and asleep on the train home. I’ve even been known to dance on table tops, and there was an occasion with body shots when out with some old work colleagues. It was all in good fun.

I could honestly say that I’d go out every single weekend to a pub or party, or a club on occasions – though I was definitely more of a pub or house party girl. I LOVED it, I loved dancing and I loved being lively and social.

So what happened? My health went down the crapper – to put it simply. I still don’t have an official diagnosis, but they’re looking at Lupus and/or Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. This all started at the beginning of 2018, and since then my party days have gone way down hill. It happened gradually, but surely. Now, even a few glasses of wine will leave me with a feeling of hangover the next day. More than that will take days to recover. Socialising alone is a lot more tiring than you’d expect, especially while you’re in pain, so I often have to avoid it. And dancing? My god, one song leaves me exhausted. Not that it stops me from trying, dancing like an idiot while singing loudly will always be in my blood!

I now often hear “oh man, you used to be the life of the party. Look at you now!” Yes… Thanks for rubbing that in. Much appreciated!

Getting sick with a chronic illness changes everything, you lose your sense of self. You grieve your old self. I wish with all my heart that things were different, that things hadn’t changed like they had. But this life, this chronic sickness, has become so normal to me. Though still not easy in the slightest.

But what have I learnt from it? Appreciation. I didn’t know what I had, when I had it. If I’d known then what I know now, everything would have been different. I honestly never ever would have thought that I’d be this sick girl, getting home to go to bed by 5pm, working part time and spending my days off in bed sleeping. Carrying a pharmacy worth of medication in my handbag. I don’t like any of these things, but I do like what I’ve learnt.

Never again will I take my body for granted. Never again will I take the people in my life for granted. Never again will I doubt what my gut is telling me when I feel that something is wrong. Never again will I judge someone else for something that I don’t understand. Never again will I give a shit what other people think, or get caught up in petty gossip and drama – because really, in the scheme of things, none of that matters in the slightest.

I’ve learnt who my true friends are, I’ve found passions I didn’t know I had, and I’ve learnt to see the beauty in every little moment that brings you peace. I may not be the life of the party anymore, or be a whole lot of fun all the time, but I’m living life to the max with a whole new outlook.

Love what you have, while you have it.

Migraine vs Headache

I’m going to paint a picture for you. It’s 7am on my day off, but realistically I’ve been awake for hours after a night of tossing and turning. This may be poorly written, and I will explain why. It all started around lunch time yesterday at work, when I felt some head pain coming on.

Like a good girl, I did exactly what my Neurologist told me to do – on top of my daily treatments, I tried Voltaren first. I waited, and waited, but things were only getting worse. The nausea started to kick in and so I did the next thing my doctor suggested, I took Maxalon for the nausea and Imagran (a specific migraine medication) for the pain. Again, I waited. My head was starting to become blurry and I decided it’s time to take a small break. So, I trudged into the kitchen to make a tea, realising the entire time I was simultaneously trying not to vomit and pass out. It was time for the last resort, the Panadeine Forte.

Yes, Panadeine Forte definately helped the pain, but it didn’t prevent the rest of the symptoms from making my life a living hell. After a couple of hours of medicating and pushing through, I had reached my limit.

Then comes the train home. Again, the entire time I was trying not to vomit, pass out or simply fall asleep from all the pain meds, and that hour long trip suddenly felt like 20 hours.

I then laid in bed for hours in the dark hoping to fall asleep but never quite getting there. Tossing, turning, and generally feeling like I’d drunk 5 bottles of wine to myself and then walked out onto the street and been hit by a truck. Have you ever felt so sick that you can feel it in your entire body and nothing will relieve it, even sleep? Yep, that’s a migraine for you. Every little sound in the house was making my brain vibrate and my eyes feel like they were being poked with ice picks.

Everything hurt, everything felt heavy and ill. It still does.

So why do I HATE when people say they have a migraine when they really have a headache? Because when people who suffer from chronic migraines ACTUALLY have a migraine, everyone else thinks it’s not that big of a deal, that your body hasn’t turned into a volcano waiting to erupt, that a Nurofen or Panadol will ease it so you can get back to work.

No.

Don’t get me wrong, headaches SUCK! But they’re not the same thing. They require different treatment, and they’re often not even close to being as debilitating.

So what’s the difference? According to Healthline.com, hadaches are unpleasant pains in your head that can cause pressure and aching. The pain can range from mild to severe, and they usually occur on both sides of your head. Some specific areas where headaches can occur include the forehead, temples, and back of the neck. A headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. The most common headache type is a tension headache.

What about migraines? Migraines are intense or severe and include other symptoms other than head pain. Such as;

  • nausea
  • pain behind one eye or ear
  • pain in the temples
  • seeing spots or flashing lights
  • sensitivity to light and/or sound
  • temporary vision loss
  • vomiting
  • feeling less mentally alert or having trouble thinking
  • seeing flashing lights or unusual lines
  • feeling tingling or numbness in the face or hands
  • having an unusual sense of smell, taste, or touch.

When compared with a tension headache, migraines are generally a lot more severe and often leave you bedridden. Some people even seek help in emergency. Treatment is complicated and sometimes ineffective, ranging from pain killers to Botox treatment – which I recently found out I qualify early for. Kind of a scary thought since I hate needles, let alone needles in my head!

Basically, comparing a headache to a migraine is akin to comparing a cold to the flu, or being sad to having depression. Not only is it not helpful to everyone else in understanding these conditions, but it’s also vaguely insulting.

Simply put, conditions such as chronic migraines shouldn’t be lessened, they should be shared and understood.

Do you suffer from chronic migraines and keen to share your story? I’d love to hear from you! contactlaura@laurainreallife.blog.