Migraines are, quite literally, a pain in the neck (and head. and stomach. and even just face in general). They’re also like snowflakes, no two are the same and everyone experiences them to varying severity. These debilitating neurological events can last days at a time and severely affect the quality of life of the sufferer. Before I dive into my experience, I want to make clear that everyone experiences migraines differently and what works for one may not work for another. In this entry, I am going to talk about the medicine I have seen success with, but I also utilize MANY holistic/alternative treatments as well (to be covered in a later post). Also, that if you’ve ever told someone currently experiencing a migraine that you “also get headaches” when you’re nursing last night’s self-inflicted hangover, there is a luxury box with your name on it in hell.
I started experiencing migraines in middle school. I think my first one probably hit me when I was 13 or 14 and it was no where near as severe as the ones I have gotten as an adult. My mom had been a longtime sufferer of migraines, so when I developed a headache that felt far more severe and localized than any I had experience before, I knew it was likely a migraine. Those first few years of migraines were sporadic – no clear triggers, and few and far between. The first time I developed consistent migraines was in college, when I had an undiagnosed thyroid issue for nearly an entire year. In addition to the myriad of other baffling symptoms, I was experiencing severe migraines that lasted 24-30 hours in length, required me to seek dark cover, and would not respond to over the counter pain medication. Once, I went to the grocery store by myself to pick up a few essentials and was hit suddenly with a very strong migraine. The vision in my right eye became so obscured I did not feel safe driving home and had to call my sister to pick me up. It was my first brush with an aura – the terrifying phenomenon that migraine sufferers are familiar with. Symptoms can include tingling in the hands/face, vision disturbances, flashes of light, and many others.
With my hypothyroidism in check, my migraines dropped back down to a casual occurrence. That is, until late 2017. I was working in a high pressure environment and under stress from what felt like all avenues of my life (including my at-that-point-undiagnosed fibromyalgia). These migraines were far worse than anything I had experienced before. The once aberrant auras became a mainstay in my migraine experience. By the summer of 2018, my migraines became a constant hindrance in my daily life and were impacting my work, relationships and quality life. At 24, not being able to have a sip of alcohol or stray from a strict routine, made me feel isolated. Outside of the emotional ramifications, I was in agony almost every day. There were times where I genuinely thought that the pain inside my head was going to kill me. I would go to work, but between the fluorescent lights and computer screen, I was alternating over the counter pain and nausea meds just to be able to function.
In the month of July 2018, I had migraines for 27 of the 31 days in the month. I had reached the end of my rope, but was fearful of seeking treatment, as the migraine medications I had tried in middle school ad college had left me with more side effects than relief. I sought treatment from a strongly recommended neurologist, one I selected because her bio mentioned her holistic approach to her patients. She agreed that the number of days/severity of my pain warranted preventative care. After discussing some traditional preventative medications, she introduced Aimovig – a ~relatively~ new monthly injection that is the first of its kind. I won’t get too into the science before it (definitely talk to your doctor and do your own research), but essentially it blocks calcitonin gene-related peptides from attaching to their receptors and studies have indicated that these CGRPs play a role in causing migraines. She also helped me pick a reactive treatment (for when I develop a migraine) to complement my proactive treatment plan.
I have been on the shots for 7 months now, with zero side effects (negative ones that is). My migraine monthly count is as low at 1 or 2 some months, with most months averaging around 4, which is a huge improvement. The first time that I had a cocktail out at a restaurant and didn’t have to rush home with no vision in one eye, I had to rush home because I was crying tears of happiness. My entire world changed with the weight of constant migraines lifted off of my shoulders. People ask if giving myself the injections hurts or is intimidating, but I remind them that there have been times in the past where I thought my head was going to explode and I would have done anything in the world to stop that pain.
My advice to fellow sufferers would be to seek out a good neurologist, one who is knowledgeable about or specializes in migraine/headache treatment and one who will take the time to discuss multiple options with you. Keep a journal of your migraine days and triggers so that you’re prepared to inform them on all the data they need. While I’m not sure that I will ever be fully migraine-free, I can accept the relationship I have with them now – one where I have control.
