1. the illness i live with is chronic migraines, ulcers, and arthritis
2. i was diagnosed in 1991 at the age of 16
3. but i have had symptoms for as long as i can remember around age 8 or so
4. the biggest adjustment i've had to make is learning to put my needs first, if i'm in pain i go to bed, simple as that
5. most people assume that because i work and go to school i am in great health.... if they only knew
6. the hardest part about mornings is trying to get meds on board, and get to sleep before the pain makes sleep impossible.
7. my favorite medial show is mystery diagnosis.
8. a gadget i couldn't live without is my computer and my cell phone. they are my link to support and help when the pain hits.
9. the hardest part about nights are working through the pain, as some of the pain meds i take don't make me sleepy during the day, but at night it's a whole nother ball game.
10. i take 4 pills a day every day, but most days it's closer to 10 with the various prn meds i take as well. ( NO COMMENTS PLEASE)
11.reguarding alternative treatments, well let's just say i've told my primary care physician and my migraine doctor, that if it won't kill me or seriously injuse me i'm game. no matter how weird it may sound.
12. if i had to choose between an invisible illness and a visiable one i think i would choose the visable one. at least that way people would knw something is wrong.
13. when it comes to my job, i make every effort to be there, and they are a huge cause of my migraines, but good luck telling them that.
14. people would be surprised to know that despite it all i try to lead a normal life. and that i am going to get my nursing degree if it kills me!!!
15.the hardest thing to accept has been that sometimes, no matter how bad i want to do something, i have to give in to the pain. i've missed 2 close friends weddings because of this, and it sucks.
16. something i never thought i could do with my illness is go back to school and work at the same time, but so far i am doing pretty well. ( i have a 99 average in class, so i guess i'm doing alright)
17. the commericals about my illness leave me seeing red. it's not always as easy as taking a pill. and sometimes taking shots from the doctors office or emergency room don't even help. then i just have to wait it out.
18. something reall miss doing since i was diagnosied is making and keeping plans with friends. seems like every time i plan something i have to cancel due to the pain.
19. it was really hard to have to give up eating whatever i want. i love hot dogs and onions, but both will have me in the corner of a dark room crying in pain.
20. since i was diagnosied i have started to learn more about my disease. no one else is going to stand up for me but me. i will also not hesitate to call someone out about the myths surrounding migraines, even doctors.
21. if i could have one day of feeling normal again i would call up my girlfriends and go to lunch and a day at the spa.
mcmurraychick i can understand a little wat your going threw. I also have migraines but not chronic unless one comes on me during the night, than I'm well into the migraine before I can get something in me to help. I have got were I have them bout ever month. When they start to come on me its time to get something taken. I use to have Vascuclar Migraines & now i have wat they call Cluther Migraines. Before I would start goin numb in half of my mouth & then it would go in my hand & up my arm, just on one side. I better get something in me when it first start or I'm doomed. The first time I had that hit me I was in church & throught I was havin a stroke. That went on & one day my eyes started gettin dark & twriling. Later i read & found out I was havin cluster migraines so when I start havein the simptoms I better get me something in me or I will have a bad one. So my migraines has always been if I can get something in me then I likely not to have a very bad one. So in a small way I no a little wat u go threw but not in anyway a chronic one & I really fill for u havin like u do & I fill bless that I have mild ones so far. Food I eat & my nerves & a bright light & other things can trigger a migraine on me... God bless u with your & may he one day c that u have had enough & ease u of your............
for years i would get one every now and then... amybe 2 or 3 a year. then 4 years ago they came back witha vengenance. at one time i would average 4 a week. now thankfully it's one or 2 a week, but sometimes they last for days.
the only bright spot is that i have a wonderful PCP, and a great migraine specialist ( who also does pain management) and for the most part our local ER gets me in and out quicly when needed.
i try to keep a strict schedule, going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time, which is hard when you work nights and have school 2 days a week.