New Member in Texas!

Wow! Where do I start?

"If I only knew then what I know now?" How many people have ever said that? The more educated I become on Migraine Attacks the more I am realizing that I have suffered from this disease most of my life.

I was raised in a family that did not believe in going to the doctor much. We just did not have a whole lot of money and my dad had some beliefs that prevented him from seeking medical treatment very often... if at all. I was in a great deal of pain back then but I have long since forgiven my dad for not doing something about it.

I remember always feeling nauseated and sick when I was really young. The pain seemed to affect my abdomen more instead of my head back then. I also battled severe motion sickness. It seemed every trip or outing I always ended up in pain and sick. Whether it was the heat, perfume, motion... something was always making me sick!

Then the neck pain started when I was about 10 years old. The pain was becoming severe and affected my daily life. I remember telling my mother that I was hurting all the time. I remember her telling me that no one felt good all the time. I just couldn't make her understand that I felt bad ALL of the time. My dad accused me of feeling sorry for myself and so was the beginning of my "Got to be strong! It is all in your head!" phase.

The years passed. I managed to make it through...the best I could. The symptoms never let up but I just dealt with them the best that I could. I tried so hard not to let anyone down. I just kept thinking "If I am just a little tougher or stronger this will go away!"

I will never forget my first recognized Migraine Attack in 1997. I was working that day and was not feeling well. I was having the neck pain ofcourse and the nausea. Then something happened that I had never experienced before... I lost my eyesight for about 10 minutes. I was so hysterical! I had no idea what was happening? Then the excruciating headache hit me shortly after my eyesight returned.

I was taken to a doctor who checked my eyes. Everything was fine with my eyesight. I experienced one more severe headache that year but did not lose my eyesight again.

Since 1997 I experienced many, many headaches. Some of them were severe. My neck pain was still there also. The doctors never once mentioned Migraine. I was always told I had a Sinus infection.

This past April was the beginning of what feels like the end sometimes. (I know many of you can relate to this feeling.) My neck pain became more severe and my vision started to be affected. Then the severe headaches started with disorientation and confusion. I thought I was having a stroke and went to the ER.

Since then the doctor tried many medications. They have done an MRI and CT. A small cyst was found on my Pineal Gland and constant severe muscle spasms were noted in my neck. Also, the natural curve of my neck is straightened due to the neck spasms.