The title of this share post is very accurate. I realize that there is currently no cure for Migraine disease. However, I am continuously working toward better Migraine management for my chronic Migraines. I hope that by sharing my journey it will help others as well. A lot has happened since my last post. Please read on. Hopefully, you will find something that is useful for you or to someone you love who is suffering from Migraine disease.
I finally have an appointment to get my first Botox injections. Yay!! I am really looking forward to it. While I am no longer searching for a magic cure, I am constantly moving forward to see what may help me. I have decided after much prayer and thoughtful consideration that Botox injections are the next step for me. It was first suggested to me as the next step by my Migraine specialist. I have heard (and read here) good and bad about Botox injections. I am going into it with an open mind. It may help or it may not. I will know that I tried, and if it doesn’t work, I will go on to the next thing.
Living with Migraines can certainly be stressful. Stress may impact the Migraines or living with Migraines may cause us to be stressful. Either way there is stress! I truly believe every person has stress in their lives, but I am here to discuss Migraines so that is what I will stick to.
As I have written previously, I am currently seeing a neuropsychologist. She is at the same headache clinic as my Migraine specialist. I will refer to her as Dr. C for simplicity sake. Dr. C is very personable and kind. My visits with her are like visits with a friend. Except this friend has a PhD and specializes in clinical neuropsychology. I have met with her several times now. She helps me to think more positively and look at things differently… mainly rephrasing my thoughts and words. For example, this last visit she noticed that I use the word “should” a lot. She said that “should” is tied to guilt. She wants me to erase the word “should” and replace it with “could have," "wish I would have," or "I would like to.” As you can tell, this is not rocket science, but little things like this are making a big difference to me. This is just one example. I have pages of notes from our visits. I can honestly say that seeing her has been life changing to me.
Another HUGE thing has happened since my last share post. I would advise you to please read this with an open mind. This is my personal experience. Please don’t write me off because you don’t believe this or possibly don’t understand it. Quite honestly, I don’t understand it and it is hard for me to believe it happened. But it did. Here it goes….
Last week I was having a particularly challenging day with a Migraine. It was bad, and I really needed to just chill out inside away from bright lights and loud noises. But my son had his first baseball game of the season that night. I debated going. I have endured MANY different activities with a Migraine and decided I would give it a try. My husband was going too, so he could drive. That would certainly help. I would have my sunglasses and hat and ear plugs. As I sat there watching the game, I decided I wouldn’t cheer. I would just sit quietly and watch. I tried my ear plugs. That didn’t help. It just made the throbbing in my head more noticeable to me. It almost amplified it. It wasn’t comfortable at all, so I took them out. I tried to focus on my breathing. I was still watching the game but at the same time paying attention to my breaths. I don’t know if that helped or not. I also was thinking…”when I go back to Dr. C, I am going to ask her about a visualization that I can try besides the one I use to fall asleep because if I use that one I will probably get really sleepy.” I’m also thinking…”Oh man, when this is over, it is going to be really uncomfortable to walk back to the truck.” I’m doing all this in my mind, and the game is almost over. It was a very close game, and they won!! This was really exciting because this same team went through an entire baseball season a few years ago without winning a single game. So there was major excitement all around. And yes, I was excited. I was in pain but very excited for my son and his team. Here is the amazing part. Somehow, after the game, the Migraine went away. This is unheard of for me!! We’re riding home from the game and I’m thinking….what just happened? I didn’t know then and I don’t actually know now. But I am learning that the mind is a powerful thing. Maybe I got my mind totally off of the pain and it subsided. Now, here is where I need you to be understanding and open-minded. I am not saying that we can “think” our Migraines away. We can’t do that. Migraine is a disease. I am not wearing rose-colored glasses and thinking, "Oh yay, I am cured." That is not it at all. And I certainly realize that it is extremely difficult to focus with a Migraine. I am only sharing this with you because it is exciting to me. I hope it is exciting to you as well. I shared it with Dr. C when I saw her this week. She was very excited for me. I asked her about the visualization idea. She said that she thought I might benefit from a lady she knows that does medical hypnosis. I don’t know anything about that, but I have added it to my mental list of things to try. I may try it if the Botox doesn’t help or I may try it in conjunction with the Botox. I don’t know for sure but I am keeping an open mind about it.
