Migraine Prevention: Mission Impossible?

I have been trying so hard to write lately. First, about triggers. Then about eating out. And then about something else, which of course I can't remember.

But the past few weeks have been sad at our house. My husband's grandmother died, and because of distance, money and time, we were unable to be at the funeral. She would have wanted us to do something special on the day, and of course I get hit with bronchitis the week of her funeral, so have been flat on my back sick. Of course, being sick and having chronic migraines does not mix well. In fact, migraines do not mix well with much. Alcohol, dancing, concerts, being sick, holding a job, the list could go on and on.

So what is a migraine sufferer to do? Opt out of any social life? Go somewhere and hope that the pain doesn't get too bad, that you can control migraine triggers, and keep pain to a minimum? Totally stop consuming foods or drinks that can trigger a migraine? Tape your kids' mouths shut so their playful screams of joy don't make your brain try to eject out of your eyeball?

The answer is yes and no to all of those questions. No matter how badly I might want to slap a gag on my kids at times, I can't. I love my children, I do, but my daughter is one of those kids who screams when she is happy, sad, frustrated, surprised, bored, and a whole host of other emotions. My son, as I have mentioned before, is autistic. He can be incredibly loud when he wants to. We have a Quaker Parakeet, one of the loudest birds I have ever encountered. She spends her evenings serenading us in her oh-so-unique way, running through all the words she knows from “hi” to some that no bird should ever speak.

Yes, those words.

My house is loud. We live close to train tracks. We have neighbors across the street who insist on having parties on their front lawn that involve drunken brawls and revving motors and regular calls to the police. What I am saying here is that there is no way to completely control your environment. Triggers, the ones you can control, are easily avoided. But what do you do when you can't control a trigger? What can you do when you go out, and all of a sudden find yourself faced with an aura that signals a bad migraine? Do you run home and hide? Do you give up on having a life and become a recluse?

The answer is different for each person. There are things you can do to prevent a migraine, or stave off a migraine. As I have mentioned before, there are many migraine medications. You can see a chiropractor, eastern medicine specialists, do yoga, exercise, watch what you eat. But what do you do when you get a migraine while you are out? I always carry at least two doses of a rescue med, currently Vicodin, and keep peppermint oil in both cars. If you find that you absolutely cannot get behind the wheel, see if a friend can come get you. Most shopping centers can and will allow extended parking in emergencies, especially with migraines. The other thing I always have on me is cab fare—you never know when you might need it. You also can remove yourself from the situation—either escape totally or just step out for fresh air. It's hard in public when you have very visible symptoms—sometimes my face goes slack, and that can be… interesting.