I have suffered from migraines since birth.  My mother became epilleptic after an accident in our home a few years before my birth, and was taking phenytoin during her pregnancy.

I have always had a high IQ, but my excessive absences from school have held me back from pursuing my education.  (I am currently attending DePaul University under the chronic illness initiative.)

My family had always minimalized my headaches and told me to "tough it out."  As a result, I never got them under control when I was a child.  I had a hard time keeping a job which lead me to a life of crime in my late teens to support myself.  (After being denied the chance to serve my country when my migraines disqualified me from military service.)  In my mid 20s, I became tired of working for temp agencies and began a career in the unsympathetic construction trade, and lost several good paying jobs due to excessive abscences.  For the most part, in my adult life I have been unable to keep a job long enoufgh to get my migraines under control using company health insurance plans, especially when I miss even more days during medication adjustment periods. 

I have tried several drugs for prophylaxis to no avail.  (Amitryptiline, Topomax, Depakote ER, etc.)  I have contemplated and attempted suicide a few times due to a combination of unsuccessful migraine management attempts, an unsupportive family, and a society that expects me to be a "macho man" and carry on through extreme pain.  I have been accused of being mentally ill or on drugs because of hypomanic prodromes, followed by abscences due to migraines, followed by postdrome depression.

Thank god for Imitrex.  It seems to be the first drug that eliminates the migraine without making me "loopy."  However, after suffering a mild heart attack in 2003, (overworking myself in the Arizona heat while trying out different medications) I was diagnosed with mild heart damage. 

I just want to live and work like a normal person.  I didn't ask to be burdened with this affliction.  My family, friends, and co-workers/employers (when I am actually able to keep a job) are insensetive and unsupportive.  I have lost nearly everything I own due to an increase in frequency and severity in recent years.  There are no migraine support groups in my area, but I would love to start one.  I thought if I could locate others in my area who have experience with such a support group, I could mass mail flyers to all neurologists in the area to post in their offices.  I am involved in my church (St Anne's Catholic Church in Gilbert) and I am certain they would allow me to use their multi purpose room at no cost to host support meetings.