Patient Stories
Chronic Migraine & Friendships: Navigating the Pain of Social Loss
Living with chronic daily migraine has been a journey filled with both physical pain and emotional struggle. My experience with migraine disease began when I was only four years old. Not surprisingly, the constant presence of pain has fostered a deep sense of frustration over the years. The biggest challenge being the unpredictability of my…
Read MoreMen with Migraine – The Double Standard
According to a study conducted by Cleveland Clinic, only about 60% of men attend yearly doctors’ checkups. Another 61% of men stated they only go to a doctor or physician if a medical issue becomes unbearable for them to deal with on their own. For minor issues such as colds, the flu, or otherwise, most…
Read MoreGrowing Up with Migraine: Trying to Fit In and Appear Normal
When you’re young, the thing you want most, the thing you strive for most, is to fit in. In our childhoods, we dress the way we’re told is cool, we act the way we see our peers act, we carry ourselves the way we deem to be the status quo. As we journey into adolescence…
Read MoreMen – Talk to Your Partner About Migraine!
Look guys, I get it. We take pride in our ability to handle pain and keep on chugging along. There’s almost a sort of hero mentality we get when we manage to overcome animosity and suffering. It keeps our pride strong and ego up, and there’s no greater example of this than in our relationships.…
Read MoreNavigating Chronic Migraine: One Woman’s Quest To Find The Right Doctor And Preventive Treatment
Thank you to Lundbeck, the makers of VYEPTI, for sponsoring this post. As a nursing student, Nicole, 32, has a busy yet rewarding life. She works 12-hour hospital shifts as a nursing assistant and spends her free time traveling and playing with her dogs, Bailey and Snoopy. She’s also lived with the invisible, excruciating pain…
Read MoreLife With Migraine in College: 3 Tips to Help You Survive
Do you ever feel embarrassed about your struggle with migraine in college? I felt this way throughout most of my college career. It never struck me as something that I needed to make a big deal about, especially to friends. It was just pain, as far as I was concerned, and not something I usually…
Read MoreThe Privilege Of Being Able-Bodied: Life With Migraine
A change in my healthcare plan suddenly made me aware of the privilege of being able-bodied! I work in people management, and have for the last half-decade of my life. I’ve always been big on communication and leading with empathy. Traits that, in my opinion, are invaluable to any role where you work with other…
Read MoreFostering Empathy in a Migraine-Filled Relationship
How Can We Foster Empathy in a Migraine-Filled Relationship? Do either you or your partner suffer from migraine attacks, or perhaps even both of you? It’s not uncommon, given that over 42 million live with migraine in the US alone. Like any physical or mental disability, migraine can bring a new layer to your relationship.…
Read MoreGrowing Up With a Disabled Parent: Empathy or Resentment?
It would be an understatement to say that it’s difficult growing up with a parent who struggles with a disability. It changes the way you view your parents, friends, and even your own health at times. In this two-part series, I’ll examine how this impacts different parts of a child’s life. In this first part,…
Read MoreMigraine as a Coworker
Having migraine as a coworker can be challenging. None of us are strangers to calling out of work for one reason or another. Whether this was a more frequent occurrence at some of our first low-level jobs, or out of necessity at our current job, it’s something we’ve all experienced at some point. For those…
Read MoreThe Real Voice of Migraine
There is no shortage of online migraine information (or misinformation) lately. It seems whenever I check my social media feeds or Google, so-called experts have something to say. For instance, sharing the latest treatment hack, like soaking your feet in hot water to stop an attack! By the way… in case you’re wondering, that doesn’t…
Read MoreMigraine Behind the Mask: Making a Difference Together
What Does Migraine Look Like For You? Every year, Migraine Meanderings asks our migraine community to participate in the Migraine Behind the Mask awareness campaign. This migraine advocacy campaign aims to help people without migraine better understand what life with migraine is like. Migraine is a highly stigmatized disease, and our campaign lets people with…
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