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Tuesday 2 October 2012

Migraine and Sleep: Migraine Mum's top 6 tips for good sleep hygiene!

Yawn.

Migraine Mum is tired.

No one told me that having children meant that you'd never sleep properly again!

Does this sound familiar to you?..........

Midnight toilet trips escorting child no 2, crying (not me!), snoring (not me again!), next doors children waking up and crying, migraine pain waking me up at 2am, 3am, 4am and yes, 5am (me wandering around the house looking for drugs, ice packs, cold flannels), child no 3's 4th birthday....3 excited children all awake at 550am (yes the same night I had been up on and off all night with a migraine!). And all this was made worse by me having late nights watching Inspector Montelbano (fantastic) and Doctor Who (It was me crying last night after seeing Amy and Rory died!)

We all know that lack of sleep is a trigger for migraine. And too much sleep for that matter! No wonder it's hard to be wild! I can hear my migraine brain saying "ooh, you'd better not do that, you need to go to bed", "ahh, I don't believe you wanted to do that! Haven't you learnt that a lie in makes you feel worse?!" "Don't do that! You might get tired!!!" Oh, there must be a healthier way of managing all of this.

Well yes! It's called: 'Good Sleep Hygiene'. Here's Migraine Mum's top 6 tips
1. Check your bed.....do you need a new one?! (we saved up for a new one after working out our existing one was probably about 25 yrs old. That explained the weird clunking noises and back ache!)
2. Ear plugs: I've also just treated myself to a pair of luxurious ear plugs. I figure if the children are really crying for me, my husband will be sure to tell me!!
3. Early nights. I have made a pact with a friend today to get an early night. Into bed by 10pm......if one of us goes to bed later than that, then there will be a forfeit!! I'd better speed up on this blog then!
4. Naps. When I'm really struggling for sleep, I take a daytime nap. I realize the desperate need for sleep when I am reading stories to my children and they say to me "mummy, why have you got that funny voice?"...and I say in my slurred speech, "well, that's me being clever, reading and sleeping at the same time!"
5. Don't over complicate things on the days you are feeling washed out. I am quite stubborn. If I have decided to cook a Shepherd's pie one day even though I know I am tired and feeling migrainy, along side having multiple deliveries and pick ups of 3 children at various clubs, friends....whatever, basically I am like a bee buzzing around with it's bottom on fire, I still do it! Why?
6. Relaxation: baths, meditations: see www.topguidedmeditations.com (website and app available) If I can't sleep, I find the meditation for getting to sleep really helpful.See also 'headspace', available on from iTunes or android.

Also, read Alex Nesbitt's article at the Migraine Trust for loads more information on good sleep hygiene www.migrainetrust.org/research It's called "Sleep and Migraine: Reluctant Bedfellows?"

Good night From Migraine Mum, hope your sleep brings peace from your little ones, rest and good health. x

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Migraine and the Future of Treatment

Hello there fellow blogettes. This week you are going to be treated to a write up of the EHMTIC (trying saying that when you have a migraine) conference.

We met at a hotel in London. I felt like I was part of a club, as we were all given a bag and some lunch (gluten and dairy free options of course, copious amounts of water, smoothie juice and decaf tea!). This gave us the chance to meet fellow sufferers and we were all swapping stories and advice. I also felt really in awe of the researchers who are so committed to helping us migraineurs. So if you ever feel alone out there because of your illness, remember these researchers who are working every day, all over the world to make things better for us. One of the researchers from California said to us "looking at you lot out there gives me strength!" He wants to help us!

I wrote copious notes, hardly any of which make sense to me now!!! SO here goes:

Migraine and Depression: research indicates that if you have migraine you are at risk of developing depression (apparently the risk increases to 50%). The talk also suggested that anyone with a chronic pain disorder (migraine, arthritis, back pain) would be at risk of developing "depressive symptoms". He also suggested that this is bi-directional ie if you have depression, you are more at risk of developing migraine. The research has not concluded whether there is a common mechanism behind depression and migraine, but recognises that they are both fluctuating disorders of the brain. In his opinion it was considered that the best treatment for people with migraine and depression was the trycyclic anti-depressants (amitryptyline, dosulepin), not SSRI's (prozac).

How your GP should care for your migraine, what NICE says: interesting facts I learnt were as follows:
1. for a bad migraine take a Triptan with an Ibuprofen or paracetamol
2. No evidence for ergotamines and cocodamol (risk of rebound greater)
3. Acupuncture has been recommended, and you can ask your doctor to have it on the NHS
4. a 400mg dose of Riboflavin (B2) is helpful

Migraine and Sleep:
Interesting facts I learnt:
1. A nap has been shown to terminate some migraines (could lead to an argument for employers to supply somewhere to sleep, as this in turn could help the migraineur to stay at work)
2. an imbalance in sleep can lead to headache (lack of restorative sleep)
3. if you do have a sleep problem, there are solutions (melatonin and light therapy) Look out for your local sleep clinic!
4. watch out for premonitory phase (yawning, irritable, craving) particularly late at night as quite often the pain of the migraine develops between 5am and 9am.
5. make sure you are getting 8 hrs minimum sleep a night. Anything less (esp 5 hrs or less) puts you at greater risk of more frequent migraines.
6. Those with migraine have a significant tendency towards circadian extremes (night owl or morning lark)

Future Treatments:

1: drugs being developed at the moment are steering away from affecting your arteries and reducing reccurence of the migraine. Good news for the over 65's who can't take the triptans, and good news for those of us who end of taking so many drugs which then in turn cause us more migraines (rebound migraine)
2: Occipital Nerve Stimulation
3: Magnetic Stimulation

The Researcher predicted that in 4 to 5 years some of this would be widely available and described it as similar to the mobile phone industry. Do you remember those huge "mobile" phones that looked like bricks? Well he said thats where we are with Magnetic and occipital nerve stimulation equipment at the moment, but in a few years time, we may be having small devices that will fit into our bags......

So if your transient receptor potential cation channel isn't working very well, I'll see you next week for Migraine Mum's next instalment. xx












Tuesday 18 September 2012

The Migraine ToolKit: ways to manage your life with migraines

Migraine Mum hasn't taken a triptan drug for 12 days!!!

This is big news! Well may be it won't quite make the BBC news headlines, but I feel like I need to tell someone! I'm usually reaching for a triptan every 3 to 5 days but this last fortnight I seem to be able to rely on aspirin. I am having headpain every day now, not a migraine but a low level ache in my eyes and head/neck.

You may be wondering how or why the long term pattern of a migraine every 2-3 days has changed.......

Well to be absolutely honest, I don't know.
  • The children have gone back to school and my youngest is doing 2 more sessions at nursery than last year.......more space, less stress?
  • I have been trying to get more sleep (though the children have been waking me a lot over the last few weeks and I know I am very tired)
  • I have reduced the amount of sugar by eating a lot less cakes, biscuits and puddings.
  • May be finally the gluten and dairy free diets are paying off?
  • I've resumed my pilates stretches and a small amount of exercise.
  • Saw my cranial osteopath two weeks ago?
The puzzle continues. There is no one thing that is a cure. As we migraineurs know, what works for one person, doesn't for the next. But we are all like mechanics, carrying many tools in our toolkit in order to 'fix' this illness. What I firmly believe is that we can all build our own toolkits to manage our own migraines and the people around us effectively.

Here's some guidelines for building your toolkit based on The Pain Toolkit (www.paintoolkit.org)

Tool 1: accept that you have migraines...this can help with how you deal with the migraine and how you respond to it emotionally.
Tool 2: Build a support around you: friends, a good Dr, family, other migraineurs, blogs(!), join the Migraine Trust/Migraine Action
Tool 3: Pace yourself: try not to over do it on the days you feel well
Tool 4: Learn to prioritize and plan out your days. Build in relax time and fun. What brings you to life? What calms you?
Tool 5: Set yourself goals and action plans
Tool 6: Be patient with yourself (the migraine is a sign that you need to  step back and look after yourself, be kind to yourself)
Tool 7: Learn relaxation skills (you have to teach yourself to do this!)
Tool 8: Stretching exercise (pilates, yoga) and Exercise (take it steady)
Tool 9: Keep a diary and track your progress
Tool 10: Have a set back plan: who can you call for help? Let others step in when you can't manage. You don't have to be superwoman.
Tool 11: look after your body: eat healthily, drink lots of water.
Tool 12: Keep all of this up! It is a way of life and it will help you to feel you have a life...

Good Luck! Oh and by the way, I am going to the Migraine Conference in London, this Sunday the 23rd September 2012. It is a public session, so anyone can go, see www.migrainetrust.org or phone 0207 631 6970. I will no doubt be blogging about it next week.


Tuesday 11 September 2012

Migraine puzzle: gluten, dairy or detox diets?!


I have a confession to make.
I went to the National Migraine Clinic in January and was on a 3 month review. I haven't been back......

I am scared. Scared of what the next step will be. The Consultant mentioned detox which involves taking yourself off all your drugs you have for migraine treatment for 6 weeks. No analgesics, no triptans, nothing. Arggh! Panic!! I cannot see how I can do this with 3 young children. There is no time that would be a good time to inflict that on myself or my family. May be a stint in the Priory would suit?

So instead, I have chosen to cut out gluten and dairy on top of all the other things I have stopped eating and drinking. It is a last ditch attempt to change the migraine brain chemistry and see if I can make a difference......if it doesn't work (which it hasn't yet) I guess I will have to take a deep breath and face my fears.....

I do feel better on the gluten and dairy free diet. I have more energy, a feeling of desire to do things and play with my children more. I feel that my mood is consistently good, not many tears at all and my stomach behaves itself better. I am getting less head pain during the day and when I am well, I feel really well.

I chatted to a friend who is a dietician. She said after 2 months you should know if there is a link. I thought "whoopee! I've been doing it for at least 2 months so I can start eating and drinking what I want again!" I started the very next day with cows milk on my gluten free cereal......within 40 mins I had a migraine........

Then on holiday I thought "well, I keep getting migraines, so I will relax and treat myself to a bit of gluten, yum". That night I had awful stomach pains, nausea, cramps in my legs and arms and joint pains. Two days later I had a 3 day migraine and felt really low and teary again.

If I am intolerant to gluten and dairy(which I think I might be), why, oh why hasn't the pattern of migraine changed?!

Migraine is like an eternally evolving puzzle which you can't seem to ever finish. I know you get migraines for many reasons, but I just hoped that diet might have been a big chunk of the solution. I'm not ready to give up yet as at the back of my migraine brain I wonder (rather simplistically I'm sure!), that may be it takes longer for the healing to get from my stomach to my head!? Another couple of months and may be then I will face my fear at the Migraine clinic..........

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Top 10 Olympic ways of improving life with migraines.

Migraine mum and family are back on terra firma. We went to Spain, on a plane and there was no rain!

So do holidays bring any reprieve for the chronic migraineur?

I had my obligatory 3 migraines! 2 of them were packed into my first weekend! I am convinced they arose because of a combination of travelling with 3 young children, 4 unwieldy suitcases and 100's of other people doing the same.....the stress of getting on a plane without allocated seats with 100's of others!! Oh my! (yes, Fifty Shades of Grey was my holiday read!)I also found that even though eating and drinking were possible, they were not always possible when I needed to. And I hadn't packed enough food so ended up eating rubbish. I'm sure my blood sugar levels were low. I was also travelling on the back end of 3-4 incredibly busy weeks and I know I was feeling stretched. Oh and poor child no 3 was sick during the first night.......good start!!

The third migraine came on after playing tennis in the heat (it was only 9am!) I know that sudden exercise is one of my triggers, plus I forgot to eat a snack, then went shopping on an empty stomach with child no 3 in tow who enjoyed raising my blood pressure by picking up champagne bottles, repeatedly saying " I want this!" "I want that!" and trying to eat the biscuits before we had paid. All very explainable really.

All the migraines responded well to medication and the impact of these migraines on my holiday was minimal. I wasn't surprised to get the migraines I got which I think helped me to take my medication early. I also think by not spending emotional energy wondering why I got this migraine and feeling angry etc etc, made the whole experience lighter and shorter. I didn't get another one travelling home at the weekend.

It feels really good to feel well. Since I've been back I've had a few 'heads' which felt like they were going to be migraines. I ate, drank and the head pain went. So no medication since last Wednesday...that's good news.

What does this tell us about living with migraine? I should move to Spain?!May be a bit drastic! Now the Olympics has started, I have seen many parallels between the top athletes and living with migraines or any long term illness for that matter. There are times when living with migraine can feel like a bit of a marathon. I have been inspired by the althetes, looking at them stretching themselves but within their own capabilities....it got me thinking......

Top 10 Olympic Ways of Living with Migraine: 
  1. Pace yourself: you can't sprint a long distance race.
  2. Create a network of support around you and be honest with those who can lighten your load a bit. They need to know when you're not operating at full pace so they can compensate for you and understand why you need to rest. Olympians need rest, support and coaching, so why shouldn't we?
  3. Eat regularly (every 4 hours)
  4. Drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day (more in Spain!)
  5. Rest your bodies well inbetween exertion!
  6. Listen to your body and thought patterns in order to respond appropriately and quickly. That's what any good sportsman has to do....
  7. Take your medication as early as you can (as long as it's not growth hormone!)
  8. Distract yourself from the pain by focusing on other things, do things that make you feel good and alive. There is a lot of psychology in handling pain. Sportsmen are trained to respond to pain appropriately. how do you respond to it? Me? Relaxation, sleeping, reading and really really laughing (you know the kind, when there are tears streaming down your face)....
  9. In the spirit of the Olympics, we have to keep practising to get better at handling our migraines. Don't give up!
  10. But when we do get a migraine, give into it..like an Olympian would do if he injured himself. Let the people around you help. Then you are more likely to be able to pick yourself up for the next round of living........


Monday 16 July 2012

Living with migraine.....are there any cures?

I thought I wasn't feeling inspired to write this week but in fact the feelings I am having are in fact a despondency about the whole "living with migraines" reality. I am fed up of it all. I can see no end.

The thing about any long term and chronic illness is that there are no easy answers. Admittedly, some people are 'lucky' enough to find the secret to their migraines. I recently saw a person on the TV who reported that through hypnosis, she discovered that in a previous life (gigantic leap of belief and acceptance there), a large coconut had landed on her head. Miraculously, once she had relived this awful event, she never had another migraine again.

I'm jealous. I want a coconut story for myself! There must be a simple explanation. I must be just missing it. There is something out there which is going to make a big difference to my life, if I could only just find it. I'm on a gluten free, caffeine free, and dairy free diet. I've been doing this for nearly 3 months and nothing has changed. Do I give up? Or does it take longer for my body to heal itself and with time, my migraines will get better. I have no answers. No one has any answers and I can feel very alone with some of the decision making I need to do.

 I've read many articles: one lady had acupuncture....migraines went, ....another lady did a major detox of diet and the migraines promptly left her. It seems to be so complicated as illnesses go. No one thing is reliably the culprit and you're left feeling that you are essentially guessing....it is a guessing game, full of "what if I try this....it may be the answer...."

It is a quiz with no answers. It seems to be just luck that you stumble on the right person, the right therapist, the right drug.....

Now this will sound ridiculous I expect but this lack of concrete information on how to stop this chronic illness leaves me with so much guilt. I feel guilty that I may somehow be causing the migraines myself. I know that may sound mad because I would never say that to anyone else. And if I had epilepsy or diabetes, I wouldn't be blaming myself. I also feel that it colours the picture people have of me......that somehow I'm not resilient or I am weak, or do not have a strong constitution. There's another whole blog entry on that topic!

Anyway, I have, as yet, found nothing that has a great impact on the frequency of my migraines. My brain seems to need to have them 1-3 times a week, whatever I do, or not do, take or not take. I may never find the answer......even though I know I am on the road of accepting this as a long term illness (gradually) and that I need to accomodate my life around it, I still feel let down that there is nothing I can do at this moment in my life to get rid of them or even lessen the frequency.......

Living as mum with migraines gives me the energy I need to carry on. What would I do without my children? They drain me, but also give me life. And that makes me remember something my dad said to me once....he was talking to me about as a migraineur you are sensitive to the world: light, noise, movement, smell, touch, any of these can become a trigger for migraine.Then he said, may be this sensitivity is central to who you are.....you are sensitive to others, intuitive and aware of people's pain and needs. May be, being migraine mums actually makes us sensitive and intuitive mums too? Everhopeful that amongst all this, there is hope.

PS: An update for relaxation....try the app 'headspace'. It is fantastic for visualisation and works on the principle that you have to practise relaxation skills and learn how to do it, with a view that you then apply these skills in stressful situations. The sessions are short and manageable. Available from iTunes or android. 

Monday 9 July 2012

Migraine and exercise



Migraine Mum is trying to get fit (I'm not in this clip by the way!). I have ulterior motives....I am now 41 yrs old and have raised cholesterol. Suddenly I can't eat what I want. I also seem to have an abscence of any muscles in the tummy area and on a bad day, I can look about 5 months pregnant. (yes, someone asked me recently if I was expecting again !!!!!!)  I blame my 3 children entirely for this but I can honestly say, they have now come to my rescue.......I LOVE THE Wii!!! I play it more than they do now!

When I have a spare moment, I get myself togged up in my lycra and turn the old wii on for a bit of a prance around the lounge. Admittedly at the beginning I was rubbish, (0% technique!!!) but I got better especially when I realised that many of my groovy moves were being hampered by various things on the floor: lego, toy dogs, marbles, and someones' pants (yuk, child no 3 seems to have an adversion to wearing any).

I am now a Zumba Master!! And you can see from the clip above that any age, size or shape can do it. BUT I'm having to be careful, as exercise seems to trigger migraines.......what I have realised is that at the moment, it probably makes my brain a little over excited!! So I need to find what my limit is and gradually increase it to 30 mins. At the moment, I can do about 15 mins I think without triggering a migraine. But not every day either!!

Research backs this up, saying irregular bursts of activity can make migraines worse but regular exercise can be of great benefit in terms of endorphins and enkephalins. These are the hormones released during exercise that can make you feel good and can, according to research, help in the control of pain AND frequency of migraine.

What I find hard is that I have so many migraines (1-3 a week) and quite understandably, I don't feel able to do exercise......even post migraine my body hurts amd my energy levels are so low, and climbing the stairs to change into my lycra can seem too much. Couple this with the demands of children and the inconsistent life they can produce through not sleeping (who feels like dancing on 3 hours sleep?!), one of them being ill (no space to do those extra "me" things), or child no 3 clinging onto my leg while I try to dance (my right leg muscles are amazing!)......it seems almost impossible to create that regular time for exercise that seems to be so essential!

I know that I'm not quite at that stage in which exercise is beneficial. There are obviously no quick fixes for a chronic illness but gradual life changes which together help to contribute to a better management of this demanding neurological disease. Us migraine mums need commitment and perseverance. Being mum and being a migraineur can make exercise seem like an impossibility. But as they say "where there is a will (or a wii), there is a way!" Good luck!

PS: As part of the gradual changes I mentioned, I have been doing the relaxation session every day at night time since my last blog. I have found two good ones on www.painsupport.co.uk and an app called Stop Panic and Anxiety (free) which also has a visualisation for children.

Monday 2 July 2012

Migraine and Stress (again!)

Migraine Mum is stressed. I know stress is an everyday part of life for all people and I know it's something that I have to learn to handle better......

Having children and all that goes with family life can feel like a tidal wave of overwhelmings, especially when you're tired and/or in post migraine phase. I know stress can cause me a migraine over time. It's all about overload! Here are some examples from my life.......

Stressful situations:
1. Monday morning: ah, quick, child no 3 is playing happily on her own.... I can get the washing out of the washing machine that's been in there since yesterday..yippee!! (small things I know)....I'll get the washing basket.

Oh, the washing basket is full of child no 2's new clothes that I meant to put away in her cupboard. I'll quickly do that before child no 3 finds me (sneaky)

Hang on, I can't even get to the cupboard, there's too many toys in the way.....I'd better put them away then.........I manage to put the toys away and the clothes rapidly. I'm so pleased with myself (again, small things I know) Great, I can now do the original job of getting the clothes out of the washing machine......

Child No 3 appears. She takes one look at the empty washing basket and walks off with it. I look at her in dismay and she says "I've been looking for this mummy! It's my boat!"

2. Monday afternoon: Migraine mum needs a break so all children have been forced to "lull" as we put it in our family which is a time of rest doing computer, TV or whatever....."I DON'T MIND AS LONG AS YOU DON'T BOTHER MUM!" An unrealistic expectation I know.....

First game console malfunctions.....I do the battery change. Child no 3 appears crying as something she has seen on children's tv has upset her. I talk it through with her and then put something different on for her. Child no 1 calls me with excitement as he has discovered another app in which a fish farts (yes really).

I finally sit down to try to fix my phone which is not receiving emails.......oh quick, turn down the potatoes....arggh! I forgot about the sausages!! I sit down again and begin to type in a code that is about 15 digits long...is that an O or an 0?! MUM!!!! game console still malfunctioning, another battery change, please work!

I sit down again and retype the long digit code, nearly there.....knock knock knockity knock.....someone at the door.....I am muttering to myself (can't write it down sorry)........hello! we'd just like to raise your awareness of....I can't listen today sorry. Can't listen to what? Everything!! Well, it won't take long......Sorry! NO! and I shut the door. Phew. Officially frazzled. Needless to say, I did not fix my phone.

So, what to do with all this stress? Breathing is generally recommended.

Effective breathing is even better. Lateral Breathing involves using your diapraghm, not just the top half of your body. Allowing your stomach and rib cage to expand outwards as you breathe in and breathe inwards as you breathe out. I do a few of these at the moment I feel stressed. But I think I need to try a bit more actively to relax. So this week, my goal is to download a relaxation track for my MP3 player and practice relaxing every day. Yes yes! I can hear you.....you're wondering when I'm going to download it and when I'm going to relax??. I don't know yet!


PS I'm going to start with this website www.painsupport.co.uk
It is designed for anyone in regular pain and in need of relaxation, providing effective ways of controlling stress and pain. That was quick work!! MM x


Sunday 24 June 2012

Severe Migraines and creating a Support Network

I have learnt through my own experience this week the importance of having an escape plan and a support network around you to help you when you have a Mount Vesuvious migraine.

You know the ones I mean: they erupt violently, exploding pain all over your body.......when just moving a centimetre makes you want to spew the contents of your stomach and you feel as though there is a hot screw burning a hole out of your eye socket and a blunt stake shoving its way out of your skull. The only place you can be is in bed, staying still, like a dead body, with the curtains closed and no noise.You don't want to be responsible for yourself let alone anyone else.....you're half awake, half asleep, dreaming of being in hospital so you can opt out of living, thinking, doing.

The reality is that as adults, and mums, we have to find a way through this and carve out an escape plan (alias a support network) that works when we have a Vesuvious type migraine. We have to do this for our children, for our partners and above all for ourselves.

Well, last Thursday, I woke up with a Richter Scale 5 migraine and before I could say "argghhhhh!", I found myself playing hangman with child no 2. ????

My brain was not working. Panic and anxiety were setting in but at the same time I was saying to child no 2: "Is there a 'p'?" Then to myself: Who can help me? how can I get them to school? To child no 2: "how about an 'e'?" Then to myself: how can I get them dressed and make their lunches? To child no 2 "what about 's'?" I not only found myself playing hangman, I wanted to be hangman!!

I am very lucky. I have in-laws close by (retired) and my own mum and dad happened to be staying with my sister who also lives near by.......3 phone calls later (which wasn't easy on the old head!), I had my helpers lined up and ready to do all those jobs my brain and body couldn't cope with. The children thought it was great and I slept the morning away. Phew, what a relief.

Friends also were a great support, offering sympathy via text and more offers of help. As migraine mums we need to find a system that works as well as possible in what is effectively an emergency.

Most of the time my volcano is smouldering and I never quite know when it is going to erupt and what number on the richter scale it's going to be. So I'm learning, like every good scout, to be prepared and create a rescue plan. This has to be flexible according to who is around, but creating a bank of people who you can call upon at a moments notice is vital. The erupting volcano doesn't just affect mums, it adds worry to our partners who feel helpless and it may even frighten our children who could be worrying that we are not going to be able to be mummy anymore. Children can't think beyond the moment afterall.

So, imagine you are standing at the bottom of Mount Vesuvious with your family..........and it begins to erupt. Who ya gunna call? Who's your "phone-a-friend?". Who ever they are, they are worth a million.

PS: there is a fantastic forum for people with migraine. I've put it on my resources section. You may find this a source of great support when you are feeling unwell. I've always thought it would be impossible to really run a migraine support group in my local area as I think we'd all be ringing in, saying we couldn't make the meeting as we had got a migraine!! At least the idea of a virtual support group means you can access it when you need to and when you are able to. If you have any ideas on how to manage your Mount Vesuvious Migraines, please leave us a comment! MM x


Tuesday 19 June 2012

Migraines, Stress and tiredness

Stress and tiredness are known triggers for migraine for many of us. Tiredness makes stress much harder to handle. Migraines make tiredness and stress much harder to handle too. Stress can come in all sorts of forms.....I have 3 forms......they are 9, 6 and 3 years old.
2.12am: I'm asleep, lovely dream
2.13am: I find myself standing up in Child no 3's bedroom, telling her in slurred speech, not to worry about monsters!
3.10am: child no 3 kicks me out of her bed! Literally! I must've fallen asleep!
3:15am: I drift back to sleep in my own bed...bliss.
7.08am: I'm asleep, More bliss.
7.09am: I find myself kneeling on the floor, trying to find the cut that child no 2 has found and is deeply upset about. I'm feeling around her leg, my eyes are still shut.
7.10am: discusssion with child no 3 about where our poo goes.......
7.11am: my eyes open to see a pair of child no 1's pants (yesterdays) come flying at me. yuk.
7.12am: I'm awake (I think)

I have heard of the "slump" migraine: a migraine in response to a prolonged spell of stress, tiredness and multiple triggers. Usually they suggest that slump migraines occur at weekends but I guess with parenting being a 24/7 job, it can occur at seemingly erratic times depending on what is going on in your life and who happens to be waking you at the time!

My sleepless nights have coincided with multiple birthdays, Father's Day, family celebrations, an osteopath appt, hormonal changes and trips to fun fairs (again!). I've found myself feeling stretched. I've worked hard at not getting a migraine. Here's a summary of the week:

12 deep breaths taken when I realised I had forgot to pay up for child no 2's party (all is fine now but I'm currently looking for an admin assistant and an office....and a salary.....and a weeks holiday)
11 presents to wrap
10 crates of shopping ordered via supermarket.....I may have got carried away on the 3 for 2 offers...................
9 texts sent to parents who hadn't replied to party invites (where's my admin assistant? I should get a bonus for all this work!)
8 hours at wet wet wet fun fair with children. Fun.
7 hours spent on the internet trying to order presents...why do I leave it so late?!
6 roll downs (pilates) to counteract sitting at computer for 7 hours!
5 trips to the shops (I'm fed up of shopping!!)
4 sleep deprived nights (how do they know it's a bad time to wake your mum up? Do they have a meeting just before bed and decide whose turn it is to call for mum?!)
3 birthdays in family (my dad (15th June), no 1 child (18th June) and no 2 child (19th June).....bad planning I know)
2 lots of aspirin
1 big sigh of relief as planning, and party go well.
0 migraines......well, until yesterday, when the Beast decided that enough was enough and he wanted some attention.

I guess while the adrenaline is around during a stressful time in your life, you may be more protected from getting a migraine? Then, when the reason for the adrenaline has gone, the "slump" occurs. I understand why I have this migraine. I'm not fighting it. I'm just going to rest as much as I can, when I can and hope the Beast calms down soon. I'm off now to nurse the Beast. Can anyone think of a song for this week?!

Sunday 10 June 2012

Suffer with migraine? Feeling angry? Read on......

It's been a war zone this week. The ugly beast has been stationed on code red. He must've had orders to lay me low because he (and it is a he...don't ask me why) has certainly achieved an almost World War 3 standard of pain, depression and fatigue. Since I last wrote, I have struggled to live a normal life as the Migraine Beast has put me into solitary confinement every day, taking me away from my children and husband. I have managed to escape a couple of times and enjoyed myself only to find the Ugly beast has dragged me back into the isolation cell afterwards, attacking me on all sides and at all times of day and night.

I've felt very angry towards this Ugly Beast. Angry that he chooses a family holiday to announce war. I turn into Sergeant Major Migraine Mum, prepared to go into fighting mode. A war mentality descends and nothing is going to stop me, I will beat the ugly beast off. But this wears me down even more and I start to listen to his lies........you're letting your family down, they'd all be better off with someone else, you are weak, you can't even run a house let alone have a job........and so the dark thoughts take over, and a form of self torture begins......

Unfortunately I have discovered this week that when I'm angry and in battle mode, the anger goes towards people I love and myself.....this has got to change.

Luckily, my family love me!  Wow, what would I do without them? I love my family so much, they keep me in post....there are times when I want to go AWOL....a kind of perverse way of protecting them from dealing with the consequences of this illness and seeing mum/wife in such a state. I would never run away, it's just the only reaction I can have sometimes when in the depths of this war, I can't see any sign of peace. The Ugly Beast has me trapped in his prison and I want to escape.

But is this Beast really at war with me?? I know I'm at war with him.....a friend of mine with her own severe experience of migraine has enabled me to challenge this view of the Ugly Beast. Ugly it may be (and it really is Ugly), but also needy of attention....the Beast could be like a child who feels unloved, crying out for care and attention. This Unloved Beast is trying to gain my attention but every time he voices a need, I fight him off. I try to ignore him. And what happens when you ignore your children?.....they start to misbehave!!

So, if I don't listen to the Beast, then he starts to misbehave....sending me more signals that I need to listen and respond.

So, rather than soldiering on and fighting, I need to do something REALLY restful, restorative and relaxing....the 3 R's!! Then the Special Needs Beast (still Ugly) starts to calm down, happy that you are finally listening to his needs. The pain begins to go, the lows begin to fade and the fatigue cries out with relief that finally you have given the tank a bit more fuel.........no fighting, no war, no guilt, no shame...just kindness and a sense of peace that at this moment in your life, it is a time for rest.......AND you are still loved despite the beast's presence.....

I'm going to finish with words from my nearly 9 year old son who is turning into a very sensitive and kind person. He said to me "mummy, I love you, I love you even when you're ill".....that is priceless to me and cuts into all the rubbish lies that my mind tortures me with. What would we do without love? All you need is love (and triptans, aspirin and sleep)....I can feel another song coming on..........

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4p8qxGbpOk





Sunday 3 June 2012

Words from the King for chronic migraine sufferers!




I am having a HM day. No, not a 'Her Majesty's Day' (though I realise it is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee; I have waved my flag at her on the telly!) No, I'm having a Hard Migraine day. It's all caught up with me today and I'm feeling pretty low, sore and removed from the world. Not an easy day to feel removed from the world, as we, the Commonwealth and my family celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. No party animal in me, I'm sorry to say for my family, I've just wanted to curl up and hide!

Anyway, I got a blog alert from another migraine blogger who said that the USA are just starting Migraine Awareness Month and wanted people to blog about various subjects on designated days. I'm feeling a bit subversive so I have jumped a few days already and picked one I fancied doing.....picking one of your favourite songs that link how you feel about your migraine. And I thought what better artist to pick on the Queen's special day, but the King of Rock 'n Roll, my favourite, Elvis Presley.

Elvis Presley suffered from migraine. Yes! it makes me feel closer to him too! He was also a spiritual person. I like that too. 'If I can dream' happens to be one of my favourite songs about life. It's real...it doesn't hide from the pain of living but signals a strength and hope at the same time. He sings it with such passion and I feel that passion about how I want to live my life. My children are witnesses to my love for this song as they see me singing along to the King in the kitchen using a wooden spoon! Here are my rambling thoughts......

1. "you're lost in a cloud, there's too much rain..." well I have wondered if the weather has made a difference today.....it's rained and been gloomy all day! I blogged about weather last week. There are studies that have indicated a link between certain types of weather and migraine.

2. "you're trapped in a world troubled in pain"......when I have a migraine I feel like I don't belong to the world, it's a place that brings pain because of the bright lights, smells, noises, movement. I don't want to belong to it when I have a migraine.

3. When Elvis sings about there being lights burning brighter somewhere.....well, I'm sure he isn't singing about horrible flurescent lights that you get in big superstores or the energy light bulbs that produce light that seems to sit on top of your eyes!!....he means a soft, bathing light that creates an ambience of relaxation and calm that makes you feel good.

4. Elvis sings about the hope that 'the answer is going to come somehow'. Well, of course I think about there being better medication and understanding of migraine, but for me it also means and that even though you may feel very low when suffering from migraine, you have to believe that you will find a way through it. He sings that we will still have the strength to dream and the strength to go on. And you do. Everhopeful and ever strong. (I'm turing into a poet!)

Please raise a glass of pretend champagne to the Queen (that's the closest I'll get to alcohol!) and let's raise a glass to tomorrow too. For fun and laughter and no migraine.
If you fancy sharing your favourite song and saying why, blog away and leave me a comment. MM x

Monday 28 May 2012

Migraine and Weather

Hello my FBR's (fellow blog readers). I'm in my sunny garden! Yes!! The UK has finally discovered the Summer. The paddling pools are out, I'm showing my rather white legs, the children are running around naked in the garden, and icecream, ice pops and ice cubes are being consumed in abundance. We are finally, after a long month of rain, basking in high temperatures and sunny days.

And I've had 3 migraine attacks since Wednesday. That Ugly Beast is back with avengeance!

The Ugly Beast must like a spot of sunbathing as it came to visit me on the day the hot weather started. I suddenly remembered that I can find the Summer hard work. Everyone is rejoicing in the sudden appearance of the heat and sun and I'm feeling like a right old party pooper (English saying for someone who can ruin everyone elses' fun!) I love the sun but my brain appears to have a reaction to it.

The other two attacks may or may not be due to the weather but I'm pretty sure it has contributed to me feeling unwell.

Research
There are a few studies on the influence of weather on migraines, none of which prove that weather is definitely a factor. But neither has it been disproved.

The BBC reported on a study that found that the risk of migraine goes up by 7.5% every 5 degree celsius increase. So I guess the sudden swing over night last Wednesday may have been a factor.....

A study in Canada reported that South Easterly Winds can affect migraine. There's plenty of wind in our household (3 children who laugh their heads off when someone blows off.....can toxic smell cause a migraine?!) But reading that makes me think I must watch the weather more often! In Germany there is a telephone number you can ring to find out the changes in weather, to find out the risk to your health......like it!!! A migraine hotline......

Another study states that low Barometer readings (stormy, cloudy skies) can induce a migraine 2-3 days later and high humidity can also have the same effect.

We don't have much chance really do we!?!

A preventative approach
So what is the answer to this? Firstly, the research suggests that migraineurs try to avoid as many other triggers as possible during the above mentioned weather changes. Whilst I agree with this, I also think it
is quite often impossible, especially when you have so many other triggers that are out of your control (children!).

Secondly, they suggest you take your medicine as soon as you notice any changes in your head/neck. Good advice. You won't stop a migraine coming by taking the triptans before the migraine appears....

Eat healthily....yes
Drink loads....of course
Exercise regularly.....try to, dancing to the Wii!
Get enough sleep.....not always under my control with children waking with bad dreams, sick, temperatures, or just needing a cuddle.....but I do try to catch naps or go to bed early if nights are restless ones.
Have sunglasses with you always (see link for Mediview migraine sunglasses)

The final suggestion is to keep a diary. This is excellent advice as it helps to show you where your brain is most sensitive. By doing this, you are more likely to learn to avoid the triggers you can avoid whilst the weather is causing you a bit of strain.........

Ultimately, it's obvious we can't avoid the weather but we can learn to manage our Ugly Beasts in the weather to maximise our good health.

I would love to hear your thoughts on whether the weather (!) is a trigger for you.....please leave a comment if you can so we can learn from each other how to cope with this uncontrollable trigger....

See The Migraine Trust for an online diary www.migrainetrust.org. Also the Migraine Trust has a travelling migraine diary...a book is sent for you to write your migraine story in and it is uploaded onto Flickr with everyone elses' stories. This will become a document for developing new nationwide policies. If you prefer to have a hard copy of a diary then visit  www.migraine.org for a printable diary

















Monday 21 May 2012

Migraine: to be cured or not to be cured........

Where has the Ugly Beast gone? Still frightened by the prospect of Botox? Migraine Mum has had no migraine since last weekend (hurray!). Instead, I had a virus which gave me a thumping head and the shivers for 3 days, a bit like having a migraine (booo!) but I wasn't left with that horrible feeling of being drained and low (hurray!). I wonder if the Ugly Beast decided that the viral headache was enough for me this week and gave me a reprieve?! He normally visits me about 2 times a week!

So, on Thursday I had an idea that me and my family could spend Saturday going to a theme park. A big day out. We decided that we wouldn't mention it until we were sure we felt up for it (always a sensible plan when you're not sure if you're going to have a migraine or not, or if any of your children are going to be sick the night before!).......wow, what excitement in our house there was on Saturday morning!!

Anyway, I knew I was at risk of migraine. Big days out always present a few more challenges.
Probably because:
  • I don't drink or eat as much as I normally do
  • there is a tendency to eat rubbish
  • car travel can make me feel worse
  • the stress of dealing with 3 children on a long day out too can stretch me at the best of times. 
  • the rides can make me feel icky which seems to provoke my head!
  • excitement can bring on a migraine........and I was very excited!!
  • tirednesss can trigger a migraine too
So I went in prepared, drinking water, eating gluten free snacks regularly, always on the look out for rides which might make me feel icky and being prepared with the children with snacks etc. I stayed as calm as I could but screamed like hell on Vampire, laughed my head off in Bubbleworks as I got soaked and giggled to myself when I sat on Professor Fartawhatsits chair in Hocus Pocus Hall ( my children had walked off and I was left shouting "look I'm blowing off!" to a complete stranger! Can embarrassment bring on a migraine?!) We had a fantastic day!

Its success made me think......... I have finally accepted that I suffer from migraine. This may sound odd.......I have had them since I was 18yrs old and remember having sicky heads before that on buses or in cars. That's about 24 years of fighting the illness, believing that I would find a cure one day and it would all be ok. Of course I haven't found a cure and this has only made me feel worse in the past. Why can some people get cured by giving up tomotoes or seeing a hypnotherapist once......Well I've decided to do it differently.....I don't want to live my life feeling I should be cured but by accepting the Ugly Beast in my life, I can learn to live with it. And it seems that may be by learning to accept the difficult things in your life, somehow their hold over you is not as great, the dark thoughts lessen and you are freer to get on with your life. The Holy Grail Quest is I believe, to find effective ways of managing this illness, to find ways of increasing your threshold to migraine, and not necessarily to be cured........and may be then, the Ugly Beast may get a bit bored and decide to blog off for a little bit.....

Monday 14 May 2012

Migraine: watch out Ugly Beast, there's Botox about...

Migraine mum is feeling washed out from 2 days of pain, noise and light phobia. It all started on Thursday night when I woke up at 2am with an excruciating stomach pain, (I'm only used to head pain and know what to do with that!) I thought I was going to be sick. It felt like a reaction to something and bearing in mind I've not been eating gluten for nearly two weeks, I wondered if maybe I had eaten some by accident.

So, I went downstairs, doubled up in pain, made a hot water bottle, took an anti sickness pill and started to google food I had eaten......doubled up over my laptop!!....why did I put Guinness in my Steak and Guinness stew?? ..all beer and ales have gluten in!! Well, I know that now......

The headache reared its ugly head on Saturday. "Oh I can get rid of that with aspirin!" I said to myself optimistically.  But no I couldn't......I took the triptan and said to my husband, "I know I get migraines very frequently, but at least I don't have to go to bed much these days with them, they're much milder than they used to be!"...

The Ugly Beast heard these confident words and decided to show me that the Ugly Beast is still in charge.......the pain (in my head this time) woke me up in the night and I resorted to another snort of triptan. I was bed bound on Sunday morning but managed to sleep. When I woke up, the Ugly Beast made sure I felt rubbish, low, weepy and unable to deal effectively with my boundary testing children.

Later I began to feel some more energy and managed to convince myself to go out with my family for a meal. I wanted to grasp the day, but I found myself following child number 3 around the overheated pub, standing at fruit machines (with my Migraine glasses on), and going in and out of toilets (she has an obsession with going to public toilets) On the third visit just after she had shouted "I'm going to have a squidgy pooh!" while everyone was eating their Sunday roast (the gravy suddenly didn't look too appetising!), I rushed her in to the toilet, locked the door..........and watched her rip toilet paper up, flinging it into the air and shouting, "mum, we're locked in the dungeon!".........she didn't need the toilet.......

She summed it all up. I felt I was locked in the dungeon.......trapped on my own with the Ugly Beast (who is not my child I hasten to add!) I realised that even when the pain has gone, the post migraine phase can be as debilitating as the migraine pain itself. The impact of having a migraine when you need to be social and energetic is asking too much of anyone's brain. The Ugly Beast sends you into solitary confinement, isolating you from everyone and it's very hard to combat.

The Ugly Beast is still lurking but I've had stern words with it. I have told the Ugly Beast that if I find that I cannot get rid of it with a gluten or a dairy free diet, then having tried every prophylactic drug under the sun, and alternative therapies, I may get rescued by the new Knight in shining armour....Botox.........I can feel Ugly Beast's power is now shrinking away as this new hope emerges for migraine sufferers and may be for me......

So I could end up migraine free and looking like Angelina Jolie! What a result!

(See the links for more information on Botox)




Monday 7 May 2012

Migraine Toolkit Part 3: Preventing Migraines..it's not easy!

Migraine Mum is yawning her way into the virtual world of Blogdom. In fact, I'm not sure I can be blogged to blog.

Knowing that sitting at the computer is one of my triggers for migraine is frankly very inconvenient when I am trying to blog about having migraines! (NEE-NAR NEE-NAR. The migraine police has just entered the room and correctly told Migraine mum to sit at the table with the laptop (not the settee!) and put the light on so Migraine mum can actually see the keyboard!!)

There, that's better, I've even got a cushion behind me to support my back.
Right, I am going to keep this short.

I have been in a migrainous state for 2 days....this means that I feel as though one is coming but luckily, something is keeping it at bay. I feel tired, sore in the head, neck and shoulders, irritable, light sensitive and slightly anxious (I have to be on form for tomorrow as we are back to normal routines with me parenting on my own for chunks of the day. I can't be ill!)

This migrainous state is utterly explainable when you look at the pace of family life. We have had an amazingly social and lovely weekend. A family farewell, a late night in the pub, a duck race (plastic ones!), a walk with friends, church, socialising with family, 2 children's parties....not to mention the gigantic loads of washing, shopping and tidying up that has to go on inbetween all these exciting events!

When I see that list, I think, no wonder I'm not feeling right. However, instead of just feeling tired, my body decides it is going to kindly remind me I've overdone it by provoking symptoms of migraine. It is, I believe, a warning sign and is raising the alarm, reminding me to pace myself........

But despite this migrainous state I haven't had to take a tablet. Something is preventing me from having one. I'm really pleased with this!

I am looking after myself during and either side of this busyness......
  • drinking water,
  • trying to eat little and often,
  • breathing (I'm not joking.....I've been catching myself holding my breath!!),
  • stretching (I do pilates...more on this another time!),
  • going to bed and getting up roughly the same times each day (apparently lying in can give you a migraine.....oh, and so can having late nights too)......

All in all, living with migraine can turn you into a control freak who can't be wild, spontaneous or lazy!! You have to be prepared and organized for everything!! Oh and stay relaxed!

Anyway, last week, I decided to do an experiment and give up Gluten.......the jury is out on this, but I have noticed that I feel a spark in me....a spark of energy, lightness, clearheadedness. It is early days but I am keen to continue with this experiment as it may be helping me to raise my threshold for migraine. There is a strong chance it is a placebo but time will tell. I'm not expecting this to be a miracle and cure me.....I know there are many reasons why I get migraine but I just want to try to tackle the number of migraines I get, and subsequently the number of drugs I take..

So, with this in mind, I'm off to breathe, stretch, drink, eat (gluten free) and sleep. Night Night, don't let the migraine bite! x



Monday 30 April 2012

Migraine and Diet: the search for the Holy Grail......

Over the years that I have had migraine I have developed a tense relationship with certain food and drink! I cover it up as much as I can but quite clearly this is impossible. The other day my 3 year old girl looked at my unusual lunchtime choice of rice and chicken tikka (I normally have a sandwich) and she said to me "mummy, have you got a migraine?".......

Clearly my relationship with food is complex......and the more I hear and read, the more I realise what a complex area it is.......this is where I stand at the moment with the food and drink in my life......

I have fallen out with alcohol big time because of the number of self induced migraines it has caused me. I only ever consumed a small(ish) amount but it made me sick (in the toilet) and sick (in the head). I called it a day a fair few years ago when even a glass of wine seemed to wipe out the following day or two. However, I understand from reading around that it's not the alcohol itself but something called congeners. These are found in wine in large amounts but not as much in vodka or gin........that cheers me up no end and when I feel fabulous, I am going to introduce a vodka or two into my life.......

I'm not talking to citrus fruit either.......no more satsumas or oranges. This might seem unfair to the unassuming satsuma as I have no evidence that it does cause migraines at all, I'm just being very cautious.

I'm deeply in love with cheese. I love the smell, the texture, the way it melts......hmmmm, and it pains me to say that (sniff) I have had to say a fond farewell (sniff), with tears in my eyes......
(sorry, I just need a break.....)......(sniff, blow nose)........to brie, mature cheddar and parmesan. Again, I'm not absolutely completely sure that there is a link.....so I may be depriving myself for absolutely completely no reason......but all the books mention it and everyone who doesn't suffer from migraine seems to know that cheese is a trigger.

Chocolate....again I'm not giving it any of my attention......the children have it and I vacate the room as I am lured in by its tempting aroma. It sits there in my sweet cupboard and calls to me.....Migraine mum.....come to me...you want me........I get seduced, give into temptation and then like an elicit affair, feel really guilty......

I have had many well meaning people tell me their migraine stories. "have you tried giving up tomotoes?"or "my migraines completely and absolutely stopped when I gave up eating chocolate and cheese together" or once in a health food shop the shop assistant said to me "have you tried giving up dairy, sugar, wheat, caffeine, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus fruit, chocolate, eggs, and gluten....?" ....AND LIFE??????

But I'm left with this gnawing feeling that may be thats what I've got to do.......to face up to reality that the shere frequency of my migraines must be linked to something else in my diet,,,,and if I could just find that bit of my diet that is causing all this pain then there would be no more migraines......or less migraines...I'd settle for that! 

So the search for the Holy Grail begins........more to follow next week..........







Monday 23 April 2012

1 wedding, 2 sick children and a migraine........

Health Warning: it has been brought to Migraine Mum's attention that this blog entry may trigger a migraine.

Get in the Tardis with me, I'm going to take you back to Thursday night 1am, my house (whirring noise).......Ah! Here we are.....look! I'm in bed, asleep, and then

Child no 2: "mummy, I'm going to be sick!" Migraine mum quickly catapaults herself out of bed and rushes this poor child to the bathroom. She is expertly sick into the toilet and then Migraine mum settles child no 2 back to bed......

Migraine mum lies awake and thinks....."oh no, we are travelling 3 hours in the car tomorrow. We are going to a family wedding!! Child no 2 can't be ill, she's going to be a bridesmaid!!! Don't get stresssed, you need your sleep......you may get a migraine.....Deep breaths.......

Friday morning: packing....Packing is now a different ball game. Not only am I packing for the wedding but now I'm thinking she may be sick all over the car, her clothes, my clothes. Someone else may get the bug, so better take more clothes, cleaning products, sick bags, four different types of medicine for the children (not to mention the crate load I take for myself!!), jelly, biscuits, tic tacs, bottles of water with colour coded stickers on to make sure child no 2 keeps her germs to herself............oh, and I mustn't forget to pack my migraine........it always comes with me when I travel! I don't think it likes being left at home on its own.......

Friday evening: we made it!!!! No more sick!!!! Child no 2 is ok. I'm so pleased for her. Hang on, I'm feeling rough....oh, it's because its 7pm and I haven't eaten my tea yet.....quick order that food, I need it now!! I can't get a migraine!

Friday night: arggh, hotel said they could cater for 5 of us in a family room but there are only enough beds for 4........child no 3 is in bed with us, wriggling, and she wakes us all up at 3.45am shouting "I want to go in the other bed!!!!!". Everyone settles back, but migraine mum lies awake (again).....can't sleep....get to sleep....you don't want to get a migraine......did I pack the bridesmaid dresses?! what if I left them at home? Did my husband pack his trousers...I don't remember seeing them...I get up and start rustling through the bags to check....phew, ok, all is ok. Stress, don't stress, you may get a migraine........

Saturday morning: We wake up....child no 2 is fine and I have no migraine! wow! We have a lovely walk in the countryside with everyone. I get the children dressed (they look gorgeous!) we go to the wedding. Hang on I forgot to eat lunch!! whoops! Wedding is lovely....I'm starving...canapes, I need canapes.........oooh, a glass of champagne!! oh, go on then.......(what am I thinking?????)......

Saturday afternoon: the food is here!!!!!! ...I gulp it down.....water, I really need water.. smile, someone is taking a photo.........I start to wilt and conversation is getting harder, then a bit later child no 1 is in tears and says he feels awful......he has a raging temperature!! We leave the wedding and luckily I get a surge of adrenaline to help him.............

Saturday evening: back in hotel, all are asleep. My lovely husband sleeps with the wriggler (yawn) and.......I (yawn), fall asleep, (yawn), too, so.....tired!! I've put my body (yawn) through a lot today, sleep (yawn) will help.........and then, oh no...........

I wake up with a pounding head. I turn on my phone to see what time it is (12.45am) and the light shines so brightly I think I'm going to be sick!! quick, emergency triptan, emergency!!! I take it. Thank God for triptans........always pack the triptans..............



Monday 16 April 2012

Migraine Tool Kit part 2: pacing yourself

Migraine mum is easing herself back into life........

Cup of decaf tea in hand, warming myself into Monday morning and a new term. It's gloriously sunny out there...and even though I don't have a migraine, I feel as blue as the sky..........

Any chronic illness can lead to a negative impact on every aspect of your life. But I am learning (slowly) that it is vital to pace yourself, otherwise everything just gets worse.....

This is a hard thing to do: I love saying yes and I hate missing out. I love being with people but being with people drains me. I need space to rejuvenate myself. Sometimes I wonder if my body generates a migraine to force me into stopping and giving myself space......

But why do I plough on??  One of the reasons is that I don't want to be defined by this illness. Ironically if I only got one migraine every so often, I probably would allow myself to stop. But because I get them so regularly I feel it is a necessity for myself to carry on.......regardless of the impact on my physical and inner self.

I can do that for awhile but eventually I get caught out and the lows hit me hard. I know when they are coming because I start to view the world with criticism, anxiety and low confidence. Then, I end up using even more energy to cope.. and rather cleverly and predictably creating more lows and more migraines........anyone telling me this story would fill me with sympathy and I would say "you need a rest".....

Yesterday I listened to my own advice and took myself off for a rest. Then my children found me hiding in my bed!! My initial internal reaction was to think "oh no! I'm going to have to find the energy to be Jeremy or the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or a sausage (sizzling not raw*)...........but they were sensitive and lovely, giving me kisses, cuddles and saying they loved me. The hope started to glow a little and it made me realize that although family life can drain me, it can also give me hope and prove to me that I am more than a migraine.

(If you suffer from migraine, take a rest today, do something that gives energy back to you. Promise yourself 30 minutes of space.)

* this was once a request by my youngest child. I was a sizzling sausage and she played the part of an egg (fried).







Saturday 7 April 2012

Dilemma: chocolate, friend or foe?

Specialist migraine detective reporting back to HQ........

It's nearly Easter and I'm looking forward to seeing if the Easter bunny brings me any chocolate! (milk chocolate please, if you are reading this Easter Bunny)

Officially, I can absolutely, completely stuff myself with Easter chocolate from midnight tonight.......I gave up chocolate for Lent, with slight ulterior motives I have to confess, as I wanted to see if it may be a trigger for some of the migraines I get......

Medically, the jury is still out......no chocolate this last 6 weeks yet I have had 25 days with headache and migraine.......

I know my sister is affected by caffeine, a friend of mine is convinced his migraines got better when he cut out tomatoes, and I'm wondering if I'm just plain thick!! Why can't I find a trigger that I can say, "if I just cut that out then I can reduce the mumber of migraines I get"?!

What I do know is I often crave sweet things just before my migraine comes. Research backs this up (at least I can have that certainty!) and adds that once you start to crave sweet things, your migraine is most likely on its ways already. As chocolate is the last thing you may eat before the pain of the migraine starts, you associate migraine with the chocolate.

Dilemma: What do I do tomorrow when my house will be full of Easter eggs. (No one will buy me any as I've stupidly told them it may be one of my migraine triggers) Will I sneakily eat some of my children's Easter Chocolate? 3 children = tons of Easter eggs..........they won't notice) (I hope) What if I get a migraine....won't I always be wondering that may be I caused that one myself?!

 So, to eat or not to eat that is the question. Well, yes.....no....oh may be....yes.....possibly....don't be silly I might get a migraine.......I probably will anyway....I might as well then....no that's just being wreckless...................ok, yes I will eat some chocolate, but with tons of guilt! Sorry children for nicking your chocolate and sorry brain for may be, just possibly but probably not causing a migraine!


Happy Migraine Free Easter to you all. x

Sunday 1 April 2012

Migraine Tool Kit Part 1.......a new approach to managing your migraines!

Migraine usually develops because of multiple triggers. Apparently, everyone has the potential for migraine. For some it takes 15 triggers, for others, like myself, it takes 2 or 3. This is known as your threshold for migraine. The tip for managing your migraines is, I've been told, common sense.......

My migraine head tells me that it's a little more complicated than that.........

Migraine mum prefers to think of herself as a specialist migraine detective.......who is always prepared for migraine and on the look out for possible triggers. This is accomplished by using the Migraine Tool Kit (patent pending):

Migraine Tool Kit Part 1:

Want to catch your migraine as early as possible? Then you need the specialist anti-migraine bag carried by all mums who suffer migraine. This contains:
  • domperidome (to help you absorb drugs), 4 doses of aspirin (soluble), 2 triptans and a cup (to dissolve aspirin in if out and about)
  • a bottle of water to keep hydrated
  • a pair of Mediview Migraine sunglasses (to be available all year round as it is not only the sunlight, but also articifial light in shops, low energy light bulbs, computer screens, flickering lights etc that can be a problem). 
  • a low GI snack (nuts, fruit etc) to keep blood sugar levels even. Eat every 3 hours.
Bearing in mind we are mums too...this bag will also contain a range of other miscellaneous objects......here is the contents of my bag.......

nappies, a babybel (melted), packets of raisins (out of date), tissues, used tissues, a tennis ball,
a sock, wipes, nappy sacks (one with sick in), a toy car with 3 wheels, lollipops, a book, an apple core, a pair of pants (not mine!) and a lock of hair from child no. 3.

Migraine tool kit part 2 to follow.............just off to clean my bag...........

Warning: cleaning out your bag may be a trigger for migraine. Be prepared!






Monday 26 March 2012

Suffer with migraine? You are probably a genius!

Migraine Mum checking in.......

Sometimes I can feel very low living with migraine, especially when I'm getting  more than one a week. When I feel I can't be the wife, the mum, the friend, the daughter, the sister that I want to be or need to be, I can feel pretty hopeless.  To reach the point where you can't see the point is a very unpleasant, uncomfortable and dark place to be. But in those moments, I have to find hope, even if it seems impossible.......

I find hope in the constant love of my family and the continual understanding and acceptance of my family and friends. I find hope from God and bizarrely enough I find hope in the fact that many famous people have achieved great things despite having migraine....what an eclectic and creative lot we are.......

Migraine Mum's Ten Famous Migraineurs!
  1. Elvis Presley
  2. Napoleon
  3. Vincent Van Gogh
  4. Claude Monet
  5. Julius Caesar
  6. Lewis Carroll
  7. Charles Darwin
  8. Albert Einstein
  9. Ronaldo (he missed playing in the world cup because of a "fit")
  10. Whoopi Goldberg
So this list of people tells me that no one should define themselves by their illness. We are all potentially a genius!

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Migraine Mum's drug problem

Migraine mum: Doctor, I'm really concerned about the copious amounts of drugs I am taking to get rid of my migraines

Doctor: well, according to research (heard on the Chris Evans Breakfast news, Radio 2, Wednesday 20th match 2012), taking aspirin every day can help prevent heart disease and cancer (but may cause internal bleeding and digestive problems)

Migraine Mum: I'm confused. According to my migraine consultant at the National Migraine Centre (a fabulous place for help, see their website www.migraineclinic.org.uk), if you take more than 15 days worth of any analgesic, you are at risk of causing more migraines.

Doctor: oh

Migraine Mum: and taking more than 10 days worth of triptans in one month can also lead to drug overuse and more migraines.......

Doctor: oh

Migraine Mum: so what do I do when I feel that ominous pain in my head and I take a look at my diary and see that by taking another dose, I am moving into the "brain, liver, stomach danger zone"...and joy of joys, probably causing another migraine for me to take yet more drugs for?

Doctor: just try to relax.......

Migraine Mum: arrrgghh! how can I relax when my day is filled with the chorus of my children, individually and corporately calling for my attention "mum", "mum", "Mum", "mum", "mummy", "mum!!!!". My only sanctuary on most days is the toilet........and even there (we have no locks), I have been burst in on, for them to see me crouching in there swiftly and surreptitiously swallowing a domperidome and glass of aspirin (900mg) or guiltily (is that a word?) swallowing another domperidome down and snorting a triptan up my nose........I have to take my drugs to help me live!

Doctor: sounds like you need a support group.......

Migraine Mum: what a fab-u-lous idea. Is there anyone out there? Anyone who has any other ways they get rid of migraines? hypnotherapy? meditation (on the toilet?!). Migraine mum needs help.

Monday 19 March 2012

Learning to blog has given me a migraine!!

Migraine Mum is clocking in.......

This is my first ever blog. I went on a 'how to set up your own blog session' on Saturday......it was very useful and has allowed me to speed up my motivation and desire to put my thoughts out there.

The thing is......I went in feeling great and came out with a migraine!!! Here were my triggers (I think)The lighting in the room, sitting in a chair and staring at a screen for longer than i needed to, and may be not drinking as much as i normally do at home.........I thought I had done everything possible to prevent one coming including wearing special sunglasses, drinking and eating and sitting well, stretching when i could........so what's going on? I seem to be so sensitive to the world!!

Anyway, when I got home, my children had missd me (aaahh) and wanted me to do everything with them for the next 3 hours.....drawing, jigsaws, reading books, wiping bottoms, blowing noses, cook their tea, play football..........the list goes on. Luckily for me, by taking copious amounts of drugs I seem to be able to carry on........until yesterday when I blew at number 3 (my youngest daughter) in church on Mothering Sunday!!!!! Can I hand in my resignation.....even for just a day? I'm not superwoman afterall...........