Understanding a Migraine Warrior’s Knowledge
To understand a migraine warrior’s knowledge, picture an iceberg. The tip of the knowledge iceberg contains the basic facts of being a migraine warrior, visible to anyone who takes the time to see.
I usually do not hide my sensitivity to light, sound, and smell from the people around me. The effects of head pain and nausea are obvious to others as the episode escalates.
Television ads and social media posts share the familiar symptoms of migraine and provide information about preventative and abortive treatments for all to see.
I talk openly with my doctor about the status of my migraines at my annual physical and as needed throughout the year. We discuss sticking with my current treatment plan, or we adjust if necessary.
Below the surface of the water, there’s much that I don’t share with other people. Not because I’m afraid to speak up for myself, but rather because they don’t need to know every detail. Sometimes it’s in their best interest to settle for trusting that I’m doing the best I can for both of us.
Migraine illness requires I walk a fine line when it comes to many ordinary day-to-day tasks. My daily routines represent an important aspect of my migraine management plan that others generally don’t need to know about. To name a few of those requirements:
I can’t sleep too much or too little.
I can’t eat too much or too little.
I require the same amount and timing of caffeine every day.
Certain foods and beverages are off limits like red wine and raisins.
I can’t use just any random product to clean my house or my clothes. Once I find non-triggering cleaning products, I’m a customer for life.
At a restaurant, I’m quick to grab the seat facing away from sunbeams glaring off a nearby car windshield.
Migraine management is a massive part of the iceberg hidden below the surface. Maintaining migraine-friendly routines requires I focus a great deal of thoughtful attention on my migraine illness every day. I adjust and compromise on the fly to give myself the best possible balance between self-care and being part of society.
It isn’t always easy, especially when I have a responsibility to care for others.
When Mom called me at 7:30 a.m., I knew something was wrong. She needed to go to the minor emergency clinic. I felt confident the problem wasn’t life-threatening, but I could hear fear in her voice. When duty calls, adjustments and compromises must happen. The fact that I had just taken a triptan tablet for my morning migraine episode was on a need-to-know basis, and Mom didn’t need to know.
If I let her be aware of my issue, she would insist I take care of myself instead of her. I buried the pain where she couldn’t see it, and I focused on the more serious issue at hand. Fortunately, the minor emergency facility was quiet that day and my medicine kicked in to wipe out the migraine. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with maintaining some form of functionality during an episode. Many times, over the years, I’ve stayed at work to meet a deadline or showed up to support a loved one even though I’d rather be curled up in a pitch-black room filled with silence.
Migraine disease lives with me whether I let others know about it or not. Migraine knowledge runs deeper than the symptoms visible on the face of a migraine warrior. Remember, you might not be able to see all the measures a migraine warrior takes to include themselves in their own life, and in yours.
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Originally published at WebMD.com on 2/12/24.
