Only those who have migraines will know how disabling they actually are. It’s not just a headache, it’s a complex neurological condition. According to Professor Peter Goadsby, (Professor of Neurology at Kings College London vía the Migraine Trust), says “migraine is an inherited tendency to have headaches with sensory disturbance. It’s an instability in the way the brain deals with incoming sensory information, and that instability can become influenced by physiological changes like sleep, exercise and hunger.”

It is a complex condition and affects everyone differently. A migraine along with its symptoms can last anything from 4-72 hours. Symptoms can include:

* Feeling sick as well as being sick.

* Sensitivity to light

* Sensitivity to sounds and smells.

* Disturbed vision

* Increased tiredness.

There are 2 types of migraines which are

* migraine with aura

* Migraine without aura.

The migraine with aura – aura is described as neurological disturbances that happen before or during the development of the migraine. The aura can last up to an hour. It has symptoms like: a loss of balance, double vision, fainting, dizziness, vertigo, flashing lights in front of your eyes, coloured spots, pins & needles. There is a rarer version of migraine called Familial hemiplegic migraine where reversible paralysis occurs. 10-30% of people experience this type of migraine.

The migraine without Aura is more common with 70-90% of people experiencing it. This type of migraine can last between 4-72 hours

During this type of migraine you will be likely to feel sick, actually are sick or have diarrhoea. It’s common to experience this on one side of the head with a throbbing / pulsating pain which can be detrimental to daily life. It is also common to become sensitive to light and or sound.

I was diagnosed with migraines about 10 years ago. It has had a serious knock on affect to my life. So I technically have 2 neurological conditions/disabilities. Before I was diagnosed, I would be in bed 3 days a month, being sick, constantly sleeping, and didn’t want to eat anything. This impacted my job at the time, as the American company I was working for didn’t believe me. When this happened my GP was fuming & signed me off work and informed them of my official diagnoses and where I was diagnosed. It took longer for me to be diagnosed as I was sick before the migraine not after (the common way around!).

Once I was diagnosed I had to cut out or down on certain foods, had to stop all types of hormonal based contraception and find out what my triggers were. I spent the best part of 18 months trying to find the right prescribed migraine medication. Pizotifen has been my life saver! I get the migraines without Aura, and I get very sick, and have a high sensitivity to bright lights! This is why I often wear sunglasses driving all year round. If I find the sky slightly bright I have to wear them! Over the years I have found ways to manage my migraines which being a female are hormone based. I am guaranteed to get at least 2 a month without fail. Over time I can manage them and it only takes a few hours out of my life. But at least twice a year I will be bed bound for a few days with a severe attack. I try and drink plenty of water, I have included magnesium and peppermint supplements into my diet which seem to work for me. I have to watch what I eat at certain points of the month. But contrary to what the migraine sites say, exercise has helped decrease my migraines. I recently had a few months off from teaching as I had an injury, and the number of migraines I had vastly increased! Interestingly, now I’m exercising again, they are slowly reducing.

Other medications I can’t survive without are my Spanish 600mg Ibuprofen and Anadin extra. I have always got these everywhere I go & as soon as I feel I’ve got Frank Bruno in my head or the feeling of sickness I take them!

The pounding is literally like you have a boxer inside your head punching you! It is seriously painful and you can become very spaced out. I have to be careful what clubs I go to on nights out. There is 1 bar in Swindon I have to avoid. Every time I’ve been in it, their laser lights have brought on a migraine in no less than 20 minutes! Yes I teach Clubbercise but I have the moonglow lights which do not affect my migraines. But I have taught this concept with a migraine & it’s helped it disappear!

The next time someone says they have a migraine, please don’t confuse it with a simple headache! It is a life disabling condition and knocks us out for ages.

Links:

Www.migrainetrust.org