Feeling Delicate

Feeling Delicate

Well it has been a rough couple of days. During the night on Monday, I woke up feeling out of breath and as if I couldn't breathe. I got up to get a glass of water and was stumbling all over the place, off balance, disorientated and my eyesight was blurry. I managed to get myself back to bed and tried to sleep it off. 

Today was even worse! I woke up this morning feeling truly awful. I had such a bad migraine I couldn't stop crying I was in so much pain. After spending most of the morning next to the toilet seat (I stopped counting how many times I was sick after 15), I called my mum and she came home from work to see how I was. She ended up calling the doctor out, who managed to put me out of my misery by one tiny little injection. It's amazing how after 45 minutes I was feeling so different and the migraine has eased off considerably .... If only I could have my own secret stash of that injection!!


Laura x

Update :)

Update :)

Hello again! It has been a while since I have posted about how I've been getting along so thought I would update you all as I'm having a night of blogging :) I've had quite a few days to catch up on with the NMAM Challange!! I've been taking the pregablin now for almost two weeks and I haven't noticed a difference yet. With some medication, it does take a few weeks for them to work so I'm hoping they will start kicking in soon. I have got the doctors tomorrow so I'm hoping for some good news. I had a sports massage on Wednesday to try and relieve some neck and back pain so I have been very tender and sore over the past few days. If I didn't have a hot water bottle on, I had a hot bean bag or a thick layer of deep freeze. I'm still quite sore but feeling a lot less pain in my neck which is good and I've got to go back over a week to get another one. 

Hope you've all had migraine free weekends 

Laura x

NMAM Challange #10 Name the Spokesperson

Name the Spokesperson

Choose any celebrity to represent Migraine (whether they have Migraine or not), who would it be and why?

I would choose Marcia Cross who is more commonly known as Bree Van De Kamp from Desperate Housewives. I think she would be a good representative as having suffered from migraines herself, she understands how terrible they really are. Starring in a major show such as Desperate Housewives, Marcia could spread the word to other 'celebrity' friends and encourage more people to talk about it. With over 200,000 followers on Twitter and thousands of 'Likes' on Facebook, she already has the capacity to inform others about migraines. Every little helps :)

Laura x

NMAM Challange #9 Day Dream Believer

Day Dream Believer

Describe your dream day - without a Migraine to hold you back. 

Mine would actually be quite simple ... Waking up in the morning to go to work and having a busy morning there. Walking home at lunch on a sunny day to feed my gorgeous little cat. Back to work in the afternoon. Dinner and cocktails with the girls at night would complete it. It's the simple things you miss the most.

I can almost smell the mojito!!

Laura x

NMAM Challange #8 Let there be light

Let there be light

Most migraineurs have issues with light sensitivity. What do you do to cope with it?

Where to start?! 

• I always have my vertical blinds closed in my room to keep out the light
• I always carry sunglasses with me no matter what the weather
• I always have the tv and laptop brightness turned down
• I avoid going shopping due to the bright lights
• I never go to the cinema

Pretty wild lifestyle if you ask me! In all seriousness, the bright glare from lights can make you feel 10 times worse so its much easier to block it out as much as possible.

Laura x

NMAM Challange #7 List Topper

List Topper

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about migraine. Which one tops your list as the biggest and most common? What can we do to get the truth out there?

'Migraine is just a headache' gets me everytime!!!! 

People that think this have obviously never had a migraine for start. The 'headache' is an understatement of the pain that you are in when you've got a migraine. You may also experience sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, dizzyness, confusion, fainting, loss of balance, the list really does go on. Then there's all the side effects to the medication, a whole other story!!!

If only they could walk in your shoes for just one day they would realise .....

Laura x 

NMAM Challange #6 Name that tune!

Name that tune!

Choose a theme song for Migraine disease or your headache disorder. 

 I found it quite hard to pick a theme song for when I've got a migraine, so I decided to go with a song which encourages me to fight chronic migraine (and makes me want to do silly dancing). 

 Hope you're all having a little dance along to this too :)

Laura x 

NMAM Challange #5 - Do that to me one more time!

Do that to me one more time!

What comfort measure do you find helps you enough during a Migraine that you go back to it again and again, and how do you use it?

I have quite a few different comfort measures that always seem to help a little bit:

• Lying down in a darkened room
• LOTS of water
• Heat patch/hotwater bottle for my neck
• Cool Patches for my forehead 
• Something to eat (if I can stomach it)   

Laura x

National Migraine Awareness Month #4 - "June is Bustin' Out All Over"

June is Bustin' Out All Over 

What's the best tip you can offer others for having some summer fun despite Migraines?

Well, living in the North-East of Scotland I don't have to worry too much about the bright sunshine!! However, every now and then the sun suprises us and when it does, it can be torture for a migraine sufferer. 

My best advice is to always carry sunglasses to take away the bright glare from the sun, stay in the shade and to take it easy - the sun will always be there so need to go all out at once! Always take your medication, snacks and plenty water as dehydration can trigger migraines. These are all simple things to do which will hopefully help prevent migraines on those sunny days. 

Most importantly, if you feel up to it, go and enjoy the weather and try not to let migraines completely take over your life. 

Laura x

USA National Migraine Awareness Month - Blogging Challange

USA National Migraine Awareness Month - Blogging Challange

In the United States of America, the month of June is appointed to raise awareness about migraines. This years theme is to 'help make migraines visible' and they have set a blogging challange with topics for each day. I will be partaking in the blogging challange as much as possible and hope some of you will too.

The topics are as follows:

1. Migraine Awareness Month #1: Your First for the First. Share the story of your first Migraine, what it was like, if you knew what it was, what you did, how you felt.  
2. Migraine Awareness Month #2:  Tea for Two. If you could invite someone (any living person) to your home for tea for the purpose of explaining Migraine disease to them so they would truly understand it, who would it be and why?   
3. Migraine Awareness Month #3:   Just shoot me now! What’s your worst Migraine trigger? Can you avoid it? How do you handle it?  
4. Migraine Awareness Month #4:  ”June Is Bustin’ Out All Over!” What’s the best tip you can offer others for having some summer fun despite Migraines?  
5. Migraine Awareness Month #5:   ”Do That To Me One More Time.” What comfort measure do you find helps you enough during a Migraine that you go back to it again and again, and how do you use it?  
6. Migraine Awareness Month #6:   Name That Tune! Choose a theme song for Migraine disease or your headache disorder. See if you can find a YouTube video of it for your blog post.  
7. Migraine Awareness Month #7:   List Topper. There are lots of myths and misconceptions about Migraine. Which one tops your list as the biggest and most common? What can we do to get the truth out there? 
8. Migraine Awareness Month #8:  ”Let there be light.” Most Migraineurs have issues with light sensitivity. What do you do to cope with it?  
9. Migraine Awareness Month #9:  ”Day Dream Believer.” Describe your dream day – without a Migraine to hold you back.  
10. Migraine Awareness Month #20: Name the Spokesperson.Choose any celebrity to represent Migraine (whether they have Migraine or not) who would it be and why? 
11. Migraine Awareness Month #11:  ”Say What?!” What’s the most ridiculous thing ever said to you about Migraines, who said it, and under what circumstances?  
12. Migraine Awareness Month #12:  ”Let’s Do the Monster Mash!” Choose a movie monster that reminds you of your Migraines and tell us why.  
13. Migraine Awareness Month #13: ”You Are Beautiful.” Write yourself a love letter. Tell yourself how wonderful you are. Remind yourself of the things you have accomplished despite Migraines. There are times when we need to be reminded of the good things about ourselves that others see that we may have missed.  
14. Migraine Awareness Month #14:  ”Live Long, and Prosper.” Come up with a short, simple phrase or sentence that could be used when saying “Hello” or “Good-bye” that expresses your wishes for fellow Migraineurs.  
15. Migraine Awareness Month #15:  Free Blog! Blog an a Migraine related topic of your choice.
16. Migraine Awareness Month #16:  ”Lead, follow, or get our of the way.” Which role fits you and why? 
17. Migraine Awareness Month #17:  ”Father Knows Best.” Some understand Migraines, some don’t. Write a letter to your father or the man closest to, and talk about your Migraines.  
18. Migraine Awareness Month #18: ”The Price Is Right.” What one thing would you do for the Migraine community if money were no issue.  
19. Migraine Awareness Month #19:  ”The Match Game.” Describe your perfect doctor to treat your Migraines.  
20. Migraine Awareness Month #20:  ”Run, Forrest, Run!” Describe the approach you think is best when it’s time to more on to a new doctor.  
21. Migraine Awareness Month #21:  ”Shaking in My Boots.” What’s your biggest Migraine related fear. How do you cope with it?  
22. Migraine Awareness Month #22:  ”The Game Changer.” Tell us about a time your plans changed due either an unexpected Migraine or an unexpected Migraine-free experience.  
23. Migraine Awareness Month #23:  ”I Drank the Kool-Aid!” We all try things out of desperation, even when our common sense is telling us they’re not going to do anything. Share your experience with this.  
24. Migraine Awareness Month #24:  ”Dear Genie.” Put together a wish list for your life.  
25. Migraine Awareness Month #25: ”Through My Children’s Eyes.” Write a letter to yourself from your children.  
26. Migraine Awareness Month#26: ”From the Outside Looking In.” Write about what you think your family, friends an others think a day in life, a day with Migraine disease, is like.  
27. Migraine Awareness Month #27: ”In my Head and Heart.” Who inspires you to keep trying and not give up, despite your Migraines?  
28. Migraine Awareness Month #28: ”Lights, Camera, Action.” Pick a movie character you can identify with, talk a bit about them and why you identify with them.  
29. Migraine Awareness Month #29: ”More Often that Not.” Today is Chronic Migraine Awareness Day. People with chronic Migraine have a Migraine more often than not. Think of and share a random act of kindness that you could do for someone with chronic Migraine.  
30. Migraine Awareness Month #30: Blogger’s Pick. Choose your favorite blog from any of this month’s prompts from someone else’s blog to share with us and tell us why it’s your favorite.  

And a few extras – If you find yourself stumped by any of the prompts, here are three extras. You can substitute them for any three of the regular prompts:

• Migraine Awareness Month:  ”I learned the hard way…” We learn a great many things the hard way, through experiences that are often difficult and unpleasant. Of all the things you’re learned the hard way, what sticks in your mind the most?
• Migraine Awareness Month:  ”Carpe Diem, You Betcha!” Tell us about a time when you truly seized the day.
• Migraine Awareness Month:  ”A Guy and a Girl Walk Into a Bar…” – Tell us your most amusing Migraine Story

Please Tweet your blog entries with the hash tags #NMAM and #NMAMBC and retweet others you see with those tags. They also ask if you would add this at the end of each post:

“National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation. The Blogger’s Challenge is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com.”

Happy blogging!

Laura x