By Arielle Hicks, as informed to Alexandra Benisek

I’ve had migraines for so long as I can bear in mind. As a toddler, I used to be all the time bubbly, concerned in extracurriculars, and a straight-A pupil. At some point, I had what I believed was a typical headache, but it surely wouldn’t go away. Then for weeks, I might solely get a day or two with out a headache. Then weeks was months.

I used to be falling asleep in school. My grades have been dropping. I wasn’t doing my homework, or doing nicely on assessments anymore. I ended hanging out with pals and enjoying sports activities. I did not wish to do even easy issues like go to the flicks as a result of all the pieces appeared to hassle me.

Finally, I used to be in a position to see a neurologist who informed me that I had migraines. It was reassuring to get that analysis, to know that I wasn’t loopy. As a result of at 13 years outdated, a number of occasions, folks say, “It is all in your head.”

My Ever-Altering Remedy Plan

We have been in a position to begin a therapy plan proper off the bat. It was a number of trial and error.

However over time, we observed that drugs alone weren’t doing sufficient. It acquired to the purpose the place I’d be admitted to the hospital for a number of days to as much as per week. This could not preserve occurring. I used to be lacking most likely half a 12 months of college at this level.

We tried one thing known as nerve blocks. My migraines usually begin at the back of my head. So I’d get numbing medicine and generally a steroid in that space. It was nearly like magic. It was prompt aid. I would not have migraines for weeks to a month at a time, or extra. It had modified my life.

Later, my migraines would begin to radiate towards the entrance of my head. We might then do the therapy in my eyebrows as nicely. I keep in mind that the primary time I had it accomplished, I cried as a result of it helped me see higher. It is not a nice factor to get needles in your head. However it’s price it to eliminate fixed day by day complications.

As I acquired older, I turned eligible for Botox. I carry a number of stress, so I get Botox throughout my head and in my shoulders to launch strain. Bodily remedy can be one thing I do, to assist launch stress in my neck. I’ve accomplished that on and off for the previous few years.

To this present day, my therapy plan remains to be altering. I am at the moment on an anticonvulsant medicine, which I have been utilizing for the previous 3 years.

Way of life Modifications and Remedy Can Assist

I’ve made way of life adjustments, like ensuring I keep hydrated, eat, and get correct sleep. These three have been the massive issues, as a result of a scarcity of them may cause migraines.

I began a headache journal to trace what I used to be doing and discover my triggers. For me, I discovered that chocolate and the meals additive MSG result in migraines. One other huge set off is stress. So my medical group set me up with a behavioral psychologist. Lots of people with migraines are usually harassed, so it is good to have the ability to have somebody you may discuss to.

I’m an outside particular person. However through the winter, the dearth of sunshine and seasonal anxiousness trigger me to have extra migraines. Throughout this season, I’ve began taking an anti-anxiety med. This can assist with the ache. It additionally places me extra relaxed, so I am not getting harassed over sure issues. And that additionally helps cut back my migraines.

My Expertise With Occipital Launch Surgical procedure

The most important factor that I’ve accomplished, in spite of everything these different remedies, was surgical procedure. Since most of my complications begin at the back of my head, my surgeon did an occipital launch surgical procedure. (On this process, your physician releases nerves at the back of your head from close by muscle groups and tissues that could be placing strain on them.)

That is actually been one of the best factor for me. Earlier than, I’d have migraines that may final weeks at a time with solely possibly 2 to five headache-free days a month. However now, I am solely getting two to 3 migraines a month.

Even after the surgical procedure, my medical doctors informed me I’m nonetheless going to have migraines from time to time. However bodily remedy, the medicine, and talking with somebody — it is all actually nice. Remedy has given me my life again.

My neurologist can empathize, which is essential to me. He had been via comparable issues. I take a look at him and suppose, “Wow, this was his life, too. And now he is a health care provider, and he is serving to folks.” Seeing another person undergo this and make it out — it is inspiring.

Know you are not alone and that with the suitable therapy, you’ll really feel higher.



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