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For those of you who don't know I was diagnosed with Migraine Headaches at the age of 18. I know most people do not have a clue of what happens to people while they are experiencing a migraine. It's an aweful feeling when even a pillow can hurt your head. I miss out on a lot of things because of my condition and am hoping with the information on this page people will find it easier to deal with both my mom and my illness. Also if this could help someone else out that's a plus!
There are over 3.2 million adults (one in five Canadians) and 200,000 to 300,000 children who suffer from migraine. Approximately one-third of sufferers are male and two-thirds female. Migraine occurs most often among people aged twenty to fifty and is frequently considered to be an inherited disorder.
A 1991 Angus Reid study found that 19% of migraine sufferers reported an absence from work due to migraine and 77% cancelled family or social activities. Based on an estimated 5.4 million workdays lost to migraine each year, absenteeism costs the Canadian economy approximately million annually.
Migraine is one of the most under-treated, misunderstood and misdiagnosed disorders of the last century. It is a serious medical disorder that significantly affects millions of Canadians.
"Perhaps no other condition so disrupts the lives of its victims and yet evokes so little sympathy and compassion for the afflicted."
Rosemary Dudley,
Founder of the Migraine Foundation
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Although many people have experienced a bad headache in their lives, having a migraine is totally different.
Sometimes I may simply wake up with a migraine. Other times I may simply have a small headache and it develops into a migraine. The main symptoms of a migraine for me are: vomiting, sensitivity to light and also feeling clumsy. Thank god for me my mom also experiences them and is understanding because of this. Between the 2 of us we have tried everything you can think of and nothing seems to work besides finding a dark room, getting a cold cloth and trying to rest. Not much fun eh? |
When I meet new people I make sure they know about my headaches. This prevents the complications of people thinking I'm faking or the need for explaination! |
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I have found some help by visiting some websites of people who also suffer. Migraines are more common than most think!
The Migraine Assocation of Canada can help with both information on this disease and also new treatments available in Canada! http://www.migraine.ca/ this is their website address! |
The other thing that we have to take into consideration is that stats have shown that 75% of all migraine suffers end up having cancer. Scary huh? |
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This disease tends to be passed on from mother to daughter. That's how I got it!
Migraine is a biological disorder of the central nervous system. It involves a complex relationship between the blood supply to the brain and the nerves near those blood vessels and in the brain. The most common symptom of migraine is throbbing head pain often made worse by routine activities. Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound and smell.
An attack can last from two to 72 hours and may be triggered by any of a large number of external or internal factors.
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A typical migraine is characterized by one-sided, moderate to severe pain that lasts from two hours to 72 hours and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and/or sensitivity to light, sound and smell. Migraine is usually unilateral (affecting only one side of the head) but is bilateral (affecting both sides) in 30 to 40% of cases. The pain has a throbbing and/or pulsating quality and may be aggravated by physical activities such as walking up or down stairs.
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