Posted by Cathy_P (208.205.249.97) on June 21, 1999 at 17:03:44:
I live migraine free today, but that hasn’t always been the case. For over 20 years, I suffered through many migraine headache episodes. While in the hospital delivering my first child, I experienced my first migraine. At that time, I had no idea what it was, I did know it was more painful than childbirth and lasted longer too, 4 days. After that first one, migraines were very predictable at least one each month and more if there was stress, changes in my waking hours, crying, and many foods were triggers (my diet became very limited). The migraine always started with light and noise sensitivity and I would see flashes of light; then the migraine would start, always behind the right eye. The pain would build with intensity to the point where I had to put myself in a dark room, always lay on my left side and be very quiet and still…and wait it out (most of the time, up to 24 hours). Many times I would vomit because of the excruciating pain. I was tested (CAT and MRI)and diagnosed, the outcome was that I did not have a brain tumor, it was definitely migraine. The physicians could not tell me what causes them, and I was offered drugs for some pain reduction!" Medications for me have never been a solution to consider. In my opinion any medications that would mask the pain could cause further physical degeneration.
I am 45 now. I have now been migraine free for the past two years… I am FREE, free to do any activity I like without fear of the onset of an attack. I eat when I want, sleep when I want, cry if I want, even get stressed out if I want. My monthly cycle is regular and I have NO Migraine headaches.. There is hope for all of us who suffer.
Cathy
richcath@olypen.com