As someone who went through a period of having constant migraines, I can truly say they’re no joke! In fact, I had them as a teen and didn’t know what they were. Even as an adult, I thought it was just an intense headache.
One day while working, I mentioned to my supervisor that I frequently had headaches that moved back and forth from the front of my head to the back. I explained to her that the light would hurt my eyes with those headaches.
I further stated that there were times when I would have to hold onto my head just to get up to go to the bathroom. Let’s not forget the nausea. It was horrible! That’s when my boss told me I was having migraines. She was also a sufferer and had to take preventive medication for the condition.
I remember having an assistant who experienced migraines. There were days when she’d call out of work because the attacks were so severe. I understood what she was going through and never complained when she couldn’t come in.
I should’ve gone to my doctor for help, but I thought it was silly to see him for headaches. How wrong I was!
I Have No Idea What a Migraine Is
For years, even though I had them often, I had no idea what a migraine was. So, let’s see if my symptoms match the experts’ findings and definitions.
The Mayo Clinic defines migraines as headaches with different types of pain and feeling in the head area that usually come with “extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and with nausea and vomiting.” This definition absolutely falls in line with my experience.
MedicalNewsToday describes the four stages that children and adults with migraines may go through. They are “Prodrome, Aura, Attack, and Postdrome.” I would describe them as the before (first 2), during (3rd), and after (4th) stages. Not all migraine sufferers go through every stage.
It seems that the experts don’t see eye to eye on all the causes of migraines. However, they do agree on several common triggers for migraines, such as:
- Stress
- Caffeine
- Hormones
- Lights
- Weather
- Medication
- Food
It’s important to note that a migraine attack can be severe enough to disrupt your quality of life.
A Migraine Sufferer Will Need Alone Time
As someone intimately familiar with migraines, I can honestly say during an attack, alone time is mandatory.
A migraine can be so intense that all you can do is lie in bed with the blinds closed while holding a pillow or blanket over your head. If a family member comes into your room, you’ll immediately send them out with a yell or a screech.
The Office on Women’s Health describes migraines as disabling. That’s pretty much what happens when the attack occurs.
This presents real issues with being a caregiver, spouse, or partner. You can alienate others during the time of an attack, which could lead to serious relationship problems.
It’s Hard to Parent with a Migraine
I can remember preparing a bowl of cereal for my child with one hand across my head while holding back the tears during a migraine episode. Being in pain and trying to care for someone else is not something to look forward to.
As children become older, sometimes the oldest child must assist with caring for younger siblings while the parent is going through a migraine attack. That might be doable on the weekends. But on a school day, that scenario may come with major difficulties.
The older child will need to get ready for school. At the same time, they’ll have to supervise or assist the other children with dressing and feeding, then get everyone out to school.
What if the oldest needs to leave earlier than the others? What if they’re not feeling well?
There could be two parents in the home, but one may need to leave extremely early. Or to further complicate the matter, what if the other parent has a disability or condition that doesn’t allow them to assist?
Am I seriously talking about a headache creating all this drama?
Trust me, a migraine is much greater than just a headache. It can truly become a debilitating and interruptive condition.
A Child with a Migraine and School Doesn’t Mix Well
I have a granddaughter who started having migraines at a young age. The condition interfered greatly with her school attendance. There were days when getting out of bed and letting the outside light in was not an option.
At first, it was difficult for her mother. She thought her daughter just wanted to stay home from school. Over time we all realized that she was having migraine attacks. Thankfully, my grandchild was able to keep up with her assignments and not lose out on her education.
However, all children aren’t as fortunate as she was. Some kids don’t bounce back as easily and fall far behind in their studies. And, at first, like my daughter, the parents may not realize there’s a problem and may assume their children are pretending.
This reaction could indeed result in psychological issues for the children, as well as additional stress for the parents.
Tips for Sufferers and Families
Do you suffer from migraines? Are you a caregiver for a family member who has migraine attacks?
A migraine is not an ordinary headache that allows you to take a pain pill and immediately go about your day. You may want to consider seeking assistance from a medical provider.
Sitting down with your family members and explaining the situation is very helpful. Explaining what you or your loved one is going through will help the other family members to cope.
Maybe enlisting the assistance of friends and family would be a good thing to do in preparation for migraine attacks. Being proactive could give you a backup for getting the kids out to school or helping with other necessary daily activities.
And guess what? There’s an American Migraine Foundation that started in 2010. The organization offers tips on handling your migraines, and they have resources that can help children and adult sufferers and families. Go ahead and reach out to them.
Help is available!
