June 2012
3 posts
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Tea for Two
If you could invite one living person to your house for tea to explain migraine to them so they could truly understand it, who would it be?
I have a few candidates:
My current coworkers: they know my triggers (smelly food in the contained office for example) and refuse to adapt (we get a lunch break, you know!)
Some of the crueler doctors I’ve encountered: in particular my ER doctor...
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My First Migraine
I’ve had headaches ever since I was a little kid, but I vividly remember my first migraine. I was in college, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play in the Super Bowl. A few friends and I watched it at a fraternity house. Our “dinner” that night was typical college fare: pizza and beer. As soon as the Steelers won, all of us went running to lower campus to celebrate with the rest...
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May 2012
23 posts
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Adventures with Imitrex
On Tuesday night, I had my first “real” migraine in a few weeks. I’m proud of how far I’ve come in terms of reducing stress and triggers in my life, but two triggers will always be my kryptonite: weather changes and hormones. Tuesday brought a nasty bout of thunderstorms to the Pittsburgh area, and the barometric pressure changes were out of control.
As usual, I put off...
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Roller Coasters and Migraine: Testing my Limits
I really tested my migraine limits this weekend.
My favorite family tradition was our annual trip to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. We would spend a few days at one of the resort hotels every year riding roller coasters, enjoying the water park, spending time at the beach, and trying all of the local restaurants.
Over Memorial Day weekend, my boyfriend and I decided to go back. As a kid I loved...
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“…[T]he reason you get migraines is because your brain chemistry is...”
– Carolyn Bernstein and Elaine McArdle, The Migraine Brain
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“They get angry and distant because they don’t understand that I am...”
– Kristine Hatak, “A Guided Tour of Hell: Migraine, In The Words Of Its Sufferers”
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Sleep and Migraines
One change I have been terrible at making is getting a good night’s sleep (7-8 hours) at the same time every night, even weekends.
There are so many articles out there about the importance of a regular sleep schedule for migraine prevention. Some major recent studies found that not getting enough REM sleep changes key proteins that suppress and trigger chronic pain.
However, don’t go...
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Summer Migraines
With temperatures reaching into the 80’s and 90’s this weekend, Summer is definitely here in Pittsburgh. Trying to take advantage of the nice weather, I set out for a run around the neighborhood with my boyfriend on Saturday afternoon. Since we were only out for about 40 minutes, I didn’t take any water with me. We were running on main roads in the heat of the afternoon and...
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Are Migraineurs Better Patients?
On Friday morning, I had a rare non-migraine related doctor’s appointment. In the weeks prior to the appointment, I jotted down notes and questions. Some were things that had been bugging me for years, and I had never previously addressed them. I realized that morning that ever since I was diagnosed with migraines, I have been more mindful of my body and anything that seems...
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Have You Ever Tried Lavender for Migraine Relief?
When I’m doing yoga, I love to use a silk lavender eye pillow to take savasana. As a chronic migraineur, I am sensitive to most fragrances, scents, and odors. I try to use as many fragrance-free products as possible. For some reason, lavender doesn’t bother me. In fact, it actually calms me to the point where I can feel my tense neck and shoulders relaxing.
Livestrong suggests that...
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Raynaud's Revisited
M worders, Runners, Raynaud-ers, I need your help! I’m noticing that when I run, especially longer distances, my Raynaud’s flares up. It’s May and I’m getting white cold fingers and toes. Since there is a potential link between Raynaud’s and migraine, I thought I’d turn to you! Is anyone else having this problem?
I did a little research and found a variety of...
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A New Type of Pain Scale →
Isn’t it frustrating when you go to the ER with a horrible migraine attack and the only way the doctor can measure your pain is through an ambiguous pain scale? Or when you go to your neurologist and they want to know your average pain number for that month?
Victoria Saxton from Migraine Monologues found this great new pain scale that I wanted to share with you. Because of the helpful...
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A Migraine Accomplishment
I used to love running even when my migraines were just starting… and then I got on Topamax. Because of the medication, my sweat glands closed and I couldn’t overheat. It’s not just Topamax: I tried other medications like Vivactil and Effexor too. The effects of these medications combined with my migraines took their toll, and for the past 4 years, I was unable to exercise...
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Feather Earrings, Headbands, and Preventing...
When I was out this weekend, I couldn’t help but notice all of the great trends that I can’t wear. Women complemented their dresses with trendy feather or dangly earrings and added headbands, both thick and thin styles. Ever since I was little, wearing earrings that are made of anything besides gold has given me a headache. Wearing most kind of headbands gives me a headache as well....
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How to Survive Wedding Season as an M Worder
My boyfriend and I started getting “Save The Date” cards for upcoming spring and summer weddings. My immediate thought process goes something like this:
“Oh how awesome for [Insert Friend Here]!”
“AHH, is it possible for me to get through their special day without a migraine?”
Weddings have generally been a source of M Words for me, and it’s not really...
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Gluten Free for Migraines?
A hot topic in migraine news lately is the relationship between gluten and migraines. Do people with celiac disease tend to get more migraines? Is gluten a migraine trigger?
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center say that headaches are much more prevalent in patients with celiac disease than patients without it, according to a recent study. They found that migraine is “a common...
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Running and Migraines
I’ve been told that daily exercise is crucial to preventing migraines but OVER exercising can trigger migraines. Now, add to this the fact that for the years I took Topamax I was unable to sweat. Add further the fact that my neuro insisted that I exercise when I had a severe migraine (now THAT’S a joke). Because of all this, I am so confused about the interaction between exercise and...
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“And then a throb hits you on the left side of the head so hard that your head...”
– Andrew Levy, A Brain Wider Than the Sky: A Migraine Diary
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Do You Delay Taking Your Migraine Meds?
As you might know, I am notoriously bad at taking my migraine medicine of choice (for me, Imitrex) as soon as I feel a headache coming on. I hate to admit it, but some of my worst migraines could probably have been prevented if I just took my stupid pill when I felt a headache coming on. There’s a few reasons I’m so bad at this:
I think I can “beat” the migraine (I always...
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Biofeedback for Migraine
I’m a big fan of holistic health and looking into alternative treatment for migraine. Sure, medications can be very helpful, if not absolutely essential. However, my experience was that trying different types of alternative therapies were not as invasive and did not have as many negative side effects as trying out different medications.
Today, let’s take a look at biofeedback.
What...
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13 Famous Migraineurs →
My friend and fellow migraineur Nicole sent me this fantastic article out of yesterday’s Huffington Post. Not only does the article make us feel less alone by pointing out famous migraineurs, it also raises awareness on the stigma associated with migraine.
Did any names on this list surprise you?
Check out my article on famous migraineurs and follow me on Twitter and Facebook for more...
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3 Things You Need to Consider Before Choosing a...
Over 60% of migraineurs have had a negative experience with doctors with regard to treating their migraines, myself included. How can you tell what kind of doctor will be best for you and your migraines?
1. Did you know that there is a difference between neurologists and migraine specialists?
Neurologists: Known as the “general physicians” of neurology, these doctors treat a wide...
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This Month in Review
My time blogging the WEGO Health Activist 30 Day Challenge has come to an end so let’s take a look back on the M Word highs and lows of April…
I got to write a ton of fun posts and get great answers from others on the Facebook page and in the comments. My favorites are “Keep Calm and Carry Imitrex,” the migraine theme song, and “24 Hours of Migraine.”
I was...
April 2012
24 posts
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The 5 Best and Worst Parts of Being a Migraineur
Today’s post was prompted by the WEGO Health Challenge instructions for today: 5 Challenges, 5 Small Victories. Make a list of the 5 most difficult parts of your health focus. Make another top 5 list for the little things (small victories) that keep you going.
The 5 hardest parts about being an M Worder:
Living a life of prevention: Constantly in fear of the next migraine, we carry...
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Holistic Health and Migraines
Technically, the tagline for “That M Word” is “Because sometimes just saying the word “migraine” is painful. Isn’t it true? Sometimes just talking about “migraines” and “migraines” and “migraines” can be overwhelming and emotionally difficult.
The response to the USA Today article has been interesting, with a few people...
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24 Hours of Migraine
A day as a migraineur, as told to my migraine diary…
10 pm: Head suddenly starts to feel tender. Probably just a headache, not a migraine. Planning to “sleep it off.” Can’t afford to waste 1 of the 4 sumatriptan pills insurance provides per month on an insignificant headache.
3 am: Awoken by the pain. Really throbbing now. Should have taken meds. Maybe some...
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Introducing the New Migraine Mascot
Today’s Prompt: Health Mascot. Give yourself, your condition, or your health focus a mascot. Is it a real person? Fictional? Mythical being?
I started checking out some health mascots, and there are some REALLY strange ones out there (cue Petey the Pee Cup). This got me thinking about the characteristics of M Worders:
Our illness is complex and not always visible
We are knowledgeable...
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I'm in a USA Today article about migraines! →
Check out this article by Kim Painter of USA Today. We spoke last week about the effectiveness of preventative medications for migraines and why some migraineurs don’t take them.
As you probably know from my posts on Topamax, I had some very bad reactions to this medicine. I’m really excited to be part of an article that helps spread awareness of migraines and these medicines.
What...
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The Pill-Free Headache Fix?
A few weeks ago, I read this article, “The Pill-Free Headache Fix” in Men’s Health to my attention. My friends brought it to my attention because it features my neurologist.
The article suggests 3 ways to prevent a migraine and 3 ways to relieve a migraine.
Pill-Free Migraine Prevention:
I completely agree with the article’s suggestion of regular exercise for migraine...
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The Strangest Hypothetical Dinner of All Time
Today’s prompt: Who are five people (living or deceased) you’d like to have dinner with any why?
My list of hypothetical dinner guests includes 2 M Worders: can you spot who they are? If you’re interested in more famous M Worders, check out my list here.
1. Historical figure: Thomas Jefferson. Even though my favorite founding father is James Madison (random, I know), I would...
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Open a Book
Today’s prompt:Choose a book, open it to a random page, and point to a random phrase.
I just finished “The Happiness Project” and I am in the middle of “Great Expectations.” I had to share with you my favorite quotes from each of them.
“Leaving law to become a writer was the most important step I ever took to “Be Gretchen.” I’d decided to do...
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A Lesson Learned the Hard Way
Today’s prompt: Describe a lesson learned the hard way.
This lesson took 3 years to set in, but I have learned to TAKE MY MIGRAINE MEDICATION AS SOON AS I FEEL A HEADACHE STARTING!
Does anyone else have this problem? Anyone else feel like they can try to fight it off like they are stronger than their migraine? It never, EVER works for me. In fact, it defies science: the medication works...
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M Word Pinboard
Today’s prompt: Create a pinboard for your health focus. Pin 3 things. What did you pin? Share the images in a post and explain why you pinned them.
I actually made a migraine pinboard quite awhile ago, and you can find it here. Here are three representative pins:
1. The migraine triggers. Just looking at these makes me feel sick. I remember at time when a dried fruit and cheese plate...
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10 Things I Couldn't Live Without
Today’s Prompt: Write a list of the 10 things you need (or love) most. From my least needed to most needed items, see how your list stacks up against mine.
[[MORE]]
10. Lip balm: normally I have lip balm, lip gloss, and lip stick in my purse at all times.
9. Imitrex: Ugh. Unfortunately, I really need this. Carry it every day.
8. Kate Spade poppy ring: My favorite brand and my favorite...
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Stream of Consciousness
Today’s prompt:Start with the sentence “_____.” Just write, don’t stop, don’t edit, post!
I’ve had a lot of ups and downs this week in relation to the migraine world. Due to some staffing changes at work, I had to explain to yet another set of people why I needed to take frequent breaks, why I had trouble concentrating, and why I eat the way I do. Every time...
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That M Word's Theme Song
Today’s prompt: Theme song. Imagine your health focus or blog is getting a theme song. What would the lyrics be? What type of music would it be played to?
Cheating on the prompt a little, my personal migraine theme song is “The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel. It reminds me that even though we have all been through hell as chronic migraineurs and chronic pain sufferers, we are...
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Dear 16 Year Old Me...
Today’s prompt: Write a letter to yourself at age 16. What would you tell yourself? What would you want to make your younger self aware of?
Dear 16 year old Emily,
We have some talking to do.
1) First things first. You seriously don’t have any body fat yet. Stop dieting and wasting most of your teenage minutes worrying about that. Seriously.
2) Remember how you always said you...
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April Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival →
Hey M Worders!
One of my posts was featured in this month’s Headache and Migraine Blog Carnival, graciously hosted by Diana Lee of Somebody Heal Me. Check it out!
Follow Diana at @somebodyhealme. And as always, follow me at @emilyguzan!
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Day 5: Health Haiku
I LOVE writing haikus! The only instructions for today’s post were to write a haiku in the format of 5 syllables/7 syllables/5 syllables. Pumped for this one…
Throbbing pain, nausea…
Always scared of another.
A migraineur’s life.
Did you guys write one for today’s challenge? Check out some of these:
1. Chronic Migraine Warrior
2. Migraine Chick
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Day 4: Ekphrasis Post
Go to flickr.com/explore and write a post inspired by the image.
I didn’t exactly follow the rules on this one. I looked specifically for images related to migraines, and I was really overwhelmed by the number of migraine-related pictures on Flickr.
I really liked this one. One of the most frustrating aspects of being a migraineur is feeling like your life is run by pills. At one point...
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Day 3: I Write About My Health Because...
I write about my health because… there’s a whole community of people out there who feel the same way I do. Finding all of you and connecting with you makes me feel less alone and less weird. Although I wish none of us had to experience it, it somehow makes it a little better, a little more manageable knowing that we are all in it together.
I write about my health because… I...
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“The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to...”
– - John Pierpont Morgan
Day 2 of the WEGO Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge:
Find and write about a quote that inspires you (positively or negatively).
The day I decided to take control of my health was the same day I decided to leave the career I hated. Making the decision...
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Day 1: Health Time Capsule
Pretend you’re making a time capsule of you and your health focus that won’t be opened until 2112. What’s in it? What would people think of it when they found it?
In a time capsule of my health focus (migraine) and me, I’d put:
Imitrex pills and injections: I’d love to think that in 100 years, migraine medication will not even be necessary. Wouldn’t it be...
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WEGO Health Activitist Writer's Month Challenge
I’m so excited about a new activity I’ll be doing this month - the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge hosted by WEGO Health! I’ll be writing a post a day for 30 days. If you’re interested in writing every day about health, join me by signing up at this link. Posting starts today!