Migraine Journey Wednesday (Vol. 33 – Angela Guernsey)

I first started getting migraines about 20 years ago.  I was in my mid 20’s.  I went to my family doctor with complaints of daily headaches that lasted for hours on end and they would not go away with Ibuprofen.  I would be going through the maximum amount of Ibuprofen daily and buying the largest bottle of it every two weeks, and still not getting rid of the headaches.

My doctor eventually sent me to a neurologist, who instructed me to take Ibuprofen at the beginning of the headaches, and then the Acetaminophen and caffeine tablets with it. If that did not get rid of it, then I would take 1 of two prescription medications, if that didn’t work, then I would take another.

I only stayed with this neurologist for about a year, he was too confusing! I actually changed jobs and my headaches got a little better for a while , but never completely got better.  A year or so into the new job, they started getting bad again and I went back to my doctor and he put me on Naproxen every 8 hours. 

That seemed to help, but only for some.  I did this for about a year or two, I saw no major improvement.  I then switched my primary care doctor after.  He kept me on the same program, but then said he could not do any more for me and sent me to the neurologist that I have today. We stopped the Naproxen and started doing different types of medications. Those worked. This was all before Botulinum Toxin. 

I was officially diagnosed with Migraines about 15 years ago and was diagnosed by the neurologist.  I went through multiple tests to make sure there was nothing else it could be. Once we had the diagnosis, I was relieved.  At least I knew what it was.  I researched it.  My neurologist was very up front.  He told me that I would more than likely would have to be on medications for the rest of my life, but they were always developing new treatments and medications, so hopefully there would be something that would help me in the future.  I was okay with that.

I didn’t really have to “track” my migraines until I started doing Botulinum Toxin. Even with taking the medications, and I am taking 3 preventatives, I was still getting them fairly frequently, so I knew when I had them.  

I did start using Migraine Buddy about 2 years, I think, before I started getting Botulinum Toxin.  That helped “define” the intensity and length of my migraines.  This is the only app that I have ever used and it is great!!  Not only was I able to help put in a time that an attack started, but I could put in additional items such as, symptoms and medications. I could also note if it affected something else, and then, when the migraine was over, I could note that, and since a lot of times my migraines lasted days, that really helped.  When I track my migraines, I like to see what may cause them. The Migraine Buddy app is really great as it is. The last update that they did included one that I was thinking of, so I’m happy.

More recently, since I have been on Botulinum toxin, I have been able to see that most of the time it is the weather, which I cannot control.  Sometimes it has been a scent, which, if possible I will control, bit sometimes I can’t control.  I really look for what brings on my migraines so that I can try to prevent them from happening in the future.

Thank you, Angela, for stepping forward to share your migraine journey with the community.  

When you share your stories, it not only helps others but you heal in the process too. If you would like to share your story and let your voice be heard like Angela, you may do so here: http://bit.ly/2rJcpMR 

With love, the Migraine Buddy Team