Migraine Awareness Month #7: List Topper

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about Migraine. Which one tops your list as the biggest and most common? What can we do to get the truth out there?

 

Excedrin Migraine is not effective for true Migraine headaches, especially for us Chronic sufferers.  So don't ask me if I ever tried it because your sister had a Migraine once and it went away 30 minutes later.  Guess what, your sister didn't have a Migraine.  She just had a very bad headache.  Now, if taking two Excedrin Migraine actually worked for me, would I have gone to the lengths of getting a neurostimulator implanted in my body to help manage my daily pain?  I think not.  The biggest misconception on my list is that Migraine is "just a headache".  No it isn't and there is a difference between the two.  The definition of Migraine, from the Migraine Research Foundation website, is not just a bad headache.  It is an extremely debilitating collection of neurological symptoms that usually includes severe recurring intense throbbing pain on one side of the head (although in 1/3 of Migraine attacks, both sides are affected). Attacks generally last between 4 and 72 hours and, in addition to head pain, are often accompanied by one or more of the following:  visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness in the extremities or face.  Migraine is a syndrome and a neurological disease.  "A headache gives little to no warning, and is usually a throbbing or pulsing inside of your head.  Headaches last about an hour to three hours, but do not interrupt every day life as badly as Migraines do.  Also, a headache does not cause you to feel sick, doesn’t give you a sensitivity to light, sound or smells, and is usually just a throbbing pain in your head.  The good thing about headaches is that unlike Migraines can be treated with over the counter drugs without having to go to a doctor.” (http://www.triggeroptics.com/difference_between_headache_migraine.htm) So, make sure you have got your facts straight before you ask a Migraineur whether or not they have tried Excedrin Migraine for their Migraines.  It would be wise to just turn around and walk away rather than having the possibility of getting cursed out by someone in agonizing pain.  It’s disrespectful and dismissive of our disease.

National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation. The Blogger's Challenge is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com.