The fabulous Canadian Kayla |
Can you remember &
describe your first migraine?
I can remember very vividly the very first vicious
migraine because it was the worst surprise of my life. My usual methods to deal
with normal headaches was to take a Tylenol and fall asleep for nap, and then
by the time I woke up I would be pain-free. So one day I begin to get a
headache. Naturally, I take my Tylenol and my nap. However, instead of waking
up pain-free, the pain had intensified to a blinding 10/10. Surprise! I
couldn’t move, I was covering my ears, and I didn’t dare open my eyes because
every single sensation would send waves of hot pain through my brain and down
my neck and spine.
What followed is exactly what you would
expect. A trip to the emergency room and crying. Lots and lots of crying.
Imagine the face of someone giving birth, but you don’t get cute little offspring
at the end.
Best migraine top tip anyone’s ever given you?
“Breathe.” – Mum.
Worst Trigger?

Favourite migraine
comfort?
I call it my “blanket burrito”. I wrap myself
up in my favourite blanket with my laptop, my phone, strategically placed heat
and ice packs, my TENS unit, snacks, water, and my bag of meds. I’m like a
bear; I can hibernate in there for days at a time if I have to.
What’s the worst
assumption that’s been made about you and your migraines.
It really upsets me when people assume that
my migraines can’t be that bad, so they suggest that they can be fixed with pseudoscience
or just a glass of water and a nap*. I think what perpetuates this “it’s not
that bad” idea in society is the commercials for the over-the-counter
medication. Usually along the lines of a waitress who suddenly furrows her brow,
then she takes the magic Advil/Excedrin “migraine” tablet and she’s back to
waitressing with a smile plastered on her face in no time!
Just once I would like to see a more honest
face of migraine disease on television. Someone who, despite an armada of
over-the-counter and prescription medications, is left intermittently partially
blind, completely overwhelmed by all of their senses being ramped up for days
on end, so dehydrated from nausea and vomiting and in so much pain that they
need to be taken to the hospital and be put on an IV. So weak and dizzy that they
have to be pushed in a wheelchair to brain scans and blood tests, so the
emergency doctor can see if they’re having a stroke, even though they’re only
23 years old.
Pleasant to watch? No. But then maybe when
I say “I have chronic migraine” people will actually take a moment to listen and learn about this horrifying neurological disease rather than instantly
dismissing it as just a bad common headache that can be fixed by a kale
smoothie* or getting glasses*.
* Actual real life cure suggestions given
to me. I wish I was joking.
What are you most proud
of doing despite living with migraines?
Unmedicated, my migraines are very severe
and caused me to leave nursing school and a job that I enjoyed. It was very
turbulent for a while, but I am very fortunate to have found some medications
that manage to keep the worst symptoms at bay, which has allowed me to achieve
some pretty awesome things within the past 8 months:
·
Spent 2 months travelling
through England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy and managed my migraines
effectively on the go. (Only 22 days after diagnosis, was I crazy or stupid?
Maybe both.)
·
Started chronic illness
blogging on Tumblr ( www.whatshouldwecallmigraine.tumblr.com
) and Wordpress ( www.diaryofamigraineur.com
).
·
Got published in a magazine for
youth and young adults with chronic illnesses called The Pillow Fort ( www.thepillowfort.co.uk/magazine
).

If you could be the Prime Minister for a Year what
would you do!?
My name is Kayla, I live in Vancouver,
Canada, and I’m a migraine n00b with 1 and ½ years under my belt. I’m also a 23
year old blogger, writer of amusing things, clinical secretary, and all around layabout.
I try to make migraineurs laugh at www.whatshouldwecallmigraine.tumblr.com
, and I share how I manage my life of migraine in my own quirky way at www.diaryofamigraineur.com. You
can follow me on twitter @doamigraineur if you wanna see more of whatever
“this” is and to follow me on my eternal quest for a furbaby.
Thank you Victoria, for introducing this amazing young woman. She seems destined to be a great migraine advocate.
ReplyDelete