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NMAMBC #22: “The Game Changer” -OR- “Bargaining With the Monster”

June 22, 2012 by paula 4 Comments

Migraine Awareness Month #22: “The Game Changer” -OR- “Bargaining With the Monster”

“Tell us about a time your plans changed due either to an unexpected Migraine or an unexpected Migraine-free experience.”

This question cannot easily be answered; Migraines are notorious for their unpredictability and level of intractability. I believe that all Migraineurs realize that “game changers” are just a fact of life for us. To have it any other way would be… well… nice, but not realistic. Planning around our plans is what we do – it’s second nature for most of us… a requirement to survive.

I have had plenty of occasion to worry, though – feeling so sure that doing whatever it is I’ll be doing; eating whatever it is I’ll be eating would have to encompass at least a mediocre Migraine. But, no… I’ll later realize that all that worry was for nought, or I’ll find myself actually having fun – all that concern completely forgotten. This is not the usual course of action, though; most of the time, it’s the other way-around – I deny myself right into “the BIG ONE”, later realizing – and admitting – that I should’ve known better, should’ve stayed home, should’ve been the good girl…

I can’t keep track of all the “game changers” I’ve had… but there’ve been plenty. My Migraines usually come on very slow and this is often my reasoning for “pretending” that I can hold one off for just a little while so that I can go forward with my plans. I can sometimes feel mildly “crappy” for hours or even a day or so before a Migraine lets loose. But, boy-oh-boy, does it ever, especially when I’ve ignored it like that. (I think my Migraines are the “jealous type” and prone to fits of temper-tantrums – very spoiled…).

So yes – I have “Game-Changers” all the time, usually because of my attempts “make deals” with my Migraine monster. Sometimes this works, other times – well, you can fill in the rest/result.

There is a bright side to all this, believe it or not… Since most of my Migraines are slow to simmer, this usually enables me to give the “incoming” one the attention it demands. I can sometimes succeed with this strategy, later going on with my plans (albeit, a little late…) and feeling only slightly (but sometimes very) tired from the meds/sleeping/hot bath/voodoo rituals, or whatever else I had to do to banish the Migraine (but still – eventually – getting to do the thing I wanted or needed to do). Postponing fun, work or business is not always the “accepted” way to get things done, but in the Wacky World of Migraine…

 Flexibility is survival.

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

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Comments

  1. andrea gehrke says

    June 22, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    I can so relate to the “slow to simmer” migraines. Over half of mine are that way; the rest feel like someone slammed a book over my head. And yes “flexibility is survival”!

    Reply
    • paula says

      June 22, 2012 at 11:55 PM

      So true – I’m having that issue today: I had to cancel a hiking trip on Sunday b/c of having so much trouble this week. I’m not sure why – probably hormones!!

      Thanks so much for your comment!!

      Reply
  2. Tammy Rome says

    June 22, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    I totally understand the “incoming” warnings. Often I will try to bargain with the pain or try to talk myself out of admitting that it’s actually a migraine just hoping that it will go away. It never does, but I keep hoping.

    Reply
    • paula says

      June 22, 2012 at 11:59 PM

      Tammy,

      Thanks so much for your comment! I appreciate your feedback more today than ever! I’ve been in a “bad cycle” for the past two weeks and just had to cancel an event on Sunday – I’m fairly sure I won’t be able to make the event work, and I’m pretty despondent over it. I appreciate you and the other Migraineurs so much! Among you guys, I feel normal and don’t worry so much about “fitting in”!! We have to keep hoping and stay positive – it’s the one best way we can fight this disease!

      Have a great weekend!

      Reply

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…We are all born with it–Joy. We exude enough of it as children to fill all the adult hearts in any room. We’ve no need to be taught how to smile on a sunny Saturday morning, dance in muddy spring puddles, delight as a butterfly alights on our noses. Joy is our birthright–our spiritual birthmark.

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