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

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 “