A snippet of what I go through with migraines

These past few days have not been my favorite. I know that some of you get tired of hearing about migraines, but if I don't share my journey, how are people ever going to even begin how horrific migraines can really be. Let me share with you a little snippet of what occurs when I get a flare up:

• My speech is slurred, and often incoherent
• I have short term memory loss
• My face, left arm and right leg go numb
• other areas may also go numb
• I can't empty my bladder so I have to straight cath to empty my bladder
• I fall frequently, which is why I now have a cane
• I have not been able to work in a year and a half
• I can't drive
• I can't even take care of my own house and family
• I need help getting in and out of bed
• I vomit
• I lose my independence
• I can't do the things I want to do
• I can't plan my life
• I have to cancel plans because of migraine
• I get allodynia, where even my hair hurts
• I am exhausted, but can't sleep because the pain is so severe
• I have to hibernate for days, sometimes
• I show my face for Dr. appt's mostly
• I miss several family functions
• I am in excruciating pain
• I have 2-3 days a month that I can function fairly well
• I grieve me, I grieve the person I used to be and the person I want to be.

I did not choose this life, but I make the most of the life that I do have. I have tried to make myself invisible my entire life. When I heard this song, I shed so many tears, but it was so healing at the same time. But instead of hiding under the bleachers at lunch, I was the one hiding out in the library.