'The reality of living with an invisible illness, and the 7 things I’ve learnt from it.'

There’s no counting the number of times I’ve gone to bed, ready for the day ahead only to wake up ahead of my alarm the next morning with a headache. They usually start behind my right temple as a dull ache around 4-5am and by the time the alarm goes off, the headache has crept across my forehead and turned into a migraine. I dread these days.

I started getting migraines when I was a teen. I’d spend hours in a quiet, dark room missing out on whatever plans I had that day (not appreciating the lack of obligations teen-life involved). Magically, I had very few in my 20s but then into my 30s the migraines returned with vengeance. I even had one on my wedding day. 

Now that I’m a parent, living with migraines is approximately 10000x more challenging. 

Managing an invisible illness at work and at home is exhausting. On migraine days, it’s impossible to enjoy my kids or feel motivated about anything. Everything, even getting breakfast on the table is a slow struggle. Daily life as a working mum comes with enough disruptions and detours, I can’t have migraines on that list!

Image: Supplied. 

As a decades-long migraine sufferer, I’m getting better at managing this invisible illness. Here are a few things I’ve learned.

Talk about it.

Normalising invisible illnesses is helpful to everyone suffering. It also helps others understand the challenges. When I've had a meeting and I can barely look at my screen, and I say my camera is off because of a migraine, I'm almost always met with sympathy instead of scrutiny. 

Letting friends know why you’re cancelling plans opens the door for others to be honest about illness as well. Also, the result of an honest conversation might be someone sharing a remedy or a healthcare professional who can offer an option for migraine relief like Relpax Migraine which is available over-the-counter from pharmacists. 

Migraines affect up to one in five women, reducing the stigma associated with migraines supports those trying to get through the day in agony.

Take control.

Knowing the migraine relief medications available and understanding how they work is a game changer. Migraine-specific treatments like Relpax Migraine are additional options for when standard pain killers aren’t cutting it. 

Relpax Migraine is used to treat acute migraines in adults who have a stable, well-established pattern of symptoms. Some people can experience relief as early as 30 minutes. Such a quick turnaround can mean you reclaim the day and avoid disruption. 

Hydrate.

Water, electrolytes, and even juice are essentials in my everyday life. Water especially. If I don’t start my day by knocking back a huge glass of water, I’m leaving myself open to a headache turned migraine creeping in by mid-day. I have an array of water bottles and am always the one at the restaurant asking for "another water jug, please". This hydration habit comes with the side effect of a lot of bathroom trips but that’s another story.

Image: Supplied. 

Plan ahead.

After the debacle of waking up on my wedding day with a migraine, I try to plan ahead better. If I have special events or work deadlines, which I know won’t be possible while battling migraine fog, light sensitivity and nausea, I make sure I am setting myself up for a clear head. 

Being sufficiently hydrated and well rested, especially when I’m travelling, is essential. Fresh air and exercise also keep headaches away as they keep stress down and encourage rest and hydration.

Image: Supplied. 

Ask for help.

I used to suffer silently through migraines, excusing myself at work, hiding in the bathroom or showing up to birthdays and slipping out after an hour. Powering through inevitably prolongs the pain.

Since becoming a mum, I’m left with no choice but to ask for help when a migraine hits. Asking my partner to pick the kids up or finding a friend to have them over allows me the opportunity to rest. The challenges of everyday tasks are so much greater with light sensitivity, nausea and a pounding head. When people know what’s going on, they want to help.

Listen to your body.

As someone with more than a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) this is a tough one for me, but I’ve learned it’s worth it. If I’m tired, I may need to miss a drinks night to avoid a migraine. Sometimes a quick nap or taking my eyes off the screen for an hour can make all the difference. The older I get, the more I’ve learned that my body gives me the clues it needs to be looked after.

Identify triggers.

Stress, exhaustion, dehydration, alcohol, skipping meals, lack of caffeine or excessive dairy (looking at you late night bowl of ice cream) are all triggers for my migraines, but it's different for everyone. Just because I know this list, doesn’t mean I manage any of these triggers perfectly. However, knowledge is power and being able to track, mitigate and manage a migraine effectively helps me feel in control of my health and my body.

Check out Relpax Migraine for rapid migraine relief, available from your local pharmacy without a prescription. Ask your pharmacist about this product. 

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. 

This article contains statements and descriptions unique to an individual and may not be representative of every patient's migraine experience. 

RELP-2023-0146. September 2023. 

Feature Image: Supplied/Mamamia.