Me Before Migraine

I've always been highly intellectual. A science nerd since childhood, I graduated from college with a degree in biochemistry and co-authored two peer reviewed papers. I went on to work at biotechnology startups in Silicon Valley, working on cutting-edge biomedical devices that save lives. I was happy and stimulated by my work.​

 

In 2015, in my mid-twenties,  I went through a weight loss journey - cycling, crossfit, and cooking - in order to lose 30% of by body weight with diet and exercise. In 2016 I married the love of my life, and we bought our first home.

 

Then, one morning, everything changed. I woke up with symptoms of "MS, a brain tumor, or a stroke." I was given an urgent late-night appointment for an MRI, and not long after, got a call about my very normal results.

 

"It's just a migraine."

 

Apparently migraine attacks can literally paralyze you, and this was only the first of many "strokes" I was going to endure.

 

Later I learned I suffer from a sub-type of migraine disease which makes the symptoms more complex. I've been holding steady at 3-6 migraines per week for years. Symptomatic daily. No breaks. Everyone talks about how devastating medical issues can be, but the physical, emotional, and financial burden is unimaginable until you get there.

 

A lot changes when you get your Chronic Migraine diagnosis, but I also suffer from a sub-type of migraine disease which makes the symptoms more complex. You might be here, too - migraine is so much more than just a headache! I had to leave my career, my list of ailments continues to grow, and I have a service dog to help me with the day-to-day tasks I used to think nothing of. It took years to get back on my feet, truly feel joy, and accept that this IS my new normal.

 

This is not the life I planned, and I'd be lying if I said it was an easy one. It's tough to live a normal life when you never know how you'll feel when you wake up in the morning. When you cannot be who you were, it hurts more than most people understand.We all go through that grief, but there is a beautiful view from the top of the climb if you are bold enough to make it there. This is not to be confused with "curing" the disease. I haven't. My migraines have stayed just as strong, it's just that I have gotten stronger.If you suffer from migraines, I want to hear from you. I never would have made it this far without a kind and open online community, and with beasts like this, it takes a village. Join ours.Take some time to explore the blog, drop me a line on the contact page, and feel free to reach out if you would like to collaborate on a project together.