Learn to Live with It

I have talked a few times about what it means to live with chronic migraines and daily headaches. I've been doing so for almost eight years now, so I like to think I have gotten pretty good at it. The reality is, it isn't something that necessarily gets better or worse.

I have good days. I have bad days. But I don't really get to change my life because of a migraine.

I have had to learn to live with it. You learn to handle the pain, you learn to manage the symptoms, you learn to modify your actions to fit your reality.

And once I left school, I entered a new level of living with it. Chiefly because, frankly, you don't get three skips in a work "semester." You get up, you go to work with a migraine. You hope the extra cup of coffee helps. You hope you won't have to talk to too many Canadians on the phones. You get up, you go the gym even when you absolutely would rather be sleeping.

You answer a lot of Are you okay? Do you feel alright? Because frankly, your face is going to show it sometimes, despite your best efforts.


Here's the thing about learning to live with it though - at least, I'll say this today, when I'm one day off of a real monster of an 18 hour migraine - you appreciate the good days so much more. When I feel fine, when I go four or five days without a migraine, holy moly, it's like I could move the Earth. There is a lot of power that comes with being healthy, and feeling your best. But, I think if nothing else, the last eight years have also shown me, there's plenty to be gained from having to keep going when you are at your worst.


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