5 MISTAKES MIGRAINEURS MAKE

Transcription

1 5 MISTAKES MIGRAINEURS MAKE Discover the most common mistakes, traps and pitfalls that even the smart and savvy migraineurs can fall into if not forewarned. A brief & practical guide for the modern migraine patient.

2 Introduction We re human like everyone else. We make mistakes. In fact I ve made every one of the following mistakes myself. Learning the hard way makes it easier for me to help others, avoid what I did. But it s a little more complicated than that. And too important to treat as a trivial matter, in some cases our health and happiness is at stake. Some of these mistakes might seem obvious and that s fine. In fact, if they are all obvious to you then it s a good sign that you re on your way. Treat this guide as a simple checklist to ensure you re not missing any of the fundamentals. This is not a comprehensive list. If your migraines are still out of control then obviously there are things that still need to be addressed. Disclaimer: This is for informational use only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. 2

3 1. Not getting diagnosed Over 50% of migraineurs have not been diagnosed by a medical professional. This is a shockingly high number of people who believe they are dealing with other issues such as just a bad headache, sinus headaches, hang-overs, allergies, nausea or painful side effects from menstruation and so on. Without an accurate diagnosis their migraines remain undertreated and poorly managed. In this environment the quality of life for the migraineur often worsens until a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can be put in place. Getting an official and correct diagnosis is the first and most important step. 3

4 2. Sticking with the wrong doctor Generally speaking, finding the right doctor isn t easy. The chart below shows the level of satisfaction by category of doctor. Profession Satisfaction Rate Headache Specialist 32.5% Neurologist 23.9% Primary Care/Medical Doctor (MD) / General Practitioner (GP) 16.7% Adapted from Migraine in America Study The best satisfaction is with Headache Specialists which is still only 32.5%. However this is significantly higher than the satisfaction ratings for neurologists or primary care doctors. So how do you know if your doctor is the right doctor or not? Ask yourself a few questions: Do they listen to you? Can they present a sound treatment plan and approach for your migraines that makes sense? Do they give you confidence and hope? Do you trust them? Or do they rush your appointments? Do they gloss over information they tell you, do they rarely make eye contact? We generally have a good sense about people. If you re second guessing your doctor perhaps its worth considering another one. You wouldn t go back to a bad hair dresser... and there s a lot more at stake with the doctor than the hair dresser. 4

5 A few ways to change doctors is to request a referral to a specialist or neurologist. Or if you re seeing a neurologist already, request another referral to someone else who comes recommended from your referring doctor. 5

6 3. Going it alone Migraine is a miserable disease and yes it can bring us down. It s only natural that we might try to shield our loved ones from the misery by bottling it up inside and hiding it from everyone else. But keeping it all inside is a recipe for disaster. Dealing with migraines by yourself in isolation is terribly difficult and can leave you worse off. Bottling-up your emotions, not visiting the doctor for regular check-ups and not talking to anyone about your condition is not going to make the problem go away. It usually makes things worse, particularly if you re going through a difficult time. You need the support from close family and friends. But remember that relationships are a two way street and even though this is your time of need, you need to be giving as well. Having a trusted doctor is also especially important during the particularly difficult times (see point 2). There are also professionally trained psychologists who may specialize in chronic pain who can teach you strategies to manage chronic pain, relationship problems and work challenges related to migraines or chronic health issues. 6

7 4. Giving up hope Every chronic migraineur I ve spoken to has tried countless treatments, medications, remedies, vitamins, therapies, diets and so on. Yet many still have migraines which are beyond their control and deeply reducing the quality of their life. It is only natural that after years of suffering and pain to eventually give up and think that you will probably be miserable for the rest of your life. But that s simply not true. No one has tried everything. Even if you have tried something, it doesn t mean you ve tried it correctly. Taking the right dose at the right time, with the right combination requires strict controls to ensure you give each treatment it s fair chance before you can truly rule something out. Here is my personal example: years ago my previous doctor gave me Sumatriptan pills. One of the most effective migraine treatments available specifically designed for migraine. I took it on several occasions. No response, whatsoever. So I went back to the doctor and said it failed after 3 attempts. Years later, with a new doctor, we we re running through all the medications I d tried and Sumatriptan came up again. My doctor asked, well when did you take it? I said, I took the pills at the first signs of a migraine, when I get the migraine aura which is mins before the head pain. My doctor replied. Sumatriptain is designed to be taken at the onset of pain, not the aura. Oh, well nobody told me that... Doctor: Interesting. There s also an injection format, which is very effective and fast acting... would you be willing to try that? After trying Sumatriptan again and taking it at the correct time, I ve realised it is far more effective with much fewer side effects versus what I was previously doing. Treatments for migraine are getting better and more advanced. The science and our understanding is improving and we are getting more solutions and relief today than ever before. Believing you re stuck with uncontrollable migraines is a quick way into depression and anxiety. 7

8 5. Not working to prevent migraines Many migraineurs treat their acute attacks. This is a reactive response that just about all of us need to engage in to deal with the immediate pain at hand. But any good migraine treatment plan will be more proactive than it is reactive: An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. This part of your migraine treatment is essential to sustainable recovery. Prevention includes: Identifying the underlying causes and triggers of your migraines Behavioural and lifestyle adjustments such as regular cardio exercise, meditation, relaxation, sufficient sleep etc. Dietary changes, healthy diet. Vitamins & supplements if required. Preventative therapies or remedies Preventative medications in chronic cases 8

9 How many of these mistakes have you made? Don t feel discouraged if you are guilty of some or all of these mistakes. I ve managed to recover despite been guilty of all them. It took me time to learn from my mistakes. Hopefully with this list you can learn from the most common mistakes and if you can avoid them, find remission faster. Smart people learn from their mistakes. Smarter people learn from the mistakes of others. What if I don t make any of these mistakes and my migraines are still out of control? It s certainly possible, but take a second look. Effective and proactive prevention is easier said than done. There are many effective treatments for migraine. What will work for you will depend on your individual circumstances and health profile. The best way to get started is by getting a better understanding, learning about effective treatments and best practices which is what the Migraine World Summit is all about. Good luck! i Chronic Migraine in America 2013 survey by Health Union in Dec Accessed Dec, n=