Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #17: Father Knows Best

First, Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there.

I have the BEST Dad in the world! We've always had a very strong connection. We tend to understand what the other is thinking and/or experiencing in an unexplainable way. Hey always seems to know just the right thing to say, even if silence is what is needed.

Dear Dad,

Thank you so much for always being there for me. While you don't have Migraines, you seem to understand some of the pain because you had an accident several years ago, too. I hate that either of us is in pain, and I wish I knew a way to get rid of it.

My migraines limit me in so many different ways. I really appreciate your support and encouragement to take things one step at a time, to break things down into small baby steps, and to celebrate even the smallest achievements.

I love you so very much, Daddy!

Love,
Jamie


This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #16: Migraine Genes (Migraine Without Aura)

The other day, I wrote about new research regarding a possible genetic link explaining the prevalence of Migraine in Women - Migraine Genes (Prevalence in Women).

More new research offers us valuable information about the genetic underpinnings of Migraine attacks, specifically Migraine without aura (which is the most common variety of Migraine).

Please take a few minutes to take a look at these two articles that discuss this important new research - Migraine Genes: X Marks the Spot - and - New hope for migraine sufferers. The researchers identified four genes (and additional genetic variations - blood vessels and blood flow as key parts of Migraine attacks) related to Migraine disease, thus reinforcing the notion that there is a strong genetic component of Migraine.


This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #15: Migraine Genes (Prevalence in Women)

New research has identified a specific region on the X chromosome as playing a role in Migraine. Please take a few minutes to take a look at these two articles that discuss this important new research - Migraine Genes: X Marks the Spot - and - New hope for migraine sufferers.

Here is an excerpt from the first article that helps outline the significance of this type of research:

"Finding these genetic links to Migraine is especially important because we don’t entirely understand the pathophysiology of Migraine and there have been precious few studies to help us figure it out. Learning more about how and why Migraine attacks occur will help researchers find or design specially targeted treatments for those of us who suffer Migraine. It may also be the smoking gun we need to finally turn Migraine disease into something we can diagnose by testing for something instead of simply excluding everything else we can think of to reach a diagnosis. This is called a diagnosis of exclusion and is currently the only way physicians have to determine if a patient truly suffers from Migraine disease" (Migraine Genes: X Marks the Spot).

If you remember from high school biology, all females have two X chromosomes, while males have an X and a Y chromosome. "'These results provide more support for the role of the X chromosome in migraine and may explain why so many more females suffer from the disorder,' said Professor Griffiths" (New hope for migraine sufferers).

This research is a very important step in moving forward in Migraine diagnosis and treatment - "the research provides compelling evidence for a new migraine susceptibility gene involved in migraine. The study also indicated that there may be more than one X chromosomal gene involved and implicated a gene involved in iron regulation in the brain" (New hope for migraine sufferers).


This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #14: Live Long, and Prosper

I often close with "Blessings" to express my well-wishes for my fellow Migraineurs. I want them to know that I care, they'll be on my mind and in my heart, to encourage them to remember and be grateful for their blessings (even in difficult times), and to know that I truly wish them well.

This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #12: Self-Care

Patients For A Moment (PFAM) is a patient-centered blog carnival to build connections within the community of people who blog about illness, disease, and disability. Maria, at My Life Works Today!, is hosting this edition of the PFAM blog carnival. The topic is: "Self-care is..."

Self-care is...

eating-well, time-alone, cook, massage, letters, blog, write, music, journal, scrapbook, relax, walk, courage, persistent, adaptable, flexible, understanding, empathy, open, forgiving, ask, help, accepting, research, strength, peace, hope, prayer, faith, loving, friends, family, say-"no", nurture, cherish, gratitude, support, soul, embrace, collaborate, sharing, listening

There are several different categories here, but there's one that really stands out:

Relationships - with God, self, family, friends

Relationships with others can be a very important part of self-care, but not to the detriment of your relationship with God and with yourself. I know that I have trouble remembering this sometimes, but it's something I'm working on because it's so crucial to my self-care.

This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #11: Say What?! (Ellen)

Ellen, at Migraine Interrupted, shares something that was said to her by a breast cancer survivor that I think is very, very powerful (and definitely worth the read). Here is her post - Migraine Awareness Month #11: "Say What?" Here's a sneak peak of her article / post:

"Cancer was a breeze compared to living with Migraine." 

Here's what her explanation was...

Everybody understands cancer. There are tests for it. You can see it on an x-ray. Diagnosis is fairly straightforward as is its treatment. There are commercials for it, free testing for it, and support groups for it. 

Because everyone talks about cancer, everyone understands what your body goes through during cancer treatment. They support you. They rally around you. They bring you casseroles to eat for dinner, clean your house, run errands for you, drive you to church and doctor appointments. They help you fight.

When you have cancer, everyone rallies around your family. They are supportive asking what they can do to help, and offering shoulders of understanding for tears when they are overflowing. 
Medications are constantly being sought for cancer. Research is ongoing and enthusiastically paid for by the public and by society.

Once you say the words "I have cancer" nobody doubts you or your experience. The only stigma re: cancer is when patients don't appreciate the pity party others often want to throw them.

Cancer has an end. When this cancer patient went through treatment, she knew about how long it was going to take. She had a light at the end of the tunnel and something to look forward to and strive for.

There was an end. There are *cures*.

Migraine is not like that. (Migraine Awareness Month #11: "Say What?")

This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).