A Day in the Life of a Migraine Sufferer :: Biology Essays Research Papers

A Day in the Life of a Migraine Sufferer from each one year over twenty-six million people nation wide are affected by migraines. Once thought to be a preoccupation of evil spirits in the brain, common cures consisted of everything from drilling holes in the skull, to inserting garlic cloves into the temples(4). Today however, scientists realize that this all too common occurrence is actually a neurological disorder, which can result in the disability of its victim for hours or even days. I myself have been a constant sufferer of migraines since the age of ten. The spare-time activity is the day in the life of a migraine sufferer myself. I believe that the most appropriate place to begin is a brief belief into my medical background. Since the age of ten I have constantly been struck with migraines, occurring more and more frequently as I age. Migraines can strike children as well as adults, however typically the migraines become less frequent after early adulthood(3).Ninety percen t of migraine sufferers also report having a family memorial of migraines, suggesting a genetic link(5).I, for example, know that both my father and grandmother to this day frequently have migraines and have since a very young age. Furthermore, even though I typically have at least one debilitating migraine per week, I am otherwise in perfect health. This is common among migraine sufferers they are entirely healthy and therefore, cannot understand why they are showing such painful symptoms(3).Each day that I have I migraine it is a struggle to work, to move, sometimes even to breath. If caught in time, I can typically medicate myself before a full- blown migraine occurs, but often I realize to late what will soon occur. This was the case on April 1, 2001, when I received a classic migraine that left me in a say of suspended animation for over twenty hours. The day began with stiffness in my neck and an ache around my temples and brow bone. Migraines are typically a dour process, which begins slowly and climaxes in intolerable pain. The stiffness of my neck and facial muscles, as well as an irritated feeling in my scalp, are often the starting time warning signs of a migraine day. However, I chose to ignore the signs and tough it out since I was late for class. Instead of my usual breakfast of dry cereal and water, I grabbed a cup of yogurt and a coke for the road.