Posted on by MyBeautifulMigraine

My last Neuro appt; a realization!

At my last botox appointment, my Neuro asked me about my chronic migraine status. Sometimes keeping track of Chronic Migraine can be so completely depressing, so I admit I’ve slacked off on my tracker phone apps. But I thought a bit about my recent experiences before answering the question… I realized that while I have migraine symptoms every single day (🙄 of course… photophobia, lethargy, pain, phonophobia, brain fog, and so much more), I really only have about 2 migraine episodes a week that last approximately ~24 hours with treatment. This is an exceptional improvement, for sure. And I truly am grateful 🙌🏼


This solid progress is is a result of my Chronic Migraine regimen right now: •Botox every 12 weeks, •Nurtec (as a preventive) every other morning, •Nadolol 10mg and Tizanidine 4mg every night. For abortive treatment, I still have a plethora to cycle: Reyvow, Maxalt, Ubrelvy, Butalbitol, Sumatriptan injection, Phenergen, Indomethacin.

However, some very SAD news in my migraine world: Reyvow is being pulled because it isn’t making enough money for the company. I’m so unhappy: I really, really like Reyvow for those particularly bad or nighttime migraines… so I’m trying to fill my script as much as possible before the medication sunsets forever.

Discontinuation of Reyvow® (lasmiditan) for Acute Migraine Treatment: What To Do Next – Association of Migraine Disorders https://share.google/RrDGctNMDlPP7hmX0


While I was thrilled to acknowledge this solid Migraine win, my buddies Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction still are a huge part of my Chronic Illness daily life. And they never let me forget it!


Love you all… Warriors: keep up the fight!💪🏼💜

My grandbaby time; I LIVE for it! Daisy is almost 3 months, Theo is almost 2.5 yrs. 🩵🩷 GiGi life is the absolute BEST!💖

Still overwhelmed trying to work my biz… but it’s amazing for feeding my soul to serve women, flexibility and honoring friendships.

https://cabi.cabionline.com/TheDivaDonna

Cefaly FTW! – use at least 1-3x a month.
Me at cabi Spring 26 Fashion Week in between sessions… This is how – spend most of my life😂 REST is ESSENTIAL; it isn’t the same as lazy.
MY sweetest and most reliable supporter, Mr Kobo. He is everything ❤️
I haven’t been able to exercise in ages, but I’m actually BIKING now! Our kids got us ebikes for Christmas and we LOVE it!!!🚲

Of course as I type this, I’m quite sick with a head cold. 🫩 It’s not the flu, it’s not very serious, but having “just a cold” while battling Chronic Illness and a compromised immune system is the ultimate injustice! I’ve been incapacitated the last 5 days and hope tomorrow is a better day!😊

Posted on by MyBeautifulMigraine

Crescent moon migraine morning

And there it is this morning… it’s a crescent shape in my left frontal forehead. A crescent moon shape of pain… a rumbling brawl that will not be silenced; complaining, grumbling, muttering… demanding to be noticed. And so, yes, I acknowledge you, Migraine. The crescent slides down into my left eye. There it is: Chronic Migraine.  I admit it to myself again that – verily – I do have Chronic Migraine. We forever walk hand-in-hand. Old frenemies; recognizing each other every day. Each day the sun rises, arcs across the sky, and sets, as the moon follows. There are no holidays. There are no resets. There are no interruptions… our relationship is built on rock and resolve. We are in this body – and share this life together. There is no cure for Chronic Migraine.

I’m listening to you crescent moon. I hear you. When I close my eyes… when I open them… I hear you. And I recognize and know you.

It is time for me to be honest, and it is time for migraine medication. I’ve moved back to my prison bed… supine pose… I took a maxalt with Marc’s assist because he is just that awesome and I love him dearly with my whole soul.

And the riddles start immediately: will the medicine work on crescent moon? If I stop here, right now… supine in my prison bed, resting, releasing every tenion in my Chronic Migraine body; a state of intentional repose… will the maxalt start to erase the constant fierce ache slipping into my eye? Will it do anything? Will my body just ignore the maxalt? Or will it stand at attention, metabolize and perform as it is intended, and silence the crescent? Always the same riddles. It’s boring. It’s tedious. It’s stupid. It’s repetitive. It’s the same old story and just a new day.

As I bring this small post to a close (keeping only one eye open and intentionally reslaxing), I can report that the crescent is quieting. For now, at this time, maxalt is working. 🌙 And that is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

Posted on by MyBeautifulMigraine · 1 Comment

Migraine is poorly understood

Migraine remains a poorly understood illness…The syndrome is too various, too complex, to mixed up with external stimuli and the personality of the sufferer..I have come to understand that my headaches are cyclical and that they play a part in my emotional economy.. The truth is that separating neurological from pschiatric problems is often artificial..

Siri Hustvedt, from “Arms at Rest,” excerpted from “So Much More than a Headache: Understanding Migraine through Literature, Edited by Kathy O’Shea

Posted on by MyBeautifulMigraine

Got #MIGRAINE?

Please: make sure to download a migraine tracking app to your phone & use it! This will be essential
information to bring to your doc. It helps creates the data that could identify your triggers & identifying migraine TRIGGERS
is your most powerful step in migraine treatment.

Data! Data! I cannot make bricks without clay

Sherlock Holmes



#ChronicMigraine #ChronicMigraineAwareness #CHAMP #MigraineAwarenessmonth #mybeautifulmigraine

Posted on by MyBeautifulMigraine

Botox Day is HERE!

Botox Day is HERE! 🎄🎁💉
It’s here! It’s here! One of the 4 most happiest days of the year! Migraines have been an incredible battle the past several weeks R/T weather patterns. And we are supposed to get a nasty storm today… Next #BotoxforChronicMigraine
is June!💉
The day of Botox is a sacred day. It isn’t particularly “painful,” but my body and soul feel “violated” by the 40+ tiny subcutaneous injections. So there is an exhaustion accompanied with the procedure… as well as a migraine triggered.
When I first started botox over a decade ago, I had no problem going to work right after, or grocery shopping, or whatever. As I get further into my #ChronicMigraine and #ChronicIllness adventure, I seem to need the remainder of botox day for rest, recovery & low activity. It’s important to keep your head elevated and not to rub injection sites for several hours post procedure.👍🏼 The medication starts to work appropriately 5-10 days post injections.💉
My neuro and I plan to add oral Nurtec as a migraine prevention as soon as my insurance submits… this will be a long process of prior authorizations and one-on-one’s between my provider and insurance. Huzzah! Thankfully my neuro is dedicated. 💜❤💜
And I have duck boots now. My mom never got them for me when they were popular when I was a teen. So I’m hitting them up this time in the wonderful cyclical fashion wheel👢 #WaitingRoomShoePic

Posted on by MyBeautifulMigraine

Not just head pain

People think of Migraine as “a bad headache.” It’s hard to explain the entire systemic experience. Probably because once chronic, your body in a constant state of “fight or flight,” or prodrome/postdrome cycles.

*Exhaustion *Lethargy *Generalized body pain *Sweating *Impaired thermoregulation *Nausea *Altered appetite *Depression *Anxiety *Throbbing head pain *mild to moderate heat pain

Every day. Every. Day. It’s so boring.

#ChronicMigraine #MigraineAwareness #Migraine #CMA #ChronicMigraineAwareness

Posted on by MyBeautifulMigraine

Don’t get Chronic Migraine

Oh myyyyyy

Don’t get #ChronicMigraine.

It’s so dumb and wastes a ridiculous amount of time and energy. The shadow that slips into your life with intent to take over everything.

If #Migraine is something you experience, take it seriously… get proactive! Track it, find your triggers, communicate with your health care provider. It’s not all about pharmacology – there are simple life changes, vitamins, minerals and herbs that can make a serious difference.

However, when Migraine episode strikes, don’t “chase it” or “push through.” SLAM IT with appropriate medication and treatment. Improper and inadequate migraine treatment is the root of Chronic Migraine.


#MigraineAwareness djk #MyBeautifulMigraine #SpeakYourMigraine #PatientsNotAddicts #InvisibleIllness #Chronicillness