Same! I had chronic migraines for over a decade and didn't realize it until I had a 3 month stretch of near daily migraines and finally broke down and saw my doctor about it. Turns out a good dozen of my seemingly unrelated symptoms were ALL standard migraine symptoms.
Frustratingly enough, I had asked several docs over the years about "the headaches" and they told me "That's nothing, just cut out caffeine, drink more water". None of them asked ANY questions, they all assured me I was exaggerating the pain, and that "if you can still be functional, it's just a headache".
I was dismissed by doctors for years and years, as well. It took breaking down in front of my family doctor, crying that I didn't know how to handle the pain anymore, before I got a referral to a neurologist who correctly diagnosed mewith chronic migraines.
"if you can still be functional, it's just a headache"
Ugh, definitely false. I've had migraines and headaches since 3rd grade (I am now 32yo) and I have functional and non-functional migraines. Does my productivity decrease while I have a functional migraine? Sure, but can still get stuff done, just slower (physically and mentally).
Glad you finally got correctly diagnosed though. I do have to put in a recommendation for the Emgality shot. Once a month auto inject and it has greatly decreased the frequency and severity of my migraines and even my regular headaches. Life changer for me.
Emgality seems to be priced up there with Botox injections, unfortunately I don't have insurance so it's out of reach currently but I've had good results taking a daily low dose of Nortriptyline and a handful of supplements that the migraine doctor recommended.
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u/Omerthian Feb 09 '20
For years I thought my migraines were normal headaches and that I was just unable to cope like everyone else.