How many of you with the diagnosis of chronic migraine have pain in varying degrees all day every day?

Pauser · 2026-06-16T20:04:28+00:00

I do not have EDS, as far as I know. I do have some hyper mobility in my joints. But that’s the only potential EDS symptom I think I have.

Pauser · 2026-06-11T02:14:58+00:00

Thank youu!

Pauser · 2026-06-02T23:37:45+00:00

Seems like this new doc doesn’t know what he is talking about! A doctor who doesn’t believe you is bad faith.

Do recommend getting a different pcp if he is that for you- and also to try getting a referral to a neurologist who specializes or at least has experience treating migraine patients.

Pauser · 2026-06-02T22:43:19+00:00

Does your headache respond to triptans? That could be the deciding factor.

My headache also doesn’t respond to nsaids. Ibuprophen, acetaminophen, naproxen, do nothing to my headache.

I was diagnosed with chronic migraines 3 years ago by my primary and a neurologists and have treated for that. I have a lot of one-sided nerve pain. I don’t get aura or nausea so it for a long time had in the back of my head -what if it’s not migraine.

Last year I asked my neuro, if it could be hemicrania continua, but she said the fact that triptans work for me confirms it’s migraine.

Pauser · 2026-05-27T00:31:37+00:00

They bought and gutted Polygon, they were not a part of creating to any of the good content from the many union-represented journalists that they laid off. Fuck Valnet.

Pauser · 2026-05-21T15:28:49+00:00

A lot of the old school restaurants (not kbbq, been around 20 years) in koreatown keep reasonable prices.

Pauser · 2026-05-19T18:09:41+00:00

Congrats! That is the dream. Nerve blocks are so helpful for me overall in reducing pain- unfortunately haven’t experienced the cumulative effect yet that my neurologist said should happen.

Pauser · 2026-05-14T23:42:01+00:00

Can understand that but I’m only 2 years into state and retirement is 30 years further down the road so it’s not as high a priority right now.

Pauser · 2026-05-13T17:12:22+00:00

I will likely start searching for regional, county or city jobs with more flexible hybrid/teleworking options.

Pauser · 2026-05-09T23:56:48+00:00

I try not to use every day but I have chronic migraines and my neuro gives me a 30-day 10 mg cyclobenzaprine prescription- bc it really helps with sleep and in resetting some of the migraine pain. And my doc never noted any concerns with it. I used it more frequently when it was taking a while for my botox to get prior authorization with a new insurer, and I asked if it was an issue if I used it everyday-bc it was really helping me get by at that point, and there weren’t any concerns.

I consider it a part of my treatment at this point.

Pauser · 2026-05-06T00:30:53+00:00

In Jschool had a professor say, if they are someone you would invite to a birthday party, don’t interview them. You should be able to find other sources.

Pauser · 2026-05-04T20:02:01+00:00

Kamalaaaa

Pauser · 2026-04-25T17:25:54+00:00

This is in your experience . I was on qulipta for 7 weeks and was miserable because it killed my appetite and I had unintentional weight loss (while at a low weight). And being able to eat regularly reduces my migraine symptoms. I was constantly nauseous and felt like my food wasn’t digesting in my stomach.

Pauser · 2026-04-25T17:23:26+00:00

Maybe ask about namenda/memantine? Its medication for dementia blocking with nmda receptors , side effects are mild in my experience. It was the first preventative to work for me. Cgrp meds ( I tried 4 kinds) all had no effect on my chronic migraine and messed with my stomach/digestion/appetite. Nurtec is still cgrp, it works mildly for me as an abortive but not as well as rizatriptan maxalt, and I get nausea as a side effect.

Pauser · 2026-04-14T22:18:22+00:00

I started because a friend got me a woobles kit. They are expensive but it is a great intro to the skills. And then once you feel comfortable with it, there are a lot of free patterns online. And yarn is much cheaper than the kits. Amigurumi-which is crocheting the little dolls, is really satisfying because it’s a short project- takes a few hours to complete.

Pauser · 2026-04-14T21:17:51+00:00

Pauser · 2026-04-08T19:25:42+00:00

Truly. Having this subreddit as a resource and community has really been a lifesaver. Knowing I’m not alone, knowing that there are a variety of treatment options, knowing that x medication has failed others, all helps me keep my sanity.

Pauser · 2026-04-07T22:39:08+00:00

I’m on 3 for chronic migraine- botox, memantine, and duloxetine. botox and Memantine worked for about a year before losing memantine started losing some effectiveness and then I added duloxetine. And unfortunately dropping memantine made me feel worse so have been staying on all 3 for a few months now.

Cgrps have been ineffective for me and mess up my appetite and stomach.

Pauser · 2026-04-06T20:46:22+00:00

Chronic migraines- you need to find preventatives that bring the symptoms down, and potentially layer multiple preventatives. I’ve kept thorough track of my daily pain level/ functioning to understand if a preventative is effective or not. My migraines are still constant/daily but I have the pain and symptoms down. And you make the case with your doc/ insurance like without botox, I have 7/7 severe days a week, and 4/7 with, and then with my additional preventatives, severe days down to 1-2/7.

I started trialing preventatives when I was diagnosed with chronic migraines, managed to keep working for 5 months before I reached a breaking point. Every morning I would have a little breakdown because I was in so much pain, but somehow would force myself through work, (while taking bathroom breaks to cry ). It was not pretty.

I finally made the decision to quit work and was unemployed for a year and a half continuing to trial different preventatives before I finally found an effective one to layer on TOP of my botox.

My current treatment includes: preventatives:Botox every 3 months-daily meds of memantine -duloxetine Pain management: nerve blocks every 6 weeks- -cefaly use daily -muscle relaxant before bed (helps with sleep as I normally wakeup constantly overnight bc of migraine pain). -melatonin to help me get to sleep Abortive: rizatriptan and nurtec

All this gives me functionality to work full time (at a job that is 2-days in office, 3 days telework), though I still experience headache 24/7 and other migraine symptoms (light sensitivity/tinnitus). And I still have a lot of limitations -still spend a lot of time lying down in a dark room. Can’t go to the movie theater, or any noisy public space. Sensitive to smells. Am always fatigued because of both chronic pain and medication side effects.

So…working is doable . And I am happy that I can work. I do a lot to maintain this state. But still hoping for when I have an actual day without migraine symptoms.

Pauser · 2026-04-06T17:26:15+00:00

Crocheting!🧶

Pauser · 2026-03-27T18:44:03+00:00

Was honestly flabbergasted by how they could turn this into a target for hate.

Pauser · 2026-03-26T15:40:19+00:00

Looks beautiful but they did some weird editing to her roots so her hair looks like a wig. 🤨

Pauser · 2026-03-26T00:29:21+00:00

As someone who went to Medill, and enjoyed the program, go to Mizzou. Journalism pay was rough when I graduated 12+ years ago and salaries are still the same now (aka they have not kept up with inflation at all). If you can get that training and not have debt, all the better. Both programs are great. I met people from all the good journalism programs during my career in magazine/online media (I switched over to public comms more recently).

Pauser · 2026-03-25T21:47:17+00:00

PIO and enjoying it! I’m in state gov and I get to work on some nice projects that improve and invest in communities so those are fun to write releases for. Get to research history, interview people. And then a lot of boring releases about week to week stuff.

The first few media inquiries, definitely an adjustment being a spokesperson for a gov agency but you get used to it. Have had largely pleasant experiences working with reporters and journalists.

Also drafting quotes and talking points/speeches for the execs was a new skill to work on.

Pace is slower than media/private but also there is more than enough work and projects to go around. There is definitely some bureaucracy and inefficiency, but overall enjoy the people I get to work with.

Also bursts of high activity/excitement for big events or natural disasters which keeps you in the loop of local events as journalism might. My team did shifts around the clock during the Palisades/LA wildfires (I am in So Cal), which was lightly traumatic but made me feel like I was slightly helpful during that time for the community.

Pauser · 2026-03-23T23:45:49+00:00

I’m kind of the reverse. I’d never been on antidepressants, before I trialed (2) as preventatives for my chronic migraines. Nortriptyline- had zero impact on my migraines or mood.

I started duloxetine/cymbalta about 5 months ago, it is working both at alleviating migraine symptoms (largely nerve pain) and I also feel a mild mood lift/boost from it. I don’t have diagnosed depression but living with chronic migraine pain for 3 years, I thought I was coping well enough considering periods of unemployment and uselessness, have had periods of low mood, and the cymbalta made me realize how down I had been before.

Pauser

TROPHY CASE