Princess_Consuela_

Chronic daily migraine sufferer here. Thank you for doing this AMA and bringing awareness to this topic. My neurologist had me tested for autoimmune diseases recently and although I had a high RF, everything else was normal, so yay...? Anyway, it was never made clear to me what the link is between autoimmune disease and migraine. Can you please explain? Thanks!

I applaud you for knowing so much about your wife's migraines, even down to all of the meds she's tried. You sound like a really supportive partner and I can't stress how important and life-changing it is to have someone who has more than just a surface-level understanding of a debilitating condition you're experiencing on a daily basis.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, it is extremely debilitating and it is so hard to convey just how much of a toll it takes on your life. I've had migraines for 11 years - they turned chronic about 7 years ago, then daily within the past 2 years. It sucks when something you used to be able to manage gets so out of control, so I feel you. I finally was approved for botox earlier this year and I have so far had two rounds. In the past few weeks, I've noticed a huge difference, but prior to that, I didn't think it was doing anything. I've had two 4-day streaks of not having a migraine and that's practically unheard of for me. It's not a cure by any means, but I feel like I have part of my life back and I'm hoping it'll continue to improve with more injections. What have you tried so far? Are you seeing a general practitioner or a neurologist? My GP could only do so much for my migraines so if you're not seeing a neuro, I highly recommend it. Otherwise, my tips are fairly repetitive to what other people have to say about migraine management, but I swear by them - get enough sleep every night, know what your triggers are and avoid them if you can (my big ones are alcohol, strong smells, bright lights, stress, hormones, and processed foods), don't skip meals, take B2 and magnesium if you can (daily), and annoyingly, make sure you're hydrated. That goes beyond "just drink water." It's the most annoying thing people tell you when you have a migraine, but make sure you are getting electrolytes. It's not going to take away your migraine, but it helps to control them sometimes. I also have an ice hat that lives in my freezer and it's freaking AMAZING when I have a migraine. A lot of my migraines start in my neck, so I do a lot of yoga/stretching and I have an accupressure mat that it'll lie on when I feel one coming on at home. And since stress is a big trigger for me, I do what I can to minimize it. I completely changed careers, I go for a long walk every morning if I'm feeling okay, I go to the gym on good days (pre-COVID), I have a counselor I talk to, etc etc. So much of living with chronic migraine is managing your pain since there isn't a cure and finding the right treatment takes time. Be patient and don't be hard on yourself. It's not your fault you have migraines.

I'm really just here to hunt down the person who took my username without the underscores. But since this is an AMA... What is the worst advice you've ever received?

PS, I think you're phenomenal and I love your style of comedy - thanks for answering questions!

Best life advice you've ever received?