Off The Hook

A bit of migraine info gleaned from the various Migraine Action Association talks I have attended so far.

Chocolate cravings preceding an attack are perfectly normal and excusable amongst migraineurs. It's not just me. And it's not the chocolate that causes the migraine. That myth came about because people experience chocolate cravings before an attack, then have chocolate, wake the next morning with a migraine and blame the chocolate. But when you get the cravings, the preliminary stages of migraine are already underway. You're going to get this damn thing whatever. Abstaining from chocolate is not going to stave it off. Believe me, I've tried. *prises self off hook with smug grin*

My overactive and 'excitable brain' is part of my illness. 'Excitable brain' was a phrase coined by the founder of the association, or something. Don't know, wasn't paying attention at that point. Too busy thinking about other stuff. (Lack of concentration and attention span is another issue.)

It IS normal to be just a little bit (OK, a lot) manic the day before an attack. Trevor often speaks of that 'scary manic glint in my eye' - that's his warning of what's to come. I think he was comforted by the fact that he's not alone at a recent awareness talk we went to - other long-suffering partners have to endure these frequent periods of mental unhingery inflicted upon them by their migrainous girlfriends. The crying, the impatience, the kicking of inanimate objects, the tirades of verbal abuse, the uncooperative, uncommunicative lows, the excitable, hyperactive highs, giggling maniacally for no reason one minute, bawling eyes out desperately the next - it's all part of it. Like an exaggerated form of PMT. And a bit more frequent than just once a month. More like once a week. Oh lucky, lucky him.