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Found on Facebook:

Have you experienced a time when you thought someone wasn’ t taking your disease seriously? Eileen G. – An easier question to answer would be,“ Was there a time when someone DID take my disease seriously.” Since you can’ t“ show” or“ prove” migraine or fibromyalgia, my life is one big eye roll.:(

Debra G. – I think that could be the hardest part of this condition to live with. Having relationships with people is very difficult. People don’ t understand why most of the time it“ appears” you are fine. Mine are every day, all day.

Marcy L. – No one takes it seriously until I’ m in the hospital over and over again and having to go get MRIs, CT scans and take massive amounts of medications to try to control the disease.

Overheard on Twitter at # Headaches # Migraines:

@ MadamConnect Who did I think I was to go to Super # Walmart with two kids, a man and a # migraine! # success today will deserve a medal!

@ SiSystemsDana Yet another # migraine headache from a perfume smell. Love the perfume, but please don’ t wear it so strong. Please, please, please, please!!!

@ curryalley Eyes going cross-eyed, the sunlight hurts and I want to throw up. Not good. # migraine

Environmental factors can provoke a headache or migraine. When are your headaches the worst?

How do you describe the impact of your migraines and headaches to others? Katharine Z. – I’ ve tried numerous times and in a variety of ways, but only the people closest to me really understand even a little bit. I’ ve had the same headache for almost 12 years. That means everything I do is affected by it, and that is very difficult to explain to someone who hasn’ t been there.

Patsy C. – I had to miss my father-in-law’ s funeral recently due to a migraine. That’ s something I can never get back.

Wanda R. – At this point in my life, I just say,“ I have a migraine, no can do.” Short and simple. If I stress about their reaction, the migraine gets worse. And I no longer care what they think. The migraine is bad enough.

What type of research would you like to see completed? Joy P. – I’ m ready for a cure already!

Richard H. – Understanding the mechanism of the headache precisely would give an understanding of how to prevent it— i. e., how to develop abortives and preventives. And research on controlling pain in a sustainable way that did not itself become a liability would improve our quality of life.

Summer 19 % 17 votes

How many people in your family, including yourself, suffer from migraine?

One 25 votes

Fall 2 % 2 votes

Winter 6 % 5 votes

No difference 64 % 56 votes

Two 26 votes

Not sure 1 vote

Three 19 votes

Spring 9 % 8 votes

More than three 18 votes

Source: NHF Facebook survey, July 2011

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