PARENTING WITH MIGRAINES

Being a parent is a life-time of sacrifice and accomplishment. That special commitment has its share of good times and some bad times, happiness and sadness, joy and grief. However, if you are a parent who frequently gets migraine headaches, you may worry how the impacts of your headaches affect your family. Since migraines can develop at the most inconvenient times, they can make it harder to juggle your parenting responsibilities. The symptoms of a migraine such as vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to lights, and excruciating pain can make you debilitated and unable to function and care for your children.

Fortunately, there are ways that you can follow that will help you manage these situations and line up extra help when you need it. The following are tips to help you better cope with migraines while caring for your kids.

BE PREPARED
You may be able to reduce the intensity and frequency of your migraines by planning ahead. For example, if skipped meals trigger a migraine for you, pack a snack just like you would do for your children. Also, be sure to keep your migraine medicine with you when you are out in case you need it. Some people find that if they take their medication as soon as they notice the first symptoms of a migraine, they can reduce its severity.

IDENTIFY AND AVOID YOUR MIGRAINE TRIGGERS
Knowing what causes your migraines is key to keeping them in check. If you don’t know your triggers, keep a migraine diary and record when your migraines occur, the severity, what you ate before it occurred, and what medications you took and any other factors that stand out, like not enough sleep.

Many people with migraines can identify at least some of their triggers for their headaches and then they can avoid those triggers or plan around them. Some common migraine triggers include lack of sleep, dehydration, stress, changes in weather or barometric pressure, bright lights, certain foods and alcohol. Also, for women, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles can be a migraine trigger.

CHOOSE QUIET PLACES AND ACTIVITIES
Some parents say that they can continue to do activities with their children provided that the activities are quiet and the place is quiet. They suggest avoiding places like the playground in bright sunlight with screaming children. Instead, choose a quiet activity such as making playdough objects on the kitchen table, having a movie night, or creating a safe playroom where the children can play around you while you lie nearby on a couch or on the floor.

TALK ABOUT IT
Parents say it’s best to talk openly with your children about your migraines no matter if your kids are toddlers or teens. You can help calm any fears they may have when they see you having an attack and understand why your usual routine may change on those days.
Simplicity is the main thing to remember when you explain your migraines to your children. Some parents try to compare it something that the children can relate to like a brain freeze that doesn’t go away for a long time. If you try to explain it by comparing how you feel when you get a migraine to a time that they didn’t feel well, children will understand it better.

FIND SUPPORT
It helps to line up adults you trust who can potentially assist with childcare for the times when a migraine makes it difficult for you to function. Talk with them beforehand about your migraines and the kinds of support you might need. To fulfill this role, choose someone who is really reliable, has some flexibility, and has a connection with your kid. Some parents have a neighbor or a nearby babysitter that can come to help when you are in migraine misery. It is important to have a support system in place before you need them. Be sure to explain exactly what you need for them to do before the situation arises.

EXPLORE ALL YOUR MIGRAINE TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are many treatment options available for migraine headache. Sometimes, you have to try several of them to find the ones that seem to work best for you. If you don’t feel that your treatments are working for you, discuss this with your doctor and stay optimistic that your migraine symptoms can improve once you’ve found the right treatments. It may even mean seeking out another doctor who is more knowledgeable in this field of medicine. Learn about all your options and find out what works for you. It will make your quality of like better for you and your children.

Tags: children and migraines, chronic migraines, hormonal changes, migraine, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, migraine trigger, parenting