Having personal experience with a condition can lend providers a unique perspective on how to treat that condition in others, making them particularly qualified to help.
In the second half of this series, another faculty member who works closely with headache and migraine patients volunteered to tell their story.
Both Sides of the Story (Part 2): Two Neurologists Specializing in Migraine Who Have Lived with the Disease for Decades
Did you know headache is one of the most common reasons people visit the doctor’s office? According to Headache: A Patient's Guide, it is estimated that 10–20% of people have migraine, which includes medical providers. We sometimes assume that doctors have an invulnerability to illness, but this is simply untrue. In fact, doctors have similar rates of chronic illness as general communities do, and neurologists commonly self-treat for migraine.
This reality isn’t a bad thing though! Having personal experience with a condition can lend providers a unique perspective on how to treat that condition in others, making them particularly qualified to help. In the second half of this series (you can find part one here), another faculty member who works closely with headache and migraine patients volunteered to tell their story, this time to communicate that you’re in this together: doctors live with the very same conditions as their patients, and when it comes to care, they have your best interests at heart.
Editor’s Note: The interviewee has kindly requested to remain anonymous. While migraine awareness, management, and research have come a long way, this condition continues to be stigmatized. In this article, we hope to provide a safe space for the interviewee to candidly share their personal journey and encourage empathy and understanding among our readers.
You can let us know what topic you'd like our experts to discuss in an upcoming Headache School session!
When did your headaches start? What types and frequency have you experienced?
I had my first migraine attack when I was eight years old. My migraines were infrequent at first. Later on in life, during my medical residency, I would have one a week. After I delivered my daughter, which was during my headache medicine fellowship, I started having attacks 15–30 days out of a month.
How did headaches affect your career goals?
I’d usually have to pay attention to my sleep schedule and diet more than the average person would have to, especially during phases of my life like medical school.
How does your personal experience inform your patient care?
I try to talk to my patients using “we” instead of “you.” I want them to know we’re in this together.
Advice from one headache experiencer to another?
Just like when you receive any new diagnosis, try to educate yourself and those around you. However, while you research, try not to obsess. You don’t need to track every possible trigger, day in and day out. You don’t need to attempt extreme diets. After all, migraine is the root cause of migraine, not anything else. That’s why we call it a primary headache disorder. Don’t forget you are more than your disease, and so is your life!
Finally, as a neurologist, try to give your treatments time. Researchers are still learning what migraine is, how they originate, and so much more. While you may have tried multiple treatments, you may not have tried them for long enough, and you probably haven’t tried everything. While instant relief would be nice, this disease—as you know—is much more than a bad headache.
If you are interested in learning more about headache and migraine—treatments, causes, current research, etc.—you can visit the Headache School’s website here.
