The Migraine (a Poem and List of Surprising Facts)

Dear Mr Hansen,

I stumbled across your poem on Pinterest and recognized the photo from Meijer Gardens right away. The sculpture is one of my all time favorites, and I love the way you tied it in with your poem. I too am a migraine sufferer. Have been for all of my 48 years. Am fighting one now as a matter of fact. Do you live in the Grand Rapids area? I would love to converse with you. Please email me if you are interested in my story: csallore@gmail.com

Thanks!

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Been there, done that...found myself in addiction to prescription drugs as a result ( wrote about it here)....anyone who has had one 'gets' your poem

Well said Jodah

Angels are on the way ps

Hi Jodah - What a great description of a migraine and pictures to add to the pain. Many relatives and friends suffer, but I am surprised at the 1 in 8. I think my daughter's migraines are from stress. I read about a woman who started watching birds to take away her pain. Gradually, she began photographing them. You captured all the feelings of the suffering. Sharing your poetic genius. Blessings Audrey

A brilliant description of a migraine. Perfect photos to accompany your poetic genius. Thanks so much Jodah! Sharing.

Hi Jodah I have not been to your pages lately. Sorry about that. Loved your poem on a migraine. Thank goodness I do not get them. I do get headaches but its all to do with food, I think. Robin gets a migraine ( 3 times a year) if he eats a large amount of Chocolate, so he says.

John, as a long-time sufferer of classical / ocular migraines, I've got to say your poem captures them! Those scintillating auras are my nemesis. I didn't realize we migraine sufferers were more prone to heart attack and stroke … as if the migraines aren't enough to contend with. I wonder what the correlation is -- perhaps it's not cause and effect, but perhaps what triggers the migraine is an unhealthy condition that contributes to cardiac and stroke issues? Things to ponder.

Best -- Mj

Great poem. Both I and my son suffer migraines. I read this to him and we both related well to your prose. Interesting that it is a lowering of stress levels that can trigger them, I knew it had something to do with stress, but always thought it was elevating levels, not declining. Voted up and useful

No, I haven't. It was your great analogy in a comment on Billybuc's hub about analogies. I think you said it was from a poem and I would love to read the rest. Thanks.

I was searching for one of your other poems and found this one, and I'm glad I did. Only one who experiences migraines could express the torture so eloquently. Mine were caused by hormones and triggered by food allergies. My own body was allergic to itself and nothing, prescription or OTC, helped for very long. Fortunately the change of life remedied that. I relate to your Grand Rapids sculpture because I always felt like a train wreck. Twice I asked God to either relieve the migraines or take me out, so I also relate to your number 1 fact about migraines and suicides. Voted up and awesome!

Jodah, I used to have daily migraines for years. My life became a routine of just trying to get imitrex. I've had them since I was 10... so bad, I would dream of driving off a cliff. I climbed the walls. Finally they found out I had too much adrenaline going to my head. I started taking a beta blocker (Inderal ER) and I was migraine free for the first time in my life. I seldom ever get them now. What a curse they were. What a blessing to be free now.

My gosh -- this brings back memories of hours, sometimes days, of lying in bed immobilized in a darkened room, which was the only way I could get through horrible migraines. I wish I had known back then about the foods that could have helped me. Fortunately, I found that moving to the dry desert area where I am now has made a huge difference. I rarely have even minor headaches since I moved here in 1996. Great article and poem, Jodah.

I get these often--hate them--you described this so well--and I am sorry that you get them as well--I wrote a pc called A Theory About Migraines on my blog not too long ago---

Good information. I have friends who have so much trouble with migraines. I will be sure to share this.

I have friends who suffer from migraines on occasion. It is not a pleasant condition to deal with any day. Your list of reasons is fascinating, I will have to pass this on to others.

Thanks Johah. I don't get migraines but your poem and incredible images really helped me to realize what Robin sometimes goes trough. Thanks

Summed up in a poem, well done Jodah and voted up.

I got so many migraines as youth, especially after swimming for some reason, and sometimes I just wanted to smash things because of the relentless pain. I never did, but I wanted to! It seemed that nothing or nobody could do anything to help, and it was just a case of waiting for it to pass in a darkened room.

Unfortunately, my migraines came with sessions of heavy vomiting. The doctor would say that if I'm lucky I would grow out of them. Fortunately I did, and migraines were replaced by bad headaches, but the difference was that a headache could be cured with over-the-counter pain killers, whereas nothing seemed to help with migraines.

I really feel for anyone who suffers from this truly awful condition.

Andy Aitch

Excellent information. I use to suffer from migraines, but apparently one of the few perks of growing older is sometimes they go away. I like the poem and the information.

Very good! I never would have thought of writing a poem about a headache!

Hi Jodah, I'm please to say I don't get migraines but your poem and incredible images really brings it home. Nice work.

Excellent description, but fortunately I cannot relate in a personal way since I do not suffer from migraines. By your words, though, I can imagine what they might be like.

This hub contains an interesting poem and interesting facts about migraines, Jodah. The pictures are dramatic, too. I'm afraid that I am very familiar with the need to "lie inert" during a migraine attack!

I had no idea they were worse on windy days! I also like how you used a poem to help give insight into the migraine experience - creative.

I discovered that my migraines have almost disappeared after using organic coconut cream oil in my coffee. I use 1-2 tablespoons daily. It is made by Tropical Traditions and purchased online by the jar!

Great poem! My father suffered from bad migraines which sometimes lasted for days and made him feel sick. His were aggravated by cheese and tomatoes.

I've had a few but fortunately not many. I often have headaches when it's thundery and also when it's really windy so that reflects what you say above. I was scared when my first migraine had me seeing zig-zags and flashing colours when I was trying to concentrate on an English lesson at the age of 15. As with my hay-fever (also from Dad!), it seems to recede with age. Good to know that age does have some compensations!

Marvellous hub. Your poetry is spot-on and the info is great. Ann

My husband suffers from migraines... It it a pretty awful condition.

I did have a migraine a few times when my daughter was 14. lol It was horrible too. I could not stand for my feet to touch the floor, every step shot pain through my head. I went to the doctor though and brought home medicine that could kill me in an instant so I said "Hey girl you better heal thyself!" So I did. lol

Great info, very interesting. Always share and votes! (In case I ever forget to say)

I've never had one and I'm crossing my fingers as I write those words. Well done buddy; you captured the pain quite well.

Great and useful information for people with migraines. I am always amazed at the poet's ability to paint something so painful in such a beautiful form of writing. Good job.

Jodah,

Your imagery was so strong that I could feel the desperation of having a migraine. I hope that you find a solution.

Jodah, very well done I like the whole concept.. and other articles we can look up on this subject.. you explode the hub with a fantastic poem.. and then ease us into it so smoothly :)

Wow, I have never had a migraine and after reading this, am thankful. Your poem was intense and the rhyming was really good..Enjoyed!

I used to have migraines a while back the change in my lifestyle stopped those headaches more of a Mediterranean one.

I have had these sorts of migraines and you can't even look at the words in a book without pain! Best solution is to drink soft drink with 2 headache capsules that are dissolvable. Otherwise, you're stuck for days with it. Good poem, certainly captures the feeling well! Voted useful and thanks for sharing the migraine facts too.