As a disabled person who lives with pain, I am always looking for things that can help me better cope with the pain that would help me have more good days. Christmas is around the corner and there is nothing worse than when someone in your family gifts you some perfume that they thought you would love that is triggering for you but you don’t have the heart to tell them that you can’t do scented products and are going to have to regift it in a few years. Some of the best gifts you can give someone who lives with pain are things that we can use to have less pain but not everyone will need the same types of products because depending on the severity of your pain, some products may not be as effective as it would be for someone with less pain. Migraine is a big part of my life and as long as I have Hydrocephalus it will always will be. If you are struggling to find the perfect gift for your migraine friend that is not triggering here are some things that help them have less pain.
Wine wand- Some people with migraine disease are able to have an occasional glass of wine but a large percentage of migraineurs are triggered by alcohol and cannot drink it. My migraine pain has made it so I can never drink alcohol because it is triggering and not worth it. It is not necessarily a bad thing that I can’t drink alcohol because it is better for your health but I do sometimes miss having an occasional glass of wine, especially during the holiday season when all the good stuff has alcohol in it and the only thing you have to drink is water. I have seen many migraineurs who are sensitive to alcohol using a wine wand and it’s basically something that you put in your drink that removes allergens that would normally trigger a migraine and gives some people the ability to have a glass of wine. Some people still have to totally give up alcohol because the wine wand is not a miracle cure but I have never tried it and have been interested to try it because it does work for some people. If you use the wind wand you still need to drink responsibly because it doesn’t remove the alcohol and if you are drinking a whole bottle of wine while using this product it’s not going to prevent you from getting a migraine hangover.
Noise-canceling headphones– Noise sensitivity can be an issue for some people with migraine and a lot of us have a much lower tolerance for loud noises than people without migraine. My family loves to listen to loud music and there is nothing wrong with that but because of my Hydrocephalus, I am extra sensitive to loud noises and do not find rocking out to my favorite tunes on the loudest volume enjoyable. Every migraineur who struggles with noise sensitivity needs a pair of noise-canceling headphones because loud it can make loud noises a little bit quieter. Noise-canceling headphones can be expensive and is not affordable for everyone, especially for disabled people who do not make a lot of money but it is a good thing to put on your Christmas list if you think that it will help you have less pain.
Migraine relief cap: Preventative medication can help some people have less migraine attacks but there will still be days you get a migraine and need other options that do not require a prescription from your doctor. I have heard of some people using a migraine relief cap and it’s basically a hat that you throw in the freezer that cools your head when you are having a lot of pain and can give some people relief.
Eye mask- Some people with migraine are very light-sensitive and there is nothing worse than getting a migraine in the middle of the afternoon when it’s still light out. Migraine will not be convenient most of the time and more often than not you will experience pain at times you cannot sit in a dark room because you are at work or it’s still light out. If you find yourself struggling with pain in the middle of the afternoon often get yourself an eye mask or pair of sunglasses that can help make the world a little bit darker. I have more eye masks than I know what to do with and don’t need anymore and I do use them when the light hurts.
Peppermint oil- There has been some research that suggests regular use of peppermint oil can help prevent headaches. I love my peppermint oil not only because it smells good but it is a natural way to prevent headaches and your not going to get any horrible side effects like you would with some preventatives unless you are allergic to it. Preventative medications have their place and some people need them but they can be very hard on your body and sometimes you need other alternatives. Peppermint oil is not going to cure migraine disease or totally get rid of the pain but the cooling effect in peppermint oil sometimes can help lessen pain during attacks.
Ginger tea– Some people with migraine struggle with nausea on a regular basis because some types of migraine make you very nauseous and it can be very difficult to eat anything on high-pain days. Medication can sometimes play role in your nausea and there is not a whole lot that you can do about that when your medication works. I struggle with daily nausea mostly because of my Hydrocephalus that I cannot change since there is no cure. I have always thought about getting some ginger tea because I heard it can help calm nausea but I have never gotten around to it because I am not a fan of anything ginger. I think I will eventually try ginger tea because I can get over the taste if it helps me have less nausea so I am able to have regular meals and don’t have to eat crackers and call that lunch.
Water bottle- Dehydration is a major trigger for migraines but sometimes it’s really hard to keep track of how much water you drank when you are busy. Gifting your friend a big water bottle can make it easier to keep track of their water intake and is convenient because you can keep it at your desk while you are working and don’t have constantly get up for a water break to prevent from getting dehydrated because let’s be honest does anyone get up when they are super focused?
When you live with a migraine disorder it is so nice to get practical things that can help you have less pain because when you live with pain all you do is experiment with different products to see what things help and what things don’t. Migraine prevention is a lifestyle change and unlike a headache, you can’t take Tylenol and be free of pain in twenty minutes and it can take hours or even weeks to get relief from a migraine. If you are struggling to find a gift for someone who lives with migraine think about all the things that they may struggle with and see what products are out there to help. Migraine affects everyone differently and not everything I have listed above will benefit all migraineurs or are even things I need because some of these products I already have. Ask your migraine friend what types of things they could use for less pain because we all have different triggers and what helps me may not help your neighbor who also lives with migraine. What types of products do you use to manage migraine?
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