Fighting back

Two skaters in Drenthe, 2012

I remember a cold winter's afternoon. I was still in primary school and must have been about 8 or 9 at the time. We were due to visit my paternal grandparents that day and stay the weekend, but first there was the skating races we were having with our school. Because of the cold the ditches in the park had frozen and it was all perfect. 

Perfect for everybody else but me, as I was cowering in a corner somewhere having a bad headache. It wasn't my first, but usually they came during the night and a children's aspirin would cure them. This time it was during the day and I felt awful.

Seven of us in a shower cubicle, I am the one in yellow.
1986

During my teens I can only think of one time where I had a headache, on a school trip to London. Then during my twenties the headaches became more frequent, but whether that was due to the huge quantities of strong coffee I drank or to the fact that I actually had more migraines? Who knows, but the problem was really born then. 

After moving back to the Netherlands in the early '90s, I used medication for a short while. But being in my early 20's and having to take medication for something that was not life threatening, felt a bit stupid and I stopped taking them. 

Fast forward to now. Migraines have become a very unwanted part of my life. And up to a few years ago I actually worked as normal, even during attacks. Taking aspirins and paracetamols and ibuprofen and whatever over-the-counter meds there are. Nothing ever worked. 

I hope to soon start a new job as a bus driver again. And having to deal with migraines on a fairly regular basis is not something I want to do. So, I am fighting back! This morning I went to my gp and asked for preventative medication. 

From tomorrow I will start on Beta blockers. Again, as I think I had those in my early 20's as well. The first week I will be on half the dose to get used to them and then I will go to regular dose. Fingers crossed they work!