STRENGTH IN STORIES™
Rising Above Tension Headache and Migraine
Megan’s Story, November 2024
As told by Valerie Stevens, Edited by Fabiola Palomo
Diagnosis received: Tension headache, migraine
Symptoms: Sensitivity to Light, Noise, Smells
For Megan, headache attacks have been a constant companion for most of her life. From high school through her career, she has balanced the demands of daily life while managing frequent tension headache and migraine attacks. Despite the challenges, she has refused to let her condition define her.
Now, with a better understanding of her triggers and effective management techniques, Megan has found relief and a renewed appreciation for the simple joys in life.
High school is often described as a place that bridges between childhood and adulthood—a time filled with football games, homecoming dances, hanging out with friends and studying. Imagine doing all that while experiencing severe tension headache attacks several times a week and a migraine once a month. That was Megan’s reality through high school, college, and early in her career.
“My migraines are hormonal, and they coincided with my period. But I think the tension headaches, which occurred more frequently, were related to stress,” Megan shared. She describes herself as having a Type A personality—someone who needs everything to be just right—and an overthinker, two traits that can often contribute to tension headaches.
Like many people living with headache, there’s a family connection. Megan’s father and brother both dealt with headache and migraine, and her husband lives with migraine. As Megan navigated her condition, new understandings about her triggers became apparent. Her migraine attacks were triggered from barometric pressure, along with monthly hormonal changes, consuming certain foods, and drinking alcohol. Megan is also sensitive to loud sounds, smells, and bright lights—which is common for people living with migraine disease.
During college, Megan sought treatment at a headache clinic and revealed she didn’t receive a diagnosis, “I never really did get one,” she admitted. “They started with what medicines might help me. I don’t believe there were any preventives. If there were, we didn’t stay with them long enough to see if they worked. We never got to the root of the problem.”
“I’ve been dealing with headaches for over half my life. I haven’t found an easy way to prevent them, but a few ways that can possibly reduce them once they have formed.”
Having endured head pain for over half of her life, Megan understands that there’s no simple solution to prevent her attacks; however, she has discovered several techniques that help lessen their severity once they start.
Throughout her headache journey, Megan has tried a variety of treatments, including over-the-counter medication, specifically acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, change of diet, ice roller, triptans, beta blockers, and many more.
Today, Megan relies on her most effective treatments: ice cap, a cold therapy treatment involving applying a cold headband to the affected area to provide short-term relief and a combination medication consisting of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine, which is typically used to treat tension headache. Megan uses the ice cap before bed and sleeps through the headache.
Even at the height of her tension and migraine headaches, Megan refused to let her headache and migraine attacks disrupt her life. She only called off work a handful of times and missed one family gathering. “I haven’t missed a major event; I would go and suffer through it,” she said.
Fortunately, while Megan’s migraine and tension headache attacks aren’t as frequent as they were when she was younger, they can still be severe. If a migraine is severe enough, and she needs a break, her husband picks up the slack. “He deals with the kids, brings me meds, and lets me rest,” shared Megan.
For Megan, eating regularly, keeping calm, going out for fresh air, and walking, help Megan manage her tension headache disorder. Loving her job, her leadership team and working from home have also played a key role in reducing Megan’s tension headache attacks. In lessening the frequency and severity of the pain, Megan suggests “trying not to stress about the little things.”
With decreased headache frequency, and a job she loves, Megan can fully embrace her favorite things like spending time with her family and friends, relaxing at the beach, sleeping in, and enjoying life without always being on the clock.