Welcome to the Life of Migraines
Debilitating, soul-sucking, stupid fucking pain that can completely shut you down from doing anything. Migraines are different for everyone, but for me, they get so bad that my entire face aches in misery. A pain I honestly can't describe. My jaw hurts, I can't be around any sound or light, and I get so nauseous. And with this invisible pain, comes irritability. Trying to work, be a mom, and keep everything running in the house is a nightmare when you have a migraine. It is utterly exhausting to be in pain and have to continue with regular life. For me, I still haven't figured out a trigger, I never know when I have one coming, and I also never know how long it'll last. I have had stints of migraines that have lasted hours to 2 weeks long. Currently, I'm on one of those weeks-long stretches that may have a day or two reprieve.
How it all started:
Buttttt, let's take it back to the very beginning before I started suffering from migraines. I had a bad car accident in 2014 where I was t-boned against my driver's side by a large SUV. Thankfully I was the only person in the car, but I got bad whiplash and hit my head against my driver-side window when my airbags didn't go off. This was when my problems started, but the pain was so infrequent that I didn't know how much of a problem it would be. I was supposed to go to regular physio, massage therapy, and the chiropractor, but I was a single mom of an 8-month-old, going to school full-time Monday to Friday and working part-time on weekends. Which meant I didn't have a lot of time to make sure I did these things to recover (typical Taylor....not letting injuries heal, and not doing the proper things to make sure I don't have lifelong pain).
At this point, it was more of a neck and shoulder pain problem, rather than a migraine problem, but it slowly progressed over the years until it was uncontrollable. I am also the type of person who doesn't like to get things checked out unless they become a huge problem.
About 2 years passed after my car accident and I experienced something really weird. I was working and all of a sudden I got very warm, felt dizzy and nauseous, and had an out-of-body experience. What I mean, is that I legitimately felt like I was standing above myself staring down at myself working. It was the trippiest fucking thing ever and it definitely freaked me out. But in true Taylor fashion, I only sat down for a couple of minutes before finishing my client, because I wouldn't stand the thought of her having to leave without her service being finished (again with this whole people-pleasing thing that I'm working on lol). The next day I was at home and all of a sudden I started seeing weird zig-zagging lines....and then my peripheral vision started to disappear and it felt like I wasn't able to see. At this point, this wasn't accompanied by any pain, so I had no idea that this was a possible type of migraine. I didn't know what was going on but honestly didn't think much of it. For the next 2 weeks, I had random bouts of this. One time while I was driving I honestly couldn't see the lines on the road.
Because the zig-zag lines and loss of vision happened so frequently in a short period, I decided to go to the hospital to get checked out. The nurse took my vitals (heart rate and blood pressure), and told me that there was nothing they could do for me since I had a CT scan 1.5years ago that was clear (had the CT scan because I was experiencing random bouts of vertigo, which I thought was just a side effect from the whiplash, but it has started up again, so who knows). The nurse did happen to mention that it sounded like an ocular migraine but gave me no information about it. They again told me they couldn't help me, but to COME BACK if it happened again. Like why the fuck would I come back if it happened again when I'd more than likely get the same answer lol. But that's the Canadian healthcare system, unfortunately....not very helpful.
When I started treatments:
I can't remember at what point my migraines got really bad, but it has been a journey trying to figure them out. I have tried multiple preventative oral medications (apparently not enough according to my benefits plan carrier), I have tried Botox for migraines, and also Emgality (a monthly injection for migraines prescribed by a neurologist). Here are my thoughts on the preventative and pain management oral medications, Botox, and the injection:
ORAL MEDICATIONS:
I am terrible at taking regular medication, so this one wasn't the best option for me. I couldn't stay consistent enough to possibly see the benefits or if this would work for me. Because of this, I wanted to try other options. Usually, this means paying out of pocket for these alternative medications in the hopes that you can get them covered by your insurance company.
BOTOX:
In Canada, or at least in Saskatchewan, there is a Botox for Migraines program where you can get a prescription for Botox, which you pick up from the pharmacy, and you pay an injection fee with a licensed doctor who does the injections. The program allows you to get a certain % off the prescription for the first few times. The prescription (in 2020) was around $800 and the injection fee varies from doctor to doctor (I think mine was around $350-400). The prescription was for 200 units of Botox. This was then injected based on where you experience your migraines. Mine are all frontal (hence the pain across my entire face including my jaw), which means I received Botox in my forehead, around the temples, into the occipital area of the scalp, neck, and the trap muscles.
For most people, botox lasts 3-4 months, which could be something you could maintain ($1200/treatment 3x per year) if you're desperate enough for the pain relief.
I found out that I am someone who metabolizes Botox and other similar substances (like filler, or even pain medication) quicker than the average person. The effects of my Botox were completely gone at 6 weeks. I thought maybe this was just because it was the first time, so I tried doing another round of Botox for Migraines. The SAMMMEEEE thing happened, so there was no way I could maintain this based on how much it would cost me. Even though I had a written letter from my family doctor, and had the injecting doctor fill out the necessary paperwork for coverage, I was not able to get the Botox covered through my benefits plan. This was a huge bummer because Botox works at limiting my migraines to a couple of times a month.
EMGALITY INJECTION:
Because of my inability to get the Botox covered, I thought that I would go a different route. I got a referral to a neurologist in 2020/2021 in the hopes that I could get a prescription for a migraine injection pen. I had heard about this course of treatment from someone I know, and it seemed to be a good alternative to Botox. The Emgality pen is used to treat episodic cluster headaches OR to prevent migraines, which is exactly what I needed. I started using the Emgality in the spring of 2021. It is a prefilled injection that you do yourself once a month. And I'm not going to lie, it hurts. All of the medication is injected so quickly into one area (inject the fattiest area possible), and it is not the most pleasant thing. But I promise you the benefits outweigh that small amount of pain.
The Emgality pen was around $750-850 if I remember correctly, and it was needed once a month. At the time, the company used this bridging program that covered 50% of the cost of the pen for 6 months while you waited for coverage through your benefits, and I think would continue that coverage through to 1 year if you received approval from your benefits plan. I spent that entire time trying to get coverage for this medication...a medication ONLY used for migraines and I still couldn't get it covered. It also took me over a year and a half to get an answer from my provider as to why I was denied coverage, and what I needed to do to get it covered.
As much as we as Canadians gloat about our free healthcare, it kind of fucking sucks. I pay almost $200 a month for my private health benefits and I still can't get coverage for the one medication that would make my daily life so much easier and improve my constant pain.
What happens now:
Out of all the things I have tried (including the different medications, regular chiro, massage, acupuncture, and dry needling), the Emgality injection was the best option for me. I am going to continue with this treatment once I get a few other health things figured out. However, according to my benefits provider (that answer I got after 1.5 years of trying), I still need to try 2 other oral medications in DIFFERENT drug classes to get the Emgality pen covered in the future. Which I think is total bullshit since I already know that Emgality works for me and I struggle with oral medications, but what do I know right? lol
Anywho, thanks for reading, especially if you made it all the way through!
-Taylor Dubois
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