A Day in the Life of a Migraine SuffererEach year, more than twenty-six million people nationwide suffer from migraines. Once thought to be a concentration of evil spirits in the brain, common remedies consisted of everything from drilling holes in the skull to inserting garlic cloves into the temples (4). But today, scientists are realizing that this all-too-common phenomenon is actually a neurological disorder, which can leave the victim disabled for hours or even days. I myself have suffered from constant migraines since I was ten years old. This is a day in the life of a migraine sufferer: myself. I believe the most appropriate starting point is a brief overview of my medical background. Since the age of ten, I have been constantly hit by migraines, which occur more and more frequently with age. However, migraines can strike both children and adults; Generally, migraines become less frequent after young adulthood (3). Ninety percent of migraine sufferers also report having a family history of migraines, suggesting a genetic link (5). I know, for example, that my father and my grandmother are still there to this day. suffer from migraines frequently since they were very young. Plus, although I usually have at least one debilitating migraine a week, I'm otherwise perfectly healthy. This is common in people with migraine; they are perfectly healthy and therefore do not understand why they have such painful symptoms (3). Every day I have a migraine, I have trouble working, moving, sometimes even breathing. If I'm caught in time, I can usually treat myself before a full-blown migraine hits, but often I realize too late what's about to happen. Such was the case on April 1, 2001, when I had a classic migraine that left me in a state of suspended animation for over twenty hours. The day started with a stiff neck and pain in my temples and brow bone. Migraines are usually a long process, starting slowly and culminating in intolerable pain. Stiffness in my neck and facial muscles, as well as a feeling of irritation in my scalp, are often the first warning signs of a migraine day. However, I chose to ignore the signs and “bear with it” since I was late to class. Instead of my usual breakfast of dry cereal and water, I had a cup of yogurt and a Coke for the road..