| Q: |
How can I convince my mother that her analgesics are causing her headaches?
| | A: |
You may find it difficult to convince your mother that she is
having a medication overuse headache. You can provide her with
information about migraine and the different treatment options, and give
her the names of headache specialists in your area. Encourage her to
seek help by pointing out that she will have the opportunity to
experience more headache-free days.
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| Q: |
How can I help my friend when she has a severe migraine attack?
| | A: |
It is very important that people who are having a migraine attack
stop what they are doing and take their medications. You can assist
your friend by offering to help with home responsibilities, such as
preparing meals, or work commitments. She may need help with
transportation, child care, or shopping as well. Often, knowing they
have someone to depend upon during an attack can be helpful to people in
reducing stress.
|
| Q: |
My husband has severe migraine but he will not do anything about it. What can I do?
| | A: |
Your husband may be like many people who wait for their migraine
to go away. You need to be gentle in sharing information with him about
migraine. If he is having a severe attack, it is not the ideal time to
remind him that he needs to do something about his migraine. What you
can do is help him reduce stress, perhaps by participating in an
exercise program with him, and provide more migraine-friendly food
choices. When he is feeling well, encourage him to learn more about
migraine.
|
| Q: |
My friend has migraine. How can I help her with her treatment?
| | A: |
People who have migraine are very appreciative when friends and
family express an interest in helping them with their illness. You can
help your friend in many ways. You can offer to help with her daily
chores, shopping, or errands. You can offer to prepare migraine-friendly
dishes or suggest that you exercise with your friend. Most of all,
having someone who understands the problems goes a long way in helping a
person deal with his or her new lifestyle.
|
| Q: |
What should I do when my wife has a migraine attack?
| | A: |
Those who live with people at risk of migraine attacks can
encourage them to start treatment as soon as an attack starts. Encourage
your wife to stop what she is doing and use her abortive therapy. While
she rests, prepare a snack and offer her water; eating and drinking
will help abort the migraine attack. Make the environment
migraine-friendly by reducing glare and noise. If the attack has not
been completely aborted in 2 hours, encourage your wife to treat it
again. The day after a migraine attack, offer assistance because it is
important that she does not overexert herself.
|
| Q: |
My 10-year-old daughter has migraine. How do I deal with her school?
| | A: |
You need to communicate with the school officials about your
daughter’s chronic illness. Having written instructions regarding diet,
hydration, and physical activity will help teachers understand your
child’s special healthcare requirements. It is important that you
provide the school nurse with medications and instructions for abortive
therapy. Emphasize the importance of early treatment for a migraine
attack. If the attack is not completely aborted within a couple of
hours, the school needs to send the child home for repeat medication and
rest.
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