My Migraine bag

The best thing I ever did for my Migraine attacks was to pack myself a Migraine Bag.

Below you will find some ideas for the contents of a Migraine Bag that might work for you, or a Migraineur that you care about. I encourage everyone that knows someone with Migraine, to consider giving one of these bags as a gift. I can't count the number of times I have used my own bags through the years, especially when I had young children or when my husband was away on business trips and I knew that I would have to ask for help from friends who were unfamiliar with Migraine or how to assist me. When trying to see thru the blinding auras of a migraine attack, I would frequently be overwhelmed because I knew that, until the aura was over and I could once again see, I was virtually unable to help myself.

Contents:

*Colorful bag with handles, backpack, etc. Making the bag brightly colored will make it easy to find in case of a severe aura. It also is easy to see and locate by someone who isn't familiar with what he/she is looking for. Color coding everything that goes in the bag is very helpful as well, and will make keeping everything in order much easier.

*Two doses of the preferred Migraine medicine, and a backup medicine (in case the first one is unsuccessful). If these are prescription medications, the law may require that you keep them in their original prescription bottles. This is especially important if you plan to keep a spare bag in your vehicle and not at home. Simply asking the pharmacist to put them in separate bottles of different bright colors, with a two dosage label, will eliminate any problems. This assures a couple of things: The migraineur will be able to see the color code and know which medication to take without having to try to read the label. If the migraineur needs to seek help from someone unfamiliar with how to help them, the bottles will be easy to find and distinguish one from the other. Those with children will still have the advantage of child resistant caps and only a smaller chance of overdosage should a child accidentally ingest the contents. Writing the number of pills needed for a single dose onto the top of the bottle will make it easier for someone with aura to see what they are to take. When the migraineur takes the medicine, turning the bottle upside down in a pre-arranged place (on the headboard, counter, or in a cabinet) will tell family members at a glance what he/she has taken in case of emergency.

*Plastic cup or two. For water to take medicine. Juice boxes can also suffice, or a bottle of water.

*A soft blanket and comfortable pillow. I use a horseshoe pillow so that it stabilizes my neck if I am forced to try to relax in a seated position such as the car, or airplane etc.

*Hot water bottle. This can be used for hot or cold purposes, depending on the choice of the migraineur.

*Dark colored washcloth and towel, BabyWipes. Washcloth and baby wipes may be used to keep fresh, or wash cloth can be put on the forehead with hot or cold water. It can also work as a makeshift ice pack if necessary. A small towel can be used to wipe perspiration or cover the face in case of extreme light sensitivity.

*Airsickness bag or small plastic ice cream or cool whip container. Migraine often causes vomiting that is forceful and unexpected. Depending where the migraineur is when this happens, this may be an essential. I preferred a small ice cream container in which I packed many of the needed items as it was easily dumped and rinsed, cheap and disposable.

*Big, cheap, dark sunglasses. Can't be too big or too dark. Some migraineurs are sensitive to color, so care should be taken not to use a triggering color lens. I use brown. My son uses dark gray. Some shooting glasses come with removable lenses of varying colors. They are big, cheap, and easy to find wherever hunting supplies are sold.

*Heating pad and/or rice bag. I prefer a heating pad, but have a rice bag in one bag. The heating pad plugs in but is not very portable. The rice bag requires a microwave or heat source to get hot, but it lasts a long time and is portable.

*Ice mask and/or sleep mask. Easily found in catalogs or specialty stores, an ice mask can be cooled, but not quickly. A sleep mask will help to keep out all light if needed and is an option for the truly well-stocked migraine bag.

*Essential oils, if the migraineur finds them soothing. Some migraineurs cannot handle smells of any kind.

*Flashlight. Migraineurs are ultra-light sensitive and the helper may need a flashlight to get around.

*Notepad and clock. To keep notes when the headache started, when meds were taken, when they're needed next, etc. This may be more for the helper than the migraineur.

*Phone number list, Medication list, Health information sheet. Everyone with a chronic illness of any kind should have this. Emergency numbers including family contacts, a full list of all the medications and supplements you are currently taking as well as dosages, and any information that will be helpful in case of an emergency room visit. Include all physician phone numbers and if your doctor has given you a prescription to give to an ER doctor, have it placed here. Have these in large print (can be on color coded paper) and sleeved in a plastic page cover. Be sure that one sheet has the directions for the medication that you have included in your bag for pain/rescue.

*Small amount of cash. You cannot usually plan a migraine, so you must be prepared. (The Ellenism for the day: "Plan for the worst, Hope for the Best".) A small amount of cash can buy you a drink to take your medicine, gasoline, a call on a pay phone, your children lunch so you can wait out the aura phase.

*A magazine or paperback for a friend who may be helping you to read if stuck in a doctor's office or ER somewhere. It's likely the friend will be more focused on the migraineur, but he/she will appreciate the thought anyway.




If there are children you are caring for, there are some helpful additions you can put in a separate pocket of your bag, or make a separate 'Survival Bag' for them which might include:

*Snacks. Individually packaged, small pieces, interesting and fun. Juice boxes are a great addition as well. If you can keep it low sugar, the energy level may stay a little lower and make it easier to keep them happy. A Spare bottle with canned formula or powdered formula all ready to add water for babies. Juice also works in bottles.

*Something to keep them busy. If there are older children, make it an activity or two they can do together. The older helps the younger can often work nicely. These activities are not to be used at any other time than during a migraine attack. Legos and building toys are great as are card games, dominos or board games, or coloring books for little ones. Special videos also work. A special blanket and pillow to watch the special video will often encourage quiet time or even a nap. If you have a small DVD player and frequently have migraine attacks, keep it charged and ready to go here with an assortment of 'special' videos. Stay away from action videos and anything that has smells. The migraineur will probably not be able to handle smells during an attack.

*Special 'Headache Helper Chart'. This was a trick I used with my own kids, who wanted to help me and would get into trouble if I didn't let them help! This was a special chart in a plastic sleeve and a dry erase pen. The chart had a list of special things they could do to help me, and each time they did the activity (fill the water bottle with ice, rub mom's neck, sweep the kitchen) they made an "X" and were rewarded with something later. Any time someone spoke above a whisper, an "X" was erased. For them it was a game. For me, it's how I got thru some very rough times, alone with 2-4 children. Children as young as 18 months catch onto this very quickly and can enjoy it if encouraged to do so.

*Lunch in a box. This didn't so much go into the 'Survival bag' as much as was ever present when my kids were small- Pre-packed lunches. In case of a migraine, there was always something that they could eat without me having to fix it. My son had allergies, so ours were homemade, but there are many shelved, frozen and refrigerated treats that could be kept in a bag somewhere for a quick meal if needed. Something needing assembly was great for toddlers, because they love to build their food. Anything that keeps them focused, quiet and busy is wonderful!



These are some of the things that I used to survive the really bad migraine attacks with my mind and my family intact. I'm sure there are some things that I have left out, and I'm sure that there are things that you would add for your own purposes. I encourage you to print off the list and sit down and create a Migraine Bag. Put it in a special place, and only get it out during a migraine attack. Be sure to keep the items in the bag fresh and rotated. Every time you check your smoke alarm or adjust for daylight savings time, rotate the stock in the bag. Keep things washed, clean and scent-free. Some people doing biofeedback will want to include their tapes and thermometers in the bag, and a book about migraine may be helpful as well.

If you can think of anything else to put into a Migraine Bag or a child's Survival Bag, please let me know here! Somewhere, someone might read this and your addition may be the thing that makes the next headache survivable...