Dealing with chronic migraine, chronic sinus and cluster headaches - employment/mental health.

Hello, 

I'm Hannah, 26 years old and have suffered from migraines for over 16 years. 

I would really appreciate some guidance on how to cope with chronic migraines, chronic sinus and cluster headache, please. Whether you are someone who has experienced these debilitating pains and can give me some advice on how you've been able to cope from day to day enduring the above. Or an advisor who has medical knowledge on how to cope and prevent such pains - I would be very grateful. 

I have been seen by a fantastic neurosurgeon who is helping me through trialling new medications. Though I am in the early stages of pregnancy and wanted to be rid of the medication that I previously took so that it wouldn't harm the unborn baby; also in the hope that clearing my body would help the migraines etc after time and eventually they would disappear. Unfortunately, this was not the case and I endure around 15-18 attacks per month, with niggling head pains on most days, though these do not always turn in to an attack. 

Due to the severity of these attack in all three categories, I have resorted in using oxygen and Gammacore on the sign of an attack - the oxygen barely touches the pain yet I find it calms me. Whilst the Gammacore is effective, yet each time I've used the device it has been short-lived relief and has made me sick nearly every time. I was holding in hope for the device and have heard positive things about it, yet I have learnt over the trial stage of medication that sadly it is not always a 'one for all cure.' 

After starting my new job last year it has been a downward spiral on the medical side of things. I travel around 1 hour 15 minutes to work there and back each day. The working day is from 8 am to 6 pm. Initially, this did not phase me as I was truly determined to get set into my new working role. However, the travelling side of this is starting to take its toll and the fear of having to leave work or the embarrassment of having to say that 'I feel unwell' and have to go to use my oxygen or leave to go home as if I do not leave there and then I would feel debilitated and have to stay either at work or in my parked car until it is safe for me to continue my journey home. 

My work has been very accommodating to my needs, though I cannot help to feel a burden and now all of the above is taking its toll on both my physical and mental well being. I am allowed to work from home when I am unwell, though I have to attend work when I feel well - this is thought was reasonable enough. Yet now because I am having to leave work on numerous occasions due to feeling unable to be productive because of the attacks, I really do not know where to go from here and it's making me feel incredibly low and drained mentally and physically. 

As good as my work colleagues are, unfortunately, I can not just take paracetamol and the pain will be gone. This is an ongoing day to day stress that I am having to deal with. It would be great to hear from anyone who is or has shared similar experiences, or who could give some guidance on where to take it from here with work considering the pregnancy and the three kinds of attacks I experience.

A massive thank you in advance. 

Best wishes, 

Hannah