Andrea Hunter - A blog about daily life

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Portfolio

How I Document a Migraine Attack

migraine· notebooks

1 Sep
Two notebooks are shown opened on a desk surface. They depict how I document a migraine attack. One notebook has graphic and fiil-in-the-blank spaces to document specific attacks. The second notebook has a hand-drawn tracking system. Also on the desk, various stationery items, a glass of water and a houseplant.

I’ve written before about the value of documenting migraine. Today I thought I’d go into more detail and share how and what I document about a migraine attack, both as it occurs, and afterwards.

Migraine Diary

Currently, I document my attacks in two ways. The first is in a specific Migraine Diary (shown left, above). I bought it as a printable file on Etsy which can be cut and bound into a standard TN sized notebook. (Making my own notebooks is also a thing I love to do.) I keep it with the rest of my migraine supplies in my migraine bag… something else I need to talk about, another day. Anyways, during the attack, I try to draw (scribble?) where and how I’m feeling pain and other sensory things like pressure or numbness. Also, I try to choose some of the descriptive phrases provided, since these are hard to remember after the attack is over.

It feels as if there is hammering and pounding in the head. Sound or talking is unbearable, as is light or glare. The pain arises from hot, choleric fumes, together with windiness. And so one feels piercing, burning and ringing…

The Franciscan monk Bartholomaeus Anglicus, in the 13th century (source)

(The descriptions in my migraine diary are not that different from these, some eight centuries later…)

Later, when the attack is over, I go back in to record all the other information.

And I have that all (mostly) documented in my daily planner and tracking pages. So things like sleep duration, weather and other climate factors, stressors, what meds I took, etc. will all be recorded in this notebook somewhere.

Planner and Tracking notebook

The second type of migraine documentation is in my monthly tracking spread (shown right, above). You can see one month of tracking in detail in this post, along with some reflection of how it works for me. Specifically, in the bottom section, I grade my symptoms and attacks on a scale from one to three. It’s not pain specifically, as most health care systems rate pain on a scale from one to ten. Rather, for my own benefit, my system is based more on function, like this:

  1. Level 1 is some degree of pain and sensitivities, but managing regular tasks and activities if necessary.
  2. Level 2 is minimal functioning, in small stretches, but preferably not.
  3. Level 3 is completely incapacitated.

Here, I also note which meds and treatments I took and whether or not they worked.

I’m happy with having all this information in monthly format at a glance. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, the number or migraine days/month and the efficacy of meds are important decision-making factors when speaking with your doctor.

And that’s it. The current paper and pen migraine tracking system I’m using.

Stationery in the Photo

  • daily planner notebook
  • Tombow (076)
  • gel pen
  • skeleton clip
  • pencil case
  • pressed flower stickers

P.S. If you’re not a paper and pen type of person, there are lots of tracking options for you too. I have less to say about that because they don’t really work for me, but this is a recent and comprehensive article from Migraine Again.

tags: migraine · notebooks
Previous Post: « Hiking Diaries 06: Duchesnay Falls & Nipissing University
Next Post: A New Cartridge In My Fountain Pen »

Primary Sidebar

Hello lovely people, how are you? Welcome to a quiet, conversational, and pretty space on our screens. I hope it provides a little lull for us, where we can find some nice things and learn a few useful tidbits. Thanks so much for being here. xx

Recent Posts

  • Not an End Of Year Post
  • Taking Notes on Chronic Illness
  • Hiking Diaries: Kortright Conservation Area
  • Typewritings 14: Facts About Sweetgrass
  • Trying to Regain a Rhythm

blogging handmade migraine notebooks photography projects quote reading stationery typewriter

Image Credits

All lovely images in these posts are created by Andrea Hunter, unless otherwise attributed, and may not be used without permission.

Hello lovely IGers. I’m here briefly to celebrat Hello lovely IGers. I’m here briefly to celebrate the launch of this incredible book which I’ve had the privilege of collaborating on as a writer and editor. I’ve written more about it in a blog post, link in my bio.
.
.
.
Also I’m mortified that some of you may have had a pop up notification that I’ve posted something, since it’s been so long. I’m so sorry.
.
.
.
#thecarbonalmanac #factsconnectionaction
A retrospective journal spread for 2020...these ar A retrospective journal spread for 2020...these are some blank pages in the back of my planner and I’m flipping back through the months and weeks to document the things I started, finished, loved or hated, was blessed with or overcame.  I’ve set up space for 20 things (because 2020) but if I feel like turning the page and writing more I will. There are no rules to journaling. Wishing you all a lovely few more days of this year. 🤍
.
.
.#stationery #stationeryaddict #collage #paper #paperlove #journaling #journalpages #journalspread #analog #ephemera #wellbeing #selfcare #mindfulness #takecareofyourself #stayhomestaycreative #20goodthingsin2020
is saying “thank you to all of you lovelies for is saying “thank you to all of you lovelies for letting me share this letter-writing journey with you since March. I appreciate all of you so so much!”additionally, cosy = British English and cozy = American English... what’s a Canadian girl to do?
.
.
.#handwriting #handwritinggoals #letterwriting #snailmail #happymail  #stationery #stationeryaddict #collage #paper #paperlove #journaling #journalpages #printablestationery #digitalpaper #analog #ephemera #wellbeing #selfcare #mindfulness #takecareofyourself #stayhomestaycreative
#afterthepen #asmr #afterthepen #asmr
is thinking the last month of this year will be an is thinking the last month of this year will be an incredibly bittersweet time, but prepared to fill this spread with lots of good memories 🌲
.
.
.
Happy first day of December 2020 my friends ✨
.
.
.#plannergirl #planneraddict #monthlyspread #decembermonthly #stationery #stationeryaddict #collage #paper #paperlove #journaling #analog #ephemera #wellbeing #selfcare #mindfulness #takecareofyourself #stayhomestaycreative
“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolat “Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of community.” - bell hooks
.
.
.
Earlier this year I made a commissioned piece for a virtual healing circle.  I was honored to contribute to such a beautiful and necessary event.  It’s now many months later ... but in the midst of pandemic and holidays and lockdown, it’s still important that Black lives matter.
.
.
.#collage #paper #paperlove #journaling #journalpages #printablestationery #digitalpaper #analog #ephemera #wellbeing #selfcare #mindfulness #takecareofyourself #stayhomestaycreative #guidedjournaling #healingcircle #showyourwork #commissionedart
Lest we forget. This beautiful poem was by Canadia Lest we forget. This beautiful poem was by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. Swipe right to see a copy of his original handwritten version. 🌺
.
.
.#handwriting #handwritinggoals #snailmail #happymail  #stationery #stationeryaddict #collage #paper #paperlove #journaling #journalpages #printablestationery #digitalpaper #analog #ephemera #wellbeing #selfcare #mindfulness #takecareofyourself #stayhomestaycreative #remembranceday #inflandersfields
is writing about November, Netflix, and an Inuit w is writing about November, Netflix, and an Inuit word.  Wishing you all a lovely weekend ahead 🤍xx
.
.
.
#handwriting #handwritinggoals #snailmail #happymail  #stationery #stationeryaddict #collage #paper #paperlove #journaling #journalpages #printablestationery #digitalpaper #analog #ephemera #wellbeing #selfcare #mindfulness #takecareofyourself #stayhomestaycreative
© 2022 ANDREA HUNTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED