Living with Migraine after COVID-19 Stay Home Orders Lift

Sponsored: Life after COVID-19 stay home orders lift seems different yet the same with
migraine. With COVID-19 restrictions lifting, I find that my migraine is not. As more people
become vaccinated and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases go down, the world once
again shifts. I find myself signing my kids up for activities again and I’m starting to plan travel
and gatherings with friends. Yet, it is hard for me to make future plans. As the world adjusted to
Covid-19 restrictions, many people felt the effects of not being able to see family and not being
able to leave the house, but as someone who lives with chronic migraine, this is how I have lived
for years.

While everyone is eager to rush back into the world, I know that’s not my reality living with
migraine. This Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, I find myself asking many questions
and having feelings that won’t be solved with a COVID-19 vaccine. I continue to be hesitant to
make plans, not because of a pandemic, but because of migraine. I’m afraid of what I will miss
out on. I don’t want to miss out on anything yet know that’s not under my control. Then I
wonder when I travel, how many days will I miss? I feel worried about seeing people I have not
seen in a year and having to cancel. Yet I miss my friends so much. While the rest of the world is
ready to socialize, life after quarantine is not that easy for me, which is why I’m sharing how I
plan to set boundaries, maintain relationships, and manage my migraine.

Migraine Concerns

It is hard to admit that while the world recovers from its isolation, I will still feel the same. How
do I enter a world ready to socialize when my body won’t always let me do what I want? For me,
what my mind and body need and crave are different. My mind says, “Say yes to everything!
I’ve missed my people so much and I’m ready to catch up.” My body says, “Hold on, just
because Covid-19 restrictions are lifting, doesn’t mean your migraine is.”²

While many begin to rush back to their “normal” pre-pandemic lives, I still live with a chronic
illness. So, I am entering life after quarantine with my normal routine and structure in place. It
may be difficult for my loved ones to understand these guidelines, but they are necessary for my
wellbeing. Here are the things I have been working on…

Boundaries

As I reenter the world after quarantine, I’ll still explain to others that although I am ready to see
you, I still need self-care. There is still a possibility I will cancel plans due to migraine. COVID-
19 has several vaccines, but unfortunately, migraine does not. I must remind myself that it is a
marathon, not a sprint. I can’t do everything all at once. Burning out will just leave me in a cycle
and missing more.

When I’m out to dinner, I don’t overdo it with drinks and triggering foods. While I’m excited to
cheers my friends, I still can’t drink excess alcohol or certain foods without triggering a migraine
attack. Saying no is hard but necessary.³

Accommodations

After all this time, I have forgotten how much preparation it takes me to go out. I would love to
jump on a flight and forget how hard it is for me to travel, but it takes a lot of work! Since I
haven’t left my house much, my migraine tool bag needs to be repacked. While I have gotten
used to going to the store with only a credit card, my keys, and my mask, I now can leave my
house for longer. While leaving the house for more than just food is exciting, I recognize that I
need a lot of products and have repacked my purse with glasses, medication, oils, ginger, and
headphones.

Reconnecting with Physicians

Over the last year, Telehealth has allowed me to keep up with my medical professionals safe
from home with convenient, virtual appointments. Another convenience is that I have had my
medication delivered to my home, which has been great because I no longer need to stand in long
lines at the pharmacy. I’ve been taking Aimovig® (erenumab-aooe) – a prescription medicine
used for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults – for three years now to help reduce my
monthly migraine days. My goal with taking Aimovig® was to decrease the frequency of my
migraine days and I’m thankful because it’s done just that! I started taking Aimovig® shortly
after it received FDA approval in 2018 and it recently celebrated its 3-year anniversary.⁶ While
the quarantine due to Covid-19 has been stressful, I’m grateful because my medication continues
to help reduce my monthly migraine days, and I am looking forward to re-acclimating into a
non-quarantine world.

APPROVED USE

Aimovig® (erenumab-aooe) is a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of
migraine in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not use Aimovig® if you are allergic to erenumab-aooe or any ingredients in Aimovig®.

Aimovig® may cause serious side effects, including:
• Allergic reactions. Allergic relations, including rash or swelling, can happen after receiving
Aimovig®. This can happen within hours to days after using Aimovig®. Call your HCP or get
emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic
reaction: swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing.
• Constipation with serious complications. Severe constipation can happen after receiving
Aimovig®. In some cases, people have been hospitalized or needed surgery. Contact your HCP
if you have severe constipation.
• High blood pressure. High blood pressure or worsening of high blood pressure can happen
after receiving Aimovig®. Contact your healthcare provider if you have an increase in blood
pressure.

Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

Reconnecting in Person and Online

Now that I’m re-entering the world, I am making my exercise and movement a social activity. I
have a walking buddy who motivates and inspires me. I spend a lot of time watching my children
do activities but not doing them myself, so, using the time I have to walk with a friend makes me
feel more connected. I try to manage my time and energy the best I can knowing it is not always
under my control. On days I can’t go for a walk, I connect online and rely on my migraine
community for support. Connecting with people living with migraine and finding resources
online, such as Amgen’s Know Migraine Mission, has helped me during these difficult times.

Life after Quarantine Gratitude

With the lifting of the Covid 19 restrictions, I am going back into life with gratitude for
everything I do. I am grateful I can go out in the world, while cautious due to migraine. I make
goals and am proud of the small moments that seem monumental to me. When I am alone due to
migraine, I am grateful that my family doesn’t have to be anymore. You see, I have always had a
disease that locks me in my cold dark room, but my family hasn’t. During the pandemic, having
everyone home and quarantined was hard. I now feel so grateful that they can go back to being
social and out of the house with friends. I find gratitude in the smallest places and will always
remember the importance of the people in my life and how a hug can be so healing!

*This post is part of a collaboration between myself and Amgen. I have been compensated for
my time.

APPROVED USE

Aimovig® (erenumab-aooe) is a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of
migraine in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Who should not use Aimovig®?

Do not use Aimovig® if you are allergic to erenumab-aooe or any ingredients in Aimovig®.

Before starting Aimovig®, tell your healthcare provider (HCP) about all your medical
conditions, including if you are allergic to rubber or latex, pregnant or plan to become pregnant,
breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including
any prescription over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.

What are possible side effects of Aimovig®?

Aimovig® may cause serious side effects, including:
• Allergic reactions. Allergic reactions, including rash or swelling can happen after receiving
Aimovig®. This can happen within hours to days after using Aimovig®. Call your HCP or get
emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic
reaction: swelling of the face, mouth, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing.

• Constipation with serious complications. Severe constipation can happen after receiving
Aimovig®. In some cases people have been hospitalized or needed surgery. Contact your HCP if
you have severe constipation.
• High blood pressure. High blood pressure or worsening of high blood pressure can happen
after receiving Aimovig®. Contact your healthcare provider if you have an increase in blood
pressure.

The most common side effects of Aimovig® are pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
and constipation.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Aimovig®. Call your HCP for medical advice
about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit
www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Click here for full Prescribing Information and Patient Product Information

References:
1. Russo AF. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2015;55:533-552.
2. Kelman L. Cephalalgia. 2007; 27 (5): 394-402.
3. Aimovig® (erenumab-aooe) Prescribing Information, Amgen, Feb 2021

Amgen Sponsored Posts

5 Strategies for Talking with Your Doctor about Migraine Treatment

5 Ways My Migraine Life Has Changed during COVID-19

Migraine in the Workplace

How Traveling was Different this Year

How a Preventive Treatment for Migraine has Worked for Me

Going Back to School as a Teacher Living with Migraine

How I Navigate Having a Social Life While Living with Migraine