The Ups and Downs of Moving House while Managing Chronic Migraine

The stress of moving house and migraine can be a nightmarish combination. Today, Ciara O’Rourke shares how she managed frequent migraine flare-ups as she navigated the move into her new home.

According to a recent survey, 57% of people said moving house is the most stressful life event they've encountered – far more than the 32% who chose "having a child"! 

Now, imagine how stressful moving into a new house would have been during a global pandemic.

Then imagine doing all of that while coping with a health condition like chronic migraine.

Doesn't sound too good? That was my situation only a few years ago.

The recession, not migraine, delayed moving house the first time

I bought my first home in 2007. It's a three-bed duplex in a lovely estate just outside Dublin.

At the time, I had a five-year plan. When that half-decade was up, the goal was to sell the house and make enough profit to invest in my "forever home".

I didn't know that the worst recession to happen in my lifetime was around the corner. House prices in Ireland nosedived. I was unable to sell in my timeframe.

By 2019, my three-bed duplex was packed to capacity with my husband, Shaun, and our three boys.

As the boys got bigger, my husband and I realised we'd outgrown the house and needed more space. It would be lovely to have a garden for the children.

House prices might not have been what they once were, but I knew I was in a much better position to buy at this stage. Shaun and I had been dreaming for quite some time, so we had a good idea of what we wanted.

We knew the area we wanted to live in. It was just a matter of waiting until our dream house became available.

We found the perfect new home

In February 2020, it all started happening for us. We found a four-bed home, with a large rear garden, close to both our jobs. We couldn't believe our luck!

Shaun warned me to stay calm with the estate agent and not be too enthusiastic. I didn't play by his rules. I was gushing over everything as soon as I was in the house.

I'm not one to hide my emotions, and my estate agent knew he was onto a winner with me.

I turned to Shaun, "Give this man all our money, so we can live here ASAP!" Thankfully, Shaun also loved the house and negotiated a price over the next few weeks.

Lockdown delayed the move – the stress meant my migraines returned with force

By the first week of March, we were good to go. Then – of course – the pandemic reached Ireland. We went into total lockdown straight away.

Shaun and the boys were always at home, and I was needed on ward duty in the hospital. The constant stress and exhaustion exacerbated further migraine flare-ups.

Our solicitor rang to say that the buyer for our duplex had pulled out during a particularly stressful shift. The market was too unstable, and he didn't want to take the risk.

I was devastated. I had no idea if we would find another buyer during lockdown.

The uncertainty was horrible. I worked hard on the wards daily, and this house crisis fuelled the fire. I wasn't coping very well. The stress of moving house and migraine meant I was having daily attacks. I couldn't even get out of bed some weekends, and it was hard to see a way forward.

On the plus side, I'd stayed in touch with the estate agent for the house we were buying.

I called him to discuss our options, although he was in the same uncertain place as everyone else.

I told him about our buyer pulling out and where we stood. I told him we were still desperate to buy the house. After some negotiation, the estate agent told us the seller would wait... but not for long!

Stress made my migraines worse – but I pushed on

Stress was running very high. Coping with moving house and migraine flare-ups became trickier than ever. The one thing that got me through was my work colleagues. Although COVID-19 was rampant in the hospital wards, we all fiercely supported each other. It was great to talk and get advice from them.

Then, my estate agent called with good news. The buyer for the duplex was still interested but at a reduced rate. After some back-and-forth, we reached a deal. Shaun and I thought we'd been through the mill, but we were only at the beginning.

Next, virtual meetings, phone calls, and emails flew everywhere. The paperwork was stressful enough. Despite the constant migraines, I did everything at lightning speed.

I feared things would go wrong at any moment. I wasn’t willing to let my dream slip through my fingers, managing chronic migraine or not.

I wish I'd prioritised my health more

Now, in hindsight, I wish I had done everything at a steadier pace. The rushing didn't help my health, and I almost buckled under the pressure. My husband understands how chronic migraine impacts me; he knew I needed time to recover and helped whenever he could. Yet, I can be headstrong, and I wanted to make sure the move went without a glitch.

Then our moving date got delayed. We were supposed to move in on a Friday but were held up until the following Thursday. We had to sleep on mattresses and tell the moving company to rearrange the date.

When we finally walked through the door of our new home, I was so happy – it almost felt like the stress of moving house and migraine flare-ups were worth it. 

Migraine doesn't have to stand in the way of your goals – but you need to factor it in

Everyone has a moving story. It's never easy. But for those living with a chronic health condition, it's important to remember to look after and protect ourselves.

I didn't do too well at that. If I've learned anything from this experience, it's to take my time. The stress and migraines I put myself through were unnecessary. I should have let my husband take the lead more. Instead, I hid migraine attacks and pushed on – which emotionally and physically sapped me. I should have prioritised my health and considered my chronic migraine rather than ignored it.

I will be forever grateful that it worked out, but I know the process could have been easier.

---

© 2023 Life Effects by Teva Pharmaceuticals

The individual(s) who have written and created the content in and whose images appear in this article have been paid by Teva Pharmaceuticals for their contributions. This content represents the opinions of the contributor and does not necessarily reflect those of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Similarly, Teva Pharmaceuticals does not review, control, influence or endorse any content related to the contributor's websites or social media networks. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice or recommendations. Consult a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and before beginning or changing any treatment regimen. 

This site is intended for UK and Ireland residents only.

Date of preparation: August 2023
D: COB-GB-NP-00191 (V1.0) / T: COB-GB-NP-00231 (V1.0) / M: COB-GB-NP-00211 (V1.0)