Patient Contributor

Ciara O'Rourke

Ciara is a nurse from Dublin, Ireland. She is married and has three amazing little boys.

Overview

Living With Condition
20 Years
Published
6 Articles
Location
Dublin, Ireland

“I try to balance my life with migraines along with being a busy working mum. It is not always easy but I am so lucky and grateful to have an amazing husband who understands and helps me through this journey. I also have some very supportive friends and work colleagues who have started to understand what it is like to live with chronic pain and how that can impact on my working and social life.

I am delighted to document my journey through migraine here as I feel that it is only through sharing our experiences that we learn. I also think that it is so important to hear from other people that may be experiencing similar symptoms to you as chronic illness can be a lonely place where you feel like no one understands you or can imagine the feelings you are experiencing. 

History with Condition

I have been living with migraines for almost 20 years. I started to develop episodic migraines in my early 20s which were brought on by hormonal changes. It wasn’t until I was in my late 20s that my migraines became more chronic in nature. I developed nearly daily headaches, having anything between 20-30 headache days per month.

It was at this time that I was referred to a headache specialist and was correctly diagnosed. I have to say that it was a great relief to be finally diagnosed as I had felt the stigma of living with chronic pain and people not fully understanding the consequences and implications of migraines.”

NPS-ALL-NP-00342 MAY 2021

Published Articles

How “Same Thing, Different Day” Helps My Migraines
6 mins
article
Ciara O'Rourke

How “Same Thing, Different Day” Helps My Migraines

How I Stopped Migraine from Getting in the Way of My Career
6 mins
article
Ciara O'Rourke

How I Stopped Migraine from Getting in the Way of My Career

Lockdown Helped with Migraines - Now They're Back with Force
5 mins
article
Ciara O'Rourke

Lockdown Helped with Migraines - Now They're Back with Force

Migraine and Weight Gain: Are They Linked?
5 mins
article
Ciara O'Rourke

Migraine and Weight Gain: Are They Linked?

Why We Need to Destigmatize Migraine
4 mins
article
Ciara O'Rourke

Why We Need to Destigmatize Migraine

6 Tips for Mental Health and Migraine during a Global Crisis
5 mins
article
Ciara O'Rourke

6 Tips for Mental Health and Migraine during a Global Crisis