Migraine is a common neurological disorder impacting almost 5 million people in Australia, mostly women.
Bianca Chatfield won a World Championship and two Commonwealth Games medals during her illustrious netball career. But even amidst her many successes, Bianca had to deal with migraine which was triggered by the bright lights and blaring sounds on the netball court. Since being diagnosed with migraine, Bianca is more aware of her triggers which she carefully manages to allow her to continue her days as a busy mum and sports commentator.
Each person will experience migraine differently, and you should always work with your doctor or pharmacist to best understand what helps you. Here are some suggestions on what works for Bianca to manage her migraine.
Staying hydrated has been key to managing my symptoms. I try to maintain my fluids and avoid drinking too much coffee (especially on an empty stomach) to prevent a migraine attack. If I feel an attack starting,I’ll drink a fair amount of water, and even have an electrolyte ice block to help rehydrate quickly.
If I haven’t had enough sleep, I’ve found I’m especially sensitive to other triggers in the day, like direct light and loud sounds. I try to follow a regular sleep pattern and also try my hardest not to spend time on electronic devices before falling asleep.
Now I’m no longer competing, I’ve found if I’m not active my migraine attacks can be a lot harder to overcome. Sometimes, being active in some way can help regulate and normalise what’s going on in my body. Being out in the fresh air is always a good idea for me.
When I first started experiencing migraines, I found recording my symptoms and triggers useful to understand what was going on, including what I was doing at the time, what symptoms I was experiencing, and how long they lasted, as well as what I did to manage those symptoms.
Talking to my doctor and pharmacist helped me to understand my triggers and symptoms and how to manage them. Knowing how to manage my triggers and symptoms is empowering so I can get back to the things I love doing faster.
Bianca Chatfield has been paid a fee to support public education on the impact of migraine. The opinions expressed by Bianca Chatfield are her own and are based on her own lived experience.
Organon commissioned a survey* which was conducted in December 2022, with 1048 Australian women (aged 21-50) diagnosed with migraine. The survey revealed:
sit in a dark and quiet room when trying to get a migraine under control*
feel guilty missing out on time with friends and family*
need to change their plans due to migraine an average of once or twice a month*
