Unfortunately, the rest of the world doesn't stop when a migraine hits, and the daily responsibilities of work, school, family, and other commitments can make recovery more of a challenge. Because rest speeds recovery for most migraineurs, the ideal situation would be to stay home and call in sick to all responsibilities for the day. However, that is frequently not an option for many people.

Make things easier for yourself by laying the groundwork now. Educate the people around you about your condition, have alternative arrangements made for regular commitments and responsibilities, and always have migraine supplies within an arm's reach. Advance planning can make a big difference in recovery time when migraine strikes.

Have a Plan

When calling in sick to work is not an option, try to shift your schedule an hour or two to allow time for your pain relievers to take effect. It can be very helpful to have a discussion with your supervisor about your condition on a day when you're feeling well, explaining how migraine disables you (e.g., visual problems, nausea, pain) and how her flexibility will help you to be a more productive employee. If your employer is prepared in advance and is willing to work with you, you'll feel less stressed about making the call when you need to.

Keep the numbers of several local cab companies handy, along with an extra stash of cash for cab fare in case you have to go to work or to an appointment during a migraine attack. Never get behind the wheel when a migraine is causing visual disturbance (aura or otherwise), when head pain or nausea will divert your full attention from the road, or when you're taking medication that alters your ability to drive.

Keep your freezer stocked with prepared, nutritious meals that require minimal time and effort to get on the table. While nausea may make food the furthest thing from your mind during a migraine, you'll find that low-effort, “no-brainer” meals will be much appreciated as you recover from an attack. And if you have a family to feed, having meals at the ready means less stress.

As an alternative, keep a small stockpile of restaurant and pizzeria menus from places that deliver. If the freezer is bare or you can't rely on others to do even basic meal prep, order in.

Family and Friends

If you have children, do your homework ahead of time and develop a roster of sitters, friends, and family with various availabilities, so you'll have several people to call on at any time of the day to take over for child care.

With older children, educate them about migraine so that they respect your recovery needs. Even younger children can be taught some basics about migraine disease and your need for quiet recovery in a non-frightening manner. Have these conversations when you're feeling well so you have appropriate time for discussion and can answer any questions.

Shuttling kids to extracurricular activities or sports can become a major challenge during a migraine attack, so make a point of acquainting yourself with other team parents that you can call on for child transportation if need be. You can always return the favor when you're feeling better.

Although you may be embarrassed or self-conscious about your migraines, try to be open with family and friends. There are so many myths and misconceptions about migraine that it's important for you to educate them on the real facts behind your condition. If you feel ill equipped to handle the discussion, loan them this book, or take them to your next doctor's appointment.

This knowledge should strengthen your relationship and also enable them to be a better source of support for you when you need it. It can also help you avoid hurt feelings when you have to cancel social engagements or other commitments at the last minute due to migraine. It's important to educate the people in your life about migraine disease.