While I’ve never written about migraine in my family before, even in a journal entry, it’s a mystery that I and my family members have tried to solve once or twice.
As one of five girls – yes, I have four sisters and no brothers (my poor father!) – and one of the three of us who have migraine disease, naturally I’ve wondered (and lamented) over the years, “Why me/us – what’s the reason or connection?”
Now that we’ve emerged from the Migraine Cave Days, as I call the time before the recent Migraine Enlightenment, and I know that migraine is hereditary, of course it all makes some sense. But we still haven’t determined who in the generation before gave us this lovely gift. And what about the two sisters who don’t have migraine? Are there personality similarities and differences in and between the three migraine sisters and the two non-migraine sisters? Did the three ‘lucky ones’ inherit some personality traits as well as the migraine gene or gene flaw from the same undetermined source?
Our mother says that the three of us share common dispositions and personality traits that the other two don’t, and that they have some personality similarities with each other that we don’t share.
Yes, I am treading carefully here and avoiding specific comparisons and sibling rivalry – who’s smarter, more assertive, energetic, timid, easy-going, serious, perfectionist… because that’s not the point. The question or debate is: do we inherit the same or similar personality traits along with the migraine gene? Or is it coincidence that three of us have migraine as well as similarities in our personalities?
I know the “migraine personality” concept has been all but debunked over the years, the stereotypical Type-A, highly creative, intelligent, sensitive creature (or whatever you’ve heard it to be) but I still can’t help wondering how do our genes, personality traits, family background, and physical environmental factors all contribute and play a role in this migraine drama?
I keep looking for some simple reason, like birth order (no, we are 1st, middle and 4th) astrology (nope, not in the stars), being dropped on our heads (nope, not that), or being exposed to some environmental evil (nope, we were all in the same house, same neighborhood, same foods), but I guess I’ll have to settle for simple heredity. I can consider it a crap shoot and just go by the proven numbers and percentages, but that’s no fun.
Does anyone know the answer to my family migraine heredity, gene and personality riddle?
At times I feel that in some respects we are still in the Migraine Cave Days, but it makes me happy that my three children do not have migraine, or at least so far. Our son is 27 and may have had a couple of episodes in high school but no more, and our daughters are 24 without incident… did we simply roll the dice for winning numbers for them? If they never have migraines, I’ll be thrilled with that answer, and as for me and my sisters, perhaps we’ll just be a forever mystery!
Excellent post! I’ve definitely had the same questions because both my mother and grandmother were plagued with Migraines. My mother gets them occasionally, but mostly due to environmental factors or over-exertion.
Thanks, Jasmine – and do you all have similar personality traits, or are you all very different? It’s rather fascinating, isn’t it?
Betsy and Jasmine, I blogged about a recent “outside the box” study that looked into the genetics of Neurologic disorders and one reason why the genetics may be present while the symptoms aren’t. http://is.gd/2tytX To my knowledge this is the first time someone has considered the potential of altered brain connections and multiple genetic errors in these types of disorders.
I admit frustration in the time it takes to do these studies, but I am encouraged when I hear this kind of news. I’m a fighter, but I need to know there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. I fight because my kids suffer Migraine as well, and I don’t want them to suffer the same journey I have.
Yes, Ellen, the fact that someone is looking at this is encouraging; your post at http://is.gd/2tytX is great and I will do some further searching and reading!
It’s notable that the university you mentioned discovered and purchased a copy of Migraine Expressions! They must have a significant neurology-related collection!
I’m sorry to hear that your children have migraine, too, and I do believe they will not travel the same paths we have!