Have You Ever Faked A Migraine?
Faking a migraine is not recommended, but if you are reading this post, then chances are you never have an opportunity to fake one — you’re too busy having the real thing! But have you ever been tempted?
There’s A Good Thing About Migraines?
When you have migraines long enough, you realise what you have to do to fake one. You have to use these fake outs for emergencies only — such as getting out of a family reunion early. One time, my family and I traveled across state to attend the wedding of my cousin. We knew the bride, the bride’s parents and no one else. We are an animal rights family and we wound up in Hunter’s Paradise. I faked a migraine to go out to the car. The rest of my family followed “to see what’s wrong with Rena” and had a long talk.
“If I see one more idiot with a rifle in one hand and a beer in the other, I will commit a crime, ” my Dad warned.
“Well, we put in an appearance and have been here over an hour,” Mom pointed out.
“You’re faking that migraine, aren’t you?” asked my older brother.
“Nu-uh!” I insisted, tears streaming out of my eyes as I imitated very authentic dry heaves.
The rest of my family looked at each other, kissed me and Mom slipped out to break the bad news to the mother of the bride, then we went and hid back at the hotel.
The Danger
The danger of faking a maigraine is the “boy who cried wolf” syndrome. If a lot of people suddenly start faking migraines, then no one who actually has a migraine will be believed. Unfortunately, some of the people most taken by migraine fakers are doctors, especially if the “fakee” wants a perscription for powerful painkillers. (A scene like this was dramatised in an episode of ER.
Up to 60% of migraine sufferes have reported a bad experience with a doctor. In the early 1990’s, I had one doctor tell me flat out that I was faking (I wasn’t — and at the time I was having a panic attack, too). I never went back to him again.
So, if you are going to fake a migraine, use the opportunity as if a genie gave you three wishes — and you have the rest of your life to cash them in.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Wow! what an idea ! What a concept ! Beautiful .. Amazing …