Huge toll of migraines on Queenslanders revealed in new report

In Queensland, almost half of migraine sufferers do not tell anyone they have a migraine — but they are so debilitating they can last for up to 11 days. SEE HOW YOU CAN GET HELP

Exclusive: Nearly five million Australians agonise with migraines but their condition is not being taken seriously by others leading to a breakdown in their work and private lives.

Those who have been ignored by their GP have been encouraged to “shop around” to find a doctor who will listen.

New data obtained by News Corp Australia from a report supported by Headache Australia, found the condition is taking a toll on the happiness and mental health of sufferers.

Nearly half of those affected say the illness is damaging their interpersonal relationships — especially male sufferers (53 per cent) — and more than a third believe it is harming their career prospects.

Three in 10 sufferers (28 per cent) grapple with a migraine at least once a week and for almost a quarter (28 per cent) the attacks last between six and 12 hours.

Most significantly the 2019 Nurofen #MYgraine Report, based on a study of more than 1200 people, found migraines affect more than half of the full-time workforce age 18-50 years old.

Migraines are taking a toll on Australia’s productivity with workers taking days off to deal with the painful condition.

In Queensland, more than a third of those who had experienced migraines within Brisbane don’t know what triggers their attacks (34.9 per cent).

Almost half of people from outside Brisbane did not tell anyone they had a migraine at risk of appearing like they were complaining (48.4 per cent).

More than half of people in Brisbane had missed a social occasion due to a migraine (58.3 per cent).

Headache Australia CEO Trevor Thompson said the economic cost of migraines was close to $36 billion a year.

Around $14 billion of that is spent on healthcare, $16 billion is in lost productivity and $5 billion on treatments.

Most of the sufferers are women and of working age. He said the government needs to invest in research to find a cure.

“If the government just understood how much money we could save if we could find better treatment and cures. It’s lost productivity,” Mr Thompson said.

GPs don’t get enough training to fully understand migraines.

He said more needs to be done to educate GPs and encourage more experts in the field.

At the moment GPs only get about 13 hours of training on migraines over a five-year period, leading to a lack of understanding when they come into contact with patients.

“There are about five million migraine sufferers in Australia and there is only about one specialist per every 85,000 sufferers,” Mr Thompson said.

“That’s not good enough”.

He says if you aren’t taken seriously by a GP then “shop around”.

“If you are unsure seek a second or even a third opinion, especially if symptoms persist because you may have gone to a GP who doesn’t understand it.”

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Kate Glenister’s migraines are so bad she’s ended up in hospital on occasion.

She first experienced a migraine when she was about 12 and continues to suffer in her 20s.

Ms Glenister, from Richmond in Victoria, wakes up with a headache 15 days out of the month, with around half of these progressing to a migraine.

When a migraine comes on, it lasts an average of three days, with the worst lasting 11 days requiring her to have time off work.

“It definitely takes a toll. It’s a part of my life that I’m hyper conscience of at all times,” she said.

“I look around at my peers and my friends and I get quite jealous that they don’t have that worry.”

Kate Glenister suffers from migraines that can last up to 11 days. Pictures: Supplied

Some of Ms Glenister’s migraine triggers include lack of sleep or too much sleep, caffeine, alcohol and sugar. The humidity in summer triggers her migraines more, taking a toll other emotionally.

“Every time I leave the house I have to have the medication with me just in case,” she said.

”Every time I go somewhere I have to have an escape route on my brain.”

When seeking medical help, Ms Glenister said about 70 per cent of her experiences have been positive. But she has come across GPs who’ve brushed off her symptoms and left her feeling helpless.

Her family and some colleagues are understanding, but many of her friends don’t understand the severity of the pain she feels.

“My first boss thought that I was taking the mickey a bit, that’s back when they (migraines) were quite bad, I had 10-day headaches, I was in bed the whole time,” she said.

“And even casually my close friends and family understand, but with acquaintances chatting about it you either strike someone who is understanding or disparaging. I’ve never had anyone that is in the middle.”

Ms Glenister manages her migraines with medication and botox injections every three months.

Her tip for others who suffer is to “embrace the fact that it is a part of you”.

“The horrible thing is there is no known cure and it is not something you can change but it is something that you can manage,” she said.

TIPS FOR MIGRAINE SUFFERERS

— Go to headacheaustralia.org.au and join the National Headache Register to get latest information and lend your support to raise corporate funds for research

— Keep a diary to track what you eat, drink, sleep patterns etc to help pinpoint triggers

— Find a GP that understands migraines

— Seek support from family and friends

— Be open about it with colleagues at work