When I first started to pull myself out of my chronic pain downward spiral, I listened to a podcast that had a title similar to the one I just wrote, something like: “is my pillow the problem?” This is it, I thought! I’m going to start to learn everything I can about migraines, and get myself some definite answers – woo hoo!
I remember that during the course of the podcast, there were reasons to believe that YES, your pillow can be a problem. If it’s too flat, or too full, then it either doesn’t support your neck well enough, which causes your head to slump down, OR, it tilts your head too far up. Either way, you are putting too much pressure on one part of your neck or another. Stretching muscles or pinching nerves in this sensitive area of your body CAN BE a trigger for a migraine.
OK, new pillow coming up, I thought.
BUT THEN other parts of the podcast implied there was no such thing as a ‘perfect pillow’. If you slept all week on your pillow and did not get a migraine until Sunday night, then your pillow probably was NOT the problem… or not the ONLY problem…
OK, so no new pillow then?
*
At the time, I remember thinking, this advice is only slightly better than asking Magic 8 Ball about life when I was a kid:
“Magic 8 Ball will I get a puppy for Christmas?”
(shakey-shakey)
“Magic 8 Ball says… the answer is uncertain.”
(shakey-shakey)
“Magic 8 Ball is my pillow the problem?”
(shakey-shakey)
“Magic 8 Ball says… certainly… not.”
*
As I keep researching migraines, however, I came to recognize that the answer to “is my pillow the problem?” really is YES AND NO. The reality of all things glitchy-migraine-brain-related is that there is no right or wrong answer that is always right or wrong for everyone, every time. No two brains are the same, and no two migraine attacks in the same brain, are the same.
Migraine is a threshold disease – whether you think of it as a fuel tank, or a power station, or a matrix, there is a relationship between what triggers your migraine, and what your tolerance to those triggers is on any given day.
If you’re super-chill all week, then the pillow is not really going to play a big part in how you’re travelling health wise. There is plenty of room to move; your triggers are not triggering, as it were. HOWEVER, if you have had a stressful week, and as a result you’re “run down” or “running on empty” and feel like you’re “on the brink” of collapse… then your language is telling you that you’re “overwhelmed” – your cup is full and there’s no room left for another trigger… your pain is about to spill over.
In this instance, that floppy old pillow is going to literally and figuratively let you down.
So, what’s the answer?
In the middle of the night last night, I woke up and became very aware that the middle of my pillow was nearly non-existent. I dragged the pillow over slightly, so I could lie on the fluffy corner. I instantly felt more comfortable. When I woke in the morning, I was back in the head-shaped hollow, and my neck felt funny… I didn’t get a migraine, but I DID decide that it’s time for a new pillow.
Again – there is no right or wrong answer – you need to stay aware, keep checking in on your body and your surroundings and your triggers and your tolerance levels… and if that makes you feel tired enough to go for a lie down… sorry, but hey, while you’re there – check out your pillow!
*
“Magic 8 Ball are we all going to be OK?”
(shakey-shakey)
“Magic 8 Ball says… it is certain!”
*
Take care taking care, Linda x
The Mindful Migraine 
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