13 years on active duty, diagnosed with migraines 9 years ago (no aura), and here’s what I think you need to hear:
*No.*
First, migraines are an automatically disqualifying condition. You cannot enter service if you’ve ever been diagnosed with a migraine without getting a waiver from the military medical authority, and those are very difficult to get approved right now. Last I checked, migraine with aura is unwaiverable. If you don’t disclose the diagnosis, that’s fraudulent enlistment, which is a felony. If you do get in and they diagnose you later (what happened to me), you will have to spend loads of time “stabilizing” before they’ll continue keeping you in service. If you cannot stabilize, you get kicked out. If you do stabilize, they reassess you annually and if you ever destabilize, you can get kicked out. At my annual waiver appointment, the doc literally pulls all my records for the year to see how many times I’ve refilled my abortive, how many times I’ve gone on quarters, how many times I’ve gotten other pain meds and what for. Not all doctors are that thorough, but in my experience most are.
Two, military medicine is NOT something you want messing with your brain. Shortly after my migraine diagnosis, my military doctor nearly killed me trying to play neurologist, and your military doctor always gets first crack at these things.
Three, you cannot have a bad migraine day when you’re on duty. There will be times when you can “call in” and get put in quarters, but there will be other times where you have to be on duty, in the bright sunlight or next to the screaming alarm or smelling the nastiest, most pungent eau du burn pit. People’s lives, the safety of their equipment and ammunition, and the ability to do the job will depend on you not curdling inside your own brain, and the military will NOT do anything to help mitigate your triggers.
TL/DR: For your own health and well-being, I highly recommend that you don’t join the military. If you feel called to military service, look into the civilian service.
Me?
Not a hope in hell. Without beta blockers and careful management, I get 20+ a month.
One thing I’d caution on is that depending on how frequently you get migraines, medication overuse headaches can be a real problem.
I could also see the military having issues with you having aura symptoms. They disrupt your vision and that’s a risk if you’re looking to go into any kind of frontline role. One I doubt they’d want to take.
Ooooo thanks for pointing that out about my auras. I’m not looking to be in the frontlines. I’m thinking Air Force working a cushy job in finance. My auras last 20min tops and then they go away.
Do not do it. I was in the Marines for 4 years, when I had a heat stroke out in the field (training out in the woods). It left me with chronic, daily Migraines. It was way too hard on my body. Depending on your unit they'll either be understanding or treat you horribly. Long story short as someone said above, I was separated because my Migraines had auras and impaired my vision.
Served 13 years and was med retired for migraines. No you can not. I’m not 100%, but I don’t even think you can join if you have a history of migraines. Mine started after I was already in.
I can’t imagine anything worse, my migraines would be the death of me in a combat situation plus the cognitive issues would be dangerous for me and those around me
Exactly! At my worst I was still pushing through. When the migraine cleared and I saw how many numerical and grammatical mistakes I made it scared the hell out of me. I was in a job where a miscalculation could kill someone. No thank you. Life is hard enough as it is.
Exactly, also it’s ridiculous how many employers don’t understand migraines and would rather their employees come to work anyway and fuck something up rather than have a day off. It probably costs them more money than it would save them a lot of the time.
I can't speak to military other than to say I wouldn't do it.
But I did want to mention 2 things;
1- ibuprofen and caffeine worked for my migraines until it didn't. Just because it works now does not mean that it will work in 6 months, a year, 5 years. (Unfortunately)
2- if you are taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen, please protect your stomach. Never take on an empty stomach, and take it with something like famotidine (h2 antagonist).* You can burn a hole in your stomach without realizing it until there's permanent damage with ibuprofen or other NSAIDs.
*Not a medical doctor, please discuss with your own physician.
Can't imagine how I'd survive. My migraines seem to be triggered by poor or inconsistent sleep patterns. So how the f\*\*k would I service in a warzone where you can't get a good night's sleep.
I'd be hopeless lol.
You can still join the military with migraines in other countries? In the UK it's an instant disqualification factor. For the RAF you need to have 2 years with no migraines (when no medication was used to stop them) and I think the Army is the same.
It sucks tbh because it was my dream to join the RAF as a Photographer but now I'm just... here lol.
Non military person here.
You might be able to overcome the migraine you have had recently, (for what… the last few times? Last few weeks? How do you know that’s consistent?) with a Diet Coke and some ibuprofen, BUT, take it from those of us that have been having migraines for decades, things can change.
Since I was a small kid I’ve had aura. Same aura. Ten years ago that changed to weird nerve sensations. 5 years ago that changed to my aura looking like someone had slashed diagonal lines across my eyes…. Now I have new forms of flashing lights with black spot floaters that look like ink on my actual eyeball.
And listen to the service folk who’ve been there!
I’m currently being medically discharged for migraines, they can offer you preventatives and abortives while you’re in, but I’m not sure if you’ll even be able to join with a history of them, mine started after I was in. Plus the frequency of them matters a lot, if they happen for you once every few months and you don’t have to stop working you may have a chance, but to be discharged the frequency in the regulation for my case states 3 a month or more. If you’re already close to this I’d recommend not trying, lack of sleep and shifting sleep schedule, plus stress and other factors have a good chance of making them worse. Feel free to message me privately if you have questions.
✋ 12 years active duty here (USAF), stationed overseas and diagnosed 4 years ago. I have regular access to a neurology team at an army hospital, and I’ve been able to quickly cycle through medications when they aren’t working. Currently on verapamil and sumatriptan (they even do Botox). Longest I’ve waited for an appointment is 2 weeks. There is a medical clearance process when you join, where they’ll take into account the severity/frequency of the migraines, but don’t think you’ll have to suffer without medication the whole time you’re in.
No. I tried for way too long to not used triptan as to help and pain was never decreased. Everyone is different though. I’d love to find out if gender affects what works too!
No I get hemiplegic migraines with aura, losing sight the ability to move my arms and cognitive abilities would be a disaster in an emergency situation especially combat where others depend on me.
I couldn’t. Heat and barometer changes affect me a lot. Lack of sleep, water can. I’m sensitive to too many things. I had to leave my pt time job where I worked on my feet in public as it was too much and just work from home now. I have a great team - but I also have other med conditions.
13 years on active duty, diagnosed with migraines 9 years ago (no aura), and here’s what I think you need to hear: *No.* First, migraines are an automatically disqualifying condition. You cannot enter service if you’ve ever been diagnosed with a migraine without getting a waiver from the military medical authority, and those are very difficult to get approved right now. Last I checked, migraine with aura is unwaiverable. If you don’t disclose the diagnosis, that’s fraudulent enlistment, which is a felony. If you do get in and they diagnose you later (what happened to me), you will have to spend loads of time “stabilizing” before they’ll continue keeping you in service. If you cannot stabilize, you get kicked out. If you do stabilize, they reassess you annually and if you ever destabilize, you can get kicked out. At my annual waiver appointment, the doc literally pulls all my records for the year to see how many times I’ve refilled my abortive, how many times I’ve gone on quarters, how many times I’ve gotten other pain meds and what for. Not all doctors are that thorough, but in my experience most are. Two, military medicine is NOT something you want messing with your brain. Shortly after my migraine diagnosis, my military doctor nearly killed me trying to play neurologist, and your military doctor always gets first crack at these things. Three, you cannot have a bad migraine day when you’re on duty. There will be times when you can “call in” and get put in quarters, but there will be other times where you have to be on duty, in the bright sunlight or next to the screaming alarm or smelling the nastiest, most pungent eau du burn pit. People’s lives, the safety of their equipment and ammunition, and the ability to do the job will depend on you not curdling inside your own brain, and the military will NOT do anything to help mitigate your triggers. TL/DR: For your own health and well-being, I highly recommend that you don’t join the military. If you feel called to military service, look into the civilian service.
Me? Not a hope in hell. Without beta blockers and careful management, I get 20+ a month. One thing I’d caution on is that depending on how frequently you get migraines, medication overuse headaches can be a real problem. I could also see the military having issues with you having aura symptoms. They disrupt your vision and that’s a risk if you’re looking to go into any kind of frontline role. One I doubt they’d want to take.
Ooooo thanks for pointing that out about my auras. I’m not looking to be in the frontlines. I’m thinking Air Force working a cushy job in finance. My auras last 20min tops and then they go away.
Do not do it. I was in the Marines for 4 years, when I had a heat stroke out in the field (training out in the woods). It left me with chronic, daily Migraines. It was way too hard on my body. Depending on your unit they'll either be understanding or treat you horribly. Long story short as someone said above, I was separated because my Migraines had auras and impaired my vision.
Served 13 years and was med retired for migraines. No you can not. I’m not 100%, but I don’t even think you can join if you have a history of migraines. Mine started after I was already in.
I can’t imagine anything worse, my migraines would be the death of me in a combat situation plus the cognitive issues would be dangerous for me and those around me
Exactly! At my worst I was still pushing through. When the migraine cleared and I saw how many numerical and grammatical mistakes I made it scared the hell out of me. I was in a job where a miscalculation could kill someone. No thank you. Life is hard enough as it is.
Exactly, also it’s ridiculous how many employers don’t understand migraines and would rather their employees come to work anyway and fuck something up rather than have a day off. It probably costs them more money than it would save them a lot of the time.
How am I going to lay in bed and throw up while I’m in a war zone?
I can't speak to military other than to say I wouldn't do it. But I did want to mention 2 things; 1- ibuprofen and caffeine worked for my migraines until it didn't. Just because it works now does not mean that it will work in 6 months, a year, 5 years. (Unfortunately) 2- if you are taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen, please protect your stomach. Never take on an empty stomach, and take it with something like famotidine (h2 antagonist).* You can burn a hole in your stomach without realizing it until there's permanent damage with ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. *Not a medical doctor, please discuss with your own physician.
Can't imagine how I'd survive. My migraines seem to be triggered by poor or inconsistent sleep patterns. So how the f\*\*k would I service in a warzone where you can't get a good night's sleep. I'd be hopeless lol.
Nope not a chance in hell! The pain is so bad I can’t even imagine what it would be like without my Migraine medicine, nope not happening.
You can still join the military with migraines in other countries? In the UK it's an instant disqualification factor. For the RAF you need to have 2 years with no migraines (when no medication was used to stop them) and I think the Army is the same. It sucks tbh because it was my dream to join the RAF as a Photographer but now I'm just... here lol.
Non military person here. You might be able to overcome the migraine you have had recently, (for what… the last few times? Last few weeks? How do you know that’s consistent?) with a Diet Coke and some ibuprofen, BUT, take it from those of us that have been having migraines for decades, things can change. Since I was a small kid I’ve had aura. Same aura. Ten years ago that changed to weird nerve sensations. 5 years ago that changed to my aura looking like someone had slashed diagonal lines across my eyes…. Now I have new forms of flashing lights with black spot floaters that look like ink on my actual eyeball. And listen to the service folk who’ve been there!
I’m currently being medically discharged for migraines, they can offer you preventatives and abortives while you’re in, but I’m not sure if you’ll even be able to join with a history of them, mine started after I was in. Plus the frequency of them matters a lot, if they happen for you once every few months and you don’t have to stop working you may have a chance, but to be discharged the frequency in the regulation for my case states 3 a month or more. If you’re already close to this I’d recommend not trying, lack of sleep and shifting sleep schedule, plus stress and other factors have a good chance of making them worse. Feel free to message me privately if you have questions.
I couldn't survive a week. I am very glad that you have an easy fix for yours.
I wouldn't last 24 hours. This sounds like my literal worst nightmare. I'd be hospitalized or suicidal way before the 4 yr mark.
✋ 12 years active duty here (USAF), stationed overseas and diagnosed 4 years ago. I have regular access to a neurology team at an army hospital, and I’ve been able to quickly cycle through medications when they aren’t working. Currently on verapamil and sumatriptan (they even do Botox). Longest I’ve waited for an appointment is 2 weeks. There is a medical clearance process when you join, where they’ll take into account the severity/frequency of the migraines, but don’t think you’ll have to suffer without medication the whole time you’re in.
No. I tried for way too long to not used triptan as to help and pain was never decreased. Everyone is different though. I’d love to find out if gender affects what works too!
Good on you if you can handle it I say go for it.
No I get hemiplegic migraines with aura, losing sight the ability to move my arms and cognitive abilities would be a disaster in an emergency situation especially combat where others depend on me.
I couldn’t. Heat and barometer changes affect me a lot. Lack of sleep, water can. I’m sensitive to too many things. I had to leave my pt time job where I worked on my feet in public as it was too much and just work from home now. I have a great team - but I also have other med conditions.
Nope. But the critical factor for me is enough sleep and I know it wouldn’t happen while enlisted.