Migraines made life feel unlivable. It took years to find a doctor who believed me

Experts said my headaches and vertigo were just anxiety. Then one neurologist helped me feel hopeful again

Soon after my first child was born in 2012, I woke up every morning with a pulsating pain in my head and a disorienting feeling, like the floor was shifting beneath my feet. I’d stumble to the bathroom, popping Tylenol and Tums, but they only offered temporary relief. As a new mom, I struggled to care for myself while also looking after a tiny human. At first, I thought my frequent throbbing headaches, relentless nausea and debilitating vertigo were normal for postpartum life.

Then, everything became a trigger. At live concerts, loud music made my ears ring, my neck tighten and the room spin. So I stopped going. At playgrounds, seesaws and merry-go-rounds made me queasy. At happy hours with other moms, my hands went numb, fearing alcohol would set off an episode, leaving me unable to drive home. So I avoided those places, too.