Life with Migraine
Building A Sense of Community – A Daunting Task?
Migraine can be a rough disease to live with and learn to manage. One that can easily leave any of us feeling emotionally and socially isolated. I can finally say that the migraine community has become an important part of my life, but it has been quite a journey. For many of you the pressing question may be: How do I even begin to get connected?
Read MoreWhen the Migraine Monster Touches Your Child: Part 1
I will never forget the day that my oldest son, Joel, called me into his room and said: “Flashy lights, mommy! I see flashy lights!” He was not quite 9 years old and my heart sank. At that time, I knew little about the hereditary risk of migraine but quickly found myself on a steep learning curve. Less than two years later, I went through the same heartbreak with my second son. The disease took on a new face, a more personal and challenging face.
Read MoreA Journey Towards Self-Advocacy
I know for many self-advocacy is difficult. It is time consuming. It is hard to do when you are in pain. It is frustrating, being sent from one person to another and back again. It is discouraging dealing with unfriendly people, and it can be incredibly hard to find a good doctor to work with. In short, it is not easy! However, it is something we all must learn to do in order to get the very best treatment we deserve for our health.
Read MoreThe Headache Doctor Crisis is All Too Real
There is fewer than one headache specialist for every 85,000 headache and migraine patients in the United States. This figure is similar to other countries around the world, and sometimes even worse. For the vast majority of us, this critical shortage of headache specialists requires us to work with someone who doesn’t specialize in headache…
Read MoreHope Will Long Last
A migraine poem by Deborah Bloom: Hope Will Long Last – Some may question this disease that they cannot see but it is not invisible to you and to me. Migraine you may refuse to let me loose, but I will continue on my quest; today and the tomorrows I will pick myself up and strive to do my best
Read MoreConstant Companion
Pain is our constant compaion
Read MoreI Have a Friend
I Have a Friend poem that talks about the impact of connection when you live with chronic pain or illness.
Read MoreAn Open Letter to My Doctors
“Please don’t give up on me!” It’s a silent plea that rarely is verbalized but which trails so many of us doggedly. Even when we’ve had good experiences with the medical profession this concept of “giving up” often lingers. Sadly, migraine disease is often treated differently than other diseases. There is more of a tendency to give up – both ourselves, society and even healthcare professionals. It is more likely for people with migraine to be told to “accept” things as they are or accept minimal improvement.
Read MoreSome Migraine Questions May Not Have Easy Answers
When it comes to migraine, I want to have answers – for myself and for others. It’s important for me to be able to explain what is going on, when the migraine attacks started, and why they are not getting better. There is a driving desire to know what is currently unknowable. – to understand, be understood, and have migraine acknowledged for the disabling disease it truly is.
Read MoreYou are MORE than Enough
When motherhood and migraine collide, you are more than enough!
Read MoreAn Insurmountable Task?
As a diehard Brit who was introduced to the delights of a “real British cuppa” as a young child, I basically don’t come alive in the mornings until I’ve downed at least one cup of my trusty PG Tips. However, some mornings are much harder than others, and there are many days when just crawling out of bed seems like an insurmountable task, British cuppa or not!
Read MoreThe End of the Line? Part 2
With six weeks of an intensive pain program under my belt I’m finally able to see the finish line of this 8-week journey. The lack of blogs and posts the past few weeks likely tells its own story – I’m exhausted! But apart from exhaustion, are there things to be learnt? Has this been a worthwhile experience or a lesson in futility?!
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