Photo Fridays- Advocates in Action

Shown here are my fellow Headache on the Hill participants as we talk to a staffer from Congressman Don Beyers office from VA. I was so incredibly proud of how well our group was able to mesh together to get our message across. Two of us had chronic migraine, one had cluster headache, two were caregivers and one a headache specialist.
I have to boast about my friend Monica who had asked me months prior if she could go with me to Headache on the Hill.
She’s only experienced one migraine in her life. After her second son was born she had excruciating head pain that would only improve if she laid down. After five days of agony it was discovered that she had a lumbar puncture from the epidural she was given during childbirth. Spinal fluid was slowly leaking out, causing this migraine attack. The cure was for her doctor to perform a blood patch in order to stop the leak. While the experience was incredibly painful, Monica told me that the silver lining was that she could relate more to what I was going through.
As someone I consider a caregiver to me, she was able to tell staffers on Capitol Hill what extreme impact chronic migraine has had on my life. She’s known me before and after I became chronic. I am truly blessed to have her in life as well as a host of other family and friends who are sensitive to my condition. I know that this is a luxury many others in my shoes do not have.
Medical Mondays- Changing Insurance Companies Finale
This is the last part in the crazy lengths I had to go to to fight for an insurance company to honor their word and collect money they owed me. To read the first part of this series, click here. Recap: I’ve been fighting to get reimbursed for funds I paid out of pocket for…
Photo Fridays – My Broken Brain
This is one of my favorite migraine awareness t-shirts. Designed by Don Vanderpool, who runs a Facebook group called “My Broken Brain.” He created this shirt last year and I wear it all the time, especially when I’m about to go into migraine battle! The back of the shirt covers just about all of the…
International Overdose Awareness Day
Today, August 31, is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). Started by an organization in Australia in 2001, this is a day to not only remember those lost to overdose, but also to educate. “The tragedy of overdose death is preventable and more must be done to save lives,” says the Penington Institute who started this initiative.