By Wanda - Yes, migraines suck. I’ve had them as long as I can remember, and I turned half a century old this year. The pain is unbearable, the otherness daunting, the anxiety of waiting for the next attack often all but undoes us. Growing up, head pain was my normal as it was for … Continue reading Joy in the Journey
By Jorie - Dear Disbeliever, As I sit here writing this letter, and as you sit here reading it, you may believe that because I’m physically and mentally able to write in this moment, because I am conscious and communicating well, that it means I’m not in pain, that I have zero symptoms affecting me. … Continue reading A Letter to My Disbelievers
By Wanda - "Pain and loss define us as much as happiness or love. Whether it’s a world or relationship every thing has its time and everything ends." When we were little children just learning to walk we fell often. We accepted falling with a little fuss and then got back up and tried again. … Continue reading Lessons From Pain and Loss
By Wanda - As I write, there is a tub load of laundry in the dryer. For many of us there is always a tub load of laundry either in the washer or dryer. The thing is, both the wash cycle and drying cycle were labeled “normal.” Either one of your machines, and perhaps your … Continue reading There is No “Normal”
By Brittany - For four and a half years, chronic migraine has run my life. It’s been at the forefront of most discussions and the primary focus when someone asks “How are you?” It’s hard to talk about sometimes, for fear of feeling like a broken record. Pain levels and symptoms fluctuate so frequently that … Continue reading How My Response to “How Are You?” Has Changed
By Jeannette - Within the chronic illness community we speak a lot about the importance of visibility. We discuss the need to self-advocate, to have our rights heard, and the importance of speaking out against stigma, especially when you have an illness that has debilitating symptoms that impact our interactions with the world, but aren’t always … Continue reading The Vulnerability of Visibility
By Wanda - Do you make lists? I do. Tons of them. So many lists! Contacts, recipes, shopping lists, allergies, to do lists, appointments, doctors, medications, surgeries, conditions, test results, books to read, health studies... I make SO many lists! So, medications -- 27 at the moment. Some daily, some as needed, some I’d rather … Continue reading Chronically Fabulous at Fifty
By Brittany - It’s been 4 years since I was diagnosed with chronic migraine. Having never experienced a migraine prior to the concussion that caused this chronic neurological disease, to say the last 4 years has been a challenging learning experience is an understatement. This last month has been particularly challenging, with each day being … Continue reading 5 Ways I’ve Learned How to Survive Chronic Migraine
By Jeannette - On social media I often see fellow patients with chronic pain and illness, questioned and put in the position where they have to explain how they can have a bit of beauty, joy, smiles, and soul shine, while they are sick and in daily pain. Apparently, a smile must negate pain. I … Continue reading You Are Allowed To Live With Pain & Still Shine
By Wanda - Have you ever stopped and listed all the treatment methods you’ve used to manage the pain of migraines? We spend so much time, energy, and money on preventive and abortive treatments it can be daunting. According to the Migraine Relief Center, “the costs of migraines in the United States is $78 BILLION … Continue reading Looking Forward to Relief
