My migraines started in 2004, every year they became more severe and longer in duration. The last stretch of migraines was 10 months every single day. The current stretch is now 2 years and 2 months and counting with no relief in sight ! Every aspect of my life including losing my job is destroyed ! There is no cure and no one is able to help me....
Iam currently fighting my insurance company who are denying payment of my dr office visits for medication for my migraines. They say its a peexisting condition and I was to not seek treatment for my migraines for a whole year after my enrollment with their company. I did not choose this company, they came with my job when I went full time. Sad to say that I work in a hospital and of instead of seeking a dr at work to just write a script, I went thru the system the correct way and now I'm getting hit with dr bills for a 10min office visit
I have suffered from migraines for 35 years and have missed out on so many family and work functions because of it. It affects the quality of life SO much and so many do not understand it if they've never had one! I have been treated differently at work....although now I work at a hospital and they are understanding. I also have FMLA and Thank GOD for that or I wouldn't have a job, but it still sucks that most all of my vacation time gets used up as sick time because of these terrible, sickening headaches!
Living with a brain-freeze is one of the cruelest ways to live. We put our horses and pets asleep if they suffer this greatly. Imagine sharp shooting stabbing pain. I liken it to having a broken beer bottle being slammed into my eyeball or the few second brain-freeze you have when when you eat something too cold too fast...only add 10 hours (or so), multiple rx and they do nothing to cut the pain. Now function, do your job and act like nothings wrong. Some days I can some days I can't. I too have struggled with suicidal thoughts because of the pain but also the complexity of our healthcare system and the lack of flexibility in the work place add stress. I am a college educated professional who is pretty darn good at what I do, but I just need flexibility to work around the brain-freezes and so many employers deem that, in this environment, as too risky to work with.. When you suffer repeatedly from these types of headaches organization skills, ability to think and function diminish--quality of life becomes non-existent and I don't fear dying a natural death, but I do fear the pain yet to come. I've lost another job, now my insurance because I can't afford the $620 cobra insurance. PLEASE HELP US.
Since I was 16, 35 years ago, migraine has affected and restricted what has been possible for me. I didn't go to my high school prom. I have missed friends' weddings. I have turned down promotions that would have required me to be completely healthy. I have decided not to have children -- after being raised by a mother suffering migraine, and knowing the severity of my own migraines, I knew that the odds I would fail to be a good mother were high and I didn't want to raise another generation of family members suffering in this way.
What do I have to look forward to; what can I anticipate? My migraines are among those not abating in menopause. My grandfather died of a migraine-related stroke. My mother suffers from Bell's Palsy, which her doc believes is linked to her migraines, which she still suffers in her 70s.
At least 10 days a month I struggle to remain productive amidst excruciating pain and loss of vision. Without health insurance, my medication costs me $500 a month. I'm one of those for whom sumatriptan doesn't work -- my blood pressure nosedives and I faint -- so I'm constrained in what I can do. I'm a successful professional and yet at least once a month I consider suicide, as a completely rational option.
I would rather be around to witness my legislators hold hearings on this subject than have my story told in my absence because I finally decided that I simply couldn't go on another day.
Above all, I would like to believe that, despite an era of cynicism in politics, that a group of legislators explicitly charged with the nation's health concerns, are not so "old world" in their thinking as to believe, in the face of the medical evidence, that this is just a minor health issue. I don't have a broken leg; I don't have seizures. But I can tell you that I walked around with a broken nose and a dislocated shoulder for hours before seeking medical attention because -- compared to a migraine -- the pain simply wasn't that bad.
And I am one of the lucky ones. I am college educated, live in a large city with access to medical care and the resources to seek such care from physicians who have studied migraine. I live in a (relatively) supportive community. And yet, I still run into people who assume a migraine is just a bad headache, and suggest I take an Advil. And I live in a country where despite the toll that migraine takes on society and economy, it receives only about $15 million in annual NIH funding, and little to no attention from policymakers. I urge you to try to understand what it might be like to find yourself willing to swap your own diagnosis for that given to a friend's sister of ALS -- and then take action.
Since I was 16, 35 years ago, migraine has affected and restricted what has been possible for me. I didn't go to my high school prom. I have missed friends' weddings. I have turned down promotions that would have required me to be completely healthy. I have decided not to have children -- after being raised by a mother suffering migraine, and knowing the severity of my own migraines, I knew that the odds I would fail to be a good mother were high and I didn't want to raise another generation of family members suffering in this way.
What do I have to look forward to; what can I anticipate? My migraines are among those not abating in menopause. My grandfather died of a migraine-related stroke. My mother suffers from Bell's Palsy, which her doc believes is linked to her migraines, which she still suffers in her 70s.
At least 10 days a month I struggle to remain productive amidst excruciating pain and loss of vision. Without health insurance, my medication costs me $500 a month. I'm one of those for whom sumatriptan doesn't work -- my blood pressure nosedives and I faint -- so I'm constrained in what I can do. I'm a successful professional and yet at least once a month I consider suicide, as a completely rational option.
I would rather be around to witness my legislators hold hearings on this subject than have my story told in my absence because I finally decided that I simply couldn't go on another day.
Above all, I would like to believe that, despite an era of cynicism in politics, that a group of legislators explicitly charged with the nation's health concerns, are not so "old world" in their thinking as to believe, in the face of the medical evidence, that this is just a minor health issue. I don't have a broken leg; I don't have seizures. But I can tell you that I walked around with a broken nose and a dislocated shoulder for hours before seeking medical attention because -- compared to a migraine -- the pain simply wasn't that bad.
And I am one of the lucky ones. I am college educated, live in a large city with access to medical care and the resources to seek such care from physicians who have studied migraine. I live in a (relatively) supportive community. And yet, I still run into people who assume a migraine is just a bad headache, and suggest I take an Advil. And I live in a country where despite the toll that migraine takes on society and economy, it receives only about $15 million in annual NIH funding, and little to no attention from policymakers. I urge you to try to understand what it might be like to find yourself willing to swap your own diagnosis for that given to a friend's sister of ALS -- and then take action.
There is a new procedure called the Reed neurostimulation procedure. The cost is $50000 +. My insurance company rejected my precert x2 because "it's not FDA approved" It is currently in the process. I have suffered severe suicidal depression from suffering these debilitating headaches from the age of 12. Most recently they have been more frequent and almost daily since my mid 40's. I'm now 58. I needed to take a leave of absence from work, cut my work hours down so that I would not lose my job for calliing out sick (I had already used my FMLA). I would like to see the Reed procedure on the fast track to approval from the FDA. Where am I going to get $50,000+ to pay for this procedure?
I have tried EVERY other conservative tx. NOTHING works except DHE which can only be taken 3 x/wk and costs over $100 for one vial for one injection. I save these injections for when I need to go to work. Otherwise I have no life.PLEASE speed up the FDA approval for the Reed procedure.
I have suffered for over 20 years with migraines. Nothing so far works, more studies and more attention paid to this disease would help folks like me function productively.
I have been suffering with migraines since I was a teenager. I have been to the hospital ER numerous times and admitted once. There needs to be more research done to fins the true cause (mine are not caused by the normal factors such as foods).
Please help - I have suffered with migraines for over 35 years. I have tried over 10 different medications and over 5 different procedures/practices with no success in preventing/controlling the headaches. I spend thousands of dollars every year on medications, office visits and ER visits. I just want to live a normal life without pain.
I have been disabled by chronic migraines and wish there was more research available to my doctors. The only way that is possible is to have more money available for research.
Aura Migraine headaches have plagued my life since the age of 13. I am now 23 years of age. Often, I feel chronic Migraines are publicly viewed as no worse than a common cold; but I can personally tell you through my own experience of battling migraines that they are nothing to take lightly. These aura migraines produce pain that I wouldn’t even wish upon my worst enemy. It is up to the people in power such as you to please provide all support possible to the people like me who are debilitated by this commonly misunderstood and mysterious disease.
Had my first migraine at 10 years old. Twenty years later they are still going strong. I never manage a full week of work but try claiming to have a disability at 30 due to headaches. I just get the "slacker" label.
IF you all understand How migranes feel .It does not feel good we feel like we are dying inside we cant even spend time with our kids, family nor friends. just put your place in our shoes or your family and friends if they have migranes.WE did not ask for this migranes..Pls help us find a cure.pl I beg you you are the only hope for the cure because you are the only one who have the power in your hands who is holding the paper, pen and the voice for us people down here. thnk you God Bless you ALL.
Urge Congressional hearings on the impact of migraine and headache disorders
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Some recent comments: these messages are published with permission of the signer.
What do I have to look forward to; what can I anticipate? My migraines are among those not abating in menopause. My grandfather died of a migraine-related stroke. My mother suffers from Bell's Palsy, which her doc believes is linked to her migraines, which she still suffers in her 70s.
At least 10 days a month I struggle to remain productive amidst excruciating pain and loss of vision. Without health insurance, my medication costs me $500 a month. I'm one of those for whom sumatriptan doesn't work -- my blood pressure nosedives and I faint -- so I'm constrained in what I can do. I'm a successful professional and yet at least once a month I consider suicide, as a completely rational option.
I would rather be around to witness my legislators hold hearings on this subject than have my story told in my absence because I finally decided that I simply couldn't go on another day.
Above all, I would like to believe that, despite an era of cynicism in politics, that a group of legislators explicitly charged with the nation's health concerns, are not so "old world" in their thinking as to believe, in the face of the medical evidence, that this is just a minor health issue. I don't have a broken leg; I don't have seizures. But I can tell you that I walked around with a broken nose and a dislocated shoulder for hours before seeking medical attention because -- compared to a migraine -- the pain simply wasn't that bad.
And I am one of the lucky ones. I am college educated, live in a large city with access to medical care and the resources to seek such care from physicians who have studied migraine. I live in a (relatively) supportive community. And yet, I still run into people who assume a migraine is just a bad headache, and suggest I take an Advil. And I live in a country where despite the toll that migraine takes on society and economy, it receives only about $15 million in annual NIH funding, and little to no attention from policymakers. I urge you to try to understand what it might be like to find yourself willing to swap your own diagnosis for that given to a friend's sister of ALS -- and then take action.
What do I have to look forward to; what can I anticipate? My migraines are among those not abating in menopause. My grandfather died of a migraine-related stroke. My mother suffers from Bell's Palsy, which her doc believes is linked to her migraines, which she still suffers in her 70s.
At least 10 days a month I struggle to remain productive amidst excruciating pain and loss of vision. Without health insurance, my medication costs me $500 a month. I'm one of those for whom sumatriptan doesn't work -- my blood pressure nosedives and I faint -- so I'm constrained in what I can do. I'm a successful professional and yet at least once a month I consider suicide, as a completely rational option.
I would rather be around to witness my legislators hold hearings on this subject than have my story told in my absence because I finally decided that I simply couldn't go on another day.
Above all, I would like to believe that, despite an era of cynicism in politics, that a group of legislators explicitly charged with the nation's health concerns, are not so "old world" in their thinking as to believe, in the face of the medical evidence, that this is just a minor health issue. I don't have a broken leg; I don't have seizures. But I can tell you that I walked around with a broken nose and a dislocated shoulder for hours before seeking medical attention because -- compared to a migraine -- the pain simply wasn't that bad.
And I am one of the lucky ones. I am college educated, live in a large city with access to medical care and the resources to seek such care from physicians who have studied migraine. I live in a (relatively) supportive community. And yet, I still run into people who assume a migraine is just a bad headache, and suggest I take an Advil. And I live in a country where despite the toll that migraine takes on society and economy, it receives only about $15 million in annual NIH funding, and little to no attention from policymakers. I urge you to try to understand what it might be like to find yourself willing to swap your own diagnosis for that given to a friend's sister of ALS -- and then take action.
I have tried EVERY other conservative tx. NOTHING works except DHE which can only be taken 3 x/wk and costs over $100 for one vial for one injection. I save these injections for when I need to go to work. Otherwise I have no life.PLEASE speed up the FDA approval for the Reed procedure.
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