Avis's migraine healing story
Migraines started for Avis after she had her children. She describes how they increased with intensity and her road to diagnosis and healing.
Transcript
When other people think disability Medicare, Medicaid patients should look a certain way, they often say really ignorant remarks towards you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I started to experience severe migraine symptoms after having
my children in my 20s. And I started to just get a lot of dizzy spells, spotty lights,
disorientation, and very bad head pain. My high-stress jobs that I held required me
to interact 100% with everyone. I was in mental health counseling. I worked in the prisons. I did so many hands-on things that I couldn't call off.
I would just sit in my office with the lights out. I would show up but be checked out. So I started to feel like I was taxing my body way too much.
And I never knew until I sat still how bad it had gotten. I had to make sure I had health care
to address these ongoing issues that were worsening. I feel judged because I'm on disability, Medicare,
and Medicaid. I guess to society, I don't look like a typical Medicare, Medicaid recipient, especially when
I got a handicapped sticker. And I have people that lash out because I have one, because I don't look a certain way.
At first, I was embarrassed. I would actually tone down what I look like. I felt like I needed to look like a disability to avoid
that type of ignorance. That's not who I am, and I don't have to stop and react to things a certain way.
I just can educate you and move on. No one knows you better than yourself. It's just being mindful and attentive
to what your needs are and what takes you off course of who you are. Don't feel ashamed.
Don't feel guilty about it. Just explain to your immediate family, people you can trust that you know have your best interests.
migraines
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