30 Things About My Migraines That You Might Not Know!

30 things about my migraines that you might not know! 

1. The illness I live with is: Maladaptive pain disorder( but many doctors have told me I have chronic migraines) 
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2011
3. But I had symptoms since: 2007
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: my social life/ my education
5. Most people assume: I’m looking for attention
6. The hardest part about mornings are: convincing myself to get up
7. My favorite medical TV show is: none: Greys Anatomy
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my cell phone.. it keeps me connected to my friends when I get really sick
9. The hardest part about nights are: when I just cannot sleep
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. Each day I take 5 pills and 2 sprays of a prescription medication, then if its very bad I take a wafer pill just to add to the fun!
11. Regarding alternative treatments: Physio, massage, acupuncture and now on to the Ceflay anti migraine machine!
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose:  100% visible. If people believed that I was in constant pain, half of my daily battle would be beat.
13. Regarding working and career: Still a high school student. Struggling.
14. People would be surprised to know: That I volunteer as much as physically possible
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Loosing so many friends, and having so many authoritative figures doubt my illness
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Complete high school. I graduate this coming June
17. The commercials about my illness: make me frustrated. They make all my peers think that all headaches can be cured from taking advil. NEWSFLASH. They can’t 
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: being able spend a lot of time with my friends
19. It was really hard to have to give up: my old life
    
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: blogging!
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Drink lots of lattes, do lots of shopping with a lot of my friends, go out to dinner with my family then round off the evening with going to a movie theater.
22. My illness has taught me: I am a lot more mature than most adults I’ve met
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: when people tell me they “would die” if they had what I have
24. But I love it when people: understand, and treat me like a normal 18 year old
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: ” Pain. You just have to ride it out, hope it goes away on its own. Hope the wound that caused it heals. There are no solutions, no easy answers. You just breathe deep and wait for it to subside. Most of the time pain can be managed, but sometime the pain gets you when you least expect it, hits way below the belt and doesn’t let uo. Pain. You just have to fight through, because the truth is you cant outrun it… and life always makes more” Greys Anatomy
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Please do not feel alone. Start looking for others like yourself, I promise there is someone out there who has a similar condition.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How rampant discrimination is.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: My mum brings me flowers quite frequently, which I greatly appreciate
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Well, I just found this online, but I will definitely be participating in invisible illness week next year!
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: like someone cares 

Original posting: http://thatmword.com/post/16590346268/30-things-about-my-migraines-you-may-not-know

My Dance with Discrimination

Yesterday I faced a daunting task.. Approach a teacher who seemed to be on the fence regarding accepting my disability.. Well today I can say with clarity I know where he stands now!

I have formal adaptations on my school file which states a couple things.. One is that I must have reduced work: “The quality of the work will not reduce if the quantity is reduced” Seems like a simple theory right? Apparently not..

So sadly early in this semester one specific teacher, who we will call Mr. Discrimination, who was informed on my adaptations. Many assessments had gone by with no adaptations made, so I just struggled to complete all of them.. First assessment comes along. Nothing. We send a friendly reminder. Second assesment comes along, again nothing. So on each of these assessments I had to take his job and reduce them myself. His response? Give me ZEROS for each question reduced.

So yesterday I go to him, asking why? His response? calling me many many rude and ignorant names.. telling me I was taking advantage of my situation

So I left feeling horrid. Next stop. Administration.

So this morning, he took me out into the crowed hallway to [[[[[[[[SCARCASM ALERT]]]]]]]] “apologize” in front of my peers.

In the beginning he said he was wrong, but then quickly placed the blame on me. Blaming me for ruining his life… Being angry at me for taking this to the next level…

Well Mr. Discrimination I am doing this because you only apologized due to the fact I didn’t let you push me around.

I do apologize for leaving some pieces out.. But I’m still a little shaken up from the experience and some things are just to personal.

Day 21: Adversity #HAWMC

Day 21 – Adversity

 “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” – Mulan
True or false? When do you bloom best?
Today’s post was recommended by Christina of http://www.stickwithitsugar.com

I do believe that we “bloom” in the face of adversity.. but I believe that we would not have bloomed if given the choice..

I guess I “bloom” best when I have faced discrimination .Generally, I have faced a large bouts of discrimination at school, and I have found it has changed me as a person.. I am now very active in meetings with my teachers, school admins and changes to my adaptations..

Sorry for such a short blog post today! I am swamped with homework!

Day 12: Hindsight #HAWMC

Day 12 (April 12) – Hindsight

  What have you learned about being a patient/caregiver that has surprised you most?

The two biggest things that I have learned about being a patient is that:

•  Medicine is still in the early stages of treatment, and still does not understand many diseases and conditions

                   

and

• Discrimination and judgement is rampant in society pertaining to many invisible illnesses.

                      

If you would have told me these two points before August of 2007 (initial onset of illness) I would have laughed, or ignored your comments, because I had these sense that doctors could fix everything.You went to the hospital when you were sick or in pain, then you went home a few hours or days later feeling all better. I never knew that there was this entire dark side to medicine that essentially has “no cure” , until I was a statistic on that side… It’s a totally different feeling when you’re on the other side of that line. I can guarantee it.

Discrimination, judgment and ignorance is another issue that I have faced many times over the years, many times it has been  from  “family” members, close “friends” and  teachers. Many have  preconceived opinions of those with chronic pain, and I have found it very hard to be successful in such a hostile environment. Suffering from an invisible disability subjected me to unfair treatment: Because on the outside I appear completely normal so the assumption is, there is nothing wrong with me; I must be making it up. My reality is that I suffer each and every day and if I could, I would change that.

UPDATE!!  I wrote this blog on April 5th, just last night ( April 11th) I heard plans of a meeting with my principal to discuss my three years at my high school… the plus?! I am actually going to be able to attend this meeting :D! Can’t wait to give you more details on this!

PHOTOS: That are not tagged @CHRONICALLYCOOL were found at

http://chronicillnessmemes.tumblr.com/