Headache on the Hill - Wednesday

Hi Chris,

What would be your solution to the current state of emergency in the health care system?  I, for one, cannot afford the cost of my medications each month, and do not take everything that is prescribed to me because of that fact.  I do not have a headache specialist because I cannot afford to see one.  God forbid that I should need any extensive medical care, beyond what I already require for bipolar and migraines.  My deductible is $5,000.00 and I don't have that kind of money to give to anyone.  After the deductible, I have a co-pay of 20%.  That may not seem like much, but for a person making $10.10 an hour, it is a huge chunk of change.

I have unpaid medical bills to the tune of thousands of dollars that I cannot afford to pay.  I did not ask for those bills or for the treatment.  I had to get the treatment or suffer in severe pain or die.  Now, I am stuck with medical bills that are going to force me to file for bankruptcy.  My credit history is ruined through no fault of my own.  I will never be able to live out the American Dream - in the form of buying a house - because of my ruined credit, caused from my inability to pay for medical bills, which I had no desire to incur.  My son and I live in a tiny apartment in a four-plex, where we have been for over ten years.  We do not have any luxuries other than the internet.

Perhaps socialized medicine is not the answer.  I would like to know what the answer is.  There has got to be something better than the current employer sponsored insurance benefits that don't even cover the bare necessities.  And that is in spite of the fact, that I pay a tidy sum of money each month for an insurance plan that doesn't even begin to provide for my or my son's health care needs.  We don't get annual physicals, mammograms, pap smears or eye exams.  They are a luxury we cannot afford.

If you or someone else has an answer to the problem of health care in America, I would like to know what it is.  For now, I know of people who have died because of the (lack of a) health care system in America.  While people like you are concerned about who is going to pay for so-called socialized programs, other people are dieing every day and/or suffering extreme pain due to inability to pay for a doctor.  Many of these folks will never even see a specialist, much less have to wait six months to get in to one.

Please let me know - what is your answer to this life threatening crisis situation?  I'd really like to know.

Kay

Chris,

The S-Chip program is not new. It is primarily to make sure that CHILDREN get health care. It is a far cry from socialized medicine. But, that's a topic for another time. I really don't want to stray from the issue of Headache on the Hill, which is NIH funding for basic headache and Migraine research. Without more of this basic research, we're not going to see new and better treatments.

Thanks,

Teri 

Thanks, Marlene!

I'm home finally. Got home early this afternoon. What a week! A very productive week.

After the day on the Hill, I stayed the rest of the week to finally meet the HealthCentral staff face-to-face and work in the HC offices for a couple of days. 

It's amazing how much can happen and be accomplished in one week!

hugs,

Teri 

Karen,

Thanks so much! I'm glad the site and my book have been helpful. That's why we do these things!

I'll be keeping you all updated on when it's time to contact Senators. We'll be providing you with all the background information and specifics on what to ask them to do to help. With an organized effort, I'm sure we're going to be able to bring about some very important changes.

I know how hard finding preventives is and just how easy it is to feel like giving up. I remember that feeling all too well. You said, "I went from using 2 migraine pills a day down to 1 a day ." What kind of medication is this?

Karen, you're always welcome!!

Teri 

Hi Terry,

  I am just using a migraine medication, I have not been able to find a preventative that has helped, The free botox I have been getting has helped me cut back some on my migraine medicine which is frova. Again Thank you so much for all your help. Your website is awsome,I have passed it on to a few friends who know migraine suffers.  Anything I can do to pass on to my Senator I will do whatever I can.

Thank You So Much

Karen

Karen;

Most all Insurance co will only allow 9 pills a month for some unknown reason. Have you tried the Imitrex injections? You may be able to get 3 or more sets of injections a month. That is real helpful. I use them. Then there is also the nasal spray. I don't use it because it really doesn't do much for me.

Now my insurance wouldn't cover Botox for migraines either. My neuro had to write up a letter that the Botox was being used for the back of my neck and the issues there with muscle spasms etc. With that letter and the Botox Hot Line working together they finally decided to cover the cost involved. Not all of it but a certain %.

I am sorry to hear of your daughter going through the head pain. She is the age that I started my headpain. At that time though no one called it headpain or migraine. I went through alot from family, neighbors, school, and even the doctors who decided what I had and they were all wrong. Only I knew but I didn't have a name for it yet.

Good luck to you and your daughter. My heart really does go out to you both!

Marlene    

Marlene,

   Thanks for the letter, I have tried imitrex, I had alot of side effects, espcially my heart, I have alot of other medical problems, and unfortunatelly I dont do well with alot of medications. I have permanent dammage to my pancreas from a test they put me thru for my stomach and the pain I am in somedays is unbearable, I can't use narcotics I have had to many side effects or reactions to everything they have tried, so for that I use a non-narcotic pain medication that only takes the edge off.

    My doctor tried writing my insurance also about the muscles in my neck, I even went thru trigger injections in my head, the craneial nerves, and in my neck at Beth Isreal Deaconess and nothing helped, I also spent 23 days at hospital for my migraines where they tried to break the cycle, and nothing they used or did helped.  It really stinks alot, but Its my beautiful daughter who keeps me fighting all my health problems, she needs me around for along time.  So I have to pick and choose when I use my migriane meds, If I know she has a sports event or something important coming up I make sure I have something for that day. I have spent many days in bed, But I won't Give Up!!

   Thank you so much for the letter of hope I really appreciated it. Take Care.

Karen

Karen,

We would have to have Teri do this for us but if you would like to exchange email addresses I would be happy to correspond with you.

Marlene  

Marlene that would be fine.  I do have somedays I am unable to check my mail but I do as freqent as I can.  Thanks Marlene.  Take Care.

Karen

Hi, Karen,

If by "migraine medication," you mean a triptan or pain medication, please be careful? Taking those meds more than two or three days a week can put you in a tough situation with rebound.

We will have all kinds of info available and will organizing an effort to get those letters to senators and congressmen. We'll have sample letters, a list of points to make, suggestions for what our senators and congressmen can do to help. I'll be so wound up about it, you won't be able to miss it when it's ready to go.

hugs,

Teri 

Terry, 

    Yes I am very careful with the triptans, They thought one of my meds that I take for my pancreas might be giving me rebounds but I came off of it for a good period of time and the headaches were the same. Looking Forward to helping in anyway.

        Again I want to say thank you so much to take the time , to respond to us migraine suffers, the way you do, I live in Massachusettes and I talk about  your website alot and how  much you have done for so many people.  When you had the braclets on sale for the young woman who took her life I bought some and handed them out to friends and family.

          I will try to do whatever I can from home, I just thank god that there are people like you out there that are speaking on behalf of many of us with migraine disease, you have helped me hang on to hope, and I thank you for that.

Good Luck With Everything and I will continue to check for updates.

Sincerly, Karen

Karen,

Glad you're watching out and avoiding rebound.

We'll definitely have things set up so you and others can effectively help with this from home. Want to be sure to include everyone.

You're welcome, Karen, and thank you.

Teri 

Teri,

I have been diagnosed with migranes ever since I was about 6. I have read your book and loved it. I live in Austin, Texas and would love to do my part in helping get the word out. I was wondering if we can get any of those silicone braclets made up??

Thanks for all you do!!

Cassada

Hi, Cassandra,

It's nice to "meet" you. I'm so glad the book was helpful!

One of the pharma companies donated the funds for silicone awareness bracelets a few years ago. They blew out of here for a couple of months, then requests trickled to a stop, unfortunately. At that point, it was decided not to do them again. Unfortunately, I've had similar experiences with other awareness items over the years -- lots of people say they want them, then don't order them once they're available. I doubt that we'll do the bracelets again any time soon, but you can find some awareness items in this CafePress Shop.

Take care,

Teri