Migraines and getting others to understand

By Denise Garrett Sunday, August 08, 2010

- A
- A
- A

I can't believe there are still so many people unaware of migraine disease. People say the same thing. "What can they do? (doctors meaning). Is it chocolate? There's nothing for that? Duh!!! Don't you think I'd be on it if there was. Please, Please, someone make a commercial, and make it public on TV that Migraine is a disease, not just a symptom. Sure there are triggers, But if you have like me, Lights, Noise, Smells, what can you do? Where can you go and do where you don't have any of these?

Please someone make a commercial. I"ll go on TV, and tell about them. People need to know Doctors need to take it seriously. Botox, is helping me some, Not 100% which I knew, but I do kind of have a life back somewhat. But, I'm broke, becasue freaking insurance won't pay, and we pay Alot, Alot for my husband's insurance. If I can get the amount I need, it might work even better, but I won't be able to eat for 2 months, if I pay for that. Please stop the insanity, someone!!

New Surgery

Comments (10) | Add comment

califmom2

8/ 8/10 10:36pm

I think some celebrities who have migraines should make a PSA to educate people about migraines. Maybe some of these migraine/headache organizations could get together and produce some PSAs and get them aired.

bri83

8/ 9/10 2:19pm

I think that is a wonderful idea! I can't think of many celebrities with migraines but one that always comes to mind is Marcia Cross. At a doctor's visit I saw one of the MD magazines with her on the cover and the article was just about her migraines. She talked about how it can be difficult to do her job when she has one and how she handles migraines on the set of Desperate Housewives.

I know I have read that there are quite a few celebrities with them, but I don't know how the severity of their migraines affects their lives and if they take for granted that their income might not be a problem for their treatments. Any average joe can't shell out the money for their insurance or for some of the treatments that may cure, or at least releive the pain of migraines. For example, Denise. Or any one of us posting!

And I completely agree that they should use their status to help raise the awareness. As an adult I am starting to meet more and more women with migraines, or the relatives of people with migraines. Lord knows if I had any kind of popular reputation I would spread the word as much as possible!

califmom2

8/ 9/10 2:26pm

I posted a request to Cindy McCain to do a PSA since she seems to be taking a lead position on this issue. She is on the cover of Neurology magazine this month discussing her migraines. Maybe she would get the ball rolling!

Denise Garrett

8/ 9/10 9:34pm

Awesome. I would love that. So many people are so UNAWARE!

SusieB

8/14/10 1:26am

I think that too many commercials for products like Excedrin Migraine or Treximet, for example, make it appear that the migraine is controlled/taken care of by the medication and the person with the migraine can resume his/her day. For me, the migraine attack leaves me so wiped out when the abortive takes care of it that I am limited to home usually. I agree. It's time to have a PSA about migraine disease. (Need one for fibromyalgia while we're at it. Lyrica commericals make it seem like the person is "cured" and can go back to life, too.)

Sherry

8/14/10 3:55am

Susie,

You are right on target! I hate the Excedrin Migraine commercials - to me they are worse than the Treximet ones. And I also agree with you about the Lyrica commercials. I don't have fibro, but I know people that do and know that with fibro, much like migraines, one medicine does not help every person. And even for the ones that it does help, it doesn't just magicially cure them. These commercials do way more to hurt the public perception of those of us with migraines than to help them understand. It makes some people think that if we just take the magic pill they saw on tv, that poof - we will be just fine, within 30 minutes, like the girl on the Excedrin commercial. I have learned that I can't educate everyone I meet. But I can do my best to educate the people that are important in my life, and I try very hard to do so. It is hard to deal with a lot of people being so judgmental, but like I said, I can't educate everyone. A PSA from a public figure would be helpful, if people will just watch it.

l723

9/ 2/10 11:37am

Yeah I really love the misconception that a migraine is a headache and I just need asprin and if I try to explain that I've tried everything to no avail I love all the suggestions of get your eyes checked, see a chiropractor, take an excedrin with a mountain dew, and many others. Didn't they think the EXPERTS thought of that? Or at the minimum I already tried when I said everything?? I just really love all the advice from people who think they know my case. I always wait to give advice until asked or until i can see a pattern in their migraine. I realize these people THINK they are helping but really they are just frusterating because they really don't understand, they are either misinformed or uneducated. And I can't yell at them so a PSA would go a long way I think in educating people that what we deal with is not "just a headache".

Denise Garrett

9/ 2/10 8:22pm

You said it all!! So true.

Teresa

9/17/10 2:19pm

I would love to see a commercial about a REAL patient who suffers from REAL migraines. Better yet, let's put that person on TV while their in the middle of a migraine and let people see what ONE REALLY LOOKS LIKE...

This is a real disease, and people will never understand it. It's sad but they think it's just a headache. :-*(

Denise Garrett

9/17/10 7:09pm

Totally agree.

Migraines and getting others to understand

Ask a Question