Hemiplegic Migraine Medical Bill Relief

My Name Is Matt.

I suffer from hemiplegic migraines. They are a very rare form of migraine headache that affects one side of a person's body (in my case, the left) when they suffer from a migraine.

I have suffered from migraines my entire adult life, but the hemiplegia aspect has only manifested itself since the middle of 2017.

How It Affects Me

Like most migraine sufferers, I experience photophobia, or an extreme sensitivity to light during my episodes. I also become physically ill. My brain becomes "fuzzy" (think old-school TV that's not getting a good signal...the static one sees/hears is the best way I can describe it), and I get an "icepick" feeling; that is, a stabbing sensation behind my left eye that is excruciatingly painful.

The scariest part of these episodes, however, is when I lose control of the left side of my body. I literally lose all function in my left arm and leg. Moreover, the left side of my face begins to droop. It looks like a stroke, but isn't.

During these episodes, I'm conscious, but not lucid. That is to say, I'm technically "awake" but I have no memory of what happens during. I'm also told that I develop a nasty disposition; that is, I'm easily angered and agitated, and I become very verbally abusive - not like me at all. It's very embarrassing to come to and find out all the awful things I've said. It's no excuse, and I take full responsibility, but just the same, I have no idea I'm doing it.

What We've Tried So Far

We've tried several methods of treatment and relief with varying degrees of success. Over-the-counter medication does little to nothing, and the same can be said of muscle relaxers. Sleep-inducing medication (Ambien, OTC sleep aids, etc.) does get me to sleep sometimes, but the problem is that I awaken in just as much pain.

Opioids work, albeit temporarily. The drug called Dilaudid works wonders, but as a narcotic, I worry about dependency issues as well as rebound headaches and withdrawal symptoms. I also despise the "high" feeling it produces. I feel like I'm not in control of my body, and it's scary. In addition, the drug, while effective, makes me listless and of no use for at least a day.

I've recently tried the drug ketamine, which like the opioids, works, but without the narcotic dependency. However, also like the opioids, it tends to leave me exhausted and listless. Currently, that is my go-to drug for my episodes.

ER Visits Aren't Cheap

Then, of course, there are the treatments themselves. Not every episode leads to a trip to the emergency room (the lesser ones take a lot of time, but I can power through them with plenty of rest), but the ones that do are the ones that cost the most money.

ER visits are 100% effective for me, but they're also expensive, and I went to the ER 27 times in 2018 alone. I made several trips in the latter half of 2017, and one trip already this year.

Our insurance is okay; we have decent coverage through my wife's work. But, deductibles must still be paid.

We're drowning financially. We're behind on bills, and it's affecting our credit.

We're living paycheck to paycheck...and by that, I mean my wife's paycheck. I can't work.

I Want to Be Productive Again

That’s the worst feeling of all – I can’t work and I want to; I feel like a failure in life and can’t contribute financially like I want to. I want to set a good example for my son in as many aspects of life as I can.

I'm a teacher by trade. I take substitute jobs when I can, but it's unreliable. The nature of the job is ephemeral, certainly, but I myself put my own reliability at risk because I have to cancel jobs sometimes due to the episodes and resulting treatment.

My Plea for Help for Relief and Answers

I'm still fighting. I'm still looking for answers as to why these episodes happen and what I can do to stop them. So, I'm asking for help with my medical bills.

I’m not asking for the sun, moon, and stars; I just want my family to be able to breathe. I want to be able to look for answers to my problem without having to worry about breaking the bank, selling a car, or things of that nature. I want to be able to go through the day without worrying whether or not my brain is going to betray me. I want to work and be financially responsible again.

I want help so that I can in turn help my family.

How Your Donations Will Be Used

Every dollar I receive will go to one of two places:

1) Paying off existing medical bills which are negatively affecting our credit.

2)Saved to go toward the payment of future doctor visits, should a reliable headache/migraine specialist be found.

Afterword

I also appreciate prayer; those of you who are so inclined may add me to their prayer lists.

In addition to donations, if anyone knows of a reputable headache/migraine specialist, please let me know

Any help is appreciated.

I just want my life back. Thank you very much.

This is a link to the "Hemiplegic Migraine" page of the American Migraine Foundation's website.