Love for Jessica
Donation protected
I have been fighting two chronic diseases: chronic migraines and severe depressive disorder since 2001; they became debilitating during the 2012-13 school year (I taught middle school science). That was the last year I was able to work a full-time job.
During this time, I lived off of savings and cashed out every retirement fund I had. I had hoped to have my migraines under control once I started Botox last Spring, allowing me to dive headfirst into my nonprofit and start supporting myself again. The Botox however was essentially a bust, so I remain with my daily routine: wake up, feel the headache, and within a couple of minutes I can tell if it is a migraine that is going to keep me in bed/dark room/sleep all day or a migraine that my meds may alleviate just enough for me to wear sunglasses for a few hours to take care of things that need to be done outside the home.
Throughout this time, I have tried to keep myself busy. I was a substitute teacher for a couple of years, and I obtained my MS in Psychology online. I have started my nonprofit, I just need to finish the paperwork online.
I have also been seeing a psychiatrist and therapist for at least 10 years. They no longer take my insurance, so I have to pay them out of pocket. They have both gotten me through some very difficult times and I wouldn't be here if I wasn't under their care.
When it comes to my migraines, I was finally able to find an excellent neurologist at the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). Before I met him, I was only taking a triptan drug for my migraines. I found out I was taking way too many and that was why they didn't really work anymore. My neuro put me on some much better meds and he got the Botox approved. I had asked my neuro if he could recommend a pain doctor as that's how I got through work from '01-'12. I didn't want to be placed on opioids again, but I was at the end of my sanity and needed to be able to work. The pain Dr actually gave me this new medication for migraines called Aimovig. I was given samples for 2 months and it was a freaking miracle; my migraines has dissipated to pain levels of 0-2 instead of the daily 7-9. This Dr was very nice, but he was out of network and after 2 visits I owe him $400. Since it wasn't an opioid, I asked my neuro if he would get the Aimovig for me. He was more than happy to do so, and was so happy that it worked so well.
Right now, my insurance has denied my request for the medication, but between my neuro and all of the other Drs I told his assistant to contact for medical records about my migraines, there is no way they can say no. I am on disability for migraines for freaking sake!!
I am trying to be positive and just keep telling myself that there is a medication out there that works, and it will get approved. I am trying to not fall into depression even though I have zero money to pay my rent or any other bills. Just to be transparent, I get $771/mo for SSI. It doesn't cover my half of the rent, and my rent is cheaper when compared to a lot of these newer apartments.
I have other health issues, but depression and the migraines are what have kept me from doing what I want to do; have made my life a living hell sometimes.
I have found 2 ways to HOPEFULLY earn some money, as it's flexible, but it's not a quick fix. It will take some time. I have to set things up on two different sites. However, something is better than nothing.
I have a migraine daily; how bad it will be is a coin toss. Migraines and depression are invisible, so you can't see them if I take a picture. If you chat with me, you wouldn't know as I only discuss my health in detail with a few people. I can fake a smile if I have to for a few hours; I just take a TON of OTC meds and pack stuff with me. If I have any migraine meds (I have to ration them), I have taken them first thing in the AM. I can be giving you a pep talk about your relationship all the while, in the back of my head, there's this messed up voice that tells me all of the places I can run my car off the road at a high rate of speed.
I post funny, sometimes very inappropriate things on my FB page because it makes me laugh. I usually see those things when I am down and just looking for something take my mind life, since life is depressing. I am trying to bring back to cute stuff too. I haven't totally gone to the dark side!
Thank you in advance for any help you provide and thank you to those that have helped me in the past. Every dollar helps.
Much love,
Jessica <3
During this time, I lived off of savings and cashed out every retirement fund I had. I had hoped to have my migraines under control once I started Botox last Spring, allowing me to dive headfirst into my nonprofit and start supporting myself again. The Botox however was essentially a bust, so I remain with my daily routine: wake up, feel the headache, and within a couple of minutes I can tell if it is a migraine that is going to keep me in bed/dark room/sleep all day or a migraine that my meds may alleviate just enough for me to wear sunglasses for a few hours to take care of things that need to be done outside the home.
Throughout this time, I have tried to keep myself busy. I was a substitute teacher for a couple of years, and I obtained my MS in Psychology online. I have started my nonprofit, I just need to finish the paperwork online.
I have also been seeing a psychiatrist and therapist for at least 10 years. They no longer take my insurance, so I have to pay them out of pocket. They have both gotten me through some very difficult times and I wouldn't be here if I wasn't under their care.
When it comes to my migraines, I was finally able to find an excellent neurologist at the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). Before I met him, I was only taking a triptan drug for my migraines. I found out I was taking way too many and that was why they didn't really work anymore. My neuro put me on some much better meds and he got the Botox approved. I had asked my neuro if he could recommend a pain doctor as that's how I got through work from '01-'12. I didn't want to be placed on opioids again, but I was at the end of my sanity and needed to be able to work. The pain Dr actually gave me this new medication for migraines called Aimovig. I was given samples for 2 months and it was a freaking miracle; my migraines has dissipated to pain levels of 0-2 instead of the daily 7-9. This Dr was very nice, but he was out of network and after 2 visits I owe him $400. Since it wasn't an opioid, I asked my neuro if he would get the Aimovig for me. He was more than happy to do so, and was so happy that it worked so well.
Right now, my insurance has denied my request for the medication, but between my neuro and all of the other Drs I told his assistant to contact for medical records about my migraines, there is no way they can say no. I am on disability for migraines for freaking sake!!
I am trying to be positive and just keep telling myself that there is a medication out there that works, and it will get approved. I am trying to not fall into depression even though I have zero money to pay my rent or any other bills. Just to be transparent, I get $771/mo for SSI. It doesn't cover my half of the rent, and my rent is cheaper when compared to a lot of these newer apartments.
I have other health issues, but depression and the migraines are what have kept me from doing what I want to do; have made my life a living hell sometimes.
I have found 2 ways to HOPEFULLY earn some money, as it's flexible, but it's not a quick fix. It will take some time. I have to set things up on two different sites. However, something is better than nothing.
I have a migraine daily; how bad it will be is a coin toss. Migraines and depression are invisible, so you can't see them if I take a picture. If you chat with me, you wouldn't know as I only discuss my health in detail with a few people. I can fake a smile if I have to for a few hours; I just take a TON of OTC meds and pack stuff with me. If I have any migraine meds (I have to ration them), I have taken them first thing in the AM. I can be giving you a pep talk about your relationship all the while, in the back of my head, there's this messed up voice that tells me all of the places I can run my car off the road at a high rate of speed.
I post funny, sometimes very inappropriate things on my FB page because it makes me laugh. I usually see those things when I am down and just looking for something take my mind life, since life is depressing. I am trying to bring back to cute stuff too. I haven't totally gone to the dark side!
Thank you in advance for any help you provide and thank you to those that have helped me in the past. Every dollar helps.
Much love,
Jessica <3
Organizer
Jessica Hickey
Organizer
Houston, TX