How have you advocated for treatment of your invisible illness?

Health conditions can be more challenging to live with when other people can't see them - and therefore, might not believe how severe the condition is. We talk about this issue on our latest episode, "More than a headache: How migraine can disrupt your life." Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode summary:

Migraines can be absolutely debilitating, and many people with migraine live in fear of the next migraine attack. But when they try to talk about their symptoms, they may not be believed … or they might be told to take some ibuprofen and get over it. C. Michelle Lindley shows us what it’s like to live with migraine in her novel “The Nude.” She joins us with Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Rashmi Halker Singh to talk about migraine and its common misconceptions.

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discussed:

• Migraine as a predator.  Courtney depicts migraine as predator-like in her book, stalking the protagonist. Dr. Halker Singh agrees that it’s not just migraine attacks that interfere with quality of life – it’s anxiety and planning for the next attack.
• Invisible illness. Having an invisible illness means that many people misunderstand what’s happening – which can also make it isolating, Dr. Halker Singh says. Sometimes people with migraine are told they’re overreacting or are not believed about the severity of their symptoms.
• Beyond pain. Along with anxiety and pain, migraine can bring all other sorts of symptoms, including nausea, fatigue and vision problems. Dr. Halker Singh gives us the rundown on all things migraine: symptoms, triggers and treatments - including new treatments that offer hope.

Questions for discussion:

•  If you have an "invisible illness" like migraine, how have you advocated for yourself to get support from others - your friends, loved ones or healthcare team?

Share your thoughts, questions and opinions below!