Last year, during HAWMC, my friend’s fiancee was diagnosed with cancer. My post for that day made no sense in the light of the prompt.

And this weekend, we drive to their wedding; I hadn’t met her hat the time, but I knew that she had to be special if he was marrying her. She is. I met her earlier at another of that clique’s wedding. Great sense of humor, and even with the end of radiation occurring at the time, you could just tell that she knew how to act (she’s an actress), but she also knew how to drop the facade when she was comfortable with someone. (sounds familiar, eh?)

I’m so happy to be going to this wedding.

One day, I looked in the mirror, and despite my raccoon eyes, smiled with joy. It’s going to be a good ride, guys. Y’all have been through the worst.

Prompt:Describe your HAWMC experience in one word!

“Aprillicious.”

April is the worst month for my Migraines. So, the fact that i got this many posts off is kind of a testament to my drive to get this done.

I’ve once again learned that it’s okay to take care of me. But even in my worst month, I did well.

It felt good to write when the highs of lack of pain and the depths of pain insomnia hit.

I guess the hardest post was to introduce myself- as I’m going through some dx issues right now, and I don’t know what the heck is going on in my own body- where as last time I did HAWMC, I was more sure of what was going on, and was able to provide more support.

This time, I have more on my mind.

I loved reading other people’s posts, to engage with the community. To give props to fellow activists. To disagree with the prompts, and go my own way, and know that it was okay.

So, here ends HAWMC 2013. I’m going to take a nap.

Create a Pinterest board for your health focus. Pin 3 things. Share the image. I already have a pinterest board for my health focus. Instead, I’ll share things I’ve already pinned to that board….

Teri Robert’s Wonderful book

Follow your heart.

I also agree with Emily over at This Post at the M- Word. We all are searching for something different-

information
support
caring

But don’t follow internet spammers, those who claim to have a cure… or are just jerks, messing with others in the community. (if you don’t know who they are right now… You’ll find them- and don’t bother with their crap.)

I’m not going to say that one site is better than another, ‘cause they’re not. I have tons of bookmarks, places I visit daily, weekly, or just for a nugget of information. There are great bloggers, great “big sites” competing for page hits, and communities.

However, I will plug one place- as I moderate the forum there- one of the “big sites”- if you’re looking for a place to visit for information- and support, with an active forum, great articles, places to ask questions, etc.head over to My Migraine Connection at Health Central.

Most of all, find someplace that you feel comfy… seek your own list… ‘cause I’m not going to provide one… that would just feel wrong. Everyone has different needs at different times, and providing 5 links would just cheat us all out of our communal resources.

Peace and love,

Jamie

Prompt: “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” – Mulan True or false? When do you bloom best?

I bloom as an advocate when I get really ticked off. I write, I take action, I do something about my emotions and pour them into constructive things.

As a person, I think I bloom in various ways. Some might say that I’m best when pushed and taken advantage of. I get things done. I know how to get my point across, to make things right, to accomplish something, to create my reality… to fix other people’s issues, and to be an attack dog, without annoying anyone. My voice is strong, I make lists before I attempt to go “get ‘em”

I never understood what adversity meant. Perhaps, I still don’t. ‘cause with all of the crap that’s been thrown at me, I’m still standing (most of the time) And yet people say I’m so brave, or they couldn’t get through all of that. Well, screw that.

What else can you do if adversity doesn’t make you bloom in some way? Be it learning that you do have artistic potential, and can draw the pain you feel, or taking the pain and channeling it into a letter to a legislator. Or starting an organization to find other potential bloomers?

I donno.

Do I bloom in throwing a short pity party? Is that a form of blooming- as to not lose it completely?

And as the flowers bloom outside my window, I’m constantly reminded that in the literal sense, blooms produce pollen. So, a step forward, step back may not be completely weird after all. Maybe blooming has to be done with moderation, as to not trigger histamine receptors, and toss all of my spoons in the air.

Just a weird post, yes?

Five working titles:

1. Get me off this roller coaster

2. There’s got to be a lesson in this somewhere- and finding it.

3. Pharmanerd- learning about retail pharmacy without the student debt

4. Many tales of a left-leaning computer dork

5. I still have my sense of humor, and you can’t take THAT from me.

HAWMC- DAY 17= Wordless Weds (or Sunday in my case>

Prompt: create a word cloud or tree from a list of words associated with your condition, blog, or interests. Post it!

Tell us 3 things that are true about you, your condition, or your Health Activism. Tell us 1 lie. Will we be able to tell the difference?

1. I can’t tolerate Imitrex, and almost wound up in the hospital from a dose given to me in a doctor’s office.

2. I often experience aphasia with my Migraine attacks, and wish that my partner and I could communicate with sign language.

3. I’m phonophobic during a Migraine attack, but not photophobic.

4. I played games at Dave and Busters after a full day’s worth of treatment consisting of IV meds (including lidocaine, decadron and others), and won a teddy bear.

So, any guesses?

Teri Robert= @TRobert - where would the Migraine community be without you?

Ellen- @eschnak = your feisty warm determination makes me want to do more, to kick some more butt, to be a better person.

Diana- @somebodyhealme A jack of all trades, and a winner with all. Your blog is great, and Migraine chat is a godsend.

Emily- @emilymword- thanks for the laughs, the tears, the stories, the constant reminder of the fact that I want to blog… and it’s good for my soul.

And countless other people who inspire me daily, whose friendships I value dramatically. If I could make a blog post long enough to call everyone out by name (and do so with my postdromal brain)…I would.
Thanks for touching my life.

My eyes roll.
I’ve been
Given another
Rotten
Article that
I have to debunk, while at the the same time,
Never wanting to
Embarrass my so-called “Miracle Cure”helper