Courtney White was a 23-year-old med student the first time she experienced a migraine attack.
The next steps were very clear to me, she says.
Go see a doctor and get treatment.
Amanda K Bailey
But her appointment didnt go as expected.
I was very knowledgeable and knew what treatment I wanted but I wasnt taken seriously, Dr. White says.
It was like: Oh heres this little med student who thinks she knows everything.
At 31, she was finally diagnosed with chronic migraine and received treatment thats helped her become nearly symptom-free.
Ironically, it was the same treatment she asked for back when she was 23.
If I had to struggle, imagine someone who doesnt even know whatmigraineis and what treatments are available.
Dr. White mainly chalks this up to a lack of education.
Med schools generally only spend four hours over the course of four years talking about migraine, she says.
So most doctors dont know how to appropriately diagnose and treat it.
They made me feel like I was going insane.
Having your symptoms dismissedespecially when it comes to paincan be especially common for people of color.
This happened to Wolf on many occasions so she started bringing her husband to her appointments.
I noticed when he was there, they took me more seriously, she says.
But they would only talk to him, which was frustrating.
I was like: Im smart.
Why wont you listen and talk to me?
Testing is only done to rule out other conditions, explains Dr. White.
If those tests come back normal, thats a good thing.
Tests aresupposedto be normal for migraine, says Dr. White.
And theres no test for pain so how could someone say youre not feeling it?
Anxiety and depression can worsen migraine but they dont cause it, she explains.
Theres no running out of treatment options with migraine, says Wolf.
They may not work separately but together they can; its about finding the perfect mix.
What can you do if your doctor isnt taking your migraine symptoms seriously?
In a perfect world, you would just find a new doctor, but thats not always a possibility.
As a career bartender, Tartt rarely had health insurance.
Access to care can also be a big issue.
(Did you have to call in sick to work?
Cancel lunch with a friend?)
Your doctor wont be able to argue with these data points, says Dr. White.
They can remind you of your questions and even take notes for you, says Wolf.
Dont just tell your doctor youre in paintell themhowits impacting you, suggests Dr. White.
For Tartt, her migraine attacks affected her work.
People tried to tell me to stop bartending but I didnt want to, she says.
Its a big part of my identity and who I am.
If theyre still not getting it, let them know.
Dr. White suggests saying something like: I dont feel like youre hearing me.
What can I do to better explain how this is affecting me?
You could say: I read about this, and as a partnership, I want to understand more.
What do you think?
Another way to find trusted resources is to check the partner list of nonprofits.
Youre not alone in your experience.
Talking to other people with your condition can be really helpful, notes Dr. White.
Thereissomeone out there who will understand you and be able to help you.
you’re free to search by city and state to find a specialist near you.
It can be exhausting to find the right doctor but totally worth it, says Wolf.
Seeing a female doctor of Asian descent made a huge difference for her.
She was the first person that ever said she believed me.
Unfortunately thats not always possibleand it shouldnt make a difference in your care.
They have symptoms, and youve got to believe them.
