I suffer from a chronic headache condition.

I suffer from a chronic headache condition. I take a number of daily medications for control. Without them, I have a migraine daily.

My regimen was very difficult to find. It took years of experimentation to hone. The process was a winding, difficult road — from brutal side effects, to brusque & frustrated providers. Most of these (at large clinics especially) acted as though the answer was simple (generally a new brand-name Rx from a pharma rep) — and when that didn’t work as though they had better things to do. It took years to build a team of doctors who would listen and adapt treatment appropriately.

Western medicine’s treatment of chronic illness is reductive. Our knowledge is limited. Providers must listen & be willing to learn. But many don’t have enough time. Also, symptoms & side effects can be easily dismissed — esp. when they vary from the “textbook.” I’m a professional myself. I had to learn the hard way to do my own research and advocate for myself. Many people don’t have the ability or the resources to do this. It’s those ppl I feel bad for.

Want better compliance with medication regimens? Stop thinking of it as “compliance.” Start making patients partners in their own care.