Latest Articles
Achy Smile Nominee for 2018 WEGO Health Awards [Please Vote]
I am excited to announce that I have been nominated for the WEGO Health “Advocating for Another” Award in the 2018 WEGO Health Awards. WEGO Health is a mission-driven company connecting healthcare with the experience, skills, and insights of patient leaders. They are the world’s largest network of patient leaders, working across virtually all health conditions and topics. This year, the 16 WEGO Health Award winners will be honored at an in-person celebration in October co-hosted by the Society of Participatory Medicine at the Connected Health Conference. Attending this event with all of these amazing advocates is a top honor. I am humbled to have been nominated. The person who nominated me remains anonymous, but if you’re reading this today, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is overwhelming to know I made a difference for just one person. I need your vote!
3 Ways You Can Find Your Diagnosis Code
Many times, doctors will tell you your diagnosis and it’s not necessarily what’s written on your official paperwork that goes to your insurance. A lot of doctors still use old language, names of illnesses that are out of date or just not used anymore when talking with you. It’s important to know the facts, for your own knowledge. Also, knowing current terminology is important to pass forward. We don’t want to be stuck with outdated information when talking to others.
New Migraine Support Group by Achy Smile
A new feature of Achy Smile is a Facebook support group for the Migraine community. This is a “Closed” Facebook group and is managed by me, Erica Carrasco. There are rules in place for your safety, but precaution is always suggested…
Writing a Letter to My Inconsistent Brain
We’ve been friends my whole life. We fight just like sisters and you usually win. Not fair, but I guess life isn’t fair. You know the popular bible quote, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” aka The Golden Rule (see Matthew 7:12)?? Well, guess sometimes I don’t treat you well and in return you…
How Migraine Stigma Affected Our Relationship
He loves me beyond words. We weren’t always this happy though. Our relationship suffered because of migraine and other reasons for YEARS!! It was mostly his misunderstanding of Migraine. Like almost everyone else, migraine stigma was ingrained into his belief system. He felt I exaggerated my symptoms to get out of doing the dishes and cleaning the house. He couldn’t understand how…
Aimovig, Medicaid, Medicare and the Uninsured
By now you’ve heard about the newest and first medication specifically to prevent migraine. Aimovig™ was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 17, 2018. As written on their website, Aimovig is “the first and only FDA-approved therapy specifically designed to help prevent migraine in adults by targeting and blocking the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP-R).” In this article you will learn what you, as a person with migraine, or your caregiver will need to do to apply for the Aimovig™ monthly injection and get your first two doses FREE if you do not have insurance or have a government sponsored health plan, like Medicaid.