Laura Gallagher
Chronic condition(s):
7 brain injuries, Chronic Migraines, Craniocervical Instability (CCI), POTS
How long has your condition(s) played a role in your life? Feel free to share when you were diagnosed/started having symptoms/etc.?
I experienced my first TBI at the age of 14, and since that day, I've been struggling with a headache that has never gone away. My original injury occurred playing soccer, but due to underlying undiagnosed visual and vestibular deficits, I experienced 6 additional concussions throughout college and post-grad. I was subsequently diagnosed with CCI, POTS, and chronic migraine. For about a decade, I pushed through the pain and symptoms with the mindset that I could achieve anything I put my mind to. While this served me well for quite some time (as it allowed me to progress through undergrad and the majority of PA school before requiring a medical leave) it also pushed my body and brain to the point of utter deterioration. After a year and a half of 13-hour study days with a struggling body, my thyroid, hormones + reproductive system, GI tract, and kidneys had all become negatively affected.
What has been your greatest challenge with your chronic illness?
My greatest challenge with chronic illness has been the huge misconception that all pain and suffering must be seen externally to be legitimized. My other challenge has been trying to bridge the gap in communication between patients and providers, especially when it comes to complex, comorbid conditions that may seem “invisible” to an outsider. I have found throughout my own experience that many vague complaints are often dismissed or improperly worked up, mostly because the medical model follows a protocol in which an individual either fits the criteria or not. I have found throughout my PA education that medical providers WANT to help you get to the bottom of this- they are eager and willing to help you find a medication, treatment plan, or lifestyle change that may benefit you- and it is often the system working against them.
What has been your greatest accomplishment with your chronic illness?
My greatest accomplishment with chronic illness has been learning to love myself again. For so many years, I felt my illnesses took away all of my positive qualities. I felt it left with me only with the parts of me I hated- (the pain, the irritability, the sadness) and in turn, I began to hate myself. It took me a very long time to see that the parts of me I disliked were still ME- and I needed to love those aspects of me for any positive feelings to emerge. Once I started to show myself true compassion, instead of gaslighting myself for feeling so incapable, I saw the true strength within those once “negative” qualities.
Do you have any advice for someone new to the world of chronic illness? What is one thing you wish you had known that would have made your life easier?
If I had to offer advice to someone new to the chronic illness world- I would encourage them to journal, use voice memos, or find one person they can talk to so they can vent their feelings, frustrations, and small wins. I would want them to know that journaling and using voice memos might be hard at first, but it’s a great way to take note of improvements and changes that have evolved over time. It can feel incredible to look back on an older voice memo and see your emotional or physical growth as tangible evidence of healing. Also, check out my playlist on Spotify— rising the fuck up— for inspiration to keep going.
If you’d like to follow Laura on her chronic journey, please check out her Instagram account: @patient_to_provider
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