A new charity to support people with cluster headache in Aotearoa New Zealand
This guest blog is from Craig Stewart, Chair of Cluster Headache Aotearoa New Zealand. Craig shares his experience of cluster headache, what this has cost him and how he came to found this new charity to support people with cluster headache in Aotearoa and work to get better access to treatments, starting with high flow […]
Involvement of pharmacists in migraine management
In this guest blog, Abby Gutschlag shares findings from her research into the role of community pharmacists in migraine management in Aotearoa New Zealand. We were honoured to have Abby working on this topic for her Honours research project! Kia ora! My name is Abby Gutschlag and I’m a fourth-year pharmacy student at the University […]
When the light fractures – a photo essay on chronic migraine
This guest blog by Hannah Gibson reflects on living with chronic migraine, using creativity to share her story, exploring the experience of pain, light and time with words and photos. How do you make visible an experience that defies language? How do you show what it means to wake each morning not knowing whether sunlight […]
What pain recovery coaching has taught me
Monique (pictured above) has been living with chronic migraine for over 20 years. In this guest blog she shares her transformative experience of working with a pain recovery coach. Over the 20+ years that I’ve had chronic migraine, I tried everything I thought might help. Dietary changes? Check. Over 10 preventative medications? Check. Meditation? Check. […]
How to estimate the cost of migraine in New Zealand
Pictured above: Sofiia Tsaregorodtseva (summer student) with Migraine Foundation co-founder Fiona Imlach This guest blog from our summer student gives a glimpse into the behind the scenes work of a researcher – the meticulous and laborious review of previous published papers and the search for data in New Zealand that can answer some of the […]
Participate in creative research about migraine
Statistics can reveal patterns and trends, but they often miss the depth and complexity of individual experiences. Research shows that for migraine, prevention is the gold standard. However, there are many barriers, both social and financial, to accessing preventive medication in New Zealand. Funding decisions for medications are often based on cost-effectiveness analysis – but […]
What primary care clinicians think about managing migraine
In this guest blog, medical student Julia Randerson shares what she learnt about how migraine is managed in NZ from interviewing primary care clinicians. Tēnā koutou katoa, Migraine Foundation whānau! My name is Julia, and I’m a fourth-year medical student at the University of Otago, based at the Pōneke campus. I spent last summer working […]
Understanding vestibular migraine: A guide for people in NZ
Written by Dr Ray Bose, Auckland neurologist and migraine and headache specialist Vestibular migraine is a common yet often underdiagnosed neurological condition that combines the symptoms of vertigo or dizziness with those of migraine. It can significantly impact quality of life, often affecting balance, mobility and daily functioning. This article aims to provide patient-friendly information […]
All in my head
In this guest blog, we share a reflection on living with migraine from Elizabeth Heritage. Elizabeth is a creative non-fiction writer and freelance publishing professional living with the disability that is chronic migraine. She is based online at www.elizabethheritage.co.nz and lives in real life in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington. When you are lying flat on your back […]
The reality of healthcare for migraine in New Zealand
In this guest blog, medical student Blair McInnarney shares what he has learnt about migraine health care from analysing results from the Migraine in Aotearoa New Zealand Survey. I am a fourth-year medical student at the University of Otago, based at the Wellington campus. I have spent my summer working with Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New […]
