“You’re Too Young For This”

Hi everyone.

A common experience for people with disabilities in my age group (and younger) is to hear people say, “you’re too young for this”. Sometimes it’s in response to a casual conversation. Sometimes it’s just because they see you walking with a cane. Sometimes it’s a family member or loved one who can’t believe the symptoms you describe. Sometimes it’s a doctor that you are begging to take your health concerns seriously, but they’ve already given up.

“You’re too young for this.”

Am I, though?…

Canada’s Medical Cannabis Tax is Discriminatory to Patients #donttaxmedicine

Hi everybody.

It’s not just sensationalist clickbait, it’s really how I feel…

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tl;dr: If you agree with my title, you can write to your MP and MLA with a pre-written statement in support of ending cannabis tax for medical patients HERE.

Carry on…

World Suicide Prevention Day

Hi everybody.

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Please try and understand how greatly this affects everyone. This is a difficult topic, but I think it really needs to be discussed. Please know that this could be a trigger for you if you are experiencing thoughts of suicide. I have put some resources before the “read more” tag in case you find yourself in this situation. There are even more resources at the bottom of this post. ❤

International Association for Suicide Prevention World Crisis Centres List

Canadian Suicide Prevention Resources List

National Suicide Prevention Hotline (USA) 1-800-273-8255

Recovering Happily

As I made a big fuss about earlier this week, I had a meeting with my MLA to discuss my case, and chronic pain in Alberta. The meeting was on Wednesday, August 17th with Calgary-Glenmore MLA Anam Kazim. I was allotted an hour, and ended up staying and discussing my case for an additional 20 or so minutes. My legendary mom Tobe transported me and joined in. Tobe also really helped me edit everything before! ❤

I am still really recovering from this meeting, as it took a lot out of me. I may add more to this, and re-share the edits at a later date. Read more to hear about my meeting summary and impressions…

660 News Coverage on CRPS and Chronic Pain in Alberta

A wonderful ally of the chronic pain community approached me about doing an interview on chronic pain, after I had posted yet another update on Facebook detailing my struggles. I am ecstatic to see Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, and the chronic pain problem in Alberta getting press. I hope this leads to more.

Kendra Fowler, of 660 News reports, “Chronic pain sufferer to appeal for help from MLA”.Read Kendra Fowler’s article HERE.

You can also access the clips from the radio report:

Kendra Fowler interviewing Zara Pickel, Clip 1

Kendra Fowler interviewing Zara Pickel, Clip 2

Kendra Fowler interviewing Zara Pickel, Clip 3

Thank you all for reading, listening, and sharing!

Zara ❤

 

MLA Meeting Ahead

I am very excited to announce that I am having my first meeting with my MLA (a Member of the Legislative Assembly) next week to discuss healthcare for chronic pain patients in Alberta. I have many ideas about what isn’t working in the province, so I feel as though I owe it to myself to let the government know. I’m not ready to lobby the government until they change yet, although that sort of is a dream of mine for the future.

What do I hope to accomplish? I hope to truly illustrate to my MLA that pain patients are being left behind in the province. With 1 in 5 Canadians having chronic pain, if we are behind now we are already hooped on addressing the chronic pain problem. Alberta needs more education for both public and health professionals, more programs to deal with complex issues, and more funding to accomplish this. I also really hope to be an example, a 25-year-old woman who is benched and withdrawn from university and our society, because my province is too scared to make me worse, and I am constantly getting rejected from the very programs created for pain patients like me. I hope to be clear, back everything up with fact, and blow their minds on the failure going on in our system.

Wish me luck.

 

Great Canadian Waiting Game

Many people in other countries are jealous of our health care system. Justifiably so, as we can get proper care in times of emergency. However, CRPS has opened my eyes to the drawbacks of a system where we focus our resources to meet the needs of the majority of the population. For people with chronic conditions like us, our lack of an integrated system nation-wide (shit, even province-wide would be nice) create issues that can sometimes cause a medical professional to question things you never thought would be in question. I personally saw about a dozen doctors before I was diagnosed. Before I was put on some medications, it wasn’t as much of a problem. When I needed painkillers though, my historical plethora of doctors was called into question consistently. I was lucky to not be called crazy to my face, as many in the undiagnosed stages of this condition are, but I was never sure if anyone believed me fully.

To illustrate how a chronic pain patient such as myself gets put through the ringer of a system to get treatment, please try and follow along…