If I were in charge of migraine

If I were in charge of migraine,
I’d cancel insurance limits on triptans.
I’d cancel their drug formularies, too.
I’d even cancel the need for referrals.

If I were in charge of migraine,
There would be Congressional hearings on migraine.
There would be equitable NIH funding based on the true impact of migraine.
There would even be public service campaigns to educate everyone about migraine.

If I were in charge of migraine,
You wouldn’t have to wait months to see a specialist.
You wouldn’t have to prove you’re not drug-seeking.
You wouldn’t have to hear, “I had one of those once,”
or, “It’s just a headache. Take a pill.”
You wouldn’t even have to hide your disease at all.

If I were in charge of migraine,
Every doctor would know how to diagnose and treat migraine.
Botox would be the first-line treatment for Chronic Migraine.
And a person who drinks red wine
and sometimes forgets to take her meds
would still be allowed to rule her own migraine.

Inspired by “If I were in charge of the world” by Judith Viorst.

Now it’s your turn!

What would you do if you were in charge of migraine? Maybe you’d simply like to be in charge of your own migraine disease, find a cure, or change the way migraine patients are treated by others. No matter what your dream, use this same format to write your own poem and share it in the comments below.