Hi! My name is Casey. I’m a therapist, a Lions fan, and a fiancé! After years of chronic migraines throughout high school, we finally found the root cause right before I went to college—POTS. Once I discovered my favorite sources of sodium and some low-impact workout routines, I started feeling better… until a random case of “sausage fingers” appeared. That’s when I was introduced to Erythromelalgia. Since then, I’ve been navigating my ever-changing symptoms in my ever-changing life.
5 Invisible Symptoms
- Migraines
- Coat-hanger pain
- Blood pooling in feet and hands
- Brain fog
- Rudolph nose (unfortunately not totally invisible)
4 Things That Help Me Manage Pain
- Migraine freezer relief cap
- Lying on the floor with my feet up on the wall
- CBD menthol tincture balm
- Medication
3 Ways My Life Has Changed
- I squat down instead of hinging at the hip—not avoiding, just adapting!
- Standing in line might look a little different for me than for others.
- I now have a guilt-free excuse to grab fast food French fries whenever I need.
2 People Who Inspire Me
- My Aunt Katie—not only an incredible aunt, mother, and inspiration, but also the reason I have my POTS diagnosis! She’s a strong model for self-advocacy (especially in a doctor’s office).
- My fiancé—he has shown me unconditional love and selflessness on my best and worst days. He adapts the world around me so I barely miss a step, no matter what I’m facing.
1 Thing You Want People to Know
Accessibility isn’t an invitation for your opinion.
To read all of our previous zebra spotlights, please click here.