Bittersweet

In the budget on Tuesday night it was announced that Emgality would finally listed on the PBS. This is a big win in the fight that I have devoted my life to for most of the last three years, so why am I sad?

Ok, let’s break it down.

There’s always a bit of deflatement after a win. The battle is over, it is time to rest.

Except the battle isn’t over, or at least the war isn’t over. We still need to get Ajovy, Aimovig, Vyepti, Ubrelvy, Nurtec, and all of the other new migraine drugs and devices on the PBS.

And we still need money to provide all these support services that are so desperately needed, run a national awareness campaign for maybe a decade to undo the awful entrenched stigma of migraine, and pump some money into migraine research.

Am I sad because it’s not Aimovig? Because I don’t want to deal with the ‘do I switch’ question? Yeah probably that’s a bit of it. I’m am still unspeakably and inexplicably hurt by the message at the heart of the Aimovig rejection by PBAC that we can’t have this amazing medication because there’s too many people with migraine. And while I’m back in business and hoping to build up my client roster quickly so I can pay rent and pay for Aimovig at the same time, I am deeply resentful of having to fight and work so damn hard for basic healthcare that should be made available through our universal health system.

Perhaps I’m sad because of the continued reference to ‘migraines’. It’s not like we haven’t said in letters, emails and calls to various government officials from the Minister down that they needed to drop the S. Yes, they’ve been sent the language guide. We’ll send it again. And again. And again.

Maybe I’m just depressed.

Maybe I’m just tired.

I’m going to allow myself to be sad for a moment. And celebrate the Emgality win for a moment. It’s bittersweet, but I need to acknowledge both feelings.

Tomorrow I’ll gear up to continue the Migraine War.