Traci’s Paws founder back in the game after struggle with migraines

Traci Wilkerson Steckel at the Unleash the Holiday Cheer event for Traci s Paws Photo courtesy of Traci Wilkerson Steckel Traci Wilkerson Steckel the founder of Traci s Paws is back after taking a more passive role in the nonprofit due to her struggle with migraines Steckel started Traci s Paws in She was inspired by her Texas childhood when she mentioned she was constantly taking in unwanted animals That didn t stop when Steckel grew up As a tutor she took in plenty of class pets too but didn t feel she was doing right by them She considered starting her own venture but talked to shelters and rescues and heard they needed help with food helpers and the business side of things So Traci s Paws was born But Steckel had to take a step back from her nonprofit passion project due to migraines After dealing with them for almost years she had reached a tipping point but luckily she ascertained a medication that worked for her My life is much happier now because I m having so numerous fewer days with migraines Steckel commented There s much more to Steckel than her battle with migraine ailment and Traci s Paws though She is the founder and CEO of her own firm Wilkerson Consulting Agency She was a mentor for almost eight years and is an ally for the LGBTQ region participating in protests and advocating for others She s also quite the jazz enthusiast and a musician herself Unfortunately for Steckel her migraines barred her from playing her baritone saxophone But now that Steckel has determined various relief she is back to playing her sax and is especially happy at the chance to make music again Steckel has revealed various respite from migraines but only after she became her own vitality care advocate she commented Migraines aren t merely headaches for Steckel they were debilitating She tried to persevere as much as doable but she reported There are a lot of days that are lost because sometimes you just cannot function The neurological condition causes headaches but also nausea and vomiting According to Dr Jessica Ailani director of the MedStar Georgetown Headache Center migraine illness is essentially having a sensitive brain that can be easily irritated by scent light and sound Steckel herself reported she is sensitive to smells even a nice-smelling perfume can trigger a migraine for her And despite being a seasoned vet when it comes to migraines she eventually had to press pause on her nonprofit and neighborhood involvement You have to put a hold you know kind of slam the brakes It s not fun because life is still spinning around on the outside she stated But you kind of feel like the world s kind of stopped because you re in so much pain you really can t function and a lot of times you do it anyway but there are times when you just can t Ailani noted it s common for people who suffer from migraines to push through life But pushing through the pain can come at a cost she stated There s this burden that they carry from pushing through They get through work but then they re not really being there for friends and family So it s extremely isolating Ailani noted Steckel believes encouraging casual migraine conversations and normalizing the affection is key in spreading awareness To both Steckel and Ailani it s key to be your own healthcare advocate and talk about the infection with friends family and strength care providers What I would say to encourage you is you know find that right provider Search for that right medicine It is not instantaneous Ailani stated It s going to take time but it s worth it in the end