An additional way to advocate for yourself is to discuss certain types of tests or scans that can be done. Do your own research and ask other migraine sufferers what has worked for them. If you talk with your doctor and they deny a test, request that they mark in your chart that they denied the test. This keeps a record of conversations between yourself and your healthcare provider.
However, the most impactful change for Black and POC patients will have to come from a macroscale. A complete cultural shift within the field of medicine will be needed to overcome these disparities. The consensus within the medical community is to focus on welcoming more physicians from underrepresented communities to the field of medicine. These medical students and professionals may be able to better reflect the needs and interests of Black and POC patients. The idea is that most of the biases towards Black and POC patients currently observed in healthcare providers could be mitigated if physicians come from these same communities.
Another remedy is to provide adequate education to all physicians on how to address their unconscious biases. Simply providing awareness to unconscious biases is the first step in overcoming them. These biases are typically underlying in society in ways that are not obvious or part of learned behavior.
For Black and POC patients, dealing with migraines is more than just obtaining a diagnosis and descriptions. Due to medical racism, there are extra hurdles to getting rid of severe headaches and migraines. One way patients can fight back is to advocate for themselves and maintain open communication with their healthcare physicians. Take back your healthcare journey and be an informed partner in your care.