I’m starting this fundraiser for my best friend — my sister from another mister — Melanie.

Even though we live far apart, we’ve always stayed close and present in each other’s lives.

She is one of the kindest, strongest people I know, and an amazing godmother to my son.

If you’re able, I ask that you take a moment to read her story and get to know the incredible person she is. Any support — in any form — would truly mean so much.

⸻

Hi everyone

What I’ve been going through isn’t “just migraines” — and it’s taken me a long time to finally say that out loud.

My name is Melanie, but I usually go by Mel.

I’ve always been someone who tries to push through things quietly and stay strong, even on the hard days.

But this has been different.

For the past few years, I’ve been living with what I was told are severe chronic daily migraines, along with occipital neuralgia (nerve-related pain at the base of my skull), cervicogenic headaches, and ongoing neck pain — but over time, it became clear that what I’m experiencing goes beyond that and hasn’t fully been explained yet.

My symptoms became significantly worse after I had COVID in July 2022, and since then, they’ve been more persistent, intense, and harder to control.

My chronic pain starts at the base of my skull on the left side and never fully goes away. It feels like a deep, constant pressure that builds and spreads, with waves that turn sharp, electric, and overwhelming. While it’s mostly left-sided, it often spreads to the right, making it even more intense and difficult to manage.

Along with it comes dizziness that feels like a floating or off-balance sensation, constant nausea, vision changes, and ringing in both ears. At times, I also feel a crawling or painful sensation deep in my left ear that’s hard to ignore. My body also struggles to regulate temperature, making me sensitive to both heat and cold. There are moments where I don’t feel fully like myself — like I’m present, but not completely there.

And that’s been one of the hardest parts.

There are times when the pain becomes so intense that even simple things — standing, walking, or holding a conversation — feel exhausting and difficult to get through.

Recently, things became even more concerning when I experienced an episode that felt completely different from anything before.

I experienced seizure-like activity and wasn’t acting like myself, almost as if I was in an altered state.

It was honestly really scary.

Since then, I now experience tremors daily — they come and go throughout the day and can happen at any time.

Sometimes they come in waves, and there are moments where they become very strong and painful. Along with this, I’ve had episodes of temporary paralysis and limb weakness that can last anywhere from a few minutes to hours.

During some of these episodes, I also experience temporary amnesia and don’t feel like myself at all — I can be in an altered state of mind, feeling lost and confused, with limited awareness of what’s happening in the moment. At times, when the episodes become more severe, I also struggle to speak properly or get my words out.

It can take time for me to come back to baseline and recover afterward.

Over time, I’ve seen multiple doctors here on Guam and gone through imaging, medications, and different treatments in an effort to find answers.

While some findings have been noted, many of my tests have come back “normal.” Although that might sound reassuring, it has made it difficult to move forward with further care and deeper testing that could provide real answers — even as my symptoms continue to worsen.

At one point, I was told my symptoms could be related to my weight. I took that seriously and made lifestyle changes — working hard to lose weight, identify triggers, and improve my overall health. Even after putting in that effort, my symptoms continued and, in many ways, worsened, which made it clear that there’s something more going on beneath the surface.

One of the hardest parts of this journey hasn’t just been the pain, but the experience of not always being believed or taken seriously while trying to get help. There have been moments where I left appointments, urgent care visits, and ER visits feeling dismissed and misunderstood, even when my symptoms were very real and overwhelming.

Even through all of this, I’ve continued trying to show up and find answers.

That’s when I realized I can’t keep pushing through this without answers.

I’ve done my best to explore every option available to me locally, but with the complexity of my symptoms, I’ve realized I may need a deeper level of evaluation than what’s currently available on Guam.

Some of my testing has shown that there may be more going on beneath the surface, but it still hasn’t led to clear answers or a long-term solution — which is why I’m planning to travel to the Philippines for further evaluation and more advanced testing. I will be consulting with specialists at St. Luke’s Medical Center in BGC, with the hope of finally understanding what’s happening and finding a clearer direction for treatment.

This feels like the next right step for me.

The goal is to get clearer answers and a direction for treatment so I can begin managing my chronic pain in a more sustainable way.

Because of how severe and unpredictable my symptoms can be, I will also need someone to travel with me for support and safety.

The funds raised will go toward medical consultations with specialists, advanced diagnostic testing, travel expenses, temporary housing, and treatment-related costs for both myself and my support person as I take this next step toward finally getting answers and proper care.

I will also be sharing updates along the way for anyone who would like to follow my journey.

I just want a chance to understand what’s happening to me—and to feel like myself again.

This isn’t easy for me to share, but I’m learning that I don’t have to go through this alone. If you’re able to support in any way — whether through donating, sharing, or simply helping me spread the word — it would truly mean so much to me.

Your support — in any form — truly means more to me than I can put into words. I’m so grateful for the kindness, support, and prayers that have already been shared with me, and for anything you’re able to give moving forward.

Even just taking the time to read this and share it helps more than you know.

For those who prefer, I’ve also included a direct option here:

PayPal (optional):

paypal.me/melaniecbulanadi

<3 mel