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.

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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.

This is something that’s been really hard for me to share…

but I realized I can’t keep going through this quietly anymore.

I’m really grateful for the support and encouragement I’ve already received — it’s helped me get to this point.

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 feel even more intense and difficult to manage.

Along with it comes dizziness that feels more 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. I also experience sensitivity to temperature, where my body struggles to regulate heat and cold. There are also 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.

I’ve also noticed that in certain moments, like when adrenaline kicks in, the pain can briefly fade — but it always comes back afterward, often even stronger. Changes in weather, barometric pressure, and even altitude can also trigger or worsen my symptoms, making them feel even more unpredictable and difficult to manage.

Recently, things became even more concerning when I experienced an episode that felt completely different from anything before. I was told I had seizure-like activity and wasn’t acting like myself, almost as if I was in an altered state. It was honestly really scary… and nothing like I had ever experienced before.

Since then, I’ve also been dealing with left-sided heaviness and tingling, tremors, dizziness, fainting episodes, and episodes or attacks that make even simple things feel overwhelming.

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, even when it hasn’t been easy.

That’s when I realized I can’t keep pushing through this without answers, and I truly feel that something deeper is being missed.

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, including significant vitamin deficiencies and signs of ongoing stress and imbalance within my body. While these findings have provided some insight, they still haven’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 more effective path forward.

This feels like the next right step for me.

The goal is to get clearer answers and a direction for treatment(s) 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 know everyone is going through their own challenges, and I don’t take that lightly.

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, and I’m so grateful for it

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