Sometimes when you are in frequent chronic pain, you cannot avoid making those annoying phone calls to business or big corporations with large call centers, like insurance or credit card companies. After working in a call
center environment for fourteen years and having daily chronic pain due to migraines, I have been on both sides of the phone.

After making many frustrating phone calls myself to the cable company or the phone company while my head is pounding like crazy, my vision is blurry and my concentration is shot during a migraine, I have come to realize there are a few things that you can do it make it easier on yourself to get through the call.
Here is a list of tips:
Before you make the phone call, have all your pertinent information in front of you, like account numbers, etc, so you don’t have to go run and get your wallet or calendar or day planner during the phone call.
Also before dialing, make a list of your questions so you don’t forget to ask something and tick them off as you get answers. It’s easier to try to get it all done in one phone call.
Try to cut down the distractions around you. Turn off the television or radio. Background noise can be very distracting for you and for the person on the other end of the phone Also, ask them to speak up if you are having a hard time hearing them.
Don’t try to multitask, like writing out checks to pay bills the same time you are calling. You have enough on your plate with being in pain and trying to make a phone call at the same time.
Before you end the call, reconfirm everything you just discussed. For example, say “Let me go back over what we just talked about.” That way you can clear up any misunderstandings right there and then.
When repeating back a confirmation number, try using an alpha numeric like “A for apple” because many letters sound the same. Don’t worry about using the military lingo. Just say “B” is for boy or “C” is for cat.
Another thing you should do before you end the call, write down the name of person you are talking with, especially if they are in a call center. It helps if you have to make a follow up call, in case the original information
you were given was incorrect.
These are just a few tips and ideas. It is hard to deal with daily life duties that don’t go away when you are chronically ill. Things have to be done and often by yourself. By making these phone calls easier for yourself, you cut down some of the stress in your life.
article written by: “Migraine Chick”, 2008, butyoudontlooksick.com