Alltop RSS

Saved by bureaucracy

( A follow-up on my shaky employment status, as described in a previous post, The Catch.) So now I

Essentials About Migraine And How BuyCheapFloricet.net Can Help

Here’s a trivia. Did you know that there are more than 29.5 million Americans who are suffering from

How can you go wrong with a guy named Zamboni?

An Italian neurologist named Dr.Paolo Zamboni has some really promising research ongoing that could change the way we look at Multiple Sclerosis entirely. You can read all about it here. The research was based on Zamboni's evidence that the brains of MS patients had higher levels of toxic iron build up in their brains than is found in Non-MS patients. This led him to wonder why these iron stores were not being flushed from the brain in the same way that they would be in normal brains. (Young Frankenstein fans: feel free to remember the scene with the jar labeled "Abby Normal".....)

Anyway, here's what he said:

Dr. Zamboni wondered if the iron came from blood improperly collecting in the brain. Using Doppler ultrasound, he began examining the necks of MS patients and made an extraordinary finding. Almost 100 per cent of the patients had a narrowing, twisting or outright blockage of the veins that are supposed to flush blood from the brain. He then checked these veins in healthy people, and found none of these malformations. Nor did he find these blockages in those with other neurological conditions.

"In my mind, this was unbelievable evidence that further study was necessary to understand the link between venous function and iron deposits on the other," Zamboni told W5 from his research lab in Ferrara.

The above picture shows some of that narrowing...

The yellow deposits on the picture are the iron deposits. A simple operation to open up the jugular veins that essentially "clean out" the blood flowing from the brain has had remarkable results in Italy. Studies are now starting in both Boston and at McMaster University here in Canada (Hamilton, Ontario). As scientists are wont to do, they don't encourage people to become too hopeful too soon, but really, how can you mandate a lack of hope when you see something so positive on the horizon?

Pillar will be calling our doc for an MRI appointment asap, as the McMaster docs are asking MS patients with recent MRIs to send them in for his study.

Good stuff! At this point, let's just say we're both cautiously optimistic.

On and off headaches - dairy, sleep?

Learn what it takes to have a successful doctor appointment. Full Question: I have a problem with headaches on and off and it's been happening at least once to twice a week at times.

Migraine Art: The Migraine Experience from Within (review)

It may not be obvious to everyone why Migraine Art: The Migraine Experience from Within is such an important book. But this magnum opus from Klaus Podoll and Derek Robinson is a key to migraine research that has been a long time coming. I’ve been dealing with migraine symptoms for well over 20 years. I’ve read [...]

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Migraine Art: The Migraine Experience from Within (review)

We wrote a prelude to our own fairy tale

I’m be oming sick of education all together. When I fight myself to attend a certain class, we

Teeth...and the damn problems they cause

So for the past couple of days, I have had the worst toothache ever. I don’t mean the type of

flaming out

I’m giving up on NaNo. It may be that I’m pissed off there are only 10 days to go and I

Swine Flu

Title: Swine Flu
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 4/21/2009
Last Editorial Review: 11/20/2009

Health Tip: Determining Migraines in Children

Title: Health Tip: Determining Migraines in Children
Category: Health News
Created: 11/20/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/20/2009

Patients for a Moment Carnival at Chronic Babe

The twelfth edition of the patient-centered blog carnival Patients for a Moment has been posted at Chronic Babe. Post topics include everything from whether pain is truly a disability to World Diabetes Day to how to live a more balanced life when you have chronic pain. There are many good submissions to read this time. Don't miss it!Patients for a Moment Vol.1 , #12Technorati Tags: depression,

Study: Migraine Raises Risk of Stroke

Migraine headaches more than double the chances of the most common kind of stroke, which occurs when blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off by a blood clot or plaque buildup.

1% Thursday: What are you taking your medication with?

This week – double check what you’re taking your medication with. What am I talking about? Well, most of us are familiar with the fact that some medication should be taken with food, some on an empty stomach, and so on. Sometimes this impacts how the drugs work in your body. Other times it’s just a [...]

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

1% Thursday: What are you taking your medication with?

Study: Migraine Raises Risk of Stroke

Migraine headaches more than double the chances of the most common kind of stroke, which occurs when blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off by a blood clot or plaque buildup.

TWLOHA Day

Friday was To Write Love On Her Arms day. I can't believe I forgot to post it here. It's a day that recognizes and names the reality of depression, addiction, self-injury, suicide - but mostly HOPE.

Leah Sophia has a great post here about the movement.

I'm a little late, but the hope and encouragement is always there.

Here is a bit of their mission statement and purpose:

"To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery."

more:

To Write Love On Her Arms Day is a day where anyone can write the words love on their arms, to support those who are fighting against depression and those who are trying to recover. On this day, just write love on your arms, and show it off, other people will ask why you have love written on your arms, and you tell them you are supporting to write love on her arms day, and how its benefiting a non profit organization helping stop depression, and make love the movement ♥

"what will this achieve?" It will achieve the goal of people knowing that there are other people out there with the same problem, and/or people who are supporting them with love."

Use it or Lose it!

As the end of 2009 approaches, Thanksgiving turkey and holiday spending are probably on your mind. For those of you with Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSA) you should be thinking about health care expenses, as well. Many employers have FSAs available to their employees that they can use for certain medical expenses. One drawback with the FSA, however, is that if you don't use money you've contributed to your account during the year, you lose it. In other words, you can't roll over 2009 contributions to 2010 expenses.

FSAs can reimburse you for "qualified medical expenses," and IRS Publication 502 lists these out for you. As headache sufferers some of the following may be of special interest:

Acupuncture, Chiropractic care, or Osteopathic Manipulation
Dental work (including exams and x-rays)
Eyeglasses
Laboratory fees
Prescription medications
Physical examinations
Stop smoking programs

Non-prescription medications are not deductible as qualified medical expenses, but an FSA can be used to pay for them.

The IRS reminds us that the following are not "qualified medical expenses":

Amounts paid for health insurance premiums
Amounts paid for long-term care coverage or expenses
Amounts that are covered under another health plan

So, if you have health insurance or other health coverage that pays for something already, you can't use your FSA.

For questions regarding FSAs and other tax-advantaged medical savings programs (like Health Savings Accounts) refer to IRS publication 969, or speak to a qualified tax professional.

=============================
To keep up on useful information
related to headaches and migraines,
subscribe to the
Headaches and Migraines Newsletter.
=============================

Use it or Lose it! originally appeared on About.com Headaches / Migraine on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 10:00:30.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Migraine sufferers more at risk of heart attack

ISLAMABAD : Middle-aged men who suffer from migraine are more at risk of heart attacks, says a new study.

Vitamin B12 and your health

Vitamins are are essential to our health and cannot be manufactured by the body.

Migraine Raises Risk Of Most Common Form Of Stroke

Pooling results from 21 studies, involving 622,381 men and women, researchers at Johns Hopkins have affirmed that migraine headaches are associated with more than twofold higher chances of the most common kind of stroke: those occurring when blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off by the buildup of plaque or a blood clot. The risk for those with migraines is 2.3 times those without, according to calculations from the Johns Hopkins team, to be presented Nov.

Migraine Increases Likelihood of Stroke

Title: Migraine Increases Likelihood of Stroke
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/17/2009

Fairy Decor

I have been listening to Christmas music for roughly two weeks now. I have slowly started to put some decorations out for the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. You know, the in-between time that comes. Not yet Christmas Tree time, but Halloween is over. Not quite time to thaw the birds. I'm excited - my sister is coming in from Kentucky with her family for Thanksgiving, she'll be coming in this Saturday. I haven't seen her in oh, four years. The kids barely remember each other. My family will be here, in my home for Thanksgiving. My whole family.

Even my little fairy door is decorated for the occasion! It looks so cute in person. I'm on the lookout for a mailbox. Not an easy find. I must be looking in the wrong place. The wreath is actually real. I made it a teeny tiny replica of the one on my door. I chopped up a tree in my yard, well some branches anyway, and fashioned me a wreath out of it. So very Martha of me. I know I will get that from my family next week.

For now, I need to continue to get my home ready for the onslaught of family and decor to fill the place. Tomorrow, I think I may bring out my new tree! Yes, a week before Thanksgiving.

Crazy me.
Hoping you are pain-free
Deborah

Migraine raises risk of most common form of stroke

Pooling results from 21 studies, involving 622,381 men and women, researchers have affirmed that migraine headaches are associated with more than twofold higher chances of the most common kind of stroke: those occurring when blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off by the buildup of plaque or a blood clot.

Obstacles to Effective Treatment: Poll Results

The question was asked of our visitors: What do you feel is your biggest challenge when it comes to getting effective treatment? You can see the responses to the right. First, I was glad to see that Lack of support from family and friends only got 2%. That doesn’t mean it isn’t an issue – clearly it [...]

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Obstacles to Effective Treatment: Poll Results

Migraine Raises Risk of Most Common Form of Stroke

Changing Chronic Pain Care in America

A committee of pain experts gathered by the Mayday Fund recently released a report about the state of treatment for people with chronic pain in the United States. The Mayday Fund Pain Report: A Call to Revolutionize Chronic Pain Care in America says chronic pain should be treated as a chronic illness and calls for health reforms and better education of treatment providers to enable them to

FDA OKs Menstrual Drug Lysteda

Title: FDA OKs Menstrual Drug Lysteda
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 11:45:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009 11:45:22 AM

What to expect for Medicare Part D open enrollment

An analysis by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has found that monthly premiums will rise an average 11 percent, though the premium changes vary widely by which plan seniors select.

Yahoo, Google want more leeway for drug advertising

Drugmakers say the current FDA guidelines requiring both benefits and risks of drugs on ads hampers advertising on the Internet given the space constraints for ads on Web pages.

Migraine Swelling: Precursor Before an Attack and at Onset Determination of Degree and Duration

If you get migraines there may be another precursor to the onset and it could determine, once the pain has begun, the degree and duration before the pain will start to subside.

Congress Squeaks By Health Care Act In Dead of Night On a Rare Weekend Midnight Vote!

Longtime MAGNUM supporter and healthcare leader Congressman James P. Moran (D-VA)seen on the right live Saturday night bringing in the last few votes after the Democrats just breached the 218 votes to carry HR 3962 to the 215 Republican & Democrat votes minutes before midnight Saturday. WASHINGTON, DC (MAGNUM) November...

Lenses

Pillar is now among the many folks out there who wear bifocals. He got the progressive ones that take a few days to get used to wearing. His peripheral vision is a bit more blurred, so that he has to turn his head directly toward whatever he is reading or watching.

It's like looking at the world in a whole new way.

How many times in our lives are we called upon to do the same thing in a more metaphorical way? I think of all the pivotal moments in my life and they all involved exactly Pillar's experience with his glasses. I had to face whatever was happening face on or else I couldn't see it clearly enough. Sometimes - well, most of the time - that took a whole bunch of courage, or at the very least, a leap of faith.

I think of Pillar and I marrying at such a young age - we were only 20! I'd love to say we knew exactly what we were doing, but we were just a couple of lovestruck kids fortunate enough to have good training and professional jobs - so we dove into a life together because it seemed like a good idea. Thanks be - it was!

I think of a night a few years later when we said "Let's have a baby." Did we know the first thing about babies? NOT. And yet, somehow, despite all of our experiments in parenting and by the grace of God, we have these two amazing sons - two young men I am proud simply to know, never mind parent!

I think about that day when it was confirmed after ten long years of mysterious symptoms. Pillar had MS. Another challenge - another unexpected perspective on life - faced head on because to look at it peripherally was not an option. This visitor in our lives was here to stay.

I think about my mother's illness and her death. It would have been easy enough to delay or ignore the deep grief that festered in me in those months following her death, but I couldn't do it. I did what we often cavalierly call "grief work" without knowing at the outset that the key part of that phrase is "work." Good work, important work, but work nonetheless.

I think about a day when I told Pillar that I felt God calling me to another way of living in the world - not as a health care professional, but as a minister of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care. I think about all the sacrifice that would follow that conversation and all of the subsequent changes that lay ahead for us. And yet, as a family, we collectively turned our heads toward this new challenge and faced it together. My family will never really know how much their support meant to me through it all.

In every case, the lens through which I have seen these life experiences has been the one that I chose. Sometimes I was aware of it, and that choice was intentional, but other times it happened more organically than that. Sometimes I needed help to really see clearly what was in front of me. I needed someone to face me in the right direction and say, "Look - over there - that's an option for you."

And then of course, there are those times when the Holy Spirit has placed both of her sacred hands on my cheeks, looked me straight in the eyes, kissed my forehead and said "You know what to do."

I've been blessed with a few of those moments lately, and for these I am so very thankful.

Suppression of Clinical Trials of Sumatriptan

Correspondence to the Lancet two weeks ago revealed another instance in which clinical research studies that failed to provide results favorable to a sponsor's product were suppressed.

LATHER Planting Seeds Gift Set Giveaway Winner

The winner of the LATHER Planting Seeds Gift Set is KellieS. Thanks to everyone who shared your experiences with using aromatherapy to cope with your pain. Enjoy your fantastic gift set, Kellie!Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal meSubscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed: Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail. Content by Diana E. Lee.DISCLAIMER:

Suggestions?

I just finished reading The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. It was excellent and I highly recommend it.

What to read next?????

I have several "work" related books on my desk at the office, but my night stand stack of books is down to one - The Origin of Species by Nino Ricci, which looks good but is perhaps a bit on the heavy side for this time of year when my head is so full of "stuff" by the time I make it to bed at night. I'm looking for something on the light but not annoyingly predictable and poorly edited category.

Luckily, I'll be at the book store on Saturday. If you're looking for me, I'll be browsing for awhile. The right book is out there waiting. Also, Pillar has once again imposed his annual pre-holiday buying moratorium (so that I don't buy something he's already purchased for me), which means I probably shouldn't buy any books at all. On the other hand, after 30 years or so, why would I start listening to him now? heh.

Any suggestions????

1% Thursday: Illustrate your Experience

This week, draw a picture illustrating your headache, cluster headache and/or migraine symptoms. If possible, share it with someone. Using art in the diagnosis, research and treatment of various diseases has a long and glorious history. There are good reasons why art is so powerful – and good reasons why you should be using it to [...]

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

1% Thursday: Illustrate your Experience

Last Chance: LATHER Planting Seeds Gift Set Giveaway

Don't forget today is your last chance to enter the LATHER Planting Seeds Gift Set Giveaway. For more information about the giveaway and LATHER's pledge to give $5 from the sale of each gift set to the National Headache Foundation, please visit:LATHER Giveaway: Planting Seeds Gift SetTechnorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal meSubscribe to the Somebody Heal Me

My 10-Day Ordeal With the Swine Flu

Title: My 10-Day Ordeal With the Swine Flu
Category: Health News
Created: 11/12/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/12/2009

Patients want doctors to discuss costs

Experts say that patients have started expecting their doctors to help them make decisions about their care based on the cost of treatment.

Athletes with Migraines

Migraine headaches strike all types of individuals in all types of professions. Shawn Nelson, rookie tight end for the National Football League's Buffalo Bills, has recently been dealing with a bout of migraine headaches but is finding a way to stay active with his team. Nelson injured his neck blocking in a game a few weeks ago and feels like this was the most recent trigger, but he has suffered from migraines for at least the last 10 years. His mother was also a migraine sufferer

Nelson spoke a little bit about what it feels like to have a migraine, and how athleticism and size are no guarantees for good health:

Some people get injuries and some people's bodies react in different ways. From the outside looking in some players' afflictions look really small. But you won't know unless you've had migraines yourself, especially the way I get them. They are unreal. I can't even move.

This just underscores the fact that migraines can strike anyone and can be debilitating no matter what that person's overall health may be like.

What other headache triggers are out there?

Many NFL players experience concussions, which can be a secondary cause for headaches.

=============================
To keep up on useful information
related to headaches and migraines,
subscribe to the
Headaches and Migraines Newsletter.
=============================

Athletes with Migraines originally appeared on About.com Headaches / Migraine on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 08:53:57.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Lest We Forget

My first pastoral charge was memorable for many reasons. Some of those memories aren't great, but the passage of time takes the sharp edges off of it. I've come to value my former colleague's ministry for what it was - a good and faithful one that simply didn't match with mine at the time. He did have some good stories to tell from his long time in ministry.

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day here in Canada, and we celebrate with deep reverence. It's also a day on which I always think of my colleague and one of those good stories.

My colleague was a prairie preacher who had been in ministry since "Jesus was in shorts" (as he used to say). Every Remembrance Day, he would tell us about a time in his ministry when he went to a public school to talk to the children about Remembrance Day and what it meant. He always took this famous poem with him:

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

See more history here.

Well, on one occasion in a small, small hamlet in Saskatchewan, my colleague was doing his regular Remembrance Day visit to the local school and shared the poem as he usually did, and became a bit emotional as he read it (as most of us do).

But this time it was different. A girl in the class put up her hand meekly and in a very quiet voice she said, "Reverend, that poem was written by my grandpa." As he would tell you himself, my former colleague was rarely at a loss for words, but he had none. The class was silent for a long time and he went over and hugged the girl and told her that her grandfather had given us all a great, great gift. He later checked the family history, and the girl was absolutely correct. John McRae was her grandfather. He wrote the girl a note thanking her for sharing that with the class.

Whenever I hear In Flanders Field, I think of that story, of my colleague, and of that little girl, who may well be a grandparent herself by now.

And I remember.

That we owe so very much to the women and men who defended our country in times of war and protect us in the name of Peace even now.

It's a day for Remembrance. And Gratitude.

Lest we forget. Lest we forget.

Migraine Headaches,Natural remedies for migraine headaches | The Natural Remedy Guide

The Natural Remedy Guide >> Posted By myln 18 hours, 52 minutes ago in Health & Fitness The best way to cure migraine headaches is by using natural methods and techniques.

Easy injections and needle-free injections

Progress is being made to make needle-free injections widely available. The DosePro needle free system is one of these. Zogenix plans to launch SUMAVEL DosePro in January (2010), a needle free sumatriptan injection. Certain studies have suggested that taking your abortive medication earlier during your migraine attack is critical. But the fact remains, if you’re going to take [...]

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Easy injections and needle-free injections

Migraine with aura can double stroke risk

Women who get migraine headaches with aura may be at double the risk of a stroke, researchers say.

Lack of health care worsens women's quality of life: WHO

Though women generally live longer than men worldwide, scientists say that women are not able to "reach their full human potential" because their critical medical needs are not being met.

Inflammation in Migraine Brains Identified By PET Imaging

Researchers have identified inflammation in the brain cells of migraine patients by examining their brains using positron emission tomography (PET), a noninvasive imaging technique that allows doctors to see our organs and tissues in 3D.The only other way to examine the brain in this detail is by using brains of the deceased, so PET imaging provides a unique opportunity to examine the brains of

Unlocking Mysteries Of The Brain With PET

Inflammatory response of brain cells -- as indicated by a molecular imaging technique -- could tell researchers more about why certain neurologic disorders, such as migraine headaches and psychosis in schizophrenic patients, occur and provide insight into how to best treat them, according to two new studies.

You’re Doing Better Than Scranton, PA

“Things like that just don’t disappear.” — Lackawana County Historical Socitey President, Mary Moran-Savakinus Well, apparently things like that DO disappear. You say...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Health Care Reform

The U.S. House of Representatives could begin debating their revised health care reform bill. There is even talk of voting as early as this Friday, but as we all know, the political process can take many different turns and detours. Whatever your personal thoughts on the proposals at hand, be sure to contact your own representative and express those views. Read more about health care reform. Will you need to find a new doctor? What questions should you be asking doctors?

=============================
To keep up on useful information
related to headaches and migraines,
subscribe to the
Headaches and Migraines Newsletter.
=============================

Health Care Reform originally appeared on About.com Headaches / Migraine on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 10:00:30.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Molecular Imaging Pinpoints Inflammation In The Brains Of Schizophrenics And Migraine Sufferers

Inflammatory response of brain cells - as indicated by a molecular imaging technique - could tell researchers more about why certain neurologic disorders, such as migraine headaches and psychosis in schizophrenic patients, occur and provide insight into how to best treat them, according to two studies published in the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

slowing down

If my Migraine disease has taught me anything - and continues to teach me anything - it's the value of slowing down. We talk about slowing down all the time when we discuss chronic illness. Being chronically ill requires us to reserve our energy for those things that really matter, to evaluate what we can and cannot do based on how our bodies feel. While initially upon being diagnosed we can

Surgery Potentially Best Option For Severe Migraine Headaches

In newly released research, 79 migraine sufferers were followed for at least five years after having undergone detection of migraine "trigger sites" and surgery. New data find promising outcomes for treating trigger sites surgically for migraine headaches resulting in elimination of pain for those afflicted with the condition.

Migraine With Aura Doubles Risk Of Stroke

Migraine with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) is associated with a twofold increased risk of stroke, finds a new study. Further risk factors for stroke among patients with migraine are being a woman, being young, being a smoker and using estrogen-containing contraceptives.

Migraine With Aura Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Stroke

A migraine with aura occurs when temporary visual or sensory disturbances are experienced before or during a migraine headache. A study just published on bmj.com reports that migraine with aura is associated with a twofold increased risk of stroke. Further risk factors for stroke among patients with migraine are being a woman, being young, being a smoker, and using contraceptives containing estrogen.

Only Some Migraine Sufferers At Higher Risk Of Stroke

On the publication of research in the British Medical Journal looking at the links between migraine and an increased risk of stroke, Ellen Mason, Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation said: 'This review clarifies that it is only migraine with aura - a migraine with temporary visual and sensory disturbances that is linked to increased risk of having a stroke.

Migraine With Aura Doubles The Risk Of Stroke

Migraine with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) is associated with a twofold increased risk of stroke, finds a study published on bmj.com today. Further risk factors for stroke among patients with migraine are being a woman, being young, being a smoker, and using oestrogen containing contraceptives.

Global Warming and Headaches

We all know that pollution is unsightly, smells horrible, and generally detracts from a community. Now researchers believe that pollution may also contribute to headaches. In a study published earlier this month in the American Journal of Epemiology, researchers looked at the effect pollution is having in urban centers in Chile. They found that increased pollution levels were associated with higher rates of hospitalization for headaches of all types. So now we have one more reason to clean up the environment.

Do you know of other headache triggers?

What about headache triggers in your diet?

=============================
To keep up on useful information
related to headaches and migraines,
subscribe to the
Headaches and Migraines Newsletter.
=============================

Global Warming and Headaches originally appeared on About.com Headaches / Migraine on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 21:55:08.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Increased Stroke Risk From Birth Control Pills, Review Finds

Birth control pills nearly double the risk of stroke, according to a new review article. For women who take the Pill and also smoke, have high blood pressure or have a history of migraine headaches, the stroke risk is even higher.

The Colors of death

Fall in NY is, without a doubt, breath-taking to drink in by sight. How poetic, right. The colors are just incredible, abundant. Everywhere. Right now, we are at peak season. Unfortunately, so is my personal ogre.

I managed two days of infusion, wished for more, but the weekend came. Hard. On Sunday, I actually uttered the words, "please just let me die. I want to die!" Which of course brought to mind, my KIDS! So what was I thinking??? It wasn't that I really, really wished death on myself, just well, I couldn't take it anymore. I still can't. It's still there, lingering; a bit less than yesterday, but there.

Today, a much better day by far really. I was able to sweep the floors. Yes, a great and wonderful day was had by me. The bending over thing though, not a good idea. That is, unless I was into the dizzy thing. For the record, I'm so not. It just increases the pain and makes me SICK to my stomach all over again. And to make the day all the more interesting, I had the misfortune of driving today. oops.

I had no intentions of doing so, it was a mistake really. But my girl needed to be picked up and I was the only avail driver. scary. glaring sun in my eyes was no help. Thankfully, we made it safely. Poor kid wasn't feeling well herself.

Tomorrow, I meet with my pain doc and we will talk about the stim device. for me. I've been reading up on it, online, not convinced one way or another really. Just tired of living the way I have been. Sick in pain. Rather, painfully sick. The ONE medication I can take for preventative, my insurance refuses to pay for. So tomorrow should be interesting.

To think of the amount of treatments, hospitals, medications, injections, states, doctors, different methods, the money we have spent, time; it is amazing to me. Still, we fight with our insurance company. Unreal.

So, what am I supposed to be doing right now? I stared a mural, actually, a three-wall mural maybe two weeks ago. So far, all that I was able to accomplish was the pencil drawing. I feel awful, I don't know when I will be able to get back to it. I guess I'll get to it when I do....

Wishing you a pain free day
Deborah

climbing back on the horse

It's no secret to me - or anyone who's been following my blog - that I've been having a really tough time lately. My mother keeps telling me, don't despair. Chronic illness is certainly difficult enough to deal with all on its own, but add in the unemployment and sometimes (often) it is just too much to cope with. My Depression and Anxiety issues have gone from lurking on the horizon to

another migraine

Struck. again. This time, I believe I know the cause. I'm blaming my insurance company. For almost two years, my doctor and I have been fighting them to keep a drug that has been keeping the monster at bay. Keeping it in a sleeping mode. Keeping me home, away from the life I was living in the hospital.

On Friday, the monster came knocking. HARD. I was taking the medication, Namenda, every other day, winding down my dosage to it's inevitable end. I gave myself a shot in the hip of Toradol, my only abortive, it graciously took the edge off. But on Saturday it was back with a vengance, and I was down for the day. I tried my abortive, but it just wouldn't deliver any relief.

By Monday, I was done with the Namenda and the monster was in full gear - wreaking it's anger and wrath on and in my head, my stomach, my back. Everything hurt. Nothing was working to relieve he pain. Tuesday evening, I started getting spasms in my spine, thru my back and out my eye and the top of my head - like a spike was being thrust thru me. Today, the pain was worse. I couldn't sit or lay down, only walk thru the pain, to release some of the tension. I couldn't wait to get to the infusion center today, to start the onslaught of drugs that I'm hoping, will break the pain.

Once there, and the iv started, the spasms started again, this time after I had received Benedryl and Mag sulfate, so I was a bit groggy and not about to walk anywhere. Thankfully, it didn't last as long as it did lastnight or this afternoon. I stood at my chair stomping my feet, trying to beat the pain out of my spine and back.

For anyone who thinks a migraine is just a bad headache; I challenge them to hang with a migraineur on a bad day. or a good day, even a good day with one of those low-grade migraines, come and hang out with me, you'll see it's not just a stinking headache. No, it's much worse. It doesn't involve just my head either; but my stomach wants so badly to just hurl anything. But most times, I cannot eat TO hurl. Oh, and let's not forget about the visual spirals and geometrical weird stuff that I see and hear. Yes, hear. The screaching, screaming, sirens, everything is louder than it should be, and brighter than bright. Nope, definitely NOT just a headache.

We are now contacting the pharmaceutical company for the drug I need. Letting them know my insurance company sucks. out. loud.

Well, I really hope you are pain-free
Deborah

Prescription Medication Help

The economy hasn't been everything we'd all hoped it would be this year, and with the holiday season approaching it's easy to get discouraged. Medication costs have increased steadily for years and it seems there are more and more people taking more and more medication. An organization called the Partnership for Prescription Assistance is here to help people who are having a tough time paying for their medicines.

If you are someone who doesn't have prescription drug benefits through any insurance program, you may qualify for help through the PPA. They are dedicated to finding ways to pay for medications, as well as resources for the uninsured or underinsured. This may be a nice holiday bonus for some of you out there.

Have you or your doctor thought of the best prescription medications to treat migraines?

What about prescriptions to prevent migraines?

=============================
To keep up on useful information
related to headaches and migraines,
subscribe to the
Headaches and Migraines Newsletter.
=============================

Prescription Medication Help originally appeared on About.com Headaches / Migraine on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 09:38:32.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

action alert: express Migraine to Congress

Betsy Blondin, editor of the excellent book Migraine Expressions, has put together a great way for us Migraineurs to increase our visibility with Congress. Betsy's efforts come at a terrific time, right on the heels of Cindy McCain "going public" with her Migraine disease. This timely advocacy effort is called "Express Migraine to Congress", and it is very simple. Anyone can purchase a copy of

side effects and self-doubt

I've been here before. A brief trial of a medication, followed by confusing side effects and my doctor's orders to "discontinue the medication". As I posted last week, I started a low dose of citalopram (generic Celexa, an SSRI) mainly to help with my Anxiety, and hopefully my Depression and Migraines as well. The first two days, the side effects were tolerable, but by the third dose, my body

Hope Side By Side With Suffering Part 3

I start to lose grip of my certain hope in God when I experience the bitterness of my suffering. This bitterness has rocked my faith. I have so many unanswered questions about God. Is He really good if He allows so much pain and anguish? How can he stand back and watch my misery unfold and yet not do something about it?
My world of understanding of who God is and how He works has been turned upside down and inside out. I still attempt to cling to my certain hope that is my faith in God (that He is present with me and loves me). Some days my faith is so small it is hard to find. The questions out number the answers. Anger, depression and anxiety consume me. I do not understand! I am confused! I do not know how to navigate nor do I want to navigate a life that involves much more excruciating pain than I ever expected to face.
In the book of the Bible, Lamentations, after five chapters of declaring the suffering that has taken place, the author, Jeremiah, does not conclude with a message that everything will be okay. In fact, the last verses in the book, Lamentations 5:21-22 say, "Bring us back to you, Lord, and we will return. Make our days as they were before, or have you completely rejected us? Are you so angry with us?"

*Silence.* Is this really the end of the book? Does anyone else read this conclusion and wonder where the voice of comfort from God that will bring peace is? How intriguing that this book of lament ends with questions for God that are left unanswered. In fact, where is God's voice at all?
Going back to what I discussed in Part 2 of this series, the book of Lamentations has three voices, the narrator, the city of Jerusalem personified as a woman and the man who is a witness to the suffering. Where is God's voice in all of this? What does it mean to me, the reader, that God is silent during and at the end of this book of lament? Moreover, what does it me to me, a person who suffers, that God is silent?

My walk with God often is challenged as I cry out, beg for mercy, ask for relief and in turn hear nothing in response. No rescue. No peace. This walk with suffering can be and often is a lonely road where I simply do not see God's presence. Just as in the book of Lamentations, God is silent. This silence challenges my certain hope (that God loves me and is present).
The words to the song, "The Silence of God" by Andrew Peterson, has touched a deep place in my soul. (Click on this link to hear the song on YouTube.) It is poetry that has come along side me, validated and expressed the spirit of how I have felt. It is a song of lament but also yet a song of certain hope. In these lyrics, though there is dissonance between the emotions of loneliness, doubt, anger, fear, anxiety, confusion and certain hope, there is also resolution. The resolution, where hope sits side by side with suffering, is found in the following lyrics of Andrew Peterson's song:

And the man of all sorrows, He never forgot what sorrow is carried by the hearts that he bought. So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God, the aching may remain but the breaking does not. The aching remains, the breaking does not in the holy lonesome echo of the silence of God.

October Edition of Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival

The October Edition of The Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival is up at Somebody Heal Me by Diana Lee.

This month, submissions are on the topic: Alternative Therapies . Check them out.

Generally speaking, a blog carnival is a collection of links to a variety of a blogs on a central topic. The Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival has been created to provide both headache and migraine disease patients and people who blog about headache disorders with unique opportunities to share ideas on topics of particular interest and importance to us. Visit the link to this month's carnival for a collection of informative entries on the theme of Alternative Therapies .

Questions about Faith and Spirituality on My Migraine Connection

I just read a sharepost by Teri Robert called Migraine and Headaches - Questions About Faith and Spirituality. If you have questions about faith and healing, Teri Robert will be submitting your question(s) to "experienced faith and healing bloggers". The answers will be shared in an upcoming post. I will let you know when to look for it.

learning to ask for help

DF and I recently went on vacation to Charleston SC for a week, which marked the official start of our wedding planning. We had a great trip. The first half we spent with my mom and sister; after they left, we had three days to ourselves to play tourist. I actually felt fairly good during vacation. I still had the daily head pain from my Migraines and IIH, but I paced myself and practiced good

Hope Side By Side With Suffering Part 2

What got my brain churning around the idea of hope amidst suffering are podcasts I have listened to of the messages that Mars Hill Bible Church did on the book of Lamentations in March of this year. These teachings, especially one by Rob Bell on chapter three called New Skirts, have expanded my perspective on the friction I have experienced between suffering and hope. I am going to share some of what I learned in listening to that teaching.

Lamentations is a book of the Old Testament in the Bible where the author, Jeremiah, describes the destruction, the grief and the horrors that have taken place in the fall of Jerusalem. There are three "voices" in this five chapter book. A narrator describes the state of distress of the city. The city, personified as a woman, speaks of her suffering. And in chapter three, a man, who witnessed the suffering, speaks of the devastation and pain.

In Lamentations 3:15-18, the man says,

The Lord filled me with misery; he made me drunk with suffering. He broke my teeth with gravel and trampled me into the dirt. I have no more peace. I have forgotten what happiness is. I said, "My strength is gone, and I have no hope in the Lord."

Perhaps I have not eaten gravel or been trampled in the dirt. But, I go through seasons of my chronic illness where the pain and suffering I deal with every day is misery. I am empty and find myself weak, weary and without hope. Where is God? Why is he allowing such pain in my life?

Within a few verses of saying he is without hope, the man who has witnessed and experienced horrific suffering declares in Lamentations 3:20-24,

I well remember them [the experiences with suffering], and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

Misery and yet hope. As I discussed in Part 1 of this series, I believe that these verses describe a hope of certainty. In his message, Rob Bell suggests that many people may believe that hope can not coexist with the presence of emotions of suffering. I had struggled with this notion of hope in the suffering of my chronic illness. When day after day after day after day is filled with pain, frustration, sadness or anxiety, it is hard to even consider hope. I believe that people (maybe religious folks in particular) expect that when someone goes through a struggle that they should not experience those aforementioned emotions because there is a certain hope (in God). But actually, suffering sits with hope. Doubt sits with hope. Fear sits with hope. Confusion sits with hope.

According to Bell,

For many people, I guess (they believe:) "I don't measure up because my hope is laced with all sorts of other things."

Shouldn't it be that if I have a certain hope then I should not have doubt or fear or confusion? If my certain hope is the love of God, if my certain hope is the presence of God, then why do I have all of those other emotions? According to Lamentations, hope is side by side with all these things. And that is just how it is. If I am doubting God, or afraid because I do not feel His presence or am confused because my life and pain just do not make sense, it does not make me a "weak" or bad person. It makes me real. Hope and suffering go together. In the midst of doubt and fear and frustration and anger and confusion, certain hope (the love of God, the presence of God), is always there.

Keep a look out for the final part of this series on hope side by side with suffering.

Hope Side by Side With Suffering Part 1

Lamentations. Grief, sorrow and cries for mercy have been flowing from my lips and dropping from my eyes with great frequency of late. In the process of lamenting over my suffering, the notion of having hope amidst the grief has produced some friction within me. How can great sorrow and great hope coexist? How can I bellow about the state of my life and about the pain that refuses to relent, yet have hope?
In this three part series, I journey to understand hope together with suffering.

When I think of what I am hoping for in regards to my health, the short list of what comes to mind are the following:
*that I find a the preventative(s) and dose(s) that will make a difference toward better Migraine and NDPH management.
*that I will not have a Migraine on important days like holidays, appointments, family get-togethers, or dates with a friend.
*that today will be a day where I can get out of bed, get off the couch and go grocery shopping, do housework, and become somewhat of "normal" person.

But, these things I hope for do not create firm ground beneath my feet. Each of the aforementioned cases are cases of circumstantial hope where hope is dependent on something else to happen. When another medication trial is a bust, I can lose hope. When my abortive and rescue medications fail to bring relief, I can lose hope. When I spend two weeks in a hospital only for the doctor to say, "we have to discharge you because there is nothing more we can do right now", hope is like a seed in my hand that is so tiny it can slip through my fingers and fall to the ground and sometimes it does.

Circumstantial hope rises and falls based on my state of being. This is not to say that circumstantial hope is bad. In fact, it is necessary in keeping me sane and gives me the motivation to put one foot in front of the other. The hope for a better preventative regimen, for abortive and rescue medications that I can count on, and for IV intervention that brings relief are all vital in my forward movement in the management of my health.

Hebrews 11:1 says,

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

In reading this verse, I would venture to surmise that faith and hope are akin to each other. The kind of hope spoken of in Hebrews 11:1 is not circumstantial. It is certainty. The verse almost begs the question, what is it that I am certain about? And in the answer is where hope dwells. This certain hope is a firm foundation where I can go when all other hope fails.

In part two, I'll be exploring how suffering can coexist with certain hope.

Didn't See it Coming

It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how vague or brilliant the aura, I refuse to recognize it for what it is. Have you ever done that? Even when it has sound, which it did this time around, well that is actually normal for me; anyway, there were the lights and zigzags, and the screaches, and still, I denied it was coming.

And even when I woke with it, I still didn't want to call it what it really was; I thought I had a bug. (what????) Stupid me.

Alas, I finally gave in and injected myself with my trusty toradol (chiming bells inserted here) and it eased up. ta da. How is it, that after several thousands of migraines, I still refuse to recognize it's coming?? Is it blatant denial? Or stupidity on my part? In the end, I see it for what it is, the monster, accept that it has come, and deal with it. Well, not so much accept as hmmmmm, know it's there. I refuse to accept them. I don't want them, therefore, I cannot accept them.

This past Tuesday, I had another round of cryoanalgesia, followed by, rather - triggering the migraine for the day. and the next day. But it works for me; it takes them down a notch and keeps me free from migraine for longer periods. Rather than daily migraine, I live with 1 to 3 per week. That is a remarkable upgrade in living conditions for me.

Perhaps the fewer migraines are causing me to become comfortable in the lack of them. Thus, the denial. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Fall has landed here, the weather is cooler, it is darker at an earlier hour. The weather patterns are changing from dry and warm, to cool and rainy. Spring and Fall are so beautiful, but they affect me terribly. We have talked about moving South, but cannot right now.

I would love to be able to play outside longer than we can here in the Northeast. I just hate the idea of winter coming; the idea of having to stay indoors for months to come. I'm not ready for the cold. It makes my body hurt, my head ring and scream with pain. I hate it!

We had this beautiful fog fall in the park across the street tonight. It's getting cooler. I am sure the pic does it no justice. It was so beautiful with the sky glowing behind it. You could smell smoke from a fireplace in the air. mmmmmmm, what a yummy smell. I cannot wait to light up the fireplace this year!! But, I'm not ready YET for the change to all cold days and nights.

Next week, Lexi will be moving to an adult hab home. I cannot wait to show the pics of the house. It's so homey and warm. Rather than 5 girls, where she is now; she will be one of three girls in the new home. There is REAL furniture, rather than the "institutional" style in the house she is at now. She will also be closer to our home and church. I am so excited to move her in, and decorate her room. We've already done some shopping for her, and I painted a new desk for her computer. It is soooooo exciting.

Tonight, DH is starting, the kids are in bed. The pups are curled up sleeping. Oh, and I am migraine-free. for now.

Wishing you a pain-free day
Deborah

MAGNUM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DISCUSSES CONTROVERSIAL MIGRAINE SURGERY ON MPBN.NET RADIO

Today MAGNUM was fortunate to enjoy a pleasant interview by reporter Anne Ravana who wanted to discuss a unique Migraine operation which required surgical deactivation of three common migraine disease trigger areas through what many in the medical community consider a controversial surgery, pioneered by Migraine expert Dr. Bahman Guyuron, a plastic surgeon.

30 Things.....

In observation of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, (wow, that is a mouthful!), I have taken on the challenge, well not necessarily challenge but (I am stuck for the correct term ) - I am participating, yes, that's it, with an activity: a "meme," 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know. You can play along, too. If you are a reader with an Invisible Illness, take the "meme" to your site.

First of all, for those who do not know what an Invisible Illness is, it is one that has no visible identity. I do not use a walker or cane or a wheelchair; though at times, I am unable to keep my balance and would profit from such. I do not have a hearing aide; although at times I wish I could turn the volume down on life, as it gets way too loud for me. I just live with pain. hmmm, "just," well not quite. On with the "meme"

1. The illness I live with: I have Migraine Disease

2. I was diagnosed in the year: It has always been a part of my life; but the word "migraine" was first said to me in 1992.

3. But I had symptoms since: I have always had them, for as long as I can remember.

4. The biggest adjustment I've had to make: Slowing down, especially when I know it's coming. The migraine, that is.

5. Most people assume: head pain is the only symptom of Migraine Disease; and that it is not a disease, but simply a headache.

6. The hardest thing about morning is: waking up in pain when my family needs me.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: Gray's Anatomy

8. A gadget I couldn't live without: without a doubt, my earplugs

9. The hardest part about night: being awake when I should be sleeping. the tossing and turning and just hoping I can sleep is torture. Without enough sleep, I'm destined for another monster.

10. Each day I take: I am down to only 8 meds per day. My insurance company has refused me two of my medications that worked to keep them under control. In the event of the monster, I must take more meds to kill it.

11. Regarding alternative treatments: I have used chiropractic care, and am on a new drink (new for me) called Xango. It is from the mangostene plant

12. If I had to choose between an invisible or visible illness: I will deal with what I'm dealt thank you.

13. Regarding working and career. hmmmm......I take care of my family, so I am able to work from home - HA. The last job I had, I was forced to quit due to migraine.

14. People would be surprised to know: aura are the most beautiful and energetic part of my migraine. They mesmerize me.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: knowing my kids may develop them.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: go to see DMB live!!!

17. The commercials about my illness: hardly touch on the reality of migraine

18. Something I really miss doing: this is more of a miss-out for me; I wish I could travel with my husband. He loves to travel, but because I don't do well with it, I get ill and migrainey, I don't travel.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: foods I love that are triggers for migraine.

20. A new hobby I have taken up: painting furniture

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: travel with my husband

22. My illness has taught me: to rest when my body tells me to. That is really is OK to take naps when I feel lousy.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing that gets under my skin is: when people have the "answers" because they read it somewhere!!!

24. But I love it when people: are actually informed; ask questions; seek professional advice.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" Phil 4:13

26. When someone is diagnosed, I'd like to tell them: learn all you can. read books that explain and help you through the disease. I usually give titles and authors with that.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness: is the amount of time I spend in bed getting over the monster, or trying to prevent it from coming on.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn't feeling well was: my friend Joyce came to stay with me in the hospital; she showed up after hours, sang hymns to me, brought gifts for my children, gave me cds to listen to, and offered to massage my feet for me. I hate my feet to be touched, so I denied that. I do let my husband rub my feet when I am in pain.

29. I am involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I would like to help others, try to educate or point them in a better direction if I can.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: that you care enough to listen. thank you.

At this point, you too are encouraged to participate by answering these questions on your blog and keep this going.

You can find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com

Wishing you a pain-free day.
Deborah

CINDY McCAIN, LONGTIME MIGRAINEUR, TO KEYNOTE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL HEADACHE SOCIETY IN PHILY

How fitting September is Pain Awareness Month to have Mrs. Cindy McCain lead her voice to that of Migraine disease awareness as MAGNUM is still working with Congress to declare September as Migraine Awareness Month as well. Mrs. McCain believes more research is essential. “I am astonished by the lack of progress in the field and the dearth of medical advances. I mean, there are no specific preventives, and not enough effective treatments,” she notes. (Delivers keynote address 14th Congress of the International Headache Society)

Susan Moeller Denny Honored by MAGNUM for Top Volunteer Service

"That is why today we at the Migraine Awareness Group [a National Understanding for Migraineurs] want to make special SHOUT OUT! to our own very special Ms. Susan Moeller Denny, MAGNUM's Information Service Director! Thank you for over a decade of support to MAGNUM!..."

Watson Announces Limited Recall Of Fentanyl Transdermal System

Undo to popular myth this does not mean Fentanyl is used for only cancer pain, but a host of persistent, moderate to severe chronic pain diseases such as neuropathies given as an example. The recalled patches are from Lot Number 145287A, have expiration dates of February 2011 and were manufactured by Watson Laboratories, Inc.

Generic Imitrex Pills are not Triangular or Pink - What a Rip-Off

Yours truly has gone generic - at least with Imitrex. We should probably call it Sumatriptan now, it being not-brand-name-like; on the other hand, GImitrex we can still pronounce.

The migraine is coming on as yours truly is typing it. The time for the big guns is here. This is the very first time yours truly will be loading on this generic goodness. Will keep you posted as to how well it works compared to the brand-name Imitrex.

For now, my gentle readers - the first impressions pictorial.

The box, airbrushed - yours truly does like some privacy:

More box, the other side. Generic at it's most generic:

Three pills per sheet, three sheets in a box. Have they heard of conservation?

The mysterious 223 pill. Has Dr. Ready's Labs ran out of food coloring? Or triangular shapes? Even a round pill would have been better. Everyone knows the oval pills don't work as well as the round ones. Also, if memory serves, yours truly has specifically asked to make these strawberry-flavored. And they ain't...

Well, now lets see if these actually work. Down the hatch. Stay tuned, my gentle readers.

Harry Potter had Migraines?

Scientists from New England Center for Headache in Stamford have concluded that Harry Potter might have had migraines.

They tracked the progress of the headaches from the time Potter was 11 years old all the way to 17. The good scientists even published a paper on the subject in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain - "Harry Potter and the Curse of Headache."

These are the symptoms that led to the migraine diagnosis:

Headaches began around age 11
Severe stabbing pains in the trigeminal nerve
Headaches were one-sided

The paper does admit that the attacks lasted only a short time, however. Also, in the books, the only trigger Harry Potter had was Lord Voldemort.

link: Diagnosing Harry Potter's Headaches

Migraines and Birth Control Pills

Could birth control pills be a migraine trigger? According to Dr. Thomas Shieh's recent article in guampdn.com, the pill as a trigger for migraines is controversial topic. Some say yay, some say ney.

However, he does state pretty categorically that estrogen-based birth control pills do have an effect on migraines in certain women. Here's his advice:

"If you are experiencing severe migraines often, I would suggest stopping the pills. Take a rest period and see if your migraines subside.

You should know that women with chronic migraines are at higher risk of strokes compared to those without. Within this population of women with a strong history of migraines, adding estrogen pills adds to their risk of a stroke. Thus, I usually recommend them getting off of these pills, or switching to pills that don't contain estrogen.

I know you do not want to get pregnant, and I would suggest you talk to your doctor about contraceptive pills without estrogen, other methods and if desired, permanent surgical options as well."

guampdn.com

No MSG Added - a Little White Lie? Part Deux

"MSG is one of the more common migraine food triggers. You might not find M, S and G on the label of whatever product you are buying at your local grocery store, but rest assured, it's most likely there. Even if it says - no MSG added." - starts the article No MSG Added - a Little White Lie? yours truly wrote a while ago about hidden dangers of MSG.

Here's some more MSG-in-hiding facts for my gentle reader's consideration from The dirty secret of MSG - it's everywhere, by Charlotte Law :

"A pesticide company called Emerald BioAgriculture uses an MSG type of "growth enhancer" which they have been spraying onto selected vegetables and nuts since 1999; the company is currently looking to get government permission to use the substance on organic produce.

Meats, seafood and poultry can be rinsed or injected with MSG before reaching your plate, and restaurant salad bars can get an MSG spritz, giving lettuce that perky look. This toxic additive can be found in vitamins, soaps, cosmetics, chewing gum and intravenous hospital fluids. It can be found in children's medications, and it might lurk inside your migraine prescription.

In short, MSG acts as cheap filler, a flavor enhancer and a cosmetic surgeon, fooling unsuspecting consumers into thinking aged, withered foods are fresh. It can hide unpleasant tastes. It has an addictive component much like nicotine, and recent studies in Spain have conclusively linked it with obesity. MSG means profits for the food industry and its powerful Washington lobbyists; and it is no surprise that proper labeling legislation remains elusive.

If any additive containing the essential active ingredient of MSG, glutamic acid or free glutamate, is an amount that is less than 78 percent, the government does not require it to be labeled MSG. This is deceptive because MSG itself contains over 78 percent of free glutamates.

There are epidemiological studies, such as those brought to light by Dr. Adrienne Samuels, suggesting that up to 40 percent of the U.S. population suffers from adverse reactions to MSG with drowsiness, numbness, chest pains, nausea, facial pressure, difficulty in breathing or headaches. The FDA claims only 2 percent of the population experience a bad reaction, but even if this is right, it amounts to whopping 6 million Americans - more than the 3 million who are allergic to peanuts."

The dirty secret of MSG - it's everywhere

Migraine Safety Rules for Outdoor Celebrations

Happy Independence Day holiday to all my gentle readers!

Here's some MIGRAINE SAFETY RULES that should prevent the celebration turning into a Migraine nightmare:

Do stay away from the sun - heatstroke and dehydration are among primary causes for migraine.
Drink plenty of water if you are outside, for the reasons mentioned above.
Don't forget your sunglasses - shades should limit flare and harsh light and keep your eyes from getting tired too fast.
Try not to inhale too much smoke from the fireworks - not only it's toxic, the smell is so strong it will trigger a migraine no time flat in those of us who are smell-sensitive.
If your party is planning fireworks, take some earplugs along. Unlike the normals, you'll hear the BOOM even with ears stuffed.
If you drink alcohol, pace yourself. Better eat something before you drink and get plenty of water in between your beers.
If there's a cookout, eat more meat (or veggies, if you are a vegetarian) and less of those tasty bans. This cheap variety of bread will jump your blood sugar sky-high and then flour it in fifteen minutes flat. That's a more guaranteed way to get a migraine that polishing a six-pack.

Have fun, my gentle readers!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The URL for this RSS feed has changed. Click here to get the updated URL. (Note: This RSS feed is available to Healthcare Industry Today subscribers only.)

Moving to Word Press

I have decided to move my blog to WordPress. Please visit me at www.amigraineur.wordpress.com Check out my commentary on Migraineurs at Lower Risk for Breast Cancer.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I am most thankful to all of you who read my blog. I never thought I would actually have followers! Thanks so much, gals.

Wishing you a migraine free holiday!

Debbie

Rosalind Joffe Takes a Look Down the Rabbit Hole of Work

Rosalind Joffe has written a great book for working women who have autoimmune diseases. She has been promoting her book through this virtual book tour. There are tips on disclosing the illness, how to succeed in the workplace when only your skill set is no longer enough, and what to do if you get fired by your boss, or your body, or both.
We are giving away a copy of the book to the person who can best answer this question.

What is your biggest challenge at work and how will reading this book help solve it?

I recently interviewed Rosalind with some questions of my own. I will let her take it from here.

Looking down the rabbit hole:

1. Why do you encourage women with a CI to work? Is there an additional benefit of working as compared to healthy women who do not work?

Actually, we (my co-author, Joan and I) wrote the book as a support for those who want to work but find too many impediments in the way. As a chronic illness career coach, I know there are too many variables in a decision like this to say that there is only one right way for everyone.

That said, chapter 2, Why you should keep working, makes the case that continuing to work helps you maintain your physical, social, mental and financial health. I site specific studies that support this notion. But no doubt about it —working can be difficult. It’s not easy to find an organization where unpredictable health doesn’t lead to being marginalized, to find co- workers who support you and don’t resent you, and to earn a salary/benefits that meets your needs.

But I urge you to consider the long term, rather than focusing on the immediate demands of young children or the difficulties of a severe time in an illness that could improve. Finally, I think (but haven’t seen any research to support this) that it is even more valuable for women with CI to keep working. I describe this in detail in Chapter 2 but here are some highlights:

There is a higher rate of divorce among couples with CI and if you’re single again, it’s likely you’re going to have to support yourself (or live on the poverty level income of SSDI).

Many of us with CI find that increasing limitations means a loss of self-esteem. As long as you’re doing work that you CAN do, work is one place where you can continue to feel valued.

Work offers a distraction from your body and that’s a huge piece of being able to live with CI.

When you have a debilitating CI that requires disclosure, it’s more difficult to re-enter the workforce after a hiatus. It’s always easier to find a job when you’re currently employed.

2 . How does one keep emotion out of disclosure? Especially when newly diagnosed emotions are everywhere and there is no clear answer to the question, "How will this affect your ability to work?" (I broke all of your rules on disclosure).

So, if you “broke the rules”, how did it go for you?

Obviously, there are many variables. The chapter, Talking about your Chronic Illness explores this issue in depth. With a new diagnosis, if you’ve had to take a leave or there is a physical difference people can see, you’re “out of the closet”. Since none of us are prepared for living with illness, I suggest you seek help from someone you trust to develop the skills you need to discuss this on an on-going basis. Generally, I think it’s better to disclose a new diagnosis once you have a better idea of how this will go for you. When you’ve lived through several “flares”, you’re better prepared to respond to the question: “How does this affect your work?”

If you have to discuss it, however, be as honest as you need to be and as private as you want to be. Remember, no one wants a sob story. They want to know you can do your job. As far as keeping emotion out of any discussion of CI at work, that’s about being “professional”. All organizations have a culture with unspoken standards for acceptable behavior. In some settings, emotional is fine. But if you’re gushing with fear and sadness, then others pick up on this and view whatever you do or can accomplish through that lens. That’s true whether you’re healthy or not. Filtering your behavior is a key factor in workplace success. Make sure you get help – either from a trusted colleague, a mentor or a coach.

3. As a coach, how would you counsel a client who wants to start a home-based business because the demands of a full-time job is too stressful?

Joan wrote about this in the chapter, You’re Fired – by your body or your boss. Setting up your own business means that you need at least three things:

Something that you can do that people will pay you to do

Financial backing to support you while you’re getting the business of the ground

Motivation, discipline, the ability to work alone and belief in yourself

If you have all of those things, then a home based business could be a terrific solution to those of us living with unpredictable, debilitating disease. Both Joan and I did it successfully but we’re aware of what it takes and we encourage others only when they are clear that they can meet the basic criteria I stated above. Most people don’t make the kind of money they think they’ll make but do find that’s offset by the flexibility and freedom they get with self employment.

Rosalind, thank you for helping us navigate the crazy world of work, which can be daunting when faced with a chronic illness.

Rosalind Joffe, co-author of Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend!, is president of cicoach.com, a resource for professionals who live with chronic illness. Check out her website (http://www.cicoach.com/), which is filled with resources about career challenges living with CI and her blog, Working with Chronic Illness (http://workingwithchronicillness.com/)

Food for Relaxation and Sedation

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Topiramate (Topamax) Side Effects: Migraineurs vs Patients with Epilepsy

Anti-convulsants are used to control seizures in patients with epilepsy and Migraine attacks in migraineurs. I have always wondered why my friends who have seizure disorders could tolerate these drugs better than I can. Am I more sensitive to drug side effects? Or did I have different side effects?

It appears that Are Migraineurs at Increased Risk of Adverse Drug Responses?may have the answer.

Authors Luykx, Mason, Ferrari, and Carpay investigated all of the studies that compared Migraineurs and patients with epilepsy taking only topiramate (Topamax) for treatment. They found that each group experienced different side effects from topiramate. Behavioral side effects and headache were experienced only in patients with epilepsy. Altered taste (yuck!) and cognitive difficulties were experienced only by patients with Migraine. I find this fascinating! Same drug, different diseases, different side effects.

Not only this, but in clinical trials Migraineurs were "more likely to drop out because of ADRs [adverse drug responses]." So, not only were the side effects different for the two groups, Migraineurs appear to be less tolerant to their set of side effects. The article will soon be published in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

I'm Moving to www.freemybrain.com - Come Visit!

It's been grand here at Typepad for the last 10 months, but it's getting a little crowded! So for more I'm moving! Please come see me at www.freemybrain.com where you will find the Free my Brain from Migraine Pain blog...

Another Lure for a Migraine Cure

I just did a Google search for migraine +cure and in a split second I got 268,000 hits. It boggles my mind to think there are that many people hawking a cure for what is known to be a manageable, neurological, genetic disease with NO known cure. Now only that, but the articles contain outdated information, unsubstantiated claims, and downright lies.

Take this one, for example. Thomas Coffman's article was published on November 5th in Albert Lea Tribune.com. The title, You Might Discover Your Own Migraine Cure, is a bit refreshing only because he isn't trying to sell me something. However, he should brush up on his statistics and the latest Migraine research.

Let's take him on step, by painful step:

"an episodic, paroxysmal, headache with debilitating pain" Migraines are NOT headaches. Headache does not define Migraine. Migraines are not always episodic. Migraines are not always sudden; mine creep up on me. Yes, the pain can be and usually is debilitating. OK he got one out of four.

"They may be the result of tension, or stretching of the membranes around the brain and of the blood vessels and muscles of the scalp" Migraines are not vascular in origin as once thought. This idea is at least 10 years behind current research.

"23 million Americans... suffer from m [M]igraines..." old stats. Magnum cites 32 million Americans with Migraine. The American Headache Foundation cites 29.5 million.

"there are some common trigger factors associated with behavior, which gives us a psychosomatic origin. " I almost lost my dinner after reading this. Patent lie. This needs no comment.

"Of all the things that affect the migraine patient, I try to identify what the patient may be doing to them selves first." OK. Blame the patient.

The article goes from bad to worse. I think I have made my point. Thomas, get your facts straight.

photo courtesy of Apolline Fishing Tackle Co.,Ltd.

Migraine Prevention - Early Success

Shhh... I'm whispering so the Migraine monsters don't hear me and punish me... Oh yeah, that's kind of like believing in ghosts. But I seem to be having some success with the topamax I'm on for Migraine prevention. I have...

November Blog Carnival: Art inspired by Migraine

Go over to Pain in the Head for the November Headache and Migraine Disease Blog Carnival. Generally speaking, a blog carnival is a collection of links to a variety of a blogs on a central topic. The Headache & Migraine...

Your Host Seized by Election Fever

I have to admit to a new illness - not a chronic one this time, but acute. I have election fever. I fear I will be good for nothing until the election results are in tonight, and that will be...

Kreativ Blogger Award

One of the great joys of blogging is the on line conversation and community that is formed between those blogging on the same or similar topics. When I can't reach anyone on the phone, when there is no one in...

Knowing When To Stop

After thirteen months of blogging for Where We Relax, I’m sorry to say that this is my last post. However, as regular readers of this blog will know, things have been going topsy-turvy in my...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

What Stress Won’t Do To You

There are a lot of urban myths and old wives’ tales about how stress directly affects the body. I’m guilty of thinking that stress will turn my hair white and even writing about it. But...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Book Review: “Deep & Simple” By Bo Lozoff

If someone offers you this book, take it. It originally was distributed free to many prisons, so don’t be offended if someone offers it to you. I found mine in the “free books”...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

MAGNUM Board Member & Health Advocate Teri Robert Visits DC

For those of you who are not familiar with Ms. Robert, she is one of the nation's top Migraine disease advocates; she has been working with MAGNUM for seven years and is an Advisor on or Board of Directors. She is also the Lead Expert for Migraine at MyMigraineConnection, and if that where no enough, she is also the author of what most consider the best patient book about Migraines; "Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches" published by HarperCollins Publishers.

Migraine Expressions - Raising Awareness in a Beautiful Way!

If you have Migraines, you'll find yourself in the pages of this impressive book. If you don't have Migraines, this book can help you better understand what it's like to live with Migraine disease. Edited by Betsy Blondin, Migraine Expressions is 192 pages of Migraine disease put on paper --...

MAGNUM Announcs Migraine Award Winning Poems At the End of National Poetry Month

T. S. Eliot wrote, "April is the cruelest month" as the W.H.O.* calls Migraine one of the cruelest diseases MAGNUM thinks it is only quite fitting to end the month with our announcement of this years winners of the HealthCentral Network sponsored 2008 Putting Our Heads Together Poetry Contest. After all would not T.S. Eliot himself, though not a Migraineur, appreciate our effort? He deeply loved his wife Vivien Haigh, an adventurous and vivacious British subject, who sadly suffered horribly from intractable Migraines.