Tuesday-Newsday #88

It’s time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Post this week was chosen in honor of Halloween: “The Fright Files: Stories of Medical Mistakes,” from the PFAM Blog Carnival hosted by Oh My Aches and Pains.

Let Me Know: If you’d like me to watch for articles on your pain condition, just drop me a note in the comments section below. 

WARNING:  My goal is to provide the most up-to-date news I can, which you can then take to your personal doctor and debate the merits of before you try it. I do not endorse any of the docs, treatments, info, and meds in anything I post nor can I guarantee they are all effective, especially not for everyone. As is the case with any health info, ALWAYS get your doctor's opinion first!

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*FDA and CDC ALERT: UPDATE ON MENINGITIS OUTBREAK

If you received a Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection between late May and September, by now you should have been notified if your clinic used any of the tainted steriods. To find out exactly what you need to know, click HERE and scroll down to the red headline.

Current Count: 354 cases, 25 deaths, 7 joint infections

Mass. state officials close another pharmacy since fungal meningitis outbreak

Infusion Resource, a compounding pharmacy in Waltham, MA has been administering steroid injections, something it wasn’t licensed to do. 

UPDATE: Infusion’s products are not linked to the outbreak, but the company, has surrendered its license voluntarily and is asking patients to return any medications they still have as a precautionary measure

Florida suspends compounding pharmacy operations at Rejuvi Pharmaceuticals

After wife dies of meningitis, husband is hospitalized for same

How Compounding Pharmacies Rallied Patients to Fight Regulation

*MEDICATION NEWS

For Patients Taking Opioid Meds: During a Big Emergency Like Hurricane Sandy When Cities are Shut Down, What Should You Do if You Don’t Have Enough Medication to Get Through?

More Troubles at Excedrin Plant Delay Production for Migraine Relief product

update: When Pharmacies Refill Rx Without Permission:

      1.) In addition to CVS allegations: Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens also accused of refilling with patient approval

      2.) Prescription refill pressure bothers CVS pharmacists too: "Everyone knows that if we don't hit our quotas, people can lose their jobs”

FDA Recommends: Don't Tighten Vicodin Regulation

Drugmakers Battle Over Suboxone Market

Placebo effect may be 'down to genes'

Why Use UDT in Pain Management? Part 2: An Underused Tool for Improved Patient Care 

Long-Term Intrathecal Opioids Aid Chronic Pain

*PATIENT NEWS

Millions May Be Taking Vitamin D Unnecessarily: Health experts disagree on safe levels needed to prevent illness

Wondering About Your Hospital's Quality? Ask a Nurse: Research finds they have accurate insights into level of care provided

"Googling" Strengthens Doctor-Patient Relationship

Music can influence your behavior, your thinking, your emotions, new studies prove

Calling Dr. Smartphone: Cellphone apps, often with attachments, can help monitor blood pressure, check ears, test eyesight, gauge blood sugar and more

*CANCER NEWS

Pain survey effective for educating cancer patients

Cancer docs often delay referrals to hospice care

Acupuncture may ease cancer-related fatigue

Alternative therapies offer pain relief to cancer patients

Palliative radiation therapy can ease pain for patients with terminal lung cancer, but 64 percent in a study mistakenly thought it could cure them

A new study of patients with advanced lung and colorectal cancers revealed that many mistakenly believed that chemotherapies will cure them

FDA Approves Ultrasound System for Treatment of Cancer Pain

Antidepressant Relieves Mouth Pain from Cancer Treatment

Millions Worldwide Suffer Unbearable Cancer Pain

*FEATURED BLOG POST

The Fright Files: Stories of Medical Mistakes

from the PFAM Blog Carnival hosted by Oh My Aches and Pains