dahlia in my garden: Rio Fuego in Coleus leaves

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tuesday-Newsday #99


NOTE: I will be out of town for more than a week, so my blog will not be active in that time. I’m sorry to say it includes at least one Tuesday-Newsday. If I'm feeling good and my pain is under control when I return from my trip, I will do my best to post again by 2/12. Take care!


Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Post this week is, “Talking to Our Spouse About Our Illness: How Much is Too Much?” by Lisa Copen of RestMinistries.com

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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*MENINGITIS OUTBREAK NEWS








*MEDICATION NEWS












*ALL ARTHRITIS







*RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

see Facebook page for the campaign












*OSTEOARTHRITIS












*JUVENILE ARTHRITIS (JRA / SJIA)







*FEATURED BLOG POST

by Lisa Copen of RestMinistries.com

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Celebrating Renewals: PFAM


The theme for the first 2013 edition of the Patients for a Moment (PFAM) blog carnival is "Renewals". My first blog post of of the year, “Healthy New Year 2013,” was selected to be a part of the PFAM carnival. The other writings featured offer many different aspects and insights into the subject of renewal in the new year, and I think you’d enjoy and learn from them. Follow the link below to read them all.


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Tuesday-Newsday #98


I'm sorry I wasn't able to put up a new blog post last Saturday. I'm still recovering from a bout with the flu which really knocked me over; I was so ill I lost 15 lbs in one week! I've worked hard to get this post ready and I'm managing to keep up with searching for the latest pain articles. I promise I'll do my best and try to write this weekend if I can. 

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Post this week is, “Talking to Your Doctor About Fibromyalgia,” by Dawn A. Marcus, MD for Prohealth.com. Despite the fact it's written specifically for those with FM, the information it presents is helpful for people with other chronic pain conditions - so don’t miss it. 

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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* ALERT: Rx WARNING *


*MENINGITIS OUTBREAK NEWS 

There will be no update from the CDC on the number of outbreak cases and deaths until January 28, but click the heading to find out all the currently known information.





*MEDICATION NEWS


(Could that happen to us here in America? Even if the doctor says we need it, could we be told that it will cost too much, so we must suffer?)


HERE is an Opinion piece on the article above and the story I posted last week about the mayor mandating limits on painkillers at NY emergency rooms



*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS







*PATIENT NEWS





*MILITARY VETERANS' PAIN ISSUES










*FIBROMYALGIA

Clinical Trials Seeking Fibro Patients





FibroTrack is an interactive web application designed specifically to assist and empower those suffering from fibromyalgia in researching, building, testing and validating an effective individual treatment program. See a video about it HERE














*FEATURED BLOG POST

Even if you don’t have Fibromyalgia, this featured post contains information which could be helpful for you no matter what chronic pain condition you are living with:

by Dawn A. Marcus, MD

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Tuesday-Newsday #97


Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The featured blog post this week is, “Cultivate a More Open Heart in 2013” by Dr. Laurie Ferguson of CreakyJoints.org

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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*MENINGITIS OUTBREAK NEWS





*MEDICATION NEWS












*PATIENT NEWS







*TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA





*MIGRAINE / HEADACHE 















*FEATURED BLOG POST

by Dr. Laurie Ferguson of CreakyJoints.org

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Pain Rx: The Danger of Politicians Acting as Doctors


The current climate in the media has turned so much against use of pain medication, and politicians are joining the hysteria. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City has decided to restrict painkillers in his state’s emergency rooms, where the mostly poor and uninsured get treatment.

You absolutely *must* read this opinion piece about the situation before you continuing reading my blog post. Click here and then come back: New Victims In The War On Painkillers

It is ridiculous and unconscionable for politicians to make policies which require medical training and judgment. In a NY Times article regarding Bloomberg’s mandate, one doctor had this to say: 

     “Here is my problem with legislative medicine,” said Dr. Alex Rosenau, president-elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians and senior vice chairman of emergency medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Eastern Pennsylvania. “It prevents me from being a professional and using my judgment.”
     “While someone could fake a toothache to get painkillers, he said, another patient might have legitimate pain and not be able to get an appointment at a dental clinic for days. Or, he said, a patient with a hand injury may need more than three days of pain relief until the swelling goes down and an operation could be scheduled.”

I know that many politicians feel their office gives them such power as to always know what is best for everyone in every instances (and wrongly so), but to believe that they possess the requisite knowledge and judgment to make such a policy staggers me. As the writer of the opinion piece linked above so wisely said, “This is what happens when government decides it should have the power to protect us from ourselves... This policy is going to cause needless suffering. People who genuinely, legitimately need pain medication aren't going to be able to get it. And guess what? Addicts and thrill-seeking teenagers will find other ways to get high.”

Last year I wrote a blog post about a bill in Congress called the Stop Oxy Abuse Act of 2011 introduced by Representative Mary Bono Mack. Although the bill has died in committee, I think you might want to read my post here: Should Politicians Decide Your Pain Level?

It frightens me when I see this anti-painkiller hysteria and I worry for myself and others like me who have legitimate pain and responsibly use their medications. They are lumping us in with the criminals and always look at us with suspicion. Be very careful with your meds and never give your doctors any reason to doubt you. It is now a situation where we are presumed guilty until proven innocent.

It's More Important Than Ever to Make Your Voice Heard

You have a chance to make your voice heard at two FDA hearings in the next two months which deal with opioid painkillers. They are asking for patient experiences and opinion.

The FDA will be holding hearings on January 24-25 on whether drugs that contain Hydrocodone should be changed from Schedule III to Schedule II, which would create tougher rules and restrictions to get prescribed. In early February the FDA will hold hearings to obtain information pertaining to the use of opioid drugs for chronic pain.

If you wish to submit your comments for the Hydrocodone hearing just go HERE and fill out the form. I do not have a link for the second hearing at this time, but I will try to get one by Tuesday-Newsday, so prepare your comments and I’ll do my best to get a link up by then.

Don’t be a person who complains about laws but never speaks out before they are made. We must all stick together for compassionate, reasonable chronic pain medication rules. I’m praying hard.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Tuesday-Newsday #96

It’s time for our first Tuesday-Newsday in 2013! The featured blog post this week is, “A Fresh Start: The New Year means it's Resolution Time,” by Jan Sadler of PainSupport.co.uk

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!
====++++====++++====++++====++++====++++===


*MENINGITIS OUTBREAK NEWS









*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS







*MEDICATION NEWS








Note from Shannon: It’s so important to know everything you can about your medications. I wrote a blog post last year about Be An Educated Patient: Understanding Your Meds. Click on that post title to read more details on how to protect yourself with information.





*PATIENT NEWS







*CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME


A petition to the FDA allows people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to register for an opportunity to try Ampligen - but can we raise the needed 2,000 signatures or more? The FDA will render a decision on Feb 2. Please sign the petition right now!




*INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES














*FEATURED BLOG POST

by Jan Sadler of PainSupport.co.uk

Saturday, January 5, 2013

~* Healthy New Year 2013! *~


Welcome to 2013! I can hardly believe how fast 2012 went by... I think my brain is stuck somewhere back in July. Getting through the holidays when you have chronic pain is a big achievement, and I hope that instead of merely surviving you were able to enjoy your loved ones and have as much pleasure in celebrating as I did.

I’ve never been one to make new year’s resolutions. I find it more useful after all the craziness of November and December to stop and reflect upon the past year with regard to chronic pain & medical issues. Just to name a few reflections: I can see the obstacles that tripped me up and how I got passed them, I notice the issues which knocked me down and made it hard for me to recover, and I acknowledge how some of my negative reactions hindered me. On the positive side, my plan to organize definitely improved my medical care, I followed through on issues which required my commitment, and I was able to continue this blog with the goal of helping others avoid the mistakes and pitfalls I’ve made in the past. Looking back to last January, I’m surprised at how much I accomplished and how far I came through the year. Reflecting  really helps me get my head together so I can face the future and be ready to move forward. 

We posed my old Abyssinian cat, Rush, in a New Year themed
 photo back in the 90's which we submitted to a cat calendar.
He was chosen as their New Year's Day cat!
He sure looked daper wearing my husband's bow tie.

Now it’s time to get back into our regular routines and catch up with things where we left off. With regard to keeping current with our chronic pain management and medical issues, start off the new year by checking off these five items:

1.) Be certain all appointments are scheduled and in your datebook.

2.) Make sure that any referrals made at the end of the year haven’t been lost in the holiday paper-pile up at the doctor’s office (I haven’t heard anything on my PT referral from mid-December so I need to follow-up myself).

3.) If you keep copies of your Medical Records (which I recommend), check that all your records are up to date, and all tests and appointment paperwork from 2012 are in your possession.

4.) If you are supposed to be doing exercises, physical therapy, or other treatment which is entirely in your control - but you let it slide during the holidays - call yourself out and get back on schedule.

5.) Look at your health insurance preventative care policies and see if this year you are due for any tests or screenings like mammogram, pap smear, vaccines, dexa scan, diabetes, colonscopy, etc. (I missed the fact that a doctor had been recommended I get a dexa scan eight years ago, and when the lost note was finally discovered and I got the scan, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my lumbar spine. I wrote about that fiasco HERE.)

With these items crossed off, your pain management & health plan is back in place and are ready to head into 2013 with renewed spirit to live as well as you can.

Healthy New Year to all!