Blogs - WEGO Health

Lose sleep, feel more pain - beginning a dialogue

Pain and sleep leaders - we need your help! A short statement made to me about my doctors recently got me thinking... The statement was about the story of the blind men and the elephant. Each blind man felt a different part of the elephant and assumed the elephant was something different than what it was. My doctor told me, "Everybody sees a different part of the elephant." Nobody was seeing the complete picture - just a tiny portion. This can be tough when you're the elephant and need help!… Continue

Added by Ellen S on November 6, 2009 at 4:10pm — No Comments

New medicines to relieve opioid induced constipation

For those on chronic opioid therapy, constipation is often much more than an annoyance - it can radically change their lives. Today there are at least 3 drugs being studied, in trial, or in use that can help this problem, without stimulating the bowel. Relistor is an injectable drug I blogged about a while back (see Treating Opioid side-effects with a new/old drug) that was recently put on the ma… Continue

Added by Ellen S on November 2, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

Remember your medicines - 3 steps to sTweet Reminders

Read Part One of this post here Before a recent vacation I hit on an idea I was sure someone else much more tech-savvy had discovered first, but apparently not. I wanted to share it, in hopes that Health Activists find it worthy enough to pass along to others who might benefit by using it, or even using it as a jump-off point for finding something else that might work for them. (And hopefully… Continue

Added by Ellen S on October 8, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Tips for Health Activists: sTweet Reminders for Medication

Do you or someone you know need help remembering to take medicines at the right times each day? Those with chronic medical conditions often find this a very difficult part of their life. On a personal level, some medicines make me very forgetful, so remembering when and what or how much to take can be a huge obstacle in my life because forgetting something can mean an emergency run to the hospital. I was saving to invest in an expensive reminder watch to keep me on schedule, until the da… Continue

Added by Ellen S on October 7, 2009 at 9:30pm — 2 Comments

Microchips in pills - when your medicine phones/texts to remind you

I had heard this was coming, but never dreamed it would be so quickly. A groundbreaking new technology is being developed and tested by Novartis, and Pfizer has developed a similar system. Yes, it's true. Soon our pills may be texting or phoning us to remind us it's time to take another, as well as when we should call for our next refill. What do you think of this technology? At first glan… Continue

Added by Ellen S on September 22, 2009 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

30 Things About My Illness

I love a good Meme, and when I found Lisa's blog post about an illness related meme, I knew I should jump in and do it, too. I encourage you, if you're living with an invisible (or even a visible) illness, to fill this out and share your story with the WEGO Health community! If you do it, please be sure to let Lisa and I know - we'd love to be able to continue sharing your stories! 30 Things Ab… Continue

Added by Sarah on August 30, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

ABC News spotlights Dopa-responsive Dystonia, and a persistent mom

When I saw the teaser for the ABC News story this afternoon, I held my breath. A persistent mom defies the doctors to find a cure for her son. Could it be Dopa-responsive dystonia? It sounds right. Looks right. For me, a patient with my own dramatic story of Dystonia that responds to dopamine, it felt right to hope for such a victory. I waited to hear the story, held my breath, and erupted into silent tears… Continue

Added by Ellen S on June 9, 2009 at 7:30pm — 6 Comments

What to do/not do when someone you know becomes seriously ill/disabled?

I just ran into an excellent example of a top ten list targeted at those who know and care about someone who has become ill or disabled. It's really beautifully done. I've seen other top tens and letters targeted at specific disorders and diseases, but this one seemed to cover most of the bases without getting specific to a particular health issue, and was done with understanding that comes from… Continue

Added by Ellen S on May 13, 2009 at 1:16pm — No Comments

Migraine, hot drinks and cancer

When a Migraine strikes, the pain often drives me to seek extreme temperatures for relief. Scalding hot water diverts my attention from my pain for as long as I can stand in the shower. In the case of my right sided Migraines, this is in the form of a scalding hot drink. Even scalding hot water (bleh) gives me as much as 30 seconds of relief per swallow. When in the midst of severe Migraine pain, burning myself accidentally if I overdo seems like a preferable trade-off. New research shows this… Continue

Added by Ellen S on March 30, 2009 at 1:30pm — 4 Comments

Oprah, Dr. Oz, M.J Fox, Dystonia and Parkinson's disease - Tuesday, March 31st

If you don't know someone who has been affected by Dystonia or Parkinson's Disease already, you will. How much do you really know about these movement disorders? Join Oprah, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Michael J. Fox and a Dystonia patient as they discuss these issues and educate the public about these serious movement disorders. Dystonia is considered a rare disorder, yet it is the third most common movement disorder in America. It takes an average of 5 years and 15 doctors to get a proper diagnosis. Fina… Continue

Added by Ellen S on March 30, 2009 at 11:00am — 1 Comment

Glutamate again- Scientists linking it to FHM and aura

Researchers tell us they have found another clue to Migraine and aura. This time linking the neurotransmitter Glutamate to a specific type of Migraine called Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM). Not everyone has FHM, but it's possible that this information may cross over to other types of Migraine, or at least add to our library of knowledge useful to all Migraineurs. (Every little bit helps....) This is how it works: Neurotransmitters are chemicals that help our brain cells communicate,… Continue

Added by Ellen S on March 27, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

National Pain Care Policy Act - approved!

It's always good to hear positive news, and yesterday my inbox had an American Pain Foundation update I'd like to share: The National Pain Care Policy Act (HR756) has been approved by committee. The next step is consideration by the House, then the Senate! The APF alert tells me that the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 is a reintroduction of HR 2994 from the 110th Congress in 2008, and if signed, intends to help combat pain by authorizing a Pain Consortium at the National Institut… Continue

Added by Ellen S on March 7, 2009 at 9:31am — 5 Comments

Want good chronic disease management? Get connected to your physician, not your clinic

Does your doctor think of you as "my patient", or are you considered part of your doctor's practice, clinic or health care center? A recent study reveals reasons you might want to reconsider the way you receive medical care. The Annals of Internal Medicine published an article today, showing the results of a two year study involving 155,590 patients, 4 community health centers and 9 hospital-affiliated primary care practi… Continue

Added by Ellen S on March 3, 2009 at 9:17am — 2 Comments

Creating your masterpiece: art, writing and chronic pain contests

Isolation. Misunderstanding. Trapped. Silence. Patient. Hopeful. These are 6 words that describe the way you might feel when you are hurting from a chronic condition such as Migraine, Dystonia, Fibromyalgia, RSD, Lupus or any one of a number of illnesses that cause pain. What are the 6 words you think best describe your feelings about your chronic condition? Everyone has a story. Every single person has something to say that will inspire someone else, teach them, or give them hope... I've mus… Continue

Added by Ellen S on February 27, 2009 at 2:00pm — 6 Comments

Errors at Quest Diagnostics - was your lab report a mistake?

The nation's largest lab has admitted errors in its Vitamin D testing over the last two years. This is important to Migraineurs and chronic pain patients because those with either condition tend to be lower in vitamin D than 'normal'. Doctors think lowered vitamin D status could be making us more prone to pain issues. Unfortunately, the specific vitamin D test to which the company admits wrongdoing was not mentioned in the article. There are multiple tests for vitamin D including 1,25(OH)D and… Continue

Added by Ellen S on February 18, 2009 at 3:53pm — 4 Comments

Something special to keep you hydrated....FREE!

Shannan, aka- Wholemom here at WEGO Health - is sponsoring a wonderful giveaway that I really got excited about. She's looking for topic ideas for her blog Living a Whole Life and in exchange is holding a drawing for a set of absolutely the coolest handmade glass straws! See her WEGO Health blog post here, complete with photo. So, what do g… Continue

Added by Ellen S on February 18, 2009 at 10:51am — No Comments

Oral Tezampanel for Migraine and chronic pain - update 2/11/09

New information is out on a totally new drug currently in trials, and so far it's looking good. In a double blind, placebo controlled trial of 20 people, the drug dubbed NGX426, (an oral form of Tezampanel) was well tolerated in healthy males and females who were dosed once daily over five days. Hope is that someday it will be approved and found useful for several conditions including chronic pain... especially Migraine. Earlier studies indicated that the injection or IV versions of the drug s… Continue

Added by Ellen S on February 11, 2009 at 1:00pm — 5 Comments

Economic woes: inadequate or ineffective Migraine treatment

The current economic trend has led to many of my online friends suddenly finding themselves in hard financial positions. When you're a Migraineur, this poses a particularly difficult challenge. Before you become swept up in the tide of distress please, remember your health is the last thing you want to give up. Good health is a gift that should be protected and guarded. If you're a parent who gives up your health, it's likely you will not be able to protect and care for your children as they ne… Continue

Added by Ellen S on February 10, 2009 at 10:37am — No Comments

Migraine treatment and the Gartner Hype Cycle

A trip to your doctor and a try at a new Migraine treatment has an ebb and a flow. After reflecting on my treatment experiences with a number of other health issues, I've come to believe that this ebb and flow is not limited just to Migraine treatment strategies. It took me a while to recognize it as a normal part of treatment course, but after speaking with my doctors and other patients, it seemed obvious. Recognizing this ebb and flow as normal, helped me and my expectations when trying a new… Continue

Added by Ellen S on January 20, 2009 at 10:24am — No Comments

Migraine- strategies for living with 'normals'

My friends, Living with Migraine disease is difficult. That doesn't mean life comes to a halt. We can do this, and even do it well! Our family's success depends upon planning and teaching and baby steps. You really can do this... I wrote to a Migraineur on another board (Yahoo-Migraine) who asked for help in living with her Migraines in a dark, stark atmosphere, and helping her family survive them as well. This is suc… Continue

Added by Ellen S on January 16, 2009 at 12:00am — 10 Comments

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All Blog Posts Tagged 'chronic pain' (48)