January 2010 Pain Blog Carnival is Posted

The January 2010 Pain Blog Carnival was posted earlier this week at the How to Cope with Pain Blog. Post topics include courage, goal setting, travel, difficult choices, a post of mine about light sensitivity among migraineurs and others. Please take some time to read through these great pieces when you can. There is a variety of excellent material included this month.

January Pain Blog Carnival

Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

A Dark Side of Blogging

After almost four years of blogging at Somebody Heal Me I'm experiencing the first real downside to sharing my feelings and plans so openly. Apparently writing about the reasons for a huge, life-changing decision without going into painstaking detail about every single thing that will have to be addressed to carry out said decision is a sign you're not being realistic about what lies ahead. It lead my father to ask if that might be the case after reading my last post, anyway. It's a mistake to try to assess someone's expectations by reading one of the person's blog posts. Especially what essentially amounts to a list post, for crying out loud. Please don't mistake this reaction post for some passive-aggressive response, readers. I said everything I had to say on the matter face to face. I see this post as my first opportunity to rant about the challenges involved in making this huge change in our lives, and I love to rant, so strap yourselves in. I would imagine there may be a few more of these in the coming weeks and months.

Related Posts:

Big News: Uprooting Our Lives

Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:

Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Big News: Uprooting Our Lives

I've got some big news to share. I'm not even sure where to start explaining, so I'll just dive in. The hubby Cliff and I have decided to move to my hometown. Here are the reasons that lead to the decision. I think a list is probably more straightforward than a blabbering narrative.

(1) I will start getting Medicare (as a disabled person receiving Social Security benefits) in April. Therefore, Cliff will no longer need to work at his crappy second job for me to have health insurance.

(2) I'm too isolated here. Cliff and I never get to see each other and we're too far away for my parents to give us much day to day help or companionship. We want to have a real life together and enjoy time with each other.

(3) We could save money and get out of debt. My parents own the house next to theirs. They own it outright and rent it out. They bought it so they could have a say who their neighbors are. But it really turned out to be a good decision because we can move in and live there rent free. Unfortunately the renters' lease isn't up until September, so we'll have to decide when to move in part based on that. There is a chance we could stay with my parents and put our stuff in storage or something.

(4) Cliff can commute to a nearby town work as a barber. It's about a 45 minute drive. No problem at all. I did that commute one summer and it was nothing. The town is next to an army base like the town where he currently works, so there will be plenty of opportunity for the kind of work he likes to do.

We are sort of leaning toward renting out our house in Lawrence. Cliff's friend from work might even be interested in renting from us. I've learned a lot from my parents' experiences with renting a property and have become extremely familiar with landlord/tenant law as a result of their struggles, so I feel confident in our ability to make it work out successfully.

This is a decision we made just last week, so I'm still kind of trying to wrap my mind around all of it.

Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed: Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Stranglehold: Trapped in My Depressed Mind

I've been in an evil mood since Friday. There is no question I've been in a knock down, drag out fight with my depression for weeks now, but I seemed to be bouncing back. Then all of the sudden a switch flipped. I became incredibly irritable and angry and downright unpleasant to be around.

Saturday evening through Monday afternoon is the only good part of any week for me. That's the only time my husband is able to be at home. We get to spend the entire time together. For some reason my mind couldn't be convinced to enjoy our time together and set aside whatever was bringing me down. I hate myself for wasting our precious time together and not letting him know I appreciate him as much as I do. I've become increasingly convinced there is no way out of depression for me. I can't put in the work to improve or maintain my mood when I'm this depressed, but I can't get out of this deep level of depression without doing some work and using my tools. It feels like an impossible situation.

Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Medicare Options are Mind Boggling, Especially for Disabled People Like Me

Over the holidays I received information about my Medicare benefits, which are scheduled to start in April. While I'm excited to have the financial help with my medical issues, I'm completely overwhelmed by all the options and having a horrible time trying to find the approach that will adequately meet my needs.

There is Medicare Part A (hospitalization coverage), Part B (additional medical coverage, but not including prescription benefits), a bunch of different Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans, Part D (prescription benefits) or Medigap plans (plans through private insurers meant to cover the gaps in Medicare benefits). I feel sure a Medicare Advantage plan, coverage through private insurance companies that covers everything covered by Parts A and B and typically provides additional benefits that vary greatly from plan to plan, such as prescription drugs, dental or vision, is right for me because there is no chance I would have to deal with pre-existing condition concerns as a disabled person and before I started serious investigation they seemed like the most simple, streamlined option.

But now that I'm examining all the Medicare Advantage plans I'm feeling increasingly worried and scared. I need a plan that covers prescription drugs. This much is a given. Between my diabetes, migraines and depression, I can't get by without help paying for my prescriptions. However, I also have to consider whether a given plan will allow me to go to my current doctors, who I definitely want and in some instances need to keep seeing. The prescription drug coverage in the gap between the initial level of coverage and catastrophic coverage is also of concern. Some plans don't provide any benefits in that gap, while others provide at least some help. In the same way that I can't possibly afford a plan with no prescription coverage, I definitely can't afford a plan with no coverage in the gap.

In going through my options I thought I could just find a plan that met all these considerations through a process of elimination. The Medicare website provides awesome comparison options that help you determine which plans cover which items and what the other various terms of the plan would be. Unfortunately, it appears that no single plan available in my state and county offers exactly what I most prefer and feel I most need.

I'm increasingly paralyzed with fear at how to make this important decision. I'm a smart, educated person, and I've worked hard to do my research and familiarize myself with my options. So what the heck am I supposed to do now? This really sucks.

Related Posts:
Medicare for Disabled People

Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Sumavel DosePro Now Available in US

The new migraine treatment medication Sumavel DosePro, sumatriptan delivered by a needle-free injection, is now available by prescription in the United States.

Sumavel DosePro Available in the United States to Treat Acute Migraine and Cluster Headaches

Like sumatriptan injections, Sumavel DosePro provides faster relief than the drug's pill form without the pain and fear some patients associate with needles. Sumatriptan injections are available in generic, however, unlike the new DosePro product. This financial consideration may be a significant drawback for a number of patients.

Related Posts:
Needle-Free Sumavel DosePro Sumatriptan Injection Receives FDA Approval
Sumatriptan DosePro Offers Needle-Free Alternative to Imitrex Injection

Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Research Illuminates Source of Light Sensitivity Among Migraineurs

A new research study about the role of light in migraine attacks reveals some cool information about the possible source of this sensitivity, which is shared by about 85% of migraine sufferers.

Researchers noticed that even some blind migraineurs experienced greater pain when exposed to light. They studied a group of 20 blind people with two different types of blindness who also suffer from headaches - total blindness due to disease or legal blindness due to degeneration of the retina. They discovered the latter group, which is able to differentiate between light and dark, experienced greater headache pain when exposed to light. There was no increase in headache pain among the first group despite exposure to light. Researchers say this suggests the optic nerve is a key to the light sensitivity experienced by migraineurs.

Professor Burstein said: "While the patients in the first group did not experience any worsening of their headaches from light exposure, the patients in the second group clearly described intensified pain when they were exposed to light.

"This suggested to us that the mechanism of photophobia must involve the optic nerve, because in totally blind individuals, the optic nerve does not carry light signals to the brain.

The scientists hope this research will pave the way for ways to block light pathways to allow migraineurs to be exposed to light with less suffering.

Sources:
Why Light Worsens Migraine Headaches
Harvard Tests Reveal Why Light Can Worsen Migraines

Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

New Healthy Year: January 2010 Headache Blog Carnival

Welcome to the January 2010 Headache and Migraine Disease Blog Carnival.

The Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival has been created to provide both headache patients and people who blog about headaches with opportunities to share ideas on topics of particular interest and importance to us.

The theme of the January carnival is "Healthy habits for the new year."

Please keep reading for the January 2010 collection of posts.

I'd like to share a Somebody Heal Me post from this past fall on acknowledging and addressing factors related to pain tolerance: Pain Tolerance: How Your Behavior Decreases and Increases It.

Sue presents a lovely post about trying to make those weight-related changes most of us consider this time of year called Perspective and Simplicity posted at Inner Dorothy.

James Cottrill presents an important topic from his phenomenal series, 1% Thursdays: Migraines, Computer Screens and Headaches, posted at Headache and Migraine News.

Teri Robert presents 12 Tips for Living Well All Year posted at My Migraine Connection.

Andy Honaker presents Happiness is a Hard Skill to Master posted at Against the 'Graine.

Rosalind Joffe presents 3 Traps You Can Avoid posted at Working with Chronic Illness.

Emily presents No More Pain Spikes posted at No Extended Warranty.

Kellie presents The Best Wellness Tips You'll Ever Read posted at Women's Life Link.

Thank you for all your wonderful submissions and your ongoing support of the carnival. It feels like the past two years have passed in the blink of an eye, and we certainly couldn't have kept this going without all of your participation and enthusiasm.

Submit your blog post to the February 2010 edition of the Headache and Migraine Disease Blog Carnival using our carnival submission form or by e-mailing your submissions to me by e-mail. There is no set theme for February. Instead, please submit your favorite post of the month. Entries are due by midnight on Friday, February 5, and the carnival will be posted here at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, February 8.

Past posts and more information about the carnival can be found on our Headache Blog Carnival information page.

Technorati Tags: headache and migraine disease blog carnival, carnival, depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Last Call: January 2010 Headache Blog Carnival

Submissions for the January 2010 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival are due by midnight (the end of the day) today, Sunday, January 10. Posts may be submitted through the form on the carnival website or directly to me by e-mail.

The theme is "Healthy habits for the new year."

The January carnival will be posted on Monday, January 11 at My Migraine Connection.

For more information about the carnival visit this link: Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival.

Technorati Tags: headache & migraine blog carnival, blog carnival, depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

January 2010 Headache Blog Carnival

The theme for the January 2010 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival is "Healthy habits for the new year."

Submissions are due by midnight (the end of the day) on Sunday, January 10. Whatever the topic means to you is welcome. Please get your thinking caps on and participate. Posts may be submitted through the form on the carnival website or directly to me by e-mail.

The January carnival will be posted on Monday, January 11th right here at Somebody Heal Me.

For more information about the carnival visit this link: Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival.

Please spread the word to any migraine or headache bloggers you know and consider posting an announcement to your own blog if you have one.

Technorati Tags: headache & migraine blog carnival, blog carnival, depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

My 2009: Highlights & Lowlights

In 2009 I believed for the first time there are ways to have a happy life and work toward at least some of what I want despite having chronic migraines. Some days are harder than others, and I still get down. But it seems like I'm having more positive attitude days than ever.

I attended my first blogging conference, BlogHer in Chicago, and met an awesome group of health care bloggers. That session was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. I felt uncomfortable during most of the conference because I didn't know anyone there and I'm about as good at making new friends as a tom cat, but I'm still glad I went and put myself out there.

I found a great program that taught me skills for coping with and managing my health and emotional challenges.

I started volunteering, which makes me feel better about myself by allowing me to contribute a little something to other people and getting me out of the house.

I read a bunch of awesome books. In total I read 62 books in 2009. Some were great, some not so much. Among my very favorites were Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Unexpected Blessings: Finding Hope & Healing in the Face of Illness by Roxanne Black, Cutting for Stone by by Abraham Verghese, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

I wigged out on my birthday, sobbing, locking myself in a bathroom and chugging from a bottle of cherry schnapps because my plans fell through. This lead to the bold realization I choose how to react to disappointment and have control over my own moods. Life is what you make it. That is what Oprah would call an "aha moment", people.

I wasted countless hours I'll never have back playing games on Facebook. There is something oddly soothing (and completely embarrassing) about decorating a house for your virtual pet.

Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed:
Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail.

Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.