July 30: Recommended Reading

Here is a list of articles I've been enjoying during the past week or so. Check them out when you get a chance.

What have you been reading that you'd like to share?

Physicians Often Misjudge Patient Beliefs - UPI

A Letter to Patients with Chronic Disease - Musings of a Distractible Mind

Mental Illness, It's Funny & Trendy - She's a Character, She has Opinions

An Opportunity for Kindness - Amy's WEGO Health blog

Using Joy & Creativity to Cope in Today's World - Crazy Sexy Life


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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.

Announcing August 2010 Headache Blog Carnival

The theme of the August 2010 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival carnival will be "How do you cope with your headache disorder?" As always, feel free to interpret this topic however you like.

Entries are due by midnight (the end of the day) on Friday, August 6, 2010. The carnival will be published right here at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, August 9, 2010.

Feel free to post comments or contact me to ask any questions you might have. Please spread the word to any migraine or headache, pain or chronic illness bloggers you know and consider posting an announcement on your own blog if you have one.


For more information about the carnival please visit the main carnival page: Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival.

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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.

Fabulous ER Visit

Last week, for the first time in a long time, I experienced a week long migraine the treatment medications at my disposal would not touch. On the night of the sixth day I called my mom in tears and asked if she could come take me to the doctor the next morning. She arrived bright and early and hung out with the animals while I tried to sleep. I tried to call my local neurologist twice on the morning of that seventh day, but didn't get a call back. I decided I had no choice but to go to the emergency room.

It's not that I didn't know I needed to go. I knew I didn't have any choice. But the bad experience I had there a few years ago has left me very anxious and reluctant about showing up ever since, even though I've been treated great.

Everyone checking me in was extremely kind and thoughtful. A wonderful mother waiting with her two kids to have her feverish son seen by a doctor kept lovingly shushing her little ones while we all waited. I wondered if she realized sound bothered me. My suspicion was confirmed when my mom and I, medical summary in hand, stood to go back and she whispered that she hoped I felt better soon. She too gets migraines and knows well how bad I was feeling. I felt a little like crying because of her unexpected kindness.

The nurse and doctor who ended up treating me couldn't have been better. They were incredibly knowledgeable about how to treat the situation, but also asked me if there was a particular protocol that had been especially helpful in the past. Their compassion was off the charts. The nurse expertly started my IV (I'm a notoriously hard poke) and they set me up with Toradol and Zofran (we decided again the Reglan the doctor had ordered because it gives me the creepie crawlies).

Luckily the ER doctor was able to get my local neurologist on the phone to discuss which medications might be the best for my situation. They gave me magnesium first, which brought my pain down a few numbers, but I was worried it might ramp back up after I went home, so they went ahead and gave me the Depacon, too. I was down to a three after the Depacon and felt very comfortable going home, but also very tired.

You never quite know what to expect when you have to seek emergency treatment as a chronic pain patient with an acute pain emergency, but the experience truly couldn't have gone better if I had scripted it myself. I wish I hadn't had the need to go, but since I did I'm truly thankful I was treated by this nurse and doctor. I need to write a letter to the hospital to thank them both for handling things so incredibly well. They deserve the recognition.

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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.

Simplify Life with Migraines & Chronic Illness: Entertaining

A few years ago my husband and I hosted his parents and sister for lunch on Thanksgiving Day. I love to cook and entertain, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to make a lovely meal for all of us. I had a blast planning the meal and enjoyed cooking so much. Cliff was a great help in getting the house ready and preparing the food. Unfortunately I totally overdid it for no reason other than not respecting my limits. Our family certainly didn't expect me to do so much, especially considering that once we all left the table I went straight to bed, too exhausted to spend one more minute awake, let alone on my feet. I was pleased that everyone, myself included, enjoyed the meal. But what was the point of spending the afternoon in bed, missing the rest of the holiday? It didn't make much sense at all, but it was a good lesson in pacing.

We haven't been entertaining much in recent years because life was so chaotic with Cliff juggling two jobs, but I've learned a lot about ways to make it work without sending myself straight to bed. I've written before about pacing, and it is truly the concept that binds together all these tips.

Go potluck. Stick to making one part of the meal and ask your guests to each bring one dish. Not only is it much less work for you, but it gives your guests an opportunity to contribute to the party and feel appreciated. Even non-cooks will be able to pick up something prepared from the store, while more experienced cooks can set their creativity free. Assign each guest a category of food to bring, such as a side dish or a dessert, so you end up with a nice variety.

Keep it simple. Instead of serving an entire meal, perhaps stick to desserts and coffee. Or have some appetizers and cocktails in place of a three course meal. Just let your guests know what to expect and remember it's more about getting together than wowing your guests with a huge meal. 

Don't get trapped in the kitchen. Only plan menu items that can be made ahead and served with little last minute effort. Save your energy for socializing with your guests. People like us have such limited energy that we have to pace ourselves. It's just not an option.

Plan a group dinner out. Invite your group out to a restaurant. It need not be anything fancy or expensive. Sometimes the hardest part of getting a group of family or friends together is just making the plans. If you can take the lead and handle the organizing part no one is going to mind going dutch at a restaurant rather than being invited to your home for a fancy meal.

Plan well in advance. Make items that freeze well and get them ready days or weeks in advance. Who will know if you didn't slave away in your kitchen the day before the party?

Utilize candlelight: It hides a multitude of sins and makes you and your guests look gorgeous.

Keep your mind on what it's really about. Having people over for a dinner or party is all about spending time with good friends and loving family. It's not about impressing anyone.

What tips can you suggest? Share them in the comments.


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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.

Weekly Wrap Up: July 19-25, 2010

In case you missed any of last week's posts or would like to revisit them, here is a list of Somebody Heal Me posts from July 19 to July 26.

10 Little Things that Help Me Cope with Pain

Should I Still be in Therapy: Window Into a Depressed Mind


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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.

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me

(1) I'm extremely, to the max grossed out by hair. Even thinking about it like I am right now makes me incredibly nauseated.

(2) I have to have the volume on the TV or radio set on an even number. It makes me super crazy if it's not, which my husband loves to play on just for his own entertainment. Nice, huh?!

(3) My husband was the first nice guy I dated. I mean, I dated guys who were nice as friends, but not in relationships. Cliff was the first guy I dated who treated me great as a girlfriend. He's a wonderful husband, too, as my long time readers already know.

(4) I'm addicted to reality TV. Name just about anything out there, and I probably watch it. The Real Housewives series? Yes. Bridezillas? Of course. Who could miss all that ridiculous, rude, self-centered BS. Project Runway, The Amazing Race, Intervention? Three of my favorites! In my defense I've given up a lot of shows I used to watch, including American Idol. Yawn.

(5) I miss having a reason to dress up and do my makeup. It did become burdensome as my health declined when I was still trying to work, but it was nice to put together fun, professional outfits and feel confident about my appearance.

(6) I worry I'll never get to be pregnant or become a mom.

(7) I'm a huge politics and public policy junkie. When I was still working I was an attorney for state government, and I miss having a front row seat for all the action. I didn't always agree with the decisions they made, but I loved being part of all of it and helping the legislators do their work.

(8) I love college football and basketball. I'm a total fanatic. So much so that I watched ESPN College GameDay on my wedding day while my bridesmaids and I were getting ready. It's one of the main interests my husband and I share.

(9) I'm a Mac fanatic. I've been working on Macs since grade school, and they are the only type of computer I've ever owned. My MacBook is like a fifth appendage. I feel lost without it and take it almost everywhere I go.

(10) I was reluctant to start using e-mail, now I'm a total Internet junkie. Obviously I blog, but I also Tweet, Facebook, hang out on message boards with an awesome, tight knit group of other women, get almost all my news online, hunt for book recommendations and track what I've read on Goodreads, listen to music and news and many other activities. I don't know what I'd do without the Internet, and it's hilarious to me that I only started using e-mail when I had to in order to communicate with other staff members at the student newspaper in college.

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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.

Should I Still Be in Therapy: Window Into a Depressed Mind

For the past three and a half years I've been seeing a great therapist. I get a lot out of our sessions. When I've gone too long without regular appointments with Dr. O I have consistently relapsed into my worst depressive episodes. Without fail I stop doing the things that help keep me mentally healthy enough to function. So why do I keep wondering if I should continue going when it sometimes feels like I don't have much to talk about? Each time that thought has crept into my head and I've listened to it the same thing happens. The pattern is clear. Yet I'm at that point again where I'm questioning my need to continue therapy.

I like to think of my brain as having two parts: (1) Healthy Brain, the caretaking, good for me part; and (2) Sick Brain, the self-sabotaging part.

Healthy Brain says, "Good morning! Get out of bed and start your day, lovely Diana." "You should do your stretches today." "Don't forget to take your morning meds." "Let's jump on Twitter and see what people are saying."

Sick Brain says, "Sigh. Roll over and go back to sleep. Nothing happening today to make it worthwhile to get up." "Let that call go to voice mail. If they really need something they'll leave a message." "I'll do it tomorrow." "If I'm up by the time Cliff gets home he won't even know I slept all day."

Sick Brain doesn't tend to win the contest over Healthy Brain if I've been consistently doing the things that help me manage my depression. Sick Brain wins every time if I haven't and continues to win until I break the cycle by hitting the reset button and going back to therapy.

But what is it that tricks Healthy Brain into believing I might not need therapy anymore. Let's see:

• Guilt: I don't want my family to have to pay for my treatment.

• Denial: When I started behavioral pain management I realized I was in total denial about the severity of my depression. Now that I'm aware of my tendency toward denial I fight against it, but if I'm not vigilant I fall back into it. Especially because it's what the sick part of my brain wants. Sick Brain says, "Ignore your plan and come back to bed where it's nice and warm." Which is how Sick Brain gets a foothold and takes over.

• Shame: I might not be worth helping. I'm a lost cause, so why bother?

• Too much free time: Not having many things in my life that require me to function at a high level allows me to get away with cutting corners on my depression-bashing behaviors. I haven't been able to work because of the frequency of my chronic migraines, which in turn makes it hard for me to stay a step ahead of my depression. I don't have the kind of structure in my life that I once did. Despite doing the behavioral pain management program I struggle with trying to establish some of kind of artificial structure for myself. It definitely helped, but I'm still struggling to put the things I learned into practice.

• I'm not worth it: This comes last on my list, but it's probably one of the ideas Sick Brain most easily conjures up when it's trying to get me to believe I don't need therapy. It's the belief I can't be worth anyone's investment of time or energy in me and my silly problems. As Sick Brain puts it, "I don't want to waste the therapist's time." This sounds ridiculous to me when I write it out, but it's what really goes through my mind. I don't want to be a burden to anyone, including my therapist. Yet another example of why I need to be in therapy, right? But sometimes Sick Brain sounds so convincing.

So let's recap. I know I need to continue therapy. But the sick part of my brain keeps trying to get me to sabotage myself. How do I keep the correct voice loud and prominent? How do we manage our mental illnesses when the mental illnesses themselves try to derail our efforts to do the things that help us manage them? Mental illnesses like depression are insidious, sneaky creatures unlike anything else I have ever encountered. I've got some ideas to share, which I will bring to you in another article. But I want to hear your thoughts: How do you stay ahead of depression when it wants to bring you down?


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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.

Weekly Wrap Up: July 12-18, 2010

In case you missed any of last week's posts or would like to revisit them, here is a list of Somebody Heal Me posts from July 12 to July 18.

July Headache Blog Carnival: Enjoying Summer Despite the Heat

Pain Patient Treatment Misstep on Boston Med

The Indignities of Chronic Illness

Special Event: My Plan of Attack was Successful

Do I Regret Trying Botox for Migraine Prevention?


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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.

10 Little Things That Help Me Cope with Pain

Coping with pain isn't easy, especially when you have pain every day or nearly every day for years on end. It wears on you and challenges your spirit. As much for my own benefit in not getting bogged down in my pain as for yours, I've compiled a list of 10 simple, inexpensive things we can do to better cope with our pain.

Tennis ball: When my neck and shoulders are hurting it helps to place a tennis ball between me and the wall and gently massage the area.

Ice/cold: I keep some generic cold packs in the fridge and cycle through them as needed. I prefer they not be frozen, but everyone is different. Experiment and find out what you like.

Heating pad.

Deep, slow breathing.

Gentle stretching.

Petting & cuddling with my dog and cat.

Funny movies or TV shows: I love Stepbrothers, The Hangover, Tommy Boy, Superbad, The Office, Arrested Development, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Parks & Rec and Seinfeld, to name just a few.

Aromatherapy: Mint and lavender scents are my favorite.

Foot massage: When I'm feeling very beaten down by pain sometimes my husband will give me a relaxing foot massage. It's not even necessarily that my feet hurt, but rather that it's a soothing experience when my body is stressed out by pain.

Ceiling fan: The soothing whir and cool breeze generated by the ceiling fan in our bedroom is a godsend when I'm dealing with an especially awful migraine.


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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.

Announcing New Comment System

I just installed the DISQUS Comments system on Somebody Heal Me to provide more interactive commenting and prevent the need for manual comment approval. You'll be able to see what you want to say right away! This system will make it easy for me to respond to your comments and engage in a real dialog with all my fantastic readers.

Though I hope there won't be, since this is a new system for this site there could be problems. Please shoot me an e-mail at somebodyhealme AT dianalee DOT net if you encounter any. Thank you for your patience!

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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.

Do I Regret Trying Botox for Migraine Prevention?

If you've been reading Somebody Heal Me for quite a while you might remember that I tried Botox injections for migraine prevention. I did two rounds of injections three months apart. I got about two weeks of relief each time. You may be wondering whether I regret trying Botox given the pain and cost (I had to pay out of pocket). I can unequivocally say that I don't regret it one bit.

Needless to say I wish we hadn't spent $2,000 on a treatment that didn't really change anything, but other than that I think it was wise to try the injections. Here's why:

• Receiving the treatment from a knowledgeable, well trained physician minimized the risks. The neurologist who did my injections learned the protocol he uses from Dr. Roger Cady in Springfield, Mo., a nationally recognized headache expert.


• While it's true that Botox is poison and the idea of having poison injected into one's face and neck is rather unpleasant, I'm not sure it's much different than taking prescription medications every day. No medication is harmless and there are many unknowns about the newer medications I still have available to try after not having good results with the older preventatives. 


• Research supports the idea that Botox could be effective for my type of migraine attacks. (Botox May Prevent Some Migraines) My migraines are almost always of an imploding nature. The best way I can describe them is to say they feel like someone is driving a huge spike into my left eye. Some preliminary research determined that people who experience this imploding type of migraine may benefit from Botox injections.

Botox injections were recently approved as a treatment for migraines in the United Kingdom. Hopefully this is a sign the FDA might move in the same direction. Obviously there is no relationship between the two governments that would suggest this, but if the UK found enough evidence to support the treatment I hope the FDA might not be far behind.

Related Posts:
Deciding Whether to Focus on Botox for Migraine Prevention
A Few Words of Caution for Botox Users
Botox Shots May Help Ward Off Migraines
Botulinum Toxin Type A as Migraine Preventative Treatment in Patients Previously Failing Oral Prophylactic Treatment
Botox Works on Muscle Disorders But Not Migraines

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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.

Special Event: My Plan of Attack was Successful

My husband and I went to the wedding of a good friend from college this past Saturday. I tried to put the advice I've shared with all of you into practice in getting myself ready for the wonderful event. All things considered the results were worth the extra planning and forethought. I felt confident and put together, which is pretty rare these days. (In the photo is our great friend Sarah, me and my husband Cliff. Love you & miss you, SAF!)

My outfit was completely ready to go and I'd tried it on to a few days ahead to make sure everything worked the way I'd planned. That was a big thing checked off my list. I also selected comfortable, cute sandals with a flat heel for the wedding in hopes this would help me have a good time all the way through the reception without my body saying enough and shutting down my good time.

I was incredibly stressed about fixing my hair. Doing my hair wears me out more than almost anything related to grooming and getting ready. I should have scheduled an appointment to have my hair done, but I was trying not to spend that money. I was regretting it that day and I still am now. Even though I blew it dry and straightened it with a flat iron, my hair simply refused to cooperate. The humidity just killed it. It kept getting super frizzy and I was sweating an ungodly amount under all that hair. After the ceremony I put it up in a low bun and felt so much more comfortable.

I wasn't worried at all about doing my makeup because I feel very comfortable doing it, have a down pat routine in my brain and in my makeup bag and the steps I do (even for a night out) take very little time. I love every product in my bag and know how to exploit each one to get great results. My only challenge was that I couldn't stop sweating in the bathroom when I was trying to do my hair and then start my makeup. It was downright gross. I finally left the bathroom altogether to do my makeup so I could get it on without creating a big cakey, melted mess all over my face. As you can see in the photo, it turned out quite nice. And that was well into the evening with no touch ups! Thank you Bare Minerals.

The remaining looming challenge was the need remove the hair from my legs before the big event. I don't shave anymore because it is usually too exhausting. I've been using a newer form of Nair that doesn't smell very much at all and works great. I did that before my shower and it worked out perfectly. Anything that conserves my energy and makes grooming easier is perfect for my needs.

As I shared yesterday I had a bit of a mishap on the way home from the wedding, but everything was great during the earlier part of the day. We had a wonderful time with great friends and I felt well enough to truly enjoy myself. There's really not much more I could ask for.

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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.

The Indignities of Chronic Illness

Living with a chronic illness often seems like a series of indignities strung together by the normal experiences of every day life. Case in point: What happened to me over the weekend.

The hubby and I went to a friend's wedding and had a great time. Although I knew I was getting a migraine I was able to back it down for a few hours by taking some Tramadol. We had a great time at the reception and I even danced for a while. In retrospect that's probably what did me in.

After the wedding we stopped at a convenience store so I could use my Imitrex injection in private (had to lift up my dress) and to get something to drink for the ride home. The shot helped with my head pain, but the Zofran I took didn't keep the nausea away as well as I'd hoped. I increasingly felt like I was going to throw up, so I got my plastic bag out of my purse just in case. I ended up vomiting a few times. Because I didn't know what else to do with the bag, I held it on my lap thinking I could buy time until we got home. I was so wrong.

After about 15 minutes I realized the stuff was running out of the bag and soaking through my dress and on to the seat under me. Luckily my husband had some napkins I could use and found something to put the bag in that he could grab right away. It was so awful on top of everything else I was going through with the pain, nausea and fatigue.

When this kind of thing happens my first instinct is to crawl into a hole, hide it and try to forget. But upon reflection I realize I can't be the only one who has these kinds of experiences. Knowing that inspires me to share them. Feeling ashamed and keeping it secret only gives it more power. If I can let it go and maybe even laugh about it that's obviously the better way to go. And who can complain about being with the kind of guy who takes charge in that moment and helps you figure out what to do? He even cleaned up after me when we got home. I wish it hadn't happened, but he never has and likely never will make me feel ashamed or embarrassed. Next time I'm remembering to put a big freezer safe plastic zipper bag into my purse.

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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.

Pain Patient Treatment Misstep on Boston Med

Is anyone else watching Boston Med on ABC? It's a fascinating look inside some great hospitals. However, I was very disappointed with the way one of the interns treated a pain patient in last Thursday's episode.

As so many of us have experienced when we've had to seek treatment for intractable pain at an emergency room, he started his conversation with the patient by saying, "I'm not giving you narcotics." Had she asked for them, I could understand, but she didn't. You're the doctor, you should suggest the course of treatment, you pompous ass. Needless to say, the patient and her daughter were extremely upset by this. Starting off that way with a patient in pain is insulting and degrading. When someone is in real, ongoing chronic pain and suffering it is very difficult to brush off the ignorance of a new doctor and take it in stride. Similarly, when you're concerned about a loved one you have little patience for the ignorance of a doctor. Unsurprisingly he couldn't understand why they were so upset and refused to deal with her any longer. In my humble opinion he was the worst of what medicine can be.

I had one very bad experience when I wasn't as educated as I am now about the options for breaking an intractable migraine. When I got to that point where I either needed to die or get better my husband took me to the emergency room for treatment. After waiting we were finally taken back to an exam room. The doctor came into the room and verified that I was there for a headache. Not a headache, of course, but I didn't challenge her on that point. Her next statement was, "Well, I'm not giving you narcotics." I hadn't asked for them, nor did I desire them. I simply wanted to feel better and expected a doctor to figure out what might bring about that result. The crazy part was that after it was all said and done she ending up giving me a shot of pain medication. She didn't know about IV meds, which are ordinarily considered the best way to break an intractable migraine. Not only did she have a bad attitude, but she was not knowledgeable.

Since that time I have learned a lot about the better options for treating a stubborn migraine and have had wonderful experiences with knowledgeable doctors at the same ER. I also take a different approach when I need to seek emergency treatment. I bring a copy of my medical information document that lists my doctors and their contact information, my current meds, my diagnoses and other medical history. This is not only helpful to the hospital staff when they are trying to make sure they know what I'm taking and what conditions I have, but I think it also establishes the seriousness of the pain I'm experiencing. Of course I could still be a drug seeker, but a call to any of my doctors quickly establishes that this is not the case. In fact, on more than one occasion the ER doctor treating me has called my primary care doctor to collaborate on the appropriate treatment for my situation, which I truly appreciate. I don't think these steps would have necessarily led to a better outcome with the insulting, ignorant ER doctor. She had a bad attitude and a bias against people who came there for pain. But I'd like to think these doctors are few and far between.

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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.

July Headache Blog Carnival: Enjoying Summer Despite Heat

Welcome to the July 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 July carnival is "Enjoying the summer when heat triggers your migraines - How have you dealt with this dilemma? What strategies can you suggest for others struggling with this?"

Many migraineurs and people living with headache disorders find their attacks are brought on or made worse by the heat and humidity of summertime. As much as anyone else we want to enjoy all the fun activities the summer has to offer, but we have to be careful and strategic in our decision making. We've got some great advice to share by migraine bloggers who know what this is like.

Please keep reading for the July 2010 collection of posts.

Migrainista presents Surviving Summer at Migrainista.   

Jasmine presents Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Migraines at Jasmine's Cove. 

Sue presents Summer in the City at Inner Dorothy.

Kelli Smith presents Dealing with Heat Triggered Migraines at Kelli's Migraine Daily.

Thanks for the great posts this month. I was thrilled to get these high quality submissions! Submit your blog post to the August 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. The theme will be " How do you cope with your headache disorder?" Entries are due by midnight on Friday, August 6, and the carnival will be here at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, August 9. Past posts and more information about the carnival can be found on our Headache Blog Carnival information page.


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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.

Diana's Treatment Plan

If you'd like to know which medications I take and the other treatments I use please keeping reading this post. 

NOTE: Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique health situation. Never make changes to your treatment plan, including starting or stopping medications, without discussing them with your health care providers.

Daily Medications:
- diabetes/PCOS: Metformin, Januvia, Lantus, Humalog
- Zanaflex
- Butrans patch

As Needed Medications:
- Imitrex StatDose (injection)
- Zomig nasal spray
- Frova
- Zanaflex
- Zofran
- Butorphanol nasal spray
- Ketamine nasal spray

Medical Treatments:
- Occipital Nerve Blocks
- Botox injections

Tools & Coping Techniques:
- mindfulness meditation
- humor - watching funny shows & movies
- spending time with my pets, Maisy & Felix
- ice packs / SootheAway
- stretching
- naps
- The support of my community of chronic pals & other friends, both virtual & real life.

You can read the list of everything I've tried in the past here: List of Past Treatments & Medications.

Treatments & Medications Diana Has Tried

This is a list of the meditations and other various treatments and procedures I've tried for migraine prevention over the past eight years. Some things have helped; most haven't.

NOTE: Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique health situation. Never make changes to your treatment plan, including starting or stopping medications, without discussing them with your health care providers.

Treatments Completed:

* chiropractor
* massage
* acupuncture
* yoga & stretching
* gentle exercise / walking
* guided relaxation
* series of cervical epidural injections
* physical therapy
* biofeedback
* elimination diet
* gluten-free diet
* Botox injections in head & neck
* series of occipital nerve blocks
* radiofrequency rhizotomy / nerve ablation
* behavioral pain management program at The Lemons Center (www.lemonscenter.com)

Medications I Have Tried:

* Inderal
* Depakote (3 different times)
* Topamax
* Neurontin
* Zonegran
* Nortriptyline
* Benicar
* Cymbalta
* Lexapro
* Feverfew
* Frova
* Relpax
* Maxalt
* Amerge
* Midrin
* Celebrex
* Skelaxin
* Prednisone
* Soma
* Flexeril
* Phenergan
* Lortab
* CoQ10
* Amitriptyline (twice)
* Botox injections
* Reglan
* Droperidol
* Migranal
* Darvocet
* Magnesium
* B2
* IM DHE
* Periactin
* Lyrica
* Vimpat
* Tramadol
* Lamictal
* Namenda
* Savella

MigraineCast: Migraine Research Foundation's Door to the Cure Sweepstakes

Teri Robert's MigraineCast podcast has a new episode out about the Migraine Research Foundation Sweepstakes. In this episode Teri interviewed Joan Kaplan and Sam Yates from the Migraine Research Foundation, a group dedicated to raising money for migraine research. The group is holding a Door to the Cure Sweepstakes with some great prizes. Tickets are $10 or $25 depending on the item. The sweepstakes closes on Monday, July 12, so there's no time to lose.

Download the episode here: MigraineCast or subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

BTW, how smoking hot is the guy in that picture? Yum.

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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: July 2010 Headache Blog Carnival

Submissions for the July 2010 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival are due by midnight (the end of the day) tomorrow, Friday, July 9. Posts may be submitted through the form on the carnival website or directly to me by e-mail.

The theme is "Enjoying the summer when heat triggers your migraines - How have you dealt with this dilemma? What strategies can you suggest for others struggling with this?" As always, feel free to interpret this topic however you like. 

The July carnival will be posted on Monday, July 12 right here at Somebody Heal Me.

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


Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed: Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail. Follow me on Twitter: @somebodyhealme.

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.

Migraine Twitter Chat Tonight

Join us on Twitter tonight at 8 pm central for the Twitter Migraine Chat. My twitter handle is @somebodyhealme and we use the hashtag #migrainechat. Hope to see you on Twitter tonight.

Subscribe to the Somebody Heal Me feed: Subscribe in a reader or subscribe by e-mail. Follow me on Twitter @somebodyhealme. 

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.

Social Security Backlog Growing in 2010

That Social Security Disability has a significant backlog of applicants is certainly not news. Unfortunately, the backlog is continuing to grow. The Social Security commissioner expects about 3.3 million people to apply for benefits in 2010. This is an increase of 300,000 more than in 2009 and 700,000 more than in 2008. But his goal is to eliminate the backlog by 2013.

People are currently waiting as long as two years for their first disability benefits payment. For people who live in the states of Alaska, Ohio, Michigan or Minnesota wait times are even longer. About 2/3 of applicants will be denied benefits initially and have to endure the appeal process.

There are any number of reasons why people do not initially receive benefits, but a big reason is the confusing, intimidating nature of the application process. Applicants often don't know what the people reviewing the application are looking for (whether you are able to work at any job) and don't believe they can afford to hire a professional to help their with their applications. After all, being unable to work usually doesn't leave you with any extra money even if you have enough to make ends meet. Another huge obstacle involves doctors who are unwilling to work with you to make your claim as strong as possible.

Qualifying for disability benefits is not easy. A doctor must determine that a disability is severe enough to interfere with an applicant's ability to work. If applicants can't perform their old jobs, officials see if they can adapt to new ones. The system is designed to weed out malingerers.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the average wait time is a little more than two years, including the time it takes to file appeals at each stage of the process. Since the current Social Security commissioner took office in 2007 he has hired additional administrative law judges and support staff. For the first time in 10 years the average number of cases pending before each administrative law judge dropped by 37,000. The average time required for processing of claims at that stage also dropped. Allsup, a disability claims representation corporation, provides a state-by-state map of the backlog in all 50 states: Allsup's State-by-State Backlog Analysis.

Because of the backlog it is extremely important to make your case as strong as possible from the outset. These tips may help:

• Focus on how your health issues prevent you from working.

• Kill them with details. Be thorough.

• Get your doctors on board.

• Gather documentation: Names, addresses & phone numbers of all doctors who have treated you; dates you were seen by your doctors; names of medications you are taking and the reasons why you take them (your pharmacy can help); the medical tests you've had and where you had them; medical records; and the jobs you've worked at for the past 15 years before becoming disabled and the tasks you performed at those jobs.

• Make copies of everything you submit and keep a file.

• Don't limit your answers to the space provided on a form. 

• Brainstorm your answers before you start writing on the forms.

• Strictly follow deadlines.

• Hire a professional if you can.

If you have other questions, please feel free to ask in a comment on this blog post or send an email to me.

Sources:
Spike in Disability Claims Clogs Overloaded System


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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.

Vitamin D Levels of Migraine, Headache Patients

According to information presented last month at the 52nd Annual American Headache Society meeting, patients with headache and migraine disorders should have their Vitamin D levels tested.

A small study found significantly lower than normal levels of Vitamin D among patients with headache disorders and other chronic pain conditions. This information reinforces the information presented at the 2008 meeting. Researchers believe these findings should be studied in a double-blind trial to verify the results and develop treatment approaches.

Vitamin D deficiency is most common among people with dark skin, elderly people and those who avoid the sun. Foods that are good sources of Vitamin D include salmon, tuna, mackerel and cod liver oil. Sun exposure is also an important source of Vitamin D. Finally, you can take a Vitamin D supplement, which your doctor can prescribe for you. As always, discuss these options with your doctor before you make any changes on your own.

Sources:
Vitamin D Low in Patients with Headache and Migraine
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets: Vitamin D

Related Posts:
Collection of Posts & New Information on Vitamin D & Chronic Pain
Follow Advice on Supplementing Vitamin D
News: Chronic Migraineurs Lack Vitamin D
News: Vitamin D Eases Chronic Pain

Vitamin D and Pain

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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.

Announcing July 2010 Headache Blog Carnival

The theme of the July 2010 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival carnival will be "Enjoying the summer when heat triggers your migraines - How have you dealt with this dilemma? What strategies can you suggest for others struggling with this?" As always, feel free to interpret this topic however you like.

Entries are due by midnight (the end of the day) on Friday, July 9, 2010. The carnival will be published right here at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, July 12, 2010.

Feel free to post comments or contact me to ask any questions you might have. Please spread the word to any migraine or headache bloggers you know and consider posting an announcement on your own blog if you have one.


For more information about the carnival please visit the main carnival page: Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival.

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.

Latest Pain & ChronicBabe Carnivals

The new editions of the Pain Blog and Chronic Babe Carnivals were posted on Tuesday. Both are full of great content, so I highly recommend checking them out.

Pain Blog Carnival, June 2010

ChronicBabe Carnival: Tips for Brand-New ChronicBabes


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.