Somebody Heal Me

Announcing February 2012 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Submissions for the February 2012 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival are due by midnight Friday, February 10, 2012. The topic is "Tales from the Trenches: Experiences (good & bad) on the road to finding the right migraine doctor." As always, posts on any topic related to migraine disease or other headache disorders are also welcome. Email submissions to somebodyhealme@dianalee.net by midnight on the deadline day.

The January carnival will be posted here at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, February 13, 2012.

For more information about the carnival visit the overview page here: Migraine Blog Carnival. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns or are interesting in hosting a future edition. I'm always looking for participants who are willing to volunteer as hosts. It's not only a great way to support the carnival, but also to drive new traffic to your blog!

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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.

Narrowing the Search for a Local Migraine Specialist

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Since 2008 my best migraine care and treatment has come from Dr. Krusz in Dallas. While traveling seven hours each way for that high level of care has been more than worth it, the goal all along has been to find and build a relationship with a migraine specialist in my geographic area.

I've been working with a neurologist in my hometown, but he's not a migraine specialist and he's well past the limit of what he can do for me. The relationship is still worthwhile because he can get me in to the infusion center at the local hospital for IV treatments to break intractable migraines. But I'm still trying to find a true specialist in my area.

A while back a doctor who practices at the University of Kansas Medical Center spoke at a migraine support group meeting I attended, and I really liked her. She's knowledgeable and seemed like she would have an excellent bedside manner. Just the fact that she was willing to come to a support group to educate and encourage patients speaks volumes to me.

For a long time I was under the impression that she only sees children because she's also on staff at Children's Mercy Hospital. But I don't see any reason not to try to get a referral to see her. I saw a doctor for a while at KU Med right before I went to Dallas for the first time, but I grew discouraged because they only saw me once every three months and I was suffering so profoundly that I needed more intensive care like what I got at Dr. Krusz's clnic. I think this doctor may be the answer I've been looking for. And if I can't get in to see her I think a trip back to Dallas will be in my not so distant future. I would imagine Dr. K has new ideas for me because he always does.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Migraine Management in 2012: January Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Welcome to the January 2012 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 "What will you do differently to better manage your migraines in 2012?" Please keep reading for the submissions on this topic.

Teri Robert shared Migraines or Not - Best Wishes for 2012 posted at Putting Our Heads Together.

Jamie Valendy shared I Will...In 2012 posted at Chronic Migraine Warrior.

Gretchen Rautman shared 2012's Migraine Resolutions posted at There Be Migraines Here.

Nancy Harris Bonk shared What is Your Migraine Plan for 2012? posted at Migraine & Other Headache Disorders.

Kelly Wahle shared AHDA Petition Signing Brainstorm posted at Fly With Hope.

Thank you for all your submissions and ongoing support of the carnival. If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to sign the Alliance for Headache Disorders petition asking Congress to hold hearings on the burden of migraine disease: AHDA Petition.

Submit your blog post to the February 2012 edition of the Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival by sending your submissions to me by email. (Unfortunately some of us have had problems with the submission form on the blogcarnival.com site from time to time, so I suggest you just avoid it. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience.)

The theme will be: "Tales from the Trenches: Experiences (good & bad) on the road to finding the right migraine doctor." Submissions are due by midnight (the end of the day) on Friday, February 10. The February carnival will be published right here at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, February 13.

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.

Last Call: January 2012 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Today (Friday, January 13, 2012) is the deadline for submissions to the January 2012 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival.

Submit your blog post to the January 2012 edition of the Headache and Migraine Disease Blog Carnival by e-mailing your submissions to me directly (somebodyhealme AT dianalee DOT net). The theme is: "What do you resolve to do in 2012 to better manage your migraines?" As always, posts on any topic related to migraine disease or other headache disorders are also welcome.

Entries are due by midnight (the end of the day), today, Friday, January 13, and the carnival will be posted at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, January 16.

Additional information about the carnival can be found at this link: http://somebodyhealme.dianalee.net/p/headache-blog-carnival.html.

If you are interested in hosting a future edition, please let me know so we can talk details. It's not only a great way to support the carnival, but also to drive new traffic to your blog! As always, please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, suggestions or ideas for themes.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Two Safety Alerts for Chronic Pain Patients

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Two drug companies have reported safety alerts in the past few days on products frequently used by people with chronic pain. Both recalls arise out of incidents that occurred in the same Nebraska manufacturing plant.

The FDA warns that specific opioid products packaged by Endo Pharmaceuticals for Novartis may have been mixed up and packaged with incorrect labeling. The FDA chose not to issue a recall on these medications because of the need for patients to have continuous access to these medications and a low likelihood of mix-ups.

Additionally, Novartis issued a recall of over the counter medications Excedrin, Bufferin, NoDoz and Gas-X. As part of an internal review process the company discovered broken and chipped pills and improper labeling. They issued the recall voluntarily to be sure no customers are exposed to anything they may be allergic to or that may cause them problems when mixed with other medications.

The FDA believes both issues were caused by improper clearing of packaging machinery in the packing plant between handling of different products.

Tips:

The opioid medications affected include: Percocet, Opana ER CII, Opana CII, Percodan CII, Oxymorphone hydrochloride CII, Endocet CII, Endodan CII, Morphine sulfate ER CII and Zydone CIII.

Be aware of pills that look different than the pill you're used to receiving. Ask your pharmacist if you're unsure.

The over the counter medications affected include: Excedrin and NoDoz products with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2014, or earlier; and Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention products with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2013, or earlier.

Contact Novartis for a refund if you purchased one of the recalled over the counter medications. Call the company at 1-888-477-2403 Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or visit their website: Novartis Drug Recall

Sources:
Excedrin, Bufferin OTC Drugs Recalled
Why Excedrin, NoDoz Bottles are Being Recalled
FDA Warns of Opioid Drug Mix-Up

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Announcing January 2012 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Submissions for the January 2012 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival are due by midnight this Friday, January 13, 2012. The topic is "What do you resolve to do in 2012 to better manage your migraines?" As always, posts on any topic related to migraine disease or other headache disorders are also welcome.

The January carnival will be posted here at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, January 16, 2012. I've adjusted the date of the carnival because I neglected to make the appropriate announcements in time to post it on the second Monday of the month as we usually schedule it. Thanks in advance for your understanding and flexibility!

Email submissions to somebodyhealme@dianalee.net by midnight on Friday, January 13, 2012.

For more information about the carnival visit the overview page here: Migraine Blog Carnival. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns or are interesting in hosting a future edition. I'm always looking for participants who are willing to volunteer as hosts. It's not only a great way to support the carnival, but also to drive new traffic to your blog!

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.

Most Popular Posts of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

The impending end of the calendar year seems like the perfect time to revisit the most popular Somebody Heal Me posts of 2011.

10. Why Are Pills Hard for Migraineurs to Use?

9. Your Chronic Pain Toolbox: Personalized Pain Management

8. Pain Tolerance: How Your Behavior Increases or Decreases It

7. Migraine 101: What is Serotonin Syndrome?

7. Pain Management Drug Testing: Demoralizing Mistrust

6. Migraine Medications 101: Nausea & Vomiting

5. Spreading Migraine Awareness: 5 Things You Can Do

4. Charlie Sheen & Mental Illness: Not a Joke

3. Sootheaway Advanced Cold & Heat Therapy for Migraine, Chronic Pain

2. Why Does My Head Hurt? Primary Headache Disorders

1. How I Manage My Health Using iPhone Apps

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Migraineur Friendly Gifts for the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

If you're the loved one of a migraineur or a migraineur putting together a holiday wish list, consider these ideas for migraineur-friendly holiday gifts this season.

Donate to the Migraine Research Foundation. A donation of any amount (the higher the better, of course) to the Migraine Research Foundation in the name of your favorite migraineur is a wonderful and special gift. After all, our hope is that there should one day be a cure. If we had a cure for migraine disease everything else would be gravy. All of the MRF's costs are underwritten, so 100% of your donation goes directly to migraine-related research.

Choose an essential book. I always recommend people who have recently been diagnosed or who are just starting the journey of taking control of their migraine disease start with Teri Robert's book, Living Well with Migraine Disease & Headaches. It's an essential for every migraineur. Other good options include:

The Migraine Brain by Carolyn Bernstein & Elaine McArdle
The Woman's Migraine Toolkit by Dawn Marcus
10 Simple Solutions to Migraines by Dawn Marcus
Migraine Expressions edited by Betsy Blondin

Tools for exploring mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction are awesome tools for managing life with chronic illness and pain. Here are some suggestions of great gift ideas any migraineur interesting in exploring this topic would appreciate:

Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
How to Be Sick by Toni Bernhard
Break Through Pain by Shinzen Young
Relaxation Body Scan & Guided Imagery for Well-Being by Carolyn McManus
Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

Grab some awareness apparel. Migraineur Cat Charrett-Dykes designed a ribbon for chronic migraine awareness (a purple ribbon with a red stripe on it). She has set up a Cafe Press shop to allow us to purchase merchandise featuring the awareness ribbon. Any profits she makes from the sale of these items will be donated to the National Headache Foundation. The "Fuck Migraines" cap is a personal favorite! Teri Robert has a Help for Headaches Cafe Press shop you should check out, too.

Avoid food gifts. Most migraineurs have specific food triggers they must avoid at all costs. Unless you are intimately familiar with a migraineur's triggers (ie you have prepared meals for her/him), skip the food gifts.

Avoid fragrances. While some migraineurs aren't bothered by distinctive scents, many are. It is impossible to predict which ones will be unbearable for which people. Unless the migraineur in your life specifically requests perfume, bath products or home fragrances, skip these items.

Offer your help. Most migraineurs would appreciate your offer of accompaniment to a doctor's appointment, a ride, a meal, child care, etc. when dealing with a migraine. Give the migraineur in your life a homemade gift certificate for a favor they can redeem next time migraine puts him/her in a bind. Most of us would love someone to offer their help even though we don't feel comfortable asking for it.

What gift suggestions do you have to add? What would you like to receive? Please share in the comments.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Support Migraine Research: Sign the Petition!

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:23:00 +0000

2,132 people have signed the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy petition. Are you one of them? Why not? It only takes a few seconds to sign and post it to your Facebook wall to encourage your friends and family to do the same. We desperately need more research funding!

Urge Congressional Hearings on the Impact of Migraine & Headache Disorders

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

December 2011 Migraine Carnival Posted

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:06:00 +0000

The December 2011 edition of the Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival has been posted by Kelly Wahle at Fly With Hope:

Fly With Hope: December 2011 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival

Please check out all the great submissions and leave Kelly some feedback. She did a wonderful job hosting for us this month!

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Spreading Migraine Awareness: 5 Things YOU Can Do

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Here are some ideas of the simplest things you can do to support migraine awareness and research.

(1) Sign the AHDA petition calling on Congress to hold hearings into the burden of migraine and other headache disorders. Despite the fact that millions of Americans are affected by migraine disease, we only have about 1,600 signatures. We can do better and you can help with that. Urge Congressional Hearings on the Impact of Migraine & Headache Disorders.

(2) Pass along information about the current AHDA petition to your friends and family and encourage them to sign up for action alerts for future calls to action.

(3) Donate to the Migraine Research Foundation. MRF's operational costs are completely underwritten, so your donation goes entirely to migraine-related research. Migraine Research Foundation Donations Page.

(4) Educate your loved ones generally about the reality of migraine disease, how it impacts our lives and what they can do to support us. Check out Teri Robert's Migraine.com post for some ideas of things you might want to share: 10 Things I Want to Share About Migraines.

(5) Follow organizations and advocates through social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to stay abreast of the latest information and calls to action for migraine awareness. You can follow Somebody Heal Me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/somebodyhealme and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/somebodyhealme. You can follow Migraine.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/migrainedotcom and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/migrainedotcom.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Last Call: December Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Don't forget that submissions for the December 2011 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival are due by midnight on Friday, December 9, 2011. The topic is "Reducing Holiday-Related Migraine Triggers: Share your best advice, tips & tricks for minimizing triggers while still fully enjoying the holiday season." As always, posts on any topic related to migraine disease or other headache disorders are also welcome.

The December carnival will be posted by Kelly at Fly With Hope on Monday, December 12, 2011.

Email submissions to somebodyhealme@dianalee.net by midnight on Friday, December 9, 2011.

For more information about the carnival visit the overview page here: Migraine Blog Carnival. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns or are interesting in hosting a future edition. I'm always looking for participants who are willing to volunteer as hosts. It's not only a great way to support the carnival, but also to drive new traffic to your blog!

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.

WEGO Health's Health Activist Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

This December, the online health community and WEGO Health are celebrating all the awesome achievements made in health leadership and patient advocacy in 2011 with WEGO Health's Health Activist Awards.

WEGO Health is a different kind of social media company. It's dedicated to empowering Health Activists and has just launched the first-ever Health Activist Awards program to recognize Health Activists (both new and established) for all of their great work over the course of the past year.

This interactive program lets everyone get involved by nominating their favorite Health Activists and sharing what has inspired them, moved them and made a difference in the online health community. I’ve already nominated some of my favorite Health Activists and I'm looking forward to nominating more of them in the coming days and weeks. I hope you’ll take some time to recognize your favorites, too.

You can check out WEGO Health’s Health Activist Awards 2011 homepage for details on the 10 different awards, how to join the Health Activists Awards Jury to help select the Award winners and to find out what Health Activists will win if they’re chosen. Health Activist Awards 2011.

Nominations began December 1, 2011, and winners will be selected in early 2012. So get your nominations in now and celebrate the Health Activists that have made the biggest difference to you in 2011.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Announcing December 2011 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:02:00 +0000

Submissions for the December 2011 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival are due by midnight on Friday, December 9, 2011. The topic is "Reducing Holiday-Related Migraine Triggers: Share your best advice, tips & tricks for minimizing triggers while still fully enjoying the holiday season." As always, posts on any topic related to migraine disease or other headache disorders are also welcome.

The December carnival will be posted by Kelly at Fly With Hope on Monday, December 12, 2011.

Email submissions to somebodyhealme@dianalee.net by midnight on Friday, December 9, 2011.

For more information about the carnival visit the overview page here: Migraine Blog Carnival. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns or are interesting in hosting a future edition. I'm always looking for participants who are willing to volunteer as hosts. It's not only a great way to support the carnival, but also to drive new traffic to your blog!

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.

Action Alert: Sign the New AHDA Migraine Petition

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Have you signed the new Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy petition calling for Congress to hold hearings investigating the burden of migraine and other headache disorders? It will take just a few second of your time, and your participation will make a big difference.

Please check out Teri Robert's article about the reasons for the petition and follow the link to sign it. Please also pass the link on to family and friends. Since it's the holiday season we'll all be seeing more of our loved ones, so this is a great chance to get them on board. I know we can do better than the mere 1,000+ signatures we have now considering how many millions of Americans are impacted by migraine and other headache disorders.

Take Action for Better Migraine Treatment and Awareness

Urge Congressional Hearings on the Impact of Migraine and Headache Disorders

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Migraine 101: What is Serotonin Syndrome?

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Migraine patients often use medications in the triptan category, such as Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, etc. to abort their migraine attacks. They also often take antidepressants for either treatment of co-morbid depression or prevention of migraines. Both of these types of medication affect serotonin levels and can lead to development of a condition called serotonin syndrome.

Serotonin syndrome can occur when the body is exposed to medications that cause it to produce too much serotonin, a substance produced by nerve cells. It most often occurs when someone takes more than one medication that increases serotonin levels at the same time. The FDA requires drug manufacturers to include warnings about serotonin syndrome on all medications that increase serotonin levels, including triptans and antidepressants.

This condition is extremely rare, but serious for patients affected by it and potentially fatal. You should familiarize yourself with the symptoms of serotonin syndrome if you ever take both of these kinds of medications and immediately notify your doctor if you suspect you have developed it. You should consider suspicion of serotonin syndrome an emergency.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can include:

Restlessness or agitation
Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Hallucinations
Increased body temperature
Loss of coordination
Overactive reflexes
Rapid changes in blood pressure
Rapid heart beat

Sources:
Serotonin Syndrome
Prevention, Recognition and Management of Serotonin Syndrome

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Migraine 101: 5 Guidelines for Medication Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Most of us who live with migraine disease use at least one kind of medication, whether over the counter or prescription. It is extremely important that we take care in how we store these medications to ensure our medications are available to us when we need them and also inaccessible to children.

Although safety is most often what comes to mind when we think of our medications, the reality is that you should also make it difficult for someone who might want to steal your medications to do so. No one wants to think a family member or friend would do this, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Here are five basic guidelines for safe storage of your medications:

(1) Follow temperature guidelines: Refrigerate medications as directed. Otherwise, store medications in a dry, cool place. Bathrooms are not usually a good option because they tend to be humid.

(2) Consider purchasing a lock box: Using a lock box will keep your medications safely out of reach of children (whether you live with them or simply have periodic child visitors) and safe from people who might be tempted to steal your meds. (A Google search for "medication lock box will turn up lots of affordable options.)

(3) Check expiration dates: Safely dispose of any over the counter or prescription medications that have passed their expiration dates so you or a family member doesn't inadvertently use something that has already expired. If a medication's appearance, smell or taste has changed, get rid of it.

(4) Keep original packaging: Whenever possible, it is best to keep your medication in its original pharmacy packaging. This packaging has important information about how and when to take the medication and who is it for that you want to be able to access at any time.

(5) Keep medications belonging to different family members separate: To prevent someone accidentally taking another family member's medications, keep them apart. A separate lock box for each household member is a convenient, safe way to do this.

For information about safe disposal of medications, please read: Safe Disposal of Medication.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Wishing each and every one of you a very happy Thanksgiving!

I'm truly grateful for your support of Somebody Heal Me and projects like the Migraine Chat and Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Migraine Chat Tonight as Scheduled

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

I will be hosting Migraine Chat tonight on Chatzy as regularly scheduled, from 6-7 pm CT. I'm not sure if anyone will be around and considered canceling for the Thanksgiving holiday, but I have the time before we get on the road to our Thanksgiving plans. If you or someone you know will be home and perhaps feeling kinda lonely, come join in!

Migraine Chat

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Botox Approved for Chronic Migraine in Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Good news for my Canadian readers: Last week Health Canada approved Botox for treatment of chronic migraine (15 or more days of migraine a month).

I hope this gives more people access to a treatment that can have a profound impact in the lives of chronic migraineurs, particularly those who have not responded to any other treatments.

Source:
Botox OK'd in Canada to Fight Chronic Migraines

Related Posts:
Botox Ineffective for Neck Pain
Botox for Migraine FDA Approved
Manufacturer Claims Botox Effective in Preventing Migraines

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Thanksgiving: Managing Your Routine

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Since Thursday is a big holiday in the United States (Thanksgiving, of course), I thought this was a good time to revisit some of my advice about how to get through the stress and work of holidays without completely sidelining yourself with a migraine attack.

Migraineurs: Have Happier Holidays with Routines

In this article I discuss the relationship between migraines and stress and offer tips for managing meals, expectations, medication, exercise and sleep. Hope this helps you have a great holiday!

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Pain Management Drug Testing: Demoralizing Mistrust

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

As someone who is being cared for by the pain management department at my local hospital, I have to agree to periodic drug testing to receive prescription pain medications. On one level I've accepted this is the way things have to be so I can get access to the pain meds I need to maintain my sanity and a slightly better quality of life despite living with chronic migraine and occipital neuralgia. But I still resent it, and I was really upset this week when I learned I'd have to go in for retesting because the results of my last test indicated I didn't have the medication in my system. Never mind the fact that I am always wearing that patch and change it once a week as directed.

I was lying there on my back resting after my occipital nerve blocks when the doctor asked if I could take another urine test before I left. I said I didn't think I'd be able to that day because I hadn't had anything to drink since I got up and used the restroom, but that I could come back the next day and plan accordingly. I can't pee on command, sorry. Can anyone? After he ducked out I threw my arm over my eyes and started crying. It's just so demoralizing. Must I be untrustworthy and suspect because I have a disabling chronic condition that can be somewhat helped with pain medication, among other options? What have I ever done to deserve this kind of mistrust and scrutiny? It really sucks. I kept thinking, "Who would come in for injections into the back of their head if they were drug seekers and diverting their pain medication for sale to junkies?" If you've ever had those injections you know they are absolutely no fun and rather painful. It just doesn't make sense.

(Thank god for my husband who kept telling me how much the doctor looks like the actor Mike White, creator, executive producer and actor on the HBO show Enlightened, which made me laugh and forget my pity party for a while.)

The worst part to me was that it was as though it was no big deal to them to inconvenience me, and I felt that my word that I'm constantly wearing my pain patch means nothing if the test doesn't reflect that. How can I prove to them this is true? It's simply my word against the test, right?

When I went in for my retest I decided to ask a nurse to look at my back and verify that I was in fact wearing the patch. She declined to do so, but was receptive to my concerns and very understanding. She instructed the person who processes the urine tests to look into the paperwork a bit deeper, which I appreciated. Low and behold, they'd submitted my test to be compared to a different medication than the one I actually take, which is why the test didn't find any evidence of the medication in my urine. It was looking for something I don't take.

Identifying the mistake was a big relief, but why did I have to be the one to bring up that possibility? If I hadn't they'd have submitted the test the exact same way and I'd still be under scrutiny and feel like they consider me a criminal and liar. Even worse I'd be worried they might decide not to treat me anymore. It's just another great example of how important it is to advocate for ourselves. I was polite and respectful, but brought up my honest concerns and actually had my needs met. I guess that's what really matters in the end and what I'd like you to be able to take away from my story.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

Migraine & Friendship: November 2011 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Welcome to the November 2011 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 November carnival is "Migraine Disease & Friendship: How has living with migraine disease or a headache disorder impacted your friendships? Has it shown you who your true friends are? Have you made friends or become closer to people because of your life with this disease? Please share your thoughts on friendship & chronic illness." Please keep reading for the submissions on this topic.

Teri Robert shared When Migraines Endanger Our Friendships posted at Migraine.com.

Mimi shared Quality Not Quantity posted at Migraine Mimi.

Migrainista shared Migrainista and Friend posted at Migrainista.

Sconesail shared Friends and Migraine posted at Falling through Pain.

Jamie Valendy shared Migraine Disease and Friendship posted at Chronic Migraine Warrior.

Thank you for all your submissions and ongoing support of the carnival!

Submit your blog post to the December 2011 edition of the Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival by sending your submissions to me by email. (Unfortunately some of us have had problems with the submission form on the blogcarnival.com site from time to time, so I suggest you just avoid it. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience.)

The theme will be: "Reducing Holiday-Related Migraine Triggers: Share your best advice, tips & tricks for minimizing triggers while still fully enjoying the holiday season." Submissions are due by midnight (the end of the day) on Friday, December 9. The October carnival will be published by Kelly Wahle at Fly with Hope on Monday, December 12.

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.

Last Call: November 2011 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Please don't forget tomorrow is the deadline for submissions to the November 2011 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival. Our theme for November is "Migraine Disease & Friendship: How has living with migraine disease or a headache disorder impacted your friendships? Has it shown you who your true friends are? Have you made friends or become closer to people because of your life with this disease? Please share your thoughts on friendship & chronic illness." As always, posts on any topic related to migraine disease or other headache disorders are also welcome.

Entries are due by midnight (the end of the day) tomorrow, Friday, November 11, and the carnival will be posted here at Somebody Heal Me on Monday, November 14. Submit your blog article by emailing your submissions directly to me (somebodyhealme AT dianalee DOT net).

Please note: Unfortunately some of us have had problems with the submission form on the blogcarnival.com site from time to time, so I suggest you just avoid it. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience.

Contact me any time with questions, suggestions or ideas for themes. Please let me know if you are interested in hosting a future edition. I'm always looking for help with the carnival. It's not only a great way to support the carnival, but also to drive new traffic to your blog! Don't hesitate to post a comment or email me with questions related to the carnival generally, this topic or hosting.

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.

5 Fiction Series That Help Me Escape

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Lee) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Although I know many of you are no longer able to read due to the frequency and/or intensity of your migraine attacks, I'm still able to most of them time. This is such a blessing in my life. I've always been an avid reader, and being able to escape into a great book is often the most satisfying, rewarding part of a day stuck at home with chronic migraine disease.

Here is a list of five fiction series that are some of my all-time favorite stories and a great escape.

(1) A Song of Fire & Ice (Game of Thrones) by George RR Martin

Martin creates a world filled with tons of compelling characters and a rich plot focused not only on the fight for power and domination, but also on the personal lives of his well-developed individual characters. Your only problem will be waiting for the next book when you finally finish A Dance of Dragons (book #5).

(2) Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Though these are adolescent-level books, the world Collins creates is just as compelling for adults who love imagination and dystopian scenarios. I can't wait to see what they do with this awesome, action-packed story on the big screen.

(3) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Gabaldon's Outlander series is an epic tale of time travel and romance. It's a great fantasy, but grounded in timeless, universal concepts of family and loyalty. Best of all, it features some kickass strong women.

(4) Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

If you're a book lover like me, you won't be able to resist this trilogy about characters who find themselves torn between a fantasy storybook world and the real world and separated from people they love by a tyrranical fictional character.

(5) Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley

Bradley's main character, 11-year-old Flavia, is precocious, infectious and adorable. Each book in this series is a well-developed mystery, and I love that little Flavia is always the smartest person in the whole story.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.