YIPPEE! This Blog No Longer Triggers Migraines

Ahhhhhhh.  This blog template is so much better.  It's nice to be able to look at my blog now without wearing sunglasses!!  No more blinding font colors or shape-shifting letters.  No more color changing backgrounds and no more disappearing sidebar items. 

I have a few more things to do before being completely finished but I'm very happy with what's been done so far.  What do y'all think?

My Blog Is A Migraine Trigger

This blog template has got to go! It's giving me a Migraine! I recently changed templates and this one has been a pain in the ass and a pain in the head. Some days the font color is OK - most days it's blinding. Sometimes the font is too big and sometimes it's too small. Some days the background is black like it should be - some days it's SCREAMING yellow. (I shouldn't have to wear sunglasses to blog.) Everyday something on my sidebar is screwed up. When I fix it something else gets screwed up.

I'm sorry if looking at my blog triggers a Migraine - it triggers mine too and I can't take it anymore! So, if you notice anything different or out of the ordinary in the next few days, it's because I'm eliminating one of my triggers - this blog template.

Army Personnel Show Increased Risk For Migraine; Condition Underdiagnosed, Mistreated

Army Personnel Show Increased Risk For Migraine; Condition Underdiagnosed, Mistreated

ScienceDaily (Aug. 28, 2008) — Two new studies show that migraine headaches are very common among U.S. military personnel, yet the condition is frequently underdiagnosed. The studies, appearing in Headache, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Headache Society, examine the incidence among soldiers within 10 days of returning from a 1-year combat tour in Iraq , as well as U.S. Army officer trainees...
To read the entire article click HERE .

Flying is a headache, literally, for many travelers

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Headaches associated with air travel appear to be a "huge and painful problem," Israeli researchers report.

In a study of 906 men and women who had traveled more than once by plane, nearly 6 percent reported that they experienced headaches associated with flying.

Based on 3.3 billion seats available each year on commercial flights, with 70 percent occupancy, Dr. Israel Potasman and colleagues from Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa estimate that more than 100 million people suffer from flight-associated headaches annually...
To continue reading this article click HERE.

Migraine Medication May Increase Uric Acid

Rising uric acid levels tied to migraine drug

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In migraine patients, treatment with the drug topiramate (sold as Topamax) may result in increasing blood levels of uric acid, a study shows.

Some research has linked high uric acid levels in the body to a higher risk of cardiovascular trouble. Excess uric acid in the body can create oxidative stress, a state that damages body cells and contributes to diseases, including the buildup of artery-clogging plaques...
To read the entire article click HERE.

New Hope For Stroke Patients: Reversing Stroke Damage By Jumpstarting Growth Of Nerve Fibers

ScienceDaily (Aug. 25, 2008) — If a stroke patient doesn't get treatment within approximately the first three hours of symptoms, there's not much doctors can do to limit damage to the brain.

But now researchers report a technique that potentially could restore functions to patients weeks or even months after a stroke. The technique involves jumpstarting the growth of nerve fibers to compensate for brain cells destroyed by the stroke.

"In the best-case scenario, this would open up the window of time that people could recover and go back to normal functional status," said Gwendolyn Kartje, MD, Ph.D., a professor in the department of cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy and department of neurology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. and chief of neuroscience research at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Ill.

Kartje and colleagues described the experimental approach, called anti-nogo-A immunotherapy, in a recent review article in the journal Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation...
To read the entire article click HERE.

School-Age Migraine and Headache Sufferers Head Back to School

Teri Robert has written a very helpful article about going Back To School With Migraines or Headaches. She states:

When your child has a chronic illness, whether it's headaches, Migraines, or a different illness entirely, we really can't afford to put off getting our children ready for school. There are extra steps that need to be taken; extra preparations that need to be made. In the Miss America scholarship pageant program, they have a motto. They call it "the Ps..."

If your kids suffer with Migraine disease or headaches, you may want to read the entire article HERE.

Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey through Life with Migraine

If you haven't heard of or seen the book, Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey through Life with Migraine yet, you have got to check it out. This magnificent anthology, compiled and edited by Betsy Baxter Blondin, contains art, poetry, essays and photography contributed by 124 writers and artists, all either Migraineurs or loved ones, from many states and countries.

You can order the 192 page hardcover book from Word Metro Press. The book normally retails for $34.95 but right now you can order it for the special price of $27.95. Part of the proceeds will be contributed to Migraine research and advocacy organizations.

More information can be found in the press release below.

NEW MIGRAINE ART AND LITERATURE BOOK FROM WORD METRO PRESS

Groundbreaking book depicts migraine in insightful visual and written art from migraineurs worldwide


San Diego, California, July 16, 2008 – Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey through Life with Migraine illustrates in breathtaking art, poetry, essays and photography some of the ways tens of millions of people worldwide live, work, feel and love while trying to minimize attacks and manage symptoms of this often-debilitating disease. The courage and strength that takes is illuminated in this dramatic work from 124 writers and artists in many states and countries.

No other book expresses migraine in both words and art of people who suffer the symptoms and survive the disease; most books about migraine are from experts who define, explain, and offer advice on how to manage it. This book will complement existing information, be instrumental for people with migraine to share experiences and communicate feelings, and serve as a tool for furthering understanding among non-migraineurs.

Migraine is a neurobiological disease impacting more than 30 million people in the United States and similarly 12 to 15 percent of people in most countries of the world. It is a debilitating and little-understood disorder that is finally attracting the long-overdue attention it urgently needs in medical research and treatment arenas as well as in the general media. Celebrities, athletes and well-known professionals appear more and more often to share their stories or in news items of crippling migraine attacks. They represent many millions of others around the world.

Suzanne E. Simons, Executive Director of the National Headache Foundation, commented, “Congratulations! The images and the words are compelling. Migraineurs will relate to the visual images and poems. Those who don’t suffer may be better able to empathize after reading the book.”

The book includes a foreword by leading migraine educator, advocate and author, Teri Robert, Ph.D., who says, “Projects such as Migraine Expressions are rare, priceless, and sorely needed. They offer an intimate view of the impact of migraine disease. The works of art in this book are deeply personal and revealing. They are heart-wrenching and inspiring, filled with both terror and hope.”

And Richard B. Lipton, MD, Professor of Neurology and Director, Montefiore Headache Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, claims, "Migraine Expressions reveals a neurobiological disease from many highly personal perspectives as contributors transform their experiences into stunning verbal and visual art. The book will help people with migraine find their individual voices even as they recognize the universality of their shared experiences.”

Book details: Hardcover, 192 pages, full color, 8.5 by 11 inches, available from publisher at www.wordmetropress.com July 21, 2008, $34.95 retail. Editor is available for interviews, appearances and book signings.

FDA Recall - One Lot of Fentanyl Transdermal System Patch

Watson Announces Limited Recall Of Fentanyl

CORONA, CA - August 8, 2008 - Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today that one lot of 75 mcg/hr Fentanyl Transdermal System patches sold in the United States is being voluntarily recalled from wholesalers and pharmacies. The recalled patches are from Lot Number 92461850, have expiration dates of August 31, 2009 and were manufactured by Watson Laboratories, Inc. The affected lot of Fentanyl Transdermal System patches was shipped to customers between January 30, 2008 and March 19, 2008. No other strengths or lots were affected and the Company does not anticipate any product shortages as a result of this recall. The Company has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the recall.

A small number of patches leaking fentanyl gel have been detected in this lot, potentially exposing patients or caregivers directly to fentanyl gel. Fentanyl patches that are leaking should not be used. No injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled lot. However, exposure to fentanyl gel may lead to serious adverse events, including respiratory depression and possible overdose, which may be fatal.

Anyone who has 75 mcg/hr Fentanyl Transdermal System patches should check the box or foil pouch for the lot number and expiration date to see if they have patches that are being recalled. Affected patches should not be handled directly. Anyone with 75 mcg/hr Fentanyl Transdermal System patches being recalled should call 888-667-1508, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT, for instructions on how to return affected product.

Patients using fentanyl patches who have medical questions should contact their health-care providers.

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product, and/or quality problems should also be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by Fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Fentanyl Transdermal System CII is indicated for the management of persistent, moderate to severe chronic pain that requires continuous, around the clock opioid administration for an extended period of time and cannot be managed by other means such as non-steroidal analgesics, opioid combination products, or immediate release opioids.

Anyone who comes in contact with fentanyl gel should thoroughly rinse exposed skin with large amounts of water only; do not use soap. Immediately dispose of affected patches that may be damaged or compromised in any way by flushing them down the toilet, using caution not to handle them directly. Damaged and/or compromised patches that have leaked gel will not provide effective pain relief.

The entire FDA recall can be found HERE.

Unless otherwise noted, the contents of the FDA Website (www.fda.gov)--both text and graphics--are not copyrighted.

Migraine Medication May Throw a Monkey Wrench In Scheduled Execution

Richard Cooey, a convicted rapist and murderer is scheduled to be executed in Ohio this October. Physician, Dr. Mark Heath, hired by the Ohio Public Defender's Office filed documents with the court last week stating, Topamax, the medication that Cooey uses for Migraine prevention, may make him resistant to the drug Thiopental. This is the medication that puts inmates to sleep before other lethal drugs are administered. Cooey is 5' 7" and 267 pounds. Heath contends that Cooey's obesity combined with this potential drug resistance increases the risk of him not being properly anesthetized before being executed.

source: Ohio inmate says he's too fat for execution

Migraine News: Exercise, Stroke and Heart Risk, Oxygen Therapy

Exercise plus relaxation may lessen migraine pain

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A combination of aerobic exercise and muscle relaxation may help ease migraine pain, a small study suggests.



Austrian researchers found that when 15* migraine sufferers added an exercise-and-relaxation routine to their usual care, the patients reported an improvement in migraine pain intensity over six weeks...

To read this entire article click HERE.



*Note: 15 participants IS a very small study.

Gene May Put Women With Migraine At Increased Risk Of Heart Disease And Stroke

Women who experience migraine with aura appear to be at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke if they have a certain gene, according to a study published in the July 30, 2008, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.



For the study, researchers followed 25,001 Caucasian women for the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and ischemic stroke. About 18 percent of the women in the study had a history of migraine while 40 percent of those with active migraine reported migraine with aura...

To read this entire article click HERE.



Oxygen Therapy Might Ease Pain Of Migraine, Cluster Headaches



ScienceDaily (July 17, 2008) — Two types of oxygen therapy could offer some relief to adults who suffer from disabling migraine and cluster headaches, according to a new research review from Australia...

To read this entire article click HERE.