My Open Letter to Nancy Grace: A Migraine is NOT a Headache

Picture courtesy of SalFalco

Dear Nancy Grace,
I was watching your recaps of weeks 13 and 14 of the Jody Arias trial (accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in 2008) this past weekend. You were discussing a day court recessed early because Arias had a Migraine. A few times you said court recessed because Arias "had a Headache"...I think you said "just a Headache". See Headache: Did Arias migraine put brakes on trial?

The problem is Migraines are NOT Headaches. A Headache is one of the many symptoms of a Migraine attack and some people don't even experience a Headache during an attack. The head pain of a Migraine attack can be excruciating. It's throbbing pain that's caused by misfiring of neurons. One of the ways a Migraine differs from other types of head pain is because it's (usually) one-sided.

Migraine is a neurological biological genetic disease. It's a disease just like Diabetes, Epilepsy or Cancer. There is no cure for Migraine but for over 95% of Migraineurs (Migraine sufferers) frequency and intensity can be minimized or even prevented through things like medication or trigger avoidance.

Arias claims she's having Migraine attacks because she's not being provided lunch. I'm not a neurologist and neither are you but, I bet you and I can offer this advice...EAT SOMETHING. If she has another attack during court, instead of recessing court for the day, if she's been prescribed a Triptan (a Migraine-specific medication that comes in various delivery methods such as a tablet, injection, nasal spray and sublingual) use it, and lie down in a dark room for an hour. If this helps, court can resume. If this doesn't help, then the court can decide what the plans are for the remainder of the day. Depending on the specific Triptan, she may be able to take another dose or another treatment can be administered. Many Migraineurs have a treatment plan (both written and unwritten) that outlines what the next step is when their primary method fails. Maybe she should too.

Did Arias have a Migraine attack? Did she have a Headache? Was she faking? We'll never know. I will say this, I know thousands of Migraineurs and, although possible, I have never met anyone who's ONLY symptom of a Migraine attack is a Headache.
Sincerely,
Pam

Love Beats Hate Blogging Event

Bloggers are uniting today to spread the message about how LOVE in online communities triumphs over haters who attack marginalized populations.


For a list of people participating in this blog event go to Linky Tools. For more information check out Chronic Healing.com and Love Beats Hate (Facebook link).

Thoughts of the Day

Picture courtesy of Laurie Avocado

If you think MEDICAL Marijuana has anything to do with south of the border drug cartels, dime bags of weed bought on the street, addiction or gateways drugs -You're wrong and you need to EDUCATE YOURSELF.

Ever wonder why someone using opioids such as Morphine, Demerol or Fentanyl would trade them for MEDICAL Marijuana in a heartbeat if it provided at least the same if not better pain relief?

Ask someone suffering a terminal disease or debilitating chronic pain if they'd use MEDICAL Marijuana if it meant they could be pain free for 10 minutes to do simple things (like standing at the sink washing dishes) you take for granted ever day.

Ask an MS patient with involuntary muscle spasms, an AIDS patient with Wasting Syndrome, or a Chemo patient suffering with severe nausea/vomiting if they think MEDICAL Marijuana has no proven or acceptable medical use.

Before you say anything about SMOKING MEDICAL Marijuana, check out the new delivery systems researchers come up with every day (i.e. Sativex).

And check your facts before you say MEDICAL Marijuana kills. According to FDA data, Marijuana was NOT reported as a primary cause of death at all between January 1,1997 to June 30, 2005.

It's About Time: FDA Finally Approves Botox for Migraine Prevention

Doctors have been using Botox for years to treat chronic Migraine even though it wasn't FDA approved for this disease. As of last Friday, the FDA finally approved it for chronic Migraine prevention.  For those of you who have never tried it because of the cost should now have an easier time getting your health insurance to pay for this treatment.

Botox is a poison that's injected around the head to lessen future head pain. The FDA recommends injections every three months. It doesn't work for everyone but many people have had success with it. If you've never tried it, this might be something to consider.

For more information see FDA approves Botox as a Migraine preventive.

October 2010 Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival - Hobbies and Coping

Check out October's edition of the Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival posted over at Diana Lee's site Somebody Heal Me. The theme for this edition is "How have your hobbies helped you cope with your Headache disorder?"

Don't know what a blog carnival is? A blog carnival is a collection of links to a variety of a blogs on a central topic. The Headache & Migraine Blog Carnival provides both Headache and Migraine Disease patients and people who blog about headache disorders with unique opportunities to share ideas on topics of particular interest and importance to us. Visit this month's carnival for a collection of informative entries on the role hobbies play in those who suffer with Headache disorders or other chronic illnesses.

Having a Hobby Can Help You Cope With Migraine or Any Other Illness

Like others in the same situation I'm in, I lose a lot of time to Migraine Disease and chronic illness. I call this my “downtime”. In addition to being unable to do anything, I used to spend much of this time wondering what I “woulda”, “coulda” and “shoulda” been doing. Just thinking about the dishes piled up in the sink or the grocery shopping that needed to be done drove me crazy.

Over time, I've learned how to manage my time better and incorporate simple things (such as online grocery shopping and bill paying) to free up time on my good days – my “uptime”. Because of this freed up time, I now have time for my hobby.

Wikipedia, says a hobby is:

an activity of interest that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation, typically done during one's leisure time.

On the other hand, Urban Dictionary, says a hobby is:

Something you like enjoy doing until you decide making it your profession...

My definition of a hobby is a combination of both:

“an activity of interest that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation, typically done during one's leisure time” you enjoy “doing until you decide making it your profession”.

If you're considering a hobby, here's some things to keep in mind...

• A lot of people will tell you a hobby is a waste of time. IGNORE THEM.
• A hobby is a good way to learn about something that you didn't know much about before or realize a passion or talent you didn't know you had.
• A hobby can keep your mind active.
• A hobby can help you express your creativity
• Having a hobby is a good way to relax and reduce stress.
• A hobby is a good networking tool – It's a good way to share common interests with others or learn from others with different interests.
• Doing something fun can help reduce depression.
• Some hobbies can reduce the affects of certain physical conditions such as improving strength, dexterity or range of motion.
• A hobby can help manage your pain. The article Hobbies Help Arthritic Hands suggests you do the  activity "immediately after you take your pain medication or at a time of day when you feel better..."  The article offers other suggestions such as using heat treatment before the activity and taking frequent breaks to stretch.

My hobby just kinda happened. I have always enjoyed crocheting but the thought of myself sitting in a rocking chair, surrounded by balls of yarn, doing the granny thing making doilies and potholders drove me nuts.  Fortunately I kept seeing things that inspired me.  Everywhere I went, everything I did, flipping through magazines, on the internet, whatever, wherever...I'd see something and think, "that would make the most awesome afghan". Eventually I was able to block the rocking chair image out of my mind and dive in...

but, THIS AIN'T YOUR GRANNY'S CROCHET.

I make afghans using a technique called “Tunisian Crochet”. Many people consider this to be a cross between knitting and crochet. Unlike traditional crochet, one row of Tunisian is worked in two different passes. Loops are worked on the hook in the first pass and worked off the hook in the second. The work is never turned so the right side is always the facing side.

I prefer making my afghans using a special hook called a flexible afghan hook (Picture on left below). It looks like a regular crochet hook that has a cable on the end so that I can put a lot of loops on the hook. Other people use a very long hook with a stopper on the end . (Top hook in picture on right below.  Bottom hook is a regular one.)

Here are some examples of what I do. My afghans use lots of color changes using a technique similar to Intarsia.

It doesn't matter what your hobby is; paint-by-number, making jewelery, collecting Beanie Babies or bird watching. If it helps you cope with your Headache disorder or other chronic illness, it's worth it.

And finally, to answer the question, “Do you sell those things?” The answer is NO. However I do give them away and I will consider a trade or barter. If you can come up with the idea for my next one, I will make it for you. This is not a joke, game or contest. It's simple, if I like your idea, IT'S YOURS. You can email me, leave me a comment here or contact me on Facebook. If you wish to send me a picture, that's fine too.

New Sunglasses May Help Migraine Sufferers

Industrial Vision Corporation, a manufacturer with 30 years of experience, of ophthalmic and occupational lenses, has come out with a new sunglasses that may help Migraine sufferers. The sunglasses, developed by certified optometrists, designers AND Migraine sufferers, are called MigraShades.

MigraShades are darker than regular sunglasses. The lenses have internal filters to block UVA/UVB and horizontal light waves. Unlike regular sunglasses, these glasses filter blue light and reflective light and eliminate haze and erratic wave lengths.

The benefits of MigraShades are listed HERE and you can order a pair for $139 HERE.

More information can be found in the press release New MigraShades Sunglasses Provide Help For Migraine Sufferers.

School Information Migraine Packs for Students, Parents and Teachers

Please forgive my absence.  My computer blew last September and I'm just getting back to my online life.

Here's some information just in time for school exams.  The Migraine Association of Ireland (MAI) has new downloadable School Information Packs for students (teens), parents and teachers.  The MAI says:

The new Schools Information Pack aims to raise awareness of migraine and how it can affect children's schoolwork and their personal and family lives. The pack also arms parents and students with practical and reliable information about the condition, which will help reduce the significant impact it can have.

Below is the MAI's description of each Information Pack and the location of the download.

Students
The guide for students aims to inform and educate about migraine and also to encourage teenagers to take responsibility for managing their own condition. The booklet contains useful lifestyle tips on reducing the impact of migraine as well as features on famous migraineurs and managing migraine at exam time.
Click HERE for this download.

Parents
In this booklet we highlight the importance of having the condition diagnosed early, so that the effect it has on the child's life can be minimised. We also point out the main differences between migraine in children and adults. Although migraine runs in families, parents sometimes fail to recognise their child's migraine symptoms if they are different to their own.
Parents are of course, their child's immediate source of support. The booklet offers advice for parents in helping their child cope with their migraine attacks, while at the same time recommending that the child takes responsibility for managing their own condition.
Click HERE for this download.

Teachers
The teachers guide to migraine is a short explanation of the condition, how to recognise or even predict it in students and what to do if an attack occurs in the classroom. Because migraine can interfere with a students work throughout their school-life, we also offer advice which may help get the student back to their desk as soon as possible, without having to send the student home.

Migraine attacks can also be triggered by events related to school and its environment and these issues are also covered.
Click HERE for this download.

Wish Your Doctor Had A Migraine?

Ever wish your doctor could experience a Migraine attack just so he/she knows what you're going through?

Richard E. Waltman, MD, family physician in Tacoma, Washington, and a member of Medical Economics' Editorial Advisory Board, says that he does not wish "terrible disease and suffering for all of my colleagues" but makes the following six suggestions to help doctors do a better job:

• Every physician should have to wait for an hour,
• Every physician should have a foley catheter inserted,
• Every physician should go to an out-of-town emergency department at midnight,
• Every physician should get a good case of the flu,
• Every physician should have a scare, and
• Every Physician should have a Migraine

Y'all have to read this: Why every physician should have a migraine

BRAVO Dr. Waltman!

Cindy McCain's Migraine Secret

You may want to check this out...

Friday's issue of People magazine will contain an interview with Cindy McCain (wife of U.S. Senator and former GOP presidential candidate John McCain) about her struggle with severe Migraines.

McCain said when she first explained what her Migraine pain felt like to her husband, John, she described it with a word he would understand -- "torture".   McCain says,

Being tied to a chair for four days. I can't imagine how unbearable that pain must have been, but yeah, I can, because a migraine may come close.

McCain is trying to raise awareness about Migraine Disease and will be addressing the International Headache Congress on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia.
 
For more information click Cindy McCain's Secret Struggle with Migraines.

Free Migraine Medication for the Unemployed

If you've lost your job this year (since January 1), are uninsured and have been using a Pfizer medication for at least 3 months, you may be eligible for Pfizer's FREE medicine program. Starting Thursday, you can call 866-706-2400 toll-free to sign up for this program. Starting July 1, you'll be able to apply online on the Pfizer Helpful Answers website. This site is available now and has a lot of information about this and other Pfizer aid programs.

If you've lost your job, you'll have to sign a statement confirming you are suffering financial hardship and provide a notice from your employer confirming your job loss. Pfizer is accepting applications through December 31 and will provide you with your medication until you get insurance again - up to 12 months.

This program consists of over 70 medications including antiseizure medications, antidepressants and heart medications, used to prevent Migraine. They also manufacture Relpax, the Triptan used to abort an acute Migraine attack as well as various other medications a Migraine sufferer uses.

For more information click HERE.

Dear Migraine Friends...

Dear All My Well-Intentioned Friends,

Yes, I did receive the article you emailed me (all 47 of them) about how losing weight can "cure" my Migraines. I was so thrilled to receive it, that I wrote about it.

I want you to know, I was just as thrilled to receive the article, "The art of the bra", you emailed me about having the correct bra size and how it would help my Migraines.

How smart to think that this may be my Migraine "cure". Although I do have to say, there was no mention of the word "cure" in this article. It does say that wearing the wrong bra can be a health issue. It also says wearing the wrong size bra can cause neck, shoulder and/or back pain. So, this type of pain can trigger a headache that could possibly trigger a Migraine.

As always, I'm adding this information to my special folder (you know, the one with the cute little picture of a trashcan on it) that has all the other Migraine information you've sent. I don't know what I'd do without all the articles about losing weight, drinking Noni Juice, having surgery on my forehead muscle, having a hysterectomy, eliminating stress, getting more exercise, getting pregnant and the hundreds of other Migraine cures you've sent me.
Love,
Me

Migraine and Migraine-Related News from the AAN: American Academy of Neurology Meeting

The AAN: American Academy of Neurology is currently holding their annual meeting. Although the meeting does not until tomorrow, May 2, here's news they have already released.

Preventive Drugs Reduce Severity of Menstrual Migraine
SEATTLE, April 29 -- Preventive eletriptan (Relpax) and sumatriptan (Imitrex) may reduce the severity and duration of menstrual migraine, researchers here said....
To read the entire article click HERE.

Stroke Risk Cut 65% in Patients Who Hit Major Risk Factor Targets
SEATTLE, April 29 -- Patients who meet guideline targets for "good" and "bad" cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure can expect a 65% reduction in stroke risk, according to research presented here....
To read the entire article click HERE.

Glutamate Receptor Inhibitors May Help Migraine
SEATTLE, April 30 -- Inhibition of glutamate receptors may play a role in migraine treatment, researchers here said...
To read the entire article click HERE.

Epilepsy Drug Not Effective for Chronic Headache
SEATTLE, April 30 -- The epilepsy drug levetiracetam (Keppra) does not appear to be effective for prevention of chronic daily headache, researchers said here...
To read the entire article click HERE.

Migraine Million Campaign This Mother's Day

May 10th is Mother's Day. It's also the launch day of the National Headache Foundation’s Migraine Million campaign. This campaign is to:

...raise awareness about the genetic link associated with migraine and encourage people to talk to their moms during the holiday to uncover potential clues about their own headaches and ultimately get the care they need.

The Migraine Million campaign is asking for a $1 (or more) donation to show the woman/women (mom, sister, friend, etc.) in your life you care about her and her well being and you take her Headaches and Migraines seriously. In return for letting this person know she's "one in a million", you'll receive a card to email or download so that you can let her know you've made a donation in her honor.

Migraine Disease is genetic. The National Headache Foundation says if you have a relative with Migraine you have a 20% chance of having it too. If you have one parent with Migraine you have a 50% chance of having these attacks and if both your parents have Migraine, then you have a 75% of having them.

For more information click HERE.
To make a donation click HERE.

Chronic Pain Patients Experience Anxiety -- UH...REALLY?!?!

A recent study of 125 patients seeking treatment for chronic pain analyzed the role of anxiety on everyday functioning and found:

...individuals with high levels of anxiety due to chronic pain exhibit more emotional distress and disability.

Do we really need a study to tell us this?!?!
To read about this study click HERE.

Please Help to Get Better Migraine Treatment

The Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA) is asking for our support for their second "Headache on the Hill" (HOH), to be held February 23 and 24, 2009.  This HOH will be similar to the first one held in September, 2007 and is

...intended to bring headache clinical and research specialists and patient advocate leaders to Washington, DC to educate members of Congress and their staffs about the problem of NIH under-funding of headache research and to suggest remedies. 

Last spring, emails, prompted by the AHDA, sent by us Migraineurs and our friends and family, to state Senators and House Members had a very positive impact and

...led to the adoption of the House and Senate report language that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently responding to.

You can help by signing up for AHDA "Action Alerts" emails.  When the AHDA needs help they will send you an "Action Alert" and ask for your support by doing things such as contacting your state Senators and House Members.  The AHDA provides a letter for you to use that is already written.  If you'd like, you can personalize it.  The email is automatically sent to your state representatives without you having to go to the trouble of looking up their contact information.  Sending an email will take you less than 10 minutes.

I know you understand how important this is so please take a few minutes and sign up for "Action Alerts" now. 

For more information please click HERE to go to this MyMigraineConnection article written by Teri Robert. 

Click HERE to go to the AHDA's site.
To join the AHDA mailing list click HERE.

Topical NSAID Cream Being Tested in Clinical Trial

Transdel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s topical NSAID cream, Ketotransdel® (a form of Ketoprofen), is currently being tested in a phase 3 clinical trial. Ketotransdel® uses the patented proprietary Transdel™ drug delivery system. This cream is for the treatment of acute pain and is applied directly to the skin. It has been shown to relieve inflammation and provide an analgesic effect.

All medications come with the risk of side-effects. Some of the (often dangerous) side-effects that are known to be associated with NSAID tablets are gastrointestinal, renal and cardiovascular problems. The use of this cream may minimize the risk of these side-effects. According to THIS Therapeutics Daily article:

...over one hundred thousand patients are hospitalized each year due to orally administered NSAID-related gastro-intestinal (GI) complications. That is because when one takes a pill, it passes from the GI tract into the bloodstream and organs, exposing one to cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic systemic effects.

Medications applied to the skin may still expose the bloodstream and organs to side-effects and complications. However, the exposure is much less than if used orally. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Medication Guide for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) provides additional information on this type of medication and it's side-effects.

If all goes well in the clinical trials, Ketotransdel® may be the first FDA-approved topical NSAID cream. To read the article on this click HERE. And click HERE for Transdel Pharmaceutical's product page.

Increase Risk of Migraine and Headache in Overweight People

I just read this article, Obesity may raise headache risk and can't wait until everyone I know emails it to me. (Yeah, right.) If you're a Migraineur you know what I'm talking about. By the end of the day, you'll have 47 copies of this same thing.

This article cites a research study that examined the

...association between body mass index (BMI), the ratio between the weight range an individual falls into, and headache among men and women, 20 years of age or older, who participated in the 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

(You can calculate your BMI HERE.)

Before you send me this article, please read it again. The article doesn't say being overweight causes Migraine but says being fat (that's what us un-politically correct people call it) "may increase the likelihood" of Migraine or severe headaches.

And before you go around thinking that if you gain a few (or more) pounds you're going to start having Migraine attacks and/or severe headaches, read this part again:

An increased prevalence of headache may be associated with being underweight as well.

In other words, being skinny may also increase the likelihood of Migraine or severe headaches. However, there were only 152 (2%) skinny people out of the 7,601 study participants so this needs to be investigated further.

The article goes on to say that for those who are overweight:

...weight management might be a useful approach in headache management

So, to all 47 of you who are planning on emailing this article to me with a note that says losing weight will CURE my Migraines...please DON'T.

Migraine Medication for A Headache? No! No! No!

Most Migraineurs know that a Migraine attack is NOT a bad headache. We know that Migraine is a neurological genetic disease similar to Epilepsy. And we know that some of us don't even experience the headache phase during a Migraine attack. Recognizing the difference between head pain associated with a Migraine attack and head pain associated with a headache is difficult for some.

I've been writing a lot lately in the Migraine support group that I co-moderate about distinguishing between the two. I've discussed how to tell the difference between pain that accompanies a Migraine attack and the pain that accompanies a headache. And I've explained why it's important we make this distinction.

One reason why it's important to know these differences is because treatment for Migraine is not the same as headache treatment. For example, using a Migraine-specific medication probably won't do any good for someone who doesn't have Migraines.

The president of the German Pain Aid Association, Ruediger Fabian, now gives another reason why you shouldn't use Migraine-specific medication for the treatment of a headache. Fabian says if you do this, you risk chronic 'pseudo-migraines'. He says:

Even the occasional use of migraine medications by someone without migraines is potentially harmful

and goes on to say

The reactions depend on the person, but they can intensify ordinary headaches

Fabian said the first symptom of an overdose of Migraine-specific medication is "a sour-tasting expulsion of gas from the stomach". Ewwwwww! I'm not sure, but I guess that means a sour-tasting "burp".

He also said those who suffer less than 100 days a year with headaches (He didn't say Migraine) who occasionally didn't get relief from their standard medication could use extra pain medication once in a while.

Source: Migraine medication unsuitable for ordinary headaches

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?