MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'healthtalk'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:12:18 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195234&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fkeeping-updated-on-life-with-crohns-disease%2F Hello Everyone! Welcome to Everyday Health!  You may or may not know that HealthTalk joined the Everyday Health Network back in October, 2008. All of the HealthTalk content (including blogs) has been integrated into EverydayHealth.com.   This is good news because being part of Everyday Health will allow the HealthTalk blogs to reach a larger audience and provide access to unique content that is found on EverydayHealth.com that was not previously found on HealthTalk. If you’ve been with us since the HealthTalk days, know that these blogs contain all our old posts.  If  you’ve never read this blog before, welcome! Everything will pretty much remain the same except we are now on the Everyday Health web site.  I will try to keep the blog interesting and would love to hear of ... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195234 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:01:03 +0100 2195234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260485&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer-welcome-to-my-new-home%2F Breast cancer is a point of transformation and change for most of us that have been diagnosed with it. Someone sent me a quote with an e-mail last week and it had a profound effect on me. “The caterpillar thought her life was over; Then she turned into a butterfly” -Unknown There is something wonderful about change and the newness it brings. Even those of us that resist change are often pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I am not one that likes change, but I have had huge changes in my life and have learned to embrace them all and eventually relish my new direction. Our world is upset and redirected as we battle breast cancer and then try to get our lives back. That quote affected me for that reason. A breast cancer diagnosis doesn’t speak about starting a new life; it threatens to... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260485 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:22:11 +0100 2260485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195240&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fchrista-life-with-psoriasis%2Fthe-self-fulfilling-psoriasis-flares%2F Writers are always being told “write what you know,” and obviously that is the basic and rather brilliant idea behind HealthTalk blogging. We live with these conditions and therefore are best qualified to write about life with whatever health condition, in my case psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The thing is that with chronic conditions we may have periods where nothing much is happening for us and our condition is either reasonably well managed or simply behaving itself, so what do we write about during those times? Usually I look to see what the support groups are talking about, what’s in the news, what is happening or of concern to other people I know who have psoriasis…including members of my own family. This means that sometimes I may write about things that I a... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195240 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:21:55 +0100 2195240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195223&cid=t_167114_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fcaregiver-jeff%2Ffarewell-caregivers%2F I am sad to say, I am hanging up my blogger hat after 18 months to make way for some fresh perspective for another caregiver. I have really enjoyed sharing my views and experiences caring for Pops with the HealthTalk audience during these past months, but it’s time to relinquish the forum to some of the other caregiver voices out there. There is a near-infinite variety of caregiver situations and mine and Pops’s is just one, and frankly I have pretty much exhausted what I have to say. In fact, when I looked back on my 18 months of blog entries, I can’t help notice some of them are remarkably similar. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. One of the singular aspects of caregiving is you find yourself doing a lot of the same stuff over and over again. From a personal standpoint, I think ... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195223 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:18:48 +0100 2195223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2138220&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthe-other-side-of-embryonic-stem-cell-research%2F It is hard to watch people suffer. I think most people are sensitive and empathetic to the pain of others. When something is available that can alleviate that suffering, or reverse a traumatic injury, or eliminate a condition that is debilitating, we want to support and grasp for it. That is the promise that our society is looking for in embryonic stem cell research. I truly understand that. As much as I want to see people healed and perfected, I personally struggle with that outcome coming at the expense of human life. I personally wonder about the ethics of sacrificing the one we have not seen for one we love. For me as a Christian that question has been answered; we treasure all life in all forms, including the unborn. My equality of man then extends to the point of conception. That mea... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2138220 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:59:09 +0100 2138220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2129417&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fnatural-solutions-to-obtain-a-good-nights-sleep%2F The affect of light on sleep: As many of you who are frequent readers know, I have a love/hate relationship with sunlight. One of the early signs of my autoimmune disease was a reaction to sunlight exhibited in the form of an itchy rash in exposed areas. In spite of my personal problems with the sun, which involve daily sunscreen all year long, I do realize the importance the sun plays in our health; not just providing us with much needed Vitamin D but various roles relating to sleep. I also, quite incidentally, have a wonderful collection of hats which are often used. My daughter, Beth, and I took a trip to Finland ten years ago to visit an old friend. It was midsummer there in the north country and it was dark for only about two hours each night, if that. My friend did not cover the win... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2129417 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:39:19 +0100 2129417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2129415&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ffibromyalgia-treatment-update-savella-milnacipran-approved-tricyclic-antidepressants-validated%2F Two major pieces of news for people afflicted by fibromyalgia have appeared in the past few weeks; namely, the FDA approval of Savella (milnacipran), the third drug to receive federal backing for fibromyalgia, and the publication of a major meta-analysis in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which confirmed that antidepressant medications (including Savella) can improve pain, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and quality of life. Of note, however, is that the JAMA report also concluded that older medications, called tricyclic antidepressants, are most effective for treating fibromyalgia, even though they are not FDA approved for such use. It is often the case that older and now generic medications, such as the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline, ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2129415 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:37:14 +0100 2129415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2122060&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-requires-routine%2F We’ve been nothing here at Life with MS if not totally and unabashedly up front, open and even personal.  In that vein, I’m going to get even more personal with you than I ever have been before; today I’ll talk about hygiene. I’ve come to realize that in certain things in my day, things that most people just don’t even think about doing, that my auto-pilot is broken.  You know the type of things I’m talking about; how many of us think about how we are brushing our teeth, for example? I’ve found over the past years that if I don’t do everything in an exact order in the morning, I just forget to do it. We’re used to our minds being on the day ahead when showering, for instance.  Now, however, if I let my mind wander to my day ahead, I ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2122060 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:24:28 +0100 2122060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2112485&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fms-and-clinical-trials-a-call-for-questions%2F I am preparing for a multiple sclerosis webcast that will happen in early February.  The topic for this conversation will be phase III clinical trials and I’ll have guests from around the country join us to talk about many aspects of this subject. As always, I want to make sure that “real” questions and concerns are addressed during the webcast and I’d like to know your questions about clinical trials. What would you like to know?  Let me put that another way: If you were sitting in a room with two well renowned MS researchers and a person living with MS who has been in a phase III clinical trial, what would you ask them? Some of my questions are: How do you get into a trial?  What are the risks?  Do I have to stop using my current drugs? What would you ask? Thi... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2112485 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:17:44 +0100 2112485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2107983&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fms-recipe-for-success-i-need-your-help%2F For nearly two years now, in response to your requests, I have taken one post every month to share a healthful cooking tip and, perhaps, a recipe.  We’ve talked about foods that are good for us.  We’ve shared recipes new and old.  We’ve even dredged up an ancient food for you to try.  All of this in an effort to keep us well as we try to get on with this life with multiple sclerosis. I’m the Chef, so many of you looked to me to lead the discussion and offer ideas.  I have no problem with that.  I now need your help. As you’ll recall from my New Year’s resolution post, I’ve got to lose some weight.  I haven’t been able to exercise properly for almost two years with that old dying hip so I’ve got a little extra around the middle (a... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2107983 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:24:25 +0100 2107983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2095171&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fms-treatment-and-hair-loss%2F Has multiple sclerosis got you pulling out your hair…in clumps? Over the past month or so, I’ve noted several comments, mostly from folks on Tysabri, about hair loss. As a person not yet on this drug therapy (but considering it, intently) I want to know more; and I’m sure our other readers do as well. Novantrone, a chemotherapy drug used on some forms of cancer as well as MS, has a listed side effect of minor hair loss. When on a regular dosing schedule (every 3 months) I found a few more of my ever-graying tresses in the shower drain but not so much to be alarmed. Besides, as I said, some shedding was expected. These anecdotal reports of unexpected follicular abandonment while on an MS drug are of concern to me. Not for the reasons of vanity. While I feel lucky to have a... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2095171 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:23:07 +0100 2095171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2092995&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-chronic-pain-patient-and-the-handymen%2F We live differently, those of us who have chronic pain. Some of us get up later, go to bed earlier or later than the average person, and definitely march to the beat of a different drummer. Over the years, I have had to deal with many handymen, plumbers, painters, electricians and yard guys. Perhaps, I’m more grumpy than the average person, but it really ticks me off when I drag my sore body out of bed extra early on a cold morning due to an appointment with one of these persons (to be politically correct, we have had one female painter and the meter reader is also a woman.) I have to take my pills earlier than usual, have to eat with the pills, take a bath and get dressed. There I am, waiting for the pills to kick in before said arrival and they don’t come, I wait some more an... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2092995 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:36:05 +0100 2092995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090244&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fhappy-new-year-hows-your-ms-today%2F A Happy 2009, everyone! I know an awful lot of folks who were happy to see 2008 fade away and look forward (with justified trepidation) to a fresh start. Each month, we take the first Wednesday’s post to catch up with one another about our life with multiple sclerosis. We’ve used the space to tell of symptoms, relapses, triumphs and setbacks. We share coping skills, and we lament our losses. It’s also a chance, I find, to regularly check in with myself. As we all know, MS can slip ever so slowly into our daily routine. If I didn’t take time each month for this posting, I know I would have missed some things until much further into the symptom. What I’d like for all of us to do this first Wednesday of ‘09 is to think back, not only over the past months bu... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090244 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:42:30 +0100 2090244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090242&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-aching-loneliness-of-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F I’m describing an old Wagnerian opera. In this scenario, I’m the aging, not too fat lady with the round prednisone face and the guy in the lederhosen and the suspenders with the somewhat Nazi attitude; he would be my doctor. In the stories and plays, loneliness is always described in such grandiose scale. They talk about being a bird in a gilded cage. There’s nothing gilded about my life. They talk about ivory towers; hardly the case. Those of us who have had our bodies and our lives altered by daily pain and illness, we know. If you’re reading this and you don’t live with those things, then it may sound like whining to you. If you think I should just shut up and find a corner to sit in, well, it’s time to put down your mouse and find another site. If yo... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090242 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:35:05 +0100 2090242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090241&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fhealthy-weight-week-january-18-24-2009%2F It’s the first full week of January and for many people that means starting a new diet. And for many of them the next week, the second week of January, will be when they “blow” their diet and go back to square one (and if not that week, shortly thereafter). That’s why the Healthy Weight Network sponsors Healthy Weight Week during the third week in January, which this year is January 18-24. The Network was started by Francis M. “Francie” Berg, MS, a licensed nutritionist, family wellness specialist and adjunct professor at the University of North Dakota some 16 years ago and they’ve been sponsoring this annual event ever since. According to their website, Healthy Weight Week “is a time to celebrate healthy living habits that last a lifetime a... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090241 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:15:39 +0100 2090241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090243&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fnew-years-resolutions-and-crohns-disease%2F Happy New Year, all! Wow, I cannot believe that it is 2009 already. I hope that you took some time off during the holidays and were able to relax. I took almost two weeks off and for the first time in a few years, was able to relax and enjoy myself. Of course, a few nights my family had no dinner prepared for them because I was too busy playing video games and reading books (which usually never happen). But my family managed without the prepared food just fine (there is a lesson in here somewhere I think…). My sister and her family were here until the 29th and it was so great to see them and hang out (at our house for once!). We lived in Europe for the last 5.5 years but now that we have a house in the United States, it is easier for people to come and stay with us. We are very happy... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090243 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:00:11 +0100 2090243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2084356&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Flife-with-ms-book-club-examing-the-intro-to-the-the-last-lecture%2F Happy New Year to you, one and all!!! Normally we end the month, like we have for the past couple of years now, with our book club blog. This month we’ll begin with the book club blog post. If you recall we are reading “The Last Lecture.” We begin our journey with the late Randy Pausch, former professor at Carnegie Mellon University. We call this an “MS Book Club” but this book has nothing directly referring to multiple sclerosis. Rather it is a tome on how to achieve one’s childhood dreams. Our assignment for this month was to read the introduction and chapters I & II. This is a very personal look into the wishes of a dying man and how he plucked up the courage to take many of his last hours away from his family in order to invest them in something... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2084356 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:57:05 +0100 2084356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075154&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ffootball-and-breast-cancer-research%2F This is football season, and football inspires me. It’s not just because my son plays football either. I am a huge fan, and believe it or not I played a lot of it growing up in a northern Ontario mining town, mostly because there weren’t enough boys to make two teams. I was the one who taught my son, The Big Guy, to play when he was too big to play little league; which is ironic when you look at the size of pro football players. And, I can still throw a mean spiral. The truth is that I am actually inspired more by the losers than the winners. I have a whole repertoire of plays from previous super bowl games that I can recount, where the losing team performed heroic feats. Here in metro Detroit we have a huge opportunity for inspiration from our football team. The Detroit Lions ended th... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075154 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:49:03 +0100 2075154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075151&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fgardening-is-good-exercise%2F New research has found that gardening is an effective way to exercise. Researchers at Kansas State University determined that gardening is a form of “moderate intensity” exercise that can easily contribute to the exercise recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which advises at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week in order to maintain and improve optimal health. This recommendation is especially important for older Americans, who can be less likely to fulfill this requirement, yet are more at risk for chronic diseases associated with aging. Moderate intensity exercise is physical activity that causes an increase in breathing or heart rate and is typified by such things as walking, cycling, swimming or even ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075151 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:45:12 +0100 2075151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075155&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-enough-ever-enough-in-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F As the unsinkable Molly Brown would say, “UNCLE, UNCLE.” Don’t you hate those days when enough is enough already? Any of us who live with chronic pain every “friggin’” day of our lives know, it is never enough. Something is always coming at you down the plank of life. What I would give, some days, just to have one day without pain, one day without some infection raging somewhere in my body or some other painful reminder that I am not whole, healthy or “normal.” I’m afraid this condition we all live with is something that’s anathema to others. How can someone who wakes in the morning tired but sated from sleep know what it is like for those of us who awake from a dream state to “this.” I don’t see this as self-pit... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075155 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:02:42 +0100 2075155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075157&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fan-old-tradition-reminds-us-that-it-could-be-worse%2F In countries of Gaelic history, especially in Ireland and even more especially in the south of County Kerry, a pre-Christian tradition took place last week, which is not only charming but charitable to an exceptional degree. It’s called The Wren’s Day. I was fortunate to be invited (or more correctly, allowed) to join in the revelry of the day in tiny Dingle Town a couple of years back while living in the county. A sweet lass from the town who was writing her doctoral dissertation on the tradition befriended me in a pub one eve and bid me to join her “wren”. The wren, a notoriously treacherous bird of lore, was once hunted and nailed to a pike which would lead a procession (the wren was not only to have betrayed St. Stephen but also old Irish soldiers in their fight... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075157 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:48:30 +0100 2075157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075152&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ftop-hangover-remedies%2F On New Year’s Eve many people party like there’s no tomorrow, and when New Year’s Day rolls in they often wish it hadn’t. Head pounding, cotton-mouthed, nauseated, sensitive to light and sound, they are suffering from the classic, but poorly understood, syndrome called hangover. Neither the cause nor the treatment of hangover is fully known. Some people suffer the ill effects of alcohol after only one or two drinks while others can drink like a fish without incident. And so-called hangover cures abound. Just ask anyone you know, everyone’s got their favorite (that they no doubt heard from someone else like in a game of telephone where the original message gets distorted the more times it’s repeated - but in this case even the initial recommendation is so... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075152 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:26:36 +0100 2075152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075153&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fchristmas-trees-and-allergies-a-survival-guide%2F It’s been a wild and wooly holiday season in the greater Seattle area this year with temperatures below freezing and lots of snow on the ground - both distinctly unusual phenomena in this neck of the woods. The roads have often been impassable and there’ve been widespread power outages, which have caused us to spend a lot of time at home, hunkered down by the fire and the Christmas tree. This in turn led me to recall a piece I wrote a year ago about Christmas trees and allergies, which I thought I’d reprise for today, December 25. Both real and artificial Christmas trees can cause problems for some people with allergies. It’s not known how many people suffer from Christmas tree-related allergies. But if you find yourself with a runny nose, itchy eyes or maybe even i... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075153 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:40:08 +0100 2075153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2061699&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fholiday-myths-debunked%2F Are the following claims true or false? Excess sugar causes hyperactive children Poinsettias are poisonous Suicides increase over the holidays Eating at night makes you fat Going hatless causes excess heat loss According to Drs. Rachel Vreeman and Aaron Carroll, both of the Indiana University School of Medicine, none of these commonly held beliefs has any scientific basis and must therefore be considered false. Writing in the British Medical Journal, http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/dec17_2/a2769 the two pediatricians searched both the published medical literature and the internet for support of the claims but found hard evidence lacking. Since everyone knows that sugar gives us energy, it seems logical to think that excess sugar would result in excess energy. Not true according t... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2061699 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:01:01 +0100 2061699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2061700&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Flow-on-energy-but-spurred-on-by-yuletide-spirit%2F This will be my only blog post this week. I’m taking a day off to enjoy the holidays, that is, if we’re able to have one. We are experiencing the biggest snow storm in a decade here in the great Northwest which they are calling an Arctic Blast and right now, nothing is moving out there. The reporters are saying it is the third largest storm in the Northwest since 1940. My intrepid husband is moving out there and my son-in-law walked to work today. Jim took my car to work at the jail this morning because his was frozen over and I do have studded tires. I think he may have even put on a jacket once or twice for this storm. It must be a Christmas miracle. Thankfully, we still have power. My heart skips a beat every time the lights flicker off and on. The snow is beautiful as it cl... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2061700 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:40:58 +0100 2061700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2061701&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fsnowstorms-and-our-multiple-sclerosis-teach-us-a-valuable-lesson%2F I was a Boy Scout (be prepared). I spent several years in the U.S. Coast Guard (Semper Paratus: Always Ready). I now live with a disease that can, and oft does, change from day to day (multiple sclerosis). Might as well use what you have… We’ve had the most snow (that has stuck around for over five days now, and there is over a foot of white in my gardens) than I can ever remember here in Seattle. No big deal; I was ready for it…or at least able to adapt a little better than some of my neighbors. Every morning, we’ve been up early, sweeping, shoveling, clearing and salting our walkways and paths for the dogs. We’ve plenty of fresh food on hand, and the cars were winter tuned and fueled before the storm ever hit. I will admit, however, to delay in the mounting ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2061701 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:04:47 +0100 2061701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053364&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fanticipating-breast-cancer-treatment-is-a-little-like-anticipating-a-snowstorm%2F For a couple of days, we have been anticipating a huge snowstorm in Southeast Michigan; it arrived after midnight. I grew up in Northern Ontario, so snowstorms don’t scare me. I have the right amount of respect for the havoc they can cause; actually at 16 I did my drivers test for my license in a snowstorm. The worst thing about a storm is the anticipation, which is true for most things. When I found out that I had breast cancer, my worst fear was of the side effects of chemotherapy. Most of us have heard the horror stories about sickness from chemo. I willed myself to stop thinking it would be horrible and anticipate that I would be fine through treatment. I don’t know if that is what helped, but I can assure you that chemotherapy, although tough, did not cause me more than a ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053364 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:54:25 +0100 2053364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053366&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fsolitude-a-side-effect-of-ms%2F There are physical and chemical reasons a person with multiple sclerosis should be ever vigilant for symptoms of depression. Our disease itself can cause imbalance in the central nervous system (CNS) which is known to bring on symptoms of clinical depression. Additionally, for those taking many of the disease-modifying therapies, drug-induced depression is listed as potential side effect on several MS medications. We, and those in our most intimate circles, must observe and be aware of this ever-present reality. There’s something else about MS which can and does open the door to depression: solitude. By definition, solitude is a state of being solitary (alone). I propose that it isn’t just aloneness, which can be a smoldering punk. Limited or reduced social activity can also le... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053366 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:52:16 +0100 2053366 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053365&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-christmas-clock%2F It has hung on that wall for over 100 years. Each new owner of the old, dignified and somewhat decrepit house has agreed to leave it where it is; hanging in the entry hall. Day in and day out it chimes the hour, tick tocks the moments and gathers dust. Some of the dust, deep in its walnut crevices is as old as the clock. The wood has been both buffed and nourished with bee’s wax, lemon oil and in more recent years, spray bottles of Pledge. The keys have been turned by hands young and old; clean and soiled; caring and dutiful. The etched glass of its cover was finely detailed with tiny holly leaves and berries with bits of Christmas ivy intertwined. The humans who live with the clock have long sense taken it for granted. It is there. It ticks. It chimes. It marks the days, hours and m... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053365 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:30:24 +0100 2053365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047802&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwishing-you-peace-and-contentment-in-a-stressful-world%2F In my life, it seems like breast cancer opened a Pandora’s box of trouble and turmoil. The thing is that most of it is unrelated to breast cancer, I just use the diagnosis as a marker for the start of an even more difficult journey then the one that lead me to that point in my life. Breast cancer itself is a remarkable and terrifying opponent. It is greater than ourselves yet challenges us to grow and toughen up. Although I had personal strife with finances and family, when I was diagnosed and begun battling the disease, the world was not falling apart. I think of women now who are being told that they have breast cancer, I know exactly the feelings and questions that come to them with that blow. What I can’t imagine is how much more scary it is to wonder if you can deal with t... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047802 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:58:50 +0100 2047802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047804&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fwhat-would-you-do-for-a-cure-for-ms%2F Allow me to first apologize for my spotty postings as of late. Caryn and I have been fighting a particularly virulent strain of rhinovirus this past couple of weeks, and it had us pretty far down. I’ve reached bottom and think I’m better today than yesterday; it’s a start. During all this coughing, hacking and sneezing, I’ve still been doing my physical therapy rehab: leg lifts, squatting exercises, all the fun stuff. It got me to thinking about how much effort I’m putting in after the fact of hip replacement. The docs have done everything they can; now it’s my turn. Anything I get back from here on out is all up to me. What about my multiple sclerosis? I know that many of us (and I’m one, don’t think I’m pointing fingers) don’t ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047804 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:32:20 +0100 2047804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2040512&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-naughty-and-nice-of-life-with-chronic-pain%2F If you’re from the Southwest, you may know the expression, “We like a little vinegar in our greens.” That’s the way this life is, this one with chronic pain. It’s definitely spicy, tangy and certainly not boring. There are some days I long for boring; then other days, I am so tired of laying around due to misery that I feel like my brain will atrophy, turn to dust and blow out my ears. I find that my brain and my heart, the “nice” parts of me are more powerful than that “naughty” part of me, my disease. George Lucas, you would be proud of me, I have found the “Force” more powerful than lousy DNA, degenerating joints and hurt. All of us report days of “nice” when we function better than other days. It often depend... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2040512 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:48:44 +0100 2040512 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2040511&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcancer-and-the-true-meaning-of-beauty%2F I had to get a passport photo this weekend. When I was handed the processed picture, I couldn’t believe it was me, it was the worst picture I have ever taken. For the record, I take great driver’s license and passport photos, I have just been lucky - until now. Fortunately the girl doing the picture grabbed it from me and said “We can’t have this, this is awful.” At least she realized it wasn’t a true likeness of me. Imagine my surprise then when after having me pose a second time she handed me back what looked like the exact same picture and exclaimed that it was much better. I asked her how it was better and she replied that the shine was gone. So I have a horrible picture to submit for my passport, and what’s worse is that apparently it looks li... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2040511 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:53:19 +0100 2040511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2033848&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fa-cure-without-access-is-not-a-cure%2F I read an article the other day stating that by 2010, cancer will overcome heart disease as the leading killer in the world. I believe that by 2010 we will have a cure for many types of cancer, but no one will be able to afford it. Oh, Canadians and most Europeans will be Ok, as will Australia and other countries that offer universal access to healthcare, but the United States of America and most third world countries will still see many of their people die from cancer because people cannot afford the healthcare to get treatment. In our battle against cancer, access to diagnosis and treatment is key! This is why there is a whole division of the American Cancer Society that is working to promote universal healthcare for all Americans. What good is a cure if not everyone can receive it? I co... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2033848 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:29:45 +0100 2033848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2033850&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fhealthy-recipe-warm-lentil-dip%2F For over a year now we’ve shared a recipe for success each month. This means we offer a low cal, high flavor easy to make recipe. It’s not our most popular post, but I like the idea and as was stated in last month’s posting you seem to as well. You even want more, and we’re working on that… This month, with the holidays upon us, I thought I’d break out an old favorite of mine that makes for easy and tasteful addition to any holiday cocktail party buffet. There are only a few ingredients and in less than half an hour of “work” you’ll have a great dish people will be swarming you for the recipe. Warm Lentil Dip 1 cup lentils (I like red for this time of year, but any would work) 1 medium onion, diced 2 ½ cups water or vegetable stock (di... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2033850 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:40:06 +0100 2033850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027970&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fhomeopathy-is-a-scam%2F Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that was made up 200 years ago by a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann who was trying to improve on the then current medical practice of blood letting. But while homeopathy is usually less dangerous than blood letting, which was fatal to many of its patients, including most likely, George Washington, it is equally as effective. By which I mean to say categorically that it’s equally ineffective, which is why it might be dangerous - if truly effective medication is either not sought or refused. Homeopathy is based on the notion that “like cures like” - that a little of something causing illness would somehow cure it (and we’ll talk later about what is meant in homeopathy by the word “little,” which is more ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027970 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:42:10 +0100 2027970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027972&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fchristmas-past-can-enrich-christmas-present%2F Many of you have shared with us your traditions, animal stories and methods of saving your health during the holidays. They have been great stories, innovative ideas and many chuckles, also. Sometimes I think we share more deeply or at least as deeply when we laugh together as when we cry together. I thought it would be life affirming to share some of our special holiday memories. You know, those times that remain in our hearts and minds and stand out when the word “Christmas” is mentioned? How about if I start things off by sharing a few of my memories with all of you? As the youngest of four daughters, I remember we always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve. We had a big dinner, from which I figured out later, my dad always had to excuse himself for some reason; then he would ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027972 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:33:18 +0100 2027972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2018242&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fdrop-everything-i-have-multiple-sclerosis%2F As we all wind down from the Thanksgiving holiday (it’s my all-time favorite and I “do it up” so it takes a while to wind down), I’ve been noticing an unsettling bit of new multiple sclerosis in my life. I’m dropping everything! In one day early this week, I dropped a sauté pan half-full of hot food, three glasses (breaking only one) several writing implements and a score of small, thin objects. After a day like that, I took notice. In the years prior to diagnosis, while like many of you suffering symptoms that I simply ignored, I must have broken a small fortune in stemware. I just thought I was clumsy…okay maybe I was that too. I now know, however, that this is the ol’ MS at work. I’m paying much closer attention to every little thing I ho... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2018242 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:35:26 +0100 2018242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2013912&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-week-before-christmas%2F T’was just a week before Christmas, When all through the house Nothing was done I felt like a louse. The stockings were dirty No chimney we had But I knew St. Nick Would come, like a good dad. The dogs were nestled All snug in our bed While visions of rawhides Danced in their heads. Wearing my fleece nightie I just couldn’t sleep, While out of my hubby There wasn’t a peep. I tossed and I turned Lists filled up my mind With goodies to bake I wondered what kind? I knew that my energy Would just go so far So I had to decide What was spectacular? Strudel spread with jam and raisins, Fudge rich with chocolate and nuts, Lemon bars that bite the tongue, Maybe a cake thick with coconut? The prime rib was in the freezer Since I’d bought it on sale, To be served with creamed potatoes, Root v... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2013912 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:13:07 +0100 2013912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2013913&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fdecember-check-in-how-is-your-crohns-today%2F Hello, everyone! I hope that you made it through the Thanksgiving holiday better than I did. It is time for another installment of “How is your Crohn’s today?” and I want to hear how all of you are and how your holiday went. The day started out badly for me because I woke up with cramping and diarrhea and spent most of the morning on the toilet. I even told my husband that I wanted to stay home because I was really not feeling well and couldn’t imagine eating or socializing and was thinking that I wouldn’t mind being alone in my misery. We were going over to his parent’s house to celebrate with his family and some friends. But, of course, he told me that I cannot be all alone on Thanksgiving, so I reminded myself of all that I am thankful for and tried t... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2013913 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:30:09 +0100 2013913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011652&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fdecember-edition-hows-your-ms-today%2F “The sun is shining, the grass is green, the palm trees and evergreens sway. There’s never been such a day…” Bah, whatever! Cold is setting in (at least in the northern hemisphere) sunlight is long and low (when it decides to make an appearance at all!) and the days are so short that if I have a late lunch, I’ll likely have to turn on a lamp.  Adding to all of this is that I seemed to have moved into a neighborhood that goes all out in home holiday decoration; and me with multiple sclerosis and a bum hip, I won’t even be able to get lights into the bushes! Ah, well. It’s December, and I have multiple sclerosis. Each month, we take time in the first week to check in with one another. Now, we end another year and look to 2009, together. I fear my MS... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011652 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:15:23 +0100 2011652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011651&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ftaking-control-of-my-weight-and-trying-to-eat-cancer-fighting-foodagain%2F It’s back to Weight Watchers for me. I am not able to stay on track by myself, and it’s not just a weight issue. One thing about Weight Watchers is that it forces me to stick to healthy and nutritious cancer fighting food. In addition, I feel better, have more energy and I look much better. I find that having red meat two days in a row gives me black circles under my eyes. Having salt gives me bags under my eyes, and too much sugar or fried food makes me look like Cloris Leachman; an 82-year-old (I can only wish that I am that attractive when I get to her age). You think with all this motivation I would be able to stick to a good diet myself. Well, I have learned these past weeks that I am prepared to sacrifice beauty for cheesecake and energy for fried shrimp. I seem to be all... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011651 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:31:53 +0100 2011651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006557&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsimplify-the-holidays-in-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F I love the holidays as much or more than most. But this year and truthfully, the last few years, have been too much work. This year, I’ve realized I have to draw the line before I fall down in a dead heap. What fun is decking the halls if you end up getting decked? How do you enjoy the holidays, keep the important parts for you and your family, and live without the rest? We all end up prioritizing what’s important to us, especially when there is so much to consider during the holidays. Cooking, cleaning, decorating and shopping all take time and energy that is often hard to come by. I’m discovering many shortcuts and I’m certain you are, too. Over the years, as we accumulate more and more decorations, ornaments and collectibles, we have learned to label the boxes be... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006557 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:16:07 +0100 2006557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006558&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fphysical-therapy-for-multiple-sclerosis%2F Family is gone, dogs are settled, holiday lights are making there way up around the neighborhood…I can’t believe it is already December. My December includes outpatient physical therapy (PT) for my hip replacement. I’ve been having someone come into the house for a few weeks, but now it’s time to go to them. This will be my first go at physical therapy. Well, I had an evaluation at the University of Washington a few years ago, but that was mostly to get a prescription for foot support when my drop-foot was bad. I know many people with MS who have either regularly scheduled or ad-hoc physical therapy as part of their MS regime. I’ve been pretty good at keeping up with my post-op exercises (pretty good) and am actually bored with them. I’m looking forward ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006558 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:33:59 +0100 2006558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996926&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fa-thanksgiving-wish-for-you%2F My wish for all of you is a day free of pain. May your turkey be crisp and delicious as you stuff yourself with stuffing. I hope the only turkey at your Thanksgiving dinner is on the table, not sitting at the table. May your pie crust be tender yet flaky, just like your favorite aunt. I hope you laugh more than cry as you share memories of past days with those you love. Therefore, I hope you will remember the good times and let the bad times go. If you work too hard preparing for the holiday, I trust you will sit down in the evening, put your feet up and rub your tummy because you survived and enjoyed your day. My wish for each of us is that we have hope for the coming year, regard for this year as we learn more each day about life and what it is to love ourselves as well as others. May yo... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996926 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:54:19 +0100 1996926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1991741&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthanksgiving-and-hard-work%2F I forgot to blog on Monday. Usually, I like to blog three times a week, but Monday I was really busy getting my house ready for Thanksgiving. Feathering my nest has become a bigger project than I planned. On Saturday, I invited a dear friend to a fun-filled day of painting my kitchen and bathroom. She showed up with her husband who did an amazing job repairing the walls and painting my bathroom. I am so blessed to have these friends; then they insisted it was a labor of love. The job in the bathroom and fresh paint in the kitchen made other rooms look shabby, and well, I did a room makeover for my son and changed the guest room. Now I am probably too exhausted to enjoy Thanksgiving. For Thanksgiving Day, we have invited my in-laws. I adore them! My mother-in-law is 85 and my father-in-law ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1991741 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:15:43 +0100 1991741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1991743&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fholiday-parties-and-crohns-diseaseavoid-if-possible%2F It’s that time of year again for parties, celebrating, shopping and being thankful. What are you thankful for this year? I am thankful for so many things, and I am going to put these things into the forefront whenever I am feeling bad about not being able to eat anything but plain boring food. No matter, at least I will not gain weight. I have been in a funky mood lately. I think that it has more to do with going down on the prednisone than anything else. I am now on 12mg of prednisone and hope to keep going down. I am trying not to get too excited or look forward to getting lower too much so that way I don’t get too disappointed. But, I am happy to be at 12mg and maybe will get to 11mg by Christmas. And then, maybe 10!!! I haven’t been to 10mg in a long time. This year I... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1991743 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:27:11 +0100 1991743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1991744&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fwe-cant-control-our-ms-any-more-than-we-can-control-the-weather%2F As I’ve written earlier this week, we have family visiting this week for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. We are having a great time catching up, seeing sights, cooking, eating and drinking together. For Saturday, we’ve booked an Orca whale watching tour for the gang. Ever since we booked it, my sister’s family has been following the online sighting logs of the boat’s crew. They are very excited. Another thing they have been keeping an eye on is the weather forecast.They flew from sunny western Florida to not-so-sunny northwest Washington. For weeks they have been checking into the 30-day, 10-day and 5-day outlook (they’ve been really excited and didn’t have “Seattle clothes”). Now, they are able to check the weather for the weekend with local T... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1991744 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:23:27 +0100 1991744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1991742&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fare-you-as-concerned-about-plastics-as-i-am%2F For those of us who live with chronic pain, life is complicated. It’s a difficult situation to explain to others when everything you do takes longer, hurts when you do as you try to put on a happy face in the midst of it all. We have to think about the exercises which will help our condition; the food we eat which will help and not hurt as well as trying to keep our meds straight and informing ourselves about the possible side effects of all of the above. It’s all so confusing to say nothing of overwhelming. Now let’s add something else to the mix…plastics. I know, I can hear you groaning. I feel that way, too, but it can’t be ignored. Remember all those years when doctors recommended certain brands of cigarettes on TV? Remember all those sugar substitutes tha... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1991742 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:25:52 +0100 1991742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1991745&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fhow-did-multiple-sclerosis-shape-who-you-are%2F This week my sister’s family is in for a holiday visit and last night we were having a chat with my 15 year old niece about the tribulations of high school. The conversation turned to the absolute sureness about neigh everything in a person’s life at that age; how we are/were sure we have/had all the answers if somebody would just listen. Trying to explain (and I am not a parent, so I get this stuff wrong ALL the time) that so many more experiences will shape her choices and opinions in the future we discussed the fact that in two years time, she won’t dress the way she does now, likely not listen to much of the same music and will begin to find other interests and distastes. It was a fun exercise in what my sister, brother-in-law and all good parents foster each night ‘round eveni... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1991745 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:56:47 +0100 1991745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975922&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fa-web-site-that-finds-toilets-anywhere-in-the-world%2F I was driving to work in the morning the other day, and on the radio they were talking about situations when you had to go to the bathroom at a time that was really inconvenient. They had the listeners call in with their stories. I didn’t call because I have way too many stories to tell as most of you probably do too (unfortunately)! But the radio announcer started talking about this Web site that maps all of the toilets all around the world. And, even better, you can add in a toilet so that everyone else will know where it is. Isn’t that great? We can surely add a lot of information into this tool The Web site is called SitorSquat.com, let me know what you think.  But don’t click on any of the links that say that you have won anything - a lot of times people are just p... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975922 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:55:04 +0100 1975922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975921&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fand-the-beat-goes-on-in-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F It’s late, I’m tired, I’m grouchy, and, yet, the beat goes on. I know I’m in charge, well, sort of. There are those things I can control and those I can’t. It’s a constant battle to decide which is which. That’s why I am prattling on about what is what in this sometimes miserable existence otherwise known as my life. After three months of recuperating from surgery, complications from surgery, a GI bleed and another bout of H. Pylori infection I am seeking normal. I know I’ll never find it but that doesn’t keep me from looking. I’m just the old “never say die” type of gal and that’s all there is to it. This past week, while my husband was visiting his elderly, injured mom, I was determined to get back on my stretc... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975921 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:18:14 +0100 1975921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1969452&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-and-the-art-of-getting-dressed%2F Fashions change; hems go up and down, ties get thick and thin, lapels point and round. The simple fact of fashion and MS is that sometimes it’s just hard to get into them! As I’ve mentioned, I’m using my recovery as prep for “the big one.” One of the biggest, fundamental issues I’ve faced over the past 7 weeks is dressing myself. The first problem I discovered post-op was bathing myself (there’s something about the side of a tub and hip surgery that don’t go so well together but I eventually got that one figured out). Most of the dressing issues I’ve faced in the past couple of months have had to do with what goes on or below the legs. Lifting my right leg is much easier now, but raising it even enough to slide on a pair of sweat pants ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1969452 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:10:54 +0100 1969452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1961389&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fturn-up-the-heat-i-hurt-more-when-im-cold%2F It’s officially fall, and a chill is in the air. There’s always so much to consider in preparing for winter but when you face the additional challenge of chronic pain, the list gets a bit longer. Most of us would list staying warm as a priority during the cold damp weather. It hurts to be cold. Whether your problem is arthritis, an old war wound (from the Crimean, etc.) or an old football injury…well, the list goes on. The fact is that we need heat to get the blood circulating to those painful parts. It’s not quite so humorous when you’re the one who feels the pain. It’s an even greater problem if you have muscle pain, joint pain or some of the rheumatoid syndromes such as Raynaud’s syndrome. This is a point I am forever trying to get across to my hubby. He is one of those gu... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1961389 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:31:03 +0100 1961389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1961387&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ffibromyalgia-no-longer-invisible%2F This study demonstrates that these patients exhibit modifications of brain perfusion not found in healthy subjects and reinforces the idea that fibromyalgia is a ‘real disease/disorder.’” Of course, the millions of Americans suffering from fibromyalgia didn’t need this research to know their illness is real. But it might help in the development of new treatments because researchers now have an objective measurement of brain function that can be compared before and after drug administration. In June of 2007, I noted in this blog that Lyrica (pregabalin) was the “First fibromyalgia drug approved,” by the FDA. And a year later, I alerted readers that “Cymbalta [was] approved for fibromyalgia.” Another drug pending FDA approval is milnacipran, a decision on which was ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1961387 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:29:23 +0100 1961387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1961388&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fremembering-my-season-of-chemotherapy%2F This is hunting season in Michigan. My husband has been spending the past weekends hunting with a bow and now gun season starts. My father was a sportsman so I grew up well-acquainted with hunters and the like. My husband hunts for deer, my dad hunted for moose. Unfortunately, he was good at it, so like most responsible hunters, we had to eat the meat, and we ate a lot of it when I was little (Moose are really big!). I can tell you right now how moose meat tastes. I hate it. I am not a big fan of deer meat either, but my husband is good at disguising the meat in certain dishes. When I started chemotherapy in the fall of 2003, it was hunting season. My husband got a couple of weekends in but didn’t want to be away too much while I was undergoing treatment. Fall has always been my favorit... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1961388 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:28:12 +0100 1961388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955587&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fis-diabetes-in-your-future%2F Diabetes is common and increasing in prevalence. About 24 million Americans already have diabetes, and millions more are at risk. Moreover, if current trends continue, one in three Americans (one in two for minorities) born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetimes. In fact, recent research has found that the rate of new cases of type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type, has nearly doubled in the last 10 years while spending on diabetes medications has also nearly doubled, but in just the last six years. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, blindness and amputation. And since 1987 the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent, while the death rates due to heart disease, stroke, and cancer have declined. Is it any wonder then that during November, Ameri... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955587 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:53:39 +0100 1955587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955588&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsubjects-we-avoid-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F “Is there an elephant in the room, or are you just glad to see me?” “Is that an elephant in the room, or are you just obtuse?” “Is there an elephant in the room, or are you just trying to be kind by ignoring the obvious?” “I sure hope that elephant is house-trained.” Okay, enough of the mixed metaphors. I’ve fooled around long enough with the English language for one day, so please let me explain. We often hear the phrase, “the elephant in the room” to indicate a subject that is present but not being discussed. We usually use it to define a subject that is so obvious everyone is aware of it. There are times I believe my life is one very crowded room with elephants in every corner. There are many subjects we just don’t ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955588 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:37:18 +0100 1955588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947738&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fhow-do-you-make-sure-your-multiple-sclerosis-is-winterized%2F The rainy season has begun in Seattle. It’s dark when we wake, it’s wet, rainy and gray all day, and dark well before cocktail hour. You try to get as much done outside before the rains set in. Most of the leaves, however, don’t fall from the trees before the rains begin. This makes yard clean-up that much more of an effort. I’d think about leaving them until spring, but picking up after 3 dogs becomes too much of a land mine hunt if the leaves aren’t raked up regularly. I was a bit hamstrung this year as well; having surgery at the end of September. I got everything done I could before the cutting, but it wasn’t enough…it never is. Winter is setting in and I’m not ready for it; and sometimes I feel that way about multiple sclerosis. Every ti... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947738 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:26:33 +0100 1947738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1943574&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fchemo-brain-organization-and-add%2F Sister has been listening to me complain about what I call brain damage. After four years, I really believe that I am continuing to suffer from chemo brain. Every now and then, I go over the symptoms with Sister who feels they relate to ADD, so she got me a book on it. Having chemo brain, I seldom read a book from cover to cover starting on chapter one. Because this book is written for people with ADD it is not designed to be read conventionally anyway; this helped me to stick with it. Skimming through the chapters, I began to see how chemo-brain could be diagnosed as ADD. This isn’t so far fetched. Back in December of 2006, I was invited to participate in a Webcast on HealthTalk about chemo brain (worth listening to from the archives if you have the time). The other guest was a doct... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1943574 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:52:39 +0100 1943574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1943575&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Ffinally-a-smaller-needle-for-ms-injections%2F Part of my post-operative treatment was a course of injectable blood thinners for two weeks after my release. When I was in the hospital bed, the nurses came in with a pre-filled syringe and wanted to teach me how to give myself a shot (yes I laughed!). Nobody likes self-injecting it’s just something we’ve all come to terms with. So I prepped myself and took the cap off the needle and laughed again! This needle was so small! It was so thin and so short…why couldn’t MS needles be this small? Apparently, now a MS needle IS this small! The makers of Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) announced last month that they have changed the delivery equipment of their drug (not the formulation) to the thinnest needle in MS injections. This new syringe has a 30-gauge mosquito bite of... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1943575 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:14:23 +0100 1943575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939859&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fa-friendly-chat-about-life-with-chronic-pain%2F Today I would like to just chat, as friends do, about what’s going on in my life. Last weekend was quite wonderful, having our son and grandson visit from Texas. I’m still recovering from all the sitting in restaurants and riding in the car but time will take care of it, I’m certain. Was it worth it? It certainly was. As far as I’m concerned, joy out trumps pain every time. I did have one episode which was a bit strange. The room started spinning and I had to sit on the floor until it passed. I assumed it was just fatigue and ignored it. After the guys left I was just very tired and sore everywhere. Then, on Monday morning I had another incident of vertigo. After I got out of the shower the room started spinning so I lay down, waiting for it to pass. It didn’t... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939859 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:37:54 +0100 1939859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939858&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fconquering-my-fear-of-cancerand-spiders%2F Gracious and fearless. These are two characteristics that I felt were important for a woman to possess when I was in my 20s. That never changed. But here I am decades later and I still haven’t developed these qualities no matter how hard I have worked at it. I can however say that I have overcome some incredible fears. Cancer is one. After my battle with it, I can honestly say it doesn’t terrify me, but now I realize it wasn’t dying that I was afraid of, I was most afraid of losing my hair and my dignity. Well, I lost my hair but never my dignity. Spiders are my most recent conquered fear. It was actually a spider that helped me achieve that, and as peculiar as it sounds it was a mother spider. Under the eaves trough of my garage, right at the front in the middle, a beaut... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939858 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:21:28 +0100 1939858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939861&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fpost-election-day-hows-your-ms-today%2F Twenty-odd months of campaigns and we are now ready to move on as one country and get on with fixing the issues which need some serious overhaul. Let’s move on too, shall we? Every month we open up a forum for all of you to check in and keep track of one another regarding our multiple sclerosis. We catch up, we vent, we question, we answer; we reconnect! Every time I go back to the comments on this monthly blog I learn something, and that’s not an exaggeration! As far as my MS, I’ve been living in a simulated “big one.” Recovering from hip surgery has been so very much like my first big attack that I’m using that experience as a training of sorts. In the house, I have to use a walker. And when I go out, I’ve been using forearm crutches. I sleep at ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939861 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:38:49 +0100 1939861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933470&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Femotional-ups-and-downs-in-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F Long before my time, probably not as far back as the stone age but definitely during the days of the Hollywood musicals, there was a song titled “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart.” There are some days I feel like my heart is “zinging” for certain. The smallest happenings in life get to me far more than they should. On those days, I cry at commercials, blubber like crazy when somebody dies, whether I know them or not and really have to turn the channel if an animal is being reported as mistreated on the news. Sometimes my coping skills just fly away and leave me totally stranded. Since I’ve lived with this up and down emotional roller coaster for such a long time I’ve given it a lot of thought. I find that during the course of a day I can slide in all di... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933470 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:14:50 +0100 1933470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930482&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdenial-a-natural-response-to-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis%2F On Friday we packed up the car, and headed out to the east coast. The trip was designed to get our son out to a college to meet with the football coach. We decided to drive because of the time of year and the fall vista that would greet us along the way. It also would allow us to travel on to visit with my husband’s sister in New Hampshire. The drive was spectacular. It was a very long trip, but with little traffic and great weather we arrived feeling rested and delighted with the New England states. Along the way my husband and I had plenty of time to talk, dream and plan. My son gets to sleep and watch movies in the back, so typical of a teenage son we didn’t hear from him much. I asked my husband if he remembered how he felt when I told him I had breast cancer. The morning I... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930482 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:40:02 +0100 1930482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930483&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Flife-with-ms-book-club-the-last-lecture%2F Hope everyone had a happy Halloween. It’s time to announce our next reading adventure. This will be our third book and as I look to the Life with MS archive I come to realize that we will be entering into our third year of the Life with MS Book Club Blog as well. Boy, do we read slowly!I’ve decided to give us an early holiday gift as our next book. I’m very excited about this read and I hope you will be also. Our first book, Allison Shadday’s “MS and Your Feelings: Handling the Ups and Downs of Multiple Sclerosis” was a big hit and I think we all use it as a reference (or at least I do) now and again. Last month, we wrapped up with our Author’s Notes by Dawn Bailiff from her “Notes from a Minor Key,” a memoire. This time, our Life with ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930483 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:25:42 +0100 1930483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1918291&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhow-to-wage-a-good-fight-against-chronic-pain%2F I certainly wish it would slow down a bit, but life keeps on cranking. The spiders keep up their swinging routine to make cobwebs. Dust and dirt keep drifting in, along with dog tracks, dog hair, human clutter and laundry. Why doesn’t life realize I am not always up to all this work? Let us not leave out my least favorite chore of all and that’s the trip to the supermarket. Yuk. I love to cook, but hauling in the groceries is tiring, painful and irritating. Sometimes, I confess, as my sweaty, irritated self passes one of our dogs, wagging their little tails and jumping to greet me, I talk to them. “Hey, you guys. Some of this stuff is for you. Don’t just sit there looking cute, grab a bag!” The greatest response I’ve received thus far from my canine frie... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1918291 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:04:42 +0100 1918291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924861&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fplacebo-prescribing-whats-your-opinion%2F Let’s talk about placebos, and in particular about how you’d feel if you found out that your doctor had prescribed something for you that he or she believed actually had no activity against your illness other than a psychological effect. But instead of calling it a placebo, he or she told you that the prescription was for “a medicine not typically used for your condition but which might benefit you.” Would you be okay with it figuring that your doctor had your best interests in mind and was trying, as best he or she knew how, to help alleviate your symptoms, or would you be angry, feeling that you’d been misled, or worse, the victim of fraud? However you feel, it seems that placebo prescribing may be more common than you think. A new study, conducted in the Un... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924861 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:12:50 +0100 1924861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1911656&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fcampath-reverses-ms-symptoms-why-are-we-just-now-hearing-about-this%2F Did your e-mail box fill up like mine did this past weekend about the news on Campath? I guess it is proof of two things; the power of a press release and the longing for the next “big thing” in multiple sclerosis research. Starting on the 22nd of the month, I began to get notes from friends with MS about a BBC press release touting the success of a “new” MS drug. Usually these kind of emails are from friends and family in the “community” not people living with MS. The generic name of the drug is called alemtuzumab with brand name of Campath. Campath has been in multiple sclerosis trials for a while now. In fact, I was surprised at the attention everyone was paying the release when results from the study were first announced in April of this year at the ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1911656 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:32:47 +0100 1911656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907926&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdont-let-cancer-hide-in-your-house%2F I continue to encourage all women to get mammograms and tested regularly for breast cancer, now I also encourage them to have their husbands tested for prostate cancer. My husband had no symptoms to alert us to cancer in his prostate; it was found during a routine checkup. He is now back to work and feeling pretty good after his ordeal last week to attack prostate cancer that was diagnosed earlier this year. Because he had brachytherapy, which is radiation, the side effects will be in full force in a couple of weeks and then take a couple of more weeks to subside - a small price to pay for beating cancer. Lately Bobby, my husband has been crediting me with saving his life. I didn’t do any of the procedure of course, but I was the one who insisted he have regular checkups once we got marr... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907926 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:07:09 +0100 1907926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907927&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Flets-discuss-ldn-for-ms-again%2F We’ve had a few discussions about LDN in the past. In fact, for one posting, I did a month’s worth of research to only come up with the title, “I Still Don’t Know Enough.” Pretty lame, I know! Since that post in 2006, a study has been commissioned by the National MS Society and is now in full swing. This is a double blinded/peer-reviewed study which will take some time. So, we’re not going to know the results for another year or so. The way LDN is thought to work (if “work” is the right word here) is to block certain receptors in the brain. It is most often used as an anti-opiate drug for people recovering from addiction. Whether it actually changes the course of MS or rather masks symptoms is the basis of the study. One might think; “H... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907927 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:24:45 +0100 1907927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1906251&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fthe-morning-banana-diet-a-scambuster-report%2F The latest fad weight loss scheme is something called the Morning Banana Diet (MBD), which started in Japan and swept across the country like an unrelenting tsunami. It’s so popular there that bananas literally fly off the shelves as fast as they can be stocked. But you should be forewarned, Japan is known for its fad diets and there have been many others before this one that also were so big they caused product shortages. And, of course, like all fad diets, this one will likely lead to some weight loss in the short run but will fail in the long run, which is why they are always replaced by the next crazy idea. But this one actually has a hidden nugget of gold called resistant starch that I’ll explain a little later. So what is the Morning Banana Diet? Like all fad diets, ther... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1906251 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:43:20 +0100 1906251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1902233&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Foctober-check-in-how-is-your-crohns-today%2F Hello everyone! Hope you are feeling hopeful today. Today’s blog’s topic is our monthly tag-up to let each other know how we are doing and feeling. I hope that you write in, and I look forward to your comments! I will start by telling you how I have been doing this month. Awful!! Okay, it is not so bad, but still, I would not mark this month up as being one of the good ones. I have been in a really bad mood about everything lately. I am very tired from all of this hurricane business and just plain tired of everything. We finally got our power back – after two weeks – and moved back into our house (Yay!). We were staying with my in-laws because I had moved over there before the storm and there was really no reason to come back to an un-powered home when my husband finally returned.... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1902233 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:19:45 +0100 1902233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895709&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Floss-and-discovery-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F Your life changes when your health flies out the window. Most of us find it a challenge to keep the rest of life from following after. Loss is definitely the name of the game as we lose our health, sometimes our jobs, on occasion, our spouses or significant others and often, our “fair weather” friends. They are usually the ones who don’t want to think about the unpleasant and distasteful parts of life such as loss and illness. True friends stick by us in good times and bad, and we’re lucky to have them. Sometimes I feel like a tree with its leaves falling all over the ground. Each day another leaf flutters to the ground. Most trees lose their leaves one leaf at a time. I know of a couple of varieties that drop overnight, like the Gingko, but that’s not the norm, is it? Does the t... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895709 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:46:53 +0100 1895709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1892191&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-and-the-gift-of-receiving%2F I’ve spent the morning writing thank you notes today. The stack of people who have either stopped by, brought a meal, sent flowers or just make check-up phone calls over the past three weeks is really humbling. It lead me to today’s topic.There have been many times in the past couple of years when we’ve had comments about “allowing” someone to help (too many to find and link in this post). We all know that it feels good to do something for someone; we just hate being the someone who needs assistance. Cayrn (my fiancee) and I made an agreement when I decided to schedule this surgery. Knowing that she couldn’t be around 24/7 for the week or so that was recommended for care after discharge from hospital, I agreed to spend a week or so in a convalescent home... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1892191 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:31:35 +0100 1892191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1892190&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-and-the-urge-to-nest%2F We made it through a tough week; my husband has pretty much recovered from the brachytherapy he received for prostate cancer. I don’t think he was ready for the fatigue and malaise that accompanies any in-hospital procedure though, or the effects of the drugs. Fortunately, he did rest over the weekend and gave into urges to nap. I have had my own recovering from his ordeal to do. His bout with cancer has made me feel that we have been infiltrated. Before when it was just me in the household that had a bout with cancer, I thought we had secured our home from further threat. Now I am finding myself desiring to nest and stay home so nothing else gets in. This has led me to spend the weekend tidying the house and adding a few decorating touches. I love the fall, but I didn’t want t... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1892190 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:35:46 +0100 1892190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1888546&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmy-husband-gets-treated-for-prostate-cancer%2F This has been one tough week! Bobby, my husband had brachytherapy this week to address prostate cancer that was diagnosed this summer. I don’t like being in the hospital and undergoing surgery or treatment, but I have decided that I dislike even more watching a loved one go through it. Actually, the procedure went really well for my husband. He was admitted early Wednesday and they inserted tiny catheters all over the prostate gland and then they placed radioactive beads in the catheters four times over two days. When Bob comes home he will not be radioactive as none of the beads were left in the gland. This is an amazing procedure. The hardest part for him was that he had to lie perfectly still on his back without a pillow or being able to move his legs for two days. He needed medic... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1888546 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:59:39 +0100 1888546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1886833&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fdawn-bailiff-on-notes-from-a-minor-key%2F As promised, I’ll share notes from the author of our most recent Book Club Blog; Dawn Bailiff. Her work, “Notes From A Minor Key” has been the subject of our monthly review for the past couple of months. Dawn has much to write to us, so I’ll end my comments here. We thank Ms. Bailiff for her time in sharing a few thoughts with us and for telling her story, which is in parts, the story of many of us. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dawn Bailiff: I would like to thank those of you in the HealthTalk MS community who have taken the time to read, discuss, contemplate and even criticize my book. You are a group with a “good energy” who collectively refuses to be defeated or defined by the MonSter. I send special gratitude to Trevis for providing such a wonderful MS reso... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1886833 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:53:25 +0100 1886833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883685&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fweighing-options-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F Everyone who lives with chronic pain and illness gets discouraged at one time or another. How can you not? When is the worse time of day for you? For me it is the early mornings, when I awaken and haven’t yet had my daily dose of pills; and I must say it is often late at night, depending on what I have done that day. There is always a price to pay for activity when your body is in pain. The anathema of it is that exercise and movement is necessary for those of us with all forms of arthritis in order to keep limber, active and functioning. Eventually, you decide what works for you and what does not. Stretches are usually a good idea as well as some strength training whether or not you use light weights. Consistency is the key, of course, so your body knows what’s coming. You don’t wan... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883685 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:16:23 +0100 1883685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1880296&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Foh-so-thats-what-a-foley-catheter-is%2F In prior discussions here, we’ve talked about what many dread most as a potential MS treatment – catheterization. Like many of the medieval medical tools science has developed to help us cope with our symptoms. However, we tend to wait until far past the point they are needed to use them. At that point we wonder why we waited so bleeding long! For example, we put off a cane until we hardly can get out of the house anymore, then find that by using one we can actually walk around the block again. We scoff at the idea of a scooter, then realize how many kid’s soccer games we’ve missed or how many fun adventures we’ve said “no” to only after we’ve acquiesced. Using a catheter is another one of “those” topics How many UTIs does it take, how many fevers spiking and setting of... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1880296 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:30:24 +0100 1880296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1880295&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fturning-to-you-my-friends-during-cancer-and-tough-times%2F On Saturday I visited my eldest son in a Toronto hospital and today I will spend the day in the hospital while my husband has brachytherapy for his prostate cancer. I see a theme here. As I do with all of my friends I am asking for you to pray for my husband as he goes through this procedure and battles cancer. I am also asking you to keep my son, Josh, in your prayers as he awaits an opening in a treatment facility. Kathy-Ellen (Source: Life with Breast Cancer) Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1880295 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:23:42 +0100 1880295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1876566&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-ludicrous-side-of-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F There are times when this whole way of life, this life with chronic pain and illness, strikes me as ludicrous. Yesterday morning I had to take a stool specimen into the hospital laboratory to check up on the status of the H. Pylori bacteria I’ve been fighting in my stomach. The written instructions had informed me not to contaminate the stool with urine. I’m a woman. How is that possible? Those instructions had to have been written by a man. It was probably the same man who invented the mammogram machine which all women know squeezes your boobies to within an inch, literally, of your life. Where is the male equivalent of that machine? Anyway, I digress, back to yesterday. I had to get the specimen into the lab within one hour so I donned my clothes, shoved a hat over my askew hair, did... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1876566 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:34:35 +0100 1876566 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1873231&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fdont-put-me-in-a-homeunless-my-ms-really-calls-for-one%2F Not the most pleasant of subjects to broach, for certain; the idea of a convalescent home as permanent or even temporary refuge from multiple sclerosis (MS). The topic, however is one which we should give a good hard think and maybe even blurt a few words out to those most important to us. For many of us, the day when Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) was available is long in our past. First things first, check to see if you have LTCI and check to see how “good” it is. If you don’t have LTCI, find out if you can still purchase a policy. Policies vary just like health insurance policies, life insurance and auto plans so make sure you do some shopping around. The obvious impetus for my coming face-to-face with this topic was my recent surgery. I now feel we were quite unprepa... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1873231 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:24:05 +0100 1873231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1865775&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsteroids-friend-or-foe%2F Once again, I find myself on the old “downalator.” Reducing my dose of prednisone is not my favorite thing to do. I’ve done it many times in the last 20 years, and it never gets any easier. It’s really a good thing. It just doesn’t feel like it. As usual I will share with you what I and my family have experienced because that’s the view from here. It helps a little that I’m a nurse, gave birth to a nurse and married to a nurse. All of that helps with the jargon and offers a basic understanding of this whole business. Living with autoimmune disease is a very complicated business. As many of you have found, you need all the help you can get. My oldest sister suffered terribly from psoriatic arthritis. Many years ago, when she was first diagnosed, she... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1865775 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:13:59 +0100 1865775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859828&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhard-times-in-pain-valley%2F If there is one thing we know, those of us who live with chronic pain, it is that there are good times and bad times. The good times may not be as good as they once were, but we have a tendency to lower our standards a bit and just settle for a comfortable day. Bad times, well, those can range from miserable and difficult to “Oh, dear God, will this day never end?” It’s a difficult situation to explain to those who don’t know how miserable life can be. If you explain it too much, you’re a whiner. If you don’t explain it at all, they think you’re depressed or nuts. Finding the middle ground is a tricky business for most of us. Since we don’t live in a bubble, communication is often necessary in order to explain our behavior to our loved ones, getting the message across to ou... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859828 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:26:48 +0100 1859828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859827&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbringing-sexy-back-into-your-life-after-breast-cancer%2F Years ago before breast cancer touched my life, I saw a photograph of a beautiful woman who had lost a breast to cancer. The self portrait showed this woman naked from the waist up with up stretched arms and a scar where a breast should have been. The other breast was hidden by the pose. She was truly beautiful and the photograph was sexy. I didn’t get it then, but now I realize that she was extraordinary to have been able to reveal her sexuality and the brutality of the disease at the same time. For me sexy doesn’t come as easy. The last time I felt really sexy was when my husband whisked me off wig, prophylactic bra and all for a romantic weekend for Valentines Day during my chemotherapy. Just a few months later, after treatment was complete, all the sexy was gone. Well, it’s time ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859827 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:37:38 +0100 1859827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851316&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fcarol-king-and-ms%2F No, Carol King (to my knowledge) DOES NOT have multiple sclerosis. This week, however, as I prepare to leave my hospital room (can I take that plasma flat-screen with me?) and make my way home the words of her song, “You’ve Got a Friend,” keep repeating in my ears. I was a kid when “Tapestry” came out in 1971 and I couldn’t tell you the first time I heard the song, but through the years the words; “Winter, spring, summer or fall…all you’ve got to do is call..” have found themselves ingrained into my person. I’ve always held this lyric a lofty and noble goal as someone’s friend. I fell short of it, but feel a better person for trying. I’m also finding that it was an investment I didn’t even know I was making... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851316 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:59:01 +0100 1851316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851315&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fideas-for-survivors-to-celebrate-pink-month%2F October is a time of celebration and thanksgiving for me. I celebrate because I am a breast cancer survivor and this is my month. Canadian Thanksgiving also falls in October which gives me another chance to eat turkey and be thankful for surviving breast cancer. October really is OUR month to shine. In 2008 more people than ever before are surviving breast cancer. The fear factor has gone way down as we no longer see a diagnosis of breast cancer as a death sentence. We are winning little by little over the disease. This calls for celebration; as a survivor, your life calls for celebration! Last year I made an oversized pink ribbon to wear on my lapel. This year I have other ideas to share with you to make your month fun. How about tying a pink ribbon around one of the trees in your front y... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851315 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:42:08 +0100 1851315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1848180&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fback-in-the-saddle-are-those-stirrups-really-necessary%2F Is there any procedure more humiliating and more uncomfortable than climbing onto an exam table, partially unclothed while clutching a sheet like a toga and having to put one’s feet up in stirrups? Eggs are apparently not the only thing that can be served sunny side up. I always thought it was just a torment for women until I recently had to do it twice in one day at two different offices and realized, at the Uro/surgeon’s office that many of the patients who are required to do something similar, are men. Do they have to do the stirrup bit? I did notice that the Uro/Gyno surgeon had the consideration to put sheepskin booties on her stirrups; obviously the generous act of a sister female. I’m certain every woman in the western world has heard the phrase, “Okay, come on, closer to th... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1848180 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:46:59 +0100 1848180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845208&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fhows-your-ms-today-october-edition%2F Since January of 2007, we’ve been asking you to tell us about your life with MS in our monthly “How’s Your MS Today” posting. We’ve taken the first Wednesday of each month (with a few exceptions for my mental slips) to open a forum for all of us to check in, check up and even let us know that you’re checking out for a bit. It’s always one of our most popular posts and never seems to fail in bringing one of the “lurkers” out of their shell and onto the comments page. I like that a lot! I’ve sent this page in to Natalie a couple of days early as today is a post-operative day for me. While a morphine induced ramble might make for keen entertainment, I’m pretty sure the proper sequencing of keys to hit to write, address and send... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845208 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:44:28 +0100 1845208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841358&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Ftoxic-relatives-and-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F Do you think it’s true that fish and relatives smell within three days? I’ve always envied those families that are close and cozy. I have always had a relative or two who have made life miserable. I’ve given it a lot of thought over the years and the problem is always the same: interference and meddling. I wonder what drives another individual to think you want their opinions in regards to your life, your decisions and your behavior. What part of the human brain is it that believes they have a right to intrude on the lives of others? I know it’s true we choose our friends and not our relatives because I have a couple, one in particular, had she been a friend, I would have parted with her long ago. That’s not as easily accomplished when the difficult person is a relative. As long ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841358 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:26:36 +0100 1841358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829589&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fnothing-but-nets-%25e2%2580%2593-an-affordable-effective-medical-charity%2F The other night, I was watching “The Colbert Report,” which, along with “The Daily Show,” is a regular TV staple at our house (both shows won Emmy’s the other night by the way), when the guest was Rick Riley, a sportswriter and founder of the anti-malaria effort Nothing But Nets. Nothing But Nets is a grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer, especially of children, in Africa. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, which are primarily active at night and which can be effectively thwarted by the use of sleeping nets. The charity’s name is a play on the basketball term for a perfect shot that does not touch the backboard or rim, hitting “nothing but net.” In addition, it speaks to the focus of the campaign, which is directed... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829589 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:45:23 +0100 1829589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826318&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fchronic-disease-and-natural-disaster-preparedness%2F We have made it through the storm and, all in all, feel very lucky. My daughter and I evacuated our house and went to stay at my in-laws’ house on the west side of town. My husband had been in Indonesia during the ordeal but came home last Thursday- which made me feel better. We were lucky that there was a cold front that moved through the area and I know everyone in Houston was grateful for that. Our house has suffered some damage from water (only in one room) and I hope that our wood floor is not ruined. The wood in the other rooms may be at risk too without the power because of the humidity. At least it is not as hot and humid as it could be. Our fence is gone, and our trees are down, but that’s about all. We are lucky compared to a lot of people. On top of everything that i... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826318 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:07:55 +0100 1826318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826316&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fsarah-palin-on-the-risks-of-indoor-tanning%2F Regular readers of this blog will know that I’ve previously written about skin cancer, skin cancer prevention and the skin cancer-inducing risks of indoor tanning. So it will come as no surprise that I was troubled to learn that Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin had installed a tanning bed in the Governor’s mansion shortly after taking office in early 2007 and that this was being widely reported in the media. My concerns were that Governor Palin’s apparent endorsement of indoor tanning might lead some people to believe that it’s an okay thing to do. The good news is that Governor Palin apparently knows better than to use an indoor tanning bed. On May 4, 2007, she issued an official statement proclaiming May 2007 as “Skin Ca... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826316 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:02:32 +0100 1826316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826317&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fgood-medical-care-is-about-the-little-things%2F It’s interesting how many little things, both positive and negative, can contribute to the medical care you receive. I believe this true in the hospital or in the doctor’s office. Small irritations aligned with rudeness can drive you over the edge and erode your confidence in the care you are receiving. Seemingly minuscule acts, requests or manners can instill confidence. It’s truly amazing the power of a hug, a warm pat on the hand and an understanding face. They are no substitute for knowledge and experience, but it can’t “hoirt,” can it? Certainly there are big actions which can cause you grief and fear but the little things you live with on each visit or hospitalization can irritate or soothe. One example that comes to mind for me, after two recent hospitalizations, is the ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826317 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:25:31 +0100 1826317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815958&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fmichelle-obamas-connection-to-multiple-sclerosis%2F Where has the time gone, my friends? It is now mid-September, and I’ve been trying to get to this topic since the middle of August! Caryn (my fiancée) had her week or so with the remote controller during the Summer Olympics. She’s a former swimmer, so you can only imagine the fervor and intensity with which we watched the games. She had her time, now it’s mine. My “Olympiad” comes every four years as well. It’s proceeded by years of training, months of qualifications and is covered all over the world, just like the “other” games…I love politics! My version of the highly televised sport is the over the top production of the party conventions. I could go on and on about both parties “party,” but that’s not what this post is about. Did you catch Michelle Obama... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815958 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:09:14 +0100 1815958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815957&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fmemories-of-an-aging-nursepatient%2F My two recent hospitalizations have stirred up many old memories for me. My first inspiration to enter nursing was provoked by a hospital visit, many years ago. I had a tubal pregnancy that ruptured, making quite a mess of my body and my personal life. Since the event also “ruptured” my marriage of ten years, I found myself a divorced mother of two small ones. There I was with a college education in liberal arts, which you really can’t take to the bank. I was desperately in need and hit the job trail. I got two jobs in one day, and like many of the vagaries of life, that decision proved to be pivotal. I chose the job as a medical assistant in an ENT office over the teller job at a bank. When I was a small girl, my dream was always to become a nurse. I’m not sure what happened to th... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815957 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:42:48 +0100 1815957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811574&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-medical-specialization-a-good-thing%2F Haven’t you asked yourself that question, at least, every once in awhile? Don’t you sometimes long for the days of one doctor with all the answers you need in one place? Those were, indeed, the days. I don’t remember the horse and buggy…no, I’m not that old but I do remember as a child with many health problems always seeing the same dear man. I also remember house calls. Oh my. Today that appears to be very passé as we are challenged by more complicated bodies with complicated needs. There has also been some amazing progress in the entire field of medicine; far more than one person can know and practice. Every so often, I get tired of having to drive the 75 miles one way into Portland to get treated by a specialist. The trip is a difficult one for me persona... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811574 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:04:22 +0100 1811574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806604&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fvirtual-colonoscopy-ready-for-prime-time%2F Virtual colonoscopy is an x-ray examination of the colon used to screen for cancer. It is also called CT colonography because the x-ray test used is a CT scan (also called computed tomography or CAT scan for computed axial tomography). Virtual colonoscopy is in the news because of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that compared the x-ray test to traditional colonoscopy and found comparable results in terms of identifying abnormal growths. But while the headlines will tout the positive findings, there are a few things you should know before undergoing one of these procedures. First off let me say that screening for colon cancer is an extremely important and life-saving yet underutilized undertaking that I’ve written about before, and which you should unde... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806604 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:29:44 +0100 1806604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1802966&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fpreparing-for-hurricane-ike-during-a-storm-of-fears%2F Editor’s Note: Kelly wrote this post last week before Hurricane Ike hit her hometown of Houston. I was laying here trying to sleep, and I couldn’t help thinking about stress management. I am laying here thinking about stress management because I have been under a lot of stress this last week, and I am in need of some sort of stress management. Last Sunday, my husband left for Indonesia and since he is so far away (12 hours ahead) I have been a little anxious. He is also in a remote area, so it is not easy to get in touch with him. Before he left, hurricane Ike was still far away and forecasted to hit in Mexico. Now, on the Thursday night before Ike is to hit, he is projected to come right over us. They have evacuated my county and so my daughter and I are at my in-law’s h... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802966 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:04:05 +0100 1802966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1794772&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Forganization-and-ms%2F This week, at my “Poker Night” which is a men’s MS self-help group, we had a woman named Stacey come and speak on the topic of organization. She has an organizing business and introduced herself as a “professional organizer.” Now, before you say it, there was a resounding chorus of exactly what you are thinking at Poker Night, “Is there such a thing?” She laughed, we laughed and we got on with what many of the guys thought was going to be a droll dissertation and variations on the theme, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Boy, were we wrong! This Stacy, who’s blog about organizing (I’m asking Natalie to add to our recommended blog list) had loads of tips for getting and staying in charge of our own space; ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794772 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:43:05 +0100 1794772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811575&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fyou-and-your-lining-ghostbusters-have-no-monopoly-on-slime%2F Did you know you have a lining? It’s called the mucous membrane and it extends from your face and all its openings (eyes, nose and mouth) to your openings at the other end of your body…you know the hinterlands? Hey, I’m trying to be classy here. That’s a big effort for this particular big mouthed nurse. You all know that. The mucous membranes consist of mucus, various salts, body cells and other secretions which are constantly being cranked out by these bodies of ours. First cousin to the skin, the mucous membranes are constantly renewing, changing and adapting. My mucous membranes have caused me a great deal of trouble in recent weeks therefore I have decided we should chat about them. For many of us with rheumatoid disease, there are changes in the various linings of the body cav... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811575 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:58:43 +0100 1811575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1783014&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fseptember-check-in-how-is-your-ms-today%2F Where has the summer gone? It seems like just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote a Happy New Year post to all of you. Now, I’m writing to check in with you about your MS for September! I hate to admit it, but the parents were right because time does seem to go faster as you get older. So much seems to be happening and so little time to write it all down. I’ve jammed my September schedule full as I’ll be taking a mandatory 6+ weeks “holiday” post hip replacement on the 30th of this month. I’ve started a “prehab” regime of diet and pre-op exercises to drop some of this weight and strengthen muscles around what will be my new bionic addition. My MS seems to be like a constant white noise in my life. Hmmm, that’s a good way to put it… I guess I’ve just gotten used to so much ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1783014 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:06:34 +0100 1783014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1783013&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fhow-can-we-get-crohns-disease-on-a-postage-stamp%2F I was in the post office this Friday and I noticed that there was a stamp for breast cancer that cost a little bit more than the normal postage stamp, but the extra funds would go towards breast cancer research. And I thought, “Why is there no stamp for Crohn’s disease?” I know that our disease is not as widely known as cancer, but there must be a way that we can start changing that. How can we get a stamp? Is it even possible to get a stamp for Crohn’s disease similar to the stamp for breast cancer? I tried looking around to see how to even begin the process but didn’t find anything. I am sure that we will have to spread the word and get Crohn’s disease to be a household name, or at least more widely known before anyone makes a dedicated postage stamp about it. I took part in ... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1783013 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:44:15 +0100 1783013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779893&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsue-takes-on-the-job-of-healing%2F I hardly know where to begin. I have so many new ideas for blogs thanks to my recent life experiences. Each day, there was a time when my mind would hum with ideas and I would reach for a pad and pen, sometimes in the middle of the night, just to jot down an idea. My get well motto became, “OKAY, LIFE, BRING IT ON AND I’LL JUST WRITE A BLOG ABOUT IT!” I would have to say my mind just insists on “first things first.” What else do you do when you are confronted by so many problems all at once and you feel too rotten to cope? I was in the hospital for the second time in a week, I had five operative procedures performed on my gut with mesh holding it all in; I had a urinary tract infection, which is a concern when you have an unexpected stint in your ureter because the doctor “nick... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779893 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:58:48 +0100 1779893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1775776&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fa-new-look-for-healthtalk-and-our-blog%2F You probably can’t help but notice the new look of our HealthTalk Life with MS blog. It is part of a whole new look for HealthTalk! As with any major rollout, there were a few bumps in the road that are being fixed. This project has taken much of the time that Natalie, our editor and general blog goddess, has had for editing and posting for the lot of us. We’ll have to give her a pass on this one, friends. I wanted to jot a quick note to you all to let you know the reason why there has been a lapse in postings and why some of you may have encountered that the comments were disabled over the weekend. We’re back on schedule and new and improved. I’ll keep writing and you keep commenting. In the meantime have a look around HealthTalk. It’s got lots of enhanced features and I find i... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1775776 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:42 +0100 1775776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739549&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fdiverticulosis-nuts-corn-popcorn-dont-increase-risk%2F Received wisdom has long held that people with diverticulosis (described below) should not eat nuts, corn or popcorn because these foods would increase the risk of their developing diverticulitis, a serious complication sometimes requiring surgery. In fact, most physicians specifically tell their patients with diverticulosis to avoid these foods even though there was never much evidence to support such a recommendation. But research just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that eating these foods does not increase the risk of either diverticulosis or its potential complications. Moreover, for men with the highest intake of nuts and popcorn, there was actually a reduced risk of developing diverticulitis (20 percent reduction with regard to nuts and 28 perc... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739549 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:03:49 +0100 1739549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739552&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Ffrustrations-and-feelings-about-my-crohns-disease%2F I guess that I still have not completely accepted my Crohn’s disease because I spent last weekend feeling completely frustrated about everything. It started out with a huge fight between me and my husband Friday night. We always fight when I start feeling bad. I say he doesn’t care and is not sympathetic enough and he says that I am whiny and in a bad mood. I was in bad shape on Friday (I think now that maybe it was bad tuna fish or the mayo) and had a horrible day at work. I was really tired when I came home and was not looking forward to the evening of packing for our trip to Washington DC. I was really just not looking forward to the trip at all and then we have a fight, which makes everything worse. It seems that we fight when we are stressed. I wanted to just get my stuff ... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739552 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:30:50 +0100 1739552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739553&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fan-important-webcast-on-ms-and-vision%2F I’m back from our annual Big Kid’s Camp and feel rested (a bit) and ready to power through the rest of the year (mostly). Yes, Rusty, the Superman underpants stayed at home (at least in my opinion) for the trip. There are so many things I want us to discuss in upcoming posts. Michelle Obama’s speech this week at the DNC convention where she mentioned her father’s MS is among some of the things I would like to address. Today, however, I want to make sure everyone is registered to attend our monthly HealthTalk MS webcast tomorrow evening. We’ll be hosting a couple of great doctor/researchers in a Webcast called, “Symptoms of MS: Recognizing and Treating Optic Neuritis.” I recently had a small flare of optic neuritis (after years of a mild, mostly unn... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739553 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:26:33 +0100 1739553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739551&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fwe-interrupt-this-blog-to-give-an-update-on-sue-wood%2F Editor’s Note: Reporting from Astoria, Oregon, your reporter, the son-in-law. Sue’s recovery from surgery last week has had a slight setback. Sue has been unable to eat and keep things down. Taking her various medications on an empty stomach hasn’t been going well. The wife went over to keep Sue company yesterday afternoon, and returned with the report that Sue has a future career in the movies if she wants. Sue was able to reprise the classic Linda Blair role from “The Exorcist“. While I’m not sure that Sue’s head was able to rotate 360 degrees like in the movie, apparently Sue had the green projectile vomiting scenes duplicated fairly realistically. Just before dinner, Sue called looking for some help. The wife made me fix Herb’s, the kids&... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739551 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:24:11 +0100 1739551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734327&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhormonal-treatment-options-after-tamoxifen%2F The blog posts that I wrote last year on Arimidex (anastrozole) and aromatase inhibitors are still garnering a lot of comments and readership. It seems that many women are suffering from the painful and sometimes debilitating side effects from these hormonal drugs. I stopped taking Arimidex in the fall of 2006 and returned to taking tamoxifen, which causes me no ill effects. I am now revisiting the whole hormonal treatment option. My doctor determined that I should spend one more year on tamoxifen. I then have the option to take additional years of an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex or Femara. I can put off thinking about it for the year obviously, but then I think about flying solo (meaning sans drugs to combat cancer) and I have to consider the aromotase inhibitor as an option. Studies... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734327 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:21:34 +0100 1734327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1726626&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fwhen-i-take-vacation-my-ms-should-too%2F Well, folks I’ve been off at Big Kids Camp this week and weekend. In other words, I’m on vacation! I have to be honest and say that I really need this break, and I’m having a great time. I’ll check in next week to see how everyone here at Life with MS is doing. Now, if I could only convince my MS symptoms to take a break at the same time then I’d really get the break I need. *Sigh* Have a great weekend! Wishing you and your family the best of health. Cheers, Trevis (Source: Life with MS) Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1726626 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:27:14 +0100 1726626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723749&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fanother-break-from-chronic-pain%2F Editor’s Note: As our chronic pain blogger, Sue Falkner-Wood, continues to recover from her scheduled surgery enjoy another one of her lovely poems. Our House I wonder about those who lived here, barkeep, butcher and merchant marine, all who tread upon these floors. Wives, rotund and corpulent from childbearing. Others aged and slim, touched these walls and bathed themselves and their children in the old claw foot tub. The threshold on the backdoor is worn from years of feet, now long gone. I’m curious about the motive that instigated the planting of the Araucaria, which now stands majestically suspended one hundred feet above our house. Monkeys may not be able to climb it, the Monkey Puzzle tree, But raccoons certainly can while carrying a young one. Did one of the earliest resid... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723749 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:33:34 +0100 1723749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717659&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fa-poetic-break-from-chronic-pain%2F Editor’s Note: Sue is currently recovering from a scheduled surgery. Please enjoy this poem she wrote, which is unrelated to chronic pain but full of that beautiful “Sue voice” we have all come to know and love. Feel better Sue! Always They say that in the mind of God There are these souls called twins, Because they love forever That’s true of her and him. Young and proud and lonely Her heart had known no joy When he came into her life, This wild and loving boy. She a small dark beauty Prim and proper in her ways, He loved her instantaneously, Desiring her always. He taught her how to love She made a home for him. She learned from him and he from her Times often hard and grim. She gave birth to daughters Each one unlike the other, They all grew up together, Father, dau... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717659 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:57:26 +0100 1717659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709806&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fthe-other-ms-drugs%2F First let me say that I’m sorry for not being in touch for about a week now. Between my schedule and some (really fun and exciting) things happening at HealthTalk, you haven’t seen a post from me in a while. I knew it was bad when my father called to check on me because he hadn’t read anything new in a while. Today, after looking back at several of your comments, I thought we’d talk about the “other” drugs we’re taking for MS symptoms. Not disease modifying therapies we inject or have infused into us to (hopefully) slow the disease. I’m talking about the stuff we take for the stuff that MS does to us. There are drugs for fatigue, muscle spasms and naturopathic pain. Pills for bladder issues, stiffness and buzzing and just about every other sy... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709806 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:16:37 +0100 1709806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709802&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fnew-checklists-for-staying-healthy-over-50%2F Two new checklists designed to help people over the age of 50 learn what they can do to stay healthy have been released by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the AARP. They provide all the information that women and men over 50 need to monitor and maintain their health. The two checklists are reprinted below, but originals can be obtained from the AHQR Web site, under the headings Tools and Resources, Health Care Consumers. Women: Stay Healthy at 50+ Checklists for Your Health Use the checklists in this flyer to help you stay healthy at 50+. The checklists help answer your questions about what daily steps you can take for good health, whether you need medicines to prevent disease, and which screening tests you need and when to get them.Select to downlo... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709802 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:57:11 +0100 1709802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709805&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fa-life-without-regrets%2F Editor’s Note: Sue wrote this blog entry in the wake of the news about our CLL blogger’s death. This post also appears on the CLL blog under the title, “Saying goodbye to Donna Gregory.” Life is often a struggle. Many of us who live with daily health problems know this all too well. All of us who share our stories and our lives here at HealthTalk.com do so in order to enrich our own lives and the lives of others. The vast majority of us write about our own problems with a few exceptions. One of those exceptions was a courageous outgoing and sunny-faced young woman named Donna Gregory. She wrote about her husband’s illness and its effect on both of them, as a young couple and as parents to their 4-year-old twins, Bobby and Amanda. Donna shared her life and her... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709805 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:48:59 +0100 1709805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1705049&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fwhat-spices-can-your-crohns-disease-tolerate%2F Today I thought we could make a running list of what spices other people with Crohn’s disease can tolerate. I can’t seem to tolerate much, and pretty much stick to the same old spices. Problem is, everything starts to taste pretty similar and I am always looking for ways to make my boring food more interesting without upsetting by insides. Here is the list of spices/ingredients that I tolerate well and use very frequently: Parsley Salt Olive Oil (a lot) Oregano Lime - juice or crystallized lime powder Lemon Soy sauce Basil (not a lot) Chives Celery salt My list of spices is pretty short. I cook a lot of fish in olive oil with salt and parsley. I will often throw some tomatoes and some onions (for the flavour - I don’t eat them) on top of the fish with some oregano, sal... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1705049 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:35:39 +0100 1705049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1701442&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fwho-do-you-love-in-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F This may sound like silliness, such as “who’s your Mama?” as well as “who do you love?” but when it comes to self-care, it’s an important question. It’s not as easy as it sounds, to love one’s self. We all grew up being told to “love your neighbor…” but the rest of that quote is, “as yourself.” I have learned that you can’t give away what you do not have. If you don’t love or at least like yourself, how can you love others? You are the primary vessel from which your life flows. You have to be the leading lady/guy in your own life story. When it comes to living with a chronic illness and/or chronic pain, you have to be your own best friend. To look out for yourself, your health and your welfare is your prime responsibility. I’ve always been amazed, as a nurse... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1701442 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:15:40 +0100 1701442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1701441&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fbernie-mac-just-what-is-sarcoid%2F Bernie Mac, comedian, writer, TV and film star, died this past weekend of pneumonia at the age of 50. He had suffered from an unusual condition known as sarcoidosis or sarcoid, since his 20s, but it was said to be in remission at the time of his death. It is probable, however, that the pneumonia was due to immune system suppression caused by the very medications used to treat his sarcoid disease. So, just what is sarcoid, who gets it, what happens and how is it treated? Sarcoidosis, also known as sarcoid, is an unusual inflammatory disorder of unknown cause. The inflammation it causes is also unusual in that it results in small nodules, called granulomas, which can join together to become larger nodules, and which can be present in a wide variety of organs, most typically the lungs. The no... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1701441 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:46:41 +0100 1701441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696483&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbrilliant-idea-universal-screening-for-breast-cancer%2F It is still baffling to me that in other countries like Norway, Canada and France, every woman can be screened regularly for breast cancer. Right now with the treatment options that are available like surgery and chemotherapy, detecting breast cancer early is key to surviving the disease. So doesn’t it make sense that every woman over the age of 40 be given the opportunity to get regular screening? You would think the richest most powerful country in the world would have been one of the first to figure that out. When women in Canada and Norway are living to an average age of 83 and women in France to 84, isn’t it a red flag that in the United States the life expectancy of women is only 80? (Life expectancy estimates for 2007, according to the Population Reference Bureau). One o... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696483 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:48:39 +0100 1696483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1692459&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhow-do-you-prepare-for-a-major-surgery%2F I originally wanted to call this blog DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE but didn’t want it to end up on a poultry Web site. Truly, however, that is how I feel about life lately. Right now and for the last few months, I’ve been getting all my “ducks in a row” to prepare for Urogynocological/rectal surgery; or as I prefer to call it “the old lady, everything is falling out and has to be tucked back in” surgery. After I get all of those ducks lined up, going through all the necessary testing to prepare; then I’ll get the “goose.” The abdominal surgery will put everything back where it belongs, and because of my history of relapsing polychondritis and prednisone use over the years some sort of mesh will be used to “hold me in place.” Let’... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1692459 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:30:23 +0100 1692459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689253&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Faugust-check-in-how-is-your-ms-today%2F By far our most popular, serial blog post; “How’s your MS today?” Each month I pose this question and many of you respond. I love the way that you use this opportunity post to contact one another, pose your own questions and suggest topics for further blogs. It has become a favorite of mine because I look forward to reading what you all have been up to in the great big world. My MS has been slipping a bit these past few weeks. You all know about my taste thing; that’s not much better (yet???). I’ve had some bouts of optic neuritis in the past week or so and that’s new for me. I have an appointment with my nurse practitioner next week and we’ll see if there is anything we want to do at that point. I’ve been traveling a bit more as of late and ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689253 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:53:23 +0100 1689253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689252&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Faugust-is-psoriasis-awareness-month%2F Each August, the National Psoriasis Foundation sponsors Psoriasis Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “Pools are for recreation, not for discrimination,” because surveys have found that one in five people with psoriasis have reported being denied service at a public pool in the prior 12 months. In fact, however, psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be spread by any form of contact. Unfortunately, many of the approximately 7.5 million Americans with psoriasis suffer from discrimination in any number of public places including pools, hair salons, gyms and health clubs. To address these issues, Psoriasis Awareness Month 2008 focuses on dispelling the myth that psoriasis is contagious. Rather, it is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that just happens, in some... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689252 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:46:23 +0100 1689252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683532&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fdo-you-have-a-healthy-balance-of-pain-and-pleasure%2F As all of you have already discovered, there are basically two kinds of pain. Those are physical and mental. Both are stressful, of course, and by their nature, not enjoyable. I’m not certain if the direct opposite of pain is relief from pain or is it pleasure? Pleasure, on the other hand, is very subjective for each individual, but there are certain aspects of life which we would all agree give pleasure, joy and zest to life. Mental Pain: At the top of this list, for many of us with chronic pain, would be dealing with individuals who just “don’t get it.” Unfortunately, sometimes these people work for doctors or worse yet, are doctors. Aren’t there times you wish you could “paint a picture” or come up with some better way to communicate what your l... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683532 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:37:25 +0100 1683532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683531&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fgranite-and-radiation-are-you-at-risk%2F The New York Times has initiated some controversy with its July 24, 2008 article entitled “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?” The article reports on the finding of worrisome levels of radiation being emitted from some granite countertops that were tested in a few homes. But the controversy is not whether granite countertops emit any radiation, but how much and if some pieces are more radioactive than others. That’s because granite naturally contains some uranium, which is radioactive and which decays into radon that can also be released (radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer). It’s generally thought, however, that the amounts contained in most countertops are very small and not enough to pose a significant health hazard. Most experts agree that th... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683531 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:33:10 +0100 1683531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1679702&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Ftwo-new-cases-of-pml-reported-in-ms-patients-taking-tysabri%2F This past week, Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals, reported to their respective regulatory agencies that two new cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) were conclusively diagnosed in European MS patients who were undergoing Tysabri (natalizumab) mono-therapy for multiple sclerosis. The details of the reports are somewhat vague. Extensive procedures taking approximately two months for each patient have proven that two separate patients in two different countries who were using Tysabri for two separate kinds of MS for differing periods of time have contracted PML. Both patients are reported as “stable,” though company officials were vague on the patients’ prognoses. It’s not like we didn’t expect to hear this news… eventually. Everyone on Tysabri knows that... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1679702 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:38:01 +0100 1679702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1675220&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fbook-club-blog-the-diagnosing-ms-attack%2F I know we’re supposed to be finishing our book this month, but I’m changing the plan. In re-reading chapter 20 our book of current discussion, “Notes from a Minor Key,” coupled with my recent rehash of my own MS diagnosis, I just felt like this chapter might be an important one to discuss in depth. Chapter 20 deals with the author’s (Dawn Bailiff) diagnosing attack, an episode which, while different for each of us, we can all relate. I totally loved that Dawn refers to the way she was treated in hospital as “Project Moi.” I literally laughed out loud in a public place when I read that line. How many of us haven’t felt like that at least once in our MS career? I’ve stated before that most of us are still spinning from the attack (let alo... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1675220 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:12:38 +0100 1675220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668784&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fnow-is-the-time-for-our-breast-cancer-battle-cry%2F We have heard nothing new or exciting regarding breast cancer treatment for quite a while now. It is so frustrating when you are hoping for a major breakthrough towards a cure. Even the fact that so much headway has been made on the genetic front with regards to breast cancer hasn’t garnered better treatment options. The best treatment option that has come out of genetic profiling is to remove healthy body parts to prevent cancer. We have been sending men into space for decades. Man has even walked on the moon. Why then can we not find a cure or a safe easy treatment for breast cancer? Do we need more money? Do we need more brains? Do we need more motivation? This is a huge issue with me. The government gives 900 million dollars a year to breast cancer research, the Susan G Komen org... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668784 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:33:09 +0100 1668784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668785&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Ftaking-the-occasional-sick-day-because-of-crohns%2F Tonight I am having insensitivity issues, so instead of brewing about all of it I will just share with you. I know that my feelings are wrong but that doesn’t stop me from feeling them. This last week I have had what I guess was a cold and now my husband says that he has a cold, which I apparently gave to him. I have a hard time telling what exactly is wrong with me since I have a lot of sinus problems and get these bouts of pain throughout my body (like a flu). I only know if I had something for sure if my husband or daughter starts to feel bad too. I am working on my sensitivity, but sometimes I think that my husband can be such a baby when he doesn’t feel good. I know that this is wrong, but I want to scream - why can’t I lie around and do nothing at all and lie in my ... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668785 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:16:32 +0100 1668785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1664735&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Frandy-pausch-dies-of-pancreatic-cancer%2F Randy Pausch, the noted Carnegie Mellon computer science professor, has died at the age of 47 from pancreatic cancer. Pausch had become internationally known for his now famous Last Lecture, which was viewed by millions (you can watch it below) and was the subject of his #1 bestseller of the same name, which has already been translated into at least 30 languages. Since his diagnosis, Mr. Pausch had been treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and an experimental cancer vaccine. So what is it about pancreatic cancer that makes it so deadly? Let’s start with some basic information. Pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in about 37,680 Americans in 2008 and will take the lives of about 34,290, making it the fourth most common cause of cancer death after lung, colon, prostate and bre... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1664735 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:50:52 +0100 1664735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1661056&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fwhat-does-your-dream-ms-clinic-look-like%2F I like to think of the Life with MS blog as an informational resource, a shoulder to cry upon and an outlet for every emotion under the MS sun. In my opinion, all of your comments are a well of experiences which I seem to dip into often. Today I am going back to the well for your opinions. We did this once a couple of years ago with success, so we’ll give it another go. I was contacted last week by someone within the multiple sclerosis community whom I respect very much. (I think I’m going to leave names and cities out of this for now as not all elements of this project have “set”) A new MS Center is in the works, this future “dream center” could very well shake-up the way we think of going to clinic - and they wanted to know what would make for our drea... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1661056 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:43:24 +0100 1661056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1661055&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-is-unfair-but-so-is-life%2F This weekend a dear friend’s nephew was struck by a car while driving his motorcycle. He will probably lose his leg below the knee. He is only 17. I am heartbroken for this family knowing what is facing them and because I have my own 17-year-old son. I’m sure his mother would gladly sacrifice two good breasts to spare her son’s leg. We know that cancer or tragedy doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t choose one in the family and then spare the rest. There is so much unfairness in all of this. I remember over 20 years ago sitting beside the bed of a family friend who was dying of breast cancer. I remember vividly her looking at me with disbelief saying “this is so unfair.” She had been a nurse for most of her life and now in her late 60’s she had ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1661055 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:37:58 +0100 1661055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655759&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcan-cancer-make-you-adapt-to-stress%2F In June, I took a much-needed vacation with Sister to Mackinaw Island in Northern Michigan. Today I am on a much-needed vacation with dear girlfriends in middle Michigan. We laugh and talk and cry and do all the good things girls do when they get together. This is all part of my “Have more fun” plan. Since I was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, my life has been an ongoing saga and it is fast becoming an epic. On Wednesday I sat with my husband during his consultation with a radiologist regarding treating the prostate cancer he was diagnosed with last month. We are still in a whirlwind with my youngest son who will be a senior this year and is fretting that he hasn’t yet got an offer to play college football. My eldest son is battling emotional issues and refus... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655759 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:44:35 +0100 1655759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652662&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-power-of-perseverance-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F The list of virtues and vices associated with this life, one of pain everyday, is a long one. Apart from my feelings of morality, religion or philosophy, the virtues tend to actually be life giving. It’s a scientific fact. The vices are life taking. And that is as they say, “Just the facts, ladies and gents.” The vices, well, we all know what they are such as drug addiction, gross obesity, sloth (that’s when you sit around on your fanny and don’t care), bitterness and anger, just to name a few. Every one of those is an offense against oneself. These vices are a form of internal combustion, and will eventually leave you desolate, alone and in ruin. I apologize if that’s too direct but we just don’t have time to always be tactful in this blog because... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652662 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:10:28 +0100 1652662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1649369&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fan-important-webcast-on-ms-guilt%2F Snowflake to snowball in three months - we’re quite the community here at Life with MS! In April, after a meeting with a friend at our local National MS Society “Walk MS” event I posted my thoughts on “MS survivor guilt.” Your comments took the subject on a bit of a ramble and the editorial board of HealthTalk took notice. Tomorrow night, we’re going to have a go at the WHOLE gambit of feelings of guilt, shame and inadequacy that multiple sclerosis can load into our personal baggage. The MS webcast, entitled, “Letting Go of Your MS Guilt” airs live on Thursday evening. We’ve assembled a panel of three experts in the field: a therapist, a man living with advanced MS and his wife/care partner (who is also a founder of a national caregiver... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1649369 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:33:48 +0100 1649369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1646466&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fct-angiography-a-scambusters-report%2F If you see advertisements for or your doctor recommends you undergo CT angiography because it’s a relatively quick, painless way to get detailed images of your heart and its blood supply, and could uncover hidden abnormalities even though you have no symptoms of heart disease, consider asking the following questions: Do you, or does your practice, own or lease the CT scanning machine? How much money do you or your practice stand to gain from this test? If I went to another cardiologist, who doesn’t own or lease a CT scanning machine do you think they would also recommend the test? Turns out that there’s a significant controversy surrounding the increasing use of CT angiography. Not surprisingly, most of its proponents own or lease the equipment while its detract... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646466 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:40:48 +0100 1646466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1635268&cid=t_167114_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Ffarewell-caregivers%2F I am sad to say, I am hanging up my blogger hat after 18 months to make way for some fresh perspective for another caregiver. I have really enjoyed sharing my views and experiences caring for Pops with the HealthTalk audience during these past months, but it’s time to relinquish the forum to some of the other caregiver voices out there. There is a near-infinite variety of caregiver situations and mine and Pops’s is just one, and frankly I have pretty much exhausted what I have to say. In fact, when I looked back on my 18 months of blog entries, I can’t help notice some of them are remarkably similar. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. One of the singular aspects of caregiving is you find yourself doing a lot of the same stuff over and over again. From a personal standpoint, I think ... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1635268 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:06:48 +0100 1635268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1635269&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fvitamin-d-are-you-getting-enough%2F The odds are that you aren’t getting enough vitamin D from your diet or from the sun and that you need to be taking vitamin D supplements, as I’ll explain below. I recently had a routine physical examination and blood work done and while most everything turned out fine, my vitamin D levels were found to be low. And since there are no symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, I wouldn’t have otherwise known about it before I developed osteoporosis (which would be a bit late in the game I think). Moreover, adequate vitamin D levels are now being recognized as important not only in preventing osteoporosis, but also in preventing several types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, falls, chronic pain syndromes and a variety of autoimmune diseases (with the list growing on a nearly daily basis). Evi... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1635269 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:35:58 +0100 1635269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631709&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fhealthy-recipe-grilled-summer-veggies%2F Summer? Check. Veggies? Check. Grill? Check. Put them together and what do you get? Grilled Summer Veggies! Let’s face it folks (with all respect to our friends Down Under) summer is in full swing! The kitchen is too hot to spend even a few minutes sweltering in. We want to spend as little time on meal prep as possible. The garden will soon be yielding far more bounty than one can consume. What to do? I’ve found one of the simplest and most adaptable methods of preparing fresh from the garden vegetables. All it takes is a hot grill, a few summer vegetables and a little bit of salad dressing for flavor and oil. Grilled Summer Vegetables Assortment of Summer Veggies (zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, eggplant, sweet onions, asparagus, beans, whatever else you may have) sliced if nee... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631709 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:44:05 +0100 1631709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631707&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhave-you-done-your-part-to-contribute-to-the-cure%2F The American Cancer Society (ACS) hosts Relay for Life events all over the country. It celebrates those that have survived cancer and remembers those who have lost their lives to it. I love this organization and have even applied for different positions within their local offices, which unfortunately I have not been successful in obtaining. However, I really do love this organization. My family has been dealing with cancer from the mid eighties and we have always been able to get valuable support and services from the Canadian counterpart as well as our American offices. When I was little, I remember my mother selling daffodils and helping to plan events with the ACS. This Saturday, I have the honor of being a part of a local Relay for Life event. I have been asked to be the speaker to the... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631707 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:29:50 +0100 1631707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631708&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fwhat-its-like-to-be-pregnant-with-crohns-disease%2F Since I was talking about my daughter last week, I thought that I would continue that theme this week and tell you about my pregnancy. We had only been married for three months and never planned to have a baby so quickly. In fact, we were going to wait two years to get accustomed to being married while we investigated the risks associated with having Crohn’s disease and being pregnant. The year of our wedding, I was really adamant about getting off the steroids and not being fat-faced for my wedding day. I had been recovering from a flare when he proposed and when he told me he wanted to get married in six months, the only thing I could think of was “how will I ever get low enough on the prednisone to look normal for my wedding?” But I did it! I managed to get down to 5 mg and wa... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631708 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:55:20 +0100 1631708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625856&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ftony-snow-colon-cancer-and-you%2F Former White House press secretary Tony Snow died of colon cancer this past weekend at the age of 53. He was first diagnosed in 2005 at the age of 50. Current guidelines recommend that screening for colon cancer for people with average risk should begin at age 50 (and be repeated every 10 years) but that people with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with colon cancer should begin screening at age 40 (or 10 years younger than the earliest diagnosis in their family). Mr. Snow’s mother died of colon cancer at age 38 when he was just 17 years old, which would mean that he should have begun screening at age 28 and have had it repeated every 5 years. Had he followed those guidelines he might still be alive and cancer-free today. Have you been screened for colon cancer? Not count... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625856 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:15:42 +0100 1625856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1623070&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fhey-president-bush-lets-talk-disability%2F Forgive a short post today. I am off to a three day quarterly meeting of the National Council on Disability. This is a council appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to deal with disability issues in America. There will be several public comment sessions during this meeting. The council last year decided to hold their quarterly meetings around the nation so as to be more in touch with our needs. This one is in Seattle and their meeting in the fall is scheduled for Kansas City. I’m pressed for time today, but wanted to put something out to our community. I’ll have an opportunity to address the Council as well as interact on a one-on-one basis with several members. Is there anything you would like me to bring up? Are there concerns you think these advisors should pass alo... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1623070 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:38:48 +0100 1623070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1623069&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fsex-and-cancer-do-docs-focus-more-on-mens-needs%2F I am learning a lot going through the process of decision-making with my husband regarding his recent prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. For one thing, doctors are taking his sexuality very seriously and how it will be affected by treatment seems to be a priority. So I wonder, is this because he is a man? How come no one prepares us for the bad body image, loss of sexual desire and even the loss of sensation that is associated with having a breast removed? Is it less important because we are women? I know that for women of child-bearing years there seems to be a lot of support to ensure that fertility is still intact, but that isn’t the same as our sexuality. What about single women of any age who are still dating and needing to feel like they are sexual beings? There is really ver... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1623069 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:37:44 +0100 1623069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1616542&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-and-a-clean-house%2F If there is one thing I hear more than any other, when people are being real about the day-to-day challenges of living with MS, it’s keeping the house clean. It seems to be one of the hardest things to “let go.” It may be one of the hardest to let go, but once we do (and correct me if I’m wrong here) it’s one of the biggest burdens lifted. I used to have a housekeeper come to my houses three or four times per month. That’s no longer an economic reality anymore (and I don’t think I’m alone on that one). If we do work, a lot of times it’s to keep the insurance coming in. Even when I was at the top of my game, when things got a little tight around the purse strings, the housekeeper visits were the first to be cut back or stopped. It’s kind of funny because we a... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1616542 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:55:22 +0100 1616542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1606283&cid=t_167114_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fenjoying-the-sun-as-a-cancer-survivor%2F Michigan has been getting more than normal rain this summer. When it is sunny, it is hard to resist getting outside to bathe in it. Since I have been in my 20s I have been protective of my skin by using sunscreen daily, even in the winter when I am going to be outside. Because of all of the great news that has accompanied vitamin D, I have actually purposely exposed my skin to the sun this year since the sun is the best source of vitamin D. I still protect my face (for vanity reasons mostly), and I really only expose my skin for maybe five minutes at a time. As breast cancer survivors, we need to avoid other cancers and skin cancer is one we really need to be vigilant about. For safety reasons, I really do limit my sun exposure. I also take a vitamin D supplement. We now know that vitamin ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1606283 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:36:21 +0100 1606283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1596924&cid=t_167114_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fmaster-cleanse-still-crazy-after-all-these-years%2F The Master Cleanse program is a liquid (lemonade) fast some of whose proponents tout its benefits as a diet while others recommend it as a detoxification regimen. In either case, its adherents are both misinformed and misguided. As with all quick-fix crash diets, Master Cleanse works initially (because of extremely reduced caloric intake and excessive bowel movements), but as soon as the fast ends and regular eating resumes, the lost weight is quickly regained. As a detoxification regimen, Master Cleanse is both unnecessary and ineffective. Your colon is not a septic tank, building up toxic contents, that needs periodic cleaning. Rather, it is an elegantly evolved perpetually self-cleaning system that empties on a regular, or as-needed, basis. In this regard, consider the wisdom of Dr. Dou... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1596924 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:17:59 +0100 1596924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1594048&cid=t_167114_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fdating-with-multiple-sclerosis%2F A popular topic here at Life with MS is dating (or finding a relationship) with multiple sclerosis. I know it’s difficult, I’ve been there myself and it is without a doubt difficult. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been doing some undercover research into Internet dating for the disabled. Don’t worry my fiancée (Caryn) knew what I was doing before I checked out the scene on these sites. Those of us with MS want the same things out of a relationship that anyone wants out of a relationship. For example, we want happiness, companionship and we want love. Our profiles on the dating sites don’t list different desires than “typical” people. “Someone who is comfortable with himself, accepting of me for who I am and can make me laugh” has got to be the number one thing I read ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1594048 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:18:42 +0100 1594048