a candid look at managing and living with headaches & migraines

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Archive for June, 2007

The Daily Headache’s Second Blogiversary!

Two years ago today, I posted Musings of a Migraineur:   Like everyone with migraine or chronic daily headache, I’m not just a patient or a sufferer. I have interests and passions and don’t want chronic pain to define me, but there’s no handbook telling me how to avoid it. It seems that I face [...]

Romantic Relationships, Marriage & Chronic Illness

Whether you’re married, living together or dating, chronic illness causes upheaval in any romantic relationship — no matter if it is solid or if it’s a little rocky. In marriages involving a chronic illness, the divorce rate is more that 75 percent (from A Chronic Dose). I get asked for advice a lot and am [...]

Balance & Illness: Tips for Slowing Yourself Down

“Holy Toledo Bat Girl.” You gotta respect any email that begins that! In response to Balance & Illness (and Always Pushing Myself Over the Edge), Carolyn sent me a caring, sympathetic note. She shared her experience with and tips for keeping herself from overdoing it. About 4 years ago I got into rebound headaches for [...]

News From the American Headache Society’s Annual Meeting

If I wait to write about news from the American Headache Society’s annual meeting in depth, it may never get posted. So here are the headlines and links to AHS’s press releases. Insurance, Cost Issues Prevent People From Treating Migraines Insurance companies often limit the number of migraine pills people are allowed each month, so [...]

Doctors’ Perspectives on Medicine

A panel of anonymous physicians respond to questions about the profession in New York Magazine’s Best Doctor issue. It’s seven pages long, so this is just a glimpse. How should a person choose a doctor? “I think it’s the same as choosing a car mechanic. You have a person who does your taxes, and you [...]

Balance & Illness (and Always Pushing Myself Over the Edge)

It’s 2:35 p.m. and I just got out of bed. I tried to get up at 10:30. I took a bath and went right back to sleep. My head wasn’t even that bad, but I was completely spent. Reviewing the last three weeks, it’s not surprising. Since May 21, I have: Surprised Hart with a [...]

CGRP Receptor Antagonist a Promising New Migraine Abortive Drug

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist MK-0974 holds promise as a migraine abortive, according to Phase II study results that will be presented at the American Headache Society‘s annual meeting this week. The drug works by blocking CGRP, a brain chemical that is important for transmitting pain signals during a migraine. It does not appear [...]

Ask the Expert About Headaches & Migraines: National Headache Awareness Week

A daily Q&A with headache experts is being posted each day of National Headache Awareness Week. Submitted by patients, questions cover the gamut of headache topics. Some so far: sinus headaches, sudden onset headaches, new daily persistent headache, headaches triggered by sun or sex, and burning and tingling in the back of the head. Q&As [...]

National Headache Awareness Week, June 3-9

As part of National Headache Awareness Week, the National Headache Foundation has identified seven healthy habits of headache sufferers. NHF’s goal is to help headache sufferers reduce headache risk and live a happy life despite headaches. Seven Healthy Habits of Headache Sufferers Diet: Eat regular meals, avoiding foods and drinks that are known to trigger [...]

Terrific Migraine Blog: Somebody Heal Me

Somebody Heal Me is a migraine blog that I’ve been digging. A migraine sufferer for 25+ years, Diana also struggles with depression. She writes poignant personal posts, provides regular migraine news roundups and shares links to helpful resources. Excerpts from some of my favorite posts: Short Cuts “Depression has pinned me under its weight, making [...]