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You are viewing the most recent 20 entries March 9th, 200903:22 pm: MARCH IS ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH
MARCH IS ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH
Backed by Congressional legislation, the Endometriosis Research Center is again celebrating March as “Endometriosis Awareness Month” in honor of all those affected by the disease.
Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunological disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining (endometrium) migrates outside the womb and implants in other areas of the body. The disorder, for which there is no absolute cure, affects over 5.5 million women and girls in the U.S. alone and more than 70 million globally. Often stigmatized as simply “killer cramps,” symptoms include painful periods, pelvic pain at any point in a woman or girl's cycle, infertility, pain with sexual activity, gastrointestinal and urinary tract difficulties and much more. The disease can even implant in areas like lungs, diaphragm, and in some cases, even the brain.
Moreover, research has shown an elevated risk of certain cancers and autoimmune disorders in those with Endometriosis, as well as malignant changes within the disease itself. Researchers remain unsure as to the definitive cause of Endometriosis, which can only be diagnosed through surgery, though studies indicate that genetics, immune dysfunction and exposure to environmental toxicants may be contributing factors. The economic impact of Endometriosis is staggering: American businesses lose billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and work time because of the disease.
The ERC maintains that Endometriosis is more than just painful periods. “We continue to find that the disease remains misdiagnosed, misunderstood and ineffectively treated, despite being one of the most prevalent causes of hysterectomy, infertility and pelvic pain in women and girls around the globe," said Michelle E. Marvel, ERC Founder & Executive Director. "Despite hallmark symptoms, the average delay in diagnosis remains an astounding 9 years, and a patient will seek the counsel of 5 or more physicians before her pain is adequately addressed," she added. Endometriosis can affect women from all walks of life ranging from adolescence to post-menopause, and be so painful as to render a woman or girl unable to go about her normal routine. “It is not unusual for a patient to undergo repeated surgeries and embark on different medical therapies; many carrying significantly negative side effects and none offering long-term relief,” noted Marvel.
A growing number of younger women are also being diagnosed annually, with studies indicating that as many as 70% of teenagers with chronic pelvic pain ultimately have Endometriosis proven by surgery. Studies have also shown that Endometriosis may have an even bigger impact on younger patients: in those under 22 years of age, the rate of recurrence was double that of older women (35% versus 19%). Studies have also revealed that the disease behaves differently in younger women, leading researchers to believe it may be a different form of Endometriosis altogether. “It is imperative that society begins to recognize the far-reaching impact this illness continues to have on patients of all ages, not just those trying to conceive, in order to ensure that our daughters do not continue to suffer as we have,” noted Heather Guidone, an ERC Executive Board Member and the Program Director of the Center for Endometriosis Care.
The ERC strongly advocates for early intervention, timely diagnosis and efficacy of treatment for the disease. Through their efforts to raise public awareness in the medical and lay communities, the organization hopes to facilitate better support of patients, increase physician understanding of the disease and raise research funding, which will hopefully lead to more effective treatments and ultimately, a cure. The ERC, unique in that it is a free organization, has traditionally celebrated the entire month of March as Awareness Month, coinciding with the organization’s annual anniversary.
The ERC is sponsoring various education and awareness initiatives throughout March across the nation this year, ranging from the annual offering of their Nancy Petersen, RN Nursing Scholarship to their “Adopt a Doctor” program to various fundraising for the cure events. To kick off Awareness Month, renowned Artist Audrey Fisher will be hosting “Art for Endometriosis,” an exciting event to be held at Taxi2 Gallery in Denver, CO. For more information on this and other awareness month endeavors, please visit http://www.endocenter.org/artforendo.htm or contact Denise Childs, ERC Director of Fundraising, at FundraisingDirector@EndoCenter.org.Tags: charity, chronic pain, disability, doctors, ea, endo, endometriosis, endometriosis association, endometriosis awareness, health, women's health
07:38 am: Endo links to Fibromyalgia & other conditions..
This sucks..
A New Study
The September 17, 2002 issue of Woman's Day magazine reported on the link between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases and cancer. A collaborative study by the NIH and the Association showed that women with endo are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Sjögren's Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), asthma, and fibromyalgia.Tags: endo, endometriosis, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, health
May 12th, 200811:23 am: Support FMS/CFS day
Today is
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome National Awareness Day
Wear a purple ribbon to show your support for those with FMS and/or CFS
If you can't wear a purple ribbon, wear purple!!
Tags: fibromyalgia, fms, health, purple
April 30th, 200804:30 pm: Women's Health
HEALTH QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Am I Normal?
The truth behind soggy sweat glands, out-of-nowhere orgasms, and other bizarre body behaviour
Michelle Andrews
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/health-questions-answered?cm_mmc=Newsletter-_-2008_Apr_30-_-Health-_-Am.I.Normal.Top
Worth the read, if only for the Matthew McConaughey reference.. *GRIN*Tags: article, health, women's health, yum
03:08 pm: Women's Health
THE MEDICAL TESTS YOU SHOULD TAKE
Head-to-Toe Tune-Up
Just like your car, your body needs routine maintenance. We asked the experts to help us create this easy schedule for what to do when in your 20s, 30s, 40s
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/the-medical-tests-you-should-take/
Again, definitely worth the read.Tags: article, breast cancer, health, sex, women's health
02:42 pm: Women's Health
THE MOST HEALTHY THINGS YOU CAN DO
The 101 Best Things to Do For Your Body -- Now!
Live till you're 120. Be happy 24/7. Never have another cold. OK, so we exaggerate. But follow our tips, and you'll come pretty damn close
Jennifer Bright Reich, additional reporting by Loren Chidoni
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/the-most-healthy-things-you-can-do?cm_mmc=Newsletter-_-2008_Apr_30-_-Health-_-The.101.Best.Things.to.Do.for.Your.Body.Top
Definitely worth the read.Tags: article, breast cancer, family, food, friends, hair, health, sleep, women's health, yoga
March 20th, 200802:03 pm: Strike & sleep
My Content strike starts at Thursday, March 20, 8:00 PM..
I did eventually fall asleep.. I'm guessing near or shortly after 8am.. & I get a call at 10.53.. Rob makin' sure I am up.. well, no.. I didn't get to sleep til around 8 & I had set my alarm fer 11.. so, no, I was still asleep.. But I was up & out the door at 11.15 fer my 11.30 Drs appointment... & now I am home.. & I shall have a nap.. I will set the alarm for 2 hours.. hopefully, I'll be functional at that point.. I'd like to wash the remaining dishes & vacuum the rest of the apartment..(living room/dining room/hallway) cuz I got the bedrooms done, both of them yesterday.. I'd also like to get the pull cord back on the light in the bedroom.. that requires extra balance so I might wait til Rob and/or Stephen are home.. I am hoping to get to sleep on time tonight. *sigh*
Edit [3.13pm] : Damn FB.. now I am going fer my nap.Current Mood:  Tired, but awake.. , content strike, doctors, health, kelli, real, sleep, stephen
04:49 am: I can't sleep
Surprise.. surprise.. I can't sleep.. But I wanna.. I'm so damn tired.
There's several reasons fer that which I can name of the top of my head.. the first being that Rob's not here.. I can never get to sleep or sleep well when he's not here.. I have a headache.. My tummy's gone wonky, yet I am hungry.. My shoulders were bothering me (fms pain) earlier.. I had a shower & left the towel on my head - I can't seem to sleep with a towel on my head.. I find it odd that I can't sleep with a towel on my head, but I *can* sleep with curlers in my hair - go figure..
At about 2.30, I gave up & grabbed the book I am currently reading & read fer about an hour.. & then snuggled back into bed.. but it's almost 5am & I am still wide awake.. :(
Any suggestions on a natural way to conk out? I'm already doubled up on my sleep pills which are mainly for my RLS anyways..Current Mood:  Wide Awake :( , drugs, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, hair, health, hunger, insomnia, kelli, real, rob, sleep
March 7th, 200806:40 am: Winter Wonderland
Will Winter never end? This is copied straight from The Weather Network's Website..
Winter storm watch for: City of Toronto
Issued at 5:02 AM EST FRIDAY 7 MARCH 2008
..WINTER STORM EXPECTED TO GIVE HEAVY SNOW SATURDAY.. THIS IS AN ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THESE REGIONS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS.
IT APPEARS THAT THE SNOW WILL COME IN TWO DOSES. THE FIRST SHOT WILL BEGIN AS EARLY AS THIS AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO AND LATER TODAY IN EASTERN ONTARIO. WE MAY HAVE A BRIEF REPRIEVE OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING WHERE SNOW MAY BECOME LIGHT AND MORE INTERMITTENT. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS THEN EXPECTED IN THE SECOND SHOT BEGINNING MIDDAY SATURDAY IN THE SOUTHWEST AND IN THE AFTERNOON OVER EASTERN ONTARIO. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE SNOWFALL DURATION WILL BE ABOUT 36 HOURS BUT THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL BE SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. STORM TOTALS MAY BE 20 TO 30 CENTIMETRES ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM LONG POINT TO THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE THEN TO PETAWAWA. THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR 30 TO 50 CENTIMETRES OF SNOW OVER THE NIAGARA PENINSULA AND PARTS OF EASTERN ONTARIO.
TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL DEPEND ON THE TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM AND THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE AVAILABLE TO CONVERT TO SNOW. WINTER STORM WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHEN SNOWFALL OF 25 CENTIMETRES IS EXPECTED IN 24 HOURS.
Lovely... God only knows what *this* weather shift is gonna do to my barometer of a body.. *sigh8 I hate fms.Current Mood:  Hurtin'. , fibromyalgia, fms, health, snow, weather
06:37 am:
Why is it that when we (those of us with chronic pain conditions) have pain, we can't sleep, yet, when we're medicated for the pain & the pain is significantly lessened or gone, we still can't sleep.. Help me out with this one.. I have still yet to sleep, despite being in bed for most of the night, despite being exhausted from doing too much today~ er, yesterday~, despite the prescription sleep aids..
I don't get it.. Anyone got a theory?Current Mood: Hurtin'. , drugs, fatigue, health, insomnia, real, sleep
February 15th, 200808:32 am: Marijuana-based Drug Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain
Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study, published in The Journal of Pain.
Newswise — Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study, published in The Journal of Pain .
Fibromyalgia syndrome has no cure, is difficult to diagnose, and effective pain management strategies are a must to help patients cope with the disease. An estimated 12 million Americans have fibromyalgia, which is characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain and myriad other symptoms. The condition is far more prevalent in women and the incidence increases with age, reaching 7 percent among women 65 years and older.
Forty subjects were selected for the nabilone trial, conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba Rehabilitation Hospital. They were divided into nabilone and placebo groups and were treated for four weeks. The authors noted this was the first randomized, controlled-access trial to evaluate nabilone for pain reduction and quality-of-life improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Nabilone is one of two oral marijuana-based compounds, known as cannabinoids, available in Canada and is approved for treatment of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.
Results of the Manitoba study showed the nabilone group had significant reductions in pain and anxiety, measured by comparisons with baseline scores on the visual analogue scale for pain, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the FIQ anxiety score. From the data, the study concluded nabilone has significant benefits for pain relief and functional improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Although the improvement was significant, none of the nabilone-treated subjects had complete relief of their fibromyalgia symptoms.
The drug was well tolerated by treated patients, which the authors characterized as reassuring since fibromyalgia patients are sensitive to most medications and have difficulty tolerating side effects. The downside, however, is cost. In Canada, nabilone would cost about $4,000 for a year's supply.
The authors believe their findings warrant consideration of nabilone as an adjunct to current medical management of fibromyalgia.
Source: http://www.newswise.com:80/articles/view/537783/
They State their source as the American Pain SocietyTags: chronic pain, drugs, fibromyalgia, fms, health
January 24th, 200804:02 pm: Words again..
Any suggestions on Emotional words?? I stole most of the ones in the mood list.. I have 131 so far.. anyone have suggestions???
I need to use them for my emotional journaling..
I dunno what I have on the list ( it's on my home PC) but I need ideas like..
( Festive )Tags: emotions, health
03:15 am: Letter
Dear body
I hate you.
Sincerely,
Me.Tags: health
12:34 am: health update..
A real live post that actually means something.. I am currently staying at Rob's cuz I am feeling just WAY too shitty to go anywhere.. I'm tired, hurting, sore, achy, exhausted, weak, lethargic.. just generally really not able to do much.. Been highly drugged up.. Unable to sleep.. massive IBS issues... Specific abdominal pain in the area of my ovary where I typically get Endometriosis pain.. Missed my allergist.. Missed my counselor, twice ~ no, today made thrice..
Tomorrow's the GP.. I can't miss it - I gotta find out what's slowly killing me here.. to say nothing of the negative impact this having on my relationship with Rob..Current Mood:  See post. , chronic pain, doctors, drugs, endo, endometriosis, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, health, ibs, real, relationships, rob, sleep
November 30th, 200703:20 am:
In retrospect to my swan dive a week and a half ago.. ER doc said he thought I fractured my ankle.. I looked at the Xray at the fracture clinic last Friday.. I couldn't see a recent fracture in my ankle, but I could sure as well see one in my foot.. so I have a nasty fracture on the long outside bone in my left foot - no clue what it's called.. damn near close to a full break tho.. So I am in an air cast.. kinda the same idea a Nike Air's.. ya pump 'em up... Cast is on through Christmas & New Years til early January..
So that's that..Tags: christmas, doctors, er, health, holiday, new years
03:14 am: Allergies suck
Damn it.. it's after 3am.. and I can't sleep due to this damn cat allergy which has clogged up my sinuses, makes me sneeze every few minutes & Given me this blinding sinus headache.. I can't sleep despite all the meds I have taken & would rather not take T3's for a sinus headache.. I need to get out of here.. These cats are killing me!!
Edit: 4.30am.. still up.. can't breathe.Current Mood:  Stuffy. , drugs, health, kelli, move, real, sleep
November 20th, 200707:11 pm: my foot
I took a swan dive off the stairs in the basement yesterday.. er today?? it's was like 12.05 to I guess it was today.. the last step at the bottom in half the height as the rest of them.. I thought I was on that last half step... I wasn't... I was on my way down in the basement to get my comforter, have a shower & go to bed..
INSTEAD, Mike, my new roomie, heared me scream ( he called it a squeal) as I went down & ask me if I was alright.. I hesitate, moved my foot & promptly told him now, that I needed to go to the er cuz something popped or did something when it landed & that i could no longer move it.. SO, off to the ER we go.. & Mike was so sweet about it.. (If I had any friends who were into redheads, I'd so introduce) he took me to the ER.. & of course, my fibro kicks in while I am there.. my back kept going in & out of spasm... fun fun fun.. & my leggs kept threatening to hit into charlie horses.. my back actually did once when I was trying to get outta the wheel chair to get onto the bed for my cast..
Cast? Ya.. actually a half cast, cuz the Er do wasn't sure if it was a fracture or not, so I have a cast just in case.. not that it immobilizes me *that* much.. I have to go the fracture clinic on Friday.. if the fracture doc says it's a fracture, I keep it on fer 4-6 weeks, if it's not a fracture, off it comes.. if it loosens up anymore, I'll ask for another one.. & ask it they can Please make it a little shorter.. so, I might be in a cast for Christmas.. that sucks..
So we get back.. since there's not alot of maneuver room, I just bummed & crawled in the house & up the stairs & into my room.. I had to them make my way to the bathroom by myself.. which was interesting..
by this time it's about 4am.. & I called Rob to let him know what was going on, cuz I'd called him before we hit the ER about what I'd done.. we talked fer a bit.. & that in itself is another post.
So, near 7 am, my right legg finally kicks in with all the charlie horses.. firts the shin, then the thigh, then the calf.. all, of course, connecting to the foot.. *sigh*.. I was not a happy camper.. trying to find a happy medium between a simultaneous shin/calf charlie horse was interesting & painful.. hurt more than my 'broken' foot did..
Got to sleep shortly after 9 am.. woke up about an hour ago..
& for the rest of the week.. I have an appointment with SS tomorrow morning, 9am.. I have my hearing in TO on Thursday, have to be ther by 9am.. and have *2* doc appointments on Friday.. one with my GP in Scarb on Friday & the other with the fracture clinic at 1.. I think I'm gonna postpone my appointment with my GP til next week.. I can't do 2 at once.. hard enough to do it with just the fibro.. can't do it with my foot f**ked up as well..
So needless to day last night was interesting.. now I need food.. substance.. it's been now over 24 hours since I ate something of nutritional value.
But I was impressed.. my shortest ER visit .. 12.30 til..3.30.. not bad.. 3hrsTags: christmas, doctors, er, fibromyalgia, fms, food, health, help, holiday, hunger, insomnia, real, rob, sleep, vent
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