Migraine News

MAGNUM Announcs Migraine Award Winning Poems At the End of National Poetry Month

MAGNUM Announces Winner's of HealthCentral Network's 2008 Putting Our Heads Together Poetry Contest

WASHINGTON, DC—April 30th, 2008;  T. S. Eliot wrote, "April is the cruelest month" and the W.H.O.* calls Migraine one of the cruelest diseases. Considering this, MAGNUM thinks it is only fitting to end the month with our announcement of this year's winners of the HealthCentral Network sponsored 2008 Putting Our Heads Together Poetry Contest. After all, would not T.S. Eliot himself, though not a Migraineur, appreciate our effort?  He deeply loved his wife Vivien Haigh, an adventurous and vivacious British subject, who sadly suffered horribly from intractable Migraines.

*World Health Organization

So now, with T.S. & Vivien watching over us, MAGNUM would like to get right to announcing this years winners.  We are thrilled to advise readers that this year, even though we gave very short notice, we were honored with many excellent entries that poetically speak to the Migraine experience.  We selected four placing awards, First, Second, Third, & Forth Place.  In addition we issued six honorable mentions of merit.  Please take time to read ALL of the winning entries, and when you have time, visit and peruse the other entries, as so many are well written and deserve your attention.

AND THE WINNERS ARE!

Massive Migraine

By mopar496

Wins First Place
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/18447/24754/massive-migraine

Car-jacked

By Roey

Wins Second Place
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/88073/23918/carjacked

Perpetually Now

By MaxJerz

Wins Third Place
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/46824/25055/perpetually

You're Not My Friend, You Know

By Sandi Suddady

Wins Fourth Place
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/68226/25642/friend

AND THE HONORABLE MENTIONS ARE!

The Keeper

By desrivgirl

Wins Honorable Mention
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/5137/25567/keeper

My Ghostly Shadow

By SEG

Wins Honorable Mention
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/95623/25565/ghostly-shadow

A Rare Day

By cdelavarre

Wins Honorable Mention
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/15655/25234/rare-day

Pain Inside My Head (version 2)

By thedoglady

Wins Honorable Mention
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/81338/25768/inside-version2

The Thorn

By Brynnwriter

Wins Honorable Mention
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/80108/25240/thorn

The Stranger's Eyes

By Roey

Wins Honorable Mention
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/88073/24326/strangers-eyes

MigraineBlog wants to thank this year's guest judges for their assistance with selections with one of the most interesting years submission-wise.  MAGNUM wants to thank judge and MigraineBlog guest writer Marie Kaddell who has an M.L.S., M.S., and M.B.A..

YOUR Help Needed for Better Migraine Treatment

It's time for my promised update on Headache On the Hill. For those of you not familiar with Headache On the Hill -- a group of doctors, scientists, and patient advocates made a trip to DC in September to talk with Senators and members of the House about the dire need for an increase in NIH funding for basic headache and Migraine research. That basic research MUST be done if we're to have new and more effective treatments.

We're gearing up for the grassroots part of this campaign, and that's where each and every one of you come in. Since the Headache On the Hill participants were from several organizations -- the American Academy of Neurology, the American Headache Society, MAGNUM, the National Headache Foundation, the Headache Cooperative of New England, and others -- we've formed a new organization to continue the Headache On the Hill advocacy efforts. The new organization is the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA). You can reach our web site at www.HeadacheAdvocacy.org or www.MigraineAdvocacy.org.   

What YOU Can  Do To Help

Now:
Visit the AHDA site, lood around, and sign-up for email updates. We will notify you by email when new information is added and when it's time to take action.

Please spread the word to your friends and family. You can download our flier and distribute it to friends, family, whomever you know to encourage them to participate in this project. Every single person counts, so please talk to everyone you know about this and give them a copy of the flier. CLICK HERE to  download the flier.

Early in 2008:

The most effective time to influence Congress is early in the year. So it will be crucial that as many emails as possible reach Congress at that time in order to affect the 2009 NIH budget. The AHDA website will make emailing Congress much easier for you. Our email notifications will prompt you to return to our site and email your members of Congress at the most effective time. Please ask your friends and loved ones to visit our site and email Congress as well.

I hope you'll all become involved in this important initiative. We all know how important it is that more effective treatments be found for Migraine disease and other headache disorders. But, without NIH funding, the basic research upon which other research depends will not be done. Senators and members of the House do listen to their constituents, so every single email to them will be vital. This is our chance to make a difference, and the AHDA is making it as easy as possible for everyone to participate. 

Please join us!

migraines

Hope for Migraines, Headaches, and Other Pain

From MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

I spent last week in Dallas at Dr. John Claude Krusz's clinic, ANODYNE Headache and PainCare. Dr. Krusz and I have written Ask the Clinician for almost five years now, but this was the first chance I'd had to visit his clinic and observe him with patients.

Dr. K's patients were very gracious; all of them allowed me to sit in on their appointments. Listening to him review a new patient's medical history was a great reminder of how much other issues can impact Migraine, headaches, and pain. Dr. K. asks all of his patients about their sleep patterns and whether they or anyone in their family have a history of problems with thryoid, diabetes, or other endocrine disorders. Sleep is always one of the first issues he addresses, telling patients that good sleep is essential to their treatment.

Continue reading Migraines, headaches, pain, and HOPE!

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Genetic Testing May Be Helpful for Hemiplegic Migraine

Hemiplegic Migraine (HM) is a rare subtype of Migraine with aura (MWA) that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. There are two variations of HM:

1. Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) runs in families.
2. Sporadic Hemiplegic Migraine (SHM) often has Migraine in the family history, but not HM. 

The symptom that differentiates HM from other types of Migraine is hemiparesis, which is temporary, one-sided paralysis or motor weakness. Otherwise, HM symptoms are the same as those of Migraine with aura. Most Migraineurs who have HM also have Migraine with or without aura.

Findings of a study performed in the Netherlands suggest that genetic testing could be helpful in properly diagnosing and appropriately treating hemiplegic Migraine...

Continue reading Hemiplegic Migraine - Genetic Testing May Be Helpful.

Is Your Doctor Right for You? A Quiz to find out!

Having the right doctor as our treament partner is essential to good Migraine and headache management.

How is your doctor? Are you comfortable talking to him or her? Does he or she answer your questions?

Find out if your doc is top notch, or if it's time to start looking for a new one with this quick quiz, Is Your Doctor Right for You?!

Migraine and Headaches - 10 Tips for Enjoying the Holidays

Holidays are times to enjoy, but those of us with problem Migraines and headaches can find ourselves actually dreading the holiday season. Ho ho ho, HA!

Don't give up on the holidays though. If there's a positive side to Migraine disease and headaches, it's that there are many things we can do for ourselves to reduce or avoid episodes. Not only does this let us reduce our pain, it also gives us some control over our disorders and restores some of the control over our lives of which those disorders seem to rob us. Let’s see how to give some of that head pain the boot!

1. Get those ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZs!

Too much, too little, or disrupted sleep is a very common Migraine and headache trigger. Experts recommend that we set times to go to bed and get up and stick to those times, even on weekends and holidays and during vacation. If you often wake with a Migraine, don’t feel rested after a night’s sleep, or experience excessive daytime sleepiness, talk to your doctor about your sleep patterns.
More: Transformed Migraine Related To Sleep Problems

2. Avoid dehydration.

For some people, even mild dehydration can trigger head pain, so drinking lots of fluids is essential. Take a bit of care with what you’re drinking as some fruit juices and caffeine can be triggers. Proper hydration is essential to good health in general, so you’ll be working on more than head pain prevention!

More: Dehydration - An Avoidable Migraine Trigger

Continue reading Migraine and Headaches - 10 Tips for Enjoying the Holidays.

Cortex Area of Brain Thicker in People with Migraine

A study published in the November 20, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, indicates that people with Migraines have differences in part of the cortex, an area of the brain that helps process sensory information, including pain.

The study found that part of the cortex area of the brain is thicker in people with Migraine than in people who do not have the neurological disease.

“Repeated Migraine attacks may lead to, or be the result of, these structural changes in the brain... Most of these people had been suffering from Migraines since childhood, so the long-term overstimulation of the sensory fields in the cortex could explain these changes. It’s also possible that people who develop Migraines are naturally more sensitive to stimulation...

This may explain why people with Migraines often also have other pain disorders such as back pain, jaw pain, and other sensory problems such as allodynia, where the skin becomes so sensitive that even a gentle breeze can be painful.”

study author Nouchine Hadjikhani, MD
Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging
at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston

Migraine disease, for some Migraineurs, means only occasional and easily treated Migraine attacks. For others, Migraine is a life-long chronic disease, and Migraine attacks have a quit significant impact on their lives. Questions abound about whether Migraine attacks cause serious and /or permanent changes in the brain...

Learn more about this important study in Cortex Area of Brain Thicker in People with Migraine.

Headache Stay Gone for Headaches and Migraines - Beware

From MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert...

For those of you who know me a bit, you'll know that the phone number 888-MYCURE8 is enough to set alarm bells sounding loudly in my head. The product associated with this phone number has been the subject of three SharePosts on our site, and it's time for me to respond.

The product in question here is Headache Stay Gone. (And, no, I will not link to their site here.) According to the site, the product  contains...

It is stated on the site that "Headache Stay Gone is affordable and free from side effects." Free from side effects? That is truly just impossible. These ingredients certainly do have potential side effects. I'm not going to take the time to track down every ingredient, but here are some potential side effects and notes of caution for some of them...

Read Headache Stay Gone for Headaches and Migraines - Beware.

Emergency Migraine and Headache Care - Forms To Help

There are times when emergency care is necessary for Migraines and severe headaches. In the event that your doctor is not available, it may be necessary to seek care from a hospital emergency room or an urgent care facility.

Such emergency care can present problems of its own. Emergency physicians usually don't have the opportunity to learn much about treating problem headaches and Migraines. Then there's the problem created by people who go to the ER or urgent care facility and fake an illness to obtain medications, usually opioids, for the "high." The two conditions most frequently faked in this fashion are back pain and "migraine" because there are no tests to prove or disprove those complaints. Thus, in some settings, Migraine patients are sometimes suspected of drug-seeking...

Contine reading Emergency Migraine and Headache Care - Forms To Help.

Migraine, Headache, and Thyroid

Comorbid conditions are conditions that occur at the same time as but independently of each other. With Migraine disease, perhaps the most common comorbid condition is major depressive disorder (clinical depression). Approximately 47% of Migraineurs also experience major depressive disorder, but neither causes the other.

Comorbid conditions can have significant impact on effective treatment of the individual disorders. Thyroid diseases, including hypothyroidism, are among the conditions now know to often be comorbid with headaches and Migraines. A strong connection has been found between hypothyroidism and new daily persistent headache (NDPH) and chronic Migraine.

Learn more in Migraine, Headache, and Thyroid.

MAGNUM Board Members Selected For Pain and Creativity Art Juried Competition

© Michael John Coleman 2007

'Migraine Repose'

WASHINGTON, DC (October 1st, 2007)--MAGNUM is very pleased to announced that both of its Board members who entered their art to the American Pain Foundation’s Pain and Creativity Art Juried Competition have won inclusion to the exhibition.  Our At Large Support Advisor Teri Robert, Ph.D. entered her poetry, and our Founder Michael John Coleman enters fine art photography. 

MAGNUM's Mission Statement is of interest here:

MAGNUM was founded to bring public awareness to the fact the Migraine is a true biologic neurological disease, using the electronic, print and artistic mediums of expression.

Expressing pain through art... an invitation.

American Pain Foundation and The HealthCentral Network:
Call for Artistic Submissions for Creativity and Pain Exhibit

Deadline for Entries is September 20, 2007

The American Pain Foundation (“APF”) and project partner The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is accepting entries for the 2007 APF Pain and Creativity Exhibit. This online exhibit will showcase all contributing artists and their work, including visual arts, inspirational videos, poetry, and quilt squares. Select submissions will be chosen for special promotion by APF. The Pain and Creativity community will be ongoing, but to be considered for special honor in the Exhibit, and at the APF’s 10th Anniversary Celebration in October, submissions must be received by September 20th. Entries can be submitted at www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/apf/ 

“HealthCentral.com is pleased to be working with the American Pain Foundation to host the Pain and Creativity Exhibit—a virtual space where anyone can share their painting, drawings, sculpture, and video with other individuals dealing with pain,” said Bill Allman, General Manager of HealthCentral. “Art can play a major role in expressing and working through chronic pain, and we believe that the Pain and Creativity Exhibit offers a flexible, supportive environment in which to do this.”

“Recognizing that we are all creative and have the power to turn adversity into opportunity, we would like to expand our Pain and Creativity network to connect artists and their expressions of pain through an online exhibit of creative work,” said Will Rowe, Executive Director of APF. “Our hope is that the submissions to the Pain and Creativity Exhibit come in a variety of forms, including film, sculpture, words, painting and quilt blocks, from people who have pain or from people who are affected by pain.”

Entrants can contribute poetry, prose, a digital photo of their artwork, or an inspirational video that tells the story of how pain can affect one’s life. Along with their submission, entrants also need to include a paragraph that describes how their piece of art represents their pain experience.

A related project sponsored by APF in conjunction with the Lagniappe Project of Baltimore is calling for the submission of quilt blocks for the inclusion in a quilt which will reflect the experience of pain. Quilts are a literal and figurative symbol of comfort and the joining of patchwork is a symbol of unity and community. Through the block design, construction, and joining to create a finished quilt, we hope that the artist finds comfort and unity. The finished quilts will be exhibited at the APF’s 10th Anniversary Celebration in October and will be used for fundraising purposes through the Celebration Auction and/or through other fundraising efforts. For more information on quilt square requirements, CLICK HERE.

The deadline for all submissions is Thursday, September 20.

About The HealthCentral Network
The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.healthcentral.com) is a new and unique online offering, comprised of over 30 general health and highly specific condition and wellness web properties, each committed to offering a voice in everyday and personal language people can understand and connect with at critical points in their lives. Each site provides timely, interactive, in-depth and trusted medical information (from Harvard Health Publications among others), and connections to leading experts and thousands of people who share their related experiences and inspiration.

About the American Pain Foundation
Founded in 1997, the American Pain Foundation is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving people with pain through information, advocacy, and support. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and increase access to effective pain management. For more information, visit www.painfoundation.org.

 

Tell us about YOUR Migraine symptoms!

Migraine symptoms can be enough to make you want to scream! There's a current forum discussion about how bad postdrome symptoms can be.

For some of us, the headache is the worst part of a Migraine. For others, it's the nausea or the cognitive impairment -- the lack of concentration and the ability to think clearly.

Which Migraine symptoms get to you most? Please CLICK HERE to vote in our poll and tell us!

High Dose Verapamil Problematic in Cluster Headache Treatment

Cluster headaches are often said to be the most painful of all headaches. They have been described as "boring," bearing, burning," "like a hot poker in the eye," and as "suicide headaches."

The use of high dose verapamil has become increasingly common for the prevention of CH, with higher doses than used for heart conditions and hypertension needed. Side effects include atrioventricular block and bradycardia, although how frequently they occur in CH patients is not clear. There are no formal guidelines for the use of verapamil for CH. The authors of this study have developed a protocol, keeping in mind the potential for cardiac complications and reviewed the use of the protocol and the changes seen in EKG readings.

Read High Dose Verapamil Problematic in Cluster Headache Treatment

More Research Links Migraine With Aura and Stroke in Women

In the last few years, studies have been released about Migraine and stroke risk, and Migraine and cardiovascular disease in both women and men.

To all of this information, we can now add information from the Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study.

Read More Research Links Migraine With Aura and Stroke in Women

migraines
 

Podcast - Is Stress a Migraine Trigger?

There is some controversy as to whether stress is an actual trigger. The International Headache Society has moved it from their list of triggers to their list of exacerbating factors on the premise that it doesn't by itself trigger Migraines but it does make us more susceptible to our triggers.

Does it really matter if stress is a Migraine trigger or an exacerbating factor? How we look at it could make a difference...

This podcast is available two ways:

• Listen to the podcast
• Read the transcript

IV Lidocaine – Effective Treatment for Refractory Migraines in the Clinic

Refractory Migraines - Migraines that are not responding to treatment - can present significant issues for Migraineurs, including status Migrainous.

Unfortunately, even though there are effective treatments that can be tried, many doctors are not aware of them, or even if they're aware of them, may not be set up to administer them. In such cases, these treatments may be administered outpatient at a hospital, sometimes through the emergency department...

Read IV Lidocaine – Effective Treatment for Refractory Migraines in the Clinic

"Sicko" - Our healthcare system's impact on headache & Migraine treament?

Have you seen Michael Moore's Sicko? If you have, what did you think of it?

The state of our healthcare system isn't a new topic. For anyone with Migraines, headaches, or any health issue, this is a critical issue. Most, if not all, of us agree that the U.S. healthcare system is broken. But, what do we do about it?

Sicko brings these issues to our attention, whether we like the move or not, whether we like Moore or not.

Three of the HealthCentral Network's experts have seen and reviewed the movie. It's well worth the time to read these reviews. You're welcome to post comments to the reviews as well.

Take a look at these reviews from The Insiders' View: Expert Patients on Michael Moore's Sicko.

Does Harry Potter Have Migraines?

Dr. Fred Sheftell and Dr. Timothy Steiner examined the references to Harry's headaches in the Harry Potter series to try to determine what kind of head pain disorder Harry may have. This article includes those references and the various disorders considered.

Read Does Harry Potter Have Migraines?

Mid-Life Stroke More Common in Women than Men

Many Migraineurs have become aware that having Migraine disease increases our risk of stroke. In women with Migraine, there is an average of 2.16 times greater risk of stroke. An increase in cardiovascular events, including stroke, in men with Migraine has also been established. A new study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, provides more incentive for female Migraineurs to manage their Migraine disease and stoke risk factors.

According to a study published June 20, 2007, in the online edition of Neurology®, more women than men appear to be having a stroke in middle age. Researchers say heart disease and increased waist size may be contributing to this apparent mid-life stroke surge among women.

Read Mid-Life Stroke More Common in Women than Men

Returning Iraq War Veterans, Migraine, and Depression

In 2000, results of studies in the United States, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands showed that 47% of Migraineurs are affected by depression as compared to 17% of the general population.

Now, research presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 – May 5, 2007, demonstrated that soldiers returning from combat in Iraq who have Migraine disease are more than twice as likely to also have symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression or anxiety than soldiers who do not have Migraines...

Continue reading Half of Iraq Veterans with Migraines Also Have Depression.

Migraine or Headache Questions? Get Some Answers!

From MAGNUM Support Advisor, Teri Robert

Do you have questions about Migraines and headaches? Most of us do. We now have a way for you to ask questions and share the answers with all our readers.

Dr. John Claude Krusz and I have been answering reader questions for over four years now in our weekly Ask the Clinician column. I'm pleased to tell you that Ask the Clinician is now a regular feature here on MyMigraineConnection. Although we cannot diagnose via the Internet, we can answer many of your questions and suggest options to discuss with your doctor. Questions to Ask the Clinician are answered online in our column so that everyone can benefit from the answers. Continue reading...

Can Migraine Protect Memory?

Many of us with Migraine disease have questioned whether Migraine is affecting our memory and cognitive function. Certainly, many of us have experienced remembering very little during a Migraine attack.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have released surprising study results. Women with a lifetime history of Migraine showed less of a performance decline over time on cognitive tests than women who didn’t have Migraines...

Read more about this study in Can Migraine Protect Memory.

Ask the Clinician Is Back!

Some of you are familiar with Dr. John Claude Krusz and our Ask the Clinician column. It's my pleasure to announce that Ask the Clinician will now be a weekly column  on MyMigraine Connection. The first column is now online...

Do you have questions about headaches or Migraines? Many of our readers do, and each week, Dr. John Claude Krusz and Teri Robert answer some of them. Dr. Krusz is a world recognized headache and migraine expert, often conducting groundbreaking research at his clinic in Dallas. Here are this week's questions and answers...

Migraine and Headache Questions - week of 04/23/07

The Most Common Head Pain

This week's podcast is up and ready for you!

Welcome to MigraineCast the weekly podcast brought to you by MyMigraineConnection.com and the HealthCentral Network. This week, we're taking a look at the most common type of head pain, tension-type headaches.

Up to 78% of the world's population experiences tension-type headaches, and 60% of sufferers experience reductions in social activity and work capacity. Tension-type headaches can also trigger Migraine attacks....

Ready for this week's podcast? Here it is! Download MigraineCast041707.mp3 . In some browsers, podcasts can be a bit slow to load, so please be patient if it doesn't load immediately. (In my experience, podcasts load and play fastest in Firefox.)

While you're here, please take a look to your right on the page where you'll see a variety of ways you can subscribe to our podcast.

Until next week, Live Well!

 

Podcast #6: The Most Frequently Asked Migraine Question.

This week's episode of MigraineCast is now available on MigraineCast.com. This week's episode is "The Most Frequently Asked Migraine Question."

Listening to this MigraineCast podcasts is easy. Just go to MigraineCast.com and decide which podcasts you'd like to hear. You'll see a download link in the description for each podcast. Clicking that link will start the podcast playing on your computer. You can also download iTunes free, whether you own an iPod or not. Once you have iTunes installed on your computer, you can use the iTunes subscription button in the right column of the MigraineCast site. With iTunes installed, each time you start iTunes, it will automatically check to see if there's a new episode of MigraineCast available and download it for you if there is. Then, you just double click on the name of the podcast in iTunes, and it will play for you.

Be sure to check the right column of the MigraineCast page for subscription options. You can be notified by email when new episodes are posted, and you can now subscribe through iTunes. Of course, you'll always be able to just click and listen on MigraineCast.com.

Check out the Migraine podcasts!

Combo of Sumatriptan and Naproxen for Migraine?

Although Although triptans are a marked improvement over previous treatment options, many Migraineurs have not been fully satisfied with their results. Some do not achieve full relief from triptans, and the recurrence of Migraines within 24 hours of the first dose has been common.

With the patents on sumatriptan nearing their expiration, both generics of the current forms – injections, tablets, and nasal spray – and other medications containing sumatriptan are now in development and testing. The results involving Trexima, one such medication that is a combination of sumatriptan and naproxen, have now been published.

Read Study Finds Sumatriptan-Naproxen Combination More Effective against Migraine Attacks.

War's impact on healthcare, Migraines, and headaches

From MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

I'm not much on politics. I think politics have taken the place of true leadership and that there should be a way to wipe every elected politician's brain of party ties so they're plain vanilla Americans.

However, today, I'm writing about something that could be considered political -- funding of healthcare and healthcare research. A friend directed me to an article entitled "War Critics Organize In Unlikely Place - Doctors Protest Against Health Effects of War," written by Debora Villalon of KGO-TV/DVD in San Francisco.

In this piece, Villalon reports on a group of doctors at UCSF who have formed the "Iraq Action Group." One member of the group, Dr. Dan Lowenstein, stated "We see the dividing line between being completely healthy and losing one's health." He went on to say that doctors "uniquely grasp the health effects of the war -- from the soldiers and civilians killed and maimed in Iraq to the downstream effects on our health care system."

Continue reading War's impact on healthcare, Migraines, and headaches.

Headache or Migraine? A name says so much!

From MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

One of the biggest issues facing Migraineurs is the misconceptions and general lack of understanding from other people. Too many people still think that Migraines are "just bad headaches," that a couple of Tylenol will take care of them, that they're harmless.

I just read a SharePost by one of our members who was commenting on the lack of knowledge even among medical professionals. One thing that struck me was that she referred to her Migraines as "headaches." I admit that the phrase "Migraine headache" pushes my buttons, and I'll tell you why.

Continue reading Headache or Migraine? A name says so much!

Putting Our Heads Together Poetry Contest

It's that time of year again...

Time for the annual poetry contest. Even if you've never written before, please try your hand at expressing yourself!

This is a great way to work through how Migraine disease makes you feel and show others what it's like. The subject of the poems must be headache or Migraine related, but it may be metaphoric or abstract. The deadline for entries is Friday, April 13.

Visit HelpForHeadaches for more information and to enter.

Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference?

Discussing Migraine medications can get confusing, partly because there are so many, partly because they're used for different purposes. Migraine medications fall into three categories -- preventive medications, abortive medications, and rescue medications.

Preventive Medications
Preventive medications are taken daily to reduce the frequency and severity of Migraine attacks. Most doctors recommend preventive medications if you average one Migraine a week or more. Some people are naturally reluctant to start taking a daily medication that may need to be taken indefinitely. Here's where we need to stop and think a bit...

Continue reading Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference?

Identifying and Managing Migraine Food Triggers

Trigger identification and management are essential parts of migraine disease management. Some triggers, such as foods or sleep issues, can often be avoided. Others, such as barometric pressure changes, can't be. Once triggers are identified, it's sometimes possible to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks by avoiding those triggers.

Not everyone with migraines has food triggers, but it's well worth checking into. Do you know if you have any food triggers? I've put together the information to help you find out including a free workbook.

Read Identifying and Managing Migraine Food Triggers

Senator Clinton Asks Americans for Input on Improving Healthcare

from MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert...

Are you as frustrated with the health care system in the United States as I am? Would you like a chance to speak out?

Here’s a first for you. Senator Hillary Clinton has posted a question to Yahoo! Answers: “Based on your own family’s experience, what do you think we should do to improve health care in America?”

Now, would I pass up a chance to answer that question? No way! Here’s my response:

1. Put an end to insurance companies interfering in health care decisions and choices. It should be up to my doctor and me what tests are ordered and what medications are prescribed. I shouldn’t have to have x-rays first when my doctor needs to see MRI films. When my doctor and I decide which medication is appropriate, I shouldn’t have to spend six months trying two other (useless) medications before I can get the medication we knew I needed in the first place.
2. Set up criteria that doctors must meet before declaring themselves to be specialists...

Continue Reading

Anatomy of a Migraine

When many people think “Migraine,” they think only of the pain of Migraine. In reality, a Migraine (often called a "Migraine attack") consists of far more. The typical Migraine attack actually consists of four parts, referred to as phases or components. It's important to note that not every Migraineur (a person with Migraine disease) experiences all four phases. Also, attacks can vary with different phases experienced during different attacks. The four phases of a Migraine attack are... Continue Reading.

New Year’s Resolutions for Migraine Doctors

Most of us have thought about New Year’s resolutions for ourselves. Did you make any? When I was considering resolutions for myself, it hit me – Who better to suggest New Year’s resolutions for doctors who treat Migraine disease than Migraineurs? So, without further ado, here are some suggested resolutions for our doctors:

1. Keep in mind that Migraine is a genetic neurological disease. Never let patients get the impression that you think it’s “all in their heads.” Continue Reading.

Meet Teri Robert - MyMigraineConnection’s Lead Expert Patient

from MAGNUM Support Advisor, Teri Robert

It’s a pleasure to be joining the MyMigraineConnection team. Migraine disease is something that affects me personally as well as professionally. I’ve had Migraines since the age of six. About ten years ago, they began getting worse and worse, to the point where I was stuck in bed with a Migraine more often than not. After going to doctor after doctor and making no progress, I decided to hit the Internet and research my “Migraine headaches.” Continue reading.

Sharing the Best and Worst Headache and Migraine Comments of 2006

from MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

Have you ever had someone say something to you about your headaches or migraines that seems extremely insensitive or way off track? How about something very kind and understanding? When you suffer from headaches and migraines, it seems that people can say things that go either way.

When someone says something nice, you feel as if there's hope. On the other hand, the insensitive or off track comments can make you want to rip your hair out. We've learned that sharing those comments, good or bad, makes us feel less alone. This time of year leads me to hope that we all here more good and fewer bad comments in the coming year...

As we wrap up 2006 and enter 2007, why not share the best and the worst comments we heard in 2006 and who said them? I'll start!

Best: The best comment I heard this year came from our 10-year-old granddaughter Alex. Alex has migraines, and her mother and I decided it was time to start teaching her about migraines so she knows what to tell her mother and when. Becky, her mother, also decided that I should do all the talking. We sat down and explained that migraines aren't like other headaches and that she need to tell someone when she's getting one so she can rest and take care of it. After we finished talking, she left the room, but came back to say, "I'm so glad you're my Granny!"

Worst: The worst comment came from my mother, and it was even worse because she used to have horrendous migraines. She said, "You just need to quit having headaches. Maybe you need some Valium."

Now it's your turn!  Click HERE to share with us!

Living Well - 10 Keys for Taking Control of Headaches and Migraines

Some of the most common New Year's resolutions involve health. Let's take a constructive look at what we can do to live well with migraines and headaches in 2007. Each of us can set the level of our resolutions in relation to our health and abilities. Instead of shooting for the stars, let's shoot for better, more productive days. If we catch a few stars along the way, so much the better.

Let's get started!
We'll take a look at 10 keys including:

• Evaluate Your Medical Team
• Review Your Treatment Regimen
• Dump the Guilt
• more...

Read Living Well - 10 Keys for Taking Control

As we look toward a new year, here's wishing you good health and freedom from pain!

Gift-giving time - What would help you most with your headaches and migraines?

from MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

It's that time of year when some of our thoughts turn to holiday gifts. So many holidays... so many possible gifts! Looking over our list of which gift goes to which grandchild this year started me thinking. (Yes, look out. I'm trying to think! ☺) The most important thing during the upcoming holidays is feeling well and enjoying time with my family as well as some quiet time.

My bet would be that if someone has recently asked you what you wanted as a gift, some of you said (and more of you thought), "A pain-free day." That may not be something someone can give us as a gift, but — beyond material gifts — there are gifts that would thrill someone who's having problems with headaches or migraine disease. How about...

• a gift certificate for a facial or a day at a spa?
• a homemade gift certificate for a few hours of babysitting?
• a gift basket with a couple of pretty tea cups, some great tea, and your company for an afternoon tea party?
• a homemade gift certificate for one day of your taking over family responsibilities (including taking their kids to your house for the day) so your friend can have a quiet day home alone?
• an "I know you can't help being sick, and you have no reason to feel guilty" certificate?

Do you sometimes give yourself gifts on special occasions? Come on, admit it. OK, I'll admit it first. I sometimes give myself gifts. But I don't always buy them. Sometimes, they're...

• a day when I turn off the telephone, ignore work, and curl up in my favorite chair with a good book — a book not related to headaches or migraines.
• permission to have a good cry over whatever is frustrating and stressing me.
• some time locked away in our guest room listening to music and napping.

Continue reading.

Ask the Clinician - Expert Answers To Headache & Migraine Questions

Do you have questions about headaches or Migraines? Many of our readers do, and each week, Dr. John Claude Krusz and I answer some of them. Dr. Krusz is a world recognized headache and Migraine expert, often conducting groundbreaking research at his clinic in Dallas.

You can view thousands of questions and answers in our Ask the Clinician archives. If you've never perused the archives, take a look. It's a great place to find answers to questions that many of us have had. Now, on to this week's questions and answers... Continue reading.

Healthy Monday - Headaches, Migraines, and Your Home

It's Monday - time to take a look at something we can do to improve our health. Today's focus is on something we can do for both overall health and our comfort when we have a headache or migraine.

It's bad enough that we have to deal with unfriendly environments when we're away from home. Our homes should be our refuge, the place that's safest and most comfortable for us. Let's take a look at ways to make our homes more head pain friendly... Continue reading.

Thyroid Disease Can Be Cormorbid To Headaches & Migraine

Comorbid conditions are conditions that occur at the same time as but independently of each other. With Migraine disease, perhaps the most common comorbid condition is major depressive disorder (clinical depression). Approximately 47% of Migraineurs also experience major depressive disorder, but neither causes the other.

Comorbid conditions can have significant impact on effective treatment of the individual disorders. Thyroid diseases, including hypothyroidism, are among the conditions now know to often be comorbid with headaches and migraines. A strong connection has been found between hypothyroidism and new daily persistent headache (NDPH) and chronic migraine. Continue reading...

Migraine Disease Linked to Cardiovascular Disease in Men

Earlier this year, we learned that there's a connection between Migraine with aura in women and cardiovascular disease. Now a study has shown that men with mingraine have an increased risk of cardiovascular events, mostly myocardial infarction (heart attack).

This information highlights the need to recognize and control lifestyle issues that increas the risk of cardiovascular disease. Feature article.

Doctors - Helpful or Hopeless? How's Yours? Need Help?

We often talk about finding the right doctor for our needs and how to best work with our doctors. There are great doctors out there, but how do we find them? We all wish we had doctors like Dr. William B. Young at the Jefferson Headache Center who said, "An educated patient is a better patient. I'd far rather have a treatment partner than a dishrag." A look at our  forum shows that some of our members are experiencing great success working with their doctors; some aren't meeting with success at all.

It's tough to strike the right balance when things aren't going as well as we'd like or when visiting a new doctor. We live with these bodies, suffer the pain and other symptoms. We rightfully expect our doctors to listen to us, but what approach do we use?

• The pitiful victim approach. Drag yourself into the doctor's office looking like death warmed over. Whimper a bit, and hope the doctor takes pity on you. Hmmmmmmmm. I think not.
  
• The "I am woman (or man), hear me roar!" approach. March into that doctor's office and take no prisoners. Tell that doctor that you're paying him and you expect him to listen to every word you say, answer every question, or else! No, still not quite right.
  
• How about the "I really need your help, but I know there's no silver bullet and you can't just make me well. Will you work with me take control over these headaches and migraines?" approach? Now, that just might be the approach.

Of course, it's not that simple. What's a person to do? We have some information to help you determine if your doctor is right for you, how to find a good headache and Migraine doctor, a little pep talk about being a consumer of health care services, help preparing for your appointments, information about your rights to your medical records, and more. Continue Reading...

Dolophine for headaches, migraines, other pain? FDA Advisory

If you're taking Dolophine (methadone) for chronic headaches, migraines, or any condition, please be sure to familiarize yourself with this public health advisory issued today by the FDA.

FDA Public Health Advisory

"Methadone Use for Pain Control May Result in Death and Life-Threatening Changes in Breathing and Heart Beat"

The FDA has received reports of death and life-threatening side effects in patients taking methadone. These deaths and side effects have occurred in two situations:

1. patients newly starting methadone for pain control and
   
2. patients who have switched to methadone after being treated for pain with other strong narcotic pain relievers.

Continue reading...

FDA warning - "misleading" material regarding Seroquel

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a letter to AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) stating that a piece of promotional material for Seroquel tablets is false or misleading and requesting that AstraZeneca "immediately cease the dissemination of violative promotional materials for Seroquel." According to the letter,

"This piece is false or misleading because it minimizes the risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus and fails to communicate important information regarding neuroleptic malignant syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, and the bolded cataracts precaution ... The promotional material raises significant public health and safety concerns through its minimization of the risks associated with Seroquel."

Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is FDA approved for the treatment of acute manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder and for the treatment of schizophrenia. It is sometimes prescribed off-label for headache and migraine prevention. Continue reading...

Marcia Cross on Migraines and Holidays

from MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

Not so desperate when it comes to her Migraines!

Marcia Cross is enjoying life, marriage, and a successful career as an actress. These days, she's possibly most recognizable as Bree Van De Kamp on "Desperate Housewives."

Did you know that Marcia is a Migraineur? She experienced her first Migraine at the age of 14, and it was terrifying. She didn't know what was happening to her. Today, she's speaking out about Migraine disease and the importance of being diagnosed and getting proper treatment.

I spoke with Marcia earlier this week, and it's my pleasure to share that conversation and her holiday tips with you!

• Read the interview - Marcia Cross on Migraines
• Read Marcia's Tips - Navigating Holiday Parties with Migraines

Adolescent Migraine Prognosis -- May Subside With Age?

Migraine disease is a potentially disabling disease common in children and adolescents.

Now, for children and adolescents with Migraine disease and for their families, there's potentially good news. A new study published in the journal Neurology suggests that their prognosis is excellent, that they may "grow out of" their Migraine or have less severe Migraines as they get older. However, these are the conclusions of one small study, the results of which raise some questions. Read Adolescent Migraine Prognosis -- May Subside With Age?

Top 75 Questions About Headaches and Migraines

from MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert and
MAGNUM board member Dr. John Claude Krusz

Do you have questions about headaches or migraines? Many of our readers do, and each week, Dr. John Claude Krusz and I answer some of them. Dr. Krusz is a world recognized headache and migraine expert, often conducting groundbreaking research at his clinic in Dallas. You can view thousands of questions and answers in our Ask the Clinician archives. If you've never perused the archives, take a look. It's a great place to find answers to questions that many of us have had.

After nearly four years of answering your questions, we have some questions that are asked frequently or are especially good questions. This week, we share 75 of those questions...

Read the questions and answers.

Navigating Holidays with Migraines - Tips from Marcia Cross

from MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

The holiday season should be a time of the year fun-filled with parties with friends, families and co-workers. But, if you suffer from migraine disease, certain foods and hectic schedules prevalent during the season trigger a migraine and ruin the holiday fun. Actress Marcia Cross shares her tips for avoiding migraines during the holidays.

Marcia's experience with migraines
Migraines have been a part of Marcia’s life for years. She had her first when she was in high school. At the time, the school nurse and her parents didn’t know what it was, and she was sent home to bed. She also got frequent bad headaches in college. She would have problems with her vision, and horrible head pain, making the simplest tasks difficult...

Read Navigating Holidays with Migraines - Tips from Marcia Cross

Next week, a special treat!
Check back on Tuesday next week (November 14) when you'll be able to read what Marcia says when I interview her on Monday!

Review - The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough

Migraine disease is difficult enough to cope with by itself, but many migraineurs find themselves in the position of having comorbid conditions that complicate matters further. In particular, an imbalance among thyroid, reproductive and adrenal hormones is a known migraine trigger in some women. "Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough" offers migraineurs a practical guide to identifying and seeking treatment for these hormonal imbalances.

Helpful features of "The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough"

• The basics of what the thyroid is and what it does.
• Comprehensive lists of symptoms and what they may mean.
• Explanations of laboratory tests and their results...

Read our review of "The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough."

Topamax Can Increase Occurrence of Kidney Stones

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UT Southwestern) have have completed a study showing that Topamax (topiramate) can increase the propensity for calcium phosphate kidney stones. Although there has been anecdotal evidence of this potential side effect and much discussion of it, this is the first study to formally investigate the issue and examine the mechanism of stone formation...
Read this article.

Knowledge Is Power. Enroll in About.com free headaches and migraines E-Course.

Whether it's you or someone you care for who's experiencing headaches and or Migraines, the three most valuable tools are knowledge, a good medical team, and a good support system.

This free E-Course takes a look at some basics such as getting a diagnosis, how to educate ourselves, the right doctors, and building a strong, effective support system. There are three lessons in this course. You'll receive one daily for three days, beginning the day you sign up for the class. Please enter your email address carefully to be sure you receive the lessons.

Sign up now for this free, three-lesson course!

What Are Cluster Headaches?

They have been described as "boring," "bearing," "burning," "like a hot poker in the eye," and as "suicide headaches." They're cluster headaches.

Fortunately, cluster headaches are fairly uncommon, affecting only approximately 4% of the population, more men than women...

Read What Are Cluster Headaches?

Anxiety Disorders Associated with Migraine Disease

As researchers investigate the connection between migraine disease and other conditions, we're learning that there are connections between migraine and other conditions — conditions that are invisible, about which there remain many myths and misconceptions, and conditions that are even more difficult for us because those around us often don't understand them. We've already learned that while major depressive disorder affects 17% of the general population, it affects 47% of migraineurs. We recently learned that people with bipolar disorder have a significantly higher prevalence of migraine when compared to the general population. There is also evidence of comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders in chronic daily headache and it's subtypes including some types of migraine.

A new article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine reports on a study that investigated the connection between anxiety disorders and physical disorders as well as the impact of that connection.

"...Painful conditions like migraine and arthritis could increase a patient's anxiety about the pain, or panic attacks may be mistaken for asthma attacks... Physicians are becoming more aware of the importance of recognizing and treating depression... Our study shows that anxiety is also very common and that similar efforts are warranted." ~Dr. Jitender Sareen

Read Anxiety Disorders Associated with Migraine Disease

What Is Retinal Migraine

There are several forms of migraine disease. Sometimes, the dignosis we're given doesn't conform to those universally accepted from the The International Classification of Headache Disorders. That can cause confusion.

Retinal migraine is one type that is poorly understood, partly because the term is often misused. Let's take a look at what retinal migraine actually is...

Read What Is Retinal Migraine?

What is a patient advocate?

From MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

People often ask me what a patient advocate is or what a patient advocate does. Here are a few applicable definitions of the word "Advocate"...

1. One who speaks on behalf of another (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocate)
2. A person who pleads, intercedes, or speaks for another. (www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/mhhglo.htm)
3. A person, often a family member, who is designated to speak with healthcare providers on behalf of a patient. (www.ohpco.org/health_care_glossary.htm)

The third definition sums it up pretty well. As a patient advocate, I speak on behalf of patients. Advocacy work can take many forms. It can mean talking with a particular health care provider or insurance company on behalf of a particular patient. It can also mean bringing public attention to issues that impact our health. A good example of that is the work I do to educate people to the fact that Migraine is a genetic neurological disesae, not "just a headache." Continue reading...

Your diagnosis -- Should you question it?

You've been to the doctor or hospital and been diagnosed. The verdict? A headache or Migraine; take your medication and get some rest. Should you question this diagnosis? Possibly.

In June of 2004, Claudia Fuentes, fell at work. She thought the fall was caused by a colleague bumping into her. Four weeks later, however, she was struck by a "crippling" headache and rushed to the hospital by ambulance. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with Migraine and sent home to take pain medication and rest.

Fuentes said, "But I didn't feel well and I couldn't see much at all -- just a pinhole -- but I put it down to the headache."

Thankfully, the next day, her mother insisted that Fuentes go to the doctor, who immediately sent her to the hospital for more tests. Continue reading...

Talk About Prescriptions Month - Preventing Meds Errors

Whether you have Migraine disease, a different type of head pain disorder, or another illness or condition entirely, medications may very well play an important part in your treatment plan and maintaining your quality of life. Unfortunately, medication errors are made. There is, however, a great deal we can do to help avoid them.

Four of five American adults use prescriptions or OTC medications weekly. Nearly one-third of adults take five or more different medications. It is estimated that there are at least 1.5 million adverse drug events each year. During Talk About Prescriptions month, let's look at how we can avoid such errors. Continue reading...

Ask the Clinician: Expert Answers

From MAGNUM Support Advisor Teri Robert

Do you have questions about headaches or Migraines? Many of our readers do, and each week, Dr. John Claude Krusz and I answer some of them. Dr. Krusz is a world recognized headache and Migraine expert, often conducting groundbreaking research at his clinic in Dallas.

You can view thousands of questions and answers in our Ask the Clinician archives. If you've never perused the archives, take a look. It's a great place to find answers to questions that many of us have had. Now, on to this week's questions and answers...