Chronic Bits 

A few weeks ago, ChronicBabe Editrix Jenni Prokopy was nominated by a couple good friends for the Real Hot 100 list - a project that combats "the popular notion that all young women have to offer is their ability to appeal to men," according to organizers. Instead, this hot 100 list focuses on how hot it is to be smart and creative, to do work that has a positive impact. Today at WomensEnews, writer Elizabeth Dwoskin covers the project, including some comments from your humble Editrix. Yay! Check it out.

She probably does - everything she says in this recent post is remarkably familiar to the Editrix, who has had more than her fair share of docs give her the dismissive treatment. Way to speak our minds, difficult patient!

The Editrix loves to hug people. Friends, family, the hubbie (natch), work colleagues (when appropriate)...the list goes on and on. But for those of us with chronic pain issues, hugs can sometimes be tricky. Sometimes you have to teach hugees about what works for you, the hugger. Have you avoided hugging people because of pain issues? Read this article from the Daily Om on the importance of hugs for inspiration, and then pledge to start hugging more, even if it means offering a mini-training first. People who care about you will thank you for letting them in, and you'll both get the emotional and physical benefits of loving human contact.

Reuters reports a new study shows that patients who use a "self-help guidebook" can cut costs, reduce symptoms, and see their docs less. Check out the study abstract in Gut, an International Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. (Editrix says: Gut definitely wins the honor of best medical journal title!)

New from the National Women's Health Resource Center: Women's Health: Depression Through the Ages & Stages of a Woman's Life. This free brochure examines depression through different stages of life, what triggers it, and how to cope. Good for Babes and their moms, friends, sisters...spread the knowledge! Download the brochure now.

The May issue of Consumer Reports offers a strong perspective on health savings accounts (HSAs), which President Bush and others are advocating as a solution to our broken health care system. The "Consumers Union Perspective" says that, in fact, the opposite is true - that HSAs will wind up costing many patients more money, while the real beneficiaries are employers and the financial institutions that offer HSAs. It's a powerful perspective - if you don't subscribe, pick it up at your local newsstand! (Or, check it out here.)

A new study shows that for women with epilepsy, having a longer or shorter menstrual cycle reduces ovulation, and lack of ovulation increases seizure frequency. Learn more. UPDATE: Babe Julie says, "Dr. Andrew Herzog, who led the study, is currently looking for women with epilepsy between the ages of 14/15 and 45 to participate in a drug trial. I'd guess that they probably have to be local (Boston area) but I'm not sure." Worth checking out if you're a local. Thanks Julie!

The new Grand Rounds is up, hosted this week by Health Business Blog. And we're talkin' 'bout sex, baby! Babe Sarah's recent article on getting sexy while wearing a Holter monitor is featured prominently. And check out the Grand Rounds schedule archives to access to hundreds of awesome health blogs and other resources.

The Editrix recently stumbled upon Happy With Pain, a program created by Rowe Jones to teach people how to deal with chronic pain and lead incredible lives in spite of it. There are many aspects of the program, including live seminars, CDs, books - all from the perspective of a person who lives with chronic pain. Rowe tells us he's considering starting up a teleconference program, too, so if you're interested, shoot him an email. And check out the "Happy with Pain Minute" now.

The New York Times reports that Aetna will not offer coverage for patients who receive a nerve-stimulating implant (manufactured by Cyberonics), which the Food & Drug Administration approved last year for depression treatment. Talk about a bummer!

From time to time, we spot news that's important for all Babes, and this is a good example: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with more than 35 federal, public and private partners, recently released national recommendations designed to encourage women to take steps toward good health before becoming pregnant. "Preconception health is important for every woman capable of having a baby, and should be tailored to each individual," says Dr. José Cordero, director of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Get the scoop, check out the full recommendations (this is a long read!), and check out general info on preconception preparation. 

The Editrix just learned that "Bodies of Work: The Chicago Festival of Disability Arts & Culture" is taking place through April 30. If you live in town, check it out - there are tons of great movies, art exhibits, speakers, dance, poetry readings...all addressing some aspect of disability.

WebMD reports that research performed on mice shows promise in creating an approach that reverses recent-onset type 1 diabetes. Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI) used a combination therapy of systemic anti-CD3 antibody and intranasal proinsulin peptide. The team hopes to begin testing the combination therapy in human clinical trials later this year.

New research has found a link between certain genetic characteristics and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Reported by MedPage Today, The New York Times and other outlets, the study (by the Centers for Disease Control) shows that folks with CFS share certain genetic mutations that play a role in the body's ability to handle stress. In the MedPage Today coverage, CDC director Julie Gerberding characterizes the research as "the first credible evidence of the biological basis for chronic fatigue syndrome." Powerful!

Sjogren's Syndrome can be hard to diagnose, says Heather Bancroft of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation. She offers up great info on the topic in the recent edition of the Fibromyalgia Online Newsletter, published by the National Fibromyalgia Association.

I second Kerrie at The Daily Headache: duh. Of course estrogen and migraine are connected! Here's her article, which offers lots of great links on the topic.

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that folks with arthritis are more likely to get less exercise than they need - if they get any exercise at all. Girl, do what you need to do to get out there and get moving! Read up on the results of the study, which will be published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine May 2006 issue.

If you have chronic fatigue syndrome and wish people would just get it, this summer may be their time of enlightenment. The CFIDS (chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome) Association will launch a $4 million public awareness campaign on the disease this summer, with the goal of educating the public and health care professionals. Get involved!

Artist Hertz Nazaire is helping spread the word about sickle cell anemia and the chronic pain it causes. You can help build awareness by purchasing "Sickle Cell Awareness Stamps" (real postage featuring his artwork) from the artist. Learn more. (P.S. - we found this item in the April Pain Monitor, the free monthly enewsletter of the American Pain Foundation. We love it, and you will too.)

Once again, an excellent collection of health blogs and info is available through Grand Rounds. Hosted this week by Fat Doctor, it's got tons of goodies worth checking out! Check out the Grand Rounds archives.

Bad news: women who cohabitate with men tend to develop more bad health habits, according to a report from Medical News Today. While menfolk who live with women start to live healthier (due to women's positive long-term influences), women eat worse and gain weight. So listen up, ladies! Follow your own advice ... and take good care of yourselves!

As reported by the BBC, new research shows that the antibiotic Telithromycin may help speed recovery from acute asthma attacks, reduce symptons and improve lung function. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Update: Babe Kim let us know that you can hear Kimberly read her essay live on Eight Forty-Eight, a show produced by Chicago's WBEZ radio. Listen now. (Or visit WBEZ and look for the link under April 13.) Wow. You have to read this personal essay by Kimberly Soenen over at GapersBlock (a Chicago news and culture site that rocks). A patient is not a number, is not their chronic, is not summarized on a form. She makes this abundantly clear one day while getting her blood tested. "I walked out of the office wondering what my family would one day note about me in the margins of the form," she asks. "My illness? My number? Or my artistic, creative and loving contributions as a human being?" Read. This. Now.

If your bod can't stand wheat, but you crave a chewy gooey brownie once in a while, check out these brownies from Crave Bakery. Babe Jennifer (yup, our staff chef!) found the write-up at Chow. We can't vouch for them, but we sure are curious. Hint hint.

As our health care system squeezes more and more out of every dollar, you're probably feeling the pinch at the doctor's office - short visits, impersonal experiences, wham bam thanks for your blood sample m'am. Here are some tips for becoming a better partner in your health care and combating some of these issues - by educating yourself and building relationships with your care providers. Thanks, National Women's Health Resource Center!

Enjoy this overview of the many kinds of orgasm, from the Sexual Health Network. Knowledge is power!

The National Pain Foundation offers the second article in a series on disparity in pain treatment, this one addressing socio-economic status and its impacts on patient care. Their earlier piece on gender is also great. And don't forget to sign up for the NPF e-newsletter to get regular updates and announcements of new resources.

The National Fibromyalgia Association reminds us the Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (May 12) is just around the corner. This year's theme, "But You Don't Look Sick! The Invisible Pain of Fibromyalgia" is poignant, to say the least. Read up on what you can do to boost awareness in the coming weeks (including buying the Fibromyalgia Awareness Wristband). Have you (gently) hugged a fibrochick today?

Babe Sarah pointed us to this journal entry, and we dig it. For anyone who's ever anxious, check out this short consideration on trusting gravity. It sure made us think.

The New Grand Rounds is hosted by Anxiety, Depression and Addiction Treatments - and we're featured! If you're not familiar, each week Grand Rounds gathers dozens of groovy medical and health blogs from all perspectives. You'll love it! Learn more about the Grand Rounds project and see archives.

A powerful article in the New York Times (by Jane E. Brody) examines societal perceptions of people who are "well" and "not well" - how they get there, how it defines them - and argues that we shouldn't ignore symptoms that don't have a clear physiological explanation. She interviews Lisa Krown, author of the new Broadway show Well, about her mother's - and her own - wellness. Read the article, and learn about Well. We can't wait for this show to come to Chicago!

The Editrix luvs biofeedback! She's studied and practiced it for years as a way to manage chronic pain. Now Newswise reports there's argument for using biofeedback practices to diagnose and treate vulvodynia, an often ill-treated (or dismissed) disorder involving pain and irritation in the vaginal area. Read about the approach in Biofeedback. Learn more about biofeedback from Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, the "international society for mind-body interations in research, health care, and eduction."

Among its innumerable benefits, new research shows that yoga can help boost lung function in healthy young people. You gotta think it can boost lung function in sick chicks, too, right? Learn more here.

A study in Surgical Neurology says that fish oil supplements containing Omega-3 fatty acids may be a safe alternative to conventional pain treatments, according to WebMD. The Editrix wonders: are Omega-3s in her flaxseed oil supplement the same as those found in fish oil? Hmm...

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It's time for Grand Rounds again, this time told in a lovely "narrative" format - and as always, full of great blogs to consider. Great work, UroStream! Learn more about the Grand Rounds project (ever considered hosting?) here.

A private group is petitioning the Food and Drug Administration to pull Splenda from America's shelves for more testing. According to Reuters, Citizens for Health says it has received numerous complaints about stomach pain and gastrointestinal issues. Well, we're gonna keep taking it over here at ChronicBabe HQ, because it still beats downing the real stuff. We'll keep you posted as this story develops.

Via The New York Times, check out this story about a depression treatment involving "deep brain stimulation" - essentially a "switch" that can have profound results. Worth the one-time free registration: check it out!

Kerrie over at The Daily Headache is having some serious issues with her nerve stimulator. Jenni the Editrix didn't even know what a nerve stimulator was until she caught up on Kerrie's posts - and now realizes bunches of readers probably have them! Most important: we're sending good wishes to Kerrie. Second-most important: if you have a stimulator or are considering one, check out her recent posts - very enlightening! And third: we love that Kerrie watched Joe Versus the Volcano this week, one of the Editrix's all-time pick-me-up flicks. Kerrie, you're doing a great job caring for yourself in this tough time. We're rooting for you, girl!

Babe Meg points us to Rosemary Thornton's hand-crafted jewelry, where you can purchase gorgeous medical i.d. alert bracelets made with crystals, metals, pearls, natural stones, wood and more. These are beautiful alternatives to plain old traditional stuff. Check it out!

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued the first generic approval for the capsule dosage form of zidovudine to treat HIV/AIDS to be marketed in the United States. Get the details here.