Chronic Bits 

Babe Shannon suggests that you check out Chronic Pain Coaching, which offers multiple levels of coaching to help you cope with pain. Founder Kim Hummel also has a great blog with helpful tips.

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) recently unveiled a groundbreaking new device, the Kurzweil–National Federation of the Blind Reader. The portable Reader, developed by NFB and renowned inventor Ray Kurzweil, enables users to take pictures of and read most printed materials at the click of a button. Users merely hold “the camera that talks" over printed material and in seconds they hear the contents of the printed document played back in clear synthetic speech. NFB President Marc Maurer says, "The world of the printed word is about to be opened to the blind in a way it has never been before. No other device in the history of technology for the blind and visually impaired has provided quicker access to more information." Check it out!

From Babe Jo-Elle: ChronicBabes with RA should check out Out of Joint: A Private and Public Story of Arthritis by Mary Felstiner. It's a powerful read: While Felstiner's treatment of RA may be different than the experience of today's ChronicBabes (she was diagnosed in 1969 and didn't have access to the modern drugs of Enbrel and Humira that we recently diagnosed Babes have today), the emotions and experiences she shares are painfully similar.

Chronic pal Kerri Morrone is now a columnist at dLife, writing about integrating diabetes into her life. Her piece on a beach day with an insulin pump is hilarious. For great perspective on being a d-Babe, check out Kerri's columns.

Babe Rickey pointed us to this great site where you can get daily and/or weekly updates on medical news and research. It's well-organized and -written, with tons of resources. Check out Journal Watch today!

Medical Humanities does a great job this week with Grand Rounds, with TONS of great articles pulled together into a garden theme. "So often matters medical are portrayed in the language of war: the fight against disease, the battle against cancer. These are the metaphors that have dominated medical discourse in the mainstream media," says host Giskin. Instead, he and his crew choose to view matters of health in a more positive light; instead of battle grounds, our bodies are nature's creatures in need of tender care: "Our blogs, of course, are also little patches of territory, requiring cultivation and maintenance, and facilitating cross-fertilisation of ideas. We hope you enjoy a virtual tour through our 'Grand Grounds'." We luv it! Read on...

Previously marketed in Europe and Canada, a new sunscreen formula containing ingredients to protect against UVA rays is now available in the U.S. (Sunscreens available until now only protected against UVB rays.) More on the new sunscreen from WebMD and the FDA.

According to MSNBC, the FDA has approved new finishes for medication pills, including pearlescent, satin, shimmery--even sparkly pills. Rock! Now, if only we could pick and choose our colors. Read on for more...

With all this crappy migraine news today, we had to post something lighthearted to boost our spirits. Via Daily Candy, we bring you Nyokki - totally cute Japanese take on the Chia Pet. Chickee, Froggie, Monkey, Panda or Pig, these are going to look fabulous on your desk.

The AP reports serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening condition, can result when "triptan" migraine medications are mixed with depression-treating selective serotonin/ norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs or SNRIs). Here's the official warning along with some guidelines from the FDA. Bummer!

Kerrie at The Daily Headache reports that a headache specialist has found a dangerous active ingredient in HeadOn, the migraine medication with the most annoying advertising campaign in the entire universe. Knowledge is power, ladies!

MedPageToday reports the FDA has approved Atripla, a new once-a-day HIV treatment. "The approval of Atripla simplifies the treatment regimen for HIV-1 infected adults, and will potentially improve the ability of patients to adhere to treatment resulting in long-term effective control of HIV-1," says Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, acting commissioner of food and drugs for the FDA.

Sounds too good to be true, right? We'll have to wait until August to read the study in Neuroscience, but for now get the early scoop on new research into protein kinase G. Read on...

You're invited to participate in ChronicBabe's first Grand Rounds hosting experience. The theme: "It's All About the Ladies." Read on for instructions to submit your post for inclusion. Deadline for submission is Sunday, July 16, at 6pm central time. Get posting, people!

WomensEnews asks that question, specifically pondering what $9 billion could do for maternal health issues. While the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (the major recipient of Warren Buffett's fortunes) has focused on HIV/AIDS, infants and children, the article's author points out that those issues really start with women and their health, and asks, why not start at the source? An interesting perspective...

...Or for anyone who enjoys learning and laughing about their butt. Check out this article on the natural way to sit on a toilet. Good info, fun pictures.

If you ever have to be on crutches, then you'll want to have this link handy: Lemonaid Crutches creates absolutely gorgeous crutches using luscious fabrics and colored metals. You can even buy optional attachable bags for your necessaries. Best. Crutches. Ever. Thanks for the tip, Babe Kerrie!

Check out the latest edition of Change of Shift, the new nursing blog carnival brought to us by the creator of Emergiblog. It's good reading, folks!

You're invited to participate in ChronicBabe's first Grand Rounds hosting experience. The theme: "It's All About the Ladies." Read on for instructions to submit your post for inclusion.

That's just what we need over at ChronicBabe HQ: Editrix Jenni all hopped up on Viagra. Well, it's worth checking out at least. A review of the study is up at MedPageToday. Thanks for the tip, Babe Sundee!

Wow. Just when we thought we'd seen it all, here comes Prescription4Love, "the dating web site for people with special conditions." HIV, deafness, IBS, allergies, cancer, diabetes, STDs - folks with these conditions can be honest up-front in the dating situation, instead of waiting for an awkward moment that could potentially be disastrous. Check it out! (Thanks for the tip, DiabetesMine!)

Spark! The Campaign to Ignite CFS Awareness is kicking off a traveling photo exhibit featuring images of chronic fatigue patients and experts. The $4-million campaign, launched June 7, 2006, will continue through 2007. Check back with the campaign site to see when the exhibit will come to your area. NEW: The show will debut at the Mall of America August 6-15.

From the National Women's Health Resource Center comes a new report: Women & HIV. It's part of an ongoing series of comprehensive reports that include tons of great resources. Check out the archives for many more!

Donor Cycle did a great job this week with Grand Rounds. So many rockin' entries, organized in a fun way. Enjoy! And if you're new to Grand Rounds, check out the archives - the best of the weekly medical blogosphere.

You're invited to participate in ChronicBabe's first Grand Rounds hosting experience. The theme: "It's All About the Ladies." Read on for instructions to submit your post for inclusion.

Seriously, you are. And the Daily OM is simply confirming that fact with today's OM, all about your inherent worth. "Your worth cannot be taken from you or damaged by life's rigors," it tells us. "Each time you endeavor to appreciate yourself, treat yourself kindly, define your personal boundaries, be proactive in seeing that your needs are met, and broaden your horizons, you express your recognition of your innate value." Something to remember when you're feeling crummy, or worrying that your chronic is a burden to others...you know the drill. Know your worth! And subscribe to get the Daily OM in your mailbox.

From Nubella: A new study by the Group Health Center for Health Studies shows that people who are obese are 25% more likely to experience mental health issues like anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. It also indicated that among Caucasian Americans and more educated people who are obese, that likelihood may be as high as 44%. While the study does not show whether obesity leads to depression or vice versa, "it's almost certain that the association works in both directions," says Greg Simon, MD, MPH, a Group Health psychiatrist and the lead author of the study. Read on for more.

The first study of its kind, led by Karen M. Schaefer, D.N.Sc., R.N., assistant professor of nursing at Temple University's College of Health Professions, has found that women with fibromyalgia experience more pain, stiffness, and fatigue during pregnancy. We can't wait to see the whole study for details! And we wonder...why is this the first time anyone has looked seriously at pregnancy and fibromyalgia? There's so much anecdotal evidence that hormones are tied to symptoms... but hey, we'll take what we can get. Thanks Karen!

Grand Rounds is new over at RangelMD. We luv Grand Rounds and this week's entry doesn't disappoint. If you're a newbie, check out the Grand Rounds archives to learn more. (Editrix's aside: is it my imagination, or was everyone working yesterday? We got so many emails and so many projects started yesterday. Come on, people - it was a holiday! That's not healthy.)