Chronic Bits 

The Editrix isn't even a "dog person" and she loves The Daily Puppy. Enjoy! (Thanks for the tip, Babe Anne!)

The National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) is (through today only!) offering a free kit with resources to help teach others about mental illness, its impact on society, treatment options and more. The kit is a great resource for anyone who works in health care and wants to spread the word. Get more information here or call the NWHRC at 1-877-986-9472 to order.

A woman in California who was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, lupus and other disorders recently won a massive settlement for wrongful termination of benefits, according to FibromyalgiaSupport.com. Her case paves the way for other folks with illness-related disability to take their claims to court.

As usual, this week's Grand Rounds offers a great collection of medical blogging. Enjoy at MedViews, or check out the archives.

We sure do. So we're excited to read Jerome Groopman's new book, How Doctors Think. A physician and writer for The New Yorker, Groopman looks at what goes through doctors' minds as they're treating patients - the biases they carry, and the processes they use.

Last summer, Editrix Jenni was a lucky winner of The Real Hot 100 - an awards program and organization recognizing women who are true hotties because they work for change and speak their minds. Nominations have opened again for the second rounds of hotness - so if you know someone who should be recognized, get nominating!

Babe Amy Tenderich of Diabetes Mine is riding in the American Diabetes Association's upcoming Tour de Cure, and hoping to raise $5,000. Support a fellow Babe by making a donation here!

So says Nubella, writing today about research that shows certain kinds of fruit juices can help reduce your risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

Babe Kerrie Smyres at The Daily Headache writes today about the power of acceptance in learning to live well with chronic illness. She's got some great resources to check out, and we just want to reach through the interwebs and give her a big hug for writing on this important topic.

Grand Rounds is fresh today at Blog, MD. Check it out - and if you've got some time on your hands, browse the Grand Rounds archives.

Want to check out HBO's much-anticipated "Addiction" project, debuting tonight, but don't have cable? Don't fret: there's a massive web site chock full of information and all 14 films including the centerpiece and supplementary documentaries. For anyone who knows someone with substance abuse issues (really, is there anyone out there who doesn't know someone like that?), this is worth checking out.

Folks with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other waxing and waning chronic illnesses know how hard it is to navigate the Social Security Administration's disability benefits maze. There's a new petition that aims to result in a legislative amendement to Social Security disability insurance guidelines, one that would dole out temporary benefits to those in need and make it easier to go back to work when you're feeling better. Check it out - and consider signing, even if you don't have MS.

Here's a program that's so excellent it's already been overwhelmed by response and temporarily suspended. But we like the idea so much we still want to tell you about it - so you can keep checking back to see when it kicks off again. It's TamPontification - a project to donate feminine hygiene products to women's shelters. Check it out, and sign up for the Seventh Generation Non-Toxic Times newsletter to be alerted to when the program kicks off again.

We sure didn't. But MTV did! They are teaming up with Kaiser Family Foundation to offer up a unique challenge: create a video game that teaches young people about the risk of HIV/AIDS (25% of people who have it don't even know!) and win $5,000. Get the full scoop from mtvU now and start writing that game - deadline is March 16!

Babe Lauren (alias the Editrix's sister) pointed us to a query from Newsweek, asking folks for their personal stories of triumph over their "greatest health challenges." Aching to tell your story? This might be your chance to help someone by sharing some of your experiences.

...and the National Women's Health Resources Center is observing it in part by launching Endometriosis Corner, a place where women can go to get resources on the disease.

Love, love love the Monty Python theme this week in Grand Rounds, hosted by Science Roll. And ChronicBabe is a featured contributor - yay! Read on for some great health and medical blogging, or catch up with the Grand Rounds archives.

The Editrix had yogurt this morning with breakfast, and then read this article on WebMD about the many benefits of yogurt, like preventing osteoporosis, aiding digestion, cutting the risk of yeast infections, reducing blood pressure. Yum! Yay! Yogurt!

Change of Shift is new today at Emergiblog. Excellent reading from the nurses' perspective!

The Medill News Service offers up two articles today on the financial and familial costs of chronic pain, in a series called "Where Does It Hurt?" Your humble Editrix, Jenni Prokopy, is interviewed in the second installment on finances (along with our pal Jennifer Jaff of Advocacy for Patients With Chronic Illness, Inc.) The first installment looks at the impact on families, particularly when children are ill. We love them - excellent work from the Editrix's alma mater.

"Endometriosis Corner" is now available online from the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC). The Endometriosis Corner, included within NWHRC's online Reproductive Health Center, is being issued in conjunction with Endometriosis Awareness Month and includes a vast amount of information on this condition that affects more than 5.5 million American women of reproductive age.

According to WebMD, a new study shows that anxiety disorders are common - and often go untreated. So maybe it's time we all learn a little more about anxiety disorders and how to seek treatment... let's start at the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, shall we?

So says the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), as reported by Nubella. A recent poll taken by the NSF shows that "more than half of American women (60%) say they only get a good night's sleep a few nights per week or less and 67% say they frequently experience a sleep problem. Additionally, 43% say that daytime sleepiness interferes with their daily activities. Women’s lack of sleep affects virtually every aspect of their timepressed lives, leaving them late for work, stressed out, too tired for sex and little time for their friends." Uh-huh. So maybe it's time to practice good sleep hygiene!

Grand Rounds is fresh at Grunt Doc. Tons of excellent articles to read today, from patients, doctors, nurses, med school students - enough to keep you busy for a couple hours! Enjoy...and check out the Grand Rounds archives if you're really bored and need some good reading.

Emmi Solutions is looking for volunteers to watch a brief online patient education program. The company's programs educate people about their health conditions and prepare them for procedures. But only YOU, real ChronicBabes, can help make sure they're telling patients everything they need to know. Everyone who reviews an Emmi program will receive a free pedometer, and participation is confidential. Right now, the company is looking for women who have had breast reconstruction or LEEP: loop electrosurgical excision procedure (a procedure to treat cervical dysplasia). If you're interested, contact Michelle Melin-Rogovin, director of patient advocacy for Emmi Solutions: 312-568-4083.

Thanks for all the great distraction tips, everyone! We got some real winners, and they helped me chill out during a big pain flare-up. I love my Babes! PLUS: I'll be featuring the best ones in the next Goodie Bag eNewsletter on Tuesday, so if you're not signed up already, go for it so you don't miss out...