Chronic Bits 

Not that this happens a ton, but it turns out that MRIs can make adhesive medicated patches cause skin burns. Check out this warning from the FDA for all the details.

A new project, MediClim, will send you updates on weather that might affect your asthma, migraine, heart disease, diabetes or arthritis. We're testing it out here at ChronicBabe HQ...let us know what you think of the new service!

It's not too late to catch up with some great posts in March over at How to Cope with Chronic Pain. The carnival is a terrific way to find new sites and resources!

From the American Pain Foundation: The House Passed the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009, H.R. 756! Now we need our Senators to support it too. Use this form to write your Senator and urge action on this important legislation.

ChronicPal Laurie Edwards writes today about being "fragmented" or otherwise "not herself," the result of six months of tough health issues (on top of her already busy schedule). Of course, we can TOTALLY relate, can't we Babes? Reading Laurie's perspective made Editrix Jenni tear up in commiseration, and we think you'll dig it, too. None of us are alone.

The Juggle is a Wall Street Journal blog co-written by our new pal Rachel Silverman (who Editrix Jenni met at SXSW in Austin a week ago) and it covers lots of pregnancy and health issues. Timely news for Babes with babies!

Check out all the terrific posts this week at CodeBlog, host of Grand Rounds...our favorite way to find new health bloggers. Cheers!

Check out this CBS.com video that examines the difference between hypochondria and neurosis. Then talk amongst yourselves. (Thanks for the tip, Dr. Val!)

A fresh article at WebMD today tells us that the opinions of others can help us make important decisions, just confirming our belief here at ChronicBabe HQ that connections with our support team mean the world, in terms of both physical and spiritual health. Go meet someone new, Babes!

Editrix Jenni knows just how you feel! This terrific article has wonderful advice for how to ensure you get the best treatment and avoid some of the most common long-term issues and after-effects. Thanks, Babe Shannon, for this tip! (We luv our readers!)

Sponsored by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, Cover the Uninsured Week is March 22-28 and there are tons of ways YOU can help! Take action today!

Editrix Jenni just spent a week in Austin, Texas at the SXSW interactive festival, learning lots about web technologies and the evolution of social networking in health care, among other things. Expect some fun changes to the site soon, Babes, and thanks for your patience while we were quiet during the Editrix's travels!

You can check out all the terrific Grand Rounds bloggers and see the accompanying video (captured in real-time) that includes commentary and a few "field trips" to select blogs...including ChronicBabe!

This is big, Babes! For the first time ever, the weekly Grand Rounds medical blog carnival will be kicked off with a LIVE webinar the night before hosted by Doc Gurley, Colin Son (the Medscape Grand Rounds Guru) and a mystery guest. And you can participate! The theme? Improv. Doc Gurley says, "Feel free to stretch the topic past the breaking point. Do you improvise when it comes to health care? Should you? Do you flourish in the unscripted moments we all face? Will we as a nation improvise a health care plan?" Register today and log on with Editrix Jenni and a ton of other cool health bloggers Monday, March 10 at 9pm EST. (Note: the registration page has the wrong time posted. Promise us, it's 9pm.)

Sins Invalid is seeking submissions from performers, writers, visual artists and other cultural workers on topics of disability and sexuality for relationship-building and future collaboration. Deadline: April 25, 2009. For more info email info@sinsinvalid.org or call (510) 689-7198.

...and be inspired by one woman taking a stand. And follow her example. The more of us who speak out about our needs stemming from invisible illness and disability, the sooner ignorance will melt away, even if it's just one person at a time. Cheers, WhyMommy, for standing up to the man (literally)!

Coming to a bookstore near you: S.L. Wisenberg, aka Cancer Bitch, will be traveling with her new book, The Adventures of Cancer Bitch, and you can hear her read and meet her in person. Don't miss the chance to meet a terrific health advocate/ writer/ sassy britches kind of Babe!

The American Pain Foundation is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, March 10 at 7pm EST: The New Face of Fibromyalgia. Kim Dupree Jones PhD, Associate Professor in the Schools of Nursing and Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, will talk about the latest in diagnosis and treatment. Register today!

Mon.thly.info will help you remember. It's a supercute, highly functional site that lets you track your periods so you can predict ovulation and menstruation.

...but the Goodie Bags will be delivered soon. Thanks for your patience, Babes!

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced new air travel guidelines for folks with disabilities and medical conditions. Read up on the new guidelines and screening processes (PDF) so you're prepared for travel!

The 2009 DiabetesMine Design Challenge has begun, a blog-based competition calling for innovative design concepts (devices or web applications) that will improve life with diabetes. This year, the contest is sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF), with a Grand Prize of $10,000. It’s also supported by global innovation firm IDEO and by Medgadget.com, the Internet journal of emerging medical technologies. The competition is open to ANYONE with a good idea: patients, parents, startup companies, design & medical students, developers, engineers, etc. Get creative, Babes!

Well, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society does, anyway. Our contact there says, "Kareem Dale, Special Assistant for Disability Policy to President Obama, is looking for any person with a disability who has gone back to work or been rehired as a result of the economic recovery plan that was recently passed through Congress. For example, some companies starting hiring again as a result of money they are going to receive." If you fit the bill, shoot Editrix Jenni an email ASAP. Thanks!