Chronic Bits 

Jennifer Pettit is starting a blog carnival at her site, Understanding Invisible Illness. Her first call is for things that make your life better. Check it out and consider entering!

Moving. A new job. Marriage/divorce/new cohabitation. Any of those makes a healthy person stressed out, but that stress just amplifies with needing to manage a chronic condition. Join us at the Forum in an hour, as we talk BIG CHANGE with chronic illness. 6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET, 10pm AT (11AM in Sydney and Melbourne).

Over at Six Until Me, Abby posted a really frank look into her concerns about dating with diabetes. Many of us understand her fears: Will she be discriminated against? Dumped? Ignored? Yup, been there. Go check out this great read and add your own thoughts. 

Today's the blog carnival deadline for submitting your post about the politics of pain management. The next edition will be posted on Monday, February 27, 2012. The Huffington Post ran this article, The War Over Prescription Painkillers, and the writer was innudated by responses from patients who feel their pain is being untreated. We want to hear what ChronicBabes have to say about this issue. Submit your post by TONIGHT, February 23 at 10pm CST. Send it to chronic babe @ gmail dot com.

Moving. A new job. Marriage/divorce/new cohabitation. Any of those makes a healthy person stressed out, but that stress just amplifies with needing to manage a chronic condition. Join us at the Forum TONIGHT, February 23, as we talk BIG CHANGE with chronic illness. 6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET, 10pm AT (11AM in Sydney and Melbourne).

For some of us, it's obvious: We're overweight, so our back hurts, or our knees ache at the end of the day. Now, new research shows there is a connection between obesity and pain—even after accounting for other pain causes like chronic illness. Yet another reinforcement that Editrix Jenni's weight loss quest is worth it! 

Why don't we have a service like this in the U.S.? I suppose we could subscribe to an Amazon delivery on a monthly schedule, but Trinkets seems to have made it much more simple. 

The next edition will be posted on Monday, February 13, and in honor of Valentine's Day the theme is you are loved. We want to hear about the special people in your life who love and support you despite the challenges of your chronic illness. So tell us about your awesome friends, your helpful co-workers, your steadfast family and/or furry companions. Submit your post by TONIGHT, February 9 at 10pm CST. Here's how.

You can view it online for free, or order it on print-on-demand. We're still undecided on this magazine...send us your thoughts!

We all have a team - of family, friends, and medical professionals - who lift us up, who support us, even if sometimes they don't always understand our chronic conditions fully. But what happens when someone new walks into our life? A new manager at work, a new friend is introduced, or maybe even in a new dating situation? Let's answer these questions during this week's formal chat - why do we disclose? how do we disclose? when do we disclose? - and more! Come to the Forum on Thursday, February 9 at 6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET, 10pm AT (which is 11AM in Sydney and Melbourne, 1pm in New Zealand on Friday, February 10). OR join us on Sunday, February 12 at 12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 8pm GMT (which is 9AM in Sydney and Melbourne, 11AM in New Zealand on Monday, February 13)

The next edition will be posted on Monday, February 13, and in honor of Valentine's Day the theme is you are loved. We want to hear about the special people in your life who love and support you despite the challenges of your chronic illness. So tell us about your awesome friends, your helpful co-workers, your steadfast family and/or furry companions. Submit your post by Thursday, February 9 at 10pm CST. Here's how.

You need to participate in the next Patients For a Moment (PFAM) blog carnival. Here's how.

LindainLasVegas posted this short clip on YouTube. It's all about her journey, and what has happend with Susan G. Komen Foundation. So powerful it made Editrix Jenni burst into tears. Please watch and share. Thanks for the tip, pal Sarah!

Here at ChronicBabe HQ, we're checking out Yogaglo, which has lots of instructional videos. Once we've taken a few more of the classes we'll let you know what we think...but after a first pass, it looks good!

YES. This piece by Peggy Klaus is pretty fab. Thanks for the tip, friends at Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness!

As Babes with chronic illness, sometimes we forget that other part of health care - primary care. Are you up to speed on all the routine care you should get in a year - physical, GYN exam, dental cleanings, and other recommended screenings? Why or why not? Let's discuss! Join us for a live chat at the Forum today, Thursday, February 2 at 6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET, 10pm AT (which is 11AM in Sydney/Melbourne and 1PM in New Zealand on Friday, February 3). AND/OR on Sunday, February 5 at 12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 8pm GMT.

As Babes with chronic illness, sometimes we forget that other part of health care - primary care. Are you up to speed on all the routine care you should get in a year - physical, GYN exam, dental cleanings, and other recommended screenings? Why or why not? Let's discuss! Join us for a live chat at the Forum Thursday, February 2 at 6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET, 10pm AT (which is 11AM in Sydney/Melbourne and 1PM in New Zealand on Friday, February 3). AND/OR on Sunday, February 5 at 12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 8pm GMT.

As you may have seen yesterday on Twitter, ChronicBabe won WEGO Health's Best in Show 2011 award for Community. Check out all the other finalists and winners - who are all awesome - for a great list of resources. Yay!