Wow! A "Top Migraine and Headache Site" Award!

Today, I received an email from Dan Marschinke, the producer of MyMigraineConnection.com. Part of it read:

"I just wanted to congratulate you and let you know that we’ve selected Abi’s Migrainous Wanderings as one of our Top Site Award Recipients! We’re honoring the ten best Migraine and headache blogs and sites on the Web, as picked by our experts."

Especially since I've been watching MyMigraineConnection become better and better, I'm very honored that my blog has received this award. Thank you

Here's the HealthCentral press release, which explains more about these awards:

HealthCentral.com Recognizes Top Migraine Web Sites and Blogs

ARLINGTON, VA- June 27, 2007- The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com), a leading online consumer health destination, today announced awards for the top Web sites and blogs dedicated to educating and supporting individuals living with Migraines and fostering the online Migraine community.

HealthCentral.com’s First Annual Top Site Awards recognize the Web’s best sites, from individual blogs to small Web sites, each committed to providing personal, quality information, support and inspiration to Migraineurs, caregivers, and their family and friends. The recipients of the award share HealthCentral.com’s mission in highlighting the patient voice in health information.

“We rely greatly on the advice and personal experiences of friends and family in all facets of life and managing a health condition is no different,” said Chris Schroeder, CEO and President of The HealthCentral Network (THCN). “This year’s Top Sites recognize the importance of sharing and learning from other people who have real life experience dealing with Migraines and join HealthCentral.com in providing trusted, personal information and support to the Migraine community.”

A team of experts from THCN’s Migraine site, MyMigraineConnection.com, chose this year’s top Migraine and Headache sites after reviewing and analyzing the most popular and influential Web sites focused on living with Migraines.

“The face of healthcare is changing. Studies show that patients who are better educated about their conditions and take part in the decision making process are more compliant with their treatment regimens and have better outcomes,” said Teri Robert, founder of Top Award winner HelpforHeadaches.com and Lead Expert Patient on MyMigraineConnection.com. “That's in no small part due to the impact the Internet has made on making information available. Paired with well researched and written content, online communities provide Migraineurs a place to share information, ask questions, and get vital support -- support from people who truly understand their situations. That kind of support can make the difference that keeps us looking for effective treatment rather than giving up and living in pain.”

The 2007 HealthCentral.com Top Migraine and Headache Sites:

The Daily Headache http://www.thedailyheadache.com/
MigraineCast http://www.migrainecast.com/
Abi's Migrainous Wanderings http://abimigraines.blogspot.com/index.html
Migraine Blog http://www.migraineblog.com/
Her Life in a Nutshell http://joannab.wordpress.com/
Help For Headaches & Migraines http://helpforheadaches.com/
Migraine Chick http://migrainechickie.blogspot.com/
Weathering Migraine Storms http://weatheringmigrainestorms.blogspot.com/
A ClusterHead’s Life http://versilleus.blogspot.com/
Somebody Heal Me http://migraineur.blogspot.com/

About the HealthCentral Network

The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is a new and unique online offering, comprised of more than 30 health and highly specific condition web properties. Each site provides timely, interactive, in-depth, and trusted medical information from organizations including Harvard Health Publications among others, and connections to leading experts and thousands of people who share their related experiences and inspiration.

The HealthCentral Network was acquired in 2005 by Polaris Ventures, Sequoia Capital, The Carlyle Group and Allan & Company, and has built a management team that combines decades of experience in interactive media and medical, science, and news journalism. The company received top recognition from the International Health and Medical Media Awards with a 2006 FREDDIE Award for MyDiabetesCentral.com and the Health Care Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association.

Congrats - The Daily Headache Celebrating Blogiversary!

A belated happy blogiversary goes to Kerrie at The Daily Headache! The Daily headache has become one of the best headache and Migraine blogs around. Kerrie celebrated The Daily Headache's second "blogiversary" this past week.

If you aren't familiar with it, check it out. You'll love it!

One chiropractor's claims - arrogance, ignorance, or delusion?

Yesterday evening, I came across a post on the MAGNUM guestbook that I'm now told was approved by accident and has now been removed by their Support Advisor, Teri Robert. It was from a chiropractor who claimed, "EVERY single migraine sufferer I've ever cared for has no longer suffered from migraines after, some had 100% relief after just 1 visit." He had included the URL for his Web site. I call that post "spam;" he says, "I only put on the link so you and other could see the testimonials." His name isn't important, and I'm not going to give him the benefit of Internet exposure by posting it.

I made the mistake of emailing this "world-class doctor of chiropractic" thinking he might actually have something of value to offer Migraineurs IF he would just understand that no treatment is effective for everyone and that effective treatment often includes treatments from more than one modality of treatment.

In his reply to me, he made several assumptions...

• that I needed help with my Migraines;
• that I needed to "open my mind and wise up for my own good;" and
  
• "those you've encountered so far in your search have all had training or vested interests in keeping you a prisoner of your migraines."
  

Some of his remarks to me provided me with a few laughs. You see, you have to laugh at people like him; they're not worth the time or energy involved in being upset or even continuing to pursue reasonable discourse. Let me share a few of the laughs with you. One comment -- the misspellings and poor grammar are his; I'm just not bothering to correct them...

• "You medical people generally make things waaay to complicated. 99 out of 100 migraines (at least) are simple to resolve." In a way, he's not far off in one respect. Probably 85 out of 100 Migraines ARE simple to resolve. Whether the Migraineur employs biofeedback, meditation, or (heaven forbid) medications, the Migraines experienced by the majority of Migraineurs are simply treated. It's that other 15% that are difficult, potentially debilitating, and need expert care.
• "Seems liek you are too booksmart for your own good. I've studied real healthcare for 25 years, not what you would call "healthcare". I am not some symptom-chasing pawn of the medical establishment." He's studied "real healthcare for 25 years?" Hmmmmmmmm. He graduated from high school in 1989, 18 years ago. Maybe he was a precocious teenager.
• "Great minds are always at first ridiculed and unpopular, so your comments have not affect on me." Great minds? He seemed to be speaking of himself. Oh, well. He does have a healthy ego.
• "Open your mind, reverse your direction, seek a world-class doctor of chiropractic and you will find better success." He said this with absolutely no knowledge of my treatment or my current state of health. I had four Migraines in 2006, and I've had one so far in 2007. Do any of you think I need "better success?" I'm actually quite satisfied with my success.

For those of you who may be considering chiropractic care, don't let this put you off. There are indeed "world-class" chiropractors out there. They are true professionals who provide quality care with respect, professionalism, and humility.

I guess I enjoyed the laughs. Although attempting an adult, professional conversation with him was a futile attempt at best, such attempts are still worth a shot.

This exchange does leave me a bit puzzled though. I can't decide if I think this man is speaking from arrogance, from ignorance, or if he's just delusional about his own knowledge, skills, and expertise.

Thanks for the laughs and verifying that you're a total ass, Mr. "world-class doctor of chiropractic!"

Namaste,
Abi

News, news, and more news from the American Headache Society conference!

Every Migraineur's dear friend Teri Robert at MyMigraineConnection spent last week in Chicago at the 49th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society. Teri attends this conference every year and always returns home with fodder for many articles in which she shares with us what she learned -- written in a way we can actually understand! To me, her articles are always more valuable than most "news" articles written on Migraine because she goes deeper and into more detail than most people who write on Migraine and Migraine news.

Already, her blog entries from the conference and the first article to come out of the conference proceedings have me waiting with great anticipation for more. Here's some of what she's shared so far:

• Greetings from Chicago - the American Headache Society Conference. This is a fun post where Teri shares a video of her "remote headquarters."
  
  
• Reporting from Chicago - A new Migraine abortive in trials. Merck has released results from their Phase II trials of MK-0974, an investigational oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist. Teri spoke with Dr. Tony Ho, senior director of Clinical Neuroscience for Merck Research Laboratories to give us a great report on what's happening with this new medication. It looks very hopeful, even for Migraineurs with a history of heart or stroke issues!
  
  
• Back from the American Headache Society conference! Ever wonder what some of the "famous" doctors we read about look like? Teri has shared some super photos of a few of them.

When you get a chance, check out Teri's reports. If you haven't already, consider subscribing to the MyMigraineConnection email newsletter. It's a great way to keep up on what's new!

To Teri -- Thank you, as always, for looking out for all of us and sharing so much valuable information. Oh, and a belated happy birthday!

Shalom,
Abi