Alternative Therapies for Migraine: October 09 Migraine & Headache Blog Carnival

The Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival has been created to provide both headache patients and people who blog about headaches with opportunities to share ideas on topics of particular interest and importance to us.

The theme of the October carnival is Alternative therapies - your experiences (good or bad), thoughts about trying them or any other take on the subject.

This month's carnival has a lot of wonderful information about alternative, aka complementary, therapies for Migraines and headaches. It's well worth your time to go take a look!

Visit the Alternative Therapies for Migraine: October 09 Migraine & Headache Blog Carnival.

Some important Migraine posts

Namasté, my dear readers!

Although my own Migraines and daily life haven't left me much time for blogging recently, I've been thinking about everyone.

In lieu of trying to put together the required brain cells to blog today myself, I thought it would be a nice change of pace to share with you some of the blogs I've enjoyed lately. If you missed them, this will give you another chance to read some words of wisdom...

• On Somebody Heal Me, Diana is reminding everyone how urgent it is to speak up about some of the new regulations being considered about medications containing acetaminophen. See Reminder: Take Action on Proposed FDA Ban on Prescription Narcotics.
  
  
• At Her Life in a Nutshell, Joanna observed Invisible Illness Awareness Week by posting 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You may Not Know.
  
  
• New blogger Jon of Just a Migraineur posted an interesting entry on Searching Migraine Sites.
  
  
• On MyMigraineConnection, Teri Robert blogged Interview with Cindy McCain: Migraine Sufferer, Advocate. And I must note here that I'm extremely envious of Teri getting to sit and personally talk with Mrs. McCain!

I know I didn't get to everyone, and I hope you'll forgive me. Right now, my head and my family call!

Shalom,
Abi

Cindy McCain, Migraine Advocate

Last week was a great one for all of us with Migraine disease. We've been wishing for ages for a Migraineur who is very visible to the public to take up our cause, and it has happened at last.

Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain, came forward last week. She not only shared about her own situation with Migraine, she came forward to advocate for all of us.

Author and patient advocate was there and interviewed Mrs. McCain. Among other things, Mrs. McCain told Teri,

"I'm going to put together an action committee to go door-to-door in Congress, particularly the Senate, to make them understand... to make them understand how little research there is, the huge number of people impacted... to make them understand what the economic problems caused by Migraine are too. We need to testify in front of Congress."

Sounds good to me! I hope you'll take a few minutes to read what else she told Teri during the interview. You can find it in Interview with Cindy McCain: Migraine Sufferer, Advocate.

And to Teri, thanks for always being there to represent us and get us all the information possible! Oh, and thanks for allowing me to use your photo!

Namasté,
Abi

The AHDA and Migraine Research - We CAN Help!

Hello! I know I've been remiss about posting, but family and personal matters have had me busy, busy, busy.

Anyway, this is to important to miss...

One of the biggest hurdles we face regarding Migraine treatment is the lack of solid research into the cause of Migraines and just what happens when we have a Migraine. Although there's been good progress, it's nowhere near that of some other diseases or what we need. That kind of research needs to be conducted so the researchers who are trying to develop Migraine and headache treatments have the essential knowledge to do their work.

The Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA) was formed from this need and a 2007 event called Headache on the Hill (HOH). During that event, doctors, researchers, and patient advocates went to Washington to speak to members of Congress about this lack of NIH funding.

After HOH, the AHDA was formed, and at the appropriate times, they called on patients, family members, friends, anyone who cared to go to their web site and send emails to their members of Congress. They worked hard to make it so easy for us that it only took a matter of minutes to send those emails. The basic emails were already written, all we had to do was add any personal plea we wanted to make, and click a button.

Headache on the Hill is coming up again the end of this month. Migraine patient advocate Teri Robert tells us that yes, the AHDA will need our help again. They will need us to send emails, but as with most things political, there's just no way to tell exactly when that will be. It's possible that the AHDA will have very little warning of when we need to write to impact funding.

For that reason, it's very important that we be registered for the AHDA mailing list. When the need arises for us to send emails, being on their mailing list means that we'll get emails when we need to email Congress. Those emails will tell us what the issues are and have links to take us directly to a web page to send our emails.

Please, if you're not already on their mailing list, CLICK HERE to go to the AHDA site and register. The doctors, researchers, and patient advocates who participate in HOH for us take days away from their busy practices and work schedules to do this for all of use. We all need to back them up by sending emails when it's time.

So, pretty please? Go to their site and register, AND please ask everyone you know to do so too.

Namaste,
Abi

Migraine Podcast: Welcome Back, MigraineCast!

It seems that my all-time favorite podcast is back! Some time ago, Teri Robert started MigraineCast, a podcast chock full of great information and tips about Migraines and headaches.

It's been a while since the last podcast, and when I emailed Teri about it a while back, she apologized, saying that she'd been so busy with all of her work that MigraineCast had taken a back seat for a while. She promised that it would be back in 2009.

True to her word, Teri has published the first MigraineCast of 2009. Appropriately, it's titled Living Well in 2009 Despite Migraines and Headaches. To listen to this new podast, GO HERE. If you're an iTunes user, look for MigraineCast on iTunes!

Thank you, Teri!

Namaste,
Abi

Migraine Truth, a New Blogger on the Scene

I've been a bit AWOL recently. Dealing with my own family and health issues. While I wasn't around, a new Migraine blogger has appeared on the scene. Arabella started a new blog she named Migraine Truth, she says "because I'm tired of misconceptions, misunderstandings and outright lies." Wow.

Arabella is taking on some of the sites and blogs many Migraine bloggers don't or won't. Why not? I can't speak for others, but I generally don't because I don't have time to deal with retaliation. I've seen what some of these people do when someone writes something about them, and it's something they don't like.

Great job, Arabella! I hope to see you around and blogging for a very, very long time.

Namaste,
Abi

New Migraine Guide at About - a Good Thing?

One of the first really great Migraine and headache web sites I found when I turned to the internet for information several years ago was About.com's About Headaches and Migraines. At that time, the "guide" on the site was Teri Robert. When she left the site in January of 2007, it was a sad time for me. I'd followed her work for several years by then; had read her stupendous book, "Living Well With Migraine Disease and Headaches;" had learned so much from her; and had come to count on her work for basic information and for new research explained in terms I could understand.

When I emailed her, she explained that she had left About for health reasons -- that she needed less stress and responsibility. Not too long after that, she started writing and providing support on the HealthCentral Network's MyMigraineConnection.com. There, a site producer covered some of the duties that had been Teri's responsibility at About, allowing her more time to write and provide support while other things were covered by the producer.

This evening, I discovered that someone has finally filled the job of guide on the About.com site. A good thing for all of us who can use all the information we can get. Right? Well . . . at this point, I'm not too sure. The first thing I noticed is that Dr. Foley, the new guide, seems to lump headaches and Migraines into the word "headaches." In his bio, he says, "I spend my days treating primarily people in pain. Headaches are very common and many of my patients come seeking relief."

A good thing? Time will tell.

Shalom,
Abi

Migraine Expressed in Words and Images

OK, I'm seldom at a loss for words, but I just saw a book that leaves me feeling inadequate to express my thoughts about it in words.

inspiring

dynamic

glorious

uplifting

enlightening

All of those words come to mind, yet none seem adequate for this book. Migraine Expressions, edited by Betsy Blondin, is the first book of its kind. Through the words and images submitted by Migraineurs, this book takes you into the world of Migraine sufferers. I am in awe of people who can express themselves in this fashion.

Please, please, please, go to www.MigraineExpressions.com and get a copy of this book! If you have Migraine disease, you will find yourself in its pages. If you don't, this book will help you understand the disease and its sufferers better.

For more details, please see the press release below.

Namaste,
Abi

NEW MIGRAINE ART AND LITERATURE BOOK FROM WORD METRO PRESS

Groundbreaking book depicts migraine in insightful visual and written art from migraineurs worldwide

San Diego, California, July 16, 2008 – Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey through Life with Migraine illustrates in breathtaking art, poetry, essays and photography some of the ways tens of millions of people worldwide live, work, feel and love while trying to minimize attacks and manage symptoms of this often-debilitating disease. The courage and strength that takes is illuminated in this dramatic work from 124 writers and artists in many states and countries.

No other book expresses migraine in both words and art of people who suffer the symptoms and survive the disease; most books about migraine are from experts who define, explain, and offer advice on how to manage it. This book will complement existing information, be instrumental for people with migraine to share experiences and communicate feelings, and serve as a tool for furthering understanding among non-migraineurs.

Migraine is a neurobiological disease impacting more than 30 million people in the United States and similarly 12 to 15 percent of people in most countries of the world. It is a debilitating and little-understood disorder that is finally attracting the long-overdue attention it urgently needs in medical research and treatment arenas as well as in the general media. Celebrities, athletes and well-known professionals appear more and more often to share their stories or in news items of crippling migraine attacks. They represent many millions of others around the world.

Suzanne E. Simons, Executive Director of the National Headache Foundation, commented, “Congratulations! The images and the words are compelling. Migraineurs will relate to the visual images and poems. Those who don’t suffer may be better able to empathize after reading the book.”

The book includes a foreword by leading migraine educator, advocate and author, Teri Robert, Ph.D., who says, “Projects such as Migraine Expressions are rare, priceless, and sorely needed. They offer an intimate view of the impact of migraine disease. The works of art in this book are deeply personal and revealing. They are heart-wrenching and inspiring, filled with both terror and hope.”

And Richard B. Lipton, MD, Professor of Neurology and Director, Montefiore Headache Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, claims, "Migraine Expressions reveals a neurobiological disease from many highly personal perspectives as contributors transform their experiences into stunning verbal and visual art. The book will help people with migraine find their individual voices even as they recognize the universality of their shared experiences.”

Book details: Hardcover, 192 pages, full color, 8.5 by 11 inches, available from publisher at www.wordmetropress.com July 21, 2008, $34.95 retail. Editor is available for interviews, appearances and book signings.

# # #

Betsy Baxter Blondin is a longtime writer and editor, a nearly 40-year migraine survivor,

and this is the first book published by Word Metro Press.

Contact Betsy at 760.458.5576 or editor@wordmetro.com for further information or to request a review copy.

www.wordmetropress.com, www.migraineexpressions.com