Neuro-Stim Procedure

The Doctors TV discussed the Neuro-Stim Procedure for Migraine treatment with Dr. Kenneth Reed today. If you follow this link, you can scroll to the bottom and watch 2 different videos from the show (Warning: the left one is pretty graphic). This is the procedure I had done in December 2010 (it was definitely surreal watching the video about what some of the things they did during my surgery).

More information can be found here. Also, the Reed Migraine Center has a website set up with more information, including upcoming Get Your Life Back seminars.

I Will... in 2012

I don't like making new year's resolutions. But, I think the new year is as good a time as any to take some time to pause for a moment... reviewing the previous year's ups and downs, and then to re-prioritize and commit to things you can do to improve your life in the coming year.

• I will do my daily journaling devotional - so far this has been very good for me. The devotional I have is very short per day, but it allows me to reflect on it and then journal about it. It's an easy step to get myself back into reading and writing more.
• I will express more gratitude - to God, others, and myself.
• I will develop a healthy sleep schedule - getting up and going to bed closer to the same times (and more reasonable) daily.
• I will write more frequently - for my blog, my journal, and my other writing endeavors.
• I will incorporate exercise into my daily routine, even if it's only stretching.
• I will maintain a healthy diet and cook more frequently - including trying new recipes.
• I will celebrate (rather than discount) the goals I reach and achievements I make, regardless of how "large or small" they are.
• I will continue to seek out the best treatment possible to help me manage my chronic pain.
• I will schedule a digital sabbatical (even if only for an hour or two at a time).
• I will use my "Something for Jesus to Do" (SFJTD) box to write out things that I need to turn over to God - once I write it out and place it into the box, it is out of my hands (just as I must let go of the worry to God, the piece of paper is to be completely released... I throw them away or burn them, as the box fills... without re-reading what I'd written).
• I will continue to find ways of being kinder to myself... learning coping strategies, treating myself with the same kindness I treat others, avoiding toxic relationships and disrespectful people, accepting that some days will be better than others (but keeping faith that the good days will come).
• I will apologize less for things that are out of my control - I'm really bad about this, especially with my husband.

But, most of all... I will continue to seek God with all of my heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Kari Bailey at Patient Endurance poses these questions, as one pauses to consider life changes and priorities:

“What do you want your life to stand for this year? What purpose do you want to fulfill? What is most important in your life right now? Who and what are you going to give the majority of your time to this year? What is your vision for your immediate future? What are you hoping and dreaming God will do for you and your family this year? What do you want changed in your life? Where do you want to be this time next year?"

I love these questions, but they definitely call for more thought and attention than I have to give right now. I'm going to write them down, respond to each question, and then honestly assess my answers.

Blessings!

Giving Myself Props

Today, I have to give myself some props... I took advantage of the beautiful weather we had today (it was in the mid-60s today... tomorrow is only supposed to be in the mid-40s), and took myself for a walk. Now, some may not understand the magnitude of this feat, but I'm proud of myself. Not only have I been struggling to find the motivation to "get moving," but I also haven't been feeling well enough to do much. To be fair, the sun was brutal and I'm still not doing very well. But, I did it!!!

I just have to figure out how to get some sort of exercise into my routine... I haven't figured that out yet, but I took a good step forward today.

Public Health Advisory: Mix-Up of Opiate Products

A public health advisory regarding potential safety risk with opiate products has been issued:

FDA is advising healthcare professionals and patients of a potential problem with opiate products manufactured and packaged for Endo Pharmaceuticals by Novartis Consumer Health at its Lincoln, Nebraska manufacturing site. Due to problems that occurred when these products were packaged and labeled at the site, tablets from one product type may have carried over into packaging of another product. This could result in a stray pill of one medicine ending up in the bottle of another product.

The following products are included:

• Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride) Extended-Release Tablets CII
• Opana (oxymorphone hydrochloride) CII
• Oxymorphone hydrochloride Tablets CII
• PERCOCET (oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen USP) Tablets CII
• PERCODAN (oxycodone hydrochloride and aspirin, USP) Tablets CII
• ENDOCET (oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen USP) Tablets CII
• ENDODAN (oxycodone hydrochloride and aspirin, USP) Tablets CII
• MORPHINE SULFATE Extended-Release Tablets CII
• ZYDONE (hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen tablets, USP) CIII

Please be sure to check the contents of your prescriptions carefully. All of the pills in the bottle should look the same. If the pills don't look like what you normally take or if you find any pills that are different in shape, size, color, or markings, take them to your pharmacist right away.

Endo Pharmaceuticals has provided a visual guide of the affected drugs that you can download if you would like to double check the tablets in your prescription: Endo Pharmaceuticals Opioid Guide.

Drug Recall: Excedrin, NoDoz, Bufferin, Gas-X

Due to concerns about broken or incorrect tablets winding up in pill bottles, Novartis is voluntarily recalling some bottles of Excedrin, NoDoz, Gas-X Prevention, and Bufferin.

According to the Novartis website:

Novartis Consumer Health (NCH) is voluntarily recalling all lots of select bottle sizes of Excedrin® and NoDoz® products with expiry dates of December 20, 2014 or earlier as well as Bufferin® and Gas-X® Prevention® products with expiry dates of December 20, 2013 or earlier, in the United States.

More information about the recall (including the full list of recalled products) and how you can obtain a refund for any of these products that you may have already purchased, you can visit the Novartis OTC Consumer Product Update Website.

A Year in Review (2011)

Well, 2011 is officially over, and I've already been having a rough start to the new year. But, I'd like to take a look back at what last year held. My memory stinks, so I'm relying a lot on previous blog posts... but this will also help me, when I'm trying to do my scrapbook (yay).

I know that last year was filled with plenty of pain, guilt, and frustration... but, I'm trying to remember it in a more positive light. Last year was a year of... CHANGE, and change isn't always bad. I know that change is always occurring, but last year just seemed to be filled with a lot of big changes for us.

• Recovered from neurostimulator implant surgery.
• Dad's 1955 Chevy in Dallas car show (a dream we've shared since I was little).
• Attended 4-week church class (Reinventing Your Life).
• Surprise birthday party for my Mom.
• Participated in WEGO Health's Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (HAWMC) in April - 30 posts in 30 days.
• Brother-in-law ordained.
• Jeremy started new job (in Texas).
• Moved back to Texas.
• A dear friend's son died within minutes of birth.
• Participated in Invisible Illness Week in September.
• Attended National Headache Foundation (NHF) Conference.
• Participated in WEGO Health's National Health Blog Posting Month (NHBPM) in November - 30 posts in 30 days.
• Helped plan sister's wedding (will continue to do until wedding in June 2012).
• Able to participate in Christmas get-togethers with family and friends (even if cut short or a bit blurry from my migraine meds, I enjoyed myself).

I did more awareness actions this year, which I plan to continue. I've made it a point to participate in health activist writing challenges, spread the word about initiatives of some different groups (including AHDA, NHF, MRF), attend a NHF conference, and to participate in national awareness initiatives (including National Pain Awareness Month, Invisible Illness Week, Migraine Awareness Week).

So, farewell to 2011!