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This is my journal of living with Migraine and other chronic illness. Trying to live well, to live a purposeful life, with chronic illness, since I don't get the choice of living one without it!
Kreativ Blogger Award
November 2nd, 2008
One of the great joys of blogging is the on line conversation and community that is formed between those
blogging on the same or similar topics. When I can’t reach anyone on the phone, when there is no one in my day to day life to talk to, I can come on line and seek out the thinking of, receive the sympathy of, and offer comfort to my wonderful blogger friends. It was a joy to me as I sat alone at my computer yesterday to get notice from my dear friend MJ of Rhymes with Migraine that she had awarded me with the Kreativ Blogger Award.
MJ is a bright and courageous young woman with chronic Migraine disease, great good sense, and a big heart, and I am blessed to have her as a friend. Do go check out her blog for some really good writing. Thank you MJ for the honor and the recognition!
The terms of the Kreativ Blogger Award are to list six things that make me happy, and give this award to six other bloggers.
Six things that make me happy:
- Finding the humor in life, and laughing at it!
- Taking brisk walks outside in the woods and fields.
- Sharing ideas and having deep and intense conversations with family and friends.
- The great love and support of my wonderful husband, children and family.
- The creative, committed and compassionate Migraine and chronic illness advocacy and support community.
- Making lovely things, with words, cloth, yarn, food, or whatever I can get my hands on.
Six bloggers I want to give the Kreativ Blogger Award to (in alphabetical order):
- Eileen, of My Life with Migraine
- Kerrie, of The Daily Headache
- Marla, of A Winning Life with RSD
- Migraine Chick, of The Migraine Chick
- Rain Gem, of Migraine News Network
- Marijka, of Help My Hurt
Please check out their blogs for some good reading!
– Megan
Tags: chronic illness, migraine, Weblogs
Posted in Weblogs | Comments (2)
Keep Working, Girlfriend! Book Tour
November 1st, 2008
One of the most important issues for any of us facing chronic illness is the issue of staying employed, or
how to support ourselves while managing our illness. It is an issue we will be exploring at greater length in the coming months here at Free my Brain as we look at the merits and drawbacks of keeping a job, finding home-based employment, starting a business, or not working at all, when managing life with Migraine disease. Rosalind Joffe, Chronic Illness Coach, specializes in helping women with autoimmune diseases keep on working!
I’m participating in Rosalind’s Virtual Book Tour, along with other chronic illness bloggers, to bring attention to this important new book: Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! From Nov. 3 – Nov. 21, the other bloggers and I will be reviewing the book,
interviewing the author, hosting guest posts, and bringing attention to this important issue. Rosalind will be writing a guest post here 
on Free my Brain on Tuesday, November 18. First stop on the tour will be at Rhymes with Migraine on November 3rd. In the meantime, please visit Keep Working Girlfriend for a list of the other bloggers/stops on the tour. You can also check out the book itself, which is described as a “voice of warmth, wisdom, understanding, and sisterhood,“ encouraging “women with chronic illness to stay as successfully employed as possible.” Click on the image of the book at the right to read more about it or purchase through Amazon.com.
– Megan
Takes a licking but keeps on working!
Tags: autoimmune disease, chronic illness, Migraine disease, Rosalind Joffe, women, work
Posted in Books | Comments (0)
Happy Halloween
October 31st, 2008
Happy Halloween, dear pumpkin-heads!
May your heads feel light.
Not heavy with pain, some relief for your brain,
send the monsters away, and come out to play,
I wish you some fun tonight.
– Megan
Jack O’Lanterns image courtesy of Peter Dutton.
Tags: Halloween, migraine
Posted in Silliness | Comments (0)
Childrens’ Health Insurance Plans Sometimes Cover Parents Too
October 30th, 2008
If you saw my recent post on our family’s Health Insurance Headaches you know I’ve been doing a lot of research into health insurance options lately. I thought I’d pass on some information that might help some of you. In the United States, every state and territory provides low or no cost medical insurance coverage to uninsured children under a federal initiative called the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The program is paid for by both the Federal and State governments, but each state administers its own program, including (within Federal guidelines), determining eligibility, benefits, and payment levels.
The program was originally designed only to cover children, but has been extended to the parents of eligible children by a number of states. In my state parents of children 19 and younger can qualify for free coverage if they are under a certain income guideline, and for those earning slightly more there is a sliding scale of premiums. Some other states may require the parents to be already receiving public assistance or Medicaid. I mention it because it is worth checking your state’s rules. So many people are temporarily out of work or their business has declined or other factors leave them unable to afford the insurance they once could.
I hope a few of you reading this are helped – or know someone else who could use this information. I know it’s no help to those of you who don’t have children, or whose children are grown, or who earn too much but still can’t afford good health insurance. I hope we have a better system soon! If you live outside the US, I hope you live in one of those sensible countries with universal health coverage!
– Megan
Healthcare clinic image courtesy of Daniel Lobo.
Tags: health insurance, healthcare, State Children's Health Insurance Program
Posted in Current Affairs, Medicine | Comments (0)
Is the Economy Hurting your Head?
October 27th, 2008
As you know from my recent posts, the costs of health care and our national tragedy of a broken 
health insurance system have been hitting me where I live lately. Of course I’m far from alone in this. In the current economic crisis, people are finding it harder than ever to afford the medications and health care they need. In a study published on October 14, the National Headache Foundation (NHF) surveyed 270 headache sufferers on line recently, and found that more than three quarters of the respondents said they have cut back financially, and those cuts have impacted their headache treatment:
Migraineurs are not alone in this, of course, the New York Times reported last week that prescription drug sales are down, and people are cutting back on life saving medications for many medical conditions. The NHF’s survey also found that people were cutting back on certain types of food purchases, and were not sleeping as well and feeling more stress due to their economic situation. Sleep disturbances, anxiety and dietary changes were all cited as triggering increased headaches. Delaying or skipping filling prescriptions, or using over the counter medications as a substitute is a serious concern. It’s easy for me to say to you – don’t cut back on prescription medications! Find something else to cut back on! If the choice is between snack foods and prescriptions, definitely give up the snack foods. Unfortunately, many of my prescriptions have a $50 co-pay. I could save a lot more money delaying a $50 co-pay than going without a $3.89 box of donuts. Sometimes we are faced with real, terrible choices. Sometimes we have to choose what to do without, and there may be no truly right answer. I will not presume to advise you here – you must make your own choice. Some economic insecurity is very real. Some people lose their jobs, can’t get loans, lose their investments, don’t have health insurance, and have to make terrible choices. Please ask yourself whether you really need to forgo this expense, or whether it is just anxiety and fear for the future that is making your decision for you. The NHF has some suggestions for ways to afford your prescriptions:
- If you are unable to afford your medication, many pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs. Talk to your doctor or visit the NHF Web site (www.headaches.org) and click on Headache Education-Tools for Sufferers for a list of available programs.
- Talk to your doctor about your financial situation; there may be a generic form of your prescription available.
Beyond the nuts and bolts of paying for the prescriptions, though, you need ways to manage your stress and anxiety. I suggest snuggling a kitty if you can. NHF has some good advice, picking up on some familiar themes here at Free my Brain, they suggest you practice relaxation techniques and include exercise in your daily routine. Suzanne Simons, NHF Executive Director, concludes with a great piece of advice: “remember that the financial turmoil we are currently experiencing is temporary. …[T]he situation will get better and keeping a positive outlook may help lessen the emotional and physical impact of these volatile economic times.” Remember that economies are affected by attitudes. Refuse to give in to despair. Do whatever you can to make things better. And get out and vote for change!
– Megan Oltman
Hand on head image courtesy of Mr. Thomas/Christopher.
Tags: economy, migraine, National Headache Foundation, prescription drugs, relaxation
Posted in Communicating, Current Affairs, Managing, Medicine, Tips & Techniques | Comments (3)
Migraine Preventive Medication: Move it on up Slowly
October 24th, 2008
Most medications in use for Migraine prevention have a number of side effects, and many, if not most, migraineurs are sensitive to medications and their side effects. Topamax, which I am currently using, is used successfully by many and considered to have intolerable side effects by others. Some months ago I read Teri Robert’s report on Dr. Stephen Silberstein’s (of the Jefferson Headache Center) recommendations for a gradual increase (titration) schedule on My Migraine Connection. You can read Dr. Silberstein’s Topamax Recommendations
here, regarding how to slowly increase the dosage. He observed that “proper dosage and titration (tapering up the dosage) is essential for successful use of Topamax.”
Being naturally rather suspicious of medications, I went into my headache specialist with this information, and asked that we titrate slowly. I was pleased to discover that Dr. Gerhardstein takes an even more cautious approach than I do. At this point I have been on the minimum dosage for about a
month. I saw Dr. G in New Brunswick again this week and he
wants me to have an eye exam to rule out glaucoma before increasing the
dosage. I have that scheduled for next week. Assuming that exam result
is okay (no reason to think it won’t be), I will go to 50 mg daily after
that.
I asked Dr. G about instituting an increase schedule after that point and he told me
he doesn’t want to go on a regular weekly or bi-weekly increase
schedule because it is easy to “blow right past” the minimum effective
dose that way. He said he thinks many incidents of intolerable side effects
may be from being on too high a dosage. The plan is for me to try each
increased dosage for about 3-4 weeks and then call him to discuss. He
wants me to keep a detailed diary and stay very aware of my body’s
reactions.
I really like this approach. I know we are all
impatient for results, no one wants to stay in pain and with the
disruptions of frequent Migraines. But I think this way I can minimize
side effects and have the most control and awareness over what is
happening in my body. If more side effects are experienced on higher dosages, and we could end
up on a higher dosage than we need by not giving each level a long
enough try, maybe a very slow titration increases our chance of finding the
level that is optimum for each of us, with the best balance of Migraine
prevention to side effects. In the meantime, we can be listening carefully to our bodies and observing their reactions.
– Megan Oltman
Ocean daybreak image courtesy of Hideyuki Kamon.
Tags: Dr. Brian Gerhardstein, Dr. Stephen Silberstein, Migraine preventive medication, Topamax
Posted in Medicine | Comments (0)
Migraine Haiku – Just for the Fun of it
October 23rd, 2008
We’ve got to laugh, otherwise we’ll cry. And you know crying is just going to make your head hurt worse, so why do it? Migraine Chick can always make me laugh, whether the deep belly laugh of recognition, or the delighted giggle of the absurd. She has published a book collecting her Migraine Haiku, together with her priceless illustrations, which is available at Migraine Chick Cafe Press for $13.95. I ordered mine.
Would you like your Migraines with or without giggles? I prefer mine with. I haven’t yet found the menu with just giggles, no Migraines.
– Megan Oltman
Fluffy chick and migraine haiku image copyright 2008 by Migraine Chick, of course.
Tags: haiku, laughter, migraine, Migraine Chick, poetry
Posted in Books, Silliness | Comments (0)
Migraine News from Between my Ears
October 17th, 2008
A funny thing happens when you start blogging. There is this little bit of celebrity that arises. I can admit that like many people I once secretly wanted to be famous. My friend Laura told me in High School that she pictured me as a kind of revolutionary leader, with thousands chanting my name. If that had ever been my ambition, I’d have to say that I failed miserably. I’ve made it through nearly 50 years of life and I don’t think even dozens have ever chanted my name. Not at the same time, anyway.
But I digress. I started this blog for a few reasons. I wanted a place to share my thoughts on living with Migraine disease, and the other chronic illnesses I live with. I particularly wanted to share my hope and strength, as someone who has come a long way in managing a life with these conditions. I wanted to join the warm, intelligent, funny and committed community of Migraine and headache
bloggers and advocates who are making such a difference in the lives of patients and in advancing the understanding of this disease. The big reason was this moment of 
truth I had almost a year ago, when I realized that my chronic illnesses are not just an impediment in my life; they
are an opportunity to
share my professional tools and skills, and the
wisdom I have accumulated, to help others manage their lives with
Migraine. I wrote a bit more about that a few months back in My Migraine Story.
I didn’t really start the blog to keep the world posted on the doings in my own life. I tell a lot of stories, partly because I come from a family of storytellers,and partly because I’ve always made points (with clients and anyone who will listen) by telling personal stories, about things that happen and lessons I learn. So it’s been a lot of fun doing that here. And lo and behold, I learn that people are actually following (to some extent) what’s going on in my life. Little old me, Megan, Rachel & Adam’s Mom, Danny’s wife, Joan & Jim’s daughter, Jon & Ellen’s sister, the lady in the house on the corner by the field, the little red-head… that one. It’s a small and gentle sort of celebrity, but I find when I don’t follow up on things I’ve mentioned, sure enough, you’re actually listening, and sometimes you ask.
So the news between my ears…
- I’m looking for an allergist to determine whether I should even pursue this Medication Allergy challenge test idea, because as my friend Medieval Writer of Sparkling with Crystals reminds me, anaphylactic shock can potentially kill you faster than a doctor can save you, even in the hospital with a crash cart standing by.
- I’m spending a little time, just a few calls here and there, my head and energy levels allowing, volunteering for Barack Obama’s campaign. Please get out and vote for better health care! You don’t have to chance feeling well enough on election day; you can vote early in many states – go to Rock the Vote to check your state’s rules.
- My difficulties with the Topamax are settling down. We’ll see what happens when I go back to Dr. G and increase the dose next week! Tingling has disappeared and the cognitive effects are fading. An unexpected benefit seems to that it is
functioning as an anti-anxiety med for me! I am a pretty
anxious person by nature, and I tend to obsess on things, but it seems like the slight loss of focus I have on the Topamax means I can’t focus on something long enough to really obsess and get anxious! Kind of weird – but I’m just not worrying as much! MaxJerz of Rhymes with Migraine pointed me towards this piece on Health Central’s Anxiety Connection indicating that Topamax is sometimes prescribed in combination with other drugs to treat anxiety. Who knew? (Well obviously, someone did, but not me!) - I don’t think the Topamax is having a major inhibiting effect on my Migraines yet, though I haven’t had a really bad one in the month I’ve been on it. I am doing a very slow titration to minimize side effects and will probably increase the dosage when I see my HA specialist next week. Judith Warner wrote a pretty good piece about her difficulties with Topamax (not named, but quite identifiable) in the NYTimes today, but they didn’t publish my comment. I am trying not to take it personally!
- Our Health Insurance Hassles and Headaches may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, NO
thanks to Oxford (who I will still refer to as the insurer from hell) because it looks like there are a range of better, more affordable options out there for us. I got a lot of info that may help others, too, and will try to do a whole post on it soon. For others who are struggling with insurance, if you have children, be sure to check out your state’s insurance coverage for children. Some states now extend that to parents of children 18 and under. I know this is no help for childless people or those whose kids are grown; you deserve health insurance too! - In the meantime, I seem to be developing a lot of Acephalgic, or Silent, Migraines (phono & photo-phobia, dizziness, without head-pain) in the evenings. It’s better than having the head pain, but still means I have to retreat to my cave (i.e. bedroom) for the evening and can’t hang out with the family much. Bummer. More to talk to Dr. G about next week.
- And, (a drumroll please…) my biggest news… by next week (I hope) I should be launching my new website, containing this blog and other resources for Migraineurs, including relaxation teleclasses – stay tuned for more! Hard at work on it now – soft greens and yellows – looking pretty – can’t wait…
Hope your heads treat you well and you have an AWAP weekend!
– Megan Oltman
Tags: acephalgic Migraine, Adam Oltman Porcher, Adam Porcher, chronic illness, health insurance, medication allergies, Migraine disease, Topamax, vote
Posted in Communicating, Current Affairs, Musings, Weblogs | Comments (4)
The Complicated Relationship Between Migraines and Depression: Blog Carnival
October 16th, 2008
Diana Lee has brought us another great stack of reading with the October Headache and Migraine Disease Blog Carnival. Generally speaking, a blog carnival is a
collection of links to a variety of a blogs on a central topic. The
Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival has been created to
provide both headache patients and people who blog about headaches with
unique opportunities to share ideas on topics of particular interest
and importance to us.
Exploring the relationship between Migraines and depression, there are a number of thought provoking posts, some on this topic and some on others. As if coping with the pain, nausea and disability wasn’t enough, depression and Migraine are co-morbid conditions, often occurring together. When we have a Migraine attack, one of the effects is that serotonin levels are depleted. So even for those of us who do not grapple with depression on an ongoing basis, bouts of depression around Migraine attacks are common. I hope you go over to Somebody Heal Me and read some of these posts – and I hope they help you manage your own brain!
– Megan Oltman
Tags: depression, migraine, serotonin
Posted in Weblogs | Comments (0)
Testing for Medication Allergies
October 13th, 2008
Long story ahead. I’ve been trying to get tested to get more information about the specifics of my medication allergies. I’m allergic to ibuprofen, likely all aspirin derivatives (NSAIDs) and possibly also acetominophen. Long story which you may have read here, 2 near-death anaphylactic reactions to Advil, hives from Tylenol, swollen lips from an aspirin-based product, yada-yada.
My allergist suggested at the time (nearly 6 years ago) that since all these reactions happened within a few months, when my system calmed down I might not be allergic to everything. But said allergist would not do challenge tests on me for the medications for fear of liability, and she was also a screaming nasty unprofessional person whose sorry butt got fired.
Lo, 5+ years of living without these meds later, my headache specialist would like me to get tested for aspirin and acetominophen to see if we can expand my available Migraine medication options. My primary doctor told me 6 months ago that he thought he could do such a test in his office. The idea would be that I would actually ingest a small controlled amount of the drug in question and the staff would stand by to save me if I started going into anaphylaxis. Sounds like fun, no?
So last week I went to talk to my primary doctor about doing said challenge tests in his office. He
discussed it with me in more detail. He wanted to find a less dangerous way and proposed testing my blood for antibodies to the chemicals involved. This indicates whether there is a sensitivity, but I asked him, “Does having a sensitivity tell you whether the body would react anaphylactically?” He went off to research it and concluded that no, it wouldn’t. I just got
a call back from his nurse saying there was no way to test except the “old-fashioned” challenge test, and they felt that could only be done in the hospital with a crash cart. So I should find an allergist who would admit me as an inpatient and do the test in the hospital.
Is this back to square one? I’m imagining calling allergists’ offices and saying, “hi, I’m looking to make an appointment see if the doctor would be willing to put me in the hospital, give me something that might kill me and then stand by to save my life! Oh and by the way, I really am counting on my life being saved! Want to take me on as a patient?” The fact that I am about to switch insurance makes this all more complicated.
I’m actually going to call Dr. G (headache specialist) and see if he might think
an allergist associated with his hospital would do it. At least then it would be one doctor asking it of another instead of some crazy-sounding patient?
I’m not particularly upset here or anything, just kind of rolling my eyes. Nothing’s ever simple, is it? It’s a wonder any of us ever have time to do anything other than wade our way through our medical issues!
– Megan Oltman
Still living aspirin-free!
Aspirin image courtesy of Ritcharnd Moskow; magic pill image courtesy of [O*] ‘BharaT; map-maze image courtesy of David Bleasdale.
Tags: allergy challenge test, aspirin, headache specialists, ibuprofen, medication allergies, Migraine treatment, NSAIDs
Posted in Medicine, Rant | Comments (3)
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