Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #18: The Price is Right

In 2011, the National Institute of Health (NIH) only designated 0.07% of NIH funding to headache disorders! The great reach of Migraine disease and other headache disorders (there are over 100!) isn't being acknowledged and dealt with. Headache and Migraine are an enormous drain on society - costing us more money than epilepsy, asthma, and ovarian cancer combined. Yet, funding doesn't accurately reflect this.

If money were no issue, there are a lot of things I would do for the Migraine community - I'd make sure that everyone was able to get the medical treatment they deserve, I'd ensure that doctors receive more Migraine and headache centered training in school, and I'd increase awareness of Migraine and headache disorders.

But, if I had to choose ONE thing, it would probably be to expand research opportunities to learn more about Migraine and other headache disorders. Research into the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of Migraine is greatly needed to help dispel all of the myths, misconceptions, and stigma that surround Migraine. We know so little about what's happening in the brain during a Migraine attack, which leaves diagnosis and treatment greatly lacking.

And, since money is not issue, I'd help increase funds for Teri Robert's idea to create an endowment fund, which would permanently fund research for Migraine.

Image by Kate Chapell

I believe that funding research will give Migraineurs some much-needed HOPE. And, that is what will help us keep taking the next step, and the next step...

This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #17: Father Knows Best

First, Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there.

I have the BEST Dad in the world! We've always had a very strong connection. We tend to understand what the other is thinking and/or experiencing in an unexplainable way. Hey always seems to know just the right thing to say, even if silence is what is needed.

Dear Dad,

Thank you so much for always being there for me. While you don't have Migraines, you seem to understand some of the pain because you had an accident several years ago, too. I hate that either of us is in pain, and I wish I knew a way to get rid of it.

My migraines limit me in so many different ways. I really appreciate your support and encouragement to take things one step at a time, to break things down into small baby steps, and to celebrate even the smallest achievements.

I love you so very much, Daddy!

Love,
Jamie


This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #16: Migraine Genes (Migraine Without Aura)

The other day, I wrote about new research regarding a possible genetic link explaining the prevalence of Migraine in Women - Migraine Genes (Prevalence in Women).

More new research offers us valuable information about the genetic underpinnings of Migraine attacks, specifically Migraine without aura (which is the most common variety of Migraine).

Please take a few minutes to take a look at these two articles that discuss this important new research - Migraine Genes: X Marks the Spot - and - New hope for migraine sufferers. The researchers identified four genes (and additional genetic variations - blood vessels and blood flow as key parts of Migraine attacks) related to Migraine disease, thus reinforcing the notion that there is a strong genetic component of Migraine.


This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #15: Migraine Genes (Prevalence in Women)

New research has identified a specific region on the X chromosome as playing a role in Migraine. Please take a few minutes to take a look at these two articles that discuss this important new research - Migraine Genes: X Marks the Spot - and - New hope for migraine sufferers.

Here is an excerpt from the first article that helps outline the significance of this type of research:

"Finding these genetic links to Migraine is especially important because we don’t entirely understand the pathophysiology of Migraine and there have been precious few studies to help us figure it out. Learning more about how and why Migraine attacks occur will help researchers find or design specially targeted treatments for those of us who suffer Migraine. It may also be the smoking gun we need to finally turn Migraine disease into something we can diagnose by testing for something instead of simply excluding everything else we can think of to reach a diagnosis. This is called a diagnosis of exclusion and is currently the only way physicians have to determine if a patient truly suffers from Migraine disease" (Migraine Genes: X Marks the Spot).

If you remember from high school biology, all females have two X chromosomes, while males have an X and a Y chromosome. "'These results provide more support for the role of the X chromosome in migraine and may explain why so many more females suffer from the disorder,' said Professor Griffiths" (New hope for migraine sufferers).

This research is a very important step in moving forward in Migraine diagnosis and treatment - "the research provides compelling evidence for a new migraine susceptibility gene involved in migraine. The study also indicated that there may be more than one X chromosomal gene involved and implicated a gene involved in iron regulation in the brain" (New hope for migraine sufferers).


This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #14: Live Long, and Prosper

I often close with "Blessings" to express my well-wishes for my fellow Migraineurs. I want them to know that I care, they'll be on my mind and in my heart, to encourage them to remember and be grateful for their blessings (even in difficult times), and to know that I truly wish them well.

This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).

Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge #12: Self-Care

Patients For A Moment (PFAM) is a patient-centered blog carnival to build connections within the community of people who blog about illness, disease, and disability. Maria, at My Life Works Today!, is hosting this edition of the PFAM blog carnival. The topic is: "Self-care is..."

Self-care is...

eating-well, time-alone, cook, massage, letters, blog, write, music, journal, scrapbook, relax, walk, courage, persistent, adaptable, flexible, understanding, empathy, open, forgiving, ask, help, accepting, research, strength, peace, hope, prayer, faith, loving, friends, family, say-"no", nurture, cherish, gratitude, support, soul, embrace, collaborate, sharing, listening

There are several different categories here, but there's one that really stands out:

Relationships - with God, self, family, friends

Relationships with others can be a very important part of self-care, but not to the detriment of your relationship with God and with yourself. I know that I have trouble remembering this sometimes, but it's something I'm working on because it's so crucial to my self-care.

This post was written as part of the Migraine Awareness Month Blogging Challenge (MAMBC), which is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com and the National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation (NHF).