Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Medication Resentment

I have finally figured out I have medication resentment. Never realized at first it was an open category. In my condition as you might expect I take a lot of medications. Some for my core condition of Myasthenia Gravis. And others for side effects and common illnesses . And to add to the equation is the fact that I am a Woman of particular age you might say. 

I have put myself though these little med trials. That is when I stop taking a medication. Some where in the back of my mind I think the condition will rectify itself. And after causing self inflected harm. I can now say that this medication is needed. In my heart of hearts I believe in the healing power of the human body. There are some treatments I have negated for the same reason. Al though I had been told on several occasions that it was the best treatment for me.

I can imagine what you are thinking. Why would someone who should know better do such a thing. And it is simply common sense. Well If i were on the outside of this situation looking in I would say the same. And the answer is Medication resentment. It is a term I have given my condition. And it comes from my on personal observation.

You see prior to my illness I was a member of the medical community. And I understand what it means to need medication. Which is an indication of illness. And for me to have the need for medication meant it was real. And the possibility to require the use of these pills for ever.

Well I have decided to take this resentment and utilize it to my advantage. So I have opted to seek out more natural treatments. Hence foods,herbs,fruits,etc. So to not totally portray my belief in the healing capabilities of the body. I will now try to help supporting it's defense of me. As well as taking on my own plan of Holistic medicine which includes the prescribed medication. (for now that is..(wink) (wink). Until next time,thanks for listening.

Friday, June 13, 2014

MG June Awareness Month

The leading neurological magazine, Neurology Now, has advertised MG June Awareness Month in their June/July 2014 issue in the "resource central" section. Please make sure to pick one up and check it out today. For more information visit Neurology Now's website: http://journals.lww.com/neurologynow/pages/default.aspx

Monday, May 12, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York Researcher Receives $240,000 for Myasthenia Gravis Research

Funded by American Brain Foundation and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America



PHILADELPHIA – A New York researcher will receive $240,000 to continue his research into myasthenia gravis— a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness—through the Clinician-Scientist Development Award in Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders of the Neuromuscular Junction funded by the American Brain Foundation and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.

The award was presented in Philadelphia during the American Academy of Neurology’s 66th Annual Meeting, the world’s largest meeting of neurologists. Ricardo Horacio Roda, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at the New York University Langone Medical Center in New York, received this award for his investigation into a particular form of myasthenia gravis caused by antibodies against the LRP4 molecule, a component of the neuromuscular junction. 

“Antibodies against the LRP4 molecule has just been identified as a cause of myasthenia gravis, and the mechanisms underlying this form of myasthenia are not well understood,” said Roda. “Understanding the mechanisms of the disorder will help to design better treatment strategies.”

The three-year award will consist of an annual salary of $75,000 plus $5,000 per year in educational expenses. Clinical research is the fundamental transition stage between discovery and treatment. Clinical research provides the scientific basis for all forms of care, addresses patient and caregiver needs and is the backbone for drug development and cost-effectiveness studies needed to improve lives. Fellowships provide recipients with up to three years of “protected time,” with salary that allows them to continue important research projects.

Added Roda, “I feel privileged to receive this award as it will allow me to further investigate the mechanism underlying some of the most difficult to treat forms of myasthenia gravis.”

Learn more about myasthenia gravis at https://patients.aan.com and http://myasthenia.org.

About the American Brain Foundation: The American Brain Foundation supports crucial research and education to discover causes, improved treatments, and cures for the brain and other nervous system diseases. One in six people is affected by brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, and epilepsy.  

For more information about the American Brain Foundation and how you can support research, visit http://www.AmericanBrainFoundation.org or visit us on FacebookTwitterGoogle+, and YouTube.

About the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America: MGFA is the only national organization dedicated to myasthenia gravis, working with both the MG Community and the health care professionals focusing on research, awareness and advocacy.


For more information about the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and how you can support research, visit http://myasthenia.org or visit us on Facebook.            
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.
355 Lexington A, 15th Floor | New York, NY 10017
ph: (212) 297-2156 or (800) 541-5454 | fax: (212) 370-9047
office@myasthenia.org | www.myasthenia.org




















 








Wednesday, February 19, 2014

160 MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN CYPRUS

new dialysis unit nic gen
ROUGHLY 160 Cypriots are estimated to suffer from myasthenia gravis, a disease that presents with various kinetic problems that often lead to disability, according to Health Minister Petros Petrides.
“It is an extremely rare disease, afflicting 20 in 100,000 people, which means that 160 Cypriot citizens suffer from it,” he said speaking at an event heralding the Annual European Myasthenia Gravis week – February 24 to March 2.
Petrides said “the disease can be met in any race, gender and age group, and is not contagious or hereditary, though it may develop in more than one member within a family.”
The introduction of a National Committee for rare conditions, he said, marks the first attempt at a holistic and coordinated effort against these diseases.
According to the minister, “the strategy will focus on four areas: prevention, treatment, supportive care and research”, as well as “the introduction of consistent record-keeping of incidents of rare conditions in order to best organise services offering care to those in need.”
The health ministry offers all related services for free, including specialised neurological exams, up-to-date pharmacotherapy, treatment interventions, as well as supportive treatments like physiotherapy and ergotherapy.
“We aim to continually improve our services, and hope that implementation of our new strategic plan on rare conditions will see patients enjoying significantly more advantages than they currently do,” the minister concluded.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

WANTED AN ASSISTANT TO HELP WITH HEALTHCARE

I was not quit aware of have it was to have an illness. I not talking about just the symptoms and the medications. I am speaking about keeping up with the appointments. To truly be a full time patient takes work. First you are of course monitoring your self. Making sure you are eating the correct foods. As much as I would love to eating whole cakes and gallons of ice cream is not a good look. especially when you may already have deficiencies. So eating healthy would be the most logical thing to do. Then there is the medications.You must make sure you are update with refills.Get them rewritten at time of Doctor visit. If you are using mail order services. No how long they take to process orders and if you need a hard copy script versus e-script. Because without  all his knowledge it can leave you with no medication. I have experienced this first hand.If you have a pharmacy plan no your co-pay. (For the sake of sanity I will not go into Medicare programs.)So while monitoring what yo put into your mouth. You must also monitoring how it effects your body. Side effects and the symptoms or action of drug. So yo must research. Research what side effects are for a particular drug. An report if you are experiencing any of the side effects. Are you experiencing some type of symptom. If so what is it? Is it apart of your illness? Or a result of a side effect?

HEALTHCARE WORKER UNHARDEN THY HEART.

Not until my current situation had I noticed how insensitive health care workers can become. Since diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis,over 3 years ago I have been traumatized. You see I am a former healthcare worker. And I have been on the other side as well. So I empathize with a lot of the woes that can effect the profession. The work conditions,long hours,difficult patients and unyielding family members,rules and regulations.Oh I no I can go on and on. But I always performed my job the same whether watched or not watched. I feared not doing the correct thing could bring harm upon my patient. Or talking rudely or disrespectfully was not warranted.I respected the fact I was the Healthy one.  But it comes to my attention as a patient myself how condescending and rude healthcare workers can be. I am sure it happens over a period of time thru many cases of abuse. Abuse by the system,patients,colleagues and others. I have had a technician speak harshly to me because of my disability benefits. She all but said her friend was much more deserving of the benefits and was unable to obtain . Or a Nurse who was so condescending that she questioned my symptoms I experienced. As if the information received in a textbook could stand up against a real live patient. Mentally writing me off as not knowing what I felt or able to interpret the feelings. As well as a Practitioner who refused to believe the pain she was inflicting upon me was not an acceptable part of a treatment. And I should swallow the pain with out complaining.And this is just to name a few. I practiced Nursing for 0ver 22 years. S o to say I don't understand would be wrong. I do understand the plight of the Hospital Nurse,Nursing Home Nurse, Home Health Nurse, Managerial Nurse,Private duty Nurse and a host of scenarios attached. Because I lived them. Some where along the way some of us experience an hardening of the heart. And a smug exterior supported by medical knowledge. Which is a plus and a minus. Because I know the difference between "Good Care" and "Minimal Care". And it makes me ever so much more anxious when it comes to Doctor visits. Not knowing if I am safe to be a patient benefiting from the expertise of the Medical Professional. Or the Healthcare worker/Patient that has to identify my self to guarantee some respect for my reporting of problem.Which only places the worker on their guard. It often worries me to think of the patients without the small amount of Medical knowledge I have. To not have the chance to correct the errors that I have experienced all because they didn't know. Or the healthcare workers that perform at minimal capacity because they feel they are safe in their ignorance. As a closing note. I did not choose my current condition. Nor did I have an idea I would have to end my Nursing career because of illness. So with that said,remember  Healthcare Worker that patient you gave poor service to could one day be you!