Information and opinions on health from Chris Z at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/71069/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/71069/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/71069/index http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/147142/henrietta-lacks Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:19:52 -0500 Chris Z I am currently reading this incredible book about Henrietta Lacks' cells (HeLa) that were taken in 1951.  Out of curiosity I did a search on HeLa and migraine and came up with over 1 million results.  The initial results pop up Familial Hemiplegic Migraine. I just find this so interesting that the cells of one woman have been researched in so many ways besides cancer, polio and AIDS.  I highly recommend reading the book.... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/147142/henrietta-lacks http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/141562/orphenadrine Sat, 16 Jul 2011 01:30:00 -0400 Chris Z Over the years I have taken the muscle relaxant Orphenadrine primarily for low-back issues.  Tonight I had some loose meds around & when I searched, found that it has use in the migraine world.  Several sites list the following:  "in many cases Orphenadrine is helpful against migraine and cluster headaches."  So this explains some of the relief I had been receiving while  taking it & having a particularly bad... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/141562/orphenadrine http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/129734/botox-experience Sat, 22 Jan 2011 09:25:00 -0500 Chris Z This is my first sharepost on my personal botox experience.  I've not noticed any other patient experiences posted on most any sites, so if I may be so bold.   The insurance process was not without a handful of glitches, it took two requests by the insurance company for additional information and took about 6 weeks.  In between the holidays I received a call from the pharmacy for permission to send it. However, since the... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/129734/botox-experience http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/127871/botox-approved Sat, 01 Jan 2011 05:53:50 -0500 Chris Z I got word on Thursday that Botox for my migraines has been approved!  The approval process along with 2 inquiries by UBH took about 6 weeks. The insurance approved pharmacy called Thursday for my approval to send it to my doctor.  It would have arrived yesterday, but the doctor's office was closed so I should receive my first treatment in the next 10 days.  Treatments have been approved for a year.  http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/127871/botox-approved http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/127552/trick-learning Tue, 28 Dec 2010 05:34:48 -0500 Chris Z This is just a personal observation.    I currently have 2 infusion options open to me by my doctors, a 3rd if I end up in an ER (no thanks).    I have often "waited" until things got so bad that I was having trouble getting any treatments let alone infusions to provide even a 24 hour break from the pain.    When they are really bad my doctor prefers giving me methylprednisone as an infusion.  I... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/127552/trick-learning http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/125443/medications Mon, 29 Nov 2010 03:01:23 -0500 Chris Z My latest experience with a medication the doctor has put me on certainly seems to be a slippery slope.  This one, for sure, the cure is worse than the disease.    Last night I was scared because I was having a negative reaction to a medication my doctor has prescribed.  It was an oldie & for me, a badie.  My vision blurred, then doubled. My balance was off and I was forgetting how to do my job... that's fine when... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/125443/medications http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/125439/diary-suggestion Mon, 29 Nov 2010 02:42:53 -0500 Chris Z Teri, A suggestion on the Questions page, would be to have the 2nd side for Responses from Doctor, then maybe a 7th page for pharmacist & other health care professionals. http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/125439/diary-suggestion http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/119044/conversation Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:14:20 -0400 Chris Z I was trying to describe the pain of a Migraine, to a co-worker; which I know you really can't, but I know we all try.    She said, "well it's all on the head," I responded, "no, not really, with migraine, it's actually in the brain, though some of the symptoms may appear on the surface."    She looked at me kinda funny, and described a couple of headaches that she has had.  Then as she was describing them and how... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/119044/conversation http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/118381/connection-world Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:08:08 -0400 Chris Z If it were not for this community, I may have been totally lost in a year-long migraine & TIAs that was causing some brain damage and memory loss.  With the assistance of Teri's, Megans and Nancy's wonderful posts and links, I have been able to see a lot of changes.    I have always tended toward being proactive in my healthcare, attempting to learn as much about any condition as possible.  I went back to the... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/118381/connection-world http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/118146/dehydration Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:32:47 -0400 Chris Z Many who experience Migraines can often experience dehydration during the period they are experiencing pain.  One of the things I have discoveed that helps a lot and tends to taste better (if you are able to take anything orally), is Coconut Water.  All of the magazine literature I have read indicates that electrolyte replacement prodcuts that you buy in the store, only replace 2-3 electrolytes at most.  The coconumt water... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/71069/118146/dehydration