Does Our Perception Change How Well Our Painkillers Work?

If you switch from a more expensive drug to a less expensive painkiller and believe that it possibly does not work as well, is it due to the actual drug or could it be because you now believe it is less effective because it is cheaper?

A recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that 82 people were given a brochure about a new painkiller that was being “tested” on them.

The price of the medication was printed on the brochure for $2.50; but for 50% of the group the brochure had the $2.50 price crossed off and replaced with the new price of just $.10.

Come to find out, after “pretreatment” when these “painkillers” (placebo pills), 61% said they had less pain when treated with a $.10 pill. But 85% of the people said they had less pain when treated with a $2.50 pill.

Although we may complain about the high price of our medications, it seems that our natural instinct, as with other products, is that we get what we pay for. And if we are not paying much for our medication, we may actually perceive that it is not working as well.

Get a Dog or. . . Go to the Doctor?

We may realize how a dog warms our heart, but he may also significantly reduce your anxiety. Scientists have proven that though a person in a hospital bed may have difficulty reaching out to hug someone, cuddling up with a “fur-child” is sure to bring comfort. Over 14,000 dogs are registered with the Therapy Dogs International, Inc. and are working in psychiatric wards, burn units, emergency rooms and even intensive care.

And speaking of terrific dogs, be sure to check out an amazing Christian ministry of author or speaker Diane Dike and her dog, Gracie.

American Pain Foundation and National Pain Foundation Merge

The American Pain Foundation recently announced that it will be taking over the programs and services of the National Pain Foundation. This transfer will includes web content, program and membership materials, a pain health care provider directory, and the John C. Oakley Memorial Fund.

By May 2010 the National Pain Foundation, which began in 1998, will cease all operations. They invited the American Pain Foundation to integrate the National Pain Foundation’s assets due to “synergies in mission and organizational structure.”

Read more at the American pain Foundation web site.

Childhood Abuse Can Impact Health of Adult Life

A recent study has revealed that stress in one’s life that can be explained by the abuse one may have suffered as a child abuse, can cause a “long lasting mental disturbance.” This can in turn make people feel more  vulnerable to chronic pain from such conditions as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis and arthritis.

The findings are revealed in the January issue of Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. More of the article about this topic can be found here.

While we never like one to feel as though he or she is “responsible” for an illness that there was no control over, it may also be assuring to find that other people who have chronic conditions, may have experienced some of the same situations or history in their lives as others who also suffer.

You can find other abuse resources at our site here and in the Sunroom we have a group called, “Domestic Violence and Chronic Illness Support.”

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• Childhood Abuse May Lead to Migraines (blisstree.com)

Hospital Noise!

If you’ve ever been in the hospital you already know it’s not the best place for rest. A study by the Mayo Clinic stated that hospital noises during the night can approach the same decibels of noise as chain saws or jackhammers. Other studies have shown that patients need rest, sleep and a calming (quiet) environment to heal faster. According to Six Stigma,

Noise impacts patients in many ways including:

* Sleep deprivation
* Increased anxiety
* Increase in noise-induced stress
* A “startle reflex” resulting in physiological responses:
o Facial grimacing
o Increase in blood pressure
o Higher respiratory rate
o Increased heart rate and vasoconstriction

Continuous noise may alter a patient’s memory, increase agitation, lower pain tolerance.

Steps are being taken to make it quieter, including adding padding to clanking clipboards and quieter folding-towel dispensers.

What’s your experience with noises when you are in the hospital?

Here are some things that drive us nuts:

• The beeping of machines when nothing is wrong (or when the tubing of an I.V. is sensitive to the slightest bend)
• The changing of “the guard” (nurses shifts)
• The hospital air-conditioning unit that seems to be broken
• The velcro of every blood pressure cuff or other item that they RIP off you in the middle of the night
• Visitor or television volume of patients you share a room with
• Banging cars (what, are they playing bumper carts in the hallway?)
• Pill smashers
• Leaf blowers right outside our window

A “News Program” For Rhematoid Arthritis Patients

New Way RA™ is a new, “health-focused talk show all about rheumatoid arthritis (RA).” Hosted by Deborah Norville, and featuring Chronic Illness Coach (and one of our favorite Invisible Illness week guests!) Rosalind Joffe, it’s described on their website as. . .

A New Way RA™ is a first-of-its-kind talk show, providing expert support and advice for people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Host Deborah Norville introduces an exciting panel of experts and people living with RA who share their experiences, challenges, insights, and triumphs. It’s a show that will inspire you to see and feel that there is now a new way to live with RA.

Tell us what you think!

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• Invisible Illness Week Features Virtual Conference and Fresh Awareness (invisibleillnessweek.com)
• How to Be a Fabulous Friend to Those with Illness (invisibleillnessweek.com)
• 25 Years in Arthritis: New Treatments, Hope (abcnews.go.com)
• Common Myths about Rheumatoid Arthritis (brassandivory.blogspot.com)
• FDA Approves Rheumatoid-Arthritis Drug (online.wsj.com)

Find Health Answers at Your Fingertips

Have you ever gone to an internet search engine website like Google to look up information on health? A survey conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 61 percent of adults say they look online for health information. There’s a new term for this: e-patients.

E- patients take internet searches a step further. Not only do they occasionally conduct internet searches about health; but they become involved in online groups and organizations dedicated to a particular aspect of their health.

The upside? We can find people out there who know what we are going through. We can become involved in discussions with other patients like ourselves who have experienced the same side effects, the same pain, and most importantly, some of the same emotional aspects of dealing with an illness.

The downside? The internet makes everything accessible instantaneously. This may be feeding our fast paced society where our questions are never answered fast enough, especially in relation to our health. The internet is creating a shift in the health world, and this fast pace may be hard for hospitals and doctors to catch up with.

As far as generic information and moral support, the internet is a great tool. However, there is still a need to rely on traditional healthcare and to have a team of professionals around you. Not all patients are the same, and not all of our health related questions can be answered on Google.

Naomi Kingery, twenty year old brittle diabetic and author of The Sugar Free Series available at www.livetolovediabetes.com.

Feeling Anxious? Quick Solution

Feel anxious about something like a holiday family get together coming up? Here is a quick tip that I’ve found works.

Escape to the bathroom for a few minutes and run warm water over your wrists for about 30 seconds. The warmth and mild pressure washing over your pulse points will help your heart slow down to the normal rate.

Now you can go back out there with a smile on your face and your heart beating at a normal pulse again.

Yummy Peppermint Facts

Candy canes have been around since 1670 & for 200 years they were just white!

Peppermint is a great remedy for stomach problems or congestion.

Research has shown that the scent of mint stimulates brain waves. Try peppermint lotion, perfume, or just burn a peppermint candle.

Each year 1.76 billion candy canes are made — enough to stretch from Santa Clause, IN to North Pole, AK and back again 32 times

This perky peppermint soak by Booth’s has aloe vera, & tea tree and peppermint oils to revitalize and keep feet smelling sweet. Mild lathering ingredients gently cleanse; soothing skin softeners comfort dry, cracked heels and soles. Get Booth’s from your drugstore, $6

Peppermint is an ingredient in many modern pain relieving skin creams, including Solarcaine, Ben-Gay and Noxema Medicated Cream.

Altoids, the “curiously strong” peppermint candies have been known to help people who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Many books share the “legend of the candy cane” and how it’s shape and stripes represent different parts of the Gospel.

Hospital Creates FUN Awareness Video

Below is a video a hospital created to bring about more awareness for breast cancer. Everyone put on pink gloves and danced.  I found this video to be surprisingly entertaining and it helped me see all of the different employees in a hospital and a new light.

From the cafeteria employees, to surgeons, to gift shop workers, nurses, administrators, and more, everyone seemed to let loose and have some fun.

If you’ve ever been a hospital and wondered if the people working there ever have “good day” this video will remind you that they are human too and definitely know how to “get down.”

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