http://keepingupwithlife.today.com Lessons in Coping with Chronic Health Issues Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:54:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been noticing a commercial on the TV lately that I find a bit disturbing. A woman, supposedly a pharmacist, is talking about using Alli (the non-prescription version of Xenical) for weight loss and makes the statement that, "it's FDA approved, so I know it's safe." Every time I hear that ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/09/16/does-fda-approval-mean-a-drug-is-safe/ This hasn't been a question for me for the last year or so, since I haven't had the option of medications since I lost my health insurance, but it's about to become relevant again, so I need to start working on my decision. I do know I don't want to ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/08/09/medication-alternative-therapies-or-a-combination/ We're finally eligible for health insurance through my husband's job, now that he's been working there for 6 months. The only problem is, it's not gonna do us any good for another 12 months. There's this little thing called a "pre-existing condition" clause in it, that says because we haven't ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/08/05/health-insurance-well-sort-of/ Having bipolar disorder can be very hard to manage sometimes. Even if you're on medication that keeps you fairly stable, if you don't know what to watch out for, you can accidentally trigger a manic or hypomanic episode. There are many possible triggers; such as prescription medications, herbs and ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/08/04/bipolar-disorder-what-are-your-triggers-for-mania/ I have to admit, lately I haven't been coping very well at all. I've let the pain take over, and for the last several weeks, I've spent most of my time sleeping rather than doing something useful. I let my "anti-depression" methods lapse, and slipped into a suicidal depression, losing ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/07/20/fibromyalgia-pain-a-list-of-my-favorite-coping-strategies/ I hate my life most days . . . and then there are the days that really suck, the ones where I wish the dying part would just get here and get it over with before things have a chance to get any worse. There have been a lot of ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/07/04/life-sucks-and-then-you-die/ Have you ever parked in a disabled parking space, hung up your permit and gotten out, only to have some stranger say "you don't look disabled to me?" Have you ever asked to use the motorized carts at a store, only to be told that those carts are only for ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/06/26/invisible-illnesses-visible-discrimination/ I love making new friends. There are some wonderful people out there, and if you isolate yourself trying to avoid the awful folks, you miss the chance to meet the great ones as well. Sure, meeting the horrible people in the world gets you hurt sometimes, but I think it's ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/06/06/new-friends/ I'm having a major spell of self-hate lately. I hate my body, I hate my life . . . How can you love yourself when you feel betrayed by your own body and mind? My life has been nearly destroyed by my diseases; which have stolen my health, my job, my ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/06/02/self-loveself-hate/ The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by George T. Grossman, MD., and Barry Fox, Ph.D. is truly an essential addition to the bookshelf of anyone who uses herbs or vitamins on a regular basis. Although vitamins are necessary to health, and herbs are used in cooking, at theraputic levels they can interact with ... http://keepingupwithlife.today.com/2009/05/26/book-review-the-essential-herb-drug-vitamin-interaction-guide/