Fibromyalgia

Archive for the ‘Memory Impairment’ Category

Top 10 Reminder Tools

Posted by Kelli on October 24th, 2009

Top 10 Reminder Tools for Forgetful Minds

By Kevin Purdy

Tweak your workflow and inboxes all you want, but your mental memory might always be the weakest link in your day-to-day life. These 10 tools take some of the workload off your brain, and prevent a few forehead slaps. This list is geared at smaller-scale tips for remembering those little things that you’ll regret forgetting just as soon as it’s too late.

10. Remember that thing you’re trying to think of,
Oh, shoot, what was that show? The one with the dad who worked at a robotics firm and created his own little robot girl, and she had super-strength, and it had really cheesy effects but catchy theme music? Anyways, if you’re trying to remember something that seems like it’s right there, but just out of reach, a pair of Canadian researchers suggest you stop, and either look it up right away or send yourself a note for later. The harder your brain cranks on trying to pin down that barely-there memory, the less likely you are to get it, even if you come back two days later and try running down the same mental path. In other words, your mental efforts are best spent elsewhere, and on other things, rather than tryin—Small Wonder! I knew it!

9. Automatic thumb drive reminder
At best, you leave your thumb drive plugged in at work or home. At worst, the easy-to-lose memory sticks get left in a computer lab, a far-away friend’s place, or somewhere it can be easily pocketed. Grab the Flash Drive Reminder, make sure AutoPlay is enabled on the Windows system you’re working with, and you’ll be reminded when you go to log off or shut down that you’ve still got your drive plugged in. If you’re doubtful you’ll actually respond to that kind of prompting, you could label your drive with a name and number to pop up in the “My Computer” view. For more anti-leave-behind tools, check out the comments on our original post—they’re chock full of carabiners, cap hacks, and other suggestions.

8. Do Not Forget doorhanger
You can find a retail version of the Do Not Forget doorhanger design gem at a few different places, but it’s not that hard to knock off for yourself. Put the things you need to do when you’re heading out on one of the pull-off paper tabs—like mailing a package or picking up bread—and you’ll hopefully catch it when you’re heading out the door. Since our brains can tend to get used to sights and ignore them, make sure to pull your reminder off the doorknob when there’s nothing to do. Next time you see that bright-colored hanger, you’ll know there’s something worth dropping the keys and thinking about. (Original post)

7. Always attach the file you meant to
Sending out an email promising to offer correspondents an attached document or file without that file attached is akin to showing up at a pot luck with just a plastic fork. If you’re a Gmail user, you can enable the attachment detector in Labs that’ll pop up a notification when it looks like you’ve forgotten to include your attachments. Working on Outlook? Reader Troy whipped together a little Outlook Attachment Reminder macro from a previously posted script, and Troy’s can work with signatures that demand mandatory attachments.

6. Keep your lawn and garden watered
Don’t let your faulty memory, dry weather, or a week’s vacation ruin your perfectly green lawn or your burgeoning vegetable garden. Do what Matt Haughey did and install your own automated drip system to give gardens and plants enough water at all times to get by. If it’s mostly grass you want to keep green, and you don’t relish the idea of waking up at 6 a.m. to do so, you could take a cue from Jason and assemble a DIY automatic sprinkler system.

5. Create fall-back birthday greetings
Seriously? It’s already Oct. 11, and you don’t have a card for your sister already? If you’ve got a Mac, there’s no reason to let the entire day go by without at least an email that says you’re thinking of them (even though you totally weren’t). Check out the Unofficial Apple Weblog’s how-to, and you’ll never be caught entirely off-guard. If you’d rather just get the reminders, you can have fbCal export your Facebook friends’ birthdays to an iCal feed, or enable Google Calendars’ “Birthdays” calendar (in your Settings), which pulls in whatever birthdays you’ve noted in Google Contacts. .
Personal Notes: I just pop people’s birthday inot my reegular calander asn an all day even, with the name & year of birth so I know exactly how old he or she is. Same Idea tho

4. Don’t let rebates pass you by
Retailers love rebates because a lot of people seemingly love to forget about them after the purchase. Tools that keep you from letting them pass into expiration, or sit incomplete at a service center, range from the simple to the sublime. Consumer Reports suggests immediately printing online forms and sending them in, as they can be removed from web sites after a very short period. Lifehacker reader Evan Fredericks suggests using Gina’s Trusted Trio with an old Gmail trick to keep rebates high on your to-do list. Finally, if you traffic mostly in online rebates, do as Consumerist recommends and set up a free online account at Backpack, where you can have specific rebate links emailed to you at a time of your choosing. (Original post)

3. Pack without fear
The worst part about forgetting to pack something on a long trip is that you’ll likely remember exactly what you forgot when you’re 10,000 feet in the air. Guard against your most forgetful tendencies with packing utilities that anticipate what you might need and print out helpful lists. We’ve dug on the Universal Packing List for its minimal but functional interface, Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush for comprehensive coverage of necessities, and PackWhiz as a nice alternative that sits between those extremes. Rather craft your own list? Feel free to create a reusable packing list, and peruse Adam’s Power Traveler’s Checklist, part one and part two.

2. Capture gift ideas with Evernote
Your spouse, your parents and siblings, your friends—they tell you about neat things they’ve heard about, considered buying, or just can’t find anywhere all the time, but never when you’re looking to actually buy gifts. We consider Evernote to be a fairly universal, go-anywhere capture system, since you can send it cameraphone pics, text or email messages, or more advanced web uploads at any time. It’s also got a tagging system that’s perfect for gift ideas. As soon as someone’s done telling you about something you might want to gift them, and you can be sly about it, upload a camera pic or text note about it to your account, and add both “gifts” and a separate tag for their name. When the holidays and birthdays roll around, head to your note stash, perform a search for everything tagged both “gifts” and “Diane,” for example, and you’ve got a list that seemingly traveled forward in time. For a beginner’s primer on Evernote, check out Adam’s walkthrough, or dig on Jason’s OneNote power user’s guide if the desktop suite is more your style.
Personal note: Evernotesis great for keep track of lost os stuff on your pc.. I’ve been switching from using bits of pieces of paper here & there as reminder notes to Evernote notes that can be organized by topic. Unfortunately, Evernotes can’t so sub folders or sub-notesbooks but still very usefull!

1. Keep track of strong passwords
We’ve hit upon this tactic a few times in a few different contexts, but until webmail users stop using 123456 and other terrible passwords, we will continue to suggest this technique. Build a secure base password that isn’t in the dictionary, one that mixes up letters, numbers, and special characters. Adapt it to fit different sites and uses—use the first three letters of the site name, or only the vowels, or some other rule. You’ve now got a strong password, you can remember it for all your sites. Even better? Offload the effort altogether and securely track your passwords with KeePass. If you do go the KeePass route, do yourself a favor and check out these eight must-have plug-ins to get the most from your password manager.
Personal Note: I’ve already shared this tip IRL to someone without fms.

Additional tips are included in the comments of the original post by Kevin. It can be found here at http://www.lifehacker.com.

Posted via email from Kelli’s Posterous

Five Things to Know About Fibromyalgia

Posted by Kelli on July 21st, 2009

Five Things You Should Know About Fibromyalgia
by Amanda Rinkel
May 5th, 2009

International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is next week on May 12th. I’m going to take a break from articles on internet wastes of time, movie reviews and news updates. Instead I’m going to take a moment to highlight these illnesses and the necessity for awareness.

Five Things You Should Know About Fibromyalgia

1. 3-8 million people in the United States have Fibromyalgia and up to 80% are women.

2. Fibromyalgia most commonly hits between the ages of 20-40 years old, at the “prime of life.”

3. It has been nick-named “the pain disease” because of the characteristic wide-spread, migrating body pain patients have. The pain has been described differently by each patient from dull aches to deep bone pain to burning, tearing, singeing, stabbing or shooting. The breadth of pain descriptions is what makes diagnosis difficult.

4. People with Fibromyalgia have cognitive difficulties, such as memory problems and attention issues, that has been nicknamed “Fibro fog” or “brain fog.”

5. Fibromyalgia is considered as functionally disabling as rheumatoid arthritis but is much less accepted and recognized by both the medical establishment, Social Security and the community at large.

To learn more check out www.fmsaware.org.

Soource: blog.su-spectator.com

Study of Sodium Oxybate in Patients With FMS

Posted by Kelli on June 15th, 2009

Jazz Pharmaceuticals to Present Data From First Phase III Study of Sodium Oxybate in Patients With Fibromyalgia

06/09/2009

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 9 — Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAZZ) announced today that data from the company’s first Phase III clinical trial of sodium oxybate (JZP-6) for the treatment of fibromyalgia will be presented this week during the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) 2009 Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington and also during the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Following are the details on each of these data presentations.

– At APSS on June 10, 2009, Dr. Todd Swick will be presenting a poster entitled “Impaired Sleep and Daytime Functioning at Baseline in Subjects with Fibromyalgia: a 14-week Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Sodium Oxybate” in the 10:15 am-12:15 pm poster session.

– At APSS on June 11, 2009 at 9:00 am in Ballroom 6E, Dr. Swick will also deliver an oral presentation entitled “Sodium Oxybate Improves Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep in Fibromyalgia: Results from a 14-week Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study.”

– At EULAR on June 12, 2009, in Room C2 from 5:30-7:00 pm, Dr. I. Jon Russell will be presenting “Sodium Oxybate in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia” at a UCB-sponsored Symposium entitled: “Fibromyalgia: How Much More than Pain?” The symposium will be chaired by Dr. Ernest Choy and also features Dr. Gilles Lavigne and Dr. Michael Spaeth as speakers.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals has completed a second Phase III pivotal clinical trial of JZP-6 and expects to announce top-line results from that study in mid-2009. Assuming positive results in the second study, the company anticipates submitting a New Drug Application for sodium oxybate for the treatment of fibromyalgia to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of 2009.

About Sodium Oxybate

Sodium oxybate is the sodium salt form of gamma-hydroxybutyrate, an endogenous neurotransmitter and metabolite of GABA. While the precise mechanism of action is unknown, the effects may be mediated in part through interaction with GABA(B) and GHB receptors. Sodium oxybate is the active ingredient in XYREM(R), approved by the FDA for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy (the sudden loss of muscle tone) in adult patients with narcolepsy. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends sodium oxybate as a standard of care for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved indications. It is also approved by the European Medical Evaluation Agency for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy in adult patients. Most commonly reported adverse drug reactions in narcolepsy patients are dizziness, nausea and headaches. Sodium oxybate has the potential to induce respiratory depression and neuropsychiatric events. Sodium oxybate has not been evaluated by regulators for the treatment of fibromyalgia and is not approved for this use.

About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, affects 0.5% – 5% of adults worldwide. Fibromyalgia is believed to be a central nervous system condition, resulting from neurological changes in how the brain perceives and responds to pain. In addition to pain, the main symptoms are fatigue, disturbed sleep and morning stiffness. The exact causes of fibromyalgia are unknown. It may be triggered by physical trauma, emotional stress, chronic pain or infection. Genetics, neurochemicals that affect pain modulation, neurohormones and sleep physiology abnormalities are thought to play a role. Research also has suggested a relationship between sleep and pain. Fibromyalgia patients experience a high prevalence of sleep problems, including a reduction in non-restorative or deep sleep.

About Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company that identifies, develops and commercializes innovative treatments for important, underserved markets in neurology and psychiatry. For further information please see http://www.JazzPharmaceuticals.com.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains forward-looking statements related to the development of Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ sodium oxybate (JZP-6) product candidate for the treatment of fibromyalgia, including the timing of results from the second Phase III pivotal clinical trial and the submission of a New Drug Application to the FDA. These forward-looking statements are based on the company’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the outcomes of the company’s second Phase III clinical study of sodium oxybate for the treatment of fibromyalgia and the timing of the announcement of clinical results, and risks that a New Drug Application may not be submitted, or may be delayed, and that sodium oxybate for the treatment of fibromyalgia may not be approved for marketing by regulatory authorities. These and other risk factors are discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 filed by Jazz Pharmaceuticals with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2009. Jazz Pharmaceuticals undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

(C) 2009 Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
SOURCE Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Willie Quinn, Executive Director, Corporate Development of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
+1-650-496-2800, investorinfo@jazzpharmaceuticals.com
Web Site: http://www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com

Brain Fog

Posted by Kelli on June 2nd, 2009

Brain Fog
By Kristy Bassett

Brain fog is possibly one of the most frustrating symptoms I have, not being able to think clearly can lead to major problems. It can not only be embarrassing not being able to think clearly, it can be dangerous.

The first thing to learn when you suffer brain fog is to never participate in any activities where you could be a danger to yourself or to others while it’s there. For me this has meant avoiding cooking and driving when the brain fog is a problem, this may be unavoidable at times, but where possible stick to this rule!

So what can be done? Unfortunately there are no miracle cures to lift the fog, but it can be managed. It’s worth investigating what is causing the fog in the first place.
Possible causes:

poor sleep

autoimmune disorders

hormonal imbalance

chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia

pain medication or the pain itself

allergies

iron deficiency and other nutritional deficiencies

blood sugar drops

dehydration

If you are able to pinpoint the cause, it may be possible to treat it simply. For others, the cause may not yet be known, or if it is known there may not be any more that can be done about it.

Managing Brain Fog:

Try to avoid activities that are beyond your capacity, if possible rest is advisable

Caffeine: If there is no choice but to be able to function, it is the one time where stimulants such as tea or coffee may be a good idea to get through. This shouldn’t be a routine, but can be a crutch if necessary. Remember that once the caffeine has worn off you will likely feel worse than you did before the caffeine consumption. Warning: regular caffeine consumption is not recommended for those with fatigue.

Supplements: MAY help if there is a deficiency to improve energy: the most beneficial to energy are B vitamins, iron and coq10.

Manage your pain: (if this is the reason) as well as you can

Make notes as reminders: if you have to remember a lot of things in a day, it may be handy to write a list on a notepad to carry around with you, so things can be ticked off and not missed

Set reminders: this can be in a calendar, or diary, or through a computer program, whatever is going to be something you check often. Reminders can be for events such as a birthday, or when a bill is due as an example.

Take regular time outs: even if you are busy, it’s possible to take 5mins to shut your eyes, or do some stretches. This can help clear your head and stay focused; if your mind isn’t well focused the last thing you want is to overwhelm it.

Be sensible with your activities: Finally tackling some great written work may not be the best idea at these times, reading can be a good idea, but keep it something you can easily focus on, don’t add to frustrations just because you’ve always wondered if Dickens really is that good.

Work when you’re at your best: If it’s possible, try and work at the best time of day for you. Some people may find that the brain fog is worse earlier or later in the day.

Eat regular meals: avoid high sugar meals when you eat. A sugar spike means your sugar will drop. You don’t have to be diabetic to have sugar spikes and drops.

Avoid known allergens: both environmental and food allergies.

Drink plenty of water

Avoid chemical exposure: If you are chemical sensitive, be sure to avoid chemical exposures from creams, cleaning products, etc. Those with chemical sensitivities may find exposure triggers brain fog

Open a window if in the car: I cannot actually explain this, but even being a passenger in a car has been a trigger for brain fog for me personally, opening the window a touch can help this.

Deep breathing: It could help to clear your head just to do some simple deep breathing, it helps to swing your arms above your head as you breath in, and slowly lower them as you breath out, the action will help open the diaphragm and allow for deeper breathing.

Exercise: This recommendation comes with a warning, for some people with certain conditions this could be a very bad idea. If the fog is a side effect of extreme fatigue, physical activity could make it worse, in these cases rest is what’s needed. For others a short walk may clear the head.

It may be helpful to keep a diary; this is helpful to monitor any symptoms. Keeping a record of when the brain fog occurs can help identify possible triggers. It also allows you to identify what makes it worse and what makes it better. A little trial and error of techniques to manage it such as those mentioned above will be needed to find what works best for you.

Source: The Recovery Room – http://www.recoveryroom.com.au

My own comments:I agree with most of What Kristy has said..

Pace yourself at all times, and rest as needed. Rest is taking at least fifteen minutes to relax, preferably laying down with your eyes closed, otherwise you are not truly giving your body a break.

Water is awesome – it helps clean the toxins out of your body, a natural flush so to speak. 8- 8oz glasses of water. Myself I can stomach that much straight water.. I half juice with water when I can.. Makes it easier.. But not too much cuz juice can be high in sugar & calories.. An alternative to crystal light or other 0 Calorie powder if you can tolerate the sugar substitute.

Skip the caffeine.. In addition to the crashes & everything Kristy mentions there is also the fact that if you drink too late (& how late is too late depends on the caffeine & sugar content) it will keep you up and be detrimental to your sleep..

Eating regularly is my biggest problem. The recommendation is three small meals a day with three snack in between.. This allows your sugar levels to be more consistent over the day that sparatic eating, as well as the simple 3 squares a day. You are also less likely to snack. If you are going to snack, try & make it veggies.. Keep pealed carrots & celery in the fridge and have a stock of fresh fruit around. I usually avoid raw veggies, ignore the fruit & go for cookies. I do find it easier to make salads at night with dinner than a 2nd veggie because I keep a greens salad mix in the fridge that is ready to go & you can add more if you want; cucumber, radish, pepper, apples, celery, or cheese are options here. Just a tip to make things a bit easier.

Reminders are necessary for me.. We’ve tried also of different plans and tricks to help with this. We’ve used a white board. We’ve used an automated to-do list on the web. We’ve used an online calendar, as well as a local (on my pc) calendar – this helps keep my appointments organized as well as birthdays/anniversaries, but not daily stuff around the house. We tried post-its, and notebooks but I’d loose them or start a new book/list. I currently have a written to-do list that we re-evaluate daily or every other day to keep me on track, to adjust for pain & fatigue, and to prioritize tasks.

Avoid allergens – I think this is a no brainer.. gets tested if you haven’t already. I have my environmental testing done.. need to get my food testing done.

Exercise, in my opinion is necessary, despite what Kristy says. I try to do yoga & aqua fit regularly.. I agree that some are not able to do that much, so even a walk around the block, or one of those exercise videos specifically for Fibromites. I have one and it’s all based in a chair. There is also chair-based yoga in some areas that are available, usually for seniors.

Kelli

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