Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada
Published by: The Lethbridge Chapter
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WHO WE ARE.....
The Lethbridge Support Group is open to everyone who wishes to learn more about Trigeminal Neuralgia and who would like to support TN sufferer’s and their families. Meetings are held at 2 p.m. every second Saturday monthly at the Lethbridge Senior Centre, 500-11 Street South. Occasionally, films and/or guest speakers are presented. There is time reserved at each meeting for open discussion.
This newsletter is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or to replace the service of your physicians; but only to give you information about our member’s experiences.
Donations to the TNAC are gratefully received. Your monetary support helps defray the cost of TNAC News, copies, supplies, postage, etc. Please make your cheque payable to Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada and mail to: 1514 Lakemount Blvd., Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3K4
NEXT MEETINGS.…
Saturday August 9th, 2003
1ST Annual General Meeting
2:00 p.m. @ Senior’s Centre
Saturday Sept. 13, 2003
2:00 p.m. @ Senior’s Centre
Special Notice
Member’s Only:
Our first General Meeting will be held on August 9th, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lethbridge Senior Centre, 500-11th Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta. Discussions regarding goals and the election of officers for the next General Meeting which will be held in June 2004.
NOTE TO ALL CONCERNED:
To those of you who have not sent in your questionnaires that were sent out at the beginning of the year and/or have not sent in your membership fees - this is your last newsletter. Due to the high cost of printing and postage, we can’t continue to send out hundreds of newsletters monthly unless you have paid your dues and returned your questionnaires to TNAC. We need your support to keep this organization going.
RECIPES:
Mushroom Snow Pea and Radish Salad:
1¼ cups snow peas, trimmed, cut diagonally in 1/2
12 oz fresh white mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/2 cup sliced radishes
2 tbsp sliced green onions
1/2 cup prepared Caesar Dressing (oil/vinegar kind)
1/4 lb. sliced deli ham, cut in thin strips
Lettuce leaves or chopped lettuce.
In a med. size saucepan, bring 2 cups salted water to a boil; add snow peas & cook until crisp-tender, about 30-60 seconds, drain & rinse under cold water. In a large bowl, combine snow peas, mushrooms, radishes, green onions & Caesar dressing; stir gently.
Place lettuce on 4 salad plates. Spoon mushroom mix onto lettuce, arrange ham strips on top. Garnish with chopped hard-cooked egg.
Note: To make ahead, combine ingredients except mushrooms and dressing ,as directed above. Just before serving, stir in mushrooms and dressing & arrange ham strips on top. This is a very good salad for those hot summer days. I serve it with the Cheese Garlic Biscuits that were in the March 1, 2003 issue. – Marion
Shrimp Crabmeat Vegetable Dip
Submitted by Arlayne Davies, Blackie, AB
1 8-oz pkg. Cream cheese
1 8-oz bottle cucumber salad dressing
1 small can crab meat, drained
1 small can broken shrimp, drained
Green onions, chopped
Splash of Tabasco & Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Lemon juice
Salt & Pepper
Mix all together and chill. Makes a generous amount of Dip.
Pizza Pan Cracker Dip
Submitted by: Arlayne Davies, Blackie, AB
1 8-oz pkg. Cream cheese
1 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
Combine & spread on pizza pan. Top with chopped tomatoes, green peppers, green onions, grated cheese and/or anything else you prefer.
Scoop up on your favorite cracker.
MARION’S DESK
The month of July is almost gone, & I don’t know where it has gone to. As usual yours truly not only has been busy with the TN work, but has had company from Medicine Hat, Calgary, & Gander, Nfl. I am now trying to get caught up on all the correspondence.
The weather has been so hot in Lethbridge. I can’t remember the last time we ever had this kind of weather & for so long at a stretch. I hope we will get some relief soon as everything is getting so brown from the heat.
I have had a tremendous response for the tapes of Dr. Casey and Dr. Kaufmann. We are so fortunate to have Zenon Malec, one of our members, doing the taping for us. I will notify each one of you that has requested a tape when I will be shipping them out to you.
We will be selling the tapes for $10.00, which will include postage. We will not be making any money on them, but that is what we are here for – to help one another. Also the response from the presentations held in Lethbridge, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and the Newspaper advertisements (which Patty put in every paper in Canada I think), has been very gratifying. I have sent out so many info packets lately with our questionnaires and newsletters. Also requests for our handbook “Striking Back” has been outstanding. This has kept me extremely busy.
Wishes go out to the following for a very speedy recovery. Hazel Nish of Cardston, who has had a painful bout of TN. Hazel has been hospitalized for several weeks now, and remains in the hospital. To John Edwards Lethbridge, who is having a very bad bout of TN. and to John Baxandall, Edmonton, who has been hospitalized for 10 days with a severe bout of TN. John called me and told me he is now out of hospital. The Doctor has changed his medication and so far he is doing pretty good. I hope by the time you receive this Newsletter that you are all feeling fine and are free of pain.
Until next month, have a great summer and a pain free August
Marion
New Memberships:
ALBERTA:
Sharon Habiak
Luis & Olga Ferrer
Evelyn Becker
Ron Horwood
Jan Williams
SASK.
K. Jane Nielsen
MANITOBA:
Rosanne Borgfjord
Gina O’Conner
ONTARIO:
Ann Bruggeling
Marie-Eve Poirier
QUEBEC:
Lise Turcotte Woolrich
Donations Received JULY 2003:
Louis & Olga Ferrer
Joan Robinson
Lois Henry
Edie Little for Winnipeg Support Group
Rosanne Borgfjord
Ron Horwood
Verna Blais
HAPPY BIRTHDAY’S TO ALL THOSE WITH AUGUST CELEBRATIONS!
EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY:
Our Deepest Sympathy to Don Brewer, Sec./Treas., TNAC, and his family at the sudden death of Don’s father in July.
HEALTH TIP:
Now summer is here and the temperature is climbing. It is important to prevent heat related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and sunstroke. Excessive heat can make the body lose fluid and dry out. Luckily, the ways to avoid dehydration are easy:
1) Even if you are not thirsty, be sure to drink lots of fluids.
2) Clothing should be lightweight, light in colour and loose fitting.
3) Stay in the shade. This could mean wearing a hat or using an umbrella.
4) Avoid vigorous activity between noon and 4:00 p.m.
5) When possible, stay inside during the hottest part of the day.
6) Eat light meals on hot days.
Make Health Happen !!!!!
A ‘BRAN’ NEW STUDY:
From CARP 50 Plus magazine, August 2003
That bowl of bran may do much more than keep you regular, according to research recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, involving more than 3,500 participants over 65, found that those who got fibre from food sources including breads & cereals were 21% less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who chose to consume less of these high-fibre foods. Previous studies focused on fibre & artery health have involved younger age groups.
There are more reasons to stock up too. Fibre from whole grain breads & cereals may also have positive effects on blood cholesterol levels, blood sugar regulation, blood pressure readings & even decrease the risk of developing dangerous blood clots.
PACEMAKER FOR PAIN: MOTOR CORTEX STIMULATION
Electrical stimulation of the brain has become an important method for treating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Now, neurosurgeons are trying a modified form of the same system to alleviate chronic pain arising from the face or neck. Here’s how it works:
1) An electrode is implanted beneath the skull against the durra, a protective membrane that covers the brain. The electrode delivers pulses of electrical stimulation through the membrane to an area known as the motor cortex, a part of the brain involved in movement and sensation.
2) A battery-powered neurostimulator is implanted near the collarbone. (A wire beneath the skin connects the device to the wire lead in the head. The connecting wire goes up the back of the neck and under the scalp.)
3) Physician uses an external radio transmitter to adjust the electrical pulses.
4) Signals from the motor cortex appear to trigger effects deeper in the brain, easing pain, by increasing blood flow and quieting overactive nerves in areas such as the thalamus and cingulate gyrus. But the long-term benefits are unproven.
Sources: Medtronic Inc., Dr. Gary Heit, Stanford University Medical Center; Neurosurgical Focus, Sept. 200l, Dr. Jeffrey A. Brown , John Blanchard/The Chronicle
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES:
A little child in church for the first time watched as the ushers passed the offering plates. When they neared the pew where she sat, the youngster piped up so that everyone could hear: “Don’t pay for me Daddy, I’m under five.”
A little girl became restless as the preacher’s sermon dragged on and on… Finally she leaned over to her mother and whispered, “ Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?”
A 6 year old was overheard reciting the Lord’s Prayer at a church service: ”And forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who passed trash against us.”
A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, “How many women can a man marry?” “Sixteen”, the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. “How do you know that?” “Easy,” the little boy said. “All you have to do is add it up, like the Bishop said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer.
THIS IS THE BEST ONE: A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again. Finally she spoke up, “Grandpa, did God make you?” “Yes, sweetheart,” he answered, “ God made me a long time ago.” ”Oh,” she paused, “Grandpa, did God make me too?” “Yes, indeed, honey, “he said, “God made you just a little while ago.“ Feeling their respective faces again, she observed, “ God’s getting better at it, isn’t he?”
Using Complementary Therapy to Relieve Pain (taken from The National Pain Foundation)
As so many people in chronic pain know, medication alone often is not enough to relieve pain. The tenacity of chronic pain often leads people to areas outside of conventional Western medicine. More and more Americans are trying complementary and alternative treatments for their ailments, and this is especially true for those in chronic pain. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 40% of Americans and more than two-thirds of the world population use complementary or alternative therapies.1 Since 1990, Americans have increased their use of such therapies by 30% and paid $27 billion in out-of-pocket expenses.2 The quality of research supporting complementary and alternative approaches varies from therapy to therapy. As with any treatment approach, use of complementary therapies should be discussed with your doctor.
What
is the Difference between Complementary and Alternative
Medicine?
The
terms “complementary medicine” and “alternative medicine” often
are used interchangeably, but the two are different.
Complementary therapies
are used together with
traditional Western medicine. For example, you may take
opioids to manage your day-to-day pain and use guided imagery to
help manage a breakthrough pain episode. Alternative
medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. For
example, using a special diet to treat your arthritis instead of
using medications recommended by a physician is using
alternative medicine.
Complementary techniques to manage pain include diet, exercise, biofeedback, massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and self-regulation techniques such as self-hypnosis, relaxation training, yoga, reiki (a natural healing process using the hands to tap a universal life energy) and Jin Shin Jyutsu (a process to balance the body’s energies to bring optimal health and well-being).
Practitioners of complementary medicine, such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, and naturopaths, often view health as a balance of physical, emotional and spiritual factors. Complementary treatment often attempts to restore that balance. The most widely used complementary medicine practices in the United States are acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, and herbal medicine.3
Choosing Practitioners and Techniques
One of
the most important decisions you can make when deciding to
pursue complementary therapies is choosing a qualified and
knowledgeable practitioner to ensure you receive the best care.
Another vitally important aspect of using complementary or
alternative therapies is to tell your physician. As much
as 60% of complementary therapy use is not disclosed to
physicians—it cannot be emphasized enough that your health care
providers need to know what therapies, herbs, or other
medications you may be using or are considering using.4
Many herbal remedies interact adversely with medications and
some complementary therapies may not be appropriate for your
condition (e.g. massage may not be comfortable for people with
rheumatoid arthritis). The National Center for complementary and
Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) recommends that you consider the
following factors when choosing a complementary or alternative
medicine (CAM) health care practitioner.
1) Speak with your primary health care provider regarding the therapy in which you are interested. Ask if he or she can recommend a CAM practitioner or if they are willing to make a referral.
2) Ask basic questions about a CAM practitioner’s credentials and practice (e.g. Where were they trained? How long have they been in practice? What licenses or certifications do they have? How much will the treatment cost?
3) Be sure to check with your insurer to see if the cost of therapy will be covered. For example, some insurers cover visits to a chiropractor. If your insurance includes any provisions for CAM, ask your insurer for a list of CAM practitioners who accept your insurance.
4) Meet with the practitioner and determine if he or she is right for you (e.g. Did you feel comfortable with the practitioner? Did he or she answer your questions and respond to you in a way that satisfied you? Does the treatment plan seem reasonable and acceptable to you?).
5) Contact a professional organization for the type of practitioner you are seeking. Often, professional organizations have standards of practice, provide referrals to practitioners, have publications explaining the therapy that their members provide, and may offer information on the type of training needed and whether practitioners of a therapy must be licensed or certified in your area.
NOTE: This article is Part 1 of 2 or 3 (the number of Parts will depend upon how much room we have available in each upcoming issue). The rest of the article will continue over the next couple of months. Subjects talked about will cover a paragraph or two about Acupuncture, Biofeedback, Chiropractic Manipulation, Guided Imagery, Herbal Medicines & Supplements, Homeopathic Medicine, Hypnosis, Naturopathic Medicine, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Relaxation Breathing, Yoga, Conclusion, References and Resources.
Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any complementary treatments or medications to ensure you choose techniques and medications that will not interfere with or have adverse interactions with traditional medical techniques and medications.
Patty’s Ponderings & Miscellaneous Ramblings:
Anybody have an air conditioner to sell? All I have to say is, it’s dang hot around here lately! My horse pasture is gasping for rain, I’ve given up on my raspberry patch, even my rhubarb is wilting! My cats just lay on the front porch under the tiniest piece of shade they can find and don’t move all day. I think even the gophers are hiding out in their homes because I haven’t seen one on my acreage for a month!
I’ve been in contact with an organization to help set up our web site and I will be presenting the proposal before the Board of Directors at the upcoming General Meeting on Aug. 9 for approval. If approved, then I can start on setting up the website online finally. It will still take a while, but it’s definitely coming together. It’s a heck of a lot more work than I thought though. I will also need to learn a whole new program called FrontPage. It’s one of the few software programs that I have never had any experience with. But, I’m confident it won’t take me too long to learn.
I hope you all enjoy the article in this issue about the ‘Complementary Therapy”. It’s quite a long article but Marion and I thought that there was some very good information in it. It will take at least 2 more issues I imagine for the complete article. Let me know how you like it and we’ll try to include more items similar to it in upcoming issues.
Please help us out with the newsletters and send us some items of interest. They don’t have to be health related but just of some interesting subjects. If any of you want to re-instate the For Sale/Wanted column that we used to have in the newsletter, let me know. Or if you have any other ideas of how to make this newsletter more interesting for everybody - just email either me or Marion.
That’s about it for this month. I’ll leave you with these couple of things to think about…...
“On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key.”
“Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.”
Until next month, have a great August.
Patty
TNAC (Trigeminal Neuralgia Assoc. of Canada)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DIRECTORS:
Marion Guzik; President Mona Leslie
Don Brewer; Secretary/Treasurer Patricia Moyer
John Edwards
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Head Office and Lethbridge Support Group Calgary Contact Info:
Marion Guzik Marilyn Najm
TNAC President P.O. Box 2376
1514 Lakemount Blvd. South Banff, AB T0L 0C0
Lethbridge, AB T1K 3K4 Phone: 403-762-3650
Phone: 403-327-7668 EMAIL: mguzik@telus.net EMAIL: : najmmar@telusplanet.net
TNAC Newsletter:
Patty Moyer, TNAC Editor
P.O. Box 973
Coaldale, AB T1M 1M8
Phone: 403-345-6262 EMAIL: pgmoyer@telusplanet.net