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
LETHBRIDGE CHAPTER NEXT MEETINGS:
Saturday Nov 8th, 2003
2:00 p.m. @ Senior’s Centre
Saturday Dec. 13th, 2003
2:00 p.m. @ Senior’s Centre
TN Operations completed and
Speedy Recoveries To:
Lorraine Hansen, Taber, Alberta
Annie Kliensasser, Taber, Alberta
Sharon Habiak, Calgary, AB
Alice Harder, Carstairs, AB
Upcoming Surgeries and Best of Luck to:
Jan Williams, Calgary, AB (Nov. 18)
NEW! Telephone Contact Names:
Audrey Halowaty, MB
204-378-5677
Marilyn Najm, AB
403-762-3650
MARION’S DESK
The Toronto Support Group reported a very successful presentation on October 18th, 2003 with over 100 in attendance. Drs. Kaufmann & Tymianski were the presenters & once again very valuable information was received by those present. A big Thank You goes out to Dana Lavrence & Carol Horvat for making these presentations possible. Thank you also to Sandra Arangio & her family for donating the trays of goodies.
Sandra traveled to Winnipeg for an MVD but unfortunately she could not have this procedure & Dr. Kaufmann is working on her behalf to help her. We wish you the very best Sandra. The willingness that you have shown the TNAC to help them, even though you are still in pain, shows dedication & is greatly appreciated.
It has been brought to my attention that Dana needs your help. YOU can make a difference!!! An appeal is going out to the people in the Toronto area to help establish this group so it can reach its full potential. There are so many people not only in Toronto & area but all over Canada that truly need the help of the TN Association of Canada. If you can possibly give some of your time to help Dana with this Support Group, please give her a call at 905-886-7563 or email her at lavrence@sprint.ca.
If you are in remission or have had an operation for TN and have no more pain, what a great opportunity for you to volunteer to help establish great Support Groups. With your help perhaps we may be able to establish Support Groups in other parts of Ontario as well.
We welcome anyone who wishes to set up a Support Group in their area (coast to coast) to call the TNAC at 403-327-7668, email mguzik@telus.net or write to TNAC, 1514 Lakemount Blvd., Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3K4. A big Thank You in advance for your considerations.
The presentation tapes of Dr. Casey & Dr. Kaufmann have now all been mailed out. If you have not received yours or there is something wrong with them, please let me know. Zennon has randomly viewed some of them & they were alright.
I received a letter from a lady in Toronto with the following question: “Is TNAC a registered charity? Folks would contribute more if they thought it was.”
YES, we are a registered charitable organization and any Donations, Memberships and/or Gifts In Remembrance to the TNAC are Income Tax deductible & your receipts will be mailed to you upon receipt of same.
Should you be talking to any of your friends, co-workers, etc. please let them know that we are a Registered Charity and donations are welcomed to help us with our mailing of Information Packages, Newsletters and Office Supplies that we need. Our Organization is based on donations at the present time and if any of you could and would take on the role of becoming the “TNAC Fundraiser”, PLEASE call me at 403-327-7668 or email me at mguzik@telus.net as we are in need of funding.
Patty has assured me that our TNAC website will be up and running soon so look in Patty’s Ramblings for more info.
Until next month,
Marion
RECIPES
Here’s a recipe from an old “Country Guide” dated January 1949. I’ve tried them and they are yummy!
ROBIN HOOD QUICK YEAST ROLLS (about 18 rolls)
2 Tblsp. Sugar
2 Tblsp. Shortening, melted then cooled
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 pkg. dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
3 1/4 cup (approx) Robin Hood Flour
1) Add sugar, shortening, salt & yeast to lukewarm water.
2) Add 1 cup of the flour & beat till smooth.
3) Mix in rest of flour.
4) Place dough on light floured board, let rest 5 min.
5) Knead till smooth then place in greased bowl, cover, let rise till light (about 1 hr.)
6) Punch down & form into rolls of desired size.
7) Place on well greased sheet or in muffin pans, cover with damp cloth, let rise till light (about 1/2 hr). Bake 425F—12-15 min.
Another Good Recipe:
POPOVERS
1 1/2 Tblsp. Unsalted butte, plus softened butter for greasing pans
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
3 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 cups whole milk, at room temperature
Preheat over to 425F.
Generously grease aluminum popover pans or custard cups with softened butter. You’ll need enough pans to make 12 popovers.
Place the pans in the oven for 2 minutes to preheat. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, salt, eggs, milk & melted butter until smooth. The batter will be thin.
Fill the popover pans less than half full and bake for exactly 30 minutes. DO NOT PEEK! Serve hot.
NEW MEMBERS
Pat Buchanan
Donations Received November 2003:
Elizabeth Blake, B.C.
J.C. Rarie, ON.
Lois Henry, MN.
Pat Matthews, ON.
Connie Allen, NB
Don Brewer, AB
Tammy Larocque, ON
John Baxandall, AB
Johanna Hensen, ON
IN MEMORY OF HAZEL NISH:
Mr. & Mrs. Grant MacDonald, Westbank, B.C.
Joan & Patrick Cochrane, Kamloops, B.C.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY’S TO ALL THOSE WITH OCTOBER CELEBRATIONS!
Tiny Letters To God
“Dear God, Instead of letting people die & having to make new ones, why don’t you just keep the ones you have?”, Amy
“Dear God, Maybe Cain & Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother.”, Larry
“Dear God, Is it true my father won’t get in Heaven if he used his bowling words in the house?”, Anita
“Dear God, Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?”, Norma
“Dear God, Did You really mean ‘do unto others as they do unto you?’ because if You did, then I’m going to fix my brother.”, Darla
“Dear God, In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation?”, Jane
“Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.”, Joyce
“Dear God, I didn’t think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset You made on Tuesday. That was cool!”, Eugene
“Dear God, We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said You did it. So, I bet he stole your idea.”, Donna
“Dear God, I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the Bible.”, Chris
A Sunday School Teacher asked her class, “What was Jesus’ Mother’s name?” One child answered “Mary”.
The teacher then asked, “Who knows what Jesus’ father’s name was?” A little kid said, “Verge”. Confused, the teacher asked, “Where did you get that?” The kid said, “Well, you know they are always talking about Verge n’ Mary!”
USING COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY TO RELIEVE PAIN (taken from The National Pain Foundation) Part 4 (Continued from October issue)
This is the last part from this series. Please check on page 6 for a list of Resources on Complimentary Therapy.
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. The quality of research supporting complementary and alternative approaches varies from therapy to therapy. As with any treatment approach, before trying or using any of these suggestions, the use of complementary therapies should be discussed with your doctor.
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Naturopathic medicine was founded on the principles of the healing power of nature, focuses on optimizing wellness & preventing disease, & has been around for centuries. Naturopathic physicians (NDs) are primary health care providers who use therapies that are generally natural & nontoxic, including clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, counseling & sometimes acupuncture. Naturopathic physicians study at a four-year, graduate level naturopathic medical school that includes the basic sciences studied by medical doctors. They must take & pass board examinations to be licensed as primary care physicians. Naturopathic medicine can be used to complement conventional medicine & NDs may refer patients to appropriate medical specialists for certain conditions (e.g., an oncologist or surgeon).
PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION
Progressively relaxing your muscles is a technique that requires some practice but can help you achieve a state of complete relaxation. Begin by focusing on your toes & feet-deliberately tense the muscles in your toes & feet & then concentrate on letting the tension go in each muscle. Move your way up your body until you reach your head. Be careful about tensing areas in which you feel pain-if necessary, avoid those areas & focus on relaxing the rest of your body. When the rest of your body is relaxed, your pain areas won’t feel as tense.
RELAXATION BREATHING
Using breathing techniques helps your body relax & takes your mind away from everyday worries. Practice relaxation breathing by taking a breath in through your nose as you count to four, hold it as you count to seven & breathe out through your mouth while you count to eight. It may seem silly or uncomfortable at first but relaxation breathing will feel more natural with practice. Slow, steady relaxation breathing can help you relax tense muscles & truly focusing on your breathing can help you break a cycle of negative thoughts.
YOGA
Yoga is a great way to improve flexibility & muscle tone, develop good deep breathing & relaxation techniques & reduce stress. Yoga, developed 5,000 years ago is an exercise that focuses on physical postures called “asanas” & breathing exercises called “pranayma”. As with any exercise program, it’s important to discuss yoga with your health care provider before beginning. It might help to begin your yoga practice in a class where an instructor can help you learn the postures & breathing.
CONCLUSION
Complementary & alternative medicine may offer you some different ways of dealing with your pain. At the least, relaxation breathing, guided imagery, & self-hypnosis may help you take your mind off of your pain. Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any complementary treatments or medications to ensure you choose techniques & medications that will not interfere with or have adverse interactions with traditional medical techniques & medications.
Resources on Complementary Therapy:
The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine
NCCAM Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 7923
Gaithersburg, MD 20898
Email: info@nccam.nih.gov
Toll Free: 888-644-6226
International: 301-519-3153
Http://nccam.nih.gov
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
4828 Wilshire Bouleverd, Suite 428
Los Angeles, CA 90010
323-937=5514
Http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/
International Chiropractors Association
1110 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1000
Arlington, VA 22201
800-423-4690
Http://www.chiropractic.org
Office of Dietary Supplements
National Institutes of Health
Web site: ods.od.nih.gov
Center for Food Safety & Nutrition
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740-3835
Web Site: vm.cfsan.fda.gov
American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
140 N. Bloomingdale Rd.
Bloomingdale, IL 60108-1017
630-980-4740
Http://www.asch.net/
American Association of Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC)
3201 New Mexico Avenue NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20016
Toll Free: 888-538-2267
Email: info@aanmc.org
Http://www.aanmc.org
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
3201 New Mexico Avenue NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20016
Toll Free: 866-38-2267
Http://wwwnaturopathic.org
SUPPORT GROUP MEETING NEWS
CALGARY, ALBERTA
Monthly meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of each month at:
Confederation Park Senior Centre
2212—13th Street N.W.
Calgary, Alberta
The next meeting will be November 18, 2003, 7 p.m. Please mark your calendars for this date. For further information please contact Jan Williams, 403-295-0987 or email TNAC Calgary Group at tnaccalgary@hotmail.com.
TORONTO, ONTARIO
The Toronto Support Group will meet on Sunday, November 30th, 2003 from 1-3 p.m. at: Thornhill Community Centre
7755 Bayview Ave.
Thornhill, Ontario
Please note the new venue! Mark your calendars for this date. For more information please call Dana Lavrence at 905-886-7563 or Carol Horvat at 905-687-8562.
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
The Winnipeg Support Group will meet on November 20th, 2003 at 7 p.m. at:
Health Sciences Centre, General Hospital
2nd Floor—Cafeteria, Manitoba Room
820 Sherbrook Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Mark your calendars for this date. For further information please contact Marion Hucul at
m.hucul@shaw.ca or Tammy Bredin at 204-787-7278.
LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA
The Lethbridge Support Group will meet on November 8th, 2003 at 2 p.m. at:
Lethbridge Senior Citizen Centre
500 - 11 Street South
Lethbridge, Alberta
For more information please contact Marion Guzik at: 403-327-7668 or by email: mguzik@telus.net
WHY WEAR A POPPY
“Please wear a poppy” the lady said and held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care,
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street, bouncing along on carefree feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
“Lady”, said he “May I have one?”
When she pinned it on he turned to say,
“Why do we wear a poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way and answered “This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men and women who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free.
That’s why we wear a poppy you see.”
“I had a boy about your size with golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man - as you will too.”
“He was fine and strong with a boyish smile but he’s seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out he went away,
I still remember his face that day.
When he smiled at me and said “Goodbye,
I’ll soon be back Mom, so please don’t cry.”
“But the war went on and he had to stay and all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night)
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.”
“Till at last war was won, and that’s why we wear a poppy son.”
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said “Thanks, lady, I’m glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son—did he come back all right?”
A tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head but didn’t speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame
And if you were me you would have done the same.
For our thanks in giving, is oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought and thousands paid.
And so when we see a poppy worn, let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their very all
And asked to answer their country’s call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a Poppy—Remember—and Give.
LEST WE FORGET - Author unknown
Patty’s Ponderings & Miscellaneous Ramblings:
Happy November everyone. I’m happy to announce that the TNAC web site is almost ready. It should be up & running within a couple weeks, maybe sooner. I’ve had some help with the designing of the pages from two University of Lethbridge students. These girls are volunteering their time in between their studies and with their help we should have a great site very shortly.
I had an inquiry on an old feature that we used to have in the newsletter. Would anybody like to have the Buy/Sell/Trade/Wanted section re-instated? If you do, then submit your items to me please & I will insert them free of charge.
For the December issue I would like to do a Christmas Recipe Special to share across our Nation. Please email me your favorite Christmas Recipes & we will feature them in a special section. Only one recipe per person though so select your family’s absolute favorite to share with the rest of us. Come on everyone, get busy emailing me! I hope to have my mailbox overflowing with yummy things.
Speaking of Christmas, it sure isn’t very far away anymore is it? Has everyone finished their shopping yet? I’m making progress slowly & hope to have it all done by, lets see now, all done by, ummh - Christmas Eve! Yep, that’s about it, I’m usually still doing leatherwork on Christmas Eve for my last gift to a family member. Last year though I got done a few days ahead of schedule & my husband thought that there was something wrong with me because he didn’t hear the ’tap, tap, tap’ of my leatherwork hammer on the night of Dec. 24! Well, I’m going to make sure that he doesn’t worry like that ever again, so I’ll be sure to save a little bit of leatherwork for that ‘last minute’ thing especially for him!
That’s all for this month. Don’t forget to send me your Christmas Recipes!
Patty
Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way. But never forget to remember the blessings that come each day.
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 Jan Williams
TNAC President #273, 223 Tuscany Springs Blvd. NW
1514 Lakemount Blvd. South Calgary, AB T3L 2M2
Lethbridge, AB T1K 3K4 Phone: 403-295-0987
Phone: 403-327-7668 EMAIL: mguzik@telus.net EMAIL: janw@3web.net
TNAC Newsletter:
Patty Moyer, TNAC Editor
P.O. Box 973
Coaldale, AB T1M 1M8
Phone: 403-345-6262 EMAIL: pgmoyer@telusplanet.net