Hi everyone! There is a clinical trial going on right now that assesses the safety and effectiveness of the investigational drug when administered in severe asthma patients whose symptoms are otherwise uncontrolled with current standard therapy. Despite standard treatment, up to 50% of asthma patients have symptoms that are not well controlled, with a negative impact on quality of life.
Power of Pain Foundation
WHAT IS YOUR CAKE?
Barby Ingle, President
Power of Pain Foundation
Author * Advocate * Motivational Speaker
Movie Info:
http://cakemovie.net
https://twitter.com/CAKEtheMovie
https://www.facebook.com/cakemovie?ref=hl
What is CAKE? CAKE is something that you can’t do because you are in pain but wanted to accomplish. When I started to watch this movie, I came in with biases of people in the pain community saying how it was all about addiction and not much on chronic pain. Those people had not yet seen the film. So, I got out may paper and pen and decided to take notes. I thought this movie was a great representation of what I see and hear from millions of pain patients across the United States. This movie is one of the best, in-depth depictions of what we deal with on a daily basis as patients. Here is what I saw in the movie.
I saw the reality of what I have been living with since September 26, 2002 after an auto accident that led me to have no choice but to live with chronic pain. The main character, Claire shows the challenges of living with pain. Her symptoms matched many of the symptoms that I have dealt with on a daily basis. With not only showing the pain that sometimes makes you scream out. They also did a great job showing the loss of energy, balance -coordination issues, body temp regulation problems, depression & anger, dystonia, loss of appetite and vomiting, memory issues (reminders about reminders), and sleeping problems.
The movie also gives a great perspective on some of the treatment options that are available. Claire went through so much to get out of pain, but to no avail. She had to find ways to cope. They showed a wide variety from invasive surgery, medications (not just opioids) but other medication, and aqua therapy. They showed less invasive tools that can help with the coping of life with chronic pain; quiet/dark room or house, music therapy, and even turning to other substances like alcohol.
This movie shows a woman who is processing her own chronic pain from physical injuries, but takes it even further. The script writer was cleaver enough to have the character Claire use of her friend who committed suicide to help process the situation and tell her story (it was easier for us as viewers to follow verses a woman talking to herself, it put a face to the story of the person who committed suicides story). I can say for myself losing over 50 friends in the past 12 years who were living in pain I know how much of a struggle this is and how delicate it is to navigate with those of us still living and fighting this daily battle. We are in a way relieved that our friend is out of pain, but at the same time sad that we are here on earth – left behind. We see how great it would be to be out of pain for eternity, but know that we have a purpose here and it is not our time to go.
CAKE reminded me of a few important lessons. First, you can’t get better by working harder, you have to work smarter. We need to figure out how, where and on what we want to spend our energy pennies[i]. Second, people who don’t live in pain want to know how we do it. We typically say moment by moment, or I don’t know how I do it. We find a way. We negotiate with ourselves to do what must be done, what needs to be done. Does that mean we get to do all we want to be done? No. Does that make us less of a person? No. Thirdly, people in pain take less life for granted. The closet scene where she takes out only a little bit only to make a messy pile outside the closet. That was a step. That was an accomplishment in the daily life of a chronic pain patient. We are not asking for people to save us, we are working to save our energy pennies for what is important in life while still maintaining a life of whatever sort we can muster up.
For those reading this who don’t have chronic pain. Maybe you are a caregiver, or a friend of mine who just wanted to see what I had to say. It won’t hurt if some of my pain friends cover some of these lessons for ourselves either. Here is some life nuggets for you. Yelling at someone you are made at won’t fix anything and really it doesn’t even matter. Why stress yourself? The people who question are the ones on the outside of our inner circle. Everyone grieves differently. People tell you what to do/try so that they feel better about not being able to help you. Other people’s views of someone in pain, even when they have pain themselves is skewed.
A keynote to watching this movie is viewers should remember that medication has to be taken every 4-6 hours to stay in the bloodstream (unless extended release and then 1-2 times a day). Patients are going to need to take them 1-6 times a day depending on the medication, dose and formulation of the medication. Pain like that isn’t just physically limiting – it is morally debilitating. When we don’t get our pain under control it becomes a cycle that at its worst is unbearable and best is survivable. Add to that the injury of being told you may not be able to access the pain medication you need because a physician worries that you may be abusing the medication. Although not directly addressed in this film, it is a problem faced by many who have legitimate need for pain medication. Instead of being treated with compassion, pain patients are too often treated with suspicion. Prescription pain medications are an important component of modern pain management. Abuse and misuse of these products, however, have created a serious and growing public health problem. Opioids remain an important option in the treatment of chronic pain.
Just as the main character Claire does, patients are going to Mexico to get medication or turning to street drugs here in the United State – Its Reality. The question should be, how we can make pain medication available to those who need it and address the legitimate concerns of physicians and law enforcement about misuse? Fortunately, there is good news. One important step towards the goal of creating safer pain medication has been the development of opioids formulated to deter abuse. For patients with pain, help comes in the form of three letters: ADF. Pain medications with abuse deterrent formulation (ADF) make it difficult to tamper with the pills, reducing the risk they will be used improperly. The good news is that several formulations of ADF now exist, giving physicians a range of options for their patients with pain.
As a leader in the pain community and someone who personally advocates for pain patients on a daily basis, I strongly believe that we can combat the issues of abuse while still giving patients who need pain relief a safe, effective and accountable access to these medications. With many new medications, private and government insurers put limits that make it difficult to access the medicines. With the societal cost of limiting pain management so high, such an approach is penny wise and pound foolish. There are many things we can do to increase access to these treatments, but we need to start with the recognition of their value and the promise they hold for many pain patients who have been denied care due to suspicion.
The responsible patients should not be punished by the crackdown on prescription drugs and opioid abuse. There is a need to stem the tide of drug abuse, but not at the detriment to those who need proper and timely care and access to tools for better daily living so they may function in a more productive way in our communities and provide greater benefit to society as a whole. In the movie, there is a scene where Claire has visitors over and chose to skip her medication. This doesn’t show she was addicted it shows a willingness to try to be social and check her physical pain strength, or show courage, or just a desire to be ‘normal’ and not have to rely on medication to get her through. The movie shows her as a responsible patient who shows up to every appointment. Yet, her providers expect you to improve. When you live with chronic pain, improve is relative. More likely, we maintain if we are lucky and work smart at life. There was a scene at the hospital where Claire says, “no more medication”. I’ve been there, I know how hard it is to be poked, prodded, and researched on like a rat. She was also dealing with the stress of loss of a friend, loss of her son and marriage while finding her life boundaries of living with pain.
There are other obstacles in receiving proper and timely care. The movie demonstrates some of these challenges through spotlighting the immense amount of paperwork and complicated medical system (ex: needing referrals). Just facing the invisible disability of living with chronic pain even if you have scars, a cast, or wheelchair can be difficult, especially when learning to navigate the health system. Another life challenge for pain patients addressed in the film CAKE is keeping a ‘normal’ human connection with a partner. All humans need physical contact. Imagine is feeling like someone is cutting you with knives every time they touch your legs. We need to find ways to have positive, personal, and sexual human connection for our own welfare and health benefits
Suspicion is rampant in society when it comes to pain patients. I reacted with a cringe when I watched as Claire’s adrenaline kick in when she saw the man who was responsible for her son’s death. Then, in the next scene you see Claire in bed, not much is expressed as to why she is in bed when she just displayed that much energy and physical strength when most times she doesn’t have it in her to even take a shower. It goes back to how you want to spend your energy pennies, emotional ties to a situation, and knowing that you will pay for your actions later if you overspend or outspend your abilities. Many of the patients I come across in pain are similar to Claire. I see myself the same way most of the time. Mostly due to finding out that my body and mind has limits. I have reached my limits and tried to push beyond only to pay for it in the end, much longer than any of my ‘healthy’ friends. After having a chronic illness for a while, many of us learn to choose where we will spend our energy pennies and what is important enough to warrant a penny, two or more. Also keeping in mind that each patient is different, brings different life experiences to their future, and will react differently to every medication and treatment option than the person standing next to them. Yet, we look and strive for commonalities with our fellow human connections.
Watching the movie brought me back a few years. Before I had a proper treatment plan to address my pain, I too was laying in the car on trips. Having to pack blankets and pillows for comfort and vomit bags for chronic vomiting from the high pain levels. Crying as we drove over bumps and potholes in the road, and knowing that after seeing that doctor, I would have to return to a painful car ride home. Or as in the scene where Claire tries to get the tape off of the box and she just doesn’t have the strength, I am still facing that daily even with a good treatment plan.
What would your dream be if you didn’t have chronic pain? My CAKE would be to continue to raise awareness, take action, and make a difference that brings us together as a society in a unified force for those still living with invisible disabilities. May our lives be easier, less stigmatized, and blessed with good health.
What is YOUR CAKE?
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[i] Caregiver Toolbox: Saving Energy – http://www.painpathways.org/caregiver-toolbox-saving-energy/
Don’t underestimate the power of peanut butter – This protein source is full of nutrients and can greatly increase your energy levels. Whether you put some on apples for an incredible snack or add some to your smoothie, peanut butter is an amazing source of protein that is easy to begin eating now.
By Barby Ingle
I love it when people say, ‘you look so young’ and ‘I thought you were in your late twenties’. If a few people say it, it may just be a compliment, but for me, many say it. I believe age is an option. Yes, we gain a physical number on paper each year but when you look at your age, most think ‘how do I feel’. Age in this instance is a state of mind. I think people see me as younger than I am because I do look young on the outside, but I also have a playful personality. I know what I have lost, they don’t. Most in my life don’t know who I was, what I was capable of, how athletic I was. They know the person they see in front of them. I don’t drink, smoke or do drugs (that are not prescribed to me). So when people say, become a better you, what does that mean for those of us who are already trying to be the best we can be? For me it meant I wish someone would have told me about preparing for things that we may face or someone we love may face (chronic pain, disease, financial burdens, how to navigate the health system and life in general for that matter).
I wish that I didn’t take life for granted when I was healthy. I had many experiences, most were great. I took them for granted until developing Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy which stopped me in my tracks. I met my primary care provider (PCP) in 2005. When we met I was in a wheelchair, bathed about once every 7-10 days, and had dystonia in my right hand, arm and foot. I had cut off most of my hair to make it easier on me. I am sure I looked a mess. He never commented to me on how I looked. He worked to get me feeling better he became the first on my ‘team’. He didn’t know what I used to look like. He was shocked to find out that I was a former model, pageant queen, cheerleader, and athlete. After receiving infusion therapy in 2009, I went to see him. I went from wheelchair to walking with him as my main health provider. I changed my hair, I changed my clothes. Two things I could have done before feeling better, but I didn’t put the effort in on most days. When he saw the new me, he asked my husband how it feels to be with a woman who is getting younger. It’s not that I was getting younger, it is my state of mind improved.
Our beliefs and behaviors must shift when we are living with a chronic pain disease, no matter what stage we are in. This shift determines how we feel about our life and health. Often times I would psych myself out. I would say to myself, I can’t do this, I can’t do that. I learned through trial and error what my boundaries are. I kept a journal to learn about myself and I found that my bounds were far past where I thought in my mind. I found that I needed to celebrate each moment, each day. When things got tough and I had to spend days/weeks/months in bed I didn’t need to get down on myself or put stress on myself for what I wasn’t doing. I kept a journal and a made a bucket list during those times. As time has passed, I found ways to accomplish those tasks and come up with new ones. I found that completing tasks is easier, quicker, and more accessible when I live through motivation of starting where I want to end up. Putting it in writing and organizing a plan of action (that is adjustable) is how I began to accomplish my goals.
I found personal incentive by manifesting something on the outside first. I changed my hair. It was a simple enough start. It led me to buying a few new outfits. I created a goal of doing more life experiences instead of gathering stuff to sit around me. I started with 4 outfits that are my ‘experience outfits’, and then came up with activities where I could use the outfits. Starting small on the outside helps to manifest how I feel on inside. Keeping track of where I have been and where I want to be showed me that I am of worth. Eventually my mind and insides caught up to my outward feeling. Was I perfect? No. Was I out of chronic pain? No. But, I did learn to count my miracles.
An experience can’t be taken away from you unless you let it go. Let go of the negative and focus on the positive; in your mind, heart and outside. Keep working on yourself and start with a few goals. Give yourself ‘what to do’s’ instead of just opposing all of the positive things you could have in life. Even in pain you can find ways to get the end of each goal. To change you, YOU have to practice. Am I saying you can just change your pain away? No way, not at all. I am saying you have the ability in you to change how you face your challenges. Find ways to recognize, understand, and consolidate challenges to see the goals you have set come to be. Don’t worry about timelines. If it takes a healthy person 4 years to graduate college, don’t feel bad if it takes you ten. It is okay. Remember, a win is a win. You don’t lose until you give up. Strive to understand the overall gist of your decisions and don’t let setbacks, others’ negativity, others’ guilt beat out your decision. You have the right to be the best YOU possible; start today.
How to Travel When Living with Chronic Pain By Barby Ingle
During this packed month of chronic pain awareness activities it brings to mind all that goes into traveling when we are living with a chronic pain disease.
Traveling concerns: Just because you need to manage pain it does not mean you cannot travel – we just need to plan a little more than the average person!
There are some simple things that can be done ahead of time to help reduce some pain caused by traveling.
- Book directly with your hotel/motel. Use the hotels’ website to review all of the amenities and place a call to book your reservations. Explain your situation and ask for rooms on the first floor or that may be more accessible to those who have issues with walking or need more quiet. Ask about local attractions as well. Take a virtual tour so you know the set up before you get there it will save time! And Energy!
- Plan your transportation from start to finish! If you can book direct flights go for it! Let your airline know you have special needs – use a wheelchair from curbside to boarding. From personal experience it makes a huge difference. Also this may allow and your group to board without the crowds (first or last) but it is worth not being bumped stepped on and so on! Do not be embarrassed – this will save your energy and well being for what is most important – your vacation! When renting a car makes sure it will accommodate a wheelchair /scooter etc it needed. Also do not forget your handicapped parking placard! What a difference that can make at many attraction – even the beach! Many seats on the plane have more leg room the others – look to reserve those! Also check out all your legal rights as a disabled person while traveling. It’s amazing what you may be entitled too! Also a ride to the airport vs. driving yourself. Curbside delivery is so much easier then all of the parking lot issues.
- If you are driving take frequent rest stops – at least every two hours to stretch and move around. We get stiff and sore very quickly.
- Make a list of what you need on the trip and I do not mean just clothes! Besides your medications thinks of neck pillows, heating pads, cold packs, small blanket etc. Some airlines now charge for pillows and blankets so be prepared! Pack this in your personal carry on. I once put all my meds in my carry on and when we changed plans they deemed it was too big for the smaller plane and had to chance it in cargo. Never again! A good back pack to hold all your essentials is a good idea.
- Prioritize your sightseeing! Research your destination and list what you really would like to do! Rank those in order so if a flare up happens you visit the ones that really matters to you. Make time to rest is very important. Plan a sightseeing day and then a day off or half day visits. Maybe your family has a place to visit that you do not have a strong interest in let them go and use that as day of rest! Check out all of the attractions for what accommodations they have for handicapped visitors. Special seating. Separate lines etc. What a difference it can make! Do your research. At Disney we had special seating right up front for shows! Front of the line at many attractions!
- If anyone considers camping for their summer vacation there are a few things to consider such as a good air mattress, the tent in the shade and have a tent large enough to stand in. Standing hunched over will not be helpful!
- A big thing for many of us may be also a change in diet. Simple changes to our routine can often set off many different issues so keep this mind when experimenting! Bring snacks that you normally eat to help out.
- Check the airlines for rules and regulations – especially if leaving the country
- Ask for help! If it’s a family vacation so the family can help! Let their fingers do some research etc.
- Emergency contact info! Your Doctors numbers, family contacts, and keep meds in original containers. Check out local pharmacies or medical centers if you may need care during your trip.
- A few notes on your personal health while traveling. Get plenty of rest whenever you can. Pace yourself and plan breaks.
- Stretch often. Get up from your seat at least once an hour. If you don’t you will just be more stiff and in more pain. Even major athletes have this issue!
- Keep yourself comfortable. Wear loose fitting clothing while traveling. Use lumbar or neck pillows if you will be sitting for long periods of time. Plan your wardrobe inlayers to accommodate temperature changes in cars, planes, attractions and so on.
- Be open about your limitations to those who you are traveling with. Make sure they really do understand what your chronic pain management entails. Pushing ourselves for a special purpose may work and yet it may not – so be careful about overdoing it.
- Plan your medications to maximize their effects while traveling in difficult situations. Do not wait until the flare up starts be preemptive!
- Even day on short trips require planning to make sure that you get the most out of your vacation and to do it without a flare up. Vacations are to be enjoyed and with some fore thought you are your family can enjoy most trips without mishap.
- Vacations are meant to be a break from our very day lives so make it happen. Enjoy and takes lots of pictures so you can prove you where there!
- Check with AAA they can often offer information about traveling with disabilities.
As a patient with a chronic care disease I have found some common reason I don’t to take my medications and things that have helped me stay on track that I am going to share in hopes of helping other patients. When a provider ordered a new pill I didn’t ask questions, I just took it. After having complications with multiple medications I had to change my approach. I began to speak with my pharmacist and created a relationship where I could discuss all of my medications, what they do, where they process in my body, and any possible interactions with other medications. Remember to use your pharmacist as an important member of your medical team! Know all about why a medication is important and how to best take it helped me get past the fact that I hate taking medications. I used to forget to take my medications. Mostly this was due to high pain levels and having difficulty concentrating. To fix this, I started using a pill box that had morning afternoon and night boxes for each day of the week. If I couldn’t remember if I took my pill all I had to do was look at my pill box and know if I had missed it or not. It became a routine for me and thus easier to remember to look at the pill box and even easier to know if I did or didn’t take the pill at the correct time. I continue this conversation on my medications and what and why I am taking it with my provider each time I see them. Knowing that new medications come out that work differently and that may be more effective I know to ask… what else is there, what are my choices. I have may reactions/ side effects to medication. My body is very sensitive. I keep track of what I am experiencing and discuss it with both the provider who proscribed it, the pharmacist, and my primary care physician. When I have a med-major reaction, I have my provider fill out med-form 3500A so if my insurance company ever wants me to do step therapy to get the medication that will work best, I can prove I have already tried and failed others prior. I know how important it is to keep my treatment choices between me and my providing physicians. We as a team (me as chief of staff of my medical team) are the ones who know my case and what will work best and why. We don’t want a third party who is trying to save money to try to push their way into my care. I know as a patient that we can stand up for what we need, it may take a little time to get this process started, but effort now to get organized will save you time, money, energy, and health in your future. – Barby Ingle, Best Selling Author, Motivational Speaker, Philanthropist on Chronic Pain Issues | Chairman, Power of Pain Foundation
In Honor of Love By Barby Ingle, Author of Real Love and Good Sex for Pain Patients and their Partners – February is the month of Love but for a pain patient and their significant other intimacy may suffer on a regular basis. We know intimacy is an important aspect in keeping a healthy lifestyle. Often times, chronic pain patients forget that sexuality is an important part in a partnered relationship when their pain levels are high. In spite of chronic pain, you and your significant other can have an active sexual relationship that is quite satisfying. You just have to be creative with getting around the challenges of chronic pain. All people need emotional and physical intimacy. The vital need for human connection helps stimulate our sexuality. Sex is an important aspect of our identity, and when chronic pain comes into the picture, it is often the last thing we are concerned with nurturing.
A normal relationship goes through 5 stages. The five stages are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning-transforming. All relationships go through these steps. Some stages such as storming, norming and performing may occur any number of times in a relationship before adjourning due to a split of the relationship or death of a partner.
Talking with your partner is the first step in reclaiming your sexuality. Try starting the discussion fully clothed, in the living room or in a neutral setting. When speaking, use “I” so that you’re not putting stress, pressure or anxiety on your partner. An example is, “I love when you hold me close; it makes me feel cared for” versus “You must not love me; you never touch me.” Maybe the partner is afraid of causing you pain, and if you let him or her know you are still interested and willing to have intimacy, you can put your partner at ease. Conclusions you may have jumped to as to why your partner has stopped touching you can be cleared up. It is usually not that they lost interest in sex or in you or that they now find you undesirable.
Chronic pain can cause an emotional wedge between you and your partner. Becoming aware that your physical and emotional distance hurts your partner may add to your fear, guilt, resentment and anxiety. Relationship problems can exacerbate stress even in strong relationships. Medical problems like chronic pain lead to unemployment, financial issues, a less kept house and lower self-esteem that can uncover previously hidden conflicts with your partner. If you do not have a plan, you may suffer in the human connection and intimacy area.
If you are feeling unattractive and undesirable, your own actions may be preventing the intimacy you desire. Become aware of your needs and your partner’s needs for sexual contact and passion. There are times when sex seems out of the question. There are times when I am simply hurting too much or feel too tired for sex. However, I will try to remember that my partner needs the love just as much as I do and that for this period of time, I can get my mind off of the pain. When I am planning for intimacy ahead of time, I can take stronger pain control medication so that I can experience the same pleasure my partner is feeling. Also, medications can lower your libido just as a low self-esteem does. Some medications lower sex drive by affecting blood flow and hormones. The want for sex is also diminished by changes in your nervous system. Keeping this in mind will help your plan stay in effect and increase the satisfaction of your partner and your own intimate needs.
Being creative is a way to enhance and amplify your intimacy needs. Things such as holding hands, cuddling, fondling, massaging and kissing increase these intimacy feelings. The bottom line is that intimacy and sexuality can actually make you feel better. The contact you achieve while having sex can help you feel stronger and the intimacy you build with your partner will help you both better cope with your chronic pain. Actions you can take to raise intimacy levels and strengthen your relationship: do to your partner what you want for yourself, keep a healthy lifestyle, lean on your partner first, touch each other, and take preemptive steps to keep a close connection to your partner.
NOTE: If you think that your sex drive is not normal due to a side effect of a medication you are taking, it is important to speak to your doctor about it. Medications can also cause a lack in libido.
To make informed and wise decisions about your treatment plan, doctors, hospitals and taking your life back from the pain in you, become educated. This book series is one step in the education process. Places to look for additional Information that is up-to-date with RSD issues are:
- Clinical trials and Studies
- Disease organizations
- Internet health sites
- Support groups for RSD or Chronic Pain
The important part for you is sorting through all of the information that you do gather so that it can be processed in terms that you, your family and doctors will all understand to make informed decisions. When the need for more advanced information still exists, you need to dig deeper. For instance, knowing the experts and best locations for medical treatment of RSD patients is necessary. Going further, you should follow those experts as they publish new findings. You never know when the miracle is going to happen. Until then, use the tools available to you from many sources. This way you will get the best and most accurate information to deal with your specific issues.
from RSD in ME by Barby Ingle
Another RSD sufferer and sister sharing her pain and story!
By Melanie McDowell
June 1974 – July 2006
He makes me bleed with each caress,
my body and mind he does possess.
Not my spouse, my lover or even my friend,
on his brutal presence I’ve come to depend.
I tell him to leave. Just leave me alone!
Yet he stalks me, hurts me, then laughs while I moan.
He is with me on waking and keeps me from sleep.
He keeps after me until I quietly weep.
He’s not even human, this cruel entity,
He is chronic pain and he tortures me.
This just touched my heart so much as it comes from a 14 yr old girl who suffers with RSD, same as I do.
By Adela Partida
Sometimes I just wanna cry
Sometimes I just want to hide
Anything to run away from the pain
To others I’m fine
But only I know
How I really am
I’m a fighter
I fight everyday of my life
Burning for a cure
For some kind of relief
To put me out of my misery
I just need a breakthrough
I need to be able to live life
Without always having to be approached by with caution
Without feeling constant burning,excruciating ,stabbing pain
I need to run,jump,play sports ,and dance
Like a normal 14 Yr old girl but knowing what I go trough
You would know I’m no
Normal girl and I live
No normal life
I need to feel normal
I need to live life pain free
I need your help to relieve me from my misery