Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.
I’m not thrilled with the use of pink, that’s sexist to me.
Melinda
Reference:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/g44287993/womens-equality-day-quotes/
Friday Quote
Category: Celebrate Life
#Weekend Music Share-Helen Reddy – I Am Woman (Original Version)
“I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman”.
I remember when the song was released, it was against the grain and received plenty of criticism but what a great anthem that has stood the test of time. Listen to the words carefully. The message is just as important today as it was in 1971. Helen Reddy is so graceful and genuine.
Sending a special thanks to Willowdot21 for her comments on the Women’s Equality Day post.
During an interview many years ago Helen said the song wasn’t written for women only but was for everyone. I have to ponder that. Was she also talking about sexual equality?
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Things I’ve Learned In 61 Years Part Four
If you think the weekend is the only two days you’re happy, you’re right. You will manifest the other days as bad ones.
If your parents accomplished something, it doesn’t mean you will.
If your parents didn’t accomplish something, it doesn’t mean you won’t.
If your parents are rich it doesn’t mean you will be rich.
Work for what you get, it makes you a better person. If not, you will live expecting things and life isn’t that way.
You must know the difference between needs and wants. Wants will lead to debt maybe poverty and if nothing else you’ll pay 20-30% interest each month on your credit card. Cash is king.
If you don’t know every ugly wart and behavior of your partner, you don’t know them and marriage is the last step to take.
If a person can not look you in the eyes, there’s a reason. Get under it or you will pay later.
A person who says their fine is rarely fine. Dig deeper.
If you are treated poorly where you shop, at the doctor’s office, or anywhere else, find another place to do business. Life is too short for bad behavior and getting mad and complaining will not solve the problem.
Just because your parents went to a certain college doesn’t mean you have to. Have a backbone.
Just because your parents or siblings are in a certain line of business doesn’t mean you have to. Have your own identity and do what you love.
Buying vintage or antique furniture that requires refurbishing or not will reward you for many years. If you find a piece that has great bones and is reasonably priced, it’s worth the restoration. Today furniture is not made with the same high-quality wood and you will have a hard time finding handmade furniture with hand-turned designs or inlays unless you go the top of the line or have a piece custom-made. The same is true for frames, the intricate designs that are hand-made will reward you for years.
Self-confidence does not come from others, only you.
It’s not someone else’s fault, it’s yours for accepting. People with bad behavior rarely change.
To learn in life you have to make mistakes and learn from them.
If you do not keep your skills current you fall by the wayside.
If you don’t know how to communicate with people and can’t make compromises you are in bad shape and won’t keep a job and possibly a relationship.
If you think everything is wrong and people are all being unfair to you, look in the mirror.
You manifest what you think about and are unhappy about life, change your thinking to change your life.
If you judge others, you’ll find what you’re looking for.
The country that starts a war, provoked or not, it’s that country’s war, they own it, they set the strategy, and will end the war on their time, NO ONE else’s.
You can not negotiate with terrorists, and if they are holding prisoners don’t expect to see them come home.
People who fled their country or the home of their ancestors are no longer citizens of the country for a reason.
The country you live in now will not stop the war back home, they will work to negotiate but your anger, and violence fall on deaf ears.
If you don’t protest peacefully then you’re violent and need to go to jail. There are more productive ways to send a message.
Businesses look at their bottom line first and how they invest their money is of no concern to you. You’re foolish to think you can get them to divest.
Protesting just to protest and voice your anger is a waste of energy and nobody wants to hear it. Do something productive.
America is responsible for the American people, there are many failures in the systems but are superior to many countries.
If you don’t like America, go somewhere else. We don’t need your negative energy.
If you are living paycheck to paycheck you can’t afford eating out, expensive cars, cigarettes, booze, or partying. You’re responsible for the bed you make. Being poor sucks, change your situation.
If you are living on government subsidies, you can’t afford to smoke, drive a new car, drink, have multiple streaming services, go out to eat, party, and buy electronic play toys. Being poor sucks, but it can be temporary if you work hard to better your life. There are too many examples in every town that have improved their life by working hard. You won’t see them living on subsidies.
There are millions of people in many countries who live in poverty through no fault of their own and can not change their situation. I wish you all the best and pray for your health and happiness.
Always invest in the future no matter how small the amount, it adds up.
Always invest in your children’s education no matter how small the amount, it adds up.
Would you rather pay cash or pay 20-30% interest each month?
Always set realistic goals, work towards them every day, and keep them in the forefront of your mind and you will manifest it so. Then set new goals, that what is takes to succeed.
Melinda
Women’s Equality Day August 26
Women have made huge strides in leveling the playing field but it’s still very lopsided. Women have fought for their rights for over 100 years, and we’re not there yet. I’m so glad there are younger generations who have the skills and determination to keep pushing forward. Make 2024 the year you stop settling and stand your ground for equal rights!
Where it began
The Woman Suffrage Amendment was first introduced on January 10, 1878. It was resubmitted numerous times until it was finally approved by both the House and Senate in June 1919. The bill needed to be approved by two-thirds of the states, so suffragists spent the next year lobbying state legislatures to gain support for the bill. On August 24, 1920, Tennessee became 36th and final state to ratify the amendment, which passed by only one vote. That one vote belonged to Harry Burn, who heeded the words of his mother when she urged him to vote for suffrage. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the amendment into law on August 26, 1920.
Fifty years later on August 26, 1970, Betty Friedan and the National Organization for Women organized a nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality. Women across the political spectrum joined together to demand equal opportunities in employment and education, as well as 24-hour childcare centers. This was the largest protest for gender equality in United States history. There were demonstrations and rallies in more than 90 major cities and small towns across the country and over 100,000 women participated, including 50,000 who marched down Fifth Avenue in New York City.
In addition to the marches, groups of women participated in publicity stunts aimed at garnering more recognition of gender inequality. Women in New York City took over the Statue of Liberty, hanging two 40 foot banners from the crown reading “March on August 26 for Equality” and “Women of the World Unite.” An organized group stopped the ticker tape at the American Stock Exchange, and held signs such as, “We won’t bear any more bull.” Female teachers also filed a lawsuit against the New York City Board of Education in which they demanded gender equality in appointing educational administration positions. The case lasted about 10 years and finally resulted in an increase in female principals.
While the strike did not halt the activities of the nation, it drew national attention to the Women’s Movement. The New York Times, for example, published their first major article on the Feminist Movement by covering the events of the day. It even included a map of the route the marchers took through the city.
In 1971, Representative Bella Abzug (D-NY) introduced a successful bill designating August 26th of each year as Women’s Equality Day. Part of the bill reads that Women’s Equality Day is a symbol of women’s continued fight for equal rights and that the United States commends and supports them. It decreed that the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of woman suffrage and the 1970 Strike for Equality. Women today continue to draw on the history of these brave and determined women.
Women’s Equality Day is celebrated in the United States on August 26 to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex. It was first celebrated in 1971, designated by Congress in 1973, and is proclaimed each year by the United States President.
he date was chosen to commemorate the day in 1920 when the Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the proclamation granting American women the constitutional right to vote.[1] In 1971, following the 1970 nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality,[2] and again in 1973, as the battles over the Equal Rights Amendment continued, Congresswoman Bella Abzug of New York introduced a resolution to designate August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.[3]
In 1972, President Richard Nixon issued Proclamation 4147, which designated August 26, 1972, as “Women’s Rights Day” and was the first official proclamation of Women’s Equality Day.[4] On August 16, 1973, Congress approved H.J. Res. 52, which stated that August 26 would be designated as Women’s Equality Day and that “the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation in commemoration of that day in 1920 on which the women in America were first guaranteed the right to vote”.[5] The same day, President Nixon issued Proclamation 4236 for Women’s Equality Day, which began, in part: “The struggle for women’s suffrage, however, was only the first step toward full and equal participation of women in our Nation’s life. In recent years, we have made other giant strides by attacking sex discrimination through our laws and by paving new avenues to equal economic opportunity for women. Today, in virtually every sector of our society, women are making important contributions to the quality of American life. And yet, much still remains to be done”.[6]
As of 2023, every president since Richard Nixon has issued a proclamation each year designating August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.[7]
I’m proud there is a day on the calendar but that doesn’t satisfy me in the least. Equality is an everyday, day-after-day effort to level all playing fields. Women have fought hard for the progress we’ve made but there is so much more to go. Gone are the days of the good old boys at the workplace and sports is a dinosaur with its pay scale. Women don’t have the same size contracts with advertisers as men and I’m sure the list is longer than I have the wind to write.
Melinda
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women’s_Equality_Day
https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/womens-equality-day
Wordless Wednesday-Burst Of Color In White Vase
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Melinda
Fire
We’re in the dog days of summer in Texas, yesterday was one degree below the record at 107 degrees, and it’s oppressive outside after 7:30 am. Due to my ongoing challenges with Anemia, I’m always freezing. At 4:30 am this morning I’m wearing a sweater buttoned up all the way, long pants, wool gloves, covered in a wool blanket, and yet the fireplace is needed to stop me from shacking. At least the fireplace in my office is relaxing.
Melinda
Update On Storytelling Series
 |
Hello Advocates!
NAMI Texas is continuing our efforts to elevate your stories and lived experience! As we prepare for the 89th Legislative Session starting January 2025, we are focusing on gathering specific stories. This is the third month in our Storytelling Series, for the month of August, we are featuring school-based mental health services. Your stories related to this issue are vital, and rest assured, confidentiality is imperative to us. With your permission, we may reach out for further insights. Additionally, if you are interested, you could participate as a storyteller at one of our events or at the Texas Capitol. Your story has the power to strengthen written and/or oral testimony, presentations, policy briefs, and media coverage.
School-based mental health services are vital in promoting students’ well-being and academic success. These services may include counseling, psychological assessments, and the development of individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with mental health needs. For instance, a student struggling with anxiety might receive regular counseling sessions with a mental health provider such as a psychologist or social worker to develop coping strategies. Another student with ADHD might have an IEP that includes accommodations like extended test-taking time or a quiet space for exams. These comprehensive support systems not only address immediate mental health issues but also equip students with the tools they need for long-term success. We invite you to share your experiences with school-based mental health services. Your stories and insights can help us better understand the impact of these services and advocate for their continued support and improvement.
Additionally, if your child or children are enrolled in Medicaid and are facing significant issues with hard limits on treatment services (whether in policy or practice), behavioral health services, or services for medically complex conditions, we would greatly appreciate it if you could share your story with us.
Head over to our Advocacy Campaign to share your lived experience! Your story can provide valuable insights into the landscape of school-based mental health services. By sharing your experiences, you can help us advocate for the strengthening of these services, ensuring they better meet the needs of all students.
Please feel free to share with your networks! As always, feel free to reach out to our Public Policy Director, Lyssette Galvan, publicpolicy.director@namitexas.org, or Peer Policy Fellow, Christine Busse, peerpolicy.fellow@namitexas.org.
With gratitude,
The NAMI Texas Public Policy Team
Melinda
Neelakurinji (the of rare flower of India) By Guest Blogger
The Neelakurinji flower is one of hte most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen. The flower grows in a specific area of India and needs conservation now before it becomes extinct.
The flower you’re referring to is the Neelakurinji (scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana). This rare and beautiful flower blooms once every 12 years in the Western Ghats, particularly in the hills of Munnar in Kerala, India. When in full bloom, the hills are covered in a carpet of blue, creating a stunning visual spectacle. The … Continue reading Neelakurinji (the of rare flower of India)
LIVE BY CHOICE NOT BY CHANCE!!!!
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-The Odyssey Of Life
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight The Odyssey Of Life. Gene wrote his first post on January 4th, 2024 named Hello World. We have only followed each other a short time but we value many of the same things and I feel a kindred spirit in him.
THE ODYSSEY OF LIFE
“HUMANITY SHOULD BE OUR RACE. LOVE SHOULD BE OUR RELIGION.” UNKNOWN
HI THERE. APPRECIATE YOUR VISIT, THANK YOU!
I’VE BEEN AN AVID READER MY WHOLE LIFE. IN MY YOUTH, I FOUND GREAT COMFORT IN VISITING THE GORDON AVENUE LIBRARY, WHICH WAS JUST A FEW BLOCKS UP A FAIRLY STEEP HILL FROM MY THEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. EVEN AT A YOUNG AGE, I FOUND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES AND/OR BIOGRAPHIES FASCINATING TO READ. BEYOND LIFE GROWING UP ON A 48-ACRE FARM, I BEGIN TO REALIZE THE WORLD WAS A MUCH LARGER PLACE THAN I IMAGINED.
MANY YEARS, WHO I AM KIDDING, MANY DECADES HAVE PASSED SINCE THOSE FORMATIVE YEARS LIVING IN THE CENTRAL VIRGINIA REGION, BUT I’M STILL EASILY ENTERTAINED AND AMUSED READING AN ARRAY OF GENRES, WITH MYSTERIES RUNNING A CLOSE 2ND TO INTERESTING BIOGRAPHIES ABOUT FASCINATING PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. I WILL USE THIS BLOG TO ENGAGE WITH AND LEARN FROM OTHERS.
I LOVE AMERICA & MOTHER EARTH AND ALL THAT HUMANITY CAN BE TOGETHER…
APPRECIATE YOUR VISIT, THANK YOU! PLEASE VENTURE BACK SOON. FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR OWN THOUGHTS, SUGGESTIONS, OPINIONS, ETC. HERE IN THIS SPACE AS A FREE AND OPEN DEMOCRACY ALLOWS.
“LET US NOT SEEK THE REPUBLICAN ANSWER OR THE DEMOCRATIC ANSWER, BUT THE RIGHT ANSWER”. — JOHN F. KENNEDY
I love this quote! If we all voted for what is right for our country I believe America would be in a much better place with more harmony instead of division.
Gene has an extensive Blog Roll that you should take a peek at.
The post talks about a much simpler time in Charlottesville where he lived. The key message resonating with me is that children didn’t recognize skin color during that time. What a great time in history that must have been.
A post that I enjoy is Have We Lost Our Way.
He great observations on the world today and where we have gone astray.
Melinda
The Treasures On My Bookcase
The bookcase in my office holds many treasures including travel finds, books, photos, candles, and an antique camera. The items bring me joy, and memories of travels and adventures. Here are a few photos.
“It Ends With Us” – NO MORE x Wayfarer Studios’ Tools & Resources to Spark Change
PUBLISHED
Aug 16, 2024
BY
This week, we have been proud to join Wayfarer Studios, the independent production company behind “It Ends With Us,” the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel of the same name, in spotlighting the extensive resources, information, and tools available to all theater-goers, fans of the book, and community organizations in the U.S. and around the world.
You can check out a story in Variety here, and below is an overview with a few more details.
Through an end card running in the film’s credits, and a dedicated page on nomore.org, NO MORE is offering survivors/victims of domestic and sexual violence and their loved ones easy access to find help. Most notably, through the NO MORE Global Directory which seamlessly connects people to support services in the U.S. and 200 countries and territories around the world.
Resources created for the film include:
- The “It Ends With Us” Viewers’ Guide for audiences to learn to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy relationships and find out how to make a positive difference in their own communities.
- A specially-branded version of the NO MORE Silence: Speak Your Truth platform where people impacted by domestic and sexual violence can safely share their stories and find support.
- A free Community Toolkit to provide sector and community organizations with ideas and tools to use the film to create special events, programming, educational materials and content to engage and activate local audiences.
- We also included a link to “The Lighthouse,” a comprehensive guide providing information for survivors on recognizing abuse and getting help for themselves and their families.
All of these elements can be found here.
In addition, we have kicked off an ongoing social media campaign with Wayfarer Studios’ Man Enough platform to raise awareness of key topics raised in the film and encourage everyone to join in and become part of the solution.
This effort builds on Wayfarer’s and NO MORE’s long-standing partnership, first announced in 2023, to use the power of art and entertainment to inform, support, and inspire greater progress in preventing gender-based violence and promoting healthy relationships. As part of this partnership, NO MORE served as a content advisor on the film, both within the script and throughout pre- and post-production, to help ensure that domestic and sexual violence were portrayed as accurately and sensitively as possible.
We know that the issues raised in the story of “It Ends With Us” are all too prevalent in our society. One in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the US experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and more than 15 million American children live in homes in which domestic violence has happened at least once. That’s why we feel so strongly about using this cultural moment of the film’s release to spark dialogue, increase awareness, and inspire meaningful change.
We hope you’ll join us! See the film, explore our resources, and help break the pattern of abuse. Together, we can end domestic and sexual violence!
With gratitude,
The NO MORE Team
Be sure to tune in, it promises to be an informative event for women and men.
Melinda
Understanding Finger Pain
Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — Written by April Kahn — Updated on July 15, 2024
Finger pain is a common condition. It’s usually caused by a hand injury such as a broken finger, a cut, or a broken fingernail. It may also indicate an underlying medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Finger pain is a throbbing, cramplike, or achy pain that’s felt in any of your fingers, including your thumb. It often results from an accident or a medical condition.
In most cases, finger pain isn’t serious and will go away on its own. However, unexplained finger pain can be a sign of a more serious medical condition.
Be sure to visit your doctor if you experience ongoing or unexplained pain in your fingers.
Hand injuries
The most common cause of finger pain is a hand injury. Injuries to the finger can cause an open cut, a bruised or fractured bone, or muscle and tissue damage.
Common injuries that result in finger pain are:
- broken fingers, which are often caused by jamming the finger during contact sports or while improperly handling heavy-duty equipment
- cuts
- broken fingernails
Medical conditions
Medical conditions that affect the nerves, muscles, or bones can also cause finger pain.
For example, osteoarthritis (OA) causes the breakdown of cartilage. This breakdown causes bones to rub together and triggers pain and stiffness. In the hands, OA can affect the joints at the base of the thumb, in the middle of the finger, and near the nail bed.
Other conditions that can cause finger pain include:
- rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- multiple sclerosis (MS)
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- systemic sclerosis, a rare autoimmune disorder
- Raynaud’s phenomenon, a disorder that effects blood vessels
- boils
- nodules
- cysts
- tumors
- acute hand infection
- fingertip infection or felon
A compressed or pinched nerve in the arm, wrist, or hand can also contribute to finger or thumb pain.
Identifying types of finger pain
Finger pain may feel dull and achy, or it may be sharp and cramplike. The pain may start suddenly and then go away.
Pain accompanied by swelling
If you have a broken finger, it’ll usually be swollen, purple or blue in color, and extremely painful. In some cases, the bone might be physically separated and visible through the skin. Infection can also cause pain with swelling. It may be accompanied by redness, warmth, or skin changes.
Throbbing pain or pain when moving
Carpal tunnel syndrome and other medical conditions that affect the nerves and muscles in your arm and hand can cause:
- throbbing pain in the hand and fingers
- pain when moving the affected fingers or when moving your wrist
- difficulty typing or writing
- hand tremors
Sharp shooting pain
A finger dislocation occurs when the bones of your finger or thumb dislocate from their joints. In some cases, the dislocation is visible.
You may also experience throbbing pain or a sharp shooting pain.
Pain at the site of injury
A cut on your finger may cause pain at the site of the injury. Depending on how deep the cut is, you may also feel pain that spreads or radiates to surrounding areas of your hand.
Pain accompanied by lumps
If you have a growth on your hand, such as a boil or nodule, you may experience the following symptoms along with your finger pain:
- a fluid-filled lump
- a hardened area of skin
- a movable lump under the surface of the skin
- a lump that’s tender to the touch
Diagnosing finger pain
If you have a cut or growth on your finger, your doctor may be able to diagnose the condition based on a physical examination alone. If you have pain when using your fingers and there’s no obvious cause, more information will be needed.
Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history, medications you take, and your occupation. Using this information, your doctor can decide which tests are necessary for a proper diagnosis.
Common tests for diagnosing finger pain include blood tests and imaging tests, such as X-rays.
An X-ray can show any fractures and abnormal growths within the finger. If an X-ray isn’t enough to determine a diagnosis, your doctor may order additional imaging tests or a nerve study. A nerve study looks for nerve damage or nerve dysfunction.
Treating finger pain
Finger pain caused by cuts, scrapes, or burns will often heal without treatment. You simply need to give the area time to heal. You can take over-the-counter pain medications to help ease your discomfort.
Melinda
World Cancer Support Month
I think we can all get behind World Cancer Support Month. Most of us have been affected by Cancer whether it be ourselves or someone close to us and we understand the support that is needed. I was traumatized when I was diagnosed with Cancer at 28 years old, it changed the trajectory of my life. I was one of the lucky ones who didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation. The cancer was removed during surgery, I was very lucky. My husband has two types of cancer that is slow growing but it’s no less worrisome.
World Cancer Support Month, observed annually in August, stands as a beacon of solidarity and hope for those affected by cancer across the globe. This dedicated month serves as a reminder of the immense strength, resilience, and compassion that unite individuals, families, and communities in the face of this challenging disease.
Cancer, an intricate ailment, arises from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. These cells can develop into tumors, affecting nearby tissues and, in some cases, spreading to other parts of the body. With over 100 types of cancer, each characterized by distinct behaviors and treatment requirements, it’s a complex adversary that demands comprehensive understanding and dedicated research.
World Cancer Support Month takes a multifaceted approach to addressing this issue. It not only emphasizes the importance of providing medical treatment but also highlights the need for emotional and psychological support for those dealing with cancer. The emotional toll of the disease on patients, families, and caregivers cannot be understated. By fostering an environment of open dialogue, the stigma surrounding cancer can be dismantled, encouraging more people to seek help and resources.
Don’t forget those around you with Cancer and do something thoughtful for them. Sitting and talking is a great start and helping run a few errands or cooking a meal is extra special.
Reference:
Friday Quote
Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Peter Gabriel In Your Eyes (Secret World Tour)
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Daily Quote
Melinda
What’s Your Mood Today?
I hope this post finds you healthy and happy. Today I’m feeling a mix of frustration, and fatigue, yet I’m happy. I’m feeling okay and the day looks promising.
Take good care of yourself.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-White & Orange Floral Surprise
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
I don’t know what type of flower the are but the color combo is perfect. On Sunday they will have lasted two weeks. I do change the water and add a nutrient packet every three days. It makes flowers last so much longer. Oh, I also trim a small amount off each flower.
Melinda
Things I’ve Learned In 61 Years Part Three
President Trump knew about COVID-19 in January 2020 but did not tell the public until March of that year. I heard the words myself during a phone interview with highly respected journalist Bob Woodward. Bob asked President Trump about the virus and he admitted it was deadly yet in public he said it was no worse the the seasonal flu and would go away quickly.
The most complete overview of the conversation with Bob Woodward and President Trump.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/audio-recordings-prove-trump-lied-about-coronavirus-danger
Here are a few articles on the subject by respected organizations
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54094559
During the months that President Trump refused to listen to his top national advisors, the government was not ramping up its national supplies which is why hospitals found themselves without masks, proper protective gear, enough ventilators, and enough staff. I remember seeing hospitals overrun with patients and having to make the hard choice of who would get treatment or continue to get life support. This is not a weight that any individual employee needs to make, several committed suicide and washed out of their field and many caught COVID-19 themselves.
For conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers, you are misinformed and misguided, and no doubt you live lost in the same state of mind in the other areas of your life. People need to look at factual information and make up their own minds, conspiracy therorist are being controlled by others. That makes you a follower.
The total number of deaths from COVID-19 in the United States to date
We at USAFacts have endeavored to provide comprehensive, real-time pandemic data from all 50 states. However, the growing prevalence of at-home testing and the potential for individuals to contract the virus multiple times have skewed the government data we receive. These developments, plus the end of the public health emergency — and the required data reporting that came with it — have made it difficult for us to present a clear and reliable picture of COVID-19 in America.
We are committed to presenting thorough, accurate data, but the fact is that collecting that data on COVID-19 data is a significantly more challenging that it used to be, if the data is even out there at all. Therefore, we will no longer update the data on this dashboard. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to remain vigilant in observing health protocols and guidelines. For more information about broader health outcomes, visit US Health Statistic and Data trends
| Total Reported | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cases | 99,596,741 | |
| Deaths | 1,104,000 |
STATE-BY-STATE DATA (TOTALS)
| State | 7-day avg. cases | 7-day avg. deaths | Cases | Deaths | 7-day avg. hospitalizations | 7-day avg. hospitalizations per 100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 1,659,936 | 21,138 | 30 | 0.6 |
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 287,319 | 1,457 | 4 | 0.6 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 2,486,671 | 29,852 | 152 | 2 |
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 977,662 | 13,062 | 30 | 1 |
| California | 128 | 0 | 11,300,486 | 102,356 | 377 | 1 |
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 1,769,981 | 14,522 | 92 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 982,973 | 11,034 | 20 | 0.6 |
| Delaware | 13 | 0 | 334,466 | 3,440 | 83 | 8 |
| District of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 169,149 | 1,392 | 5 | 0.7 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 7,627,999 | 89,075 | 246 | 1 |
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 2,343,807 | 42,351 | 129 | 1 |
| Hawaii | 96 | 0 | 393,757 | 1,955 | 27 | 2 |
| Idaho | 0 | 2 | 526,118 | 5,513 | 17 | 0.9 |
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 3,706,263 | 39,381 | 189 | 1 |
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 2,033,879 | 25,959 | 34 | 0.5 |
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 892,628 | 10,538 | 24 | 0.8 |
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 946,564 | 10,229 | 35 | 1 |
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 1,713,220 | 18,094 | 45 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 1,459,308 | 18,136 | 43 | 0.9 |
| Maine | 18 | 1 | 324,378 | 3,085 | 25 | 1 |
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 1,270,844 | 15,578 | 110 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | 268 | 0 | 2,048,722 | 21,035 | 52 | 0.8 |
| Michigan | 157 | 3 | 3,119,532 | 43,191 | 67 | 0.7 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 1,552,840 | 12,806 | 45 | 0.8 |
| Mississippi | 0 | 0 | 1,000,415 | 13,474 | 14 | 0.5 |
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | 1,592,300 | 20,776 | 189 | 3 |
| Montana | 0 | 0 | 333,758 | 3,712 | 17 | 1 |
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 563,028 | 4,827 | 20 | 1 |
| Nevada | 74 | 0 | 892,252 | 12,084 | 26 | 0.8 |
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 375,618 | 2,972 | 19 | 1 |
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 2,995,906 | 35,774 | 115 | 1 |
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 681,525 | 9,236 | 19 | 0.9 |
| New York | 429 | -37 | 6,706,390 | 77,423 | 177 | 0.9 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 3,501,415 | 29,059 | 258 | 2 |
| North Dakota | 13 | 0 | 292,065 | 2,232 | 5 | 0.7 |
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 3,449,990 | 42,299 | 108 | 0.9 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 1,305,761 | 16,157 | 73 | 1 |
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 910,700 | 8,726 | 46 | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 2 | 3,565,278 | 51,344 | 264 | 2 |
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 442,671 | 4,148 | 3 | 0.3 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 1,481,646 | 17,869 | 78 | 1 |
| South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 283,342 | 3,245 | 11 | 1 |
| Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 2,364,399 | 28,113 | 41 | 0.6 |
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 8,508,204 | 92,378 | 194 | 0.7 |
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 1,099,978 | 5,397 | 21 | 0.6 |
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 151,477 | 910 | 9 | 1 |
| Virginia | 210 | 0 | 2,323,255 | 23,769 | 204 | 2 |
| Washington | 184 | 2 | 1,969,833 | 15,972 | 34 | 0.4 |
| West Virginia | 15 | 0 | 652,772 | 8,163 | 34 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 50 | 0 | 2,036,872 | 16,723 | 79 | 1 |
| Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 187,389 | 2,039 | 13 | 2 |
For more on how USAFacts collects coronavirus data, read this detailed methodology and sources page.
Not all the statistics add up over the last seven days but you get the overall message. Close to 100,ooo people died in Texas alone.
I would like to see how conspiracy theorist explain the number of documented cases and deaths. Maybe the same way President Trump explains his very existence.
COVID-19 is on the rise in many countries, The United States has not been hit hard but the is no excuse for not taking precautions. Look at President Biden who recently contracted COVID-19, it can happen, and if we are not careful COVID-19 may return the the awful days of the pandemic. I pray not, it affected everyone, every business, and how we went about our daily life, people lost their jobs and businesses closed and life sucked all around.
I’m asking you to think about yourself, your family, and the community around you. Don’t read news about COVID-19 on social media, read news from respected news outlets, read briefings from the CDC and National Security within our government, and make an informed decision.
Our life and future depends on accurate information and making the right decisions which are not easy but ones you’ll be glad you made.
Melinda
References:
https://usafacts.org/visualizations/coronavirus-covid-19-spread-map/
A Special Thanks To The Countries Who Have Visiting My Blog: Czechia, Ireland, Serbia, The Seychelles And Ghana
Thank you for visiting my blog and allowing me into your life. I appreciate you and get a fix of my desire to travel from your visit.
I hope to see you again soon and appreciate your comments and follows.
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-Invisibly Me
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight Invisibly Me. Caz and I have known each other for years and I’m honored to call her a friend. She is a warrior in every sense of the word, she works tirelessly to balance her chronic illness, help her elderly parents, advocate for better access to healthcare, and also encourage others to take better care of themselves. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much she loves cats.
Invisibly Me
Live a Visible Life Whatever Your Health
Caz is a 30-something chronically ill blogger from the UK with a penchant for American crime thriller books, Dr Martens, chocolate and Hello kitty. She writes about life with chronic illness and pain, product reviews, tips, and general health information to raise awareness.
She writes on many topics but stays true to health, writing reviews about health products and other items that simplify life. Simple is far from the life that Caz leads, she’s a superwoman with what she accomplishes and you would be surprised by the number of disabling health issues she deals with each day. She’s snarky, has the greatest attitude, and has limits with the NHS healthcare system in England. But who doesn’t?
She’s a proud member of the following organizations:
You must stop by her blog to say hello, read through her archives, and get to know a remarkable woman. Caz is encouraging, raw, funny and always leaves me feeling better and loved.
Melinda
What do “Real Housewives of Invisible Illness” do all day, anyway?
By Christina Campbell
“I wish I could just stay home and rest.”
“But what do you do all day?”
“I wish I had all that free time.”
The Normals regularly say these things to me, whenever I take disability leave to recover (kinda) from tick-borne disease.
Bless their little Normal hearts. They’re not trying to be hurtful. They’re trying to relate to something they can’t understand: invisible chronic illness, with its unpredictable flares and unquantifiable symptoms of pain, fatigue, and “Help, doctor, my cells are all pulling on each other like magnets.”
My favorite Normal faux-pax happened when I returned to work after two years of disability leave (and one additional year of a lawsuit against my insurer). Many coworkers knew I’d been sick. Some knew I’d had tick-borne disease. One of them welcomed me back and asked, “Did you enjoy your time off?” He meant well, but here’s what I heard him saying: Did you enjoy living it up with your free paychecks?
I feared my colleagues thought I’d spent those three years lounging on a chaise in a silken robe and full makeup, listening to celebrity gossip podcasts, sipping wine, and dropping bon-bons between my freshly-glossed lips, while stroking my sleek purebred cat like a Real Housewife of Northern Virginia.
Sure, I “enjoyed my time off.” I enjoyed the handful of semi-functional hours I had each day. I enjoyed squinting, while sweating and shivering, at incorrect health insurance EOBs and shady reports from insurance physician reviewers. Because of the broken U.S. health system, when I’m on disability leave I use almost more cognitive energy than when I’m at work.
The feared “activity tax”
Here’s what I’d like to tell people about what I “do all day:” I calculate my energy expenditures, then wait with bated breath to see if my calculations are correct. Will I be fine? Or will I pay the much-feared Activity Tax? If the latter, in what currency will the Tax be? Headache? Stiff joints? Motion sickness? Vibrating feet?
Because the stakes are so high, people with chronic illness become supercomputers: Estimated useable body-hours divided by approximate time to complete chores, plus parenthetical sub-formula ranking chores by importance, times the bounded function of activity tax per X number of stairs between the hamper and washer.
The poor Normals want to “just stay at home and rest.” Well, so do I. Instead, I’m racing my body against my bank account. I’m wrangling physical therapy and fistfuls of pharmaceuticals. The goal: Get my health to kick in, before my disability is randomly taken away because some doctor paid by an insurance company lies on my case report (I wish this were a hypothetical). Disability leave is so exhausting, I pine for the workaday drudgery of the office.
My best impression
In the meantime, though, I’m doing my best Real Housewife impression, lounging on that chaise. Except it’s not a chaise, it’s a cat-hair-covered futon, and I’m not lounging, I’m curled up in ache, and it’s not wine but electrolyte water, and it’s not a silken robe but pilly yoga pants, and it’s not bon-bons but fish oil capsules almost as big as bon-bons.
Per my calculations, the fish oil capsules are better than the liquid alternative. The splotch of spilled fish oil on my pants crotch cost about $35 dollars. (This does not include the Activity Tax I paid from walking up and down stairs, trying to figure out where the rotting mackerel smell was coming from.)
Back on the chaise-futon, in true frustrated-Housewife style, I hurl my wine glass. But it’s not a wine glass, it’s a thermometer. As is common in tick-borne disease, I feel flu-ish almost all the time, but there’s little to no corresponding fever. The cruel digital displays never validate my aches and burning face. To resolve this dissonance, I smash the devices. Still, my cool cheeks stay scorching. You’d think they’d at least give me a luminous glow, but no.
Beauty tips
Which brings us to beauty tips, as recommended by our Real Housewife on the cat-hair-strewn cushions. It’s not makeup, it’s purple under-eye moons. It’s not plastic surgery, it’s skin stretched smooth by inflammatory water-fat. It’s not lip gloss, it’s snot. Too tired to get a tissue? Just blow your nose on your cardigan sleeve!
Also clinging to the crusty cardigan: my cat. He’s not a sleek purebred, but an old, thin street rescue with allergies and a seizure disorder. He’s also a poor conversationalist, but that’s ok, because I have the celebrity gossip podcasts—except they aren’t celebrity gossip podcasts, they’re Zoom coffee klatsches with my fellow sickies. And we don’t gossip, we rage.
We rage about the doctor who was late calling in a pain meds script. We rage about the insurance company who denied someone disability, because the company’s spies caught the patient sweeping her porch (gasp!). We rage about the sick young woman erroneously diagnosed with Munchausen’s Syndrome by old male doctors at a northeast emergency room. In comparison, my coworkers’ thoughtless comments are small potatoes.
They still hurt, though. I should see my psychologist. Mental health care is an important reason to dig into my skimpy disability paychecks. And yet. . . it’s easier to pivot to add-to-cart therapy: a silken robe, lip gloss, and some bon-bons.
Christina D. Campbell is an award-winning author who writes about health, marital status discrimination, and special needs cats. She is currently seeking representation for her memoir about invisible illness. She can be reached at ChristinaDC.com.
Her words resonate with me and she’s right, it’s impossible to relate to an invisible disease unless you’ve been down that road.
Melinda
The Importance of Being a Hustle Culture Dropout When You’re Chronically Ill
by Natalie Kelley
•••••
Medically Reviewed by:
Tiffany Taft, PsyD
The constant pressure to go-go-go caused me to ignore my body’s alarms and wreaked havoc on my ulcerative colitis. Then I found a better way.
Hustle culture — or the pressure to constantly be going, doing, and producing — is a big part of today’s work and school environments. Some see it as a hallmark of success.
Once you’re caught up in it, hustle culture can feel ever-present and all-consuming and yes, necessary. But is it really? Or is this emphasis on always striving to make more money, be more productive, etc. actually harmful, especially to those of us with chronic illnesses?
Life as a hustle culture queen
Before my diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC), I was a self-proclaimed hustle-culture queen. I lived for the go-go-go lifestyle and loved the constant approval it seemed to get me, especially as it related to academic success, and later, my work.
When I began getting sick in college and was in and out of medical appointments, I still continued on the path I had begun forging for myself in high school. I would wake up at 4:45 a.m., run mile after mile, spend an hour in the gym, go to classes all day long, work my on-campus jobs, and then spend the evening doing my homework as perfectly as possible, working on my blog, and running my sorority.
Because my vision was so clouded by my constant need for “success,” I didn’t hear the cries of my body as my first major flare started creeping up on me.
And after being diagnosed with UC? Well, nothing changed. I believed I could take my medication, call it good, and continue on as I was before — going, running, hustling.
Because my vision was so clouded by my constant need for “success,” I didn’t hear the cries of my body as my first major flare started creeping up on me. Then 3 weeks after graduating college, I found myself lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to IVs, staring out into the summer sun. It was this moment that made me realize hustle culture wasn’t all that it was made out to be. Sure, I had an almost 4.0 grade-point average, honors society tassels at graduation, and a marathon medal hanging in my bedroom, but what good was any of that if I didn’t have my health?
The moment I got out of that hospital I made it my mission to turn in my hustle-culture queen crown and become a hustle-culture dropout.
The measure of success
If you resonate with any pieces of my story, know that you’re not alone. Hustle culture is sneaky — from the messages we hear from bosses and coworkers about the importance of things like staying late at the office or having a side hustle, to the questions from family members about promotions and grades, to daily TikTok vlogs showing everyone’s 5–9s before their 9–5s — and it’s everywhere.
As tempting as it can be to try and fit into the mold that hustle culture has created, I truly believe it’s not worth it, or even safe, for folks with chronic illnesses. Not only does hustle culture negatively affect our bodies, but it can impact our minds as well by encouraging comparison, making us feel like we’re never enough, and creating mental burnout.
Hustle culture tells us to place traditional measures of success, such as income, grades, and job status, above all else, but when we have a chronic illness (or multiple illnesses), listening to our bodies must come first. And by subscribing to the hustle culture ways, we are continuously pushed into a cycle of ignoring our bodies, flaring, recovering, and then doing it all over again, just as I was in college. And we — and our bodies — deserve so much more.
So, how do we, in a world that tells us our worth comes from how much we do and produce, become a hustle-culture dropout? How do we learn to see our worth as completely separate from our productivity?
Redefine success
Instead of focusing on “success” as hustle culture sees it, what if you redefined success for yourself?
This was the first step I took in becoming a hustle-culture dropout, which does not have to be an all-or-nothing concept. Instead of seeing success as something that could be measured by society, I decided that for me, success was living a life that is balanced — a life that still allowed me to feel financially comfortable so I could afford my medical needs, but that also included daily rest and self-care. I realized that I never actually felt that successful when I was doing “all the right things,” because I was so burnt out and disconnected from myself.
Try thinking about what real success might look like for you.
Foster self-love
A big reason why I fell so easily into hustle culture and based so much of my worth on how much I did and produced was because I lacked self-love. Because of this, I was constantly searching for validation outside myself.
When we center ourselves in self-love, it’s much easier to remember that we don’t have to participate in hustle culture, and to rest without guilt, because we’re able to give ourselves the validation we need from an intrinsic place. Self-love can feel hard to foster when we are being constantly pushed to be and do more, but forcing yourself to slow down and get to know yourself on a deeper level is a beautiful place to start.
Getting to know all the layers of who you are — your passions, your values, your unique characteristics, your quirks, what makes you laugh, what makes you tick, etc. — is a foundational piece of starting to love yourself better. Think of a romantic relationship, for example — it would be really difficult for you to feel loved if your partner never took the time or put in the effort to learn new things about you. It’s the same thing with yourself!
Cultivate more joy
Doing things simply for joy is something that we too easily forget how to do as adults, especially in the midst of navigating chronic illness. I have found that dedicating time each week to activities that serve no “purpose” other than making me happy has helped remind me that productivity isn’t the only thing in life that matters, and that there are other things I want to prioritize above simply go-go-going.
This may look like taking a dance class (if you’re physically able), coloring, reading a fun novel, or watching a new television show. Anything works as long as joy is at the center of it!
Release destination addiction
Hustle culture wants us to always be striving, because if we’re always wanting to be more, make more money, get more praise, etc., we’re going to keep forcing ourselves to do more.
Hustle culture thrives on a concept called destination addiction. Destination addiction can sound like, “I’ll be happy when I make X amount of money” or “I’ll be satisfied when I have achieved X promotion.”
Hustle culture pulls us out of the present and puts an unhealthy emphasis on the future, despite the fact that who and what you’re doing right now is always enough. Finding ways that help you stay present with chronic illness, such as writing a daily gratitude list or meditating, can help you drop out of hustle culture once and for all, because you start to find peace in the present and no longer feel a constant need to look toward the future.
The takeaway
Although it can feel impossible to become a hustle-culture dropout, it’s possible and necessary if you have chronic illness. Dropping out of hustle culture won’t only protect your physical health, but your mental health as well. Making small changes by allowing yourself to slow down and not push harder than you need to can make a big difference.
Medically reviewed on February 21, 2023
This a great article that applies to anyone with a chronic illness, we have to listen to our bodies and not other’s expectations.
Melinda
Friday Quote
Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Ambrosia – How Much I Feel-One Great Tune
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/_KZv6olUa1A?si=46l0hWO75Sc2MeBa
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Things I’ve Learned In 61 Years Part Two
Life is a roller coaster, the higher you go the further you fall
Life is not greener on the other side, get real
Life is what we’re given and what we make of it, don’t wallow in self-pity
No one has a perfect life, get over that fantasy
No one said life was going to be easy, work for what you get
No one is owed anything and you have to pay for everything you get
Don’t expect the government to pay your school loan or anything you have made the decision to purchase, be accountable
If you don’t like the situation you’re in, change it. You’re the only one that can
Journalism with integrity doesn’t exist, it’s influenced by the political slant of the broadcaster and full of personal opinions and biases. The foundation of Journalism is to deliver the who, what, when, and where
There is so much news nationally and locally every day that I don’t understand why we get the same story repeated 4 to 5 days in a row. It’s like they want to add drama or are lazy
Covid is on the rise but I haven’t heard one story about it from the media, only from media overseas
People who feel sorry for themselves and wallow in it want to stay victims, I have no room for that in my life
Everyone can take steps to improve their lives, it will take time but you have to be committed to improvement
You will not find real news on Social Media, it’s coming from unreliable sources who are sharing their opinion or conspiracy theories, if you listen you get what you get and can be very uninformed
Social Media Influencers are fake, they are being paid to sell products and you are only lining their pockets
Magazines have gotten into the money-making game by talking about clothes and products that celebrities use, they make money every time you click a link. If you are interested in a product go to the website directly, their reviews are often based on making money
Never click on a link in an email, go to the site directly. Hackers are getting much better at making emails look like they come from the company
If you receive emails for products you didn’t ask to sign up for, don’t click on a link to unsubscribe, you never know if it’s a virus
The President of the United States does not set gas prices, OPEC does. Educate yourself
The President of the United States does not set interest rates the Federal Reserve does. Educate yourself
During any political campaign listen to what the person is saying, research what they’ve done and if all they do is bad mouth the opponent, there’s your sign
Melinda
I Had My Fifith IVG Infusion Treatment For My Hypogammaglobulinemia On Monday
Hypogammaglobulinemia is an Immune Disorder where my body doesn’t make enough antibodies which can be dangerous. Luckily, I don’t leave the house often and wear a mask when I do. I was diagnosed two years ago but insurance didn’t approve until I reached a record low. I’ve been approved for 12 treatments but I’m not confident that 12 treatments is all I need. Currently, my Imoglobins are at 600 and my doctor would like to see them at 800-900. Hopefully, this week’s treatment will increase my number and I’ll know more once the lab work is back.
The treatments take 4-5 hours and during that time you get to relax in an oversized recliner. For this treatment I packed much lighter, instead of a duffle bag and my handbag, I bought a North Face backpack, and everything fit inside. I took my new book Native American Myths by Matt Clayton, my ancestors were Cherokee and I wanted to learn more about their beliefs. When I wasn’t reading, I indulged in my favorite pastime by listening to music.
Here is what I listen to
Adele 21
Adele 25
John Mayer Born and Raised
One Republic Dreaming Out Loud
REO Speedwagon You Can’t Tune A Fish
Pharrell Williams Happy
Paul Carrack Tempted
Fleetwood Mac Crystal
It was so nice to relax with my feet up with my eyes closed and listen to some great tunes.
The treatments had a few hiccups. The first needle didn’t go in right so she had to use the vein next to it which was successful. It was a very slow morning but my nurse let my first bottle of medication run dry so they had to prime the line and she let it dry again with my saline. A small price to pay to get better.
The first two days after treatment you feel sluggish and can have a headache.
This time my treatment took five hours and by the time I got home I was starving and had not taken my morning medication.
Melinda
Reference:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25195-hypogammaglobulinemia
Wordless Wednesday-Philadendrons
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
This one is called Philodredon Brasil, I love the two-tone leaves and the dash of yellow. It will eventually spread out with trails.
This one is called Philodendron Micans and is already spreading its limbs. It has lightly reddish, green, and line-green leaves. It looks perfect in the bunny planter.
Have a great day.
Melinda
Do You Know What A Vagus Nerve Stimulator Is?
My Bipolar Disorder was difficult to manage with medication alone. My Psychiatrist told me about a device that was waiting for FDA approval.
In 2005 the Vagus Nerve Stimulator was approved by the FDA and my doctor had all the information ready to send to my insurance company.
The first time insurance denied the device. Here’s how I got insurance to approve. I wrote a letter explaining what my life was like and how it controls my life and in time the possibility of suicide.
A VNS device looks much like a pacemaker with two leads that attach to your vagus nerves, sending signals to the brain to relieve your depression.
The surgery doesn’t take long, but getting used to the device turned on takes a while.
When you are talking the device makes your voice sound weird but only when the device is sending signals to the brain.
When I had my surgery, no one had seen one implanted which meant the Gallery was full of other doctors. My doctor got to see my boobs, that had to settle in.
After you have healed the device is turned on at a low level so you get used to the feeling of the device working. Then we turned up the level until we found what we thought was the right setting.
I kept it on for years but finally admitted it wasn’t working and had it turned off.
The only pain involved is initial surgery.
I thought this device would change my life but it didn’t work out that way.
These are the notes I made on 12/30/05
Received a letter today from the insurance company, they approved.
I can’t wait to call my Psychiatrist to tell him the news and to get my surgery date rolling.
2005 has been a rough year but this news is my beacon of hope.
The greatest news all year.
Unfortunately, I was in the percentage of people that the device didn’t work.
I am waiting to hear about new treatments but nothing new for my mental illness.
Melinda
This is a repost from 2023.
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator Device: A Breakthrough In Medical Technology
The FDA approved the Vagus Nerve Stimulator in 2005 and I was fortunate enough to get approval for it. It’s implanted in my upper left chest, looks like a pacemaker, and the lead wires attach to my Vagus Nerve. I prayed the device would deliver a miracle for my Bipolar Disorder but that was not the case. After several years of adjusting the stimulation, my doctor and I made the decision to turn it off. Almost 20 years later it has become painful and I plan to have it removed this Fall.
The technology has advanced with implants showing better results. I don’t plan to have another implanted but I did find the research on non-invasive VNS devices very interesting. I am researching several brands and will purchase one that vets out. What I find most interesting is the non-invasive devices can help with many other conditions like anxiety, pain, stress, and even migraines. I could use help in many of the areas they tout.
———————
Last updated on July 24th, 2024 at 11:22 am
The human body is a complex and intricate system, with various nerves and pathways working in tandem to maintain optimal health. Among these nerves, the vagus nerve stands out as a key player in regulating numerous bodily functions. Thanks to recent advancements in medical technology, a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation device has emerged as a breakthrough in the field of medicine. This device has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of various health conditions and enhance overall well-being.
Understanding the Vagus Nerve and Its Functions
The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve, is the longest and most vital nerve in the human body. It extends from the brainstem to various organs, including the heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in regulating essential bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory function.
But what exactly is the vagus nerve, and how does it carry out its functions? Let’s dive deeper into the fascinating world of this remarkable nerve.
The Role of the Vagus Nerve in the Human Body
With its extensive reach and influence, the vagus nerve acts as a communication channel between the brain and various organs. It carries signals that control the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and digestion functions. This means that the vagus nerve helps to slow down heart rate, stimulate digestion, and promote relaxation.
But that’s not all. The vagus nerve also plays a role in modulating inflammation and immune responses. It has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects, helping to regulate the body’s immune system and reduce excessive inflammation. This connection between the vagus nerve and the immune system opens up new possibilities for treating inflammatory diseases.
The Connection Between the Vagus Nerve and Various Health Conditions
Research has shown that abnormalities in vagal nerve activity can contribute to the development and progression of various health conditions. For example, chronic pain has been linked to dysfunctional vagus nerve signaling. By understanding and targeting the vagus nerve, researchers hope to develop new treatments for chronic pain that go beyond traditional pain medications.
Depression and anxiety disorders are also closely tied to vagal nerve activity. Studies have found that stimulating the vagus nerve through techniques like vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can have a positive impact on mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. This has led to the development of VNS as a potential treatment option for individuals who do not respond to traditional antidepressant medications.
Migraines, too, have been linked to vagal nerve dysfunction. The vagus nerve is involved in pain modulation, and abnormalities in its function can contribute to the development of migraines. By understanding the role of the vagus nerve in migraines, researchers are exploring new ways to prevent and treat these debilitating headaches.
Furthermore, the vagus nerve’s influence extends to inflammatory diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions characterized by excessive inflammation have been associated with vagal nerve dysfunction. This connection has sparked interest in developing therapies that target the vagus nerve to regulate inflammation and potentially provide relief for individuals with these conditions.
As we continue to unravel the mysteries of the vagus nerve, its importance in maintaining overall health and well-being becomes increasingly evident. By understanding its functions and connections to various health conditions, researchers are paving the way for innovative treatment approaches that could improve the lives of millions.
The Evolution of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy has been used for decades as a treatment option for certain conditions. Traditional VNS involves the implantation of a device that delivers electrical impulses directly to the vagus nerve. While effective in some cases, this invasive approach has limitations and potential complications, leading researchers to explore alternative methods.
The Traditional Approach to VNS
In the past, VNS therapy involved the surgical implantation of a device that connects to the vagus nerve. This device typically delivers mild electrical impulses to modulate the nerve’s activity. However, the invasiveness of this method poses risks such as infection, nerve damage, and complications related to device placement.
Despite these risks, the traditional approach to VNS has shown promising results in the treatment of epilepsy and depression. Studies have demonstrated a reduction in seizure frequency and improved mood in patients who underwent VNS therapy. However, the limitations and challenges associated with invasive VNS have prompted researchers to explore less invasive alternatives.
The Limitations and Challenges of Invasive VNS
Despite its positive outcomes in certain cases, invasive VNS therapy presents several challenges. The necessity for surgical implantation limits its accessibility and increases the potential for complications. Additionally, adjusting the stimulation parameters requires medical intervention, making it less flexible for patients who may benefit from personalized treatment regimens.
Furthermore, the invasiveness of the traditional VNS approach may deter some patients from seeking treatment. The fear of surgery and the associated risks can be a significant barrier, especially for individuals with comorbidities or those who are more risk-averse. As a result, researchers have been actively exploring non-invasive or minimally invasive alternatives to VNS therapy.
One such alternative is transcutaneous VNS, which involves the application of electrical stimulation to the skin overlying the vagus nerve. This non-invasive approach eliminates the need for surgical implantation, reducing the associated risks and complications. Transcutaneous VNS has shown promising results in the treatment of various conditions, including migraine, depression, and chronic pain.
Another emerging technique is minimally invasive VNS, which utilizes a smaller, less invasive device for nerve stimulation. This approach involves the placement of a tiny electrode near the vagus nerve, allowing for targeted stimulation without the need for extensive surgery. Minimally invasive VNS offers a middle ground between traditional invasive VNS and non-invasive alternatives, providing a balance between effectiveness and safety.
As researchers continue to explore and refine VNS therapy, advancements in technology and medical understanding are driving the evolution of this treatment modality. The development of novel devices, improved stimulation parameters, and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms are all contributing to the expansion of VNS therapy options.
In conclusion, while traditional VNS therapy has been a valuable treatment option for certain conditions, the limitations and potential complications associated with invasive approaches have prompted researchers to explore alternative methods. Non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques are emerging as promising alternatives, offering improved accessibility, reduced risks, and increased flexibility for personalized treatment. As the field of VNS therapy continues to evolve, patients can look forward to more effective and safer options for managing their conditions.
The Advent of Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (nVNS)
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) has emerged as an exciting alternative to traditional VNS therapy. This innovation allows for the stimulation of the vagus nerve without the need for surgical procedures or implantation.
The vagus nerve, also known as the “wandering nerve,” is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, and inflammation. Traditionally, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been used as a treatment option for conditions such as epilepsy and depression. However, the invasive nature of VNS therapy has limited its accessibility and acceptance.
nVNS offers a non-invasive solution to harness the therapeutic potential of the vagus nerve. By utilizing mild electrical stimulation, nVNS can activate the vagus nerve and modulate its activity, providing a promising avenue for the treatment of various health conditions.
The Science Behind nVNS
nVNS operates on the principle that mild electrical stimulation can activate the vagus nerve and modulate its activity. By placing electrodes on the skin over specific nerve pathways, nVNS devices deliver targeted electrical impulses, stimulating the vagus nerve indirectly. This non-invasive approach has shown promising results in clinical trials
Research has demonstrated that vagus nerve stimulation can have a profound impact on the body’s autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions. By modulating the vagus nerve’s activity, nVNS can influence heart rate, blood pressure, and even the release of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Furthermore, studies have suggested that nVNS may have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is a key component of many chronic diseases, and by reducing inflammation through vagus nerve stimulation, nVNS could potentially offer a novel therapeutic approach.
The precise mechanisms through which nVNS exerts its therapeutic effects are still being explored. However, the growing body of research indicates that this non-invasive technique holds great promise for the future of medical treatment.
The Design and Function of nVNS Devices
nVNS devices consist of a handheld stimulator with attached electrodes. When applied to specific areas, such as the neck or tragus, these devices deliver precisely calibrated electrical impulses. The stimulation triggers a response in the vagus nerve, which can have therapeutic effects on various health conditions.
One of the advantages of nVNS devices is their portability and ease of use. Patients can conveniently carry the handheld stimulator with them and apply the electrodes whenever needed. This flexibility allows for on-demand stimulation, enabling individuals to tailor their treatment according to their specific needs and symptoms.
Additionally, nVNS devices are designed to be user-friendly, with intuitive controls and adjustable settings. This ensures that patients can easily customize their stimulation parameters, optimizing the therapy’s effectiveness and comfort.
As the field of nVNS continues to advance, researchers and engineers are exploring innovative ways to enhance device design and functionality. Efforts are being made to develop smaller, more discreet devices that can be worn comfortably throughout the day, allowing for continuous vagus nerve stimulation without disrupting daily activities.
Moreover, advancements in technology are enabling the integration of nVNS devices with smartphone applications and wearable devices. This integration offers the potential for real-time monitoring and personalized treatment plans, further optimizing the therapeutic benefits of nVNS.
In conclusion, non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) represents a groundbreaking development in the field of medical treatment. By providing a non-surgical and easily accessible alternative to traditional VNS therapy, nVNS holds immense potential for improving the lives of individuals with various health conditions. With ongoing research and technological advancements, the future of nVNS looks promising, paving the way for a new era of personalized and effective medical interventions.
The Potential Health Benefits of nVNS
nVNS has the potential to offer significant health benefits across a range of conditions, opening up new possibilities for treatment and management.
With its ability to modulate the vagus nerve’s activity, nVNS holds promise in revolutionizing various areas of healthcare. From chronic pain management to mental health treatment, this innovative approach has garnered attention and sparked excitement among researchers and medical professionals alike.
The Impact of nVNS on Chronic Pain Management
Chronic pain is a widespread and challenging condition that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Traditional pain management approaches often involve pharmacological interventions, which may come with unwanted side effects and limited efficacy. However, studies have shown that nVNS can provide effective pain relief by modulating the vagus nerve’s activity.
The vagus nerve, a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, plays a crucial role in pain perception and inflammation. By targeting this nerve through non-invasive nVNS, it is possible to reduce inflammation and alter pain perception, offering a non-pharmacological approach to pain management. This opens up new avenues for individuals suffering from chronic pain, providing them with a potential alternative or complementary treatment option.
nVNS and Mental Health: A New Frontier
Mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, affect millions of people worldwide. While various treatment modalities exist, there is a constant need for innovative approaches that can enhance therapeutic outcomes and minimize side effects. nVNS has emerged as a potential game-changer in the field of mental health treatment.
Research has shown that nVNS can modulate the vagus nerve’s activity, influencing neurotransmitter release and mood-regulating pathways. By doing so, it offers a novel and non-invasive approach to mental health treatment. This exciting development has the potential to transform the lives of individuals struggling with mental health disorders, providing them with a new frontier of hope and possibilities.
Furthermore, the non-pharmacological nature of nVNS makes it an attractive option for individuals who may be hesitant or unable to tolerate traditional medication-based treatments. By harnessing the power of the vagus nerve, nVNS opens up a world of potential for personalized and targeted mental health interventions.
As research continues to unfold, the potential health benefits of nVNS become increasingly evident. From chronic pain management to mental health treatment, this innovative approach holds promise in revolutionizing the way we understand and address various health conditions. With its non-invasive nature and ability to modulate the vagus nerve’s activity, nVNS offers a glimpse into a future where personalized and effective treatments are within reach for individuals worldwide.
The Future of nVNS in Medical Technology
As the field of medical technology continues to advance, researchers are exploring additional applications and potential benefits of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS). This innovative therapy has shown promise in various areas of healthcare, and ongoing research is shedding light on its potential to revolutionize personalized medicine.
Ongoing Research and Potential New Applications
Researchers are actively investigating the effects of nVNS on various health conditions and exploring its potential to improve outcomes. One area of focus is epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Preliminary studies have shown that nVNS may help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in some patients, offering a new avenue for managing this challenging condition.
Another area of interest is migraines, debilitating headaches that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Early research suggests that nVNS may provide relief for migraine sufferers by modulating the activity of the trigeminal nerve, which is involved in the development of migraines. This non-invasive approach could offer a promising alternative or complement to existing treatments.
Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease, are also being explored as potential targets for nVNS therapy. These conditions involve an overactive immune response, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue damage. By stimulating the vagus nerve, nVNS may help regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation, offering a novel approach to managing these complex diseases.
Furthermore, researchers are even investigating the potential cognitive enhancement effects of nVNS. By stimulating the vagus nerve, nVNS may modulate brain activity and improve cognitive function. This could have implications for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline, where maintaining cognitive abilities is crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life.
The Role of nVNS in Personalized Medicine
One of the most exciting aspects of nVNS is its potential to be tailored to individual patients. With adjustable settings and personalized parameters, nVNS therapy can be optimized to meet each person’s unique needs. This personalized approach has the potential to enhance treatment effectiveness and improve patient outcomes.
For example, the intensity and frequency of nVNS stimulation can be adjusted based on the severity of symptoms and individual response. This flexibility allows healthcare providers to fine-tune the therapy to achieve the best possible results for each patient. Additionally, the ability to remotely monitor and adjust nVNS devices further enhances the personalized nature of this therapy, allowing for real-time optimization and improved patient convenience.
Moreover, the integration of nVNS with other medical technologies holds promise for personalized medicine. By combining nVNS with wearable devices, such as smartwatches or biosensors, healthcare providers can gather real-time data on a patient’s physiological responses and customize nVNS therapy accordingly. This integration could lead to more precise and effective treatment strategies, tailored to the specific needs of each individual.
In conclusion, the emergence of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation devices represents a breakthrough in medical technology. By harnessing the power of the vagus nerve, these devices offer new possibilities for the treatment and management of various health conditions. The potential benefits of nVNS in chronic pain management, mental health treatment, and other areas are particularly promising. As further research unfolds and technology continues to advance, the future of nVNS holds great potential for revolutionizing personalized medicine and improving the lives of countless individuals.
This is a huge breakthrough for so many people.
Melinda
Reference:
Looking for the Light 