Lissa Rankin "New Book Tour" "What's Up Down There?"

There is an incredible woman who is now an OB/GYN that is just a blessing to all who get to know her. She has just began her book tour, for her new book "What's Up Down There?" Lissa is a down to Earth, intelligent lady, that gives us, as women, hope, encouragement, answers, and praise, when we need it the most. Her site and blog, "Owning Pink" is also incredible. There are so many wonderful ladies who are members, that care about one another, and encourage one another to do more, to be more, to live your dreams out, no matter what those dreams might be. After getting to know Lissa, and several more of the women there, I have just totally been inspired to write more on my book. :) When things seem the bleakest in our lives, whether it stems from stress, family, children, spouses, jobs, home, school, illness, or the other 1 million and one things women do to make everyone elses' life better, we often forget that we truly need to be taking care of "us" first. Women as a whole tend to put their own needs on the back burner, so that our children, our parents, our spouses, our friends, jobs, and much more are enlightened and happy.
Then we come to a place that we start to feel "burned out", "spent" and used up. At that time is when we grow into a place of darkness, and we begin to try and find out why we feel so completely useless, when it seems all we do, is be "useful" for all that are around us.

As women, sometimes we just do not "see" our own needs. We tend to think that the more we do for others, the better we will feel about ourselves. Yet, without tending to our own bodies, minds, souls, and spirits, we are spiraling downward, using up all of our energy on others, and giving to ourselves nothing. Sooner or later we often find ourselves fighting illnesses, depression, & anxiety.
We must learn to follow our own dreams, give ourselves a break, let ourselves off the hook, and allow our own lives to blossom. When we feel whole as a person and woman, then we can do more for others. But, if we allow ourselves to put our needs at the very bottom of that long list, we often are resentful of the very people we love most. Love yourself enough to take care of you, then you will have enough time and love for those around you.

We also have a tough time saying "No!" No matter how full and busy our lives are, many times women just continue to say "Yes, I can" to all requests put on us by jobs, family, spouses, children, and the world. Why shouldn't we be able to do it all??? We are "wonder women" aren't we? Yes, many of us are truly "Wonder Women"! We say yes to everything. Then we wonder why we are exhausted, sick, or in pain. We try and figure out why we are angry or upset, and just can't fathom why, when everyone around us is have their needs met, we are not happy.

Take a very good look in your mirror. Ask yourself when the last time was that you said "no", I can't go to the soccer game tonight, I need to stay at home because I have lots to do, or I am just too tired this one time. Or I need to take a rain check on the Tupper Ware party, or let's postpone the yard sale for two weeks, or let's go out tonight and eat, I don't feel up to cooking. When was the last time you did something totally "selfish" just for you? Had a manicure, had your hair cut, permed or colored (not by yourself, but at the beauty salon), bought yourself a new dress or shoes, took lunch hour for LUNCH, NOT errands, asked the kids to put away their own clothes, asked your spouse for a dinner date, sat down all alone and read a book, or watched your favorite show, did your nails in a new color, or any number of things we should do just for us???

"Owning Pink" and the ladies there, is and are about taking care of you and your needs. Everyone there has been through tough times and wonderful times. The women there understand one another, they listen to one another, and they even meet physically in some places, like for instance, there is a "group" right here in my own county and home town that have meetings on occasion.

I will end for now with a couple of links to go to. Lissa has a FaceBook page, plus she has her "Owning Pink" website, and her new book just went on sale, and is at Amazon also.

Please take a moment to think of something nice that you can do just for you today... even if it is just a 5 minute breather, totally without any noise or interruption to tell yourself, you are truly "worth it". 

http://owningpink.ning.com/

http://www.owningpink.com/

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/lissarankin?ref=ts


http://www.owningpink.com/node/1241

Clinical Trials on Tenazumab for Osteoarthritis pain halted by FDA because of working "too well".

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34276015/vp/39428302#39428302

How stupid is this??? They find a medication that can take the pain of osteoarthritis away so well, people get their lives back, but the FDA feels it is working "too well", thus they have halted the clinical trials until they can deliberate over it. Why not put a strong warning on the medication, that if you have advanced degenerative joint disease, where the joints are almost worn out enough to require replacements, that you need to not go back to joint intensive type activities, such as jogging, running stairs, running, playing tennis, or any kind of physical activity that puts lots of added stress onto the joints??? Sure we are going to do more once we are out of chronic pain somewhat, but to take it completely out of clinical trials because it works so well seems absolutely stupid to me. One story about it is above... and here is another link...
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-09/uoc--pis092810.php

Series of Videos From the American Pain Foundation - These are very beneficial

http://www.letstalkpain.com/painmedsafety/

Once again the American Pain Foundation has come through with great information for all of us suffering from chronic pain. This series of videos goes through how medications effect our lives, the positive aspects of controlling pain, from medications to the use of implantable pain devices, all of these are full of informative and good information for pain patients, spouses, caretakers, family and friends. I urge you to take a look and listen to a few of them. I have already listened to numbers 5 and 6, about the implantable devices, since I am facing having a pain pump put in very soon.


I already learned a great deal more, than I already knew from my own research. :) Rhia

Why Always Reporting the Negative side, and never the positive aspects of pain medications?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/24drugs.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Yes, another article negatively impacting prescription pain killers from a prominent paper, the New York Times. What I just don't understand is why they are NOT telling the other side of the story, which is how so many people are given their quality of life back, due to these types of medications. Here we are in the middle of National Pain Awareness Month, when positive things should be discussed and told, yet just about every media type, every news station, many newspapers, & other media have chosen to skip over the good news, and put the bad and ugly in words and reports. This is truly infruiating for those like myself, who are true chronic illness and pain patients, we have NO issues with abusing, addiction, stealing, lying, or being one of the "bad" guys, yet this type of representation reeks havoc for our future quality of life. Please join me in making sure we continue to get the GOOD news out about our medications and all the positive ways they affect us.

Thanks so much, Rhia

Chronically Ill Unite September 14 to Blog About Invisible Illness Issues

9/9/09 – SBWIRE – SAN DIEGO — Who would guess that nearly half of the U.S. population lives with a chronic illness? But according to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation over 133 million people have an illness or condition, most of which are invisible, and many that cause daily pain. Illnesses can range from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy to diabetes, multiple sclerosis to fibromyalgia, or painful conditions like back pain and migraines.
With 75 percent of internet users using the internet for health information (Pew Internet Project, 8/08) and many of them seeking support, thousands of bloggers now post daily journals about the emotional challenges they face with daily chronic pain.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 14-20, 2009, invites bloggers to have a significant role in their awareness campaign. For example, part of their outreach has been featuring guest bloggers on their own web site invisibleillnessweek.com , as well as inviting bloggers around the globe to commit to blogging about invisible illness issues. To help spread the word they have also create a meme, “30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know” that people have posted on Facebook, blogs and other social networks.
Lisa Copen, who founded National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002 says, “Though our illnesses and symptoms may vary, we still have a great deal in common. We can learn from one another about coping and finding the balance of taking care of ourselves yet living life to the fullest.” Copen says patient blogs aren’t depressing like healthy people may assume. “Illness bloggers don’t typically dwell on the logistics of symptoms, lab tests, or hospital stays. Instead, they write on everyday topics and how their illness impacts their families, finances, careers. They may discuss patient advocacy issues, but they also write about vacationing with an illness or dating when you have a chronic illness.”
Invisible Illness Week was recently the host of Grand Rounds, the largest medical blog carnival on the internet.
Over 300 people have officially committed to blogging for Invisible Illness Week so far and many are sharing on their Facebook notes page or other social network. Copen encourages those who do not have a blog to shares something about their illness with Facebook friends, a few Twitter posts, or even in the comments section of the invisibleillnessweek.com web site.
If you would like to join this unique opportunity to blog for awareness about invisible illnesses, see www.invisibleillnessweek.com for details. Invisible
Illness Week’s highlight is a 5-day virtual conference with 20 speakers that can be heard online for free on a topics such as marriage with illness, applying for disability, setting boundaries, and when your child is ill.
Copen is also the founder of Rest Ministries which sponsors the event and IllnessTwitters.ning.com for anyone who “tweets” on health or medical conditions.