Diana E. Lee
Diana E. Lee is a patient advocate.
Is this your author page?
Make it work for you. Your KevinMD author page is one of the highest-ranking results for your name. An enhanced author page turns this page into a premium profile with your photo, biography, affiliations, publications, and links, publishes your accepted articles in 1 to 3 days, includes a listing in Experts by KevinMD, and comes with a guaranteed interview on The Podcast by KevinMD. See an example · See the enhanced author page → Cancel anytime.
Latest articles
Conditions and diseases
by Diana E. Lee Sports journalists recently discussed discussing Dwyane Wade's migraines and his decision to try wearing goggles to deal with light sensitivity. News outlets like ESPN proved once again they know how to treat migraine disease as a…
by Diana E. Lee
Sports journalists recently discussed discussing Dwyane Wade’s migraines and his decision to try wearing goggles to deal with light sensitivity.
News outlets like ESPN proved once again they know how to treat migraine disease as a serious, burdensome medical issue in reporting on Wade’s health situation. But somehow at the eleventh hour the story got way more complicated and the NBA revealed they don’t …
Read more…
Dwyane Wade and the NBA’s insensitivity to his migraines
Patient voices
by Diana E. Lee None of us really wants to sabotage a doctor's appointment through our own behavior. But it's easy to do just that by not paying attention to the factors within our control that affect the quality of…
by Diana E. Lee
None of us really wants to sabotage a doctor’s appointment through our own behavior. But it’s easy to do just that by not paying attention to the factors within our control that affect the quality of our appointments.
These are some behaviors to avoid at all costs:
1. Show up late for appointments. It’s an unfortunate …
Read more…
How to sabotage a doctor’s appointment
Health technology
by Diana E. Lee Some are free, others are not, but there are some great, off the beaten path apps on this list that are well worth downloading to your iPhone. 1. iHeadache (free version, with ads).This app isn't bad,…
by Diana E. Lee
Some are free, others are not, but there are some great, off the beaten path apps on this list that are well worth downloading to your iPhone.
1. iHeadache (free version, with ads).This app isn’t bad, but I did find some features less than ideal. You’re limited to their list of symptoms, which may not include all of your symptoms. It didn’t include all of mine, …
Read more…
iPhone medical apps for patients with migraine headaches
Conditions and diseases
by Diana E. Lee It sounds like NFL Wide Receiver Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings) is one of the luckier chronic migraine patients out there. He was actually able to identify a specific reason for his drastically increased number of migraine…
by Diana E. Lee
It sounds like NFL Wide Receiver Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings) is one of the luckier chronic migraine patients out there.
He was actually able to identify a specific reason for his drastically increased number of migraine attacks (sleep apnea) and implement a treatment that seems to be helping (CPAP). He is performing solidly and confidently and taking contact without any issues.
I know a …
Read more…
Percy Harvin and how sleep apnea affected his migraine headaches
Patient voices
by Diana E. Lee Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin has been struggling with chronic migraines. If you don't follow football you may not have heard of him. But let me assure you he is a high profile player in…
by Diana E. Lee
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin has been struggling with chronic migraines.
If you don’t follow football you may not have heard of him. But let me assure you he is a high profile player in the National Football League and an important component of the Minnesota Vikings’ offense. Harvin has dealt with migraines since childhood (like me), but almost …
Read more…
How Percy Harvin struggles with chronic migraines
Patient voices
by Diana E. Lee Most of the resources I've read about how to prepare for a doctor's appointment recommend bringing a loved one with you so that person can help you remember what the doctor said and make sure you…
by Diana E. Lee
Most of the resources I’ve read about how to prepare for a doctor’s appointment recommend bringing a loved one with you so that person can help you remember what the doctor said and make sure you get your questions and concerns addressed.
But when I read Paula Kamen’s book All in My Head: An Epic Quest to Cure an Unrelenting, Totally Unreasonable and …
Read more…
Bringing a friend or family member on doctor’s appointments
Conditions and diseases
by Diana E. Lee Last year, People published an interview with Cindy McCain, wife of U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona. She revealed she has dealt with excruciating migraine attacks for about 15 years, including during her husband's presidential campaign.…
by Diana E. Lee
Last year, People published an interview with Cindy McCain, wife of U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona.
She revealed she has dealt with excruciating migraine attacks for about 15 years, including during her husband’s presidential campaign. Though she has never discussed them publicly before, she has chosen to talk about her situation now to help bring awareness to this disabling condition and all the people going through what …
Read more…
Is migraine pain comparable to torture?
Patient voices
by Diana E. Lee At an appointment with my local neurologist I showed up feeling bone tired and mentally drained. Next thing I knew I was going back on a medication I had deliberately chosen to stop taking just because…
by Diana E. Lee
At an appointment with my local neurologist I showed up feeling bone tired and mentally drained.
Next thing I knew I was going back on a medication I had deliberately chosen to stop taking just because a doctor told me I should be taking something.
When the doctor finally came into my exam room he looked over the list of medications I was taking and declared that Lyrica alone …
Read more…
Treatment decisions under migraine headache influence
Physician voices
by Diana E. Lee One member of my health care team is a migraine specialist in another state. Since we don't have many opportunities to work together in person, we generally try to pack a lot into my periodic two-day…
by Diana E. Lee
One member of my health care team is a migraine specialist in another state. Since we don’t have many opportunities to work together in person, we generally try to pack a lot into my periodic two-day visits.
Last time I was there I had an experience that has left me feeling guilty all these months later.
My doctor, who I respect and admire greatly, asked if I was interested …
Read more…
Don’t let a doctor make you feel uncomfortable
Patient voices
by Diana E. Lee When I start to think about all the things I want to do, I end up feeling like my life is on hold, waiting for some miracle to come along and make me better. There was…
by Diana E. Lee
When I start to think about all the things I want to do, I end up feeling like my life is on hold, waiting for some miracle to come along and make me better. There was a time when I believed I would get better. Now I’m not so sure.
I was just getting started in my career in 2003 when my migraines exploded from periodic to chronic. …
Read more…
Chronic migraines changed this patient’s life
Health policy
by Diana E. Lee The cost of therapy and medication for underinsured people are common barriers keeping people from getting treatment for a mental health problem. Although there are community mental health centers that provide treatment for many people, their…
by Diana E. Lee
The cost of therapy and medication for underinsured people are common barriers keeping people from getting treatment for a mental health problem.
Although there are community mental health centers that provide treatment for many people, their resources are stretched far too thin to help everyone who needs treatment on the level someone with a more serious issue may need. One of the most positive changes that will arise …
Read more…
How health care reform will affect mental health
Drugs and prescribing
by Diana Lee A recent episode of the A&E show Intervention about a woman with occasional migraines and other serious health problems who takes up to 50 Percocet pills a day made me uncomfortable. Maybe Danielle, the woman featured in…
by Diana Lee
A recent episode of the A&E show Intervention about a woman with occasional migraines and other serious health problems who takes up to 50 Percocet pills a day made me uncomfortable. Maybe Danielle, the woman featured in the episode, really does have migraine attacks. But she is also an addict. One condition really has nothing to do with the other. Many people with acute or chronic pain use …
Read more…
Migraines and the stigma of chronic pain medication use
Real physician voices, twice a week
Free, and one click to unsubscribe.
