DOM'S NEWSLETTER
January 18, 2010
A Christian-based newsletter for people with
Fibromyalgia (FMS), Chronic Fatigue & Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS),
or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) and their families.
23 TOPICS below - Don't miss
the RED ones! Readers' comments in BLACK. My
comments in TEAL.
1. READERS
WRITE
"I love getting your newsletters. Keep up the great
work. It's the highlight of my day when I see your
newsletter has come in!"
"I just happened across your website. What a
wonderful resource!"
"I like the new format of your home
page. I especially appreciate the photo of you and your husband. It
is neat to see his smiling face as well as yours. Many, many thanks for all
the many hours of work that must go into the newsletter."
"I like that the categories are alphabetized
www.fms-help.com. That is much more
organized and easier to access. Thanks for making the
change."
2. PIERCED
EARS
From a
reader--
"I had my ears pierced about 30 years ago also, and
the holes never healed. I’d get a pain that ran down my neck. Avon
used to have nice comfy clip on earrings, but they seldom do now.
Rats!"
FROM DOM: Same
here. Gave up on having pierced ears 30 years ago - holes never
healed.
3. CFS MISERY
INDEX
From a reader--
"Thoughts on Cleaning for a Reason www.fms-help.com/010710.htm, cancer and
severe ME/CFS/FM--DOM
STATED: "Wouldn't it be great if a service like this could be started for severe
FMS/CFS/ME patients? Most are relying on family members to do the heavy
housework, but I'm sure there are some isolated patients who live alone who
cannot take care of things on their own. Wish we had a marker for this
illness so that people wouldn't think we are lazy or malingering!"
Dear Dominie,
On the face of it, it appears that with cancer
comes: 1. a diagnosis 2. acknowledgement that the diagnosis is a real physical
illness 3. understanding 4.compassion 5. help and support: Cleaning for a
Reason, free rides to chemo treatments, casseroles, get well cards, greeting
cards and gift baskets designed specifically for cancer patients, offers for
help from church members, etc. 5. and if it is not cured, a finality to it
all.
Yet, those with
severe ME/CFS/FM are functioning at a lower level than cancer patients on chemo,
for years on
end. I have an uncle who
died with prostate cancer that had spread to his lungs and liver. He was
functioning better than I was right up until about two weeks before he
died. I was wishing it could have been me, not for altruistic reasons, but
for selfish reasons. I had been that sick for months and months and felt like it
would never let up. Why couldn't I die? I, like Mrs. X, just
wanted it all to end. Even though I had a loving husband an 4 beautiful
children.
I reached out for help from my church family. I had no
diagnosis to tell them, I was not hospitalized, yet, I was so sick it was a real
struggle to call my friend from the Sunday school class, but I managed.
They sent a card. And no one followed up to find out why I never came
back. (I am still too sick to go, 2 years later.)
Months
later, when I finally got well enough to call the church to ask for the elders
to come to anoint me with oil and pray for me according the the book of James, I
was told that because the church is so large, people usually come to the church
to be prayed for on a Sunday morning between services. When I told her
that I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and I was too sick to come I was told, "We
have never had anyone too sick to come in to be prayed for. Even cancer
patients come in." As I thought out loud, I explained, "Well, if I
get all my clothes laid out the night before, and if all I have to do is put
them on, and my husband helps me to the car, and drives me, and if I can lie
down in the back seat all the way there, and if you meet me at the door with a
wheel chair and they pray for me quickly and I get back in the car and lie down
again and go home, I might make it, but I would be even worse for weeks
afterward. It would be better if you had a gurney." She then said that she
would see if the elders could come to the house. Granted, it was stupid of
me to mention Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which sounds like a trivial thing. But
it just illustrates that healthy people just don't understand that people can be
severely ill and not be hospitalized. Most people have no concept of severe
ME/CFS. Even my previous doctor told me, "If you had anything
really scary, you would be dead by now."
Over time, God, in his
mercy, did bring some relief, and while I still fluctuate between being
bedridden and house bound, I no longer feel so bad that I wish I could die. I am
content with my life even though it is so different from most 46-year-olds, and
I miss going out with my husband and watching my kids play soccer, visiting with
friends,etc. I am now glad that I
don't have cancer yet (we ME/CFS/FMers are at much higher risk of getting
cancer). Not being a cancer patient, I can't fully understand what it is
like fighting cancer and possibly losing body parts and all my hair, staring
death in the face when I want to live. I am sure that people with
cancer also have to deal with some people who are uncompassionate, cold, and who
don't really understand. People with cancer deserve every bit of support
they get and then some. It's just tough when you are seriously ill and
even your doctor doesn't believe that you have a real illness.
I think it
is interesting, that a terminally ill cancer
patient often gives me rides to
medical appointments."
FROM
DOM: This reader has said it all - and so very well! See my page:
MISERY INDEX - "CFS has one of the highest
morbidity rates (degrees of suffering) of any illness, rivaling the physical
misery of advanced cardiac disease and cancer." That statement
accurately describes my life "pre-oxygen
drops."
Response from READER 1 to the
above letter from a reader--
"I almost wept when I read this, as I have
had all these thoughts and more at one time or another! I could so relate
to the part about cancer patients functioning better than we do. My
cousin, who passed away from cancer that started in her breast and metastasized
to her bones, was traveling to Europe and Mexico right up to the day she
died!! I am not discounting the pain and horrible way she died, and
leaving 8 kids behind her, but I just cannot even imagine being able to do all
that, ever, again in my life. And she was 60 years old and I am 37.
When I saw pictures of her right before she died, she was smiling and genuinely
enjoying her last days with her children. There are many (actually most)
days that I can barely muster a smile for my husband and children, and this
breaks my heart all the time.
I can also relate to the lack of church family
support. I was talking to a friend of mine once who suffers not
from CFS/FM/ME but chronic depression, which we have in common. She was
talking about the exact same thing, how, when someone in the ladies prayer group
was diagnosed with cancer or gave birth to a baby or some concrete thing like
that, they would be taken meals, visited, taken to the doctor, etc.
But when you ask for prayer for “chronic depression” or a “chronic
illness”, people just look at you like you have 3 heads or
something.
I remember when my FM pain was at its worst, about 3 years
ago. It was constantly a 10 out of 10, 24/7, to the point where I couldn’t
lay down and sleep for any length of time, even with pain pills and sleeping
pills. It was truly torture in the realest sense. I remember at that
time reading the blog of a young lady that had brain cancer. I was so
jealous when I read how she had come home from the hospital and was so happy to
be back in her comfortable bed and able to sleep again. I could not
imagine my life ever having “comfort” or “sleep” in it again. Praise God,
He HAS restored comfort and sleep to me (most nights!) with the right
combination of meds and supplements!!! But my life was He_ _ for a long
period of time. No one could relate. When I said that I was
jealous of cancer patients because their fight was at least temporary and in the
meantime they got serious pain meds without question and could sleep at night in
a bed, my family would look at me aghast!!! Thank you for sharing this reader’s story. It’s good to know that
others CAN relate."
FROM
DOM: I sooooooo understand!! Wanna hear
something even weirder? In my worst FMS/CFIDS years,
I used to envy the dead at funerals! They looked like they were
resting comfortably. I know that sounds really bizarre, but I was so
mentally and physically TORMENTED by pain, lack of sleep, depression and
debiliating fatigue www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm that I
envied their peace and (apparent) comfort. Like you, I THANK GOD that
I am out of the worst of it now (after 27 years) and able to sleep with
meds, supplements, etc. I know all about the "3 heads" reaction you
get if you mention this illness to "normal" people. That's why I keep
this newsletter going www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm - there are thousands, maybe millions of people in
the world suffering from FMS/CFIDS, and the only people who understand are those
of us who have it! For some reason, God has allowed us to have this
"invisible" illness. No wonder we feel like "family" when we find
others who understand!!
Response from READER 2 to the above
letter--
"[The letter was] so revealing and relevant....! Trying not
to pity and feel sorry for ourselves is difficult.
We don't have an "accompanying orchestra" that cancer
patients have to bask in...! The truth that cancer patients
lead normal lives till the end leaves us so baffled. I've often heard the quote
of "I'm not going to die but feel like dying" in the condition...In the
inspired classic "God Calling" for Jan 14, reads: "Learn of Me. Kill the self.
Every blow to self is used to shape the real, eternal, imperishable you. Be
rigorous with yourselves. Did self prompt that? and if it did, oust it at all
costs. When I died on the Cross, I died embodying all the human self. Once that
was crucified, I could conquer even death. As you too kill self, you gain the
noverwhelming power I released for a weary world, and you too will become
victorious."We're beset with such obstacles in this state; God's Kids
win"! The disease is so determined to take away every ounce of dignity,
joy and peace, as we search out to keep whatever self we have left. It's
rigorous work and torture to do so, to feel our fingerprints fading
and it's ugly face rearing up. I've been under it for 10 yrs. and know
many a man and woman that have embraced it for a lot longer (as you have had to
do). We've had no choice but to retire and take disability from
former occupations and likes. The ranks of the Church cannot be
blamed. "To whom much is given, much is expected"...We sense we have been
given much to have understanding of this. Our bout is not with man as
much as with God. The sooner we learn to please Him and not man, continue to
reach out in faith with increased knowledge and glory to His name. We
grow in testings and tribulations and blessed doing so...
Dom. Keep bringing insight and knowledge to the existing
situation that tries to beset us, as we are not ignorant of these, and
grow ever increasing in knowledge and victory. "Sleepless in
Seattle" but determined to walk under His direction/creation &
just Do It...! P.S. Purchased a good grade of HTP5, valerian Root,
and melatonin from walgreens. Definitelly releases the serotonin sleep
inducing factors, but alas, no sleep. Keep trying."
4.
MENOPAUSE
FROM DOM: Below are responses
for the reader with CFS who is suffering with menopausal issues (see previous
newsletter www.fms-help.com/011210.htm)--
Reader 1--
"I went through menopause a number of years ago.
Forget the hot flashes - I had mood swings and irritability so bad I thought I
would kill my husband. I took Premarin and it did nothing. So I went
to the health food store and they suggested dong quai. THIS SAVED MY
SANITY. It balances the hormones you have left and makes you feel calmer
and less irritable. I took 1000 mg in the morning and at dinner for the
next year. It also brought down my blood pressure, which surprised my
doctor. Another good thing to take is Progesterone bio-identical cream, at
least 3%. In Canada it has to be on a prescription. Progesterone
helps with hot flashes, keeps your bones healthy and also helps with
moods. Hope this helps."
Reader 2--
"Ihave had good success with Black Cohosh with patients.
For some reason, it makes my feet cramp so I can't take it. I recently
read of a study from 2006 that showed a combo of St. John's Wort and Black
Cohosh was more effective than either alone. It was a well done study
too. Studies also show ground flax seed to help decrease hot flashes. I
have had some women tell me that this works for them, when Black Cohosh does
not. If Black Cohosh is going to work, then you will know in 2-3 days. It
worked that fast for me and a couple of my patients. Remifemin is most studied
brand. I take Maca and Vitex (Chasteberry). I also want to mention that patients
have mentioned to me that limiting/avoiding sugar does help as
well."
5.
XYLITOL
From a
reader--
"Do you know much about this
sweetener? It is sold in the health food stores. My daughter has fibro and
detests stevia. She has a sweet tooth so, I am trying to bake some nutritious
muffins etc. to get her off the sugar. This should up her pH and I
hope her pain may subside somewhat."
FROM
DOM: Please write dombush@bellsouth.net with any info on xylitol. I have been told that gum
with xylitol is better than those with aspartame, but I don't know anything
about baking with it. BTW, I too hate the taste of stevia. I
have returned to using regular sugar in moderation.
6. HOTMAIL & MSN
SUBSCRIBERS
FROM DOM: Hotmail and
MSN wouldn't let my newsletter for Jan. 12, 2010 go through. If you didn't
get this issue, it is online at www.fms-help.com/011210.htm.
7. SAMENTO
DOWNREGULATES AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSES
From a reader--
8. WE DON'T LOOK
SICK?
From a reader--
"After years of sleeplessness for three and four days at a
time, collapsing into a non-restorative 'coma'; after years of DREAMING in pain
when I DO sleep - dreams of having my legs sawn off....dreams of being in the
desert and trying to get home...walking and walking in pain and never getting
home. After years of daily pain and rashes and losing hair; After
years of flares that are so horrible that there are no words combined or
otherwise to describe it; after years of having one more illness tagged on to
another and still to another; after years of inactitivty and gaining
weight; After years of one prescription after another doing its damage as I am
used as the guinea pig; After years of having this "invisible"
illness, I can now proudly hold my head high and not fear that "look" of
doubt when I say "I am ill". My illness is no longer 'invisible"; I am no
longer among those who "look so good" ...no, I finally LOOK as bad as I
AM. I now can proudly hold my head high and say "I am ill" and be
believed. Wow....what a milestone."
FROM DOM: I loved this
reader's "tongue in cheek" comments! Glad to know she still has a sense of
humor, despite her tormenting illnesses. It has been said that
people with the best sense of humor have suffered the most pain.
9. ELECTRIC
BLANKET
From a
reader--
"Everyone is talking
about sensitivities to electrical devices www.fms-help.com/011210.htm - I
got an electric throw blanket for Christmas, which drives me crazy. It
makes my legs ache and feel creepy-crawly."
FROM DOM: I hear from
other readers who can't wait to get under their warm electric blankets in the
wintertime. During very cold nights (or when I have a "fibro chill"), I
sometimes sleep with a heating pad on my chest. It warms me up much faster
than if I place it on my cold feet, etc. We are all different, probably
even in our susceptibility to EMF's.
10. CHOLESTEROL &
STATIN DRUGS
From a
reader--
"I was reading your current newsletter www.fms-help.com/011210.htm and I
saw that some of your readers were experiencing bad side effects from taking
statins.I have had terrible pain in my lower extremities as well as
horrific cramping in my legs at night time. I am now wondering if it is the
Vytorin that might be causing these problems. My question to you is, since you
do not take any presription cholesterol medication, what do you take to lower
your cholesterol and does it work? I looked at your new list of things you take
www.fms-help.com/what.htm and I
didn't see you address the cholesterol. I did see that you took fish oil
for depression. Does that help your cholesterol as well. Unfortunately, it did
not lower mine and that's why I take the vytorin. Any ideas would be
greatly appreciated."
FROM DOM: I have
extremely high cholesterol, but I am not taking statin drugs due to the
dangers. Anyone with ideas for
lowering bad cholesterol , please write dombush@bellsouth.net. BTW,
I also have high levels of the good cholesterol, which offsets the bad
cholesterol, so I am not worried about it - at least not
yet.
Reader 1--
"I’m on my first week of the oxygen drops and even 3 drops
a couple times a day is putting me into an obvious detox state where I can
hardly function (incredible fatigue, brain fog, doing stupid things while
driving!). Remind your readers that we have to listen to our own bodies
and some of us are so extremely sensitive to anything we ingest that we have to
listen to our bodies and go extra, extra slow on the supplements such as these
drops. I’m hoping and praying they give me the same success as they have
given you—I guess it’s just going to take me a bit longer to get there.
But I do thank you for recommending these drops—I obviously needed
them."
FROM DOM: Start with 1 drop in
a glass of water 3 times a day. Do not add another drop for several
days. Go up slowly - but only use as much as you need. Do not start
with what is printed on the bottle. Get the book - it explains
everything.
Reader 2--
"The drops are amazing! They have
helped with my horrible fatigue so much that I am no longer
bed-bound most days. I am UP from my bed at least 50% of the time. Also,
it has helped my cognitive problems. I was successfully
enjoying the absence of fatigue in my life after going on the oxygen drops that
I ordered through your site; for a "back up" i picked up another brand when I
was at the health food store for a different purchase. I was using the two brands "interchangeably" , and since
I was doing well, I thought there was no difference between the
quality of the drops. I ran out of the
drops that I had orderd from your site and had begun using the 'generic' drops;
myf fatigue and general feeling of 'well being' has diminished
greatly. If I had taken the generic
drops in the first place, I would be saying that I am feeling
"improvement" buyt I would not be overly impressed with it. I would
even questsion whether it was the drops or I was justs having better days.
The difference between the drops is HUGE. I
have just completed my order at your site so that I can return to that wonderful
improvement in my daily life!! I am going
intentionally try this experiment again. I will let you know the conclusion, but
I pretty much believe I know what it will be. There is no 'sugar pill"
affect going on here; this was just by chance that this all happened....I did
not "expect" to find a difference in the quality."
FROM DOM: I am 100% sold on the
oxygen drops I use. Someone told me they found a cheaper brand, but I
don't plan to switch. I have my life back and I'm not risking going back
to the misery I experienced for so many
years!
12 PROVEN POWER OF GOOD
THOUGHTS
From a reader--
"I am trying to have more of a
sense of humor about this [illness]; especially after watching James Robison and
(Marilyn Hickey and her daughter - Christian program). They
both have had Carolyn Leaf on - a neuroscientist...and it is amazing
information. I might get her book. All of the scriptures that can
benefit us through simple OBEDIENCE concerning our thoughts - is SHOWN on MRI or
other radiology....the nerve centers that grow with GOOD things from GOOD
thoughts..and the toxic "trees' that take over and can actually be MELTED away
if we obey and begin to think upon pure things....the way to get over depression
and habits and addictions....all shown on this woman's diagram and seen in her
radiographic visuals...amazing stuff.... So now I must find more humor ...and deny more interference from the
Enemy. The power of the thought...I try to always remember that (thoughts
becomes words...words become actions..actions become habits ...habits become
character and of course our character becomes our destination). Wow...to
see it!"
FROM DOM: Philippians 4:8
- "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there
be any praise, think on these
things." (Well, that excludes the
newspaper and most TV news - depressing stuff!)
13. OREGON READER NEEDS
DISABILITY ATTORNEY
"I have been spending the evening searching your archives
www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm to
see if I could find something, and I am at a loss. A while back there was an
article about an attorney in the Portland, Oregon area that is very good at
helping people with acquiring disability benefits. I have already been awarded
SSD, but I am fighting with my Long Term Disability Insurance company. I have an
attorney, but he doesn't seem to be behind me in this. If there is anyway that
you may remember that article, I would greatly appreciate it if you could
forward on to me. I really need an attorney in either Salem,
Oregon or Portland, Oregon that is familiar with helping people with
FM/CFS disability issues. Could you possibly put it out to our readers to see if
anyone has worked with an attorney for FM/CFS issues in these areas?? I would SO
much appreciate it. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. -
Diane kokiboo@q.com"
14.
HYPERSENSITIVITY
From a reader--
"I too am sensitive to fabrics and
labels and such, but in addition, I can't stand to lie on
wrinkled or lumpy sheets or blankets -- they have to be very
smooth. I'm like the princess in "The Princess and the Pea" who got bruises from
sleeping on a pea placed under nine mattress. Some researchers these days think
the princess had neurasthenia, a term that is no longer used but that what we
call fibromyalgia might be what used to be called neurasthenia. And notice that
it's a princess in the story -- as in "a rich man's disease!" (I'm far from rich
tho.)
When I read your list of injuries and traumas over
your lifetime, it reminded me that there have been a couple of times when I had
good release of old wounds by doing visualizations, with someone leading guided
imagery over the body. I was burned with hot grease when I was 2, which left a
large scar on my chest that was always super sensitive, couldn't stand anything
to touch it. When I was about 50 (I'm 72 now), I did some visualization
therapy over that scar that allowed me to deeply cry and grieve for the little
girl that I was, that had a bad and traumatic childhood. Interestingly,
after that, the sensitivity went out of the scar and now I forget that it's even
there.
I'm going to see if I can find out how to do
self-guided visualizations, for a couple of old whiplash injuries, and a
concussion thirty-five years ago -- maybe get my neck and head to relax more.
Thanks for sharing your personal info with us.
Here's another interesting thought: I was reading
about a woman who took some homeopathic meds to get more energy, but when she
later went to a homeopathic dr. about her situation, he said that she had plenty
of energy, her problem was that it was scattered, unfocussed. That led me to
think about us A-type personalities who can't seem to stop
doing-doing-doing while we drag our poor broken bodies around trying accomplish
just one more thing. Do we have an excess of energy that we need to use
but can't get it going in the right direction? (The way I feel, I'd say a loud
NO, but it's still an interesting idea.)"
15. THE STAR OF
BETHLEHEM
FROM DOM: "Has anyone seen
the documentary DVD called "Star of Bethlehem"? www.bethlehemstar.net Just got it from a friend and watched it
last night. It's amazing! "Well-researched and reasonable" says
Former Chief of Planetary Astronomy, NASA, and Technical Editor, Sky &
Telescope magazine."
Comment from a
reader--
"I had the neighborhood ladies over once and we
watched The Privileged Planet first, then we watched
Star of Bethlehem. I highly recommend watching them
together because The Privileged Planet completely explains WHY and HOW God
designed and placed us (Earth) so that we could specifically see the stars,
etc. Anyone who is on the fence about Christianity should watch The
Privileged Planet. It is such an eye-opener to how special we are and how
God gave us a perfect place in the solar system. If any one little had
been off (one way or the other) we could not sustain life here. If you’re
going to watch both movies together I recommend doing in the order of The
Privileged Planet first, take an intermission and discuss, then watch Star of
Bethlehem. It makes much more sense when you’re watching Star because
you realize why God used a star (converging planets) to guide the visiting
wise men. About The Privileged Planet, when they show the graphics in the
movie of the arm of the galaxy that we are in and how clear it is and if we were
situated anywhere else in the Milky Way we would not be able to observe the
heavens, the stars, etc. Our Creator WANTED us to be able to observe the
heavens, it was by design and the movie makes that clear even though it is not
an overtly Christian video. I don’t think they even talk about
Christianity. I always wondered what it meant when you would see the Milky
Way cluster in the night sky and someone would say oh, there’s the Milky
Way. I would think HUH, we’re in the Milky Way, so how can we see it way
out there. It made no sense to me, then I watched the movie and the
graphics of what you’re seeing (one of the arms of the swirl) made it completely
clear to me. Very educational movie about our electromagnetic
field too, things I did not know. And when they start
explaining the perfection of eclipses and how they wouldn’t work if our moon was
not perfectly proportionally smaller than the sun. WOW that is
interesting. Plus the eclipses are discussed in Star of Bethlehem so you
how perfect these movies go together."
16. INTERNATIONAL HOME
REMEDIES PROJECT
From a
reader--
FROM DOM: Try at your
own risk, but many of them look interesting.
17. CRYSTALIZED GINGER
FOR INDIGESTION & HOT FLASHES
18. HAS ANYONE HAD
CANCER & FMS/CFIDS?
From a
reader--
"I am so blessed that at least I made it to age 40
before all my health problems started. Shortly before I got sick, an
aquaintence of mine got brain cancer and had to put her life on hold while
she fought it. But now I hear that she seems to be back to normal
activities, and I am still too sick to even attend
church.
So often I have thought, "If I could just get well,
then I would have the energy to help other people with chronic conditions, or at
least be able to advocate for them to the church body. But, being still
sick myself, I don't have the physical resources to do it, nor have I figured
out how to ask for help or ask for people to recognize the needs of those
with chronic illnesses without feeling as though people may think I am asking
them to pity me or that I am asking from selfish motives.
But, for now, I need to focus what tiny bit of
energy I have into supporting my husband and children as much as I can
emotionally and with prayer, since I am not of much physical help.
And, I am praying that my children will grow up being sensitive to the
needs of those with chronic illness and will be supportive of those that
they meet who are chronically ill. When they are grown, Lord willing
I will be able to reach out more than I can now.
I also pray for my pastors and the church
leadership that they will develop an awareness and help the
church body to work together to support one another. I truly believe that
it is more a problem of ignorance than ignoring and that church leadership
is overwhelmed at the thought that many people may need support long term.
But if the leadership makes enough people truly understanding of the
need, I believe that people will respond. Maybe not overwhelmingly, but
they will respond.
I would like to hear from someone who has
ME/CFS/FM and has or had cancer. I would like to know what they went
through (or are going through) and how it has affected them. How would
they compare cancer to ME/CFS/FM? It may be difficult to make a
comparison of which feels worse, when actually having both at the same time, but
the responses of others may be able to be compared. Or am I focusing too
much on the negative by wanting to know? I'm tired and I may not be really
rational at this point."
19. DR. MIKOVITS'S XMRV LECTURE
MOVED
From a
reader--
Your
XMRV Presentation Reservation
You recently reserved a seat for Dr. Judy Mikovits's talk on
XMRV in Santa Barbara this Friday, January 22 from 2-4 pm PST. We have moved the
event to the Hotel Mar Monte in
Santa Barbara to allow as many people as possible to attend this informative
presentation.
Because of this move you will not need a ticket to
attend. The hotel offers free valet parking and doors open at
1:30, so feel free to bring friends & family.
See you there! -
ProHealth & HHV6 Foundation
TIME:
2 to 4 pm
Pacific Time, Friday Jan 22 (seating begins at 1:30)
NEW Location:
Hotel
Mar Monte
1111 E Cabrillo Blvd (El Cabrillo Room)
Santa Barbara, CA
20. NEILMED
SINUS RINSE
FROM DOM: This is an easy
way to clean your sinuses. I use the Neilmed Sinus Rinse system
occasionally when I feel something is wrong with my sinuses - stuffy or
congested. See http://www.neilmed.com/usa/adword_sr.php?gclid=CKPEwu-UrJ8CFQmdnAoddjAv_A. With FMS/CFIDS, I have found that it's best to deal with
any small symptoms before they become big problems, because of our compromised
immune systems. (As Barney says on Andy Griffith - "Nip it! Nip it
in the bud!")
21. ACCEPTING
FIBROMYALGIA?
From a
reader--
"These articles make
me mad - they don't acknowledge that there are different degrees of
fibro and different degrees of disability - some people can continue to work,
others become completely disabled. This "deal with it"
mentality is very damaging in my opinion. At least these articles
raise awareness. I don't have fibro, just the sleep disorder and RLS part
of it and thats enough, but I've become very sensitive to whats out there in the
media. See "Accepting Fibromyalgia and Moving
Past It - Patients Share Their Coping Strategies" at www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20326430,00.html."
22. READERS' PRAYER
CORNER
Gea: "I'm sad to say that my Uncle Joe passed
away Wed. night. I appreciate the prayers of you and all your
readers. I know he's in glory now with my parents, and I'm so grateful we
have a great reunion to look forward to. Come Lord, Jesus, COME! I'm
so ready for the rapture."
FROM DOM: Amen, Gea!
Our deepest sympathies to you and your family!
Kathy: "Please pray for me - I might
have a full time job soon and I'm very scared with the sleep thing. No
choice though - have to have money.... We all know what a sleep disorder does to
the bottom line. God doesn't care if a prayer is a microsecond prayer or an hour
prayer. A microsecond is fine."
Dominie:
Update on my husband, Donnie, who
is a great support to me and the FMS community. Donnie NEVER
gets sick, but he caught some kind of virus before Christmas.
It has been 4 weeks and he is still not well. It didn't help that he
works outside (pest control) and we had a cold snap in FL with 20's in the
mornings for 3 weeks right after he got sick. He has the same
symptoms I had with CFIDS www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm
for years - sweating, chills, fever, cough, upper respiratory distress,
headache, severe muscle aches, depression, loss of sleep, etc.
Just when he thinks he's starting to get a little better, he regresses
after any physical exertion, such as cleaning the tub! Years ago I
came to the conclusion that FMS/CFIDS/ME was something viral.
He's already been to the doctor, taken antibiotics (just in case it's a
lung infection) and got some high-powered cough syrup that doesn't
help. Sometimes viruses just have to wear themselves out - hopefully they
wear out before you do!
23. DOM'S
UPDATE
I have been feeling well since getting
on the oxygen drops in August. I don't know how long my good health will
last, but I am sure appreciating the reprieve! I don't know if it is the oxygen drops in combination with other things I'm using www.fms-help.com/what.htm, or just the drops themselves, but so far so good. Same with my DNA product experiment. Going well for the past month.
If you haven't visited recently,
I updated my FMS/CFIDS/ME Homepage
at www.fms-help.com -
you will find the info much easier to read and locate!
May the Lord Jesus Christ
keep you strong in spirit as we wait for His
return. Staying in
the Word - even a verse or two a day read thoughtfully - will strengthen
your "inner man" and keep you connected with Him.
Galatians 2:20 - "I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me."
I Peter 5:7 - "Casting
all your care upon him; for he careth for
you."
Dominie
II Corinthians 1: 4 - "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." Visit Dominie's FMS/CFIDS
Homepage at www.fms-help.com
for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers and their
families.
DOMINIE'S FIBROMYALGIA & CHRONIC
FATIGUE SYNDROME HOMEPAGE
DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor. I
am a fibromyalgia / chronic fatigue syndrome survivor. The purpose of this website
is not to diagnose or cure any disease or malady, but is presented as food for
thought. This information cannot take the place of professional medical
advice. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should come under the
direction of a physician. No guarantees are made regarding any of the
information in this website.
