DOM'S FMS/CFIDS NEWSLETTER
April 14, 2007
www.fms-help.com
 
Topics are in PURPLE.  My comments are in TEAL. - Dominie
 
URGENT WARNING - SEE #11.

 
1. READERS WRITE
 
"Thanks so much for your newsletter.  It is wonderful!!"
 
"Intriguing information."
 
"Your website www.fms-help.com always makes me feel better, just reading it."
 
 
2. SKIN CRAWLING SENSATION
[Below are 7 comments about Topic #2, www.fms-help.com/041107.htm]
Reader 1--
"Yes I had it and still do but not as bad. I initially thought there were bugs crawling all over my face and in my hair. I sprayed my entire
bedroom with a bug spray. Then I realized it was from the nerve damage from my auto accident. It took almost 2 years before it quieted down, but it does get better. If you fell or had any trauma or nerve damage it may be the cause.  Once I started to take a sedative at night it seemed to calm down. But it drove me crazy. Good Luck."
 
Reader 2--
In regards to #2 SKIN CRAWLING SENSATION...I have had this symptom. For 9 years I thought I had Fibromyalgia & I recently found out that it is Lyme Disease. This may be a symptom of Lyme. I have also found out that about 90% (or more) of people with Morgellon's Disease also test positive for Lyme. Morgellon's Disease is a very painful & devistating disease that some poeple suffer through. Many of the doctors dismiss this illness as a psychiactric disorder but I don't think it is. If there is a relationship between Fibro, Lyme, & Morgellon's Disease, it may explain why people may feel the "crawling" sensation. Lyme is a parasite similar to Syphilis & it lives in between the cells. I'm not an expert but I feel this may be the reason some of us experience this symptom. Please do further reasearch into all of these illnesses as a potential cause of your "Fibromyalgia" if you suffer from this symptom. *** Please note - facial paralysis can be a symptom of chronic Lyme Disease or other viruses such as herpes. It's called Bell's Palsy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell's_palsy). Please research it further to find more info about this. There is alot of info & support on the internet. be sure to find a Lyme Literate Doctor to help you with this issue if you feel you may have Lyme Disease.
About Lyme Disease--
http://www.lymeinfo.net
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/romarkaraoke/whento.htm - When to Suspect Lyme by John D. Bleiweiss, M.D.
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org
About Morgellon's Disease--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgellons
 
Reader 3--
"From a friend 59 years in massage and alternative health -- crawling things can very well be parasitic worms (people get them just like  dogs or cats). Go on an organic apple juice only diet for threee days and evening of 3rd day take 4 oz of oil (olive) and lay down  near convenient  bathroom. Wait 10 days  for eggs to hatch  and repeat. Do  yearly. Good luck and prayers are with you."
 
Reader 4--
"I have the same skin crawling sensation.  The skin crawling is actually pretty interesting.  I have myofascial and the crawling goes from nerve to nerve to nerve.  I will feel like a walking anatomy lesson some days.  What isn't fun is the pain that comes right after the crawling sensation stops.  It is almost as if my body is "pinging" the various nerves to see if it is worth sending a pain jolt through the circuit.  Ha!  It makes me laugh."
 
Reader 5--
"Regarding question #2 at www.fms-help.com/041107.htm, please tell her about restless leg syndrome.  It can drive a person over the edge and many times it goes along with Fibro.  It can make a person feel all sorts of other things too and it will drive you crazy.  You may use my email address." Judy miyas@cptnet.com
 
Reader 6--
"The woman who mentioned all of the skin sensations--check for parasites.  Also, I had that when I was full of heavy metals (hair testing showed some and DMPS showed more.)  Also, oddly enough when I had the really bad tingling and nerve stuff, it turned out I had suddenly become allergic to wheat and tons of other foods. Most blood tests don't show this.  The House Ear Clinic in LA is a good place."

Reader 7--
"This is in response to the person who has the skin crawling feeling in the face and also numbness too. I also have that. When I was in my late twenties I had trigeminal neuritis. My neurologist treated me with an anti seizure drug and I never had it again but since that time I have had those same feelings as described. My hunch is that there was some kind of nerve damage. Recently my doctor had my vitamin B level tested and I was low even though I take vitamin B pills. She switched me to sublingual B vitamins which are absorbed by the body better and I have noticed a decrease in the creepy crawly feelings! They are realtively cheap and very safe so I think it would be worth a try. I did mention the sensations to a different neurologist a couple years ago and he ignored what I said. So before going to a neurologist, how about a vitamin B test?"
 

3. WHAT'S HELPING
From a reader--
"Since I have been taking magnesium and malic acid, glucosamine, vitamin B complex, and clonazepam for sleep and as a muscle relaxant, my symptoms are really better. I think the supplements must be of good quality. I have also severe tinnitus, now I am trying ginkgo biloba."
[If you would like to share meds, supplements or protocols for managing your FMS/CFIDS, please write me at dombush@bellsouth.net.]
 
 
4.  FIBROMYALGIA & FATIGUE CENTER
[revisited]
From a reader--
"Since I have gone to the Fibromyaliga & Fatigue Center, I feel that there is a logical explanation for why we all are ill. It's just that not everyone is able to go to a physician who has the expertise to pinpoint the causes of our illnesses or the money to afford proper treatment. It may not be 100% of us who can find the complete answer, but I have found the Fibromyaliga & Fatigue Center to be very helpful in the search for the cause of my own symptoms."
[But are they actually helping people get better?  A lot of readers would like to know.  If you have been treated at an F&F Center, please write me at dombush@bellsouth.net.]
 
 
5. CHECK YOUR DRUG INTERACTIONS
From a reader--
"I just checked out your 'Check Your Meds' page at www.fms-help.com/meds.htm, and the link there (www.aidsmeds.com/cmm/DrugsNewContent.asp).  The site gave a different result for my combined list of meds, than the drug interactions 'checker' I have been using for some time, which is http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Home and click on the 'Check Interactions' button.  I will be checking both sites from now on.  If you wish, please pass on to your readers the DrugDigest link above, as another resource they can use."

 
6. SLEEPY IN THE DAY - WIRED AT NIGHT
Female volunteers sought for study of sleep & immune function in CFS
by Editor - Immunesupport.com - 04/09/07
"An ongoing NIH-funded research project at the UMDNJ* Pain & Fatigue Study Center in Newark, New Jersey, is exploring the theory that “malfunctioning” cytokines in the blood of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients are responsible for making them sleepy during the day and “wired” at night. A successful outcome could lead to corrective therapies, the researchers say.  The project – "Sleep and Cytokines in CFS" – is seeking relatively sedentary female volunteers (CFS patients and healthy control subjects) in the New York/New Jersey area. It is led by Benjamin Natelson, MD, professor of neurosciences at New Jersey Medical School and Co-Director of the Study Center.  See
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm?id=7898&T=CFIDS_FM&B1=EM041107C."
 
 
7. DISRESPECTFUL MEDICAL TREATMENT
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm?id=7878&T=CFIDS_FM&B1=EM041107C
[Also see my Good doctors/Bad doctors page at www.fms-help.com/doctors.htm.]
 
 
8.  ADRENALS
From a reader--
"I had saliva testing done which showed a complete absence of adrenal hormone in the evening (not just low, but not detectible). So this interested me in trying Dr. Murphree's adrenal support, which I think was helping."
[See my page about Dr. Murphree at www.fms-help.com/murphree.htm.]
 
 
9. LOW DOSE NALTREXONE
[revisited from past newsletters www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm]
Got these links about low dose naltrexone from PANDORA--
http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org
http://www.skipspharmacy.com/sppress/?cat=8
 
 
10.  SURVEY PARTICIPANTS NEEDED
Got this information from Shari Ferbert of AAFTER--
AFFTER is conducting a research project for FMS and I hope to enlist your participation. The study is in the form of an on-line survey that is simple and brief; the purpose being to evaluate the symptoms and characteristics that people with fibromyalgia share.  We have a deadline of April 18th and the more participants we have, the more meaningful the study will be.  With your help we can collect information that may enable further research for fibromyalgia.  We are circulating two versions of this survey; one for people WITH fibromyalgia, and the other for people WITHOUT fibromyalgia for use as a control group. 

AFFTER's On-Line Questionnaire - A Symptom Study  - for those WITH fibromyalgia

Or type in your browser: http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=0i7jksxu5ic501y286405

AFFTER's Questionnaire - CONTROL GROUP for those WITHOUT fibromyalgia 

Or type URL in your browser: http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=lg7zt9v1onqfsvr287189    

 Please support our efforts by submitting a survey and forwarding this on to your groups and email contacts. 

 
11. AMBIEN WARNING
From a reader--
"I would like to comment on the problem with ambien; I had been taking it off and on for a year. I live alone so I was unaware of the side affects.....until one morning I woke up about 4am, went into my kitchen, to my horror!!!! I had been cooking all night, had my food processor out, burn food on the stove, cooked everything from mash potatoes, to marcaroon and cheese, and the mess!!! IT scared me so, as I could have burnt the condo down............I found my ambien bottle in my pocket book.....with six pills missing.  Later I found four on the floor. I had take one, and obviously forgot and took another. I work in a hospital, went to the pharmacy and asked about the side affects; they stated "amneisa".I filled out a form and set it to the FDA telling them of my experience. When I mention what happen to my family, my cousin stated she had a horrible experience. She work up to find a fresh cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee and muffin by her bed; she had gone out and "drove"..........and like me remembered nothing. I tell the doctors at work as it is a popular sleeping medication. Hope this is an eye opener for your readers. I would strongly suggest those who live alone, not take it. I was taking only 5mg!!!"
[See my sleep page at www.fms-help.com/sleep.htm for a list of things I've tried for sleep.  I presently take 1/3 to 1/2 of a 10 mg ambien tablet at night (for a total of 3 to 5 mgs).  It causes some amnesia and also stimulates appetite!  I wonder when this drug was in its trial run if the pharmaceutical company noticed these things.  Be very careful when using ambien and take the very least amount needed.]
 


Well, that's all for now!  It's so true that only those of us with FMS/CFIDS understand what it's like to have this illness.  Check out the fascinating links on my homepage at www.fms-help.com.  Look in the yellow box on the left.  Kind of surf around, and I know you will find LOTS of helpful things!
 
Dominie Soo Bush
dombush@bellsouth.net
 
 
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