DOM'S
NEWSLETTER
July 18,
2008
A compassionate, informative newsletter for people with
Fibromyalgia (FMS), Chronic Fatigue & Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS),
and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
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."
TOPICS ARE IN PURPLE. READERS COMMENTS ARE IN BLACK.
MY COMMENTS ARE IN
TEAL.
I tried to make this
newsletter easier to read by leaving more blank space between
topics.
Check
out the topics in
PURPLE. I marked VERY important ones in RED!
1. READERS
WRITE
"Thank you, thank you, thank you for your
wonderful website on Fibromyalgia. It has helped me
tremendously. I have found the "100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia"
www.fms-help.com/tips.htm very
useful."
"Your newsletter is a saving
grace and I feel you have a genuine concern for others."
"I'm overwhelmed by all you have written.
It's amazing!"
"Thanks for putting your site out there
for us, and doing it in a way an average person can read it!
I have dyslexic issues and find many things I read just too hard to
comprehend. I am also chronically ADHD, but I am serious, your page kept me
reading for 17 minutes at a time....I didn't leave it out of boredom, more like
from the pain of sitting at my computer!!"
"Sometimes I think I am doing well and then I
have a day like today, when for whatever reason I
feel like hell."
"I am so-o-o thankful for
your newsletter. I don't even remember how I happened upon it, but I read
it all the time and I have passed your site www.fms-help.com address on to fellow
sufferers of Fibro/CFS."
"Thank you for the newsletter! It is
wonderful. A little overwhelming at times, but
great."
"I love your newsletter because it lets me
know there are so many other people out there with the same problems I
face each day."
2. SLEEP
MEDS DON'T WORK ANYMORE
From a
reader--
"I'm going to take my second sleep analysis
soon. I was wide awake until 3 a.m. for the last one, so they sent me home
with no results! I have been using Sleep Link and L-Theanine from the Pain
and Stress Center online successfully for several months, but it seems that
things usually wear off in time."
3. "SMOKING
TEETH"
From a
reader--
"The reason that fibromyalgia and chemical
sensitivities hit at around age 40, and soemtimes sooner, is because that
is when most of the mercury from our amalgams has left our tooth
fillings and gone into all of our tissues organs and systems. That
process takes approximately 25 years. Every time someone with mercury
fillings chews, grinds his teeth, or drinks hot liquids, enough toxic
mercury vapor is released from each mercury filling to cause OSHA to close down
your mouth, if it were a workplace! At that point, it is ingested and goes
into the body and brain. See the video, "Smoking Teeth" at www.iaomt.org. Due to a lawsuit brought by www.toxicteeth.org, the FDA will now have
to abide by a 32-year-old court order to classify dental mercury amalgam.
Public comments on this issue are being taken until 7/28 at www.regulations.gov2. Put "FDA
2008-N-0163" in the box on the page and be sure and demand that the FDA make
mercury amalgam a class III dental device. That way, the burden of proof
for it's safety will fall on the amalgam manufacturers, and not on innocent and
unwitting consumers who have NOT even been told that their "silver"
fillings are actually 50+% mercury! (Labeling fraud!) Since there is
no scientific study proving mercury amalgam's safety, in the 170 years of it's
use, it is unlikely that manufacturers will be able to prove it is safe.
This is why it has never been classified, to keep it on the market for the
American Dental Association, which was formed as a trade association to protect
dentist's rights to use this cheap, poisonous garbage as dental filling
material. They are in cahoots with the FDA, but are now pitted against
each other in this current battle over dental mercury amalgam."
My mouth is paved with
mercury. Also have a gold crown.
4. COCONUT
OIL
From a
reader--
"I need extra fat in my diet to keep me from
getting too weak and hypoglycemic and I know fat helps with this, but Coconut
oil has not been a cure or a significant help. Any fat works for
me."
5.
CYMBALTA WITHDRAWAL & SIDE EFFECTS
From a
reader--
Wow. This makes
me even more thankful for the many "natural" things I use to help me
function. It is not entirely possible to avoid prescription drugs,
as you can tell from my personal list at www.fms-help.com/what.htm, but I
sure try. Here's the "official" Cymbalta site http://www.cymbalta.com/fibromyalgia.jsp explaining how Cymbalta is supposed to help
fibro.
6. OXYGEN
THERAPY
From a
reader--
"Your doctor is very mistaken if he will not
prescribe oxygen therapies for you- oxygen kills
viruses, we all need to be doing regular oxygen therapies whether it is
hyperbaric, infrared saunas with ozone, etc etc etc. I know of a place in
NJ and also NYC if anyone needs help in finding places to do oxygen based
treatments. - Jo"
7.
DANGEROUS NEW CFL LIGHTBULBS
From a
reader--
"THANK YOU for the You Tube
video www.fms-help.com/070808.htm on the
dangers of mercury filled energy saver lightbulbs. I will NOT use
these! What is wrong with our government? These bulbs are so dangerous,
and should they break, nobody would be able to easily follow the procedure to
safely protect herself from the mercury! Most of America does not even
recycle, so all this mercury will end up in landfills!"
8. VEGAN
DIET
From a
reader--
"Re: Topic 18, www.fms-help.com/070808.htm - (Quote
from a reputed health leader: "No vegetarian diets if you’re over 35!
Hormones suffer on vegetarian diets.") Wow, that’s about the WORST advice
I’ve EVER come across as a PWC. I owe my life to following a Vegan diet. While
everyone else suffers from FMS that I know with CFIDS, I experience no pains at
all. For MANY years it baffled me what it was about Vegan that made me so much
healthier than all the other PWCs I’ve ever met, then I started reading about
alkaline and non-inflammatory diets. Now it’s a no brainer! Geez, you even
reference the alkaline connection below on point 16. As for hormones, before
being a Vegetarian I suffered crippling pain during menstruation. I also had
chronic bladder infections. I can’t even begin to emphasize the radical
improvement in my health thanks to my diet, and I’m a 45 year old female. I
would STRONGLY encourage you to do more homework on this before posting such a
strong statement like that. I wouldn’t believe anything your source says and I
wonder what agenda they have. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a
falsehood like that stated not only without any scientific evidence to support
it, but on the contrary…. When all the scientific evidence proves Vegetarian and
Vegan diets to be the healthier option in study, after study, after study. Thank
God I didn’t read that before I became Vegan! Coincidentally, I heard in
the news today how kids as young as 8 years old have to take anti-cholesterol
meds due to the horrendous meat/cheese diets their parents shove down their
throats. It’s horrible! This is one of the best Health Sites I know of:
PCRM http://www.pcrm.org. They do
fantastic work, offer free online classes every Thursday to help people either
cure or treat their Diabetes. They have a reference section on their website, so
that you can look up scientific studies and various conditions. Here’s a
study on Arthritis and mentions FMS: http://www.pcrm.org/health/prevmed/latest/arthritis.html"
9. 8 DRUGS
DOCTORS WOULD NEVER TAKE
10. HYPERBARIC OXYGEN
From a
reader--
|
"About oxygen- I found this article that talks about
%oxygen levels in people who require home oxygen: http://www.pcca.net/HomeOxygen.html
My question is- why don't they test our oxygen levels
during or just after exercise? I read somewhere that CFS patients
often have elevated nitric (not nitris) oxide levels after exercise
and this lowers oxygen availability to the muscles and leads to prolonged
recovery time after exercise. Maybe if you were tested after some
exertion (whatever level is safe for you) the Doc would find a reason to
prescribe oxygen.
I USE A MILD HYPERBARIC CHAMBER AND OXYGEN
CONCENTRATOR
My father has chronic Lyme and I have CFS. When I
was so debilitated I that felt like I was dying (literally) he and I
pooled our resources and bought a soft sided mild hyperbaric
chamber. We aslo bought an oxygen concentrator to go with it.
My father got the script from his doctor to use it to treat
Lyme .
I go in the chamber and breathe 95% oxygen through a
mask while under 4 PSI pressure which is around 1.5 ATA. (Sorry, I
don't know exactly what ATA stands for, I only kow that it measures
air pressure.) I went in it twice a day for one hour each session in
the beginning when I was so miserable. Now I go in it once a day or
sometimes twice if I feel like it.
Does it help? Yes, I believe it does. I think
it works to help in at least three ways: it supplies oxygen to the
brain in a way that breathing oxygen alone cannot do, it reduces
inflamation in the brain and other parts of the body, and it helps
fight yeast. (It is also supposed to help kill off microorganisms
like Lyme.)
Healthy people say that a session in the chamber
helps the sleep like a baby at night. Well, is hasn't done that for
me yet. I have had about three months of sessions in the chamber so
far. My sleep is starting to be more restful, but it is still
fragmented, and most nights I sleep 4 or 5 hours. I tried melatonin
but it didn't seem to help much. I am not on any sleep med right
now.
I have not tried breathing the oxygen without being in the
chamber so I don't know how helpful it would be that way, but the first
two weeks we had the chamber we didn't have the oxygen concentrator,
and breathing room air alone in the chamber still helped me.
It is my understanding that athletes breathe %100
oxygen sometimes to get a boost, but when they stop breathing it the
benefit goes away. With hyperbaric the benifit continues on after
you leave the chamber." |
11. CHEAP FOOD
From a
reader--
"This site provides
discount food with no qualifications. We tried
it last month and found the food - while not exceptional - was acceptable.
It came frozen and wrapped. It also contained canned good and dry packaged
foods. It is only available in certain states
so check the web site to see if your state is participating in the
program. New states are being added all the time as well as new
distribution sites. There are no financial or
income qualifications. The only thing is you have to order by the dates on
the sites and pick up the food about 2-3 weeks later. The usual distribution
site is a church. "
12.
OVERSTIMULATED AMYGDALA
From a
reader--
"I wanted to quickly
comment on the over stimulated amygdala in your newsletter www.fms-help.com/070808.htm (topic #2). I went
through significant emotional trauma when I was a young child. Like the writer
in #2, I was super sensitive to fear and danger. I am wondering if this over
stimulated my amygdala and one of the many reasons for my affliction with
CMF/Fibro at such an early age (other than contracting the Epstein-Barr virus
which also has contributed to my depleted immune system)?? I think your
reader/writer (#2) is on to something. Thanks for sharing
this!!!"
13. GULF WAR SYNDROME
From a
reader--
"I wanted to send this website to you
http://www.projectdaylily.com
that was sent to me by another fellow RA suffer who has mycoplasma
infection. I was diagnosed 12 years ago, did the antibiotic protocol and
got well. Now as you know, I have FMS, but am on the mend with that
too. [The info on this site] is
scary stuff actually. I know that mycoplasma exists, and it makes you very
sick. CFS was the first symptom, than came the RA
symptoms."
14. 33 SECRETS TO A
GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
14. MONOLAURIN & LOW DOSE
NALTREXONE
From a reader--
"I have been taking
Monolaurin (lauric acid) by Ecological Formulas for about 5
years now. I can't be without it. The problem is--there is "die off'
or "break-through" symptoms. It took me about 2 months to work up to the 6
recommended. I now take 2 or 3 a day. Monolaurin is what has
kept me going these past 5 years. It was the first real break
through for sore stiff muscles that I had since FMS symptoms 8 years ago.
Even my chiropractor noticed the difference in my muscles, they were more
pliable and much of the 'ropiness" in my thigh muscles went away! It was
awesome, believe me. So, yes, lauric acid has worked for me. This is
what is found in the coconut oil, but more easier to
take.
I have to tell you though, I am taking Low Dose
Naltrexone now. I take 3mgs and am on the 10th week of it.
What a difference that has made. Yes, the first week was rough as I didn't
get much sleep. But, there is a support group for LDN and I knew what to
expect. Today I was to my chiropractor. She looked at her computer
and said--it has been a month since you have been in. I have never been
able to go more than 2 weeks with out her healing hands to move my muscles and
work out the knots. They aren't there now like before. I am
doing sooooo well. But---I still have to take the Monolaurin,
too. I tried stopping it and had to start up again. I think
somehow it lubricates joints and muscle tissue.
Between the 2, LDN and Monolaurin, I think I have found my
combination!! Time will tell. It is usually about aug. that I begin
to get some flares--the changing of the season."
For more info on both monolaurin and low
dose naltrexone, go to my newsletter archives at www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm and use the SEARCH feature. (Use quotation marks
around words you want to search for specifically.) A few years ago, I
experimented with Monolaurin (Lauricidin) but kept having some kind of
problem (I think I kept getting sick), so I had to quit in order to keep
working (no sick leave). But everyone is different. There is a lot
of experimentation we must go through with this illness to try to find
something that helps us uniquely. I've had FMS since 1982 www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm and
CFIDS since 1987 www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm, so
I've had a LOT of time to try to learn things to manage my condition. My
FMS/CFIDS was managed fairly well from 1996 until 2005 but then 3 things
happened that threw me under the bus: my father got sick died (which was
terribly emotionally stressful for our whole family) www.fms-help.com/eulogy.htm, I was
teaching in a very moldy building www.fms-help.com/mold.htm, and I
caught a severe - almost deathly - respiratory virus that was going around
the students and some of my co-workers. Since 2005 - it's now July
2008 - I have had to claw my way back to health with the help of meds and
supplements. A current list of things that keep me functional is at
www.fms-help.com/what.htm.
My main problem is the inability to travel more than about 30 miles without
extreme fatigue, due to the physical jostling of travel and flickering light and
objects passing by. My brain can't process all these signals at once, and
it wears me out to the point of collapse. I did not have this problem
until I was exposed to toxic mold. A reader sent my MOLD WARRIORS by Dr.
Ritchie Shoemaker, which was very helpful. My only other complaint is that
I haven't been able to sleep without meds in maybe 20 years. My insomnia
began 40 years ago when I was 16 www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm.
Without my sleep meds, I'm sunk! I don't sleep at all without
meds. Well, enough about me.......more good topics ahead in the
newsletter.........
From a
reader--
"I take Samento for immune support. I have
been taking this herb for four years and rarely come down with anything.
If I do, even shingles is gone in a day! Samento is the world's
strongest antiviral, antibacterial, antitumor, antifungal, antioxidant and
antiinflammatory & has NO side effects! One drop a day keeps
me well and boosts my energy."
16. EMOTIONAL FREEDOM
TECHNIQUE (EFT)
17.
CELEBREX
From a
reader--
"My doctor (who is a very good, thorough doctor) put me
on Celebrex, which I’ve taken for a month and a half and hasn’t done a
thing!"
18.
SUNSCREEN HAZARDOUS
Few health recommendations have
had as damaging an effect as the advice that you should never leave your house
without sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen effectively blocks your body’s production
of vitamin D, which happens naturally when your skin is exposed to sunlight. In
fact,
sunscreens reduce vitamin D production by as much as 97.5 to 99.9
percent. The widespread acceptance and adoption of this faulty
doctrine has
contributed to severe vitamin D deficiency on a grand
scale, which in turn
claims
about one million lives a year from 16 different types of cancer and other
common diseases."
19. THE HEART ATTACK GERM
From a
reader--
20. SEROQUEL
My doc
recently recommended Seroquel for sleep. It is an anti-psychotic, mostly
used for bipolar and schizophrenia www.seroquel.com. Has anyone tried Seroquel for insomnia? Write
dombush@bellsouth.net.
21. NEED A CHUCKLE?
22. FIBROMYALGIA AND THE ATTEMPT TO FORCE IT INTO A "DISEASE"
CATEGORY
"Things are going to
get a lot worse before they get worse." - Lily Tomlin
Very
insightful article by fibromite, Barbara Keddy, about fibro and a hyper-aroused
nervous system. This article reminds me of the book I read recently called
HIGHLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE. It's just the way we are wired. Also, see
my pages about the central and autonomic nervous systems - look in the yellow
box on my home page at www.fms-help.com.
23. "HIGHLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE"
Well,
here's a website describing the traits of high sensitivity that most fibromites
seem to have too http://www.highlysensitivepeople.com - maybe one day medical science will find out if these two
conditions are related (or not??)
24. ASHOK GUPTA'S AMYGDALA RETRAINING THEORY
From a
reader--
"I'm not out of the woods yet, but
after about 4 months following Ashok Gupta's techniques www.guptaprogramme.com,
I feel alot stronger, less brain fog and less muscle twitching.
I was diagnosed with FMS about 10 years ago (1 year after a whiplash
accident). Then two years ago suffered a bout of optic neuritis with some
vision loss, ongoing neurological issues, and ongoing eye pain. I did test
positive according to IGENEX for Lyme exposure. (There is no fully accurate test
for chronic lyme disease). But given my family history (mother with IBS/FMS,
sister with interstitial cystitis, nephew borderline autism), I was not
convinced lyme/ long term abx treatment was the answer. I am leaving that
as a last resort. I followed an herbal lyme (Dr. from NYC) protocol
for 8 months, but that did nothing. I also tested positive for
fungal/candida according to a great plains lab test. I did 5 months
of a candida diet and antifungal drug (nystatin) for about 4-5 months. The
end of the candida treatment overlapped with my start of Ashok's program.
I am continuing the candida diet while on ashok's program, but I'm
pretty sure his program is making a difference. Ashok's theory does make
a lot of sense to me and his tapes are excellent. It does require a
time commitment and discipline to do his "exercises" every day /throughout the
day. I haven't been as disciplined as I should given I work full time
(mostly from my home) and have children, garden, etc , etc. I feel
better now than I have in a year. I will report back in on my progress
after the full 6 month protocol. Ashok has a 6 month money back
guarantee, so no risk to you but your time. I am also in the process of
getting my amalgams safely removed and have had some major dental work
which under past circumstances would have set me back/had a reaction to, but I
fared really well through all of the dental work so far while practicing Ashok's
techniques! All of us know stress is a key component of this illness and
worsens the symptoms, brings onset of new symptoms, etc.... so his theory
seems sound to me/makes sense."
I've
discussed Ashok Gupta's theory in previous newsletters www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm -
made sense to me. So glad this reader is having success with it.
Stress is definitely a trigger for this illness - both the onset and subsequent
flares. You can now view
a FREE online video course about the causes of ME/CFS and FMS. The videos are
from the first 3 sessions of the Gupta DVD Programme - go to
www.guptaprogramme.com.
25. LYME DISEASE
MASQUERADING AS FMS/CFIDS
From a
reader--
"Five years later and three Rheumatologist I was diagnosed
with Fibro. None of the medications worked for me for the R.A. or the
Fibro. And something else that was weird, everything was happening to
me on my right side. I ended up going to five different Rheumatologist and
not one ever suggested that I be tested for Lyme Disease. One of the
people I had gotten acquainted with, we had both been diagnosed with R.A.,
had gone to an Infectious Disease doctor and was tested for Lyme and was
positive. She called and suggested I be tested. After two years
on antibiotics I was better but a long way from getting well. The
doctor began testing all the patients that weren't getting well for the
co-infections. I tested negative for all of them. But
he suggested I go on the meds for them anyway.
Even though one of the medications cost $1,000
a month I decided to give it a try. (Thank God for credit
cards) In three months I felt normal for the first time in 15
years. Because of the cost and by this time I was in the donut
hole with my insurance I went off the miracle meds. In a month
I was back in pain and fatigue. I'm back on the meds and look
forward to being without pain again. My doctor says that
60% of those diagnosed with fibro have Lyme Disease and
possible a co-infection. Only if everyone would get tested.
Although being tested once isn't enough. Most lab techs just do not know
how to do the correct testing. My doctor sends his test to a lab in
N.J. So everyone needs to do some research on the lab that is doing the
testing. It is so important to getting well. You can not
just put it in the hands of doctors and labs. So few know about
Lyme Disease. You could have been bitten as a child and
it go dormant and become active after a stressful event. The coinfection I
have is Babesia and by the way it can affect the body only on one side. If
not taken care of it's fatal. Once I began to research it it all began to
fall in place. I have a good doctor but I have learned more from doing
research than I have from him. In fact he gave me his email address so
that I could send him the reports that I consider excellent."
Now that's a good doc! BTW,
I have mentioned Lyme disease numerous times in this newsletter - search
the archives at www.fms-help.com/newsletters.com. How many of us have been bitten by a tick? I know I
have. Write dombush@bellsouth.net about any tick or
Lyme-related personal experience - I already have a lot of technical info about
it, just interested in what you have found that helps.
26. "BUT YOU DON'T
LOOK SICK"
There are many good articles on my
FMS/CFIDS/ME homepage at www.fms-help.com that you can share with
people who don't understand what's wrong with you.
I now just say "I have a central
nervous system disorder." This usually scares them off or sounds too
baffling to pursue with too many more questions. Only a very
few people in my life actually CARE what FMS/CFIDS is and will listen long
enough for me to explain. Frankly, unless they have a medical
degree, it's just too complicated. (BTW, my brother
says I'm older than my mother - she's 86, runs circles
around me and still travels cross country to see her sister in a nursing
home.)
27. LYRICA LINKED TO
SUICIDE
From a
reader--
28.
BIOFREEZE
From a
reader--
"I have been using Biofreeze in gel,
spray and roll-on. Without it I would could mad for the pain in the area
of the trapezius muscle in my back. I get it off the internet and it
has saved my life."
29. CALIFORNIA
DOCS
From a
reader--
"I just wanted to pass
along some treatment resources for patients in California: 1)
Dr. Michael Powell in Sacramento. He has a
structured treatment protocol that begins with yeast and immune system
resolution. His website is : http://www.fmtlc.com/index.html
which explains latest research and treatment for CFIDS/FMS. He
works with much of the Teitelbaum treatments, and does accept some major
insurance plans. 2) Dr. Kent Holtorff, an
endocrinologist based in Torrance in Southern California. They will
be opening an office in Northern California in the next month or so. His
website is: http://www.holtorfmed.com/.
Unfortunately, Dr. Holtorff does not handle patient insurance. Both
doctors have conducted current research and have extensive experience with the
CFS/FMS conditions. And, both doctors have seen dramatic improvement
or even resolution of these conditions in their
patients."
30. DIET & FIBRO
PAIN
From a
reader--
"When I went on a diet of organics (as much
as possible financially), stopped pork products, no breads, no sugars or
sweeteners, I was feeling pretty good. It was hard! I have
been off of it for awhile now and am feeling it! I wrote you before about
Dr. Pompa and how he healed himself of chronic fatigue and helps others with
fibromyalgia...and other like diseases."
That's great! Interestingly,
I have not changed my diet much (just avoid a few things), but have been pain
free since 1996 (after 14 years of suffering with fibro pain). I have some
pain suggestions at www.fms-help.com/what.htm.
31. CORTISOL &
ADRENAL FATIGUE
"I was wondering if you or any readers have any advice
about
adrenal fatigue and cortisol levels. I just took
the adrenal saliva test and I learned
my adrenals are barely
functioning. No surprise. My cortisol is up too. I am
bloated, gaining weight, and feeling more sluggish than ever. Treatment is
$50/visit and doc wants me to go 3xs/week. Quite honestly, I can't afford
it. Will health coverage even cover something like this? I
know most health professionals are still skeptical of Fibro
related issues which drives me crazy. Doc said, I am a
"sick
chick" and she can't turn me away. Maybe you or a reader could
offer advise. Doc also suggested an all organic diet as I am having
intestinal troubles. Hoping someone out there can help. Thank you so
much! - Christy
webpaige118@comcast.net."
32. VIROLOGIST
DISCOVERS CAUSE OF CFS!
Dated June 22, 2008
A Protein from a Common Smoldering Virus Linked to Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome and Depression
A twenty-year search by a top Japanese
virologist has led to the discovery that protein
from the quiet smoldering of a common virus
can cause Central Nervous System
disease and mood
disorders
BALTIMORE, MD (June 22, 2008)
- A study suggests that a ”smoldering” central
nervous system (CNS) infection may play a role in conditions
that plague millions of
Americans. Kazuhiro Kondo, MD, PhD, of the Jikei University
Medical School in Tokyo
identified a novel human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) protein present
in Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome (CFS) patients but not healthy controls that may
contribute to psychological
symptoms often associated with that and other disorders.
Read more at
http://www.hhv-6foundation.org
- look for the link - it's a PDF
file.
33. DOM'S
UPDATE
Last night I re-read a GREAT book
called "Healing for Damaged
Emotions." I bought it for $4 on ebay for a friend who is
struggling with emotional problems from horrific childhood abuse. In
re-reading the book, I realized that I STILL struggle with feelings of depression, worthlessness, inadequacy,
etc. Some of it is based
in my childhood, but I also think having FMS/CFIDS gives us
plenty of reasons to have negative feelings about ourselves because we
can't keep up with "the pack" anymore and we often become social outcasts
(minus our "online" involvements). Many fibromites get NO EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT from friends and family - they are ridiculed and scorned!
It's hard to keep up one's feelings of healthy
self-esteem with all this going on!
I am a Type A personality, so
achieving goals is important to me. Rolling the
calendar back many years....I was the co-valedictorian of my large high school
graduating class in 1968, went to U.C.L.A. at age 16, got a B.A. in
psychology one month after I turned 20. Etc., etc.
However, with FMS/CFIDS (onset age 30 www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm), I can't live a disciplined
life even though I am "managed" with meds and supplements
www.fms-help.com/what.htm. For instance, I might plan a housecleaning project on my
day off, but instead it might be one of those days where I am wandering around
in a fog, flopped in bed, or too exhausted to do more than pay a few bills
(with great mental effort!) This kind of irregular,
unpredictable living is REALLY IRRITATING to
Type A folks who value order, progress and achievement. (Now, Type B folks
probably don't care if the house gets cleaned or not, and if they aren't
careful, the bills don't get paid on time either....)
The author of
"Healing for Damaged Emotions," David Seamands, describes himself as a high-strung, sensitive person (I can relate to that!)
He says that negative feelings about ourselves come from childhood experiences -
often abuse or abandonment, unrealistic expectations of parents, and sometimes
from our genetic make-up and tendencies. So here I am at 56 and
still wondering about myself (often anxiously)....who am I??, do I
"measure up," etc., etc. - all very draining
and useless emotions!!!! I am a born "pleaser" and "perfectionist," which isn't too bad until I
start beating myself up to meet unrealistic goals...and it's even more
ridiculous if they are someone ELSE'S goals for
me!
Physical pain in life is unavoidable, but hopefully we can
resolve our emotional baggage so we are not suffering
in that way too! Anyway, I just feel soooo LIBERATED
this morning!!! It was a good read last night - I felt like
someone understood me and walked in my shoes! I feel much more secure now
as the person God made me to be, and I don't EVER WANT TO FORGET what I learned from this
book!!! What a comfort to know that God loves and accepts me as I
am. I don't feel anxious
and worried anymore. I feel much more
confident! There IS healing for damaged
emotions! I hope my friend will be helped by this book
too!
Your fibro
friend,
Dominie
II Corinthians
1: 4 - "[God] 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.
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DOMINIE'S FIBROMYALGIA & CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
HOMEPAGE