DOM'S NEWSLETTER

32 TOPICS below. Don't miss the RED ones. Readers comments in BLACK. My comments in TEAL.

9. WHEN THE PIECES OF LIFE'S PUZZLE DON'T FIT

http://www.joniandfriends.org/jonis-corner/ - short video clip - Joni and Ken in her art studio (used with permission by Joni and Friends International Disability Center)

FROM DOM: Oh my! I am in tears!!!!!!! I feel so much wiser of God's ways after watching this short video clip of Joni and her husband. It is soooo touching, particularly if you are familiar with Joni's story! Please watch soon before they change the video on this site!

Responses from readers:

Reader 1-- "That was incredible, thank you so much for sharing. I'm familiar with Joni. She and her husband have the sweetest and most tender marriage." FROM DOM: See "A Marriage Made in Heaven" http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2009/s09100122.htm.

Reader 2-- "What an inspirational woman!!!!! She has done so much with her significant challenges. So much more than the average healthy person. Thanks for sharing this. I did not know about her."

Reader 3-- "Thank you so very much for sharing this, Dom. I also am in tears. And I so much needed to hear that message at the moment - about pieces of the puzzle. Gosh, what a wonderful way to look at life."

Reader 4-- "Thank you so much for the Joni Video. The timing of the Video was perfect as I am feeling really bad. My immune system is attacking me lately. The video is so beautiful in every way and heart wrenching too. They both have such beautiful hearts. The love between them is wonderful to see and really touched my heart. Anyone that can watch that video with dry eyes....there is something wrong with them. I actually sobbed through it and I really cannot tell you all the emotions I felt I was flooded with so many emotions. The tenderness, love and hope between them was so heartwarming. That is how we are all supposed to be, but most are far from it. As we grow ever closer to the end times this world is getting darker and more uncaring. I was born in 1937. Many people back then did not even lock their doors and neighbors helped each other. Today this is not the same world I was born into. I am not saying it was a perfect world back then. This world and America has never been perfect, but I am saying , as a whole, we were a better people back then.... We also were proud to love God and Country. Now both is being trashed. But, thank you, Dom, for shining a little light into this darkened world with sharing this Video."

Reader 5-- "Thank you soooo much for sending this. I really needed to hear this today. Right now I am walking in one of the darkest valleys in my Christian walk. Thank you for being God's vessel today to let me know He still hears and He sees my tears."

Reader 6-- "Beautiful!! Thank you for several new resources."

Reader 7-- "Thank you for sharing this. Joni and her husband are such a beautiful picture of how a Christian wife and husband are supposed to be. It makes me long to be able to share like this with my husband."

13. POSTURE TEST

Great info from a Trivita newsletter www.trivita.com/13284655.

Stand Up Straight! Take A Posture Self-Test

By far, the most damaging influence to our posture and therefore our health, is a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting or being immobile for long periods of time has a detrimental effect on all of the joints in the body. As mentioned, if the body structure is improperly aligned, circulation will be impaired. That means no nutrients to the cells and an accumulation of waste that can't get out.

For optimum wellness, find an exercise routine that you enjoy and do it often. Choose several different types of exercise (or play) to prevent activity "burnout." I like swimming, running and riding my bicycle. Many prefer organized routines such as Pilates, Tai Chi or ballroom dancing (dancing is the highest expression of human movement).

Posture self-test
Proper movement and good intentions can be the cure to bad posture. For example, if you really want optimum wellness for your life purposes, check your posture frequently. Check to see that:

Your shoulders are level

Your head is straight, not tilted to the side

The spaces between your arms and your sides seem equal on both sides

Your hips are level, not sloped to one side

Your ankles are straight and not turned in or out

You can also have someone look at you from the side and check the following:

Your head is stacked over your body, not jutting forward or pulled back

Your chin is parallel to the floor, not tilting up or down

Shoulders are in line with ears, not drooping forward or pulled back too far

Your hands are in line with hips, not forward or back

Your knees are straight, not bent or hyper-extended

Your lower back is slightly curved forward, not too flat or curved too much (creating a swayback)

Our body was made to move. The more you move, the more you will be able to move and the more you will want to move. The less you move, the less you will be able to move and the less you will want to move.

Take the posture test. Then, ask yourself what imbalanced posture means in your case. Address the cause and watch your posture come back into alignment. As it does, watch your energy level increase and your mental clarity improve. Enjoy the vitality of wellness and use that strength to fulfill your life purposes!

FROM DOM: This sure applies to those of us with FMS/CFIDS. We tend to slump, jut our chin forward, etc. For more about POSTURE, see Tip #46 in my 100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia and Insomnia at http://www.fms-help.com/tips4.htm#46.

14. FIBRO SUPPORT GROUP VIA EMAIL

FROM DOM: Got this question from a reader: "Is there anyway of starting a list of people that need support from your list. When fibromites have written in and shared information, it would be nice to email them directly. I felt so badly for the 56yr old man that had no insurance and was on disability. I've been on disability for years and also have had Medicare, along with my private insurance. I'm just wondering if he's really explored the possibilities of getting Medicare, I received it after a year of being on SSD. Since I was a stay at home mom for most of the time my sons were growing up, I didn't have a lot of disability each month coming to me. But, I'm grateful for what I do get. I'm rambling...it's just a thought. The last thing anyone would wish is more work for you..my thought is a Support Group List of email addresses. Then, if someone feels the need to get support or lend a helping hand, we could be there for one another...read the info from the Blog/s and write to them if they feel so inclined. It sounded like a really good idea when I started, but fibrofog is kicking in and things are becoming more fuzzy! :-( Anyway, it's just a thought."

FROM DOM: I tried a fibro support group using Yahoo a few years ago, but I had little time to devote to it, as I wanted to. However, I just got this information from www.Reaching-Out.info about an email fibro support group. Here's how to sign up: http://www.reaching-out.info/support_page.htm. The only email addresses I include in my newsletters are from readers who wish to have responses from other readers sent to them. My FMS/CFIDS newsletters are online and anyone can read them, so this support group from Reaching Out seems more secure.

15. SOME COSMETICS CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH

16. STRESS CAUSES FIBROMYALGIA

From the Berkeley Wellness Report, University of California--

"Chronic psychological or physical stress may initiate fibromyalgia by increasing inflammatory substances, which set off a cascade of effects on the immune and nervous system."

FROM DOM: This is probably why I did so well on the immune balancing powder and anti-inflammatory capsules for 8 years. Write dombush@bellsouth.net for detailed info on using these 2 things.

17. EXHAUSTED ADRENALS

"My daughter [in her mid-20's] has FMS. This is devastating to me. After researching FMS for 2 years (including your website) I have come to the conclusion that (at least for her) the treatment of the adrenals is the root to feeling better. I think her adrenals first became exhausted (over 10 years), which compromised her immune system, which allowed for yeast and parasites to destroy with her digestive system. Although her treatment is addressing all these issues, I am treating my daughter adrenals with the following: Vitamin C- 2000 mg, Pantothenic Acid 500 mg, Adrenal Glandular 500 mg, VHP (Valerian Root Extract/Hops/Passion Flower). Diet - leafy green vegs/vegetables. Foods rich in copper (red potatoes). A good vitamin and mineral supplement. It is important to limit caffeine and sugar. It is equally important to live a stress free life (if one can), stress management. If your adrenals are exhausted, you will never sleep.
She has slept last couple of nights so, I am hopeful this is starting to work."

FROM DOM: Read my 100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia and Insomnia at www.fms-help.com/tips.htm. Also, here's what I use currently for FMS/CFIDS/insomnia to stay functional: www.fms-help.com/what.htm.

18. EXERCISING MADE CFS WORSE

"I believe exercising for two years at the beginning of my CFS caused me to stay sick longer. I know there are some good aspects for FM sufferers with exercise, but perhaps we need to call it movement. One rule-of-thumb that has been created is to stop every couple of minutes and rest, counting heart rate. If after the rest, the heart rate does not come back down, then stop the exercise. Activity is exercise, too, so after doing a chore, rest and take your heart rate. If heart rate does not come down after 5 or so minutes rest, do not do anything else until the heart rate is back to the base rate. It may not go back down for the rest of the day. My daughter, who was an athlete before developing CFS, is learning to use her heart rate to decide when to stop doing whatever. She is mostly homebound, and her heart rate will stay high all day if she does too much of any chore. She is learning to see activity (washing hair, showering, cooking) as movement. She does stretching very slowly and also lies on the floor and imagines herself exercising different muscles. The visualizing and imagining is actually helping her muscles respond better. Doesn’t do any “exercise” standing up—only does what she has to do standing and has figured out how to do most things while sitting or reclining. My sister has FM and her pain doctor prescribed doing Tai Chi. She was told to use warm water to relax her muscles before doing the class and after doing the class. She also had some specific gentle adjustments with the chiropractor who works with the M.D. She was thrilled with the Tai Chi and said it helped so much since everything was done very slowly. Tai Chi can also be done sitting down."

19. SHOULD WE TAKE VITAMIN D OR NOT?

"It is hard to decide whether to supplement iron and/or Vit D or not. Dr. Cheney’s view has mostly been that the body is saving itself by what it does in CFS—ramping up some processes and shutting down others, and he does not want to rush in willy-nilly and fiddle with something the body has a good reason to do. So I think the main determinant on Vit D is whether levels in the body actually increase with supplementation. Starting with lower levels of Vit D a day (1,000 to 2,000) to see if it makes us feel worse might be a good trial. If we feel worse, what happens to the blood levels? If the levels don’t rise, we have to figure out why and what to do about it. (I figured it was too easy an answer for several of these chronic illnesses to be solved by supplementing Vit D!) Well, I wish I had the answer to everything both CFS and FM. It’s still pretty much try and see what works for you. When I was ill, I didn’t have any advice at all from doctors or researchers so basically, I just rested for about 8 years and did the best I could on a good diet. I took magnesium, and later on added a calcium supplement, an antidepressant and 1 gram of thyroid a day. I did change me thinking, but I had to do that just to survive, so I can never tell anyone what “cured” me. I never assume I am well so I stay within my envelope of energy as best I can."

20. XYLITOL HARMFUL TO DOGS

"Please encourage anyone keeping products containing xylitol (sugarless gum, etc.) in the house to be very careful if they have dogs. It can kill some within hours or do great damage to internal organs for others. I don't have an immediate link to give you but if you google "the danger of xylitol in dogs" I'm sure something would come up."

FROM DOM: I checked it out for all of us pet lovers. This is TRUE - http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/xylitol.asp.

21. STATINS CAUSE HEART FAILURE

"The argument blends perfectly with the logical deductions associated with the mechanism by which statins damage cells, and leads to the unavoidable conclusion that statins make you age at an accelerated pace: http://medicalcenter.web.id/health-blog/statins-and-heart-failure.html."

22. SIGN UP FOR JONI'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Recommended by a reader--

http://link.ixs1.net/s/link/su?rc=cp&rti=s8043&b=y

FROM DOM: We can all use some daily encouragement! See Topic 9 above. Joni became a quadrIplegic at age 17 from a diving accident. She is now in her late 50's. She has done so much to help handicapped people around the world. I read her first 2 books many decades ago telling about her accident, her depression, etc. - God has brought her soooo far and made her a blessing to the world.

23. GET VITAMIN D FROM THE SUN

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/06/vitamin-d-linked-to-cancer-and-autoimmune-disease-genes.aspx - best time to be outside for a little while is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but don't overdo it!

24. "HEALTH AND WEALTH"

FROM DOM: "Man is born into trouble as the sparks fly upward." Job 5:7 Well, do sparks fly upward? Yep. Many of the health and wealth crowd (not just certain TV preachers, but also secular Oprah types) are devastated when things go wrong - when tragedy or terminal illness strikees, etc. because it doesn't fit in with their theology or "belief-pattern." We cannot control things, particularly in a "fallen" world. Our pastor (age 69) is AWESOME! He lives out his Christian life before us despite incredible physical suffering. He has many unfixable health problems that could drive a person to suicide. He has determined to hold on to God through his suffering. He teaches the TRUE Word of God and not false "health and wealth," "prosperity gospel" stuff. Joni Eareckson Tada (paraplegic since age 17) is also the "real deal" www.joniandfriends.org. I had a friend years ago who believed in "health and wealth" theology. Shockingly, her husband (age 50) was diagnosed one day with esophageal cancer. During his last 6 months of life, his greatest concern was amazingly not himself - because he knew he was saved and going to heaven - but his concern was that his wife would abandon her faith in God if he wasn't healed, because she was believing a false theology. Well, his fear almost came true. After his death, his wife's "anger at God" during her grief was intense. Frankly, it should have been anger at false theology and false teachers! It is devastating for people who believe these lies when "real life" happens. Our church had the words of a great song on the marquis this week: "God's will includes sunshine and rain, laughter and tears, successes and failures." That is an accurate and biblical message. God is trying to grow us up, not make life a bed of roses for us. Ecclesiastes 3 says: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

25. WHEY LOW

From a reader--

"I was curious about this product as recommended by a reader, so did further investigation. According to the website this product contains:

Fructose

Lactose

Sucrose.

... that is sugar + sugar + sugar........

Fructose is one sugar that is not immediately taken up by the cells as food (like glucose is) and needs to be digested and treated in the liver, where, if it is not immediately required by the cells, it is turned into tryglicerides and stored as fat. Lactose is the sugar of / in milk ---- are you lactose intolerant? Sucrose is common table sugar which is a composite of glucose and fructose. I was going to write a whole diatribe about this for you and the readers, but found one already online at http://www.holdthetoast.com/httblog/archives/000169.html and http://holdthetoast.com/node/126."

26. CFIDS ANESTHESIA PROTOCOL

From a reader--

"I have a personal question I would like to ask. It is regarding the CFIDS anesthesia protocol. I will be having surgery on my ankle for tarsal tunnel syndrome very soon. What I would like to know is, would you personally have the anesthesiologist follow the CFIDS anesthesia protocol for general anesthesia as a person with FM and CFIDS? I have been contemplating this and am not quite sure what to do. Of course, if local anesthesia were an option, I would definitely elect that."

FROM DOM: Please write dombush@bellsouth.net if you are familiar with this protocol. Not sure when this reader's surgery is, but sounds like she needs input ASAP.

27. CHOOSING JOY

From a reader--

Choosing Joy - by Charles R. Swindoll

Philippians 4 - I have discovered that a joyful countenance has nothing to do with one's age or one's occupation (or lack of it) or one's geography or education or marital status or good looks or circumstances. Joy is a choice! Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God—that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen. Either we fix our minds on that and determine to laugh again, or we wail and whine our way through life, complaining that we never got a fair shake. We are the ones who consciously determine which way we shall go. To paraphrase the poet:

"One ship sails east

One ship sails west

Regardless of how the winds blow.

It is the set of the sail

And not the gale

That determines the way we go."
(Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

28. ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

From a reader--

"I have recently found great relief from fibro pain by using an oil protocol:

3 X 1000 mg capsules of pharmaceutical grade (e.g. Efamol brand) primrose oil capsules

plus

1 X 1000 mg high quality (e.g. Carlson brand) cod liver oil capsule

plus

multivitamin/mineral capsule--any brand will do but make sure it has zinc

*These five capsules are to be taken together once a day as they work synergistically. If you have cancer or a chronic condition take the combination 2X a day. As I understand it, because every cell membrane is a lipid (oil) and typically we do not consume the proper type of essential fatty acid in our diet, our cell membranes become less permeable making it more difficult for oxygen to enter the cell and toxins to exit the cell. Upping our intake of essential fatty acids generates a more permeable cell membrane so the cell works properly. This protocol will cause noticable changes in your body within 84 days and will continue to improve your condition as more and more of your cells are replaced. My friend's sister had her cancer cured with this supplementation and she has never looked better in her life. Other people have cured MS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, pneumonia, arthritis, etc. One man who had been bald for 20 years regrew a full head of hair! My husband had some precancerous patches on his face and they have cleared right up. I cannot believe how great it feels to be pain free most days and to have energy to do things. I realize that I am off from teaching at the moment and my stress load is down which is also beneficial for me, but I've had other summers off and have not experienced the degree of relief like I've had this summer. Hope this may be helpful to others as it is a fairly inexpensive thing to try (less than $100.00 for a couple of months worth of capsules)."

29. FLUORIDE

From a reader--

"The Truth About Fluoride Hits Mainstream Television in Australia Aug 4, 2010 - The truth about fluoride and its toxicity levels are rarely publicized on the mainstream media. After all, how would the public react if they learned they were being deliberately poisoned by their own governments? However, a local news broadcast in Melbourne, Australia has done just that, exposing the realities of what fluoride really does to the human body. The news anchor from todaytonight opens the introduction to the clip by stating “the truth is, fluoride is a poison and adding it to our drinking water is an evolving social experiment started 40 years ago. Now, one of the world’s top fluoride experts has issued a grim warning about what it could be doing to our health and that of unborn children.” WATCH VIDEO."

30. GLUTEN-FREE

From a reader--

" Have you tried a gluten-free diet? Gluten is very hard for the body to digest when you're healthy, and almost always causes problems if there are any illnesses that affect the gut. Give it a try. When I went gluten-free, I had a very dramatic decrease in my symptoms."

FROM DOM: Lots about gluten in past newsletters. Search at www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm.

31. ENCOURAGING PREDICTIONS FOR 2011

From a reader--

"With all the problems the world is facing, it can be unsettling to the mind. Today, I will share with you ten predictions that are true!"

Top 10 Predictions for 2011

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on earth.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still honor the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn't it great to remember Who really is in control and that "The Word of the Lord endures forever." (1 Peter 1:25)

32. DOM'S UPDATE

I've been feeling good these days for a fibromite - no pain, little fatigue, some fog at times, sleep okay most nights with meds. I am "managed" pretty well now with meds and supplements. My personal list of helps is at www.fms-help.com/what.htm. FMS/CFIDS is a complex disorder, and there are no "one size fits all" answers. At UCLA (1968-1971) I majored in Psychology and minored in Philosophy. I later studied Bible and Christian Education at Elim Bible Institute in Lima, NY. I continue to have these same interests at age 58, but have learned much more "post-college" in the real world! My homepage www.fms-help.com has fascinating articles on FMS, CFIDS, insomnia, relationships, etc. You can also catch up on past newsletters AND search the archives at www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm. My FMS onset was literally "overnight!" I woke up with it one morning in June of 1982. I should have written down the date, because it drastically changed my life's path www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm - but God used this horrible thing for good. My gut-level thoughts about my affliction during the first year are at www.fms-help.com/interview.htm. My personal losses were devastating (marriage/career/finances), the pain was excruciating, the fatigue debilitating, and sleep deprivation made my life a living hell! But I praise God for bringing me through this. He was in control and had a plan and purpose. I take comfort in these verses-- "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31)