DOM'S NEWSLETTER

November 9, 2009

A Christian-based newsletter for people with Fibromyalgia (FMS), Chronic Fatigue & Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) and their families.

II Corinthians 4:16-18 - "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

23 TOPICS - don't miss the RED ONES!

My words in TEAL. Readers' comments in BLACK.

Dom's Quick Links: Fibromyalgia CFIDS Insomnia Archives Meds/Supplements Homepage Previous Newsletter

1. READERS WRITE

"Sometimes I feel like I am dying. Everything on your webpage www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm is me--it is almost as if I wrote it."

"Oh my gosh you are a real person too who suffers from this debilitating disease......I feel like I struck gold finding a real person out there who has fibromyalgia--you can completely relate! I know no one personally who has the disorder so none of my family or friends educate themselves."

2. SYMPATHETIC, PARASYMPATHETIC & CORTISOL

"I think these conditions are in control and we are just at the mercy of how it is going to act. Through testing it showed my Cortisol levels were switched. In the morning our Cortisol levels are supposed to be at the highest levels (so we can get out of bed). Mine was at the lowest point then. By midnight our Cortisol is supposed to be at the lowest levels (so we can wind down and go to sleep). Mine was at the highest levels, so I had the most energy at midnight. On the Selye Alarm Reaction and Reaction to Stress Chart with the different phases as it relates to the Adrenal Gland. There are 6 stages. 5 and 6 you are going down and stage 7 you are on the floor, dead. The tests showed I was at stage 4 1/2 and heading toward the final Exhaustion Stage. My Sympathetic and Parasympathetic levels are out of balance. The Sympathetic shows dominance over the Parasympathetic which is low."

3. INFECTION AS A CAUSE OF FIBROMYALGIA

http://www.prohealth.com/fibromyalgia/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=14187&B1=EM110409F - article by Dr. Mark Pelligrino, who hass had FMS since childhood.

4. DR. TEITELBAUM'S "SHINE" PROTOCOL

From a reader about the article in the last newsletter www.fms-help.com/110409.htm--

"I too am following Dr Teitelbaum's SHINE protocol and it has helped tremendously. Before I started Dribose, I had to go straight to the couch as soon as I got home from work, and barely could get through my work day. I would ache so bad that I would just lie there and cry out with pain as nothing I seemed to take would help. I am like the reader's wife - I too will be great for 5-6 weeks and then have an episode that I can't figure out what/how it was brought on, but overall, the vitamins that Dr Teitelbaum recommends help. Since there seems to be no cure yet for Fibromyalgia, buying the book and trying alternatives to traditional medicine. I know several fibro sufferers that have tried Lyrica and traditional medicines, and the side effects keep them from working. And, I agree search for the supplements outside of Dr Teitelbaum's website - he is much more expensive."

FROM DOM: A list of things I take is at www.fms-help.com/what.htm. If something doesn't make a difference I can notice, I try something else. My role as a "guinea pig" began 27 years ago when I was diagnosed with "fibrositis" (fibromyalgia). The symptoms began overnight in June 1982 while working as a legal secretary. By December, I was unable to work, debilitated by a number of symptoms. I put a sign "Hire the Handicapped" on the back of my chair. Boss thought it was funny, but bottom line was that I could no longer fulfill my duties. You can read the story at www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm. How did I feel about these unexpected changes in my life? Bewildered, lost, depressed, confused! No one understood fibro. Read my interview at www.fms-help.com/interview.htm. After 2 years I was able to go back to working part-time. My life has taken a lot of twists and turns since then. I'm for any drug or supplement that helps us in a noticeable way and causes no harm.

5. TINNITUS (RINGING IN THE EARS)

"My MD uses gingko biloba for tinnitus. He says it comes back if he stops it. It is an herb that can be found in any supplement store. I personally haven't tried it because I have too many other symptoms that bother me more. And I can't afford everything I think I need to take.

"I was very depressed at the beginning of the year, and ended up on Wellbutrin for 6 weeks. That was long enough for me as the tinnitus increased by 10%. Of course the doctor doesn't have tinnitus, so they can't relate to what it sounds/feels like or how signinficant a 10% increase is. I stopped the AD cold turkey as I was not interested in worsening the tinnitus. Some people have resolved their tinnitus using Gingko or removing amalgams etc ( Intuitively I don't feel that removing 4 amalgams will resolve anyting for me) so curious to know what other people have tried or if anyone has resoled the problem. It drives me nuts at night to try and sleep, and of course one simply pleasure in life is the simple joy of SILENCE!"

FROM DOM: My mail runs fairly low on the success rate of relieving FMS/CFIDS symptoms through amalgam (silver dental fillings) removal. Personally, my mouth is paved with mercury. If you have had your silver fillings replaced and feel you are now cured or a lot better, please write dombush@bellsouth.net. I am a dental chicken because my childhood dentist did not use novocaine for fillings, only extractions! I get extremely anxious going to the dentist, even though I am now 57 and far removed from the horror of my childhood dental experiences. For those who had the misfortune of seeing the movie The Marathon Man with Dustin Hoffman, remember the torture scene with the dental drill? That's the level of pain/anxiety I feel when confronted with dental work. I actually walked out of that movie - too gruesome. I never go to movies anymore - just can't seem to find anything I want to see that doesn't offend my sensibilities or values. Oh well, that's okay. More time to write newsletters......ha.

6. MAXIMIZE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

7. LYME DIAGNOSIS

"Almost 77 percent of lyme disease is undiagnosed. Also the western blot test is not reliable. cd57 is the way to go I have read (and a great friend of mine) that it is almost impossible not to have lyme disease with all of the other things EBV usually goes hand in hand with."

FROM DOM: Out of curiousity, I was tested for lyme a few years ago, but it came back negative. Maybe it was the wrong test?

8. "AMERICA EXHAUSTED" - FREE BOOK

"Free book from Dr. Ed Conley, just pay shipping - www.cfids.com/ssl-Free_enewsletter_Book.html."

9. BRAIN-BASED THERAPY

"This doctor in Sebastian, FL helps people with fibromyalgia - http://drstepanek.com/what-is-bbt."

FROM DOM: Dr. Stepanek works on connection with Dr. Michael Johnson, who I have reported on in past newsletters www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm. It is an interesting concept that the upper brain stem malfunctions due to stress, and the brain gets stuck in a sympathetic (fight or flight) response, causing a lot of our symptoms.

10. BEWARE DR. MIKE SHAW

This person used my name to advertise his book online, "How to Beat FMS & CFS in 30 Days." A reader called it to my attention, asking if I endorsed it. I contacted Dr. Shaw immediately and my name and so-called "endorsement" has been removed from his advertising. He sent an apology and said his designer did it. Dr. Shaw may be on to something helpful for fibromites, but "buyer beware" and "don't believe everything you read" apply.

11. SWINE FLU COMMENTS

"They are not even testing for swine flu anymore, and the paper tells me... such and such # of people have died/gotten ill from flu and it is mostly the swine flu. How do they know that if they haven't tested? The whole thing is freaky to me. And yes, I have seen patients of mine, both with and without fibro get horribly sick from the regular flu shot."

http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v04n17.shtml - Flu Shots Ineffective for the Elderly

FROM DOM: I don't get flu shots. My immune system is wacky enough. A list of things I use to stay functional (i.e., working) is at www.fms-help.com/what.htm. And see this article about swine flu being one of the biggest cover-ups in U.S. history: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/03/What-We-Have-Learned-About-the-Great-Swine-Flu-Pandemic.aspx.

12. XMRV RETROVIRUS CAUSING FMS/CFS

Here's a fascinating article from a reader from the Lyndonville News - Dr. David S. Bell's November 2009 newsletter at http://www.davidsbell.com/LynNewsV6N3.htm (partially quoted below). I have bolded some of his statements below that were greatly interesting to me. You can sign up for Dr. Bell's newsletter at http://www.davidsbell.com/DSBJoin.htm--

In the CFSAC meeting October 29, Dr. Dan Peterson filled in several blanks. I will present much of what he said at the lecture December 6th. But here is the important piece:

XMRV DNA was found from 68 of 101 patients (67%), and this was in the Science paper. That leaves 33 patients with CFS who were negative. But on further testing 19 of these 33 are XMRV antibody positive, 30 of these 33 had transmissible virus in the plasma, and 10 of these 33 had protein expression. Overall 99 of the 101 patients show evidence of XMRV infection.

These results have interesting implications. The most important is that there is not a simple test now that will tell you if you have XMRV or if the virus is active in your system. And we need a good control study using all three measures to accurately know control presence of the virus. This is not a fly-by-night operation. Right now, it is necessary to do several tests to know the XMRV status:

a) DNA by PCR

b) Viral infectivity

c) Detection of viral proteins

d) Antibody to the XMRV envelope

As time goes on and we learn more, this process will be simplified. What I do not want is poor science that will cast doubts on an illness that already has its fill of doubters. Let's do it right from the beginning. If by doing it right XMRV proves not to be the cause, so be it. Something is the cause.

Dr. Coffin of Tufts University and the National Cancer Institute presented some very interesting observations. He is a true veteran (45 years) of retroviral research. There have been comments from various people saying that there are lots of viruses associated with CFS, so what is the big deal? Among the points raised by Dr. Coffin:

A) it is relatively difficult to isolate live retrovirus from patients with HIV infection, but relatively easy to isolate live XMRV in CFS. There is a high percentage of infected cells.

B) The percentage of positive controls for XMRV not that much different between CFS controls and prostate cancer controls, 4 or 5%. However, much work needs to be done to verify the control incidence. This is particularly true because the nations' blood supply could be contaminated. (By the way, no patient with ME/CFS should donate blood - personal opinion) The Japanese Red Cross has said that there is a "low incidence" of XMRV in their blood supply.

C) Could some mouse have contaminated the tests by shedding some XMRV in the lab? XMRV is a big family of "simple" retroviruses. In the XMRV strains isolated in CFS patients there is a 0.3% diversity from what are carried in mice - a relatively large diversity. This virus does not vary with replication as much as HIV does. In two weeks of HIV replication the diversity is greater than 0.3%. And this is both good and bad news. Good news for the ultimate production of a vaccine. The diversity has been a roadblock in the production of a HIV vaccine. Bad news for the antiviral therapy implications. But that is way down the road.

D) Dr. Coffin presented a slide of the many things we do not know about XMRV. There are lots of things to do.

E) Dr. Coffin mentioned that there is excitement in the retroviral scientific community - very good news for the ME/CFS community. We will get confirmation, or lack of confirmation, from many good scientists. It will be difficult for biased scientists to squelch this, if it is, in fact, true.

The statement that made my socks roll up and down all by themselves was a reply to a question from the committee. Dr. Coffin said "This was as good as it gets for a first paper, but it is still just a first paper."

Theory of Mechanism of XMRV and ME/CFS

Dr. Peterson presented an update of a theory of mechanism that has been circulating for many years. Ironically enough, it was once called the "X factor theory."

Step 1: Infection with XMRV. No idea of how this happens. Could it be that the tiny XMRV piggybacks onto some huge, lumbering herpes virus like EBV, or HHV6. That mechanism is known to occur. Lots of other possibilities

Step 2: Infection of B, T lymphocytes and NK cells. Dr. Klimas has said that up to 70% of lymphocytes are "activated". Something is going on.

Step 3: Impairment of NK cell number and activity. Because of the retroviral infection, the NK cells are impaired. This is parallel to what is known to happen in HIV disease with the CD4 lymphocytes

As a result of poor NK cell and function (and other T & B cell problems) the person now has an immunodeficiency. NK cells are important in the control of herpes viruses and other agents.

Step 4: Reactivation of other agents. Increased viral load of EBV and other agents cause cytokine production, activation of 2'-5'A Synthetase, RNAse L which contribute to symptoms. It is interesting to note that AIDS patients feel better with suppression of secondary infections. This could explain why treatment with antibiotics, antivirals, gamma globulin and other agents make some patients with ME/CFS feel better for a while.

Archived video of Dr. Daniel Peterson's presentation of the CFSAC 10/29/09 should be available at: http://videocast.nih.gov/PastEvents.asp. It is my personal opinion that it is history in the making. Time will tell.

And while I am making rash predictions, let's talk about the name of this illness. It has been a favorite topic of mine since the "Disease of a Thousand Names." Chronic fatigue syndrome is a miserable name. I think that XMRV is going to turn out to be the puppet-master that pulls the strings of illnesses variously called CFS, ME, fibromyalgia, atypical multiple sclerosis, chronic mononucleosis. And if it does, the name should be XAND, for Xmrv Associated Neuroimmune Disease. I heard Mrs. Annette Whittemore use this term and it feels right. History.

FROM DOM: To subscribe to Dr. Bell's excellent Lyndonville News, go to http://www.davidsbell.com/DSBJoin.htm. I really like what he says on his homepage at http://www.davidsbell.com--

"The medical literature on chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia has exploded in recent years, but in the process it has become bulky and difficult to follow. Meanwhile, the decreased public attention paid to CFS/FM/ME has led patients to feel abandoned and isolated, particularly since most medical providers are not familiar with the newer developments. Some patients may feel that there is even a worsening of the medical climate with increased disdain and neglect for their illness. It is my hope that the near future will bring dramatic changes to this climate. This newsletter is an attempt to increase awareness of CFS and FM through information that is based upon current medical literature....We are not soliciting patients for our medical practice, and would discourage persons from coming. I currently follow many hundreds of patients with CFS/FM, and if I ever find a simple cure for them I will publish it in the Lyndonville News. But CFS/FM/ME is a complex and difficult illness, and I would not advise people to hold their breath for the simple cure. It will take time and steady progress. I am convinced that chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are treatable illnesses that can be managed successfully. I believe that the medical profession will rise to the task of addressing this illness properly. I also feel that there will be treatments in the future that will completely reverse the symptoms. I hope that the Lyndonville News will be of value to the community of those interested in CFS/FM/ME."

13. RELAPSE OF FIBROMITE

From a reader--

"It sounds like that woman who had the relapse, also PAINTED, and paint is loaded with toxic compounds. Even if people get better you still need to avoid toxins like paint and mold!"

FROM DOM: I sure do agree! I had my FMS/CFIDS managed fairly well until I worked in a moldy building in 2004-2005 www.fms-help.com/mold.htm.

14. CANKER SORES

From a reader--

"I want to tell you about something I used the [oxygen] drops for that really did do a great job. Suddenly one day I had 2 of those acid bumps (that look like little ulcers) come up on one side of my tongue. So when I was taking my dose that day of the drops in water, before each swallow I held the liquid in my mouth over the sores on my tongue and by the time I had taken all the water with the drops the hurting was completely gone and by the next day my bumps on my tongue were gone too. That was such a blessing."

FROM DOM: I use the oxygen drops in my water to stay more alkaline. Acid causes disease and pain. If you get the drops, you may want to get the book on the site also. It explains pH balance, acidity, alkalinity, etc. I also use the (rose-scented) DMSO to suppress cold sores, and it has worked great. Been using the oxygen drops (daily) and the DMSO (as needed) for 3 months now with good results. I think the DMSO inactivates the herpes virus.

15. DR. MICHAEL JOHNSON - UPPER BRAIN STEM

From a reader--

http://www.askdrjohnson.com/fibro.php

"As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, I take a different approach to the treatment and prevention of Fibromyalgia. After a thorough neurological examination I determine which part of the nervous system is not functioning properly. In many Fibromyalgia patients I may find a high mesencephalic output.

There are three parts to the brain stem: top, middle, and lower. The mesencephalon is the top part of the brain stem. A high output of the mesencephalon will cause an increased pulse and heart rate, inability to sleep or waking up from fitful sleep, urinary tract infection, increase warmth or sweating, and sensitivity to light.

Along with a high mesenphalic output, the Fibromyalgia patient may have a decreased output of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is in the back part of the brain, and it controls all of the involuntary spinal musculature......Since the upper part of the brain stem (mesencephalon) is firing at an abnormally high rate, I will want to utilize modalities that will lower the mesenphalic output."

FROM DOM: I have talked about Dr. Michael Johnson's interesting theory in past newsletters. Try a search at www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm.

16. LYME TESTING & LOW GRADE INFECTION

From a reader (after I told him I tested negative for Lyme)--

"Depends on which lyme test they did.

Elisa will be negative in 60-70 percent of people that have Lyme.
Western blot is better but will be skipped if you test negative on Elisa.

There is something wrong with your immune system for sure. In Lyme a
low grade infection is thought to suppress it and these people come down
with colds, shingles, etc. more often than people in their age group.

I tested negative for Lyme on Elisa but was CDC positive on western
blot. Got lucky my new Dr. had dealt with it before and did both
tests. I'm finally feeling human again, it took 6 weeks of IV to do
it. Non of the oral antibiotics helped much.

Not saying you have lyme but do not assume the Elisa is sensitive
enough. Its not, they are in the middle of rewriting the guidelines on
how to properly test for lyme."

17. ACCUSED OF BEING A DRUG ADDICT

From a reader--

"YOU are not going to believe this, Dom!! Just had a doctor's appt, and was just accused of being a drug addict - because i need to take pain killers (obviously) and then she (the doctor) had the cheek to say to me that i should see a psychiatrist about the FMS!!! Another one who thinks its 'all in the head' Ooooh! I am sooo angry, and i honestly dont get angry very easily. Why cant people understand that we are geniunly ill?? IT IS NOT IN OUR HEADS!!!! She has had me keep a record of the painkillers i take - and even though i have cut back (to my detriment) she still says i am taking too many. I take maybe 2 - 4 painkillers a day. I shouldn't, none of us shouldn't have to come home in tears after a doctors appt."

FROM DOM: For emotional support, see my GOOD DOCS/BAD DOCS page at www.fms-help.com/doctors.htm - it's for shell-shocked FMS patients whose doctors don't understand.

18. DOM'S CHRISTMAS CAROL CD

I made a Christmas piano music CD that I think you will enjoy! See www.fms-help.com/CD.htm for details. With all the bad news in the world today, this music is so soothing and stress-relieving. I recorded it on a Roland KR-107 digital piano using many beautiful sounds.

19. LIFE-WRECKING INSOMNIA

From a reader--

"Thank you so much for writing about your insomnia www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm with Fibromyalgia and CFS. I have always said that if I could just sleep properly than I would feel better. When I read your story I really thought that I was reading mine. I can't believe there is someone out there like me. I don't really hear to many people with Fibromyalgia or CFS talk about insomnia. If they do it is a symptom way down the list. Mine is the #1 symptom. I really hate life with this. I guess what I hate about it most is that it has taken me away from my children and it has taken their mom away. I need them and they need me. I can't be a good mother like this. I just know for sure that if I could sleep properly that all of my symptoms would go away. I am so sleep deprived that I have hit two parked cars and have seen people crossing the road literally just in time not to hit them. I have so many stories but I know you already understand. For sleep I am taking a ton of medication. I take Trazadone 100mg (taking 3 at night), Lyrica 200mg (2 at night) Remeron 15mg (1 when I go to sleep and one when I wake), Temazepam 30mg, and Xyrem 9ml (this is the highest dose which I take 4.5mls when I go to sleep. This just barely gets me to sleep. I can't sleep at all if I don't take medication. I just lie awake."

FROM DOM: I understand life-wrecking insomnia - see www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm. A list of everything I've tried for sleep is at www.fms-help.com/sleep.htm. A list of things I use now is at www.fms-help.com/what.htm. All the usual advice about sleep hygiene, etc. does NOT work for people like me or this lady. There is no one drug that helps every insomniac. Hopefully she can find a combo that works. I believe there is something wrong in the brain - maybe a viral attack on the sleep mechanism. Strangely, just before the onset of my FMS in June 1982, a lady came into the law office where I was working who was glassy-eyed and said she hadn't slept in 2 weeks. She had just taken a new job as a librarian. (Now I wonder if she was being exposed to MOLD! www.fms-help.com/mold.htm.) I also wonder if she carried some kind of virus that I caught. I had insomnia since age 16 and met her at age 30, but my FMS began shortly thereafter. This is such a mysterious illness. Can't believe I've been writing this newsletter for 13 years and there's still so much to say about this, plus the new emerging research!

20. ASPARTAME, NUTRASWEET, EQUAL

From a reader--

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/aspartame.asp - no truth to the claim that aspartame causes health problems.

FROM DOM: Snopes is wrong. There is some truth to it. Just a personal example, when Crystal Lite came out in the 80's, I drank a glass of the stuff and had an episode of wild vertigo. I was sitting at the kitchen table and had to cling to the table for several minutes so I wouldn't fall off the chair. Never has happened before or after. I called the company after the situation passed and asked if there was anything in this product that would cause it. They said no. A few months later, I saw an article in the newspaper saying that aspartame was causing attacks of vertigo and much worse. So, they lied, or just didn't know. I avoid the stuff. A chiropractor told me years ago to avoid aspartame because it stops the work of an important gland in your chest (forgot the name) - he said it was sort of like formaldehyde.

21. MINOCYCLINE

From a reader--

"Here is some new information on a old drug. It was used on schizophrenia patients and lab animals. Minocycline is used for Rosacea, acnea, blepharitis etc. It is an antibiotic that also has a potent ant-inflammatory effect. It seems to aid in brain function for probably non specific causes. Probably any inflammatory process that would decrease neural function. Some Drs. insist that many psychiatric patients actually have a low grade bacterial infection. It may exert its effects via pathogen kill, glutamatergic systems and inflammatory. They probably ran this study based on people taking it noticing increased cognitive function. I believe in the animal studies they induced mini strokes which caused tissue inflammation. The minicycline offered a form of neural protection, greatly decreasing damage. I am not sure why they choose schizophrenia most of these conditions do have inflammation as a component. It probably would help a number of conditions involving chronic inflammation. I may go on it for a couple of reasons. I do have blepharitis, also have some pleurisy pain. I've been on doxycycline in the past and did notice all my chest pain was gone while on it. Its much safer than taking low does steroids. Reducing chronic pain reduces sensory input to the brain. This can reduce many pain related side effect ie. migraines. Botox is thought to work this way in relieving migraines. Anyway more information for you to kick around."

FROM DOM: Has anyone tried minocycline? Please write dombush@bellsouth.net.

22. MEN WITH FIBRO

"Thank you for posting your web site on Fibro www.fms-help.com. I was struck by this wonderful condition around age 20, before the term existed. I'm now 50 and after being in 90% remission for about 15 years, it started to come back and back and wammo, it's hitting hard. Moving from [the Northeast] to [the West] is what helped the original healing. Now being 50, working is torture, relationship washed away, living in a friends spare room and barely able to support myself. Stress sure is a killer. I'm not a depressive person but boy do I get depressed. I wish I can tell others what got me into remission, I think I was just lucky. I was allergic to everything that went in my mouth, food vitamins, meds, you name it. Now it's back. The interesting thing is how symptoms can change from week to week. My favorite is the leg pains, the kind you get when you have the flu. Had those for 10-15 years and now they are back. I don't even bother going to doctors anymore, can't afford to. Some days I wanna just crawl up and pass away. The thought of being stuck with fibro is sickening. I guess I'm coming from a place of having been there before and having a remission. Anyways, I got good at complaining again. At least I got to live some active years hiking and biking and being outdoorsy. Now I feel like a waste. Walking a mile hurts more than it helps, yet I do it anyway."

FROM DOM: I hear from many men with fibro - see www.fms-help.com/men.htm for some of their stories. I'm glad this reader found my site and is now on the newsletter list to get continous information, research and emotional support.

23. DOM'S UPDATE

I have continued to feel better than usual since I began using the drops (for alkalinity and oxygen) & DMSO (for cold sores) 12 weeks ago, although our School of Music piano recital a few weeks ago really took the stuffing out of me, which was followed by playing for the revival at church the following week. Evidently I have to accept the amount of activity and stress that comes into my life - as much as I can, that is. Of all the useful items on the list of things I need to stay functional www.fms-help.com/what.htm, the things that are indispensable to me are: #1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 26. We are all different, but maybe some of these things can help others regain more of a life too. My main thing is that I can't travel more than about 30 miles because of weird things that happen in my brain (too much stimulation). This travel handicap began after I worked in toxic mold 5 years ago www.fms-help.com/mold.htm. Before that, I had the FMS/CFIDS fairly well managed. I think the mold damaged my immune system further. Still, I am very grateful for all the things I can still do. I had a birthday this weekend - 58! Wow, that sounds old....well, at least I'm getting closer to heaven, and that is great!

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.