"I found your site www.fms-help.com when searching for information on insomnia (not FMS), as I have chronic insomnia with no cause determined. I had been taking Lunesta and getting 5-6 hours of decent sleep a night. But after taking over six months it began working less and less until after a year virtually not at all. I have since switched to Rozerem (3 months ago) and am back to getting 5-6 hours of not only decent sleep, but sleep full of vivid dreams -- something I did not experience while taking Lunesta. The switch to Rozerem was difficult as it required about 3 weeks to have an effect and could not be combined with any other sleep aids. That three week period I went with almost no sleep. But it was worth it. Again, I do not have FMS or CFIDS, just chronic insomnia, but perhaps Rozerem would be worth a try for some of your readers."

[FROM DOMINIE: We are all so different. Some drugs work better than others for each of us. See my sleep page at www.fms-help.com/sleep.htm for a list of sleep things I tried and how they worked for me. Another resource is www.remedyfind.com where people can report on meds they have used.]

"Do you (or your readers) have any experience with mercury filling removal? I have about 5 mercury amalgams. I had 1 removed about a month & a half ago. Just curious if any one has any comments, advice, horror stories, improvements... I don't think that I need to have any mercury in my head despite of what the American Dental Association has to say. My doctor who has Lyme's disease (& problems with mercury) said to do it VERY SLOWLY. I didn't seem too bad from getting one removed so I'm going to try for having another removed on the 17th. I think chlorella is supposed to absorb the mercury out of your system but you have to make sure it's from a pure source & not contaminated. There were a number of other things on the internet for mercury detox. This site had some interesting info- http://www.eytonsearth.org/mercury-toxicity-bentonite-clay.php. This one too - http://www.magneticclay.com/index.php."

[FROM DOMINIE: My mouth is paved with mercury, but I'm a dental phobic due to grisly experiences with my childhood dentist, so I think I'll have to stay the way I am for now. Check online for success with mercury removal and chelation. My mail runs about 50/50 as to whether it is helpful or not. If you had fillings removed for help with your FMS/CFIDS, write me at dombush@bellsouth.net - your experience could help others to make a decision about this important issue.]

"I just wanted to reply to your newsletter posting for excessive sweating. That was my first indicator that something was wrong with my body. I had night sweats so bad that my pjs and sheets would be soaked in the morning. During the day I could SIT in a cold environment and sweat while everyone else wore coats and multi-layers. Of course my doctors couldn’t tell me what it was other than “you just had a baby” or “you’re getting old”. My “baby” was 3 years old and I was only 33. Once I saw a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with fibro, and started taking pain meds and muscle relaxants, the nightsweats decreased and diminished entirely. I would occasionally have cold sweats during the day, but was able to track it to eating too much saturated fats (fried foods especially) and nutrasweet or Splenda or overly sweet or carb foods. I have cut most fried foods from my diet, eat little sugary or high-carb foods, and stay away from all artificial sweeteners, and I rarely have excessive sweating anymore. The only time I do is when I give in to my cravings. Sometimes the temporary satisfaction of eating some of things are NOT worth the side effects, so I rarely give in to my temptation. I hope this helps the reader who posted the question."

[FROM DOMINIE: This info was very helpful! Thanks very much to this reader. By the way, check out my good doctors / bad doctors page at www.fms-help.com/doctors.htm.]

"I also took Seroquel at 25 mg for sleep. It would (sort of) work, but for only four hours. It felt not like sleep but like I was skating on the edge of sleep. It made me sick during the day and I was also nervous about the diabetic thing since my family has diabetes on both sides. I tried Cymbalta but it made me so nauseated and out of it that I had to call in sick for five days in a row. And then I stopped taking it.

Lyrica is treating me very well. I'm on a low dosage (75 mg twice a day) but I have more energy and (I believe) better sleep. It does pretty good on the pain but not when I'm having a major flare. Then nothing seems to work except riding it out."

"Cymbalta made my Restless Leg Syndrome uncontrollable. I thought I was going to die. Effexor did the same thing but I broke out in hives and my face swelled up."

http://www.immunesupport.com/ has a "Good Doctor" referral section on their site to help you find a doctor who understands FMS/CFIDS.

If you have had a bad or traumatic experience with a doctor that left you feeling upset or angry, see my page Good Doctors/Bad Doctors at www.fms-help.com/doctors.htm. So many doctors still do not understand FMS/CFIDS.

If you are Spanish speaking and you have CFS, P.A.N.D.O.R.A needs you! A local Hispanic Newspaper would like to interview Spanish (Hispanic individuals) speakers who can share their personal stories on what means to have CFS. Please call 954-783-6771 and leave your complete name, address and phone number. You can also send an e-mail to contact@pandoranet.info Help us raise awareness for CFS! - Marly C. Silverman- Founder

My new book, "Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching," will be released in hardcover after the mid-term elections, but in the spirit of open access, I've put the entire contents of the book online at http://www.BirdFluBook.org. With all 3,000+ references hyperlinked, hundreds of full-text articles, etc. In addition to putting the whole thing up for free, all the proceeds I receive from the actual book are donated to charity as well. I hope to keep it an updated living document, and so I'd love everyone's feedback! I'm afraid I do come out in favor of developing an H5N1 vaccine, but am open to be persuaded otherwise. -Michael

I just received several remarkable articles on this topic. They are too long for this newsletter, but if you're interested, I can send them to you. Write me at dombush@bellsouth.net. You can also download a free report about essential oils from my site at http://dom.younglivingworld.com/. Fill in your email info and it will be sent automatically. In this dangerous age we live in, we need to learn how to protect ourselves. I know that with my compromised immune system I have to take extreme care managing my health. My CFIDS story is at www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm. A list of things I use that help me function is at www.fms-help.com/what.htm. I keep this list current and updated for my readers, since most of us struggle with the same health issues.

A reader sent me an email with several news articles on this subject. Too long to put it in the newsletter. If you have friends or family in the military, write me at dombush@bellsouth.net and I can forward this info to you. I have the greatest appreciation and respect for our military personnel who defend and protect freedom around the world. This coming Sunday morning, Donnie and I have a part in the Veterans' Day service at our church. He will be reading an article called "Our Troops" while I play "America the Beautiful" in the background.

Presently, I have a case of laryngitis, most likely from sitting beside so many sick piano students these past several weeks. Actually I was surprised that I outlasted so many of my ill students before having to throw in the towel myself for a few days. I finally went to the doctor and got an antibiotic. I hope it kicks in soon, as I need to get back to work.

If you're looking for something specific related to FMS/CFIDS/ME, try using the Google search box on my homepage at www.fms-help.com. Many times readers ask me questions that have already been addressed on my site. You can get the info a lot quicker by using my search box. I am also putting more of my past newsletters in the archives on my site. This way, the search feature will have access to those also. So much fascinating information!

Although I am not able to answer all of my email, I do try to read everything that you, my loyal readers, send me. We continue to learn together.

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DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor. I am a fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome survivor. The purpose of this website is not to diagnose or cure any disease or malady, but is presented as food for thought. This information cannot take the place of professional medical advice. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should come under the direction of a physician. No guarantees are made regarding any of the information in this website.