DOM'S NEWSLETTER

December 8, 2009

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

Dom's Quick Links: Fibromyalgia CFIDS Insomnia Search Newsletters Meds & Supplements Homepage Previous Newsletter

22 topics below. Don't miss RED ones! Readers comments in BLACK. My comments in TEAL.

1. READERS WRITE

"My first search for a fibromyalgia forum yielded paydirt - your site www.fms-help.com!"

"Your newsletter is a BIG part of my life."

"I would love to get your newsletter. I might just learn something I need to help. Thanks for your very informative website."

"God bless and keep on keeping us informed!"

"Just want to take time to thank you for batting for us with Fibro. I knew I wasn't crazy but I have wondered how I could have so many symptoms not to mention the plunges time and time again."

2. ARE YOU A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON?

I took the test at http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm and checked every box! Elaine Aron's book "Highly Sensitive People" has been a topic in my past newsletters www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm and I read the book this year. She describes most of us with FMS. It could just be the way our nervous system is "hard-wired." Fascinating info. Helped me accept myself for who I am and not try to compare myself with others. There are pluses and minuses to having a sensitive nature, but I am really grateful for the positives! Also, see the links on my homepage at www.fms-help.com about the central and autonomic nervous systems (look in yellow box on the left).

Comment from a reader--

"My poor husband has to put up with a lot [re: oversensitivity]. I can't even sleep if there is a TV on in the house. Even if he's rattling a newspaper, I about go through the roof! My hearing is so intense that when I had a hearing test a few years ago, the tech said that I had bionic ears - LOL. My husband tells people all the time that I can hear a "fly fart!"

Hoohaha! About my hearing situation, I took a hearing test at Wal-Mart a couple years ago. I sat in a "soundproof" booth in the hearing aid place with headphones on and they were trying to test my hearing with beeping noises, but I could actually hear the annoying beeping of the scanning devices in the checkout lanes! The testing person told me my hearing problem was not in my ears, but in my BRAIN! I have had hyperacusia and tinnitus for decades. I have to avoid loud noises - have had to walk out of some gospel music concerts that were too loud. When my hearing condition is really bad, even the rattling noise of putting silverware in the drawer causes me a kind of "pain" in my brain. I teach piano and am also a church musician, so sometimes there are loud sounds there too. My nervous system is just very sensitive.

3. H1N1 VACCINE & PREGNANCY

4. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

Scientists Believe Your Cell Phone Is a Death Trap

5. "ME? A WIDOW"

There are a number of ladies on my FMS/CFIDS mailing list who have lost their husbands. I came across a book called "Me? A Widow?" at http://meawidow.net/testimonials.html. It looks very good. I plan to get a copy for my mom. We lost my dad in 2005 www.fms-help.com/eulogy.htm. The holidays are a difficult time for the recently bereaved.

A reader sent this - some good thoughts here--

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it--

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you..

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:

7. WHAT CAUSES INSOMNIA?

From a reader (non U.S.)--

"I have FMS, CMP loads of sensitivities and dreadful CFS I think from extreme insomnia, for 11 years. I was able, like you, at one time to sleep on more natural products. 5 HTP, Melatonin calcium and magnesium and 10mg trepiline. Over the last 4 or so years the fatigue has become completely debilitating where I can’t even get out of the house, or keep my head up. I've now seen a pattern emerging: I have a trauma (so far it has always been physical) for instance a bad fall and about 2-3 weeks later my sleep gets worse until I stop sleeping except maybe a hour some nights. It took 2 weeks in hospital to get me sleeping the first time it happened. And then of course I was put on all the heavy drugs, which I have not been able to come off of, although have cut down. Then I had 2 rhyzotomies within a month and the same thing. What I want to ask you is this? Would you have any idea what switches off or on in ones brain to cause this? I have done some research, and feel sure it is something my body is lacking . Am now trying Vit B 12 injections weekly, although it’s trial and error. There is no medical insurance over here that covers these diseases, and no disability for it. my husband has taken early retirement to look after me. I just feel there is a missing link that I need to find, mainly with the insomnia, which I know you know better than I how terrible that is."

I am intrigued by this reader's questions/comments, because I have wondered the same thing. I have had insomnia since age 16. I am now 58. My insomnia story is at www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm. Does anyone have information about sleep - like how do we sleep, what glands in the brain are involved (I know about the hypothalamus), and if viruses affect our ability to sleep? Please write dombush@bellsouth.net. A list of things I've used 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.

From a reader (re: Topic 2 above)--

"I am highly sensitive.....and was always an OVERDO'er. I think CFS/EBV/FIBRO is all stemmed from the Hypothalamus.....the HPA Axis.....HYPOTHALAMUS-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS."

My very smart sister-in-law with a Ph.D. in virology told me 20 years ago that all of my baffling FMS symptoms were coming from the hypothalamus (gland in the brain).

9. "HELP ME I'M STRESSED"

Anxiety and stress are issues I've dealt with all of my life. I picked up this great little book at a yard sale recently: "Help Me I'm Stressed" by Joyce Meyer. What an eye-opener about how to prevent and manage stress! (Now that I know HOW to do this, will I actually implement it?? I sure need to change my ways!) This subject is soooo important to me as a fibromite! Joyce actually sounds a little like me (driven, hard-working, Type A personality)....it was as though she understood the way I think, the way I push myself to accomplish things, and how I mis-manage stress in my life. She even talks about hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal involvement (HPA axis). I am re-reading the book to be sure it sinks in. (Saw some used copies on amazon and ebay.) Other helpful books from this author are: "Help Me I'm Married" (read many years ago) and "Help Me I'm Worried" (reading now).

"I love Joyce Meyer and watch her every week day.

Her best book, in my opinion, was "Battlefield of the Mind."

You can read it a hundred times and still get so much out of it."

"Joyce is one of my favorites and I watch her on TV all the time!! She is so funny too!!

Her all time best book (I think anyway) is "Battlefield Of The Mind!"

"I love Joyce Meyer, when i can i listen to her TV show - she is very funny in her sermons but at the same time she has a good message."

10. THE DOMINIE STORE

Just for fun......a few years ago, I found this site http://www.dominie.com.au/contactus.asp - if you scroll down the page halfway, you will see my name on a teaching supply store in Australia! (I live in Florida.) Dominie means "teacher" in some countries, and "minister" in other countries. My mother told me that my name is Latin and means "belonging to the Lord." (She read the name in a book - but can't recall the title - in 1951 when she was expecting me.)

11. MORE DOCS AWARE OF XMRV NOW!

"Just wanted to let you know that I went to my rheumatologist today and he told me about XMRV virus and that he is certain that drug companies will begin to work on a cure - of course, that would be lots of money for them. It seems that this is really out in the open now. My family doctor has heard of it too - and then a friend called me last night to tell me to turn on Dr. Oz. He had a segment on it as well. My mother who is 88 years old cannot believe all of the people she hears about (other than me) who have CFS and Fibro. She said she had never heard of so many people all of a sudden coming down with this. I hope and pray that I have this virus and that one day there will be a cure - hopefully in our lifetime. It would be really sad to take the test and then find out you don't have the virus after all this excitement."

FROM DOM: See Topic #17 below.

12. AIR QUALITY MACHINE GETTING RID OF MRSA

From newsletter reader Tim--

"I do indoor air quality work primarily for state and federal institutions. [See testimonial below about MRSA.] We're hearing the same results with swine flu too."

From: Mark Slaughter [samuraison09@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 12:53 PM
To: tmitchell@asiet.net
Subject: ASIET Machine

To put into perspective what I believe Mr. Mitchell's machine can do would be best exemplified by the following statement: "In the period of approximately four weeks between October and November of this year, our facility had four patients return from the hospital with active MRSA wound cultures. All patients were on antibiotics, however, the MRSA was resolved within 6 days in each case. In our experience, a patient diagnosed with MRSA usually is asymptomatic within 2 - 3 weeks at a minimum employing antibiotic treatment and universal precautions alone. The only difference in treatment modality was the fact that we used Mr. Mitchell's device in each patients' room, which I believe was the only factor responsible for each infection resolution". - Mark Slaughter B.S., M.S., Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator

See www.asiet.net for more info about this air quality machine.

13. MOUNTING DEBILITIES & DEATHS FROM H1N1 VACCINE

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/12/05/Swine-Flu-Shot-Side-Effects-Beginning-to-Take-Their-Toll.aspx -Serious side effects now reported around the world, from anaphylactic shock, to sudden blood pressure plunge, to death - causing a sense of panic in those who got the shot...even while millions of others refuse it due to safety concerns.

14. OXYGEN DROPS HELPING

"I good report for Oxygen Force. As you know with Fibro and CFS and in my case also with MCS we get lots of sore throats that I believe are mostly an immune response to these conditions we have. They come and go. However, I can also tell a difference between those sore throats and the kind we get when actually coming down with a cold or flu. Well one day this week I absolutely had one of those flu or cold sore throats hit me. So right away I put (only 5 drops) in some water and gargled the heck out of my throat and swollowed the oxygen water after each gargle. Dom, it was so wonderful.....like magic.....after the gargling the sore throat was history. Before I did this my throat was really, really raw and I could barely swallow. This instant result was such a blessing and such a surprise."

15. YOUR PRIVACY IS AT STAKE

http://news.cnet.com/2010-1069-980325.html - RFID tags: Big Brother in small packages

http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/169 - RFID chips are being embedded in everything from jeans to paper money, and your privacy is at stake.

"Thanks for the information about XMRV. I notice that as usual the public are putting their hopes on "them" findng a cure. Personally, I don't have huge faith in "them." I think its possible that "we" already have, or at least, part of it. Some [people] have been curing "incurable" infections with microsilver. This is not colloidal silver, but a product where the particles of silver are so minute that it qualifies as a vibrational medicine. The particles of silver actually vapourise any pathogens, and because they are so small thet seem to be able to enter all the body cells. Treatment usually causes no symptoms-just an end to the problem. It is absolutely non-toxic. There have been instances of massive systemic candida (yeast that form changes) causing no trouble after 2 or 3 weeks of use of the silver. Also other infections that were helped by nothing else. My experience indicates that the micro silver does cure viruses. There is a healing "underground" of many people who believe that it does. One of the reasons I became so interested in this product is because I was told that there are places in the world where it is being used to cure aids. I have not read up on this, but it would not surprise me if it were true. I know that aids is curable-people have cured it. Many babies that are born HV positive are negative by the age of one year. I used to cut out newspaper articles about this, because, in England, 15-20 years ago there were so many of these reports. The FDA is worried enough about this that the higher strength product has to be sold with a lable saying it can only be used for disinfecting surfaces ( it is in fact perfectly safe and non-toxic, and is only used as an ant-infective agent on or in the body) I always get my clients to buy the strongest version they can get for reasons of economy. One place it can be purchased is at www.hartamerica.com."

FROM DOM: I have been using Colloidal Silver on an as needed basis since 1996. It has kept me out of the doctor's office many times. It works as a broad-spectrum natural antibiotic. Our medicine cabinet will never be without it at our house.

17. DR. OZ DISCUSSING XMRV - DEC. 3, 2009

"Here is a link to a youtube video of Dr. OZ discussing XMRV with Dr. Donnica Moore. The animation of how a retrovirus works is great - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnkg_82lzqI."

FROM DOM: Every person with FMS/CFIDS/ME should watch this 10 minute video - hopefully with their families! Also, do NOT donate blood. We are infected. The XMRV retrovirus invades our cells and DNA and becomes part of who we are.

18. DO NOT DONATE BLOOD

"I know many people with FMS/CFS that donate blood, and they are not going to check this pre donation because of the cost and

they should as they do for HIV. Like HIV they will not make it routine at this point! www.bloodbook.com/donr-requir.html."

19. NO TREATMENT YET FOR XMRV

No treatment yet for XMRV, but Dr. Donnica Moore said they might try some of the HIV meds. Dr. Nancy Klimas, a CFIDS researcher, said if she had to choose, she would pick HIV over CFS, because so much money and research has already gone into HIV that those patients are in better shape (functional) than CFS patients. I'm sure researchers will be looking for the right treatment for us. This retrovirus becomes part of who we are, by entering our DNA - the animation in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnkg_82lzqI was very helpful in understanding how XMRV operates. Still, many are infected who don't show symptoms. Something (as yet unknown - maybe stress or vaccinations or a virus or fever) triggers it's operation. See my page about if CFIDS is like AIDS at www.fms-help.com/aids.htm.

20. ELDERBERRY MAY BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST HIV, XMRV & H1N1

From a reader--

Been researching the antiviral activity of herbals and ran across this one on PubMed.

It indicates that Elderberry is effective against HIV, and presumably (my speculation) against XMRV.

Just thought I'd share. There are many herbals that work against viruses, but they do also have side effects and need to be carefully considered, of course.

Elderberry is also effective against H1N1.

I made my own Elderberry tincture by 1 part berries and 5 parts 40 or 50 proof alcohol, with a bit of sugar, but unnecessary. Let sit for several weeks in the dark, and shake now and then, but can use within a couple of days. Dosage: 20-40 drops, 2-3 times a day, as needed. I wouldn't use it long, long-term, but when flu exposure is evident or even to boost the immune system. I don't know about long-term safety, but people to eat the berries in pies and wine.

Ever searching for a natural cure in God's creation!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19641233?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=2

HIV type-1 entry inhibitors with a new mode of action.

Fink RC, Roschek B, Alberte RS.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Leonard Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.

BACKGROUND: The development of antiviral drugs has provided crucial new means to mitigate or relieve the debilitating effects of many viral pathogens. Regular use of these drugs has led to generation of resistant strains, making the control of many viral infections very difficult, particularly in HIV-seropositive and AIDS patients. A rich source for the discovery of new HIV infection inhibitors has been, and continues to be, the 'mining' of the large diversity of compounds already available in nature, and specifically those from botanical extracts. METHODS: Using a newly developed direct binding assay with mass spectrometry technology (direct analysis in real-time time-of-flight mass spectrometry), we were able to show that compounds present in extracts of elderberry, cinnamon and green tea bind to and block HIV type-1 (HIV-1) infection in target cells. RESULTS: The compounds that blocked HIV-1 infection were flavonoids and A-type proanthocyanidins. The 50% inhibitory concentration values of these extracts ranged from 0.5 to 201 mug/ml for four different HIV-1 serotypes. Interaction matrices with the elderberry extract and enfuvirtide, a peptide HIV-1 fusion inhibitor, revealed significant super additive effects. This indicates that the compounds in elderberry that prevent HIV-1 infection are likely to bind to viral glycoproteins other than gp41 (the binding site for enfuvirtide). CONCLUSIONS: Optimized elderberry, green tea and cinnamon extracts rich in certain flavonoid compounds were shown to block HIV-1 entry and infection in GHOST cells. As such, these types of botanical extracts could provide a starting point for the development of possible safe and reliable cotherapies for HIV-1-positive individuals, as well as for the identification of new small molecules as leading drug candidates for HIV-1 therapeutics and microbicides.

21. READER MAKES MONEY ONLINE

From Tricia--

"Just wanted to let you know about a wonderful site I work everyday to make extra money. They have PTC's worth $0.01 to $0.03. I easily make up to $4.00 per day on PTC's alone. Then there are tons of surveys and offers to choose from, daily and monthly contests to win extra money from. I made over $80.00 just in November from this site alone. Take a minute and check them out, I think you will really like the site.
http://gptcashcow.shiftcode.com/members/register.php?ref=tricia12557. My blog: http://CashCrazy1957.blogspot.com."

22. DOM'S MYSTERY

The recent discovery of the XMRV retrovirus has totally changed the way we look at FMS/CFIDS/ME. More fascinating info is sure to be forthcoming, and I will report it right here in the newsletter! The thing that struck me in the animation on Dr. Oz's show (Topic 17 above) was how the XMRV retrovirus becomes part of our DNA - part of WHO WE ARE!!!!!! Wow, that is scary to me. Makes me wonder if this thing can be passed on to our offspring! I know of a DNA-protecting product - haven't tried it, but am curious about it. Write dombush@bellsouth.net for details. It's a .pdf file (too large for this newsletter). Maybe some of my more scientific readers would know if this could help protect our DNA.

I have been functioning considerably better since I began using the oxygen drops in my water for the past 5 months. The other thing I absolutely have to have every day is the immune powder or bad things happen. I have many helpful things on my list of meds and supplements at www.fms-help.com/what.htm, but these 2 have become necessities - besides my sleep meds. (Sleep disorder began at age 16 - I am now 58.)

A strange thing (our FMS/CFIDS life is full of strange things) has been happening at my church! There are 5 people who use the pianos. I have had 3-4 eye infections (bacterial conjunctivitis - pinkeye) since September. It begins suddenly when I am sitting at one of the pianos, or immediately after playing one of the pianos. Weird!!!! All of the musicians began using hand sanitizer and wiping the piano keys down with lysol wipes for my benefit. I finally went to the doc and got some antibacterial eye drops, all home remedies having failed. The infection cleared up in a couple of days. However, when I played the organ (there is only me and one other person who plays the organ) I never got an infection. This has been an ongoing mystery. Our drummer at church manages an eye clinic with many docs, and he asked them about the situation. They said that someone could only get an infection from this kind of contact if their immune system was compromised! Well, maybe that's why I have been the only one affected. I sure hope my immune function isn't crumbling......I also had 2 bouts of shingles this year - for the first time in my life - despite never having had chicken pox as a child. Anyway, I stayed off the piano for 10 days and played the organ. The infection is cleared up and I'm back on the piano again. I told the other musicians that I will take care of the sanitizing of the piano on the days it is my turn to play rather than inconvenience everyone continuously. Also I am worried about the long term effect of lysol sanitizing wipes on the piano keys (2 Yamaha pianos).

Our house is for sale! We are trying to cut expenses (my medical is sinking the ship). Know anyone moving to Florida?? We are near Jacksonville in a very nice, small community called Green Cove Springs. We love it here!!! If the house sells, we will relocate in the area. I just put our most recent School of Music recital picture at www.fms-help.com/students.htm. I am so proud of my students and blessed to be able to teach them. For a list of occupations (or former occupations) of my readers, visit www.fms-help.com/occupations - we are an interesting and diverse group of people! My readers are from all over the world. Our symptoms are identical despite differences in geography, climate, gender, diet, lifestyle, culture, etc. I have long suspected that we are infected with a virus that is doing it's dirty work in our brains/bodies. I have lots of info on my site regarding viruses, mycoplasmas, XMRV, etc., if you want to search.

Dominie