Dominie's Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Newsletter

*** DOMINIE'S NEWSLETTER (Page 2 of 2) ***

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor. All material presented in this newsletter is intended to be used for educational purposes only. Consult with your own physician or health care practitioner before you make any dietary changes. The information in this newsletter is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any specific condition or disease.

Continued from Page 1

21. NEW CFS THEORY

From immunesupport.com's newsletter--

Prof. Martin L. Pall writes, "A novel theory of the cause of Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has been published which is supported by diverse
biochemical and physiological observations of CFS, while providing
explanations for five of most difficult puzzles about this medical
condition."
http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=24559103-11952

22. FMS/CFIDS AS CHRONIC LYME DISEASE?

From immunesupport.com's newsletter--

An article published in The Lancet medical journal by Paul M. Rowe states,
"Mention of chronic Lyme disease raises temperatures, not only among
patients, but also among the experts who are trying to untangle exactly what
chronic Lyme disease is, why only some patients get chronic manifestations,
and how the disease should be treated." Because many CFS and FM patients
exhibit symptoms common to chronic Lyme disease, this article should be of
great interest.
http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=24559103-11953

23. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION

From immunesupport.com's Tip of the Day--

Although central nervous system dysfunction frequently occurs in fibromyalgia (FM) patients, proprioceptive [nerve ending] disturbances might also explain some of the abnormalities observed. Rosenhall et al (1996) reported that 72% of 168 FM patients studied suffered from vertigo/dizziness, 15% were afflicted with sensorineural hearing loss, 30% had evidence of brainstem dysfunction, 28% had abnormal saccades and 58% had pathological smooth pursuit eye movements in oculomotor studies, and 45% had a pathological electronystagmography [method of recording muscle activity outside the eye.] On the other hand, Heller et al (1998) reported that 28% of 80 patients with sudden deafness and progressive hearing losses displayed symptoms typical for FM and CFS disorders, including fatigue, myalgia, arhtralgia, depression, sicca symptoms, and diarrhea. (Source: The Concise Encyclopedia of Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain, by Roberto Patarca-Montero, M.D., Ph.D.)

24. BLOCKING INFLAMMATION

From ProHealth newsletter--

Biologists at the University of California, San Diego have discovered that
eliminating the ability of white blood cells to respond to low oxygen levels
effectively blocks the development of inflammation in mice, an advance that
could have widespread implications for the prevention of inflammation in
humans.
http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=24572478-11976

25. FOOT POUCHES REMOVE TOXINS

Shu Li Foot Pouches use the Mandarin tree, the finest, most effective, and considered the premium source in the Orient, along with two fine energy sources, tourmaline and germanium, to help draw toxins from the body. Shu Li may help absorb toxins released by the body, alleviate minor pain, support normal blood circulation, reduce swelling in the body and improve quality of sleep. Write me for more information.

26. WEIGHT LOSS

The fat blockers being highlighted in TV ads are drugs that directly
interfere with enzyme action in the gut; these drugs are called lipase
inhibitors. This interference with natural processes leads to the oily
consistency of fecal matter, diarrhea, stomach cramping, and urgent bathroom
visits. Write me at dombush@bellsouth.net for some weight loss ideas.

27. HOMEMADE RELIEF ITEMS

Check out these interesting ideas for pain relief at http://fibrohugs.com/promotion/homemade/relief.html

28. FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY - MAY 12

See http://www.fibrohugs.com/events/may12.html for ways you can get the word out. This helps not only those who already have FMS/CFIDS, but others who will be getting it in the near future! FMS is a worldwide epidemic! In the past 7 years since http://www.fms-help.com has been on the net, I have received calls and emails from people in every area of the world (except for the North and South Poles!!) who have the exact same symptoms and problems. People have contacted me from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China, Singapore, Brazil, Uruguay, England, Ireland, Turkey, Czechloslovakia, Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emerits, India, South Africa, Switzerland, etc. (....forgive me if I left off your location.) FMS is NOT a dietary or cultural phenomenon. Something else is going on....I suspect mycoplasma infection of the hypothalamus or other glands in the brain caused by who knows what?....biological warfare testing?

29. FIBROMYALGIA ADVOCACY - WE ARE NOT ALONE!

Most people with FMS have the problem of others not understanding our condition--friends, bosses and co-workers (assuming we are still able to work!!), insurance companies, doctors, spouses, parents, children, etc., etc. Whew--that's a heavy load of to carry! I went to http://www.google.com and typed in "fibromyalgia advocacy".....I found these sites and many more:

Fibromyalgia Advocacy Homepage http://groups.msn.com/TheFibromyalgiaAdvocacyHomePage

Fibromyalgia Network Advocacy Update http://www.fmnetnews.com/pages/advocacy.html

30. DIZZINESS, TINNITUS AND HEARING LOSS

From immunesupport.com's Tip of the Day--

In a recent study, 24 female patients with fibromyalgia (FMS) were assessed for neurotologic symptoms. The assessments were based on history, physical examination, audiometry, bithermal caloric testing, and auditory brainstem response testing. Almost 50% of the patients had some sort of otologic symptoms. Dizziness was the most common complaint of the patients, and was following by tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo.

(Source: Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain, Vol. 10, Number 4, 2002. Literature Reviews: Fibromyalgia Review by Robert M. Bennett, M.D. Study reference: Bayazit YA, Gursoy S, Ozer E, Karakurum G, Madenci E: Neurotologic manifestations of the fibromyalgia syndrome. J Neurol Sci 196(102):77-80, 2002.)

31. INTERNATIONAL FMS/CFIDS CONFERENCE

From immunesupport.com--

Summary of the AACFS Sixth International Conference on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Related Illnesses

Dr. Charles Lapp writes, "The biannual scientific conference of the American Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (AACFS) was attended by over 190 physicians and professionals from more than 14 countries. This year's format was new. The first day was an introductory course on the diagnosis and basic management of CFS taught by myself and Dr. Leonard Jason, which was attended by over 170 professionals, and was highly acclaimed by the attendees." Read about key highlights from this CFS and FM event.
http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=25113252-12166

32. FOODS TO AVOID ("SCANT")

From immunesupport.com--

According to leading CFS and FM physician and researcher Charles Lapp, M.D., "We highly recommend that you avoid five verboten foods. You can have them, but we encourage you to reduce your intake of them. Those are identified by the acronym SCANT: Sugar, Caffeine, Alcohol, Nutrasweet, Tobacco. Possibly dairy and wheat for those of you who have a lot of stomach problems like bloating and diarrhea. It is very common for patients with CFS. What I recommend is that you take five days in which you don’t have any dairy milk, ice cream, and cheese. See if that has any effect on how you feel. If that doesn’t help, try staying away from wheat (gluten), bread, pasta, pizza. If that helps, there are some excellent books at the library to help you learn how to live on a low gluten diet." (Source: Charles Lapp, M.D. - Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. ImmuneSupport.com)

33. SLEEP DISTURBANCES AND FMS

From immunesupport.com's Tip of the Day--

The association of sleep disturbances with fibromyalgia (FMS) symptomatology is now over 25 years old. A recent study ("Hypersomnolence in fibromyalgia syndrome" published in J Neurol Sci 196(1-2):77-80,2002) provides new information on the correlation of the intensity of daytime sleepiness and abnormalities; it underscores the importance of taking a detailed sleep history in all FMS patients. Although there are treatments for sleep apnea and periodic limb movement disorder, we still do not have good evidence that improved sleep benefits the physiological problems of increased pain sensitivity and neuroendocrine dysregulation. (Source: Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain, Vol. 10, Number 4, 2002. Literature Reviews: Fibromyalgia Review by Robert M. Bennett, M.D.)

34. MEASLES VIRUS FOUND IN BRAIN

Measles Virus Found In Boy's Brain After MMR Vaccine
By Lorraine Fraser, Medical Correspondent, The Telegraph - UK, 10-7-2002

A child who developed severe epilepsy after receiving the MMR jab has been found to have measles virus from the vaccine in his brain.


The results of tests conducted recently have been revealed by the 13-year-old boy's mother. She says that she has decided to go public in order to push the Government to take the plight of children allegedly damaged by the three-in-one measles, mumps and rubella vaccination more seriously.


Scientists say that the implications of the discovery are difficult to assess without further research. However, it raises new questions about the triple inoculation, which has been dogged by controversy since Andrew Wakefield, a former consultant at the Royal Free Hospital in London, linked it with a new syndrome of bowel disease and autism in children.


The boy's mother, who has asked to remain anonymous, told The Telegraph yesterday that her son had developed an allergic rash eight days after he received the MMR vaccination when he was 15 months old. He then progressed to have 10 to 12 seizures every month. In the summer of 1998, however, he descended into "status epilepticus" - continuous convulsions - and surgeons at a London hospital decided that he needed emergency brain surgery to save his life. It was at this point that a brain biopsy was taken.


The woman, who is suing the manufacturers of the MMR vaccine on behalf of her son, declined to say where the biopsy had been tested for the measles virus but indicated that this had been done in a reputable laboratory.

She had been shocked to receive the test results indicating that vaccine-strain measles virus had been found, she said. She had also learnt that samples from her son's bowel, taken in 1997 because he had digestive problems, had tested positive for vaccine-strain virus.


After the operation when he was nine, her son had had to relearn "virtually everything", she said. His personality changed and he was no longer able to attend mainstream school, although he had very recently been free of seizures.

"Now with this new information I am very concerned," the boy's mother said. "Is it over for him or not? No one knows and this is why all these children - not just my son - need to be acknowledged rather than have the continuous stream of blanket denials that have been issued by the Department of Health."


British specialists investigating MMR were reluctant to comment publicly on the case last night. One cautioned that it was theoretically possible that the boy had developed a vaccine-related condition that was more commonly caused by a natural measles virus infection.

If this was the case, he said, then MMR would actually help to protect the wider population from similar infections. However, he added: "We do not know what this result means."

35. MICRONUTRIENT STARVATION

From immunesupport.com's Tip of the Day--

Micronutrient starvation is a silent foe - its harmful effects may not be felt for years, and yet it is the number one cause of poor immune function and, therefore, disease. Micronutrients include vitamins, minerals, and important chemicals found in plant foods (called phytochemicals). Some micronutrients are well known, such as vitamin C and calcium, while others may be less familiar, such as carotenoids and bioflavonoids. Even though many micronutrients may not be listed on the side of a cereal box and don't have an RDA, they are essential for optimal health. (Source: Immunotics: Your Personal Immune-Boosting Program, by Robert Rountree, M.D., and Carol Colman.)

36. SLEEP AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

From immunesupport.com's Tip of the Day--

Simply getting enough sleep each night can make the difference between a strong immune system and one that leaves you vulnerable to illness. Sleep is important for both emotional and physical health and is essential for immunity. If you miss even a single night's sleep, your immune system will suffer. In one study conducted at the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center, it was found that a lack of adequate sleep for even one night can dramatically reduce NK (Natural Killer) cell activity the following day. [Editor's note: NK cells are the immune system's frontline of defense.] (Source: Immunotics: Your Personal Immune-Boosting Program, by Robert Rountree, M.D., and Carol Colman.)

[NOTE: For those of us with FMS, our sleep clocks are broken!!!! I used to tell people that I had "Reverse Rip Van Winkle Syndrome"......he slept for 20 years and I didn't sleep for 20 years! Finding the right sleep meds for your unique biochemistry can help greatly. Side effects of sleep meds and/or anti-depressants used for sleep can be horrid if the meds don't agree with you, so I suggest using very low doses at the beginning to see how each drug will affect you. To see what I'm using, read #40 below -- "Dominie's Personal Update."]

37. GETTING DISABILITY FOR FIBRO (revisited)

A newsletter reader was successful in getting Social Security disability for fibro. She said it was lots of work, but she got back pay, etc. Below is what Michele did:

1. From the internet, she got proof of fibromyalgia as a physical problem (e.g., Substance P, low blood flow to brain, etc.)

2. She kept a diary for 20 days of what her life was like---one page per day.

3. She sent copies of any tests she had done, whether they showed anything wrong or not.

4. She sent a letter to the disability people every week, so they did not forget her.

5. She got a wonderful letter of recommendation from her former boss, telling what a good worker she was, so that the disability people didn't think she was a malingerer.

6. She did not use a lawyer.

7. She said the total package she sent in was about 30 pages, which she wrote during the nights she was in pain and couldn't sleep.

8. You have to show that you have exhausted all resources--doctors, physical therapy, etc.....to prove that you have tried to help yourself, but nothing helped.

Michele's FMS started in 1986. It finally got to where she was not able to sleep almost at all (like for 3 months at a time), she had diarrhea all the time, was going in to work later and later, and then not at all. She was a former business manager for a marketing and public relations company.

Here is more advice from Michele: "I really think that keeping that diary for about 20 days was very helpful. Nobody can make up that kind of hell. Basically the Summary is that you have to prove to them WHY you can no longer work. I also submitted a note from my doctor saying that I was totally disabled. The more I went to see her, the more frustrated she got cause she could not help me. She also referred me to a PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST, because she was very hesitant on writing me so many prescriptions for pain medication. That happened after all the articles in the Newspapers, and on the News, etc, about people taking & abusing Oxycontin & killing themselves on it. You should find out, if that Doctor has any experience with Fibro and also find out if he/she is treating other patients, as you have probably seen more than enough Doctors by this point, & had just about every test done that they could think of. I also had a Thyroid test (blood work) & Ultrasound done, to rule that out also."

[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: My husband said that since fibromyalgia is often used as a reason to turn people down for health insurance coverage (including me), then why do so many doctors not even recognize it as an illness???? Good question!!!]

38. HYPERIMMUNE EGG POWDER

This powder balances and supports the immune system. It helps maintain and support a BALANCED IMMUNE SYSTEM and MODULATES AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSES. It also supports and maintains the balance of cardiovascular function, healthy cholesterol levels, a healthy circulatory system, digestive tract health, flexible and healthy joints and energy levels. Write me at dombush@bellsouth.net for more information.

39. SPIRITUAL UPLIFT CORNER

Laughter is good medicine--and so is reading something spiritually uplifting. I got both for 25 cents when I found a wonderful paperback at a thrift store recently. The book has an unusual name: "Don't Let the Goats Eat the Loquat Trees" by Dr. Thomas Hale, a U.S. surgeon who went to Nepal to be a medical missionary. In case you don't know where Nepal is (I didn't)...it's between China and India. The mountains there (the Himalayas) go up to about 25,000 feet. People farm on steeply terraced land. Transportation is by foot and very difficult...if not impossible. Insects, disease, no water, crime, political revolution, violence, misunderstandings, etc. were just some of the many problems the Hales encountered. Dr. Hale is a tremendous writer--very witty and can see the humor in even the most difficult situations. I laughed my head off in the funny places!!! Most of the "jokes" are on him, though, as the Lord taught him things about his own character and even took him down a few pegs! Without God's divine call on their lives, I don't see how the Hales could have served so many years under those extremely trying conditions! My hat's off to Thomas and Cynthia Hale and their two sons for their courage, bravery, stamina and ability to even see the humorous side of some of the worst trials that can be encountered on this planet! My dear husband, who is not a "reader," just couldn't understand my guffaws of laughter as I was reading Dr. Hale's wonderful book. (One of my piano students is a recently returned missionary from the Congo, and she told me that Dr. Hale's book was required reading in her missionary training course!)

Let's keep supporting our President, our military forces and our POW's with our prayers during this critical time in world history. (Personally, I'm looking forward to Jesus' return, aren't you?!!)

40. DOMINIE'S PERSONAL UPDATE

A few weeks ago I was able to fly to Michigan to visit relatives on my mother's side whom I had not seen in 30+ years due to poor health, which kept me from being able to travel. So I thank the Lord for giving me the good health and strength to make this trip! (I have been doing great since I began using a unique immune balancing product in June of 2001.) I even got to visit the library in Muskegon, MI where--back in the 1940's--a lady invited my dad to Calvary Baptist Church when he was a war refugee from Communist China. Through a home Bible study associated with this church, my father met my mother....and they have been married for 52 years! What a love story!

I continue to put a coral calcium sachet in my drinking water to help keep my pH more alkaline. I have been doing this for 4 years now to avoid an overactive bladder problem that occurs every time I become too acidic. Just about everything we eat except certain vegetables makes our pH acidic. Write me for more information. Drinking this water is an easy way to avoid the problem. Remember that acidosis promotes disease!

I sleep on a magnetic mattress pad and use a magnetic pillow. This helps me fall asleep more easily and sleep more restfully. Prior to getting these items, I would have to get off the computer for at least 5 hours before trying to fall asleep. Now I can work right up to the last minute! I think it has to do with electromagnetic fields or something....I'm no scientist...but this works well for me. Get a good brand. You want north-facing magnets. (My magnetic mattress company is out of business, so it's a good thing I'm happy with their product and don't need a refund!)

The essential oils of Lavender, Peace and Calming, Joy and Lemon have been helpful for me for sleep. Aromatherapy affects the limbic part of the brain, which is tied to the olfactory glands (sense of smell). Email me at dombush@bellsouth.net for information about these.

Regarding sleep meds, I continue to use .5 mg of lorazepam (generic ativan) plus 1 generic Sominex tablet (diphenhydramine HCL). Since balancing my immune system, I have not needed the heavy sleep meds I used to take in the past....just to get a few hours of poor sleep. I sleep restoratively and feel good the next day. I'm glad my body is "behaving" more normally now!

41. A MERRY HEART

Seen on a bumper sticker:

"HELP! I'M HAVING AN OUT-OF-MONEY EXPERIENCE!"

[I'm sure most of us can relate to that!!!]

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May God bless you and yours,

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100 TIPS FOR COPING WITH FIBROMYALGIA AND INSOMNIA

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.