*** DOMINIE'S NEWSLETTER
***
APRIL 2004
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.
Scroll down to read the articles--
1.
LETTERS FROM READERS
2. SLEEP IMPROVED BY LIGHT
3. LAVENDER AROMATHERAPY
4. SEROTONIN, PAIN, SLEEP &
STRESS
5. ST. JOHNS WORT AND DEPRESSION
6. HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A DISCLAIMER?
7. CARBS AND FIBRO (REVISITED)
8. WEIGHT LOSS
9. EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR TYPE
10. MET ONE OF DR. DANTINI'S PATIENTS
11. DOES ANYONE HAVE TORICOLLIS?
12. MAGNESIUM HELPS FMS
13. PATIENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
14. LADIES REVENGE
15. ANTIDEPRESSANT WARNING
16. RICE PACKS
17. ANTIBIOTIC AND PROBIOTICS
18. BREATH TEST LINKS FIBROMYALGIA AND IBS
19. SPIRITUAL UPLIFT CORNER
20. DOMINIE'S PERSONAL UPDATE
1. LETTERS
FROM READERS
"I read your site. I didn't feel
alone. I can't begin to tell you....how much I cried reading the poetry
http://www.fms-help.com and everything
else."
"Just writing to say thank you for the March
2004 newsletter http://www.fms-help.com/March2004.htm The most enlightening part for me was the 'Spiritual
Uplift Corner," and the 'Busy' article should be hanging on everybody's
fridge door, bathroom mirror, steering wheel, etc."
"Thanks so much for your fabulous March newsletter
http://www.fms-help.com/March2004.htm You are doing a mighty work for God and your fellow
fibro sufferers!!! My eyes are full of tears to realize what a blessing
you are to so many people. You have given me so much love, encouragement
and true support in this confusing and debilitating illness."
"I find your story interesting as I have a
similar plight. My MD's can't find anything wrong, and I've had multiple
scans and work ups. No one has suggested this disease - I wonder
why. I have all the symptoms."
"I have suffered with fibromyalgia for
many years. I have enjoyed researching your site. It is the
only one like it that I have come across. I will be experimenting with
some of your tips." http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm
"Keep up the good work girl! You are a
blessing as an advocate for us fibromites (I wish there were another term -
makes us sound like little critters!)"
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: I'm happy to
know that my newsletter and website are making a positive difference in
people's lives. Only those of us who have FMS/CFIDS understand what it's
like! My fibromyalgia story is at http://www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm and my chronic fatigue story is at http://www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm I was diagnosed in 1982 and suffered all the horrible things
this illness can bring, but thank God I have been back to a normal lifestyle for
the past 3 years. Glad to share anything that I can that might be helpful
for other sufferers.]
2.
SLEEP IMPROVED BY LIGHT
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
Having trouble sleeping? Try spending some
time outside every day. Light exposure affects sleep by influencing circadian
(daily) rhythms and the pineal gland’s release of melatonin, a hormone that
induces drowsiness. Sometimes without recognizing it, older [or chronically ill
people] spend a lot of time inside because they aren’t going to work or aren’t
mobile. And even the strongest indoor light is several times weaker than
sunlight. The most natural way to increase your melatonin levels may be to spend
more time outdoors. Last year, Japanese researchers published research showing
that midday exposure to bright light increased the melatonin levels of elderly
study subjects and improved their sleep. (Source: Harvard Health Letter,
May 2002)
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: See my
100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia and Insomnia at http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm Some of the tips are about light and sleep. Also
see my sleep ideas at http://www.fms-help.com/sleep.htm
]
3.
LAVENDER AROMATHERAPY
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
There is some evidence that lavender
aromatherapy may help relieve anxiety and promote relaxation. [Jour Adv Nurs
1995 Jan; 21(1):34 and Int Jour Neurosci 1998;96(3-4):217.] As for pain relief
benefits, a small study of people with rheumatoid arthritis showed mixed
results. After using massage with lavender aromatherapy, most reported no pain
relief; however, participants used fewer painkillers after the study, so they
may have felt less pain. But it's not clear whether the benefit, if any, came
from massage or aromatherapy. [Nurs Stan 1998;13:34.] (Source: Natural
Treatments for Fibromyalgia: An A to Z Guide, by Kenna Simmons. An official
publication of the Arthritis Foundation, available at http://www.arthritis.org.)
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: I have
had excellent results using the essential oils of Lavender and Peace and Calming
for mental and nerve relaxation and for help with sleep. Essential
oils have frequencies that affect portions of the brain and other organs of the
body. Email me at dombush@bellsouth.net for more
info.]
4.
SEROTONIN, PAIN, SLEEP AND STRESS
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
Serotonin affects the perception of pain,
helping to "turn down the volume." It also promotes deep, restful sleep. Studies
have found that levels of serotonin may be low or that the neurotransmitter may
not be processed effectively in people with fibromyalgia. Decreased levels of
serotonin may also lead to a change in the amount of substance P that is
released (thus sending pronounced pain messages to the brain) and lower levels
of stress hormones. (Source: Natural Treatments for Fibromyalgia: An A to
Z Guide, by Kenna Simmons. An official publication of the Arthritis Foundation,
available at www.arthritis.org.)
5. ST.
JOHNS WORT AND DEPRESSION
From a newsletter reader--
"St John's Wort must never ever be taken with
anti-depressants. This is a commonly missed fact but to mix the two would
simply cause more depression. It is fine to take St John's Wort if you
aren't on any other medications but if you are then worth avoiding
it."
6. HOW
ABOUT THIS FOR A DISCLAIMER?
From a newsletter reader--
"I came across this.......one way one doctor is dealing
with the restrictions you are dealing with. I admire his
boldness!"
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: Well, at least you
can't miss his disclaimer! Sad that we have to resort to this in our
litigious society.]
7. CARBS AND FIBRO
(REVISITED)
From a newsletter reader--
"I read your last newsletter and read the
note from the woman who said that high carbohydrates made her condition
worse. She wrote that after she had a plate of pasta she felt worse.
I would like to add my experience here. Many feel that fibromalgia and
Candidiasis and leaky gut are all related. One of the things that commonly
exacerbates Candida and leaky gut is wheat...especially poor quality wheat
products (not organic--with yeast or highly refined). This woman maybe
reacting to the type of carbohydrate rather than carbohydrates in itself.
I have found that I do very well with brown rice, rye bread and even potatoes
(not in excess) but when I eat wheat I felt toxic all over."
8.
WEIGHT LOSS
I have some ideas for weight loss. If you're
interested, please write me at dombush@bellsouth.net.
9. EAT
RIGHT FOR YOUR TYPE
From a newsletter reader--
"I wanted to know if you have looked at the
website http://www.dadamo.com -- the
Eat Right 4 Your Type author. I recommend the books he has out. I have
seen improvement after getting a lot of avoid foods out of my diet. I am blood
type A+. If you know your type, it's easy to quickly eliminate poison foods from
your diet, and see dramatic immune system response."
10.
MET ONE OF DR. DANTINI'S PATIENTS
I was at my chiropractor's office last week
and met a lady who has been seeing Dr. Daniel Dantini in Ormond Beach, Florida
for her FMS/CFIDS condition. She told me she is 90% improved in just 3
weeks on Valtrex, an anti-viral medication. Her pain is almost gone.
She is still taking 1 neurontin for sleep, but compared to the 3 she had been
taking, she felt this was good. She said Dr. Dantini believes FMS/CFIDS is
caused by a virus and he tests for certain viruses. Dr. Dantini can be
found online at www.drdantini.com/page5.html He
claims an 80-90% success rate.
Meeting this lady was very interesting,
because I had reported on Dr. Dantini in past newsletters, but had never known
anyone personally who had been to see him. I was intrigued that he
believes FMS/CFIDS is caused by a virus, because I had been thinking perhaps it
was mycoplasma infection (caused by mutated viruses). If it is caused by a
virus, I can understand better why the immune balancing product I use has been
so helpful for me these past 3 years. Dr. Dantini's patient told me that
he put her on Valtrex for just a short period of time so that her immune system
could get stronger on its own once the virus was eradicated.
Interesting!
Below are some observations by one of Dr.
Dantini's patients that are on his website--
-
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are viral illnesses; the same viruses cause them; they just have slightly different symptoms.
2. Most people that have Fibromyalgia
also have chronic fatigue.
3. These viruses cause an over
stimulation of your immune system because your body cannot get rid of them. This
over stimulation weakens your immune system, which makes you more susceptible to
other illnesses and food allergies.
4. Food allergies are allergic
reactions to foods in your diet. These reactions over stimulate an already over
stimulated immune system, which not only makes your symptoms worse but it also
brings out new symptoms.
5. Food allergies are caused by an
inflammation in the intestines, which allows partially digested food to cross
the gut barrier. Once this happens the immune system recognizes the food
particle as foreign and sets up to clear it; that immune response for me was
irritable bowel and migraines.
6. I would have never thought my
irritable bowel problem was caused by wheat and eggs caused my migraines.
See http://www.doctordantini.com/Fibromyalgia.htm for more information.
[NOTE: I have since met
other people who tried anti-viral medications and it didn't help their
FMS/CFIDS. Different things work for different people. We
all have to keep searching until we find the "magic bullet" for our unique
physiology.]
11.
DOES ANYONE HAVE TORTICOLLIS?
From a newsletter reader--
"I would like for anyone with fibro who has
had torticollis please email me at StephanieDONSGRL@aol.com IT
IS KNOWN AS SPASMODIC TORTICOLLIS, OR CERVICAL DYSTONIA, WHEN NECK MUSCLES
CONTRACTING INVOLUNTARY, CAUSING ABNORMAL MOVEMENTS IN THE POSTURE OF THE HEAD
AND NECK. MINE WAS THE KIND WHERE THE CHIN STUCK TO THE SHOULDER, VERY
PAINFUL. YES YOU CAN PUT MY E MAIL OUT, FOR HELP THAT WOULD BE GREAT
ALSO TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS IT. THANKS. STEPHANIE"
12.
MAGNESIUM HELPS FMS
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
"A few well-designed clinical trials have
looked at the effects of magnesium supplementation on fibromyalgia. Some studies
have shown that people with fibromyalgia have low levels of magnesium or of
ATP. A 1995 placebo-controlled study examined the effect of magnesium and
malic acid on people with fibromyalgia and found that high doses relieved pain
and boosted energy [Jour Rheumatology 1995;22(5):953]. Another
placebo-controlled study found similar results combining magnesium with malate;
participants taking the supplement saw improvement within 48 hours [Jour Nutr
Med 1992;3:49] (Source: Natural Treatments for Fibromyalgia: An A to
Z Guide, by Kenna Simmons. An official publication of the Arthritis Foundation.
To purchase, visit www.arthritis.org.)"
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: For
more ideas, see my 100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia and Insomnia at
http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm ]
13.
PATIENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
From a newsletter reader--
14.
LADIES REVENGE
Need a laugh? My husband found
this and read it to me. Hilarious!
15.
ANTIDEPRESSANT WARNING
From the Tenderpoints
newsletter--
The FDA asked manufacturers of the following
antidepressant drugs to include in their labeling a Warning statement that
recommends close observation of adult and pediatric patients for worsening
depression or the emergence of suicidality when treated with these agents. The
drugs that are the focus of this new Warning are: Prozac (fluoxetine); Zoloft
(sertraline); Paxil (paroxetine); Luvox (fluvoxamine); Celexa (citalopram);
Lexapro (escitalopram); Wellbutrin (bupropion); Effexor (venlafaxine); Serzone
(nefazodone); and Remeron (mirtazapine).
See the 2004 MedWatch safety summary, including links to the drug information page and the FDA Public Health Advisory, at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/safety04.htm#antidepressants
See the 2004 MedWatch safety summary, including links to the drug information page and the FDA Public Health Advisory, at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/safety04.htm#antidepressants
16.
RICE PACKS
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
Nothing soothes like a hot rice pack on the
back of your neck or wherever aches you most. The simplest way to create one is
with an intact tube sock or pillow case. Just pour in several cups of dry, raw
rice--any rice except instant rice works fine. Tie the sock or pillow case
closed with a good knot. Toss your sack in the microwave for about two minutes
or so, until it reaches the perfect hot temperature to relax any muscle spasm.
Heating time depends on the size of your sack and the strength of your
microwave. When it begins to cool, place it directly on your clothes or skin.
Rice sacks heat up more intensely than electric heating pads and are much safer.
Their flexible consistency is particularly soothing. (Source: “Ten Tips on
Living with Fibromyalgia Syndrome” by Deborah A. Barrett, Ph.D. www.paintracking.com.)
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: My
chiropractor sells attractive rice packs that can be put in the freezer and
be used to cool you off too.]
17.
ANTIBIOTICS AND PROBIOTICS
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
"While probiotics are especially helpful in
preventing antibiotic-triggered bouts of diarrhea, a daily supplement can help
keep your digestive system in working order and may even stimulate your immune
system. Research has also shown that probiotics may treat irritable bowel
syndrome and yeast infections." (Source: Body & Soul magazine,
Sept-Oct 2003.)
18.
BREATH TEST LINKS FIBROMYALGIA AND IBS
This article was sent to me by a newsletter
reader. I have abbreviated it for inclusion in this newsletter.
It was from Medscape, Infectious Diseases on the net--
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 29 - An abnormal lactulose breath test (LBT), indicative of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, in fibromyalgia patients and in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients may help to explain common features of the conditions, researchers report in the April issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Dr. Mark Pimentel from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California and colleagues note that nearly a third of fibromyalgia patients in some studies are also diagnosed with IBS, suggesting a causal link between the two disorders.
All 42 patients with fibromyalgia had an abnormal LBT, compared with 93 (84%) of IBS patients and 3 (20%) of the controls.
Hydrogen production was significantly greater in fibromyalgia patients than in IBS patients or healthy controls. Moreover, the researchers note that in 41 fibromyalgia patients, there was a significant correlation between their visual analogue pain score and the peak hydrogen level and hydrogen area under the curve seen on the LBT.
"The additional finding in our study that the degree of pain in fibromyalgia seems to correlate with the degree of hydrogen suggests a possible link between the LBT findings and hyperalgesia," the investigators write.
"This study suggests that an abnormal LBT may be a common link between subjects with fibromyalgia and IBS," the authors conclude. "Further study is needed to determine if treatment and normalization of the breath test with antibiotic treatment can produce an improvement in fibromyalgia in addition to bowel complaints."
19.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFT CORNER
Got this from a friend--
10 THINGS GOD WON'T
ASK
1...God won't ask what kind of car you
drove, He'll
ask how many people you drove who
didn't have
transportation.
2...God won't ask the square
footage of your house,
He'll ask how many people you
welcomed into your
home.
3...God won't ask about the
clothes you had in your
closet, He'll ask how many you
helped to clothe.
4...God won't ask what your
highest salary was,
He'll ask if you compromised your
character to
obtain it.
5...God won't ask what your job
title was, He'll ask
if you performed your job to the
best of our
ability.
6...God won't ask how many friends
you had, He'll
ask how many people to whom you
were a friend.
7...God won't ask in what
neighborhood you lived,
He'll ask how you treated your
neighbors.
8...God won't ask about the color
of your skin,
He'll ask about the content of
your character.
9...God won't ask why it took you
so long to seek
Salvation, He'll lovingly take you
to your mansion
in heaven, and not to the gates of
Hell.
10...God won't ask how many people
you forwarded
this to, He'll ask if you were
ashamed to pass it on
to your
friends.
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: This
reminds me of something Jesus said and demonstrated by His life, "GREATER LOVE
HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS." The
Passion of the Christ movie shows graphically how much Jesus cared for us in
laying down His life to bring us eternal salvation. The part the movie
could not show was the weight of the sins of the world that were on Christ
during the torture and crucifixion. Jesus who had kept Himself pure
and undefiled had to take on Himself the sins of the entire world and being
forsaken by God His Father, who could not look on sin. That is a suffering
that no movie could begin to depict. But thank God for Mel Gibson making a
movie for our times to bring the essence of the gospel into the consciousness of
a society moving away from God at alarming speed.]
20.
DOMINIE'S PERSONAL UPDATE
I have been extremely busy these
past few months with music students and other pressing responsibilities--living
my life at warp speed!! Well, this past week I came down with the first
bad cold I've had in 3 years. Had to stay home for a few
days. As a piano teacher and musician, I don't get "sick leave" so
staying home always means a loss of income, which in our family is
significant. Thankfully, I'm on the mend now, and really can't
complain about a simple cold after all I went through with FMS/CFIDS for
almost 2 decades!
I had to chuckle the other day when
I was working on this newsletter. I accidently typed my web address as
"fms-hell.com" instead of
"fms-help.com". When I caught my mistake I just had
to laugh, because it was so descriptive of this illness! I developed
FMS in 1982 and CFIDS in 1987. I suffered until 1996 when I finally gave
up on my doctors and began to find natural things that helped, thanks to getting
a computer and going on the net.
My fibromyalgia story is at http://www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm
and my chronic fatigue story is at http://www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm You may want to compare symptoms. I'm sure that
anyone with these conditions can relate to what I went through!!
If you haven't done so, be sure to
read my 100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia and Insomnia at http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm --
you will find lots of good ideas to try.
If you want to see my picture, click on my
homepage at http://www.fms-help.com Sometimes
it helps to relate to something you read on the net when you see the person
who wrote it.
Getting back to typing errors...I am reminded
of another incident that happened a few years ago when I was new to ICQ
(internet chat). I was writing to a person in another state who had
fibromyalgia. His name was Dick. We were zooming along in our live
on-screen correspondence and I was typing very fast when I accidently
called him "Sick" instead of
"Dick"! I said something like, "Sick,
I do hope you will be feeling better soon!" When I saw
my mistake I hit the backspace key as fast as I could to correct the first
letter of his name. Of course Dick could see my frantic actions on his
computer screen, since we were on live chat! He graciously told me that
"Sick" was actually more descriptive of him at that time. (I was
SOOO embarrassed!)
I hope you have enjoyed this
month's newsletter! I continue to do well on the immune balancer,
the natural antibiotic, the pH neutralizer and essential oils. If you want
info on any of these, please write me.
Faithfully yours,
Dominie
Soo Bush
Return
to Dominie's FMS/CFIDS Home Page
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.