us who have searched in vain for answers!"
willingness to share your story http://www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm and your insights."
great new ideas to help improve my life with FMS. Sometimes just being aware
of new possibilities makes all the difference! It is hard living with a
so-called incurable ailment but having more options gives me great hope!"
5. MARITAL HARMONY
Below are some responses to my booklet, "MARITAL HARMONY, An Emergency Marriage Manual," which is online now at http://www.fms-help.com/marriage.htm--
"Those were powerful and helpful words on marriage. God really used you to speak them. Thank you so much, Dominie! I will pass them on to my friends."
"This is so good, honest, and so valuable."
other problems and I know I have been too hard on him at times and with all
his problems etc. I certainly do not need to add more stress to his life.
This excerpt is a definite keeper and I have read it over and over again.
Thank you for knocking some sense into my head. This has GREATLY helped."
"I enjoyed your Emergency Marriage Manual so much! I'm going though so much right now in my life that you are a blessing to me. Thank you for being there for all of us."
God's Will each day, but I'm sure tough on my husband.....I love him and don't ever want to lose him. I wrote down a whole page of notes from your book. I will look at them and I saved it in my 'favorites.' Thank you for that gift from God!"
the nick of time."
"Thank you so much for compiling this. These are all good things I've heard over the years but never wrote down. I will bookmark your page for when 'I' try to take control of my own marriage and forget that the LORD is the one in control."
6. IMMUNE SYSTEM AND FMS
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the Day--
The immune system may be compromised in FMS sufferers. Natural Killer (NK) cells seek out and destroy foreign invaders in our bodies. When FMS patients' NK cells were tested by I. Jon Russell, M.D., they were found to be in normal amounts, but their activity was low. Researchers do not know why this is so, but serotonin may influence the activity of these NK cells. A high incidence of immune-reactive proteins have been found in the skin of FMS patients. These are not normally seen in a healthy person's skin. In other words, proteins are leaking through the blood vessel walls and accumulating in surrounding tissues, which often occurs in conditions that have an immunologic component. (Source: Taking Charge of Fibromyalgia, by Julie Kelly, M.S., R.N., and Rosalie Devonshire, M.S.W.) [NOTE FROM DOMINIE: I have been using an immune balancer since June of 2001. It modulates autoimmune responses and balances the immune system. I have only caught one "bug" in the past 2 years! Since the 3rd week of taking this, my sleep is better, I don't have racing thoughts, pain is gone, gas and bloating problems are gone--even my complexion is better.]
7. SLEEP PRODUCTS
From a newsletter reader--
"The night formula is called 'Revitalizing Sleep Formula.' I thought that I would never be able to come off of Trazadone but I did. Instead I take this product and it is wonderful. The man who created this is [Dr. Teitelbaum] who has Fibromyalgia. The author has written a book that is entitled 'From Fatigued to Fantastic.' The lady who sold this to me [at the health food store] said that she can't keep it on the shelf. I sleep and wake up rested. Even if I wake up for those potty breaks, I still fall back asleep and feel rested the next day." [NOTE FROM DOMINIE: You can find this product on the net. Surf around....several sites sell it for less than the retail price. I tried it and it didn't help me, but everyone is so different, that it might be worth a try. Sleep is on ongoing problem for most people with FMS. Another reader wrote to tell us abou a similar valerian-based product called Valaxin at http://www.valaxin.com It seems to work a little for him, but might be helpful for people with less of a sleep disorder than he has. Also, heard about Tranquil Ease at http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=30927421-14547 Maybe one of these products could be an alternative to regular sleep meds.]
8. HERBS FOR CFS
From a newsletter reader--
"Many different things (including stress,
over-work, viruses, environmental toxins, etc.) can cause the immune system to
become under or over-active, and when that happens it affects the whole rest of
our bodies. I remember laying on my sofa at 10:30 in the morning, and
wondering why I was so tired that I couldn't even pick up a scrap of paper and
put it in the trash. I remember wondering: " What's wrong with me?
Why am I so tired? Why can't I get
up?... Is it my nerves, or my brain, or my muscles?"
I just met a lady today
in the AAA parking lot. She said she had CFS years ago, and she recovered
by using OLE and Green Tea extract. I personally used herbs: Cats Claw
root, Cordyceps and Olive Leaf Extract (OLE)... and I recovered in 2
months. One of my friends who has had CFS for 9 years recently started
taking OLE and Cats Claw, and she just wrote to me and said "Thank you! I have
so much energy that it feels like I don't even have CFS anymore!" I told
her to make sure she gets her rest because her body is still in 'recovery' mode,
and it will take a couple months for her body to fully recover... so she
shouldn't push herself too fast or it will take longer to recover."
10. PAIN RELIEF
A newsletter reader sent in this website about an electronic pain relief device, which he hopes will help ease his pain--see http://www.apml.co.uk/testimonial_written.htm [NOTE FROM DOMINIE: Got an update--so far, no results for this reader, but since it has helped others, it might be worth taking a look at.]
11. CFS AND BLOOD
From a newsletter reader--
An interesting article by Dr. Majid Ali at http://www.garynull.com/Documents/AgingHealthfully/CFS.htm Here's a short quote: "Excessive oxidative injury in CFS is caused by undiagnosed mold allergy and food intolerance, sugar overload, denatured foods, antibiotic abuse, pesticides, environmental pollutants, abusive drug prescriptions, and lifestyle stressors. What's the proof of all that? Direct microscopic examination of a drop of blood of the patient performed with a special type of microscope called high-resolution phase-contrast microscope with darkfield optics."
12. FMS, ARTHRITIS AND SED RATE
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the Day--
"If you think you have fibromyalgia but arthritis is not out of the question, one test that may be included in your diagnostic process is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate or ESR). This is an old test that measures the rate at which red blood cells settle out in a tube of unclotted blood; a higher than normal sed rate indicates inflammation. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other similar types of arthritis have abnormal sed rates. Patients with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, however, usually have normal sed rates. Some infections can also cause an abnormal sed rate; the test is not specific for any one disease." (Source: The Fibromyalgia Handbook: A 7-Step Program to Halt and Even Reverse Fibromyalgia, by Harris H. McIlwain, M.D., and Debra Fulghum Bruce, M.S.)
13. MERCURY FILLINGS AND
FMS/CFIDS
From a newsletter reader--
"I stumbled on your site http://www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm while waiting for my OTC sleep aid to kick in. This CFS is about the most frustrating thing I have ever experienced. I have a husband, 2 great kids and a life that I was really enjoying until now. I'm working on getting my 6 silver fillings removed, and I am really interested in your info about detoxing the mercury after the removal is completed." [NOTE: If you have had your mercury fillings removed and want to share your experience with other newsletter readers, please write me at dombush@bellsouth.net ]
14. "100 TIPS FOR COPING" IN PORTUGUESE
Thank you, newsletter reader Nelson Filho Almeida, for translating my "100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia and Insomnia" into Portuguese. They are at http://www.nossopapel.hpg.ig.com.br/informativos/informativos2.html
15. SIGN THE "WOMEN IN PAIN" PETITION!
Thank you to newsletter reader Claudia Luna for alerting us to this link: http://www.petitiononline.com/winpain/petition.html - This is an awesomely worded petition that women's pain issues be taken seriously by the medical community. WOW!!!! I encourage you to sign it. (I am signature #1753, if you want to read my comments.) Below are two emails that arrived in my mailbox within hours of eachother. They illustrate why we need to sign this petition!!--
"I would appreciate any information you could give me on coping with fibromyalgia. I have suffered for about 5 years now. I also have had 2 back surgeries as I have alot of back problems along with sciatic pain running from the top of my butt all the way down both of my legs. I have been to many doctors for fibromyalgia (or I think that is what I have) but most of the doctors around here think it is all in my head."
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: SIGN THE WOMEN'S PAIN PETITION--see link above!]
Before leaving this subject, below is an email from a MALE newsletter reader--
"I think that most men with FMS/CFS are treated much the same as women. Over the course of about 10 years I was sent to an eye doctor and a nuerologist, and then a (female!) psychiatrist, who all told me it was all in my head. I tried one Internal Med. doctor who said my pain threshold was just set too low! Again, all in my head. I finally got LUCKY. Due to a misdiagnosis of Rh.Arth. by a new Gen. Practitioner in 2000 I was sent to a Rheumatologist who new how to diagnose FMS from tendor points. That same G.P. still thinks I have Rh. Arth today even though I explained the other doctor's diagnosis! The G.P.'s initial treatment (Vioxx) actually made my hands and feet hurt far worse! So I must say that improper diagnosis and treatment for pain is not isolated to women only. In fact, I often wonder how many men simply go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and then end their miserable lives either through suicide directly or indirectly through substance abuse brought on by their self-medicating for pain. There may be as many men as women who have FMS, but we'll never know it if they're mis- or undiagnosed. Whereas women just don't give up and accept the error, most men typically do since they hate going to doctors anyway."
16. ALUMINUM AND FIBRO?
From a newsletter reader--
"I've been getting your newsletter for some time. Tonight as I read the latest, something about toxins struck me. Right before I began having the symptoms of fibro, I worked at a factory that makes aluminum handles for tool boxes and other aluminum items. The aluminum dust from the grinding was so thick that my face was black when I walked out at end of work day. I only worked there for about 6 months, but have suffered now for about 6/7 years. Have you ever heard anything about aluminum causing fibro? I'd appreciate hearing your opinion about it."
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: Any thoughts? Write me at dombush@bellsouth.net and I'll include them in the next newsletter.]
17. URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
From a newsletter reader--
"I am prone to urinary problems. Cranberry
juice did not help. Someone
told me of smuggling beer to her mother at her
rest-home. This was a
no-no. She could have given her the non-alcoholic
kind. It's the hops in it
that makes it work. When I drink a can of
it- no more urinary
problems. When I learned hops can be purchased at a
health food store
this became my way of obtaining its benefits. (Look
it up at a web site
and learn more about it). This is as close as I've been
to having a
dramatic herbal experience."
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: I use an excellent brand of colloidal silver whenever infections try to get started. Works well for me.]
18. DRY MOUTH AND EYES
From Tip of the Day--
"Dryness of the mouth, nose or eyes can happen in otherwise normal persons, but more than 25% of fibromyalgia (FM) patients have this symptom. Dryness occurs when glands do not produce the normal amounts or quality of tears to lubricate the eyes or saliva to lubricate the mouth. This problem is commonly associated with rheumatoid and other types of arthritis and is called Sjogren's syndrome. There is no single known cause. Although dryness is mainly uncomfortable, the loss of normal lubrication for the eyes can increase risk of infection. The loss of normal saliva and lubrication in the mouth increases the chance of tooth decay. See your opthamologist and/or dentist for treatment."
19. SODIUM OXYBATE
(revisited)
From a newsletter reader with a severe sleep disorder in reference to the article in the July 2003 newsletter--
"Sodium oxybate is illegal. I tried to get it--only approved for narcolepsy. More FDA madness."
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: SEE #26 in this newsletter about XYREM--also known as GHB or sodium oxybate.]
Go to PAGE 2 of the August 2003 Newsletter
Return
to Dominie's FMS/CFIDS Home Page