Dominie's Newsletter - July 2003

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.

I received an interesting letter from a friend on how to handle a stroke victim. It was translated from Chinese. Bloodletting is not used in our country that I am aware of. If you're interested, I can send you this email. Write me at dom@fms-help.com

I received a solicitation email for a product called Ring Stop--it supposedly stops ringing in the ears immediately. I haven't tried it, but thought I'd mention it, if someone wants to do some research. Many of us with FMS also have annoying tinnitus. Sometimes it is related to problems with our jaw joints (TMJ). My tinnitus is MUCH improved--I only have a mild case now, but during my worst years with FMS/CFIDS, it was maddening! (You can read my personal story about fibromyalgia at http://www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm)

According to Charles Lapp, M.D., "I am confident that there is a common biophysiological thread between CFS and FM, but also with other disorders like Gulf War Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and the “shadow syndromes” like Temperomandibular Dysfunction, mitral valve prolapse, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Overactive Bladder that are closely associated with CFS/FM. At this time, these could all be satisfactorily explained by changes in the Central Nervous System, which I suspect holds the key to CFS/FM. (Source: Pro Health's Healthwatch Treatment Guide 2002. Read the complete article online at http://www.immunesupport.com/Library/showarticle.cfm/ID/3942/HealthWatch/HealthWatch-Treatment-Guide-2002.)

"A while back somebody had asked (in your newsletter) how Fibromyalgia affects pregnancy. I just had a little boy at the end of December. I'll tell you, other than the regular "pregnancy stuff", I felt better than I did before I was pregnant. My joints always used to hurt especially first thing in the morning. During my pregnancy, I didn't have any aches and pains that I had experienced prior to the pregnancy. All the pre-symptoms of Fibromyalgia are starting to come back now. The (lack of) pain must have been affected by the hormones and physiological changes brought on by being pregnant."

[NOTE: The hormone, Relaxin, is Tip #91 in my 100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia site at http://www.fms-help.com/tips9.htm Dr. Samuel Yue, a Chinese researcher, has found that the hormone Relaxin, which is abundant in pregnancy and lower in the non-pregnant state, is generally low in people with FMS. He developed a product called Vitalaxin which he says helps people with FMS. You can find Vitalaxin on the net.]

"See http://www.add-fibromyalgia.com It was talking about the use of stimulant medications for ADD and the relationship to Fibromyalgia. Since I have both of these disorders and have found the stimulant medications to help me, I could really relate."

Dealing with the day-to-day struggles of living with a chronic illness can be trying. Coping Corner is the spot where you can find the online support you need to get through your day. Featuring personal stories, advice columnist Eunice Beck, RN, book reviews, and more.
http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=27889096-13643

[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: Also, I have 100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia and Insomnia at http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm These are helpful things I learned from having FMS and insomnia for over 20 years. Take a look! Something in this site just might help!]

Pathogenic Yeasts and Fungi: A Growing Health Concern (Especially for Immune Compromised Individuals) - Like weeds in a lawn, pathogenic fungi and yeasts (single-celled fungi) can invade and overtake our bodies. In people with healthy immune systems, cells called macrophages and neutrophils engulf these pathogens, nipping them in the bud. But when the immune system is weakened by disease or drugs, fungi - much like weeds in your garden, can grow unchecked and cause a variety of health problems.
http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=27889096-13640

[NOTE: Some newsletter readers are using Three Lac for help with candidiasis (yeast overgrowth). Others are doing well with an immune balancing powder which balances and supports immune function.]

Parvovirus Infection and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Dr. Charles Shepherd writes, "A wide variety of viral infections - enteroviruses, herpesviruses, hepatitis infections - have been implicated in precipitating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Among the less common causes is parvovirus B19 - an infection which is of growing interest to researchers as it can produce complications which include anaemia (the virus can replicate in the bone marrow), nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy and encephalitis), and miscarriage." http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=27889096-13638