*** DOMINIE'S FMS/CFIDS NEWSLETTER ***
JUNE
2004
Scroll down
to read Topics 1-13:
1.
LETTERS FROM READERS
2. FIBRO
BOOKS NEEDED FOR SUPPORT GROUP LIBRARY
3. POST
POLIO SYNDROME AND FMS
4. DOES
INJURY CAUSE FIBROMYALGIA?
5. "REMEDY FIND"
6. FIBROMYALGIA LETTER WRITING
CAMPAIGN
7. DON'T
PUSH YOURSELF
8. MORE
ON MAGNESIUM
9. ANTIOXIDANTS
10. HEPARIN
11. CRANIO
SACRAL THERAPY (revisited)
12. EXCESSIVE URINATION AND BLOOD
VOLUME
13. IMMUNE FUNCTION AND FMS
Click on www.fms-help.com/June2004Page2.htm
to read Topics 14-30:
14. TESTED
POSITIVE FOR R.A
15.
POMEGRANATE JUICE
16. ASPARTAME (NUTRASWEET) AND
DEPRESSION
17. STRESS,
CORTISOL AND FMS ONSET
18.
CARBOHYDRATE CRAVINGS
19.
RESPONSE FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE
20.
SEABISCUIT
21. MORE
TIPS ON FIBROMYALGIA
22. THERAPEUTIC LASER LIGHT TREATMENT
23. YEAST AND FIBROMYALGIA
24. CHIROPRACTIC AND FMS
25. ESSIAC TEA
26. EXERCISE
AND FIBROMYALGIA?
27. MANAGING A FIBRO FLARE
28. DOCTOR
DOESN'T UNDERSTAND FIBRO
29. SPIRITUAL UPLIFT CORNER
30. DOMINIE'S
PERSONAL UPDATE
1. LETTERS
FROM READERS
"Was just referred to your web page http://www.fms-help.com. I love it! God bless you for helping keep
people informed! I have several people I will be passing on the
address to."
"Thank you so
much for your newsletter http://www.fms-help.com/May2004.htm.
My friend found it for me about a year ago. It has been a blessing ever
since. It is nice to know that I am not going
crazy."
"I loved your web page http://www.fms-help.com."
"What an article! http://www.fms-help.com/mnif.htm
MY NAME IS FIBROMYALGIA by Terri Been. I made a copy
for my lawyer. It sure sums it all up."
"I love your site http://www.fms-help.com This is the only site that mentions slurring of
words. I thought I was having a stroke and you eased my mind that
is part of FMS."
"I am newly diagnosed after many years of
suffering. I would very much like to receive the newsletter.
I'm reading all your articles as long as I can sit here
looking at the blinding screen. You are so full of
information. I feel so blessed to have been led to you from the Fibro Board I'm
on. Maybe I can give my DR's some
info."
"We are blessed to have you
in our world! I love your newsletters and tips http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm."
"My friend suffers from fibromyalgia.
I'm trying to be understanding and find out more
about her disease. Your site http://www.fms-help.com is definitely
the best information I've found
on the web. It really
gave me a lot of insight into what my friend is going
through.
It certainly makes it harder when friends and
family think that there is nothing really wrong
with you when you're in such
agony."
2.
FIBRO BOOKS NEEDED FOR SUPPORT GROUP LIBRARY
Got this request from
Elizabeth--
"I manage the Shelbyville, TN support
group for people with fibromyalgia. There are about twenty people in this
group which seems to grow day by day. We are seeking material for a
support library in Shelbyville, to educate those who suffer with this disease
their family and friends. We hope you can help with the donation of literature
or material you may have. I have had fibromyalgia for over three
years. I still don't understand everything about this disease. We
need your help."
Elizabeth Sutton
Pain Relief for FMS
602 E. Lane St., Lot
21
Shelbyville, TN 37160
Phone: 931-685-4883
Email: painreliefforfmsme@yahoo.com
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: I do hope that many of
us with FMS materials (books, pamplets, literature) that we are no longer using
will send them to Elizabeth's group. Remember that the U.S.
Postal Service LIBRARY RATE is not expensive--so be sure to ask for
it whenever you send books, literature, tapes,
etc.]
3.
POST POLIO SYNDROME AND FMS
From a newsletter reader--
"They are now saying that a lot of people that have CFS could very well
have had polio and not even known it. You can do a search
for "polio paradox" and one of the sites offers an excerpt that is very
interesting. I had polio and have all the symptoms of CFS. Which is now
considered very common in polio survivors. Even those of us that were
fully recovered--or so we thought. I'm 51 and got polio just before
the vaccine. Dr. Richard Bruno is Chairperson of the International
Post-Polio Task Force and Director of The Post-Polio Institute and International
Centre for Post-Polio Education and Research at Englewood (NJ) Hospital and
Medical Center. His new book, THE POLIO PARADOX: UNCOVERING THE HIDDEN HISTORY
OF POLIO TO UNDERSTAND TREAT "POST-POLIO SYNDROME" AND CHRONIC FATIGUE, is
published by Warner Books. (AOL Keyword POLIO PARADOX.) E-mail questions to him
at PolioParadox@aol.com."
4. DOES INJURY CAUSE
FMS?
Fibromyalgia: Is
It Caused By Injury Trauma? Can It Be
Disabling?
Here's a snippet
from this website:
"Fibromyalgia is the
subject of varying opinions among medical professionals. It is certainly controversial in the
medical-legal arena. One area of disagreement is its etiology: What causes
fibromyalgia? More specifically, in the context of personal injury lawsuits: Is
fibromyalgia caused by traumatic injuries? If so, can it result in
disability? In a recent personal injury case, Jeremy Goodwin, M.S., M.D.,
opined that the injured party’s fibromyalgia was caused by the significant
trauma suffered in a relatively high speed car accident. Dr. Goodwin is a
neurologist and a fellowship trained adult and pediatric pain and headache
specialist. He practices medicine in Ashland, Oregon and Mt. Shasta, California,
and teaches at Oregon Health Sciences University
(OHSU)."
5.
"REMEDY FIND"
Here's the address of the RemedyFind
Fibromyalgia section (to see all the available treatments click on the “All
Remedies” heading) -
http://www.remedyfind.com/hc-Fibromyalgia.asp
http://www.remedyfind.com/hc-Fibromyalgia.asp
6. FIBROMYALGIA LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN
A newsletter reader, Pattie, has come up with
an incredible idea that may benefit FMS/CFIDS sufferers nationwide.
She is contacting fibromyalgia websites and organizations to let their members
know about a letter writing campaign.
EVERYONE with FMS/CFIDS is asked to
send 4 REGULAR LETTERS via SNAIL MAIL on May 1, 2005 to the White
House, 60 Minutes, Oprah Winfrey and Montel Williams. Additional places
that were suggested are: Congress, The Today Show and Good Morning
America. We will have an awesome impact for awareness of this
illness. Our ONE PAGE letter should include information about what
our careers or achievements have been prior to the onset of FMS/CFIDS, what our
symptoms are and what our losses have been due to this
illness.
Can you imagine a MILLION letters
going out on the SAME DAY?!! May 1,
2005 was picked so that the recipients will get them by May
12, 2005, which is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day next year. More information
will follow in my upcoming newsletters and I intend to put this information on
my site at http://www.fms-help.com to
keep everyone updated on this important project that could help many FMS/CFIDS
sufferers to get SS disability, etc. Sending letters individually does no
good! We need a concerted effort from the entire FMS/CFIDS
community. This is our chance to be heard!!! The addresses will be
on my website soon. We have a year, but meanwhile CONTACT EVERY PERSON,
WEBSITE OR NEWSGROUP you know of that deals with FMS/CFIDS victims and tell them
about this letter writing effort!
7.
DON'T PUSH YOURSELF
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
"If you have CFS/FM, learn what to avoid,
such as pushing yourself beyond reasonable limits; emotional, cognitive, or
physical stressors; certain environments, foods, and chemicals; fad treatments
that may be harmful; people who don't understand your illness or are unduly
critical of you; irrational thinking; people with overwhelming emotional needs
or excessive negativity; and making unrealistic commitments. (Source: Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Other Invisible Illnesses - The
Comprehensive Guide, by Katrina Berne, Ph.D. Published by Hunter House books and
available at www.hunterhouse.com.)"
8.
MORE ON MAGNESIUM
I got these additional thoughts from newsletter readers in response to the articles in my May
2004 Newsletter http://www.fms-help.com/May2004.htm --
"Something for
your Magnesium thought from the . Magnesium also regulates the heart
beat rhythm. Drinking a caffeine which acts as a diuretic can remove magnesium
from the body, if you are susceptible. Too much caffeine can in the susceptible
individual allow the heart to have uncontrolled heart beat."
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: Most
people with FMS are deficient in magnesium. This mineral helps muscles
relax. See the May newsletter www.fms-help.com/May2004.htm for
other comments about magnesium.]
"I HAVE FOUND THAT THE BEST MAGNESIUM FOR ME
TO TAKE IS CALLED NATURAL CALM. I TRIED MANY AND NONE OF THEM WORKED
LIKE THE CALM DOES. I FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I
JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU. I FOUND THAT ALL MAGNESIUM PRODUCTS
ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL."
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: I've
mentioned Natural Calm in previous newsletters. It deserves a mention here
again. Good stuff! I have a canister in my cupboard.
Just one comment about using magnesium. It draws water into the colon, so
if you develop loose bowels, cut back a little, or take your magnesium with
food. People who are prone to constipation like this "side effect" of
magnesium!]
9.
ANTIOXIDANTS
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
"Antioxidant therapy involves products that
reduce the harmful effects of free radicals, molecules that can cause cell
injury or death and contribute to the development of many illnesses. Common
antioxidants are vitamins E and C, beta carotene, bioflavonoids, ginseng, ginkgo
biloba, and grapeseed extract (proanthocyanidin). (Source: Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Other Invisible Illnesses - The Comprehensive Guide,
by Katrina Berne, Ph.D. Published by Hunter House books and available at www.hunterhouse.com.)
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: A
doctor once told me that powerful antioxidants can clear up fibromyalgia.
Check out OPC's and Proanthenols on the net. They are stronger than
Vitamin C and Vitamin E.]
10.
HEPARIN
A newsletter reader sent
me a fascinating article on using Heparin for FMS. Has anyone
tried this drug? It works to dissolve fibrin which coats blood vessels in
people with autoimmune or other chronic illnesses. Heparin is
given by subcutaneous injection (like insulin) and gives dramatic relief to some
people with fibro. It is said to be especially helpful when a
patient's coagulation tests are abnormal. See http://www.gordonresearch.com/category_fibromyalgia.html. Fibrin deposition prevents the effective delivery of
nutrients into unhealthy cells in your body.
[NOTE FROM
DOMINIE: I found this information about Heparin very interesting in light
of Dr. Wong's research on fibrin which I reported on in the May 2004 Newsletter
http://www.fms-help.com/May2004.htm Dr. Wong's solution for this problem is
proteolytic enzymes.]
11.
CRANIO SACRAL THERAPY (revisited)
From a newsletter reader--
"I want to comment on your article on cranial sacral
therapy [See the May newsletter at http://www.fms-help.com/May2004.htm ].
My physical therapist is so good at this treatment that most doctors in our area
are sending their fibro patients to her. It is the most relaxing and
effective therapy that I have ever received and helps reduce my pain more than
meds! When they start working on me I can feel this wave of relaxation
going through my body and it is just wonderful! I also have found that
trigger point release massotherapy helps me tremendously and I go every 2 weeks
as she only charges $35 and works on me two hours and is the
best!"
12.
EXCESSIVE URINATION AND BLOOD VOLUME
I received this awhile back from a newsletter
reader--
"Your problem is one my partner has been
dealing with for the last 8-10
years with his CFS. It drives him crazy sometimes. Some nights he is up
every hour and it really does not help when he can't sleep real well
anyway. It is a condition called diuresis, meaning excess urination. I
regard myself as very lucky in that I don't have this problem a great deal.
Drinking more during the day and cutting down, but not stopping, in the
evening can help, by hydrating the body in the early part of the day can be
a great help. Extra salt and potassium can help in keeping water in the body.
If you can imagine the body as a dried out sponge and when you run water
over it, the water runs off because the sponge cannot take up the water,
because it is so dry. But if it had a little water in it, the extra water
would soak in. By having enough salt and potassium present, the water
would 'soak' into the body and not 'run off' by urination. I do believe
that a lot of people with these disorders do have the problem with lower
blood volume because the body's controlling mechanism thinks that what is
'normal blood volume' is too much for CFS/FM people and it turns on the
extraction system, thereby causing the excess urination. But by keeping up
an optimal level of salt and potassium, this should be cut down. High
potassium foods, such as bananas, can help. I can't remember any others at
the moment. Potassium regulates the level of sodium in your body,
therefore, both together are important. This is a fact often forgotten in
low salt diets. It may take a while for your system to regulate itself
when (and if) you can add these foods to your diet, but persevere. It
probably would be good idea to do this through your health practitioner
rather than on your own, just to keep an eye on things because you don't
want anything else to develop, such a high-blood pressure. I hope this
little bit of info will help. Keep up the newsletters, they are a great
source of info. I pass them around at the regular CFS/FM support group
meetings."
years with his CFS. It drives him crazy sometimes. Some nights he is up
every hour and it really does not help when he can't sleep real well
anyway. It is a condition called diuresis, meaning excess urination. I
regard myself as very lucky in that I don't have this problem a great deal.
Drinking more during the day and cutting down, but not stopping, in the
evening can help, by hydrating the body in the early part of the day can be
a great help. Extra salt and potassium can help in keeping water in the body.
If you can imagine the body as a dried out sponge and when you run water
over it, the water runs off because the sponge cannot take up the water,
because it is so dry. But if it had a little water in it, the extra water
would soak in. By having enough salt and potassium present, the water
would 'soak' into the body and not 'run off' by urination. I do believe
that a lot of people with these disorders do have the problem with lower
blood volume because the body's controlling mechanism thinks that what is
'normal blood volume' is too much for CFS/FM people and it turns on the
extraction system, thereby causing the excess urination. But by keeping up
an optimal level of salt and potassium, this should be cut down. High
potassium foods, such as bananas, can help. I can't remember any others at
the moment. Potassium regulates the level of sodium in your body,
therefore, both together are important. This is a fact often forgotten in
low salt diets. It may take a while for your system to regulate itself
when (and if) you can add these foods to your diet, but persevere. It
probably would be good idea to do this through your health practitioner
rather than on your own, just to keep an eye on things because you don't
want anything else to develop, such a high-blood pressure. I hope this
little bit of info will help. Keep up the newsletters, they are a great
source of info. I pass them around at the regular CFS/FM support group
meetings."
13.
IMMUNE FUNCTION AND FMS
From immunesupport.com's Tip of the
Day--
When the complex functioning of the immune
system is disrupted, its components and functions can be upregulated
(overreactive) or downregulated (underreactive). When upregulated, the
components of the immune system are switched on and left on, and the host
becomes reactive to all types of substances perceived as "nonself." Symptoms
associated with battle and illness are produced. The ratio of helper to
suppressor T-cells functions as the on-off switch of the immune system, with a
normal ratio of 2:1 or 3:1. The balance between them is
critical to proper immune response and functioning. During and following
illness, this ratio varies. (Source: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and
Other Invisible Illnesses - The Comprehensive Guide, by Katrina Berne, Ph.D.
Published by Hunter House books and available at www.hunterhouse.com.)
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE: I know
this to be true. I began using an immune balancing product 3 years
ago--it does not boost the immune system. This has helped more
than anything else I've tried. It ended my decades of poor health.
Write me if you want information about this product: dombush@bellsouth.net
]
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.
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