*** DOMINIE'S NEWSLETTER (PAGE 1) ***
NOVEMBER 2003

www.fms-help.com/November2003.htm

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor. I am a fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome survivor. The purpose of this newsletter 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 newsletter.
 

 
1.  LETTERS FROM READERS
2.  TV SHOW LABELS FMS SUFFERER A HYPOCHONDRIAC
3.  NEURONTIN (revisited)
4.  SCIATICA PAIN
5.  CANDIDA (YEAST OVERGROWTH)
6.  LAVENDER OIL FOR FMS
7.  POST HERPETIC NEURALGIA
8.  CHRONIC FATIGUE AND STRESS
9.  PILATES EXERCISE
10.  MERCURY FILLINGS AND FMS
11.  HYALURONIC ACID FOR FIBRO RELIEF
12.  LOW BODY TEMPERATURE AND FMS SYMPTOMS
13.  GUAIFENESIN THERAPY
14.  CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM AND FMS
15.  MENOPAUSE RELIEF
16.  CHINESE MEDICINE'S VIEW OF INSOMNIA AND DEPRESSION
17.  SPIRITUAL UPLIFT CORNER
18.  DOMINIE'S PERSONAL UPDATE
 
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1.  LETTERS FROM READERS
 
"Thank you for your monthly letter; I especially like the link to the poem by Terri Been http://www.fms-help.com/mnif.htm   I printed the poem out and have it hanging in my office at work.  I'm hoping some people will think twice about their stereotypes after reading it."
 
"I have just found your site http://www.fms-help.com from the About.com FMS site which I also just found and I've only just stopped crying!  Not exactly sure why I started crying, but mainly relief and frustration."
 
"Thank you for putting together such a comprehensive website about fibromyalgia http://www.fms-help.com - I plan on adding your site to my favorites list."
 
"Just wanted to tell you that your October newsletter http://www.fms-help.com/October2003.htm is wonderful; so full of info!"
 
"I am feeling great since being on the immune balancer you suggested."
 
"Thank you for all your wonderful eMails and newsletter and loads and loads of information on FMS/CFS http://www.fms-help.com  After suffering for so long and wondering if it was all in the head I can see how others have felt.   Almost as if they were writing down my symptoms.  I have downloaded everything and will spend the week-end reading reading reading!!  Just had to thank you for all your wonderful work."  
 
"A relative of mine---who also suffers from FMS---has been forwarding your newsletters to me.  The information found in them is wonderful.  Thank you for all of your research on the behalf of all of us who suffer from these illnesses."
 
"I would be very interested in obtaining information regarding alternative
therapies for fibromyalgia.  It is obvious that traditional methods do not help."
 
"Your site at http://www.fms-help.com is me to the T.  I have just found out that I have this after 2 years.  Now I know I am not crazy."
 
"I have both FMS and CFS, and you certainly have been a great help to me on some of my most bleak days. Every new issue affords me another chance to visit with what I now consider a supportive and understanding friend--one who can only understand through sharing what I experience on a daily basis."  [NOTE FROM DOMINIE:  A great article called "My Name is Fibromyalgia" by Terri Been is at http://www.fms-help.com/mnif.htm  It can help friends and family members to understand what it's like to have FMS.]
 
"I am so very impressed with your informative website http://www.fms-help.com and feel as if I know you since I can relate to what you have suffered in the past. I recently discovered by myself exactly what was wrong with me after spending thousands at doctors and specialists who kind of thought I was making up the thing. Just knowing what's up and that there are steps that I can take to help overcome this nightmare has already made such a huge difference in my life and the lives of my family members. It is so encouraging to happen upon a website such as yours."
 
"Your site http://www.fms-help.com is absolutely fantastic.  So much info!!" 
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE:  Try the new SEARCH feature on my site.  Click on "Search This Site By Keyword."  Then type in any topic related to FMS/CFIDS that you are interested in.  It will search my site and find the pages where that topic is mentioned.  When the results come up, click on the page you are interested in.  Once you get the page on your screen, use CTRL F to find the location of that word on the page.  Useful tool!]
 
"Thank you for all the valuable information I have received from you and passed on to many friends who have the same symptoms.  For years we just thought we were all just going through the change or had completely lost our minds." 
 
 
2.  TV SHOW LABELS FMS SUFFERER A HYPOCHONDRIAC
 
Sorry to be so late with this information, but there is still something we can do--see the link below.  A newsletter reader called this situation to my attention in May of 2002--
 
"SOME DISTURBING NEWS again from the televisions sets in everyone's living
rooms. This was brought to my attention from our never resting research
fairy, sol, and was written by our good friend Anne-Marie Vidal:

On the last episode of Judging AMY, the disease FIBROMYALGIA was
ridiculed..They Implied we could "walk it off and its suffers were referred
to as Hypochondriacs!!!!!ok now this part is easy..Lots of us gripe to each
other or on message boards and chatrooms.....Here is the link to the site
of CBS JUDGING AMY and at the very bottom CBS.com in teeny teeny letters it
says "feedback" and when it opens it says"tell us what you think.." SO TELL
THEM!! I ALREADY did.... This is just the publicity we DON'T NEED! They
should be ashamed of themselves. Use this link to give them your feedback:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/judging_amy/index.shtml

This is what I [the newsletter reader] wrote to CBS:

"I was shocked and disappointed to see a painful and crippling disease, from
which I suffer, ridiculed in one of my formerly favorite TV shows, Judging
AMY. I have been totally disabled by this chronic pain condition called
Fibromyalgia for over 10 years. I am not a hypochondriac (as was described
by actress Tyne Daly), nor can my condition be cured by "walking it off" or
health foods.. I wish it were that simple.I suggest your writers put more
thought into researching terms before just putting them into scripts to
achieve laughs, I doubt they would dare abuse a medical condition such as
cancer or AIDS quite so flippantly."
 
 
3.  NEURONTIN (revisited)
 
From a newsletter reader--
 
"Along with the FM pain I was getting pain that felt like electric shocks and wherever the pain was I would jump be it my leg or back etc. I'm on 2400 mg of Neurontin a day and it has helped so much. To me it's a wonder drug because it helps so much. It settles jumpy nerves right down."
 
 
4.  SCIATICA PAIN
 
From a newsletter reader--
 
"I am currently studying to become an ND.  In my studies found that Sciatica is very common with FMS individuals (I personally experience it). TIP:  If Sciatica is on the left side it is a Silica deficiency, on the right side Potassium deficiency.  CELLFOOD - makes a Silica pain product.  After experiencing severe left side Sciatica for weeks, I put 30 drops of the Silica in water and the pain went away within 30 minutes. Yippee!!  Now whenever the Sciatica symptoms arise I head for the Silica and voila it goes away."
 
 
5.  CANDIDA (YEAST OVERGROWTH)
 
From a newsletter reader--
 
"I have found a new product for Candida erradication - CANDEX.  Claims to get rid of Candida in 6 to 30 days with NO Herksheimer side affects. This product goes after Candida totally different then any other product I have seen or used on the marketplace."  [NOTE FROM DOMINIE: The immune balancer I take also addresses candida.]
 
6.  LAVENDER OIL AND FMS
 
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 www.arthritis.org.)
 
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE:  I use Lavender and also Peace and Calming essential oils prior to going to sleep.  I put them on my palms, temples, wrists and behind my ears.  You can also put a few drops on the soles of your feet.  You may also need Lemon essential oil to get the pH right.  I also like the oil called JOY.  These 4 oils are part of the Essential 7 kit (which contains 3 more).  If you're interested to know more, contact Heidi at bunnyblue55@cs.com and she can help you.  Tell her Dominie sent you.  Essential oils are fascinating!  They have different frequencies, and these affect the body in many ways.  Our olfactory system (sense of smell) is tied to the limbic portion of the brain, which controls many functions of the body.  These oils don't smell that good (to me), but they do work--and they are not oily!  Inhale deeply!]
 
 
7.  POST HERPETIC NEURALGIA
 
Although this topic is not related to FMS/CFIDS, I wanted to include it because I had a young friend (21 years old) who had a severe case of post herpetic neuralgia after a bout of shingles.  She suffered greatly, and I understand that this condition is almost intolerable for the elderly.  Please read below...
 
From immunesupport.com's Weekly Bulletin--
 
Research: Relief of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia Pain with Topical Geranium Oil -
Post-herpetic neuralgia has the features of all neuropathic pain syndromes: sensory abnormalities, ongoing pain, allodynia, a well-defined pathogenesis and a well-defined onset. In a multi-center, double-blind crossover design study, topical geranium oil produced a significant reduction in pain compared to placebo.
http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=36029195-16143
 
 
8.  CHRONIC FATIGUE AND STRESS
 
From immunesupport.com's Weekly Bulletin--
 
Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Related to Stress Response? - Researchers in Germany found that subtle alterations of a hormonal stress response system called the HPA axis may play a role in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, according to a 2002 study published in Psychosomatic Medicine.  http://go1.warp9ems.com/go.pl?tu=36029195-16144
 
[NOTE FROM DOMINIE:  Please read my chronic fatigue experience at http://www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm  I believe that stress had something to do with it--perhaps in overwhelming my immune system.  Once the immune system becomes unbalanced, a lot of other things start to go wrong.  What has helped me most is an immune balancer. Once the immune system is re-educated, your whole body functions better.  I had been a sickly child and grew up to be a fragile adult.  I feel better now at 51 than I've ever felt in my life.  I'll never be Hercules, but for me, this is great!  I have energy all day, don't have to take naps or rest breaks, and I keep up with my responsibilities and enjoy life.  But for some reason, traveling wears me out.]


 9.  PILATES EXERCISE
 
From a newsletter reader--
 
"Go to http://www.pilates.com and then click on "about pilates" and it will explain  all about pilates!!    I do the Pilates with  the Denise Druce tapes....I like it better than yoga!!   I get my tapes from http://www.terrastar.net
   You can also check out  http://www.windsorpilates.com and that has tapes too."
 
 
10.  MERCURY FILLINGS AND FMS
 
Received this from a newsletter reader--
 
"My fibromyalgia started when i was 19 i am now 39.
For years i tried it ALL!!!!!!!!!!    and YOU know what that means.
I am no doubt one up on you, i even saw a psychic.
She said i was beheaded in my two past lives.  (well, that's not fair)
Anyway.  one day it all came to me that the SAME WEEK i had 6 Amalgams put
in is the SAME week the Neck, then Jaw, Shoulders, Wrists, Hips....on down
to the knees and feet began to hurt.  (who would EVER suspect their own Dentist and the Material they use?) it , (the Pain) (to date ) has NOT stopped.
HAIR LOSS
TINITUS
PANIC ATTACKS
DRY SKIN
DEPRESSION.....
as you know, the list goes on and on...
2003!  it has been 2 years since i had ALL the Amalgams removed and NO
change, yet i am CONVINCED this is the cause.  They used a rubber damn but nothing to cover my nose, this means MORE EXPOSURE!!!
(not to mention the time and time again that i went over the years to have
the exsisting Amalgams worked on and they put in more  (Aggggg!)
So here i am , my Boy is 1 year old and i am not breast feeding anymore so i
need to Detox, but i am SOOOOO sensitive to EVERYTHING that i am scared.
DO YOU KNOW of a good Chelating Product???"
 

11.  HYALURONIC ACID FOR FIBRO RELIEF

Some fibro sufferers find relief with hyaluronic acid drops.  Hyaluronic acid is the body's natural lubricant.  Look up Synthovial 7 on the net.  Doctors sometimes inject hyaluronic acid into the joints, but it is expensive and painful.  These drops are taken orally.

 

 
CLICK HERE to read TOPICS 12-18 (Page 2 of the November 2003 newsletter).