31. "BE HAPPY" -- I am strongly opposed to the idea that FMS is a "mind-over-matter" illness! Those who have not experienced this dreadful disorder cannot even begin to understand what FMS sufferers go through. However, try to do ALL you can to cheer yourself. Read inspirational, funny or uplifting books, think about happy things, sing joyful songs--whatever brings a smile to your face and happiness to your heart. I learned about this while recovering from major surgery. I am basically a serious person, but a friend had loaned me some books by a very funny author--a man who really had a gift for writing about himself humorously. Whenever my post-operative pain became excruciating, I would read these books and soon find myself smiling and even laughing inwardly. Somehow the humor helped me get through the worst times of pain.

32. SMOKING -- NO ONE who is serious about their health should be smoking--least of all people with fibromyalgia! Smokers breathe in BILLIONS of free radicals with every puff. These free radicals greatly damage blood, tissues and cells.

33. JUNK FOOD -- "Junk food" is loaded with fat, chemicals, food additives, sugar, excitotoxins, etc. that put stress on your body and cause toxicity. Make healthy food choices--your tissues and cells need all the help they can get! (See #37)

34. NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS -- Sometimes high quality nutritional supplements help people feel better. Each of us has our own unique requirements. Products of the "one-a-day"variety are usually not very effective. Look for supplements that are cold-processed or highly bioavailable. (NOTE: Do not take excessive amounts of iron, as this can lead to fatigue, joint pain and even heart disease as the iron oxidizes in the body.)

35. RESEARCH -- Fibromyalgia is a puzzling disorder with many components--neurological, autoimmune, hormonal, etc. A lot of interesting research is being done now. Several recent clinical studies have revealed damage and irregularities in the shape of the red blood cells in people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia! This causes blockages in the blood flow through the capillaries, resulting in insufficient oxyen getting to the muscles and tissues, hence the pain and fatigue. (One researcher is even trying to get his blood test approved internationally. It could become a much-needed diagnostic tool.) Since OPC's help heal free radical damage, I am not surprised that after I began taking them, my FMS pain and stiffness disappeared back in 1996. ("The life is in the blood..." says the Bible.) Many FMS sufferers report that their pain and fatigue left in just a few days or weeks after they began taking them. For others it took several months. There also are some people who do not experience improvement. We are all different--we detoxify and heal at different rates based on a number of factors. Many people who use OPC's also experience an increase in energy (a welcome relief for chronic fatigue) due to improved circulation to the cells. I use a unique, recently-developed immune product that balances immune function, improves circulation, modulates autoimmune responses, helps digestion and gives me energy and stamina. I only wish this product had been available many years ago!

36. RAW FOODS -- Despite an abundance of food in our modern society, serious health problems and chronic degenerative diseases are on the rise! Our bodies are toxic from all the chemicals we get in our S.A.D. (Standard American Diet). Without regard for nutrition, we often "live to eat" rather than "eat to live!" Many people find that their health improves when they stop eating so much processed food, red meat and dairy products. Livestock are injected with hormones to fatten them up, and also with antibiotics to keep them alive. Their feed is mixed with substances from "rendering plants." You may want to try a more plant-based diet which includes raw fruits and vegetables, brown rice, beans, seeds, nuts, etc. You may even want to invest in a good juicer and make your own fresh carrot and other vegetable juices. By providing our bodies with better fuel, our cells can detoxify and function properly. One word of caution--make dietary changes gradually, so that your body can adapt. I still eat small amounts of chicken, fish and red meat, because I don't do well on a completely vegetarian diet. However, you can research the internet about the safety of various kinds of meat and even fish, as there are many strains of bacteria contaminating our food these days. Some "clean" animal protein is needed by most people in their diets.

37. Co-Q-10 -- In the popular book "From Fatigued to Fantastic," Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. discusses Coenzyme Q10, which is essential in the energy cycle because of its effect on the mitochondria. People with FMS/CFIDS have dysfunction in the mitochondria of their cells and without CoQ10, your cells cease to produce energy. They deteriorate and even die. Coenzyme Q10 is believed to boost the immune system, supply the body with energy and counteract free radical damage.

38. LOW-FAT -- Because of the pain that exercise causes, a lot of people with FMS have become overweight due to bodily inactivity. Eat regular, well-balanced, low-fat meals to help keep blood sugar levels stable and maintain a healthy body weight. Since toxins are stored in fat cells, it would make sense to not be overweight. If you use processed foods, avoid buying those whose calories are more than 30% from fat. (Check labels carefully.) Also, make pure water your beverage of choice. Water helps flush toxins out of the body. Do not consume soft drinks! Interestingly, Dr. Swank long ago claimed that all of his MS (multiple sclerosis) patients improved when they reduced their saturated fat intake. Recently researchers have discovered that most MS patients cannot digest saturated fats properly. MS is kind of a diagnostic catch-all category, but most people will probably find improvement in their health by eliminating fatty foods. However, from what I have been reading lately, you don't want to go overboard on a fat-free diet either, as this is not good for the body. If weight control continues to be a problem, please write me dombush@bellsouth.net and I'll be glad to share information about safe products that assist with weight loss.

39. ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES -- Most doctors do NOT think that fibromyalgia is an inflammatory disorder, but I have always maintained that it feels like one--my muscles used to actually feel inflamed! Lately I've been hearing some fascinating reports that FMS may be an inflammatory condition caused by mycoplasmas. These are mutated bacteria and viruses that invade certain glands of the brain and even organs of the body! I am reminded now of something that happened to me during the 1980's, when my fibromyalgia was at its worst. A doctor prescribed prednisone (a steroidal anti-inflammatory) for a persistent ear infection I had. Surprisingly, during the week I was on prednisone for the ear inflammation, my FMS pain vanished completely! I begged the doctor to prescribe predisone for me on a regular basis, but he wisely replied, "Prednisone is SHORT TERM MAGIC, LONG TERM TRAGIC!" (There are terrible side effects from long-term use.) Happily, I have since learned about some natural anti-inflammatories that can be helpful. One is Lyprinol--a marine lipid complex made from mussels (little sea creatures). It is 350 times more potent than Evening Primrose Oil and 400 times more potent than Flax Oil. Lyprinol has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, helping conditions such as bursitis and "rheumatism" (which may be the same thing as fibromyalgia). I have noticed that people with FMS are often prone to other inflammatory conditions such as bursitis, tendinitis and arthritis. Another natural anti-inflammatory is Glucosamine. New research reveals that FMS may indeed be an inflammatory condition after all! (See Tip #90 about mycoplasmas, which may be at the ROOT of the FMS problem!)

40. PILLOWS -- Some people with FMS are helped by buckwheat pillows. I tried one because I like a firm pillow, but my arms began to tingle and fall asleep after a few hours. (I think the pillow was so firm that it was cutting off circulation.) I prefer using a magnetic pillow from Magnetic Ideas which is made with a special foam that conforms to the shape of your head and isn't wiggly. It also helps relieve the brain from electromagnetic contamination, such as from sitting in front of the computer. I noticed a marked improvement in how quickly I fell asleep and also in going back to sleep (after getting up to go to the bathroom) when I began using a magnetic pillow and mattress pad. I was also not as restless in the night. Buyer beware: there are many substandard brands on the market. Do your research before buying!

Tips #1-10 - Reduce Stress, Get Plenty of Sunlight, Computers, Sleep, Mental Relaxation, Rest, Cold, Heat, Immune System, Exercise

Tips #11-20 - Massage, Excitotoxins, Mattress, Anti-oxidants, Soft Drinks, Doctors, Depression, Nightshade Vegetables, Repetitive Activity, Magnesium

Tips #21-30 - Noise, Calming Herbs, Yeast, Vitamin E, Fasting, Dark/Light, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pain Relieving Gels, Brain, Parasites

Tips #31-40 - "Be Happy," Smoking, Junk Food, Nutritional Supplements, Research, Raw Foods, CO-Q-10, Low-Fat, Anti-inflammatories, Pillows

Tips #41-50 - Sleep Meds, Milk, Chiropractic, Sunglasses, Coral Calcium Water, Posture, Tension Myositis Syndrome, Epsom Salts, 5-HTP, Malabsorption

Tips #51-60 - Progesterone Cream, Neck Injuries, Hormone Instability, Carbohydrates, Prayer, Aspartame (Nutrasweet) and MSG, Guaifenesin, Ions, Colds and Viruses, Sleep Anxiety

Tips #61-70 - Magnets, Fructose (Sugar) Intolerance, MSM, Electromagnetic Fields, "Leaky Gut" (Intestinal Permeability), Migraines, Cytomegalo Virus, Books, Overactive Bladder, Shoes

Tips #71-80 - Methylcobalamin, Mercury Poisoning, Soy and Food Allergies, Thyroid, Marital Stress, Lyme Disease, Breathing, Ativan, Soluble Fiber, Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS)

Tips #81-90 Type A Personality, B-Complex, Brain Surgery, Red Blood Cells, Iron, Substance P, Gluten Intolerance, Racing Thoughts, DHEA, Mycoplasmas

Tips #91-100 - Relaxin, Warm Water Exercise, Essential Oils, Blood Volume, Acidosis, Oxidative Damage, Hyperbaric Oxygen, Bedding, Histamine Intolerance, Blood Thickness

Before saying goodbye to this web page, be sure to read the rest of my 100 tips. You just might find something that will help! Click on the convenient links located right after Tip #40 above.

II Corinthians 1: 4 - "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." Visit Dominie's FMS/CFIDS Homepage at www.fms-help.com for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers and their families.

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.