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2007 News Coverage

CFS / CFIDS / ME - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
FM / FMS / Fibro - Fibromyalgia Syndrome
OI / POTS / NMH / MVPS/D - Orthostatic Intolerance Dysautonomias
IBS / IC / MCS / GWI / ... - Overlapping Syndromes, Symptoms to CFS/FM/OI

Table of Contents

 

Selected Recent News (CFS, MCS, FM, ME, POTS, NMH, MVPS, OI, IBS, Lyme, sleep, etc)



April 2007
  • Three authors delve into the practice of medicine and how we can make it better while getting better OregonLive.com, OR - Apr 22, 2007
     His [Person with CFS, Floyd Skloot] fourth novel, "Patient 002," departs from what we have come to expect. While he does not altogether abandon his literary roots, Skloot grounds "Patient 002" in stylistically popular formats -- a page-turner that is at once love story, caper and medical thriller that takes novelistic aim and fires on pharmaceutical companies.
  • Making the right choices Bismarck Tribune, ND - Apr 3, 2007
    ... She didn't use a fad diet, but a realistic approach to health [and dropped 70 pounds]. Buchholz had fibromyalgia, a condition with severe muscle pain. "With fibromyalgia, it was like the flu all the time," she said. "You ache and don't want to wake up." After she shaped up, her symptoms disappeared, she said. Healthier eating can be simple.
  • Disrupted sleep may alter pain perception Reuters - Apr 2, 2007
  • 'Gray Area' Diseases Prove Difficult to Treat, Understand The Ledger, FL - Apr 2, 2007
    FM, CFS debilitate victims amid controversy, dispute in the medical community over unclear causes
    "'Gray-area medicine' can be interpreted as a euphemism," said Dr. Edward Lubin, a pain-management specialist at Winter Haven's Gessler Clinic, "and it leads one to think maybe what we're dealing with is … malingering, maybe we're dealing with something other than a medical condition. But to be fair, the gray area exists in the minds of physicians and the diagnostic process, not in the symptoms and suffering of patients. That's not gray; they're suffering."
  • Nurse Claims Success Against Disease [FM] With Unorthodox Approach [Guai]
    The Ledger, FL -     Apr 1, 2007 
  • Doctors Differ in Approaches Used In Treating Malady The Ledger, FL - Apr 1, 2007
  • Write on for good karma
    ic Newcastle.co.uk, UK - Apr 1, 2007
    Holly Harvey's promising career as a technician came to an abrupt end at the age of 19 because of the illness - otherwise known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. [Her book] Karma - an inspirational, funny and heart-warming exploration of an ME sufferer's daily battles - won the regional final of the Undiscovered Authors contest, and it's now on sale in many North bookshops. ... "Having ME is difficult for some people to understand because they may see me outdoors and think `there's nothing wrong with her, she's out and about' while not realising that I spend 95 per cent of my time in my pyjamas. It's complete and utter fatigue - mentally and physically - to the point that I can't pick myself off the settee, take one more step or even finish a sentence."

March 2007
  • Coping with chronic fatigue syndrome CTV.ca, Canada - Mar 22, 2007
  • Lost to Lyme SunJournal.com, ME - Mar 18, 2007

  • Book triumphs over pain Upper Yarra Mail, Australia - Mar 14, 2007
    An autobiography - the story of the late Rodney Groenhuizen. A journey of self discovery and the impact of being diagnosed with Scotopic Sensitivity Irlen Syndrome (SSIS) in 2004 at 33.  Rod believed that the undiagnosed SSIS, affected his mental health and contributed to years of living with Depression, Panic/Anxiety, Multiple Breakdown and CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).
  • A site that's most accommodating - Disabled can find a match through Internet connection [FM]
    Chicago Tribune, IL - March 12, 2007
  • Possible OTC Treatment for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue KRDO, CO - March 12, 2007
    Over-the-counter decongestant [guaifenesin] may reverse pain & fatigue.  
    ... Remarkably, Lorna's [Searle] fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue have been essentially cured by a medicine readily available over-the-counter. ...
  • How one woman's life was turned upside down by mold Annapolis Capital, MD - Mar 11, '07
    "Chemical sensitivity is a wide spectrum and Carol is one of the most extreme," says Dr. Alan R. Vinitsky of Gaithersburg. "She has a genetic pre-disposition to odor sensitivity when exposed to an odor. The olfactory nerve, smell, is the most primitive organ. It serves as a warning or threat to survival, triggering the 'fright or flight' response - an autonomic nervous system response."   "Does she have psychotic problems?" he asks rhetorically. "The disease looks and acts like anxiety. There is a multiple symptom involvement with no other explanation for it. It has symptoms like Lyme disease, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. She's wound up with so much debilitation she can't perform or compose because she's too foggy and can't coordinate her reflexes. When people are severely debilitated, they wind up living in a bubble. We seek to get people out of the bubble and operating normally."
  • Study: Workers unaware of disability threat, costs nwitimes.com, IN - Mar 10, 2007
  • Jury orders punitive damage of $14 million San Diego Union Tribune, CA - Mar 10, 2007
     [Went against Prudential for terminating a Long Term Disability Claim after 5 years.]
  • Woman under pressure 24x7 CNN-IBN, India - Mar 9, 2007
    New Delhi: The working women in India are dealing with tough deadlines and juggling with house work handling children. And they are four times more likely then men to be susceptible to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a result of all that stress. ...
  • A debilitating condition, an uphill battle Newark Star Ledger, NJ - Mar 7, 2007
    Quotes Alan Pocinki, MD who was visiting NJ for the kNOw More CFS event:
  • Meditation 'fools the brain' in a threatening world San Diego Union Tribune, CA - Mar 6, 2007
    ... Thanks to cutting-edge technologies like functional MRI scans, neuroscientists can look inside the brain to see if meditation actually produces physical change. Although they're still not sure how meditation works, research is beginning to show that, in fact, it does. ...   Through the brain's hard wiring (the nerves) and the soft wiring (hormones), the brain is “perpetually informing the body if the world is safe or threatening,” ... “Meditation fools the brain into perceiving the world as not so threatening, so the brain then sends out hormones and electrical signs telling the body to relax a bit. “The changes that happen physiologically when we practice meditation are the opposite of and counterbalance those (physiological changes) that occur in the fight-or-flight response that we experience when we're stressed. The heart rate slows, the blood pressure comes down, breathing slows. We neutralize the harmful effects of stress on our system.” ... Researchers at the University of Louisville found that mindfulness meditation alleviates depression in women with fibromyalgia.  “In meditation, you're breathing better, so you cope better. But it's more than that,” Bonakdar says. “If you look at depression as an inflammatory state, we see that meditation causes those (inflammatory) neurochemicals not to pour out.”
  • Ceremony launches medical research center effort Reno Gazette Journal, NV - March 6, 2007
    A new chapter in research to treat cancer and immune system and brain disorders began Monday with a groundbreaking ceremony for a $78 million biomedical research center in Reno. ... "Our goal if to bring life and hope to the millions who suffer from chronic disease through outstanding patient care, model research and much-needed education," she said of the institute, the first of its kind in the nation dedicated to finding a cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, autism, Gulf War illness and similar diseases. ... With the added money, UNR will contribute the bulk of the center's cost, $60 million. The rest would come from corporations and individuals, such as the Whittemores and Dr. Daniel Peterson, a leading Chronic Fatigue Syndrome clinician from Incline Village.
  • Ever-evolving Enterprise-Record, CA - March 6, 2007
    ... [FM and head injuries] meant retiring early from her [Jeanette Summers] job as manager at Gates Resale — a job she loved. It meant living with fibromyalgia, migraines and depression, among other things. "I have learned to accept my new life. I am ever-evolving. I still have hopes and dreams and with time and work, I've improved. I have had the support of my husband, good friends and good doctors." ...  "One of my doctors, Dr. Tobey Leung, is really into the mind/body/soul aspect of pain rehabilitation. He asked me, 'Do you like helping people or does it make you feel better? It's two different things.' And for me, it is both." [She offers art therapy now.]
  • Genital pain takes a toll on women's lives Scientific American, Reuters - Mar 2, 2007
    No one knows what causes vulvodynia, a condition that's diagnosed when other causes of genital pain, such as infection or skin disorders, are ruled out. For many women, the pain arises with sex, tampon use or exercise that puts pressure on the area, such as bike riding; even tight clothing can trigger discomfort. ... commonly associated conditions were irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia -- a syndrome marked by pain at specific points throughout the body.
    SOURCE: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, February 2007
  • Invisible Illness The Story, WUNC Radio - March 1, 2007
    Interviews with patient Julie Levy or Richmond, VA,  and patient/psychologist Katrina Berne, PhD. 43 minute audio available with an essay by Levy, "CFS:  The Invisible Illness that Waxes and Wanes."
  • Alternative Medicine: Fibromyalgia relief with acupuncture Seattle PI - March 1, 2007
    Is fibromyalgia causing you chronic body pain, fatigue and depression? A 2006 Mayo Clinic study might provide an answer: acupuncture. In this study, authors found acupuncture significantly improved common fibromyalgia symptoms of pain, fatigue and anxiety.
  • Book Review: Essays in Social Neuroscience edited by Cacioppo and Berntson
    Psychiatric Services (subscription) - March 2007
    Another author, vis-à-vis stress mediators, introduces the concept of allostasis—a metalevel mechanism for achieving stability via change that is helpful during limited periods. Yet the mechanism can lead, under sustained stress, to allostatic overload, which is an imbalance reflected in a condition such as chronic fatigue syndrome within a setting of low cortisol and elevated cytokines. Estrogen mitigates the HPA response to stress, and female animals, in situations that are not life-threatening, demonstrate a pattern of "tend-and-befriend" versus fight-or-flight.

February 2007
  • Tips for Living with Fibromyalgia [From a Dental Hygienist] RDH, OK - Feb 28, 2007
    ...Providing dental services to patients living with fibromyalgia can be a challenge to both the patient and the provider. Patients typically are plagued with chronic, widespread pain, lethargy (commonly referred to as “fibro fog”), and depression. These symptoms are exacerbated by physically or emotionally stressful events and changes in weather and/or temperature. However, the symptoms often exhibit no discernable pattern whatsoever. Frankly, it’s difficult to predict how patients will respond to different stimuli.       What if a dental hygienist begins to exhibit signs of fibromyalgia? Will he or she be able to overcome chronic pain, fibro “fog,” and depression and remain a valuable, contributing member of the dental team? [3 of 8 of the tips:] If your operatory is not ergonomic, plan to update it (in stages if necessary). Make a list and prioritize what is most important. Wear proper fitting gloves and masks. Gloves that impinge on your thumb and fingers and a mask that tugs at your ears may be the stimuli that could exacerbate symptoms. Evaluate the emotional integrity of your office. Although all offices have their “drama,” working in an emotionally toxic environment isn’t good for the healthiest dental hygienist. A supportive office will help you live with fibromyalgia.
  • Tired? aching? Lost interest in sex? This could be the surprising reason...
    The Daily Mail - Feb 27, 2007
    At one point, because [she] was always tired, her doctor suggested she might have CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), a condition many doctors believe is best treated with a form of psychotherapy. On another occasion she was given an iron supplement. [What she had was hemochromatosis -- too much iron.]
  • Your physician should treat your body, mind and soul Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS - 2/27/07
    A growing number of Americans are left with a sense of dissatisfaction with the status in health care. Many are seeking solutions to their health-care needs that address their whole person, rather than just their individual organ systems. They want to prevent cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue / fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases and other modern-day "plagues."  ... When a physician demonstrates an appreciation of his patient's physical, emotional and spiritual needs and seeks to assist the patient in a culturally sensitive manner utilizing the most effective tools available he/she is now practicing integrative or holistic medicine. Actually, it's the least of which each of us deserves - to be seen and treated as a whole person.
  • Doctors receive $1M grant for HIV prevention research
    The Temple News Online (subscription), PA -  Feb 27, 2007
    Researchers in the School of Medicine are making progress in the understanding and treatment of two diseases caused by abnormalities in the human antiviral pathway: HIV and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  ... But the research team, headed by Dr. Robert J. Suhadolnik, a professor of biochemistry in the School of Medicine [and CFS 2-5A researcher], is developing a way to immunize against the spread of HIV through the use of gene therapy.
  • 6 Ways to Let Those with Chronic Illness in Your Church Know You Care
    Best Syndication, CA - Feb 27, 2007
    Nearly 1 in 2 people in the U.S. have a chronic condition. If it’s not you, it’s someone sitting next to you. Too often, a chronic illness, such as fibromyalgia, or a chronic condition like back pain from a car accident, is invisible. Those who live with chronic illnesses do everything they can to look presentable, get to church, and sit through the service. But as someone with rheumatoid arthritis, as I stood during worship and grasped onto the pew in front of me to balance my knees that need joint replacements, I nearly laughed as the worship song said, “I will stand in spite of pain.” Surrounded by a church I loved, I still felt lonely and misunderstood.
  • Helping chronic fatigue sufferers Geelong Advertiser, Australia - Feb 27, 2007
    Gordon Lingard spent thousands of dollars trying every type of therapy available when he developed chronic fatigue syndrome several years ago. Doctors could do little to help him but Mr Lingard eventually found relief from the debilitating syndrome in a new type of alternative therapy called reverse therapy.
  • Lyme Inc. - Ticks aren't the only parasites living off patients in borreliosis-prone areas. Forbes, NY - Feb 27, 2007
    ... calls chronic Lyme a "functional somatic syndrome," similar to other nebulous ailments like Gulf War Syndrome, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. ...
  • FDA approves new use for latest Lilly blockbuster Cymbalta
    Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Feb 26, 2007
    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new use for Eli Lilly and Co.'s fast-growing antidepressant Cymbalta. The drugmaker announced Monday that the FDA approved Cymbalta for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, a mental illness marked by chronic anxiety, irritability and fatigue, among other symptoms. ... Lilly plans to ask the FDA later this year for approval to use it for the neurological disorder fibromyalgia...
  • News focus: Man in a million Sunderland Echo, UK - Feb 26, 2007
    Tens of thousands of patients have been cared for by Dr Daymond, consultant in rheumatology, since he came to Wearside in 1979. But after decades of serving the city, Dr Daymond, a visiting professor at Sunderland University, has reached retirement. ... 'He's given me hope'  GRATEFUL patient Margaret Windle says Dr Terry Daymond brought hope to her life. The 68-year-old, pictured, who sufferers from ME and fibromyalgia, has been treated by Dr Daymond since he arrived in Sunderland in 1979 and was one of the first patients to see him. Margaret says he has helped to give her a better quality of life and thinks he will be irreplaceable. ...  * THE retirement of Dr Daymond sparked controversy over the withdrawal of the drug procaine at the hospital. Patients at Sunderland Royal Hospital, who were given the pain relief drug by Dr Daymond, can no longer receive it now he has retired.
  • Balancing energy and the mind Malaysia Star, Malaysia - Feb 24, 2007
    Psycho-neuro-energetics (PNE) is the science of how the workings of the mind affect the energy balance and health of the organs, and how your energy status reflects on your state-of-mind, emotions, behaviour, character, and health. RECENTLY I received a letter from a qigong and martial arts exponent in New York, the united States, who wanted to share his experience with using qigong in helping people with traumatic brain injuries and fibromyalgia. He reported much improvement in these patients after using a combination of integrated concepts and techniques, including qigong, which he found to be “very helpful”.  ... The role of complementary therapies in fibromyalgia probably reflects the situation with many other medical conditions where modern medicine cannot offer satisfactory treatments or cures. Qigong and other energy-healing methods should be tried more often, especially since no chemicals or needles are involved.  Another medical enigma is chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a condition that is similar to FM and continues to baffle doctors. While pain is the dominant symptom of FM, fatigue is the hallmark of CFS. In practice, many physicians do not distinguish the two. ... I shall introduce psycho-neuro-energetics (PNE) – the science of the inter-relationships of the mind, the nervous system and the energies in your body; how the workings of your mind affect the energy balance and health of your organs; and conversely how your energy status reflects on your state-of-mind, emotions, behaviour, character, and health. ... http://www.superqigong.com/articles.asp
  • 1st fibromyalgia tissue bank set up at Sun Health Institute Arizona Republic - Feb. 23, 2007
    The expanded arthritis research project is made possible not only by the NIH grant but also by a $100,000 grant from the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association and a pilot project grant from the NIH. The institute needs fibromyalgia patients to donate tissue, Lorton said. ... Tissue donation will not occur until the donor's death. However, fibromyalgia-tissue donors will be asked to visit the institute each year to have their malady checked and to complete a pain-assessment questionnaire. For information on becoming a tissue donor, call (623) 875-6528.
  • Miner's Granddaughter Fairfax Connection, VA - Feb 22, 2007
    Fairfax resident Gretchen Moran Laskas, who has experience of Fibromyalgia, writes book about coal-mining life.  People ask me “What am I trying to do,” and I firmly believe that everyone has a story, that everybody’s life is “epic and important.” I often write about people who are invisible to the public community. I want people to know that the people you see on the street, or someone you see on their porch, these are people who have epic and important lives going on if only you knew. My goal is to shine to spotlight on as many people as I can.
  • Social Security wait adds to pain. Ohioans struggle to survive awaiting disability benefits
    Columbus Dispatch, OH - Feb 22, 2007
    Waiting since early 2005 drove Dorothy Siders of Columbus to bankruptcy and threatens to steal her home through foreclosure. It’s all she has left. "It’s not like I haven’t worked all my life since I was 16 years old," Siders said. "If I could work, I would. …What are you going to do? You just feel hopeless." Siders and Riley are caught in a rising tide of thousands of backlogged disability cases at Social Security Administration offices nationwide. ... Siders, 50, first applied for benefits in early 2004 after she could no longer work at Kroger where she had been employed for 16 years. Nearly constant pain from a back problem and fibromyalgia, as well as asthma and other ailments, forced her to quit. "I am getting foreclosed upon," she said. "I have relied on my family. "I’m angry, scared and frustrated. … People here in the U.S. who’ve worked all their lives are getting shafted. It doesn’t even seem real to me."
  • Nobody Passes All The Time San Francisco Bay Times, CA - Feb 21, 2007
    Sycamore believes childhood abuse contributed to the onset of her fibromyalgia, a disabling inflammatory disease that she suffers from. ...
  • Acquiring ancients’ medical secrets Montclair Times, NJ - Feb 21, 2007
    The school’s late founder, Julie Puretz, grew interested in the 2-millennia-old medical science after it helped her overcome chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition she was diagnosed with when her daughter was 4. As a single mom and a graduate student at Columbia U, Puretz, a Paterson native and resident of Cedar Grove, was extremely busy, and she couldn’t afford to be tired all the time, ready to return to bed right after she got up, said Morales, the Eastern School’s executive assistant. For years, Puretz tried the Western approach, using intravenous medications in a futile attempt to boost her immune system and give her energy. Finally, after turning to acupuncture, her exhaustion lifted and Puretz went on to study the field at Tri-State College of Acupuncture in Manhattan. Shortly after her graduation in the mid-1990s, she established the Eastern School, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. ... “This is not a competition between the different philosophies of Western and Eastern medicine,” said Richard Portugal, the Eastern School’s executive director. “It’s a melding of the two, so patients get the best care they can.”
  • Sufferers find chronic fatigue syndrome tiring to explain Chicago Defender, IL - Feb 21, '07
    ...most importantly, sufferers should avoid physical and emotional stress, [Dr. Lenny] Jason said. He also said there is a clear distinction between patients with depression and chronic fatigue syndrome, though the two are often confused. If depressed people are asked what they want to do tomorrow, they often answer that they don't know, Jason said. "But if you ask people with chronic fatigue syndrome the same question, they will tell you numerous things." ...  Chicagoan Carole Howard suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition causing constant exhaustion and physical pain. But explaining her illness to doctors and friends is often more frustrating than enduring it. Howard had tried to get back to work, but she couldn't endure stress any more. Now she devotes her time to a volunteer job as president of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia & Chemical Sensitivity Coalition of Chicago.   http://www.cfccc.net/ or call (312) 409-5363.
  • New Wiggle doesn't skip a beat Robertson County Times, TN - Feb 19, 2007
    Diagnosed with orthostatic intolerance, a disease that, although not life-threatening, causes nausea, dizziness, fatigue and other symptoms that affect balance and coordination, the singer turned over his famous yellow skivvy to his friend and former understudy...
  • Some advice on how to manage pain Vancouver Sun - February 19, 2007
    Be sure your physicians have done all they can. Take heart, says Centre for Integrated Healing Dr. Teresa Clarke, who also works extensively with fibromyalgia and chronic pain...     Trust that what you're experiencing is real and take charge in some way, says the centre's Dr. Janice Wright. Even pain with a clear organic cause such as cancer can sometimes be lessened through mind, body and spirit approaches to the point where it isn't a significant burden any more, says centre CEO Hal Gunn. At the same time, new medical interventions can be very effective. ...
    - Avoid the "nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm going to eat worms," mindset. This approach "revs up the nervous system and almost always aggravates your pain," Shick says. Interestingly, fighting too hard against inevitable pain is also unhelpful.
    - Manage your emotions. Anxiety and depression escalate pain signals. Anything that brings fun and joy increases endorphins to offset pain signals, Clarke says.
    - Relationships have surprising effects on pain. Friends and partners who distract you from pain help more than those who blame you for always complaining or being oversolicitous, Shick says.
    - Take prescribed medication. Uncontrolled pain can have a cascading physiological and psychological effect. ...
    - With chronic pain, know that hurt doesn't necessarily mean harm. Just because it hurts doesn't mean things must be getting worse, Craig says.
    - Do not underestimate the effect pain can have on all aspects of your life -- see a psychologist.
    "It's not that you don't have pain," Klinkhoff says. "You do. It's not that you don't have a chronic disease, because you do. But how do you process it and deal with it? Anxiety about the future aggravates our pain. Psychologists can help with that." ...
    - If you're considering herbal supplements or alternative products, consult a naturopathic doctor, Clarke says. Other sources may be misinformed. For instance, a calcium/magnesium supplement at night might help a muscle spasm, but wouldn't help an inflammatory condition. ...
  • Self-hypnosis: Relaxation therapy can be done alone Argus Leader, SD - February 19, 2007
    Dr. Myung Cho sees it as a path to hope for her chronic pain patients. One in four people suffer from chronic pain related to low back pain, neck pain, headache, arthritic conditions, abdominal pain and fibromyalgia, says Cho, medical director for the chronic pain management program with Avera McKennan Hospital. Pain patients usually are tense, scared that the pain will get worse and stressed out from constant discomfort. In order to find relief, they have to learn how to control stress, which is the body's reaction to the hurt. "Your body is the classroom, the mind is the teacher. But if your body is so noisy, you can't hear anything; you have to calm your mind and your body follows."
  • New Spin on Chronic Dizziness MedPage Today, NJ - Feb 19, 2007
    A look beneath the surface of chronic subjective dizziness, in which there's no clear evidence of vestibular problems, usually comes up with a diagnosis of physiologic ills, psychogenic factors, or a combination. ... "Anxiety disorders are known to cause dizziness, but a study of 122 patients with chronic dizziness and anxiety found primary anxiety disorders in only one third of individuals"... "Most had secondary anxiety precipitated by the medical events responsible for their dizziness."  ...   The authors conducted a study to determine whether they could identify in people with unexplained dizziness specific clinical features leading to a differential diagnosis, so that appropriate treatment could be delivered. In all, 206 [of 345] patients (59.7%) were diagnosed with a primary or secondary anxiety disorder, and 133 (38.6%) were diagnosed with a central nervous system condition. Migraine was diagnosed as a dizziness source in 57 patients (16.5%), traumatic brain injury was pinpointed in 52 patients (15.1%), and dysautonomia was diagnosed in 24 (7%). Six of the patients were found to have atrial or ventricular dysrhythmias.
  • Politics Plays Role in Research  Mike Stobbe, Associated Press - Feb 17 & 18, 2007
  • Sick & Tired: The Truth Behind Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
    WCSH-TV, ME - Feb 15, 2007
    Imagine suffering from joint pain, sleep deprivation and exhaustion, only to be told it's all in your head. That's the reality for many people living with chronic fatigue syndrome. Now, federal medical experts are finally recognizing CFS as a real disease.
  • The Invisible Side of Fibromyalgia BellaOnline - Feb 15, 2007
    We can find a wealth of information about the physical symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, but where can you turn to find out about the side of fibromyalgia that is not visible to others. We shed light on the personal side of fibromyalgia.
  • Relief from disorders comes from the beat of a drum Asbury Park Press, NJ - Feb 14, 2007
    "Sometimes it's difficult to deal with it [FM] and you need someone who understands what you are going through," said D'Urso, who added that is why she came to the support group. ... Barbara Yodice said that sometimes 40 to 50 people come to the support-group sessions. "We try to keep the atmosphere very positive and upbeat. If I can come in here with a smile on my face after all I've gone through it sets the tone for everyone else," she said.
  • ChronicBabe Offers Alternative to "Whining" About Illness
    Medscape (subscription) - Feb 14, 2007
    The positive slant on the site is absolutely purposeful. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at 25, and for a couple of years after my diagnosis, I searched for online resources and in-person support groups that could help me cope... But the support groups and sites were all about bitching. That's it -- just complain, whine, wallow. Of course, there's a place for that; it's not healthy to hold in negative emotions, and if you're chronic, you've definitely got a legitimate complaint to a certain degree.     But after you let it all out, you've got to move forward, or your illness takes over... ChronicBabe.com is purposefully positive because there are still a bazillion Web sites out there where people can complain endlessly. I don't need to join that crowd. I'm offering an alternative for people who are ready to move forward with their lives.
  • Migraine sufferers likely to have other problems Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS - Feb 13, 2007
    She was originally diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a musculoskeletal pain disorder. For years she lived with migraines believing it was a part of the package deal with fibromyalgia. 
  • Sleep-driving scary Ambien side effect The Spokesman Review, WA - Feb 13, 2007
    Also, magnesium for FM mentioned.
  • Caregivers fill a void for people [with FM/CFS] in need of help
    North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, NV - Feb 11, 2007
    Singer said the individuals she cares for are like her grandmothers. She said she works two to three days a week doing the everyday tasks her client, Truckee resident Bridgette Weiszhaar, cannot do at home because of a disability. Weiszhaar said she has been battling fibromyalgia, a chronic syndrome causing muscle and joint pain, for 15 years. The pain has grown worse over time, and day-to-day household chores are too much for her to do by herself. With no family living nearby, she decided to hire a caregiver, she said.  Weiszhaar said she heard about In-Home Supportive Services from her neighbors. She said the agency sent a few potential caregivers to her home to let her, as the employer, interview each person and find out if the caregiver candidate would be a good match. Honesty and personality were some of the qualifications Weiszhaar was looking for, and found, in Singer, she said. "I was used to being alone. I really enjoy having her here. She's not just my caretaker. She's my friend," Weiszhaar said. "I've had caretakers before who didn't want to clean. All they wanted to do was to get paid."
  • RAAF helps WA girl get heart transplant
    Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - Feb 10, 2007
    Multiple doctors misdiagnosed her condition over the past two years as chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Yes, It’s Real [FM] New Hampshire Magazine, NH - Feb 10, 2007
    Fibromyalgia is indeed real. The American College of Rheumatology, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health have all accepted fibromyalgia as a distinct clinical entity. 
  • Disabled students' rights fight BBC News, UK - Feb 9, 2007
    When Catherine Hudson arrived at university, she faced the daunting task of explaining the issue surrounding her disability to many on campus. "That myalgic encephalopathy (ME) has had a bad press in the past is to put it lightly," she says.  "Most people still do not understand the complexities of the illness. For me, that means that I'm not always in a wheelchair." Ms Hudson, now a mentor to other disabled students, says she feels that being in a wheelchair is the only badge qualifying her for support. "Why should I have to debate my conditions with strangers if I need help but I'm not using my wheelchair?" she says.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome and how to deal with it
    Neeta Lal Women’s Feature Service Sur in English, Spain - Feb 9, 2007
    Symptoms can include short term memory loss and inability to concentrate at work
  • Understanding The Caregiver For Chronically Ill: The Person Behind the Chair Choosing Divorce (Part Two) Jewish Press, NY - Feb 7, 2007
    First she [a care giver] was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, then chronic fatigue syndrome. She became ill with shingles and chronic headaches. Her blood pressure soared. ...   Coping with chronic illness is very hard. The lives of those coping with it are complicated. More complicated then most of us can even imagine. Some people stay in the marriage because of the children. Some leave for the very same reason. Many leave so they can have children. Many leave simply so that they can both survive the stress the illness brings. We should not presume to judge anyone in that situation for making the decision to stay or leave the marriage. Our job is to lend support. Everyone coping with chronic illness − the one who is ill, the spouse, all members of the family and even close friends, all need our support. They do not need our criticism or our uninformed advice, just our support. And that is the only thing we should feel compelled to give. The Understanding the Caregiver For Chronically Ill News Series.
  • Kulongoski urges expansion of Oregon prescription drug program
    OregonLive.com, OR -     Feb 6, 2007
    The program already helps about 12,000 Oregonians, such as Patricia Stotler, a 59-year-old former secretary who was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome in 1996. Stotler, who takes three medications for her disability, said that after joining the program a year ago, her annual prescription medication costs of $500 were cut in half.
  • Natural approach St. Petersburg Times, FL - Feb 5, 2007
    There are no official estimates of trained homeopaths practicing in the United States today, but the number is certainly far less than in its heyday, says Peter Gold, a biologist and homeopath affiliated with the National Center for Homeopathy, based in Alexandria, Va. The most qualified practitioners are typically medical doctors and osteopathic doctors, naturopathic physicians certified in homeopathy, and licensed health professionals who have obtained a Certificate in Classical Homeopathy. ... The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health is funding studies on homeopathy's effectiveness in treating disorders including fibromyalgia, stroke and dementia.
  • Chronic pain keeps hurting Hamilton Spectator, Canada - Feb 4, 2007
    "We're pretty disappointed," said Charles McRae, clinical manager of the program. "We couldn't keep going. There's no funding for a multidisciplinary approach to pain management." ... But both medical professionals and patients argue that multidisciplinary teams are essential to treat chronic pain and point to numerous research studies backing them up.  "It's very important, certainly for complicated patients," said Dr. Norm Buckley, medical director of the Pain Management Centre at Hamilton General Hospital. "But if you're not working or not injured on the job, you're not covered." The main focus of the teams is not to treat pain, but to help patients cope with it so they can still live active lives. A wide variety of health professionals such as occupational therapists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, social workers and psychiatrists teach everything from how to lift groceries off supermarket shelves to what positions to sleep in and proper meditation techniques. ... [a] 56-year-old Hamilton woman, who suffers from arthritis, fibromyalgia and a number of autoimmune diseases, was nearly housebound when she started the 11-week program. Now she helps run a pain support group, volunteers with the program and is leading a much more active life. "It gave me a feeling of self worth again," she said.
  • Struggling with having an 'invisible disability' Annapolis Capital, MD - Feb 4, 2007
    On a busy street, it would be hard to pick out the people who are deaf, or have psychological problems, severe allergies, diabetes, fibromyalgia, ADHD, chronic pain, Lyme disease or any one of several dozen disorders that are not obvious. Yet millions of Americans are misjudged or misunderstood, often by their own family and friends." Some don't understand why you can't take a medicine and be cured," said Ms. Bates.Ms. Bates finds she can "vacuum in the morning but barely get out of a chair by the afternoon." ... Doctors treating patients with invisible diseases find offering counseling to both the patient and their family helps. "I often have to counsel the patient and the family," said Dr. Charlene Hafer-Macko, associate professor of Neurology and Medical Director of University of Maryland's Myasthenia Gravis Center.. "What's possible and not possible. Some try to do everything and the next day, they can't get out of bed. "Support groups help a lot with understanding the disease, coping with the disease, getting the best out of life, breaking down barriers and overcoming hurdles."
  • Where's my support group? Portsmouth Herald News, NH - Feb 4, 2007
    Her disease is chiari 1 malformation, a little-known structural defect of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. The difficulties of chiari (pronounced key-ARE-ee) go far beyond balance and dizziness, though, as a lack of space at the base of the skull pushes the cerebellum and brain stem into the upper spinal canal, placing pressure on the spinal cord.  ... "But I don't know how to go about starting a support group. It takes more than one."  Certainly, Briggs isn't the only one who feels this way. Despite long lists of support groups offered by local hospitals and community organizations -- everything from depression to grief to attention deficit disorder to a whole host of cancers -- there are still many diseases that have no outlet. ... "Having the support of other people who have to deal with chronic pain is very beneficial," McCann said. "Talking about it and getting it out, rather than keeping it in, keeps you from getting depressed -- and I was depressed when I started the group. "People around you try to understand, but in all honesty, they don't. The only people who know are those who experience it themselves." Research has found that belonging to a group and talking to others with common problems can alleviate mental stress, making treatments more effective.
  • Take Fatigue Seriously Says Researcher Medical News Today - Feb 2, 2007
    Instead of dismissing grumblings about being tired or exhausted, people should take these complaints seriously before they lead to a worsened health state or even death, says a University of Alberta researcher investigating fatigue. Dr. Karin Olson, a U of A professor from the Faculty of Nursing, argues that there are differences between tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion and that recognizing those distinctions will help health-care workers create better treatment plans for their patients. Her findings are published in the current issue of Oncology Nursing Forum. Olson, ..., has created new definitions for tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion and argues that they represent various points on an energy continuum. The amount of energy a person has influences how easily he can adapt to stress that comes his way. Individuals who are tired still have a fair bit of energy, so although they may feel forgetful, and impatient, and experience gradual heaviness or weakness in muscles following work, this is often alleviated by rest. Fatigue, on the other hand, is characterized by difficulty concentrating, anxiety, a gradual decrease in stamina, difficulty sleeping, increased sensitivity to light and the limiting of social activities once viewed as important. Individuals with exhaustion report frank confusion that resembles delirium, emotional numbness, sudden loss of energy, difficulty both in staying awake and in sleeping and complete social withdrawal. "It is important to recognize the difference between tiredness and fatigue, because fatigue is a marker that the body is not able to keep up," says Olson. "The onset of the manifestations of fatigue, particularly if these are not normal states for you, should be taken seriously." Failing to understand the distinctions between tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion could result in the use of inappropriate interventions that inadvertently promote fatigue and exhaustion.
  • Writer uses a take-charge attitude Huntsville Times, AL - Feb 2, 2007
    Crowson was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome in 1977, often leaving her wheelchair-bound but determined to improve. "My hands began to fly across the keys of a new typewriter my son bought for me, and there emerged the first book," Crowson said. That book shared her "story of going from a victim of abuse (financially, physically, emotionally, sexually) ɠto a survivor ɠto a thriver." In her first training program, Crowson developed "how-to's - how to move from the ironing board to the executive board."  As a motivational humorist, Crowson urges "every man, woman or child" to take control of their lives. Her latest four-hour program takes an individual, employee or CEO "from where they are to where they want to go, with visible results during the first hour."  
    Secret of success: "Educate yourself first, implement it in your own life and then train others."
    Biggest mistake: Having been a "workaholic and destroying my health. Getting balance in my life was a challenge." www.gathacrowson.com
  • A tale of abuse and recovery: 'Riding Grace' tells the story of one woman's journey of self-discovery and healing Mail Tribune, OR - Feb 2, 2007
    "Making the decision to say yes to the book was really to embrace all of my life," Lukara says. "Somehow that acceptance opened me up to this irrational descent of grace. Lifechallenges.org
  • Diseases Doctors Miss Woman's Day Magazine - February 2007
    Information about CFS with  resources for additional information.
    Access to web versions of articles to subscribers only.
  • Consumer Reports On Health Magazine - February 2007
    Information about CFS with  resources for additional information.
    Access to web versions of articles to subscribers only.

January 2007
  • Lawsuit: Sharon hospital fired woman because of her age, disability Sharon Herald, PA - Jan 30, 2007
    Ms. Scholl said she was hired in August 1973 as a lab aide and clerk, but left in 1990 because of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, which “substantially limited her in nearly every major life activity.” She was rehired in 2001, a time when she was “without symptoms,” she said. Ms. Scholl was promoted in August 2004 from mental health worker to psychiatric social worker. She said she notified her employer that her symptoms had returned and asked for help — which she said “constituted a request for accommodation” — but officials retaliated against her by increasing her workload, and in other ways...
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is A Debilitating For Those Affected WNDU-TV, IN - Jan 30, 2007, Video Available
    But now, this disorder is being recognized as a problem in children too. ... For the first time, a pediatric definition for CFS is being presented at an international conference in Fort Lauderdale. It will be published in a journal next month. Leonard Jason, ph.d. of DePaul University stated, "Some children have things like abdominal pains, rashes, sleep cognitive memory problems so they sometimes have a constellation of problems that are different than the adult population." CFS in children usually strikes between the ages 10 and 17 and about 80% recover. That is a much higher percentage than adults.
    But one in five will remain debilitated; the causes are unclear.
  • Study finds eye-opening cost associated with fatigued workers SHRM Magazine, VA - Jan 30, 2007
    ... Workers who are fatigued—defined as “a feeling of weariness, tiredness or lack of energy”—averaged 5.6 hours per week in total lost productive time (LPT) compared to about 3.3 hours in lost time by workers who were not fatigued, it found. However, while fatigued workers “are significantly more likely to miss work and experience long-term work absence” compared to those who aren’t fatigued, the majority of LPT is attributable to reduced work performance, such as difficulty concentrating or working more slowly, rather than absences, the study says. Symptoms of mental and physical fatigue vary according to the individual and the degree of overexertion ... include Weariness, Weepiness, Irritability, Reduced alertness, Lack of concentration and memory, Lack of motivation, Increased susceptibility to illness, Depression, Headache, Giddiness, Loss of appetite and digestive problems. ... The findings “suggest that intervention efforts targeting workers with fatigue, particularly women, could have a marked positive effect on the quality of life and productivity of affected workers,” the study says.  Suggested strategies include: Increasing workers’ access to employer-sponsored work/life programs for help in balancing their work and personal responsibilities and  Ensuring that workers whose fatigue is a primary symptom of a health condition, such as chronic fatigue syndrome or depressive disorders, get assessment and treatment.Work/life programs can include concierge services such as dry cleaning pickup, child and elder care, and access to legal or financial services such as estate planning. Alternative work arrangements such as job sharing and telecommuting also “could be incredibly beneficial,” Ricci said. One of the important findings: LPT goes up when fatigued workers have one or more of nine particular health conditions—pain, digestive problems, depression, cold, flu, asthma, cancer, heart disease and diabetes—Ricci told HR News.
  • Pharmacy specialties fuel growth AZ Central.com, AZ - Jan 29, 2007
    The store's low-key, pleasantly furnished environments are also atypical. At the north Scottsdale store, pharmacist Courtney Yee dispenses medications for patients who have become friends over the three years she has worked with them. Many are chronic pain sufferers with conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis or multiple sclerosis who benefit from Yee's counseling on stress reduction and other options for healthy living. "Some people with chronic conditions have come in here every month for years," Yee said. "They may have 10 prescriptions to fill at a time. Here, they can relax in a leather chair and feel at home. They tell me about their families and their work. Some even bring me presents."
  • Let the vitamin D shine in: Sunlight triggers nutrient: Are you getting enough?
    Deborah Kotz, U.S. News and World Report in Denver Post, CO - January 29, 2007
    "New evidence indicates that many people suffering symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia actually have a painful softening of the bones caused by a D deficiency."
    and "It's the first comprehensive theory set forth to explain the seasonality of influenza," says vitamin D expert and lead author John Cannell, president of the Vitamin D Council and staff psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital in California. What's now needed, he says, is a trial to see if those exposed to flu viruses are less likely to come down with an infection if they take supplements."
  • Drained by the brain The Australian - January 28, 2007
    Yuppie flu is real and may be caused by disruption in the brain. Clara Pirani investigates the disease, which is costing the country $525 million a year. LYN Wilson has a blunt message for anyone who doubts that chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating physical illness. "Why would anyone want to give up their life and their income, for nothing? People who think we're not sick don't have a clue." ...
    Chambers says Jeremy suffered relapses whenever he tried to push himself physically or mentally. "The message we have to get out to parents and teachers is to back off and stop telling kids and teenagers to just push on when they are sick.
  • 'I used reverse gear to beat ME'  The Northern Echo, UK - Jan 27, 2007
    "What Reverse Therapy believes is that your body is sending you messages all the time. If you ignore these sensations then your hypothalamus picks up on this," says Lyn. "If you are feeling fear it wants you to find a way to be safe; if you are angry, it wants you to defend yourself. If you ignore them it is like a pressure cooker and all the emotions boil up." At this stage, according to the theory, the pituitary gland goes into overdrive flooding the body with adrenalin. "When the feedback mechanism breaks down, hormonal and nervous messages get short-circuited and people can get stuck in that state." ...
    As part of the therapy she used message cards to prompt her to remember to heed her bodymind' rather than her headmind'. To the amazement of her family and friends Lyn is now fully restored to health. If anything, Lyn now feels even better than she did before her illness.
  • Giving Health Care A Check Up  CBS Evening News - Jan 25, 2007
    "How many more .... are out there falling through the cracks of the health care system ? For most of the last 10 years, the 56-year-old suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and couldn’t work, which meant no insurance coverage and mounting medical costs. Her monthly prescription bills alone cost her a staggering $500 to $600 a month, she told me. She burned through her retirement savings just to make ends meet. " Last fall, she was asked to become the first enrollee in the state’s [MA] new mandatory health care system and jumped at the chance. “I hope it’s a step towards universal insurance and I hope the government will get more involved because it really needs the voice of me and all the other people that have, have situations that don’t fall in boxes,” she said.
  • Progress For Treatment Of CFS Slow But Promising Click10.com, FL - Jan 26, 2007
    Interviews Nancy Klimas, MD, and PANDORA's Marly Silverman. "According to the Centers for Disease Control, 4 million Americans have chronic fatigue syndrome. That’s more than all the patients who have multiple sclerosis, lupus, lung cancer or ovarian cancer combined." and "New studies show adolescents are also being diagnosed more frequently with chronic fatigue syndrome."
  • Search for answer to an enduring problem The Herald, UK - Jan 24, 2007
    About Anna Hemmings was at the peak of her athletic prowess: world kayaking champion, diagnosed with CFS around 2002 and Dr Paula Robson-Ansley's research into fatigue genes.
  • The Dream Teen Victoria Times Colonist, Canada - Jan 24, 2007
    About a young girl diagnosed with amplified pain syndrome and early fibromyalgia who finds a project that has had a positive effect on her health.
  • The Fifth Flavor - Although Maligned, MSG Can Find A Place In Your Spice Rack
    Rocktown Weekly, VA - Jan 23, 2007
  • Talk brings relief - Support groups help people cope with illness, but it can be difficult to find or start one Akron Beacon Journal, OH - Jan 23, 2007
    "For some people with rare diseases, the Internet may offer support through national or international organizations devoted to those diseases. Chiari, for example, has a Web site called www.conquerchiari.org, with an active e-mail discussion group offering support and encouragement.
    Briggs, though, needs more. ``The Internet, I don't trust it,'' she said. ``I can tell by looking at you, by listening to you, if you've been through what I've been through. I need to be able to see you.'' "
  • Tips on seeking support group; what to avoid Bradenton Herald, FL - Jan 23, 2007
  • Wal-Mart Eight members Izzo, Garcia sentenced Eastern Arizona Courier, AZ - Jan 22, 2007
    Izzo argued she wouldn’t do well in jail because she has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome and is currently taking 360 pills of Percocet a month.
  • Fatigue syndrome is not all in the mind Times Online, UK - Jan 22, 2007
    Changes in the brain and cell activity may be the key to treating CFS
  • Pfizer Reports Profit Plunge, Plans to Deepen Cuts (Update1) Bloomberg - Jan 22, 2007
    Pfizer said it submitted an application in December with US regulators for approval to market the pain drug Lyrica for fibromyalgia, a condition that causes fatigue and muscle weakness.
  • When ‘feeling tired’ signals something more Second Opinion, Parade Magazine - Jan 21, 2007
    See Toni's comments at this site!
  • Patient delusion -- or medical confusion? Globe and Mail, Canada - Jan 21, 2007
    Mentions MCS, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, Morgellons, vulvodynia, more.
  • Altered foods on the march Asbury Park Press, NJ - Jan 20, 2007
    There's just one problem with this, which is why my California Girl sent this to me: Their DHA is from algae. People like me, who are allergic to iodine and shellfish, can't eat algae. I just had this confirmed … again … by the maker of a natural formula said to alleviate some of the pain of fibromyalgia, an illness that plagues me. Their product includes algae. Allergic to iodine and shellfish? Don't consume algae, they said. Now, just to add icing to this cake: Some manufacturers' DHA comes from fish oil.
    The way this is going, the sugar-coated flakes and heart-healthy oat circles at breakfast might be deadly for me.
  • Lyme Disease Laura Kenyon,  New Caanan Advertiser, CT - Jan 11 and 18, 2007
    • Part II: Medical experts weigh in on Lyme disease
      Amidst the start of an unprecedented investigation by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal into Lyme disease treatment guidelines, victims of and experts on the disease are speaking out about its precarious place in the medical world. In the second of two articles about Lyme disease, the Advertiser considers the varying opinions medical professionals hold regarding such guidelines, the existence of chronic Lyme disease, and long-term antibiotic treatment. See reprint at LymeBlog.com
    • Part I: Lyme disease: Victims rally for help 
      In the wake of an unprecedented move by State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to investigate Lyme disease treatment guidelines put forth by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), victims of and experts on the disease are speaking out about its precarious place in the medical world. In November, Mr. Blumenthal's office filed a Civil Investigative Demand to look into possible anti-trust violations by the IDSA during the development of its updated...   See reprint at LymeBlog.com
  • New study investigates links between fatigue, genes and athletic performance
    innovations report, Germany - Jan 18, 2007
    Dr Robson-Ansley’s latest research looks at whether ‘fatigue resistant’ endurance athletes have a slight variation of the gene responsible for IL-6. Previous studies have found that people a C-type variation of the gene produced less IL-6 during infection than those with the G-type of the gene. “The findings of these tests may be significant in furthering our understanding of the relationship between fatigue and athletic performance and why some people develop chronic debilitating fatigue for no apparent reason,” Dr Robson-Ansley said. ... The results of the new study are expected to be released in mid-2007. Dr Robson-Ansley is a former Olympic standard rower. She suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and retired from the sport to focus solely on her academic career.
  • Tasman-jumpers change direction  Taranaki Daily News, NZ - 18 January 2007
    However, after battling chronic fatigue syndrome for 20 years, one of the main features of the debilitating illness, unrefreshing sleep, caught up with Mr Luckin and the decision was made to employ a sharefarmer to enable him to take things easier. "I was finding one good night's sleep would not allow me to bounce back and was needing two or three to come right, so it became obvious that I couldn't handle the physical side of dairying myself and had to do it another way."
  • Dump the DSM! Paul Genova, M.D.,  Psychiatric Times, NY - Jan 17, 2007
    The American Psychiatric Association's DSM diagnostic system has outlived its usefulness by about two decades. It should be abandoned, not revised. Its primary achievement was to force American psychiatrists to recognize that not all patients presenting with florid psychoses had schizophrenia. More generally, it aimed to force the idea of operationally defined syndromes down the throat of a profession that was still, in the 1970s, dominated by the vague and archaic concepts of psychoanalysis at its American 1950s worst.  

    ...the somatoform disorders are a mess (four pain symptoms, two gastrointestinal symptoms and so on). Primary care physicians never use these diagnoses, instead sticking with the clinical presentations they see, such as fibromyalgia syndrome. Anxiety disorders are artificially separated from the mood and psychotic disorders with which they are usually intertwined, yielding the frequent question, "If I have an anxiety disorder, why are you treating me with an antidepressant?" How many cases of pure generalized anxiety disorder have you seen? Of isolated social phobia? And so on.
  • Understanding fibromyalgia Journal Gazette and Times-Courier, IL - Jan 16, 2007
  • Local woman wants to start support group for people who have chronic pain
    Journal Gazette and Times-Courier, IL - Jan 16, 2007
  • Court to Cianbro: Reinstate fired employee MaineToday.com, ME - Jan 16, 2007
    A U.S. District Court judge has ordered Cianbro Corp. of Pittsfield to reinstate a former employee who was fired five weeks after he disclosed he had fibromyalgia.
  • The facts on ME The Evening Chronicle, UK - Jan 15, 2007
    A facts and figures booklet has been published by a charity containing information from two surveys on ME. Action for ME found 83% of all people with the illness, which causes severe fatigue, suffer from muscle-pain, yet only 14% of all people surveyed realised this was a symptom.  ... The full details of the findings are now available in a downloadable booklet from http://www.afme.org.uk/booklets.asp
  • Small trial stirs hope for chronic fatigue patients Reuters - 1/14/07
  • Autistic teen, adult talk to parents who have autistic children
    The News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA - 1/13/07
    At 41, Thomas McKean is an author, songwriter and interpreter of autism - of his own and for others. ... In 2001 he was on Oprah Winfrey’s TV show, reaching a huge national audience. By the late 1990s, the pace of his life slowed following a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. “I came to the Blue Ridge mountains to heal.” In recent years, he said, he’s been on a spiritual odyssey and that brought him insight into what he feels is the subjective nature of faith.
  • 1.2 million Canadians suffer from unexplained illnesses CanWest NewsService - 1/13/07
  • 5% of Canadians report 'medically unexplained' conditions CBC - 1/12/07
    More than a million Canadians are dealing with conditions that cannot be identified by medical tests or physical exams, Statistics Canada said Friday. The agency looked at data from 2002 and 2003 for people aged 12 and over.  ... About 1.3 per cent of the population reported chronic fatigue syndrome, which is characterized by extreme tiredness.   About 1.5 per cent reported fibromyalgia, which involves pain lasting three months or more in at least 11 of 18 specified areas.  About 2.4 per cent reported multiple chemical sensitivity.
  • [Pioneering New Support] Group to help ME sufferers The Cumberland News, UK - 1/12/07
    “The project will look at how health researchers can help to build up the knowledge base about ME, while at the same time offering direct support to sufferers and their families in an area with few specialist resources.” “The first thing we would like to do is establish contact with people with ME who live in the area.  “We’re building up a first-class resource that will help people manage their condition.  “While waiting for a cure, people can have their lives ruined by ME and the frequent open hostility they experience from people who don’t believe it is a genuine illness. Adults can lose their jobs and find it difficult to claim benefit. Children can miss years at school because they are too ill to attend.” The new Carlisle group is working closely with academics at ... three universities...
  • Snoring partner is 'big relationship divider,' sex therapist says MyWestTexas.com - 1/12/07
    "She moved down the hall after being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, caused both by his loud snoring and by her job as an airline ticketing agent, which required her to get up at dawn."
  • Reiki treatment: Ancient practice used to heal body, soul of recipients
    Myrtle Beach Online -  1/11/07
    Wanda S...., who was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia last year and has a knee injury, began receiving weekly Reiki treatments from Butler several months ago. "I was emotionally and physically miserable," said [Wanda]. "I was just drained. Basically, it was all I could do to make it through a day. I would just come home and crash. I was at my rope's end, so I found out about Denise and called her. "She knew nothing about me when I went in there. What amazed me was basically the first place this woman's hands went was on my injured knee. It's like she was reading my body. I wasn't limping when I went in there, but I was hurting. I thought, 'How did she know that's where I needed her to go?' "I basically can walk without a lot of pain [now]. They had me on a pain reliever. I quit taking it pretty much once I started the Reiki." [Wanda] said the Reiki treatments also have helped emotionally. "It's sort of awaked a part of me that was gone. I wasn't even dreaming. I was so out of touch with myself that if I dreamed, I didn't know it. But now I dream."
  • £700,000 for parrot disease victim Chesterfield Today, UK - 1/11/07
    A spokesman for the company said Mr ...  had enjoyed a "progressive career" with the company until he contracted psittacosis, which resulted in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
  • Report shows public think pharma ‘puts profits before patients'
    Outsourcing-Pharma.com - 1/11/07
  • Brand-New Online Banner Ads for CFS! CFIDSLink - 1/10/07
  • Doctors slow to recognize mysterious disease Charlotte Observer - 1/10/07
    Victims of Morgellons suffer real symptoms but accused of delusions
  • Consumers and Pharmaceutical Companies Far Apart on Views of Pharma Industry, Finds PricewaterhouseCoopers Survey DrugNewswire.com - January 10, 2007
    Perception Gap is Eroding Public's Trust, Industry's Reputation
  • Herpes drug may help with chronic fatigue [syndrome] UPI - 1/9/07
  • Fatigued? Ignore it at your peril The Times of India - 1/9/07
  • When life gives you lemons Mail Tribune - 1/9/07
    Living with a disease doesn't mean you can't minimize its effects
  • Drugs nearing approval for mysterious pain condition [FM] Boston Globe,  Reuters - 1/7/07
    Not all doctors are sure about the pain and fatigue condition known as fibromyalgia, but drug companies are racing to win U.S. regulatory approval to serve this potentially lucrative market.
  • Dark chocolate may fight fatigue Scenta, UK - Jan 5, 2007
    Study shows improvement in chronic fatigue over eight weeks [CFS]
  • Positive approach can totally transform lives Malvern Gazette, UK - Jan 5, 2007
    BEING diagnosed with a long-term health problem [doesn't necessarily have to] stop people from leading a full and satisfying life. ... The course is about getting people to suggest what would be useful to them. We work right across the board, and can talk about anything from symptoms, to diet and exercise or anything else." Mrs Green said it was very easy for people with long-term conditions to become isolated but the course tries to show them that does not have to be the case.  ... It can put a light back into people's lives when everything seems to have gone out. It really can be life-changing." One of ...  first patients ... was Lorraine B..., who is registered blind and suffers from painful muscle condition fibromyalgia. Since she had to take medical retirement from the NHS in 1999, Mrs Barson has founded the hugely successful Malvern Hills Gymnas-tics Club, which now teaches more than 600 children per week. She said the course had made a massive difference to her day-to-day life, and would recommend it to anyone. "Before I did the course, I just stayed at home and did nothing for nearly two years, but look at what I do now," said Mrs Barson. "This course put me in a very positive frame of mind, and I wouldn't be doing what I do now without it."
  • The Mind as Medicine NBC News 14 WFIE, IN - Jan 4, 2007
    Menzies led a 10-week guided imagery intervention for a small group of patients with fibromyalgia, a condition involving chronic pain and fatigue. In the study, published in January 2006 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, one group of patients received usual care and used a set of guided-imagery audiotapes. The other group received only usual care. Compared with the controls, the patients who participated in guided imagery were better able to perform activities of daily living and had a greater sense of being able to manage their pain and other symptoms, the study showed. What's more, Menzies found, "The pain did not change, but the ability to cope with the pain was improved." Bresler considers it shocking that medical colleagues would reach their hands into someone's body and remove organs before allowing a patient to go through an imaging exercise.
  • Fish oil depression trials unclear Reuters, Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - Jan 3, 2007
    Though some research has suggested that fish oil may fight depression, the evidence from clinical trials is too mixed to draw any conclusions, according to a new research review.
  • Patients With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Experience Less Pain Sensitivity --
    May Be Related To Altered Processing     Science Daily - Jan 3, 2007
  • Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of "Pain Free 1-2-3," interviewed about natural pain management, without dangerous drugs NewsTarget.com - Jan 3, 2007
    Mike: Pain is an issue that affects millions of Americans, and unfortunately they tend to rely on over-the-counter drugs that can cause gastrointestinal distress and prescription drugs that have certain inherent risks. You say there's an alternative, a natural alternative, for pain control and relief -- and long-term solutions for this.
    Teitelbaum: Absolutely. There's not just a single magic bullet, although any one of the natural things comes close. If you go ahead and just use a natural pain formula with willow bark, boswellia and cherry, it will still be much more effective than Vioxx, Motrin and those families of medications, without killing over 16,000 Americans, which is the number that die unnecessarily because the media promotes those drugs each year. Remember a couple of things here: One, pain is your body's way of saying something desperately needs attention. It's like the "oil" light on your dashboard. Unfortunately, what most doctors do is, if your oil light goes off, they'll put a Band-Aid over the oil light and say, "It's not bothering you anymore," and then your car dies. In human beings, all doctors have been taught is to give Motrin or Celebrex medications and Tylenol -- and narcotics if you have cancer. That's all your doctor knows about pain management, and it's pathetic because there are hundreds of effective treatments. ...
  • Don't yawn: Chronic fatigue is a big problem Orlando Sentinel, FL - Jan 2, 2007
  • Musician stages comeback: Sjogren's syndrome sidelined singer/guitarist for 19 years
    Berkshire Eagle, MA - Jan 2, 2007
    Finally, doctors who specialized in chronic fatigue syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis sent him to Dr. Martin Samuels, a neurologist and internist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Samuels took one look at Armata's symptoms — twitching muscles, dry glands — determined that he was suffering from Sjogren's and immediately prescribed steroid medications for treatment.
  • In Student’s Success, Mother Sees Many Helping Hands NY Times - Jan 1, 2007
    Mrs. Smith, who had worked for 13 years as a counselor for the New York State Division for Youth, has also faced health problems. In 1993, she received a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, and arthritis was found in her back. Also afflicted with a Baker’s cyst, a knee ailment, in her right leg, Mrs. Smith is unable to work and receives $1,173 a month in Social Security disability payments. “I kind of blocked the diagnosis out because it meant that I wasn’t able to work anymore,” she said. “And it was hard for me. Emotionally, it was hard for me.”

Selected Press Releases

Select 2007 FM and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome News via Immune Support

University of Miami ME/CFS Researcher Nancy Klimas, MD, Explains Complexity of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Terms That Anybody Can Understand [ Jan-11-2008 ]
Dr. Klimas's succinct explanation of the basic mechanisms of ME/CFS - and the story of how she decided to focus on CFS research more than 20 years ago.

Recommendations for Persons with CFS (or FMS) Who Are Anticipating Surgery [1-8-08]
This evidence-based information provided by Dr. Lapp - director of the Hunter-Hopkins Center for ME/CFS/FM care - is meant to reduce the risk of surgical procedures for ME/CFS/FM patients. As such should be shared with the patient’s professional healthcare team.

2007

Meet Rik Carlson - Author, Advocate, Founder, The Vermont CFIDS Association [12-19-07]
An interview with Rik Carlson – part of a series highlighting the accomplishments of ME/CFS Fair Name Implementation Committee (FNIC) members. Reproduced with permission from Cort Johnson's Phoenix Rising website.

Q&A Session with R. Paul St. Amand, MD – December 7, 2007 [ Dec-11-2007 ]
ProHealth's Live Chat Event with Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, MD. To many FM patients and the doctors who treat them, Dr. St. Amand needs no introduction. As director of the Fibromyalgia Treatment Center (FTC) in Marina Del Rey, California, Dr. St. Amand has seen thousands of patients and is known worldwide as developer of the Guaifenesin Protocol.

Lack of Stomach Acid - Hypochlorhydria - Can Cause Lots of Problems [ Dec-10-2007 ]
Sarah Myhill, MD. Hypochlorhydria arises when the stomach is unable to produce hydrochloric acid (stomach acid). It is a greatly overlooked cause of problems - to the extent that in the UK at least nobody is testing or looking for it. It is especially common in those with ME/CFS/FM and is known to be associated with childhood asthma.

How I Survived Chronic Illness – One Woman’s Story of Resilience [ Dec-10-2007 ]
Pat Gurnick is a Psychotherapist and Certified Lifestyle Counselor practicing in Boulder, Colorado – with a specialty in ME/CFS, FM, and MCS patient education. Pat’s stronger health status today, after years of debilitation with these illnesses, is built on her relentless pursuit of insights from the country’s leading specialists.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatry) – A specialty particularly suited to diagnose and treat Fibromyalgia [ Nov-18-2007 ]
Excerpted from Dr. Mark Pellegrino’s, Fibromyalgia: Up Close and Personal. Numerous medical professionals and specialists treat Fibromyalgia. But one specialty in particular - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - is especially skilled at diagnosing and treating this chronic condition.

Karen Lee Richards – Making a difference in the lives of those living with FM & CFS [9-4-07]
A profile of Karen Lee Richards – part of a series highlighting the accomplishments of ME/CFS New Name Implementation Committee (NNIC) members.

Leonard Jason, PhD - ME/CFS Researcher and Bridge Builder [ Sep-03-2007 ]
A profile of Leonard Jason, PhD - part of a series highlighting the accomplishments of ME/CFS New Name Implementation Committee (NNIC) members

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Exercise Conundrum [ Aug-28-2007 ]
Lucinda Bateman, MD, director of The Fatigue Consultation Clinic in Salt Lake City, explains how primary care physicians can help ME/CFS patients improve their physical conditioning while avoiding post-exertion "payback" - considering the individual's particular level or type of illness.

Medical Revisionists Threaten Effective Lyme Treatment - a leading Lyme doctor's statement [ Aug-27-2007 ]
Dr. Stricker, a noted Lyme expert who contributed to the ILADS Evidence-Based Guidelines for Lyme Management, warns the healthcare community of "Lyme denialists" who reject what ILADS terms a chronic-Lyme epidemic.

“Problems with the New CDC CFS Prevalence Estimates” – ME/CFS researcher Leonard Jason, PhD, describes his concerns. [ Aug-22-2007 ]
Is the higher incidence estimate owing to a broader case definition including cases with primary psychiatric conditions? If so, this "will have detrimental consequences for the interpretation of both epidemiologic and treatment efficacy findings," Dr. Jason asserts.

UK Issues Guideline for Diagnosis & Management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (or Encephalopathy) [ Aug-21-2007 ]
"Doubting doctors are ordered to take ME patients seriously," stated a headline in the London Daily Mail on August 22, 2007. That was the day the UK’s National Health Service publicly launched a clinical guideline for CFS/ME.

The Fibromyalgia Spectrum - Part of the Big Picture in Understanding FM [ Aug-04-2007 ]
'Today I’m convinced Fibromyalgia is indeed a broader’ condition with various subsets, writes FM specialist Dr. Mark J. Pellegrino, MD. He outlines a Fibromyalgia Spectrum model, which he finds helpful in organizing and educating patients. Excerpted with permission from Dr. Pellegrino’s reader-friendly book, Fibromyalgia: Up Close and Personal.

Richard Podell, MD, explains shingles – a herpes virus activation that may affect a significant proportion of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients [ Aug-01-2007 ]
If you ever had chicken pox - and especially if you're a Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patient with immune vulnerabilities - you're at risk for the pain of a shingles attack. Dr. Podell explains shingles, its signs and complications, and a wide range of possible treatments, depending on severity and duration.

Lyme Disease & CFS - A Patient-Researcher's Perspective [ Aug-01-2007 ]
A UK-based patient-researcher who was first diagnosed with ME/CFS, but subsequently with borreliosis (Lyme disease), offers information about Lyme and a personal perspective on the difficulty of accurate testing for its presence. This is a particular issue for individuals diagnosed with ME-CFS, but also for those with diagnoses of Fibromyalgia, IBS, and a host of other illnesses.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) - a problem for CFS & FM patients, but treatable [ 7-24-07 ]
UK-based CFS/FM specialist Sarah Myhill, MD, says chronic low blood sugar has been a common cause of fatigue, disturbed sleep, and stress among her patients. She outlines a cause, test, and remedy.

Why ME/CFS? A perfect name isn't necessary, but a respectable name is essential [ 7-10-07 ]
Since early February 2007 when the CFS Name Change Advisory Board announced its decision to call for changing CFS to ME/CFS, there has been a flurry of comments, both pro and con. Acknowledging that there is no perfect name, in my opinion they made the best possible choice.

Live Chat with Martin L. Pall, PhD – July 6, 2007: Professor of Biochemistry Explains Mechanisms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia & Suggested Protocol [ 7-9-07 ]
Martin L. Pall, PhD, answers scores of probing questions from patients and healthcare professionals about the "new disease paradigm" he has defined - as detailed in his acclaimed new book Explaining "Unexplained Illnesses".

Nitric Oxide Cycle Theory: Will It Explain CFS, FM, and Other ‘Unexplained’ Illnesses? - Q&A with Martin L. Pall, PhD [ Jun-22-2007 ]
Dr. Pall explains his nitric oxide/peroxynitrite (NO/ONOO-)cycle theory, which he believes may be the cause of "a stunning array" of previously unexplained symptoms and illnesses - and if so is truly revolutionary.

FDA Approves First Drug for Treating Fibromyalgia [ Jun-21-2007 ]
The FDA announced on Thursday, June 21, that it has approved Pfizer’s pain drug LyricaTM (pregabalin) as the first prescription treatment for Fibromyalgia. The drug "reduces pain and improves daily functions" in some FM patients, but also has important possible side effects.

A Primer on Physical Therapy for Fibromyalgia Patients [ Jun-21-2007 ]
What FM patients and their healthcare providers should understand about Fibromyalgic muscle pain and therapy, from the book FM: The Complete Guide from Medical Experts and Patients, by Sharon Ostaleki, PhD.

Tips on How to Start a Fibromyalgia Support Group in Your Area - From the Tillamook County, Oregon, FM Support Group [ Jun-20-2007 ]
"Our first meeting had only me and one other person," says Marie Ritzel, founder of the Tillamook Fibromyalgia Support Group. Now they're growing constantly.

Flat on Your Back and Moving On [ Jun-08-2007 ]
Mark Pullinger was a promising young musician when Chronic Fatigue Syndrome struck. It turned his whole world upside down…

Fibromyalgia Myth Busting [ May-30-2007 ]
Despite new research that has begun to unravel the mystery of Fibromyalgia, several myths about FM are still being repeated today. 

Natural treatments for depression, anxiety, and stress - Dr. Podell's Protocol [ May-27-2007 ]
The "Functional Medicine" approach Dr. Podell employs combines alternative with traditional modes of treatment to maximize support for the body's natural healing systems.

Live Chat with Author Dorothy Wall - April 19, 2007 [ May-02-2007 ]
Dorothy Wall, is author of the acclaimed book, Encounters with the Invisible: Unseen Illness, Controversy, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – the only book on CFS to blend a vivid personal story with an investigation of the history, science and politics of the illness.

Prescribed Medications for FM: By Mark Pellegrino, M.D. - 2007 Update [ Apr-27-2007 ]
Prescribed medicines are an important part of fibromyalgia treatment - for pain relief and improved sleep, energy, and mood. Presently there are no FDA approved medicines for FM treatment, but many studies have shown how numerous prescribed medicines can benefit those with FM. Physicians are able to prescribe these medicines off-label for FM because of the evidence-based studies.

Rich Carson Talks about Treatment, Research, and Righting a Wrong: Live Chat  [4-21-2007]
ProHealth founder Rich Carson's wide-ranging live patient Q&A session ended with a preview of emerging plans for the next, patient-led, phase of the Campaign for a Fair Name.

Dr. Clauw's Grand Rounds Update on Fibromyalgia Science & Theory [ Apr-16-2007 ]
Daniel J. Clauw, MD, has written an update for physicians on new research and concepts regarding Fibromyalgia’s nature and treatment - in language that patients as well as their healthcare providers can understand.

Why Doesn't My Doctor Know This? [ Apr-09-2007 ]
Studies have found that many physicians aren't keeping up with new research that might point to updates in their evidence-based patient diagnosis and treatment practices. There are several reasons for this.

Dale Guyer, MD, Discusses the Integrative and Molecular Treatment of CFS and FM [4-5-07]
Holistic treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

Kent Holtorf, MD, on Treating CFS & Fibromyalgia - An Update [ Mar-27-2007 ]
Kent Holtorf, MD, is Medical Director of the Holtorf Medical Group Center for Hormone Imbalance, Hypothyroidism and Fatigue in Torrance, California. He specializes in treatment of CFS and FM patients.

Tips for Winning a Fibromyalgia or CFS Disability Case...and...What actually happens at a Social Security Disability Hearing? [ Feb-21-2007 ]
Attorney Jonathan Ginsberg's Tips for Winning a Fibromyalgia [or CFS] Disability Case

Pacing for ME/CFS: The Facts [ Jan-17-2007 ]
by Ellen M. Goudsmit, PhD, Chartered Health Psychologist. What’s pacing? It is an evidence-based strategy for physical activity “that will limit the number and severity of relapses and avoid at least some of the complications of inactivity,” says Dutch expert Ellen Goudsmit. “Thousands of patients have found it useful for many years. And above all, it is unlikely to cause harm!”

FM, CFS and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities - What do they have in common? [ 1-10-2007 ]
FM, CFS and MCS: They are common poorly understood chronic multi-system illnesses that are newly recognized by the medical community and mainly affect women. Men and children can also be affected. They occur in 1.5 percent to 3.0 percent of people, according to the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey. They cost the healthcare system millions of dollars in healthcare costs and the economy millions of dollars in lost wages. As a result of being chronic illnesses, this added burden often leads to family break-ups.

First FDA Approval for FM Treatment Drug Expected by 2008 [ Jan-10-2007 ]
Pharmaceutical companies are “racing” to gain regulatory approval for their drugs to serve the virtually untapped Fibromyalgia market, according to an industry update from Reuters news dated January 7.

A Disease in Search of a Name: The History of CFS and the Efforts to Change Its Name
[ Jan-03-2007 ]
Much of the history of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome revolves around the efforts to define it and the debates over what to call it. Other diseases that started out being called by one name were later renamed, either for the sake of medical accuracy or for political correctness, but one has to wonder whether any other illness has ever had so many names or so much trouble finding its own identity. By Karen Lee Richards.

CFS Psychological or Physical? [ Jan-03-2007 ]
Is CFS psychological or physical? This seemed such a stupid question that I never bothered to consider it. I estimate I must have now seen more than 4,000 patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and it is clear CFS is primarily a physical disorder. By Sarah Myhill, MD.

Tea Polyphenols - Antioxidants or Prebiotics? [ Jan-03-2007 ]
The polyphenols in tea may preferentially suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut, but not the growth of “friendly” bacteria, says a new study from Singapore.


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Updated January 22, 2008