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FMS eNews 19/03/2016

This was the original message on the first version of this blog:
"Humble apologies, This is in draft form as I inadvertently deleted the finished blog for this week.  The information is there but it does not look attractive.  The links are not embedded, there is no colour and the illustrations are missing.  Hours of work have been lost.  If I have time I will attempt to restore it but for now it is as it is, and I am sorry. But I guess it's better than no blog!  I think I'm the bug - see below!"

This is the revised version of the blog for 19/03/2016.  Apologies again for the false start.  I worked during the night to correct my error!  I hope it is now OK.

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WORDz for the WEEK

264.  Sometimes you are the windshield; sometimes you're the bug . . .

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Things I Wish I'd Known in the Early Days

If chronic illness has one positive effect, it's making us wiser. Oh, how I wish I'd known -- back before my diagnosis or soon afterward -- the things I know now!
This week, we'll be looking at a host of things I wish I'd known back then. They'd have made things much easier on me ... and probably everyone around me, too. I hope you'll learn a few things that can smooth your path.
Take care of yourself!
Adrienne Dellwo - Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Expert

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Getting A ‘Grip’ On Hand Pain In Fibromyalgia ~ 5 Budget Friendly Gadgets To Help Painful Hands With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is the great copy-cat of the medical world.  One of the reasons it may take years to diagnose, is due to it's characteristic of mimicking other conditions.  Many people, myself included, in the beginning stages of the disease believe they have rheumatoid arthritis.  This is especially true when hand pain becomes increasingly more severe.
As the years have gone on, the pain in my hands has gotten worse.  In the past, I would have sore hands during the occasional flare.  Today I experience sharp pains and aching fingers on a regular basis. Cold and overuse seem to exacerbate the problem.
We've all experienced the 'time limit' available during an activity that involves a lot of hand movement.  It will either require frequent resting in between tasks, or a cessation of movement altogether.
What gadgets did Kristine find? . .

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The Benefits Of Magnesium Are Mandatory

The mineral that motivates every cell of your body.
One of the minerals your body needs the most is likely one that you’re also deficient in. A typical human body contains approximately one to two ounces of magnesium, found mainly in the bones and teeth, with concentrations also in the heart and brain and even a small amount in the blood. In fact, every single cell in the body requires it to some degree to function properly. It’s also the second most abundant intracellular (positive ion) in your body and is critical in over 300 metabolic functions. Clearly, this mineral is vital, yet the USDA estimates that nearly one half of the American population consume an inadequate amount in their diets. Why is this so?
Find out . . .

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ESA Cuts Go Ahead Plus Help Get Justice For Claimant Killed By Sanctions

Employment and support allowance (ESA) cuts for new claimants are to go ahead after the government finally won its battle with the House of Lords yesterday.
The Tories want to reduce ESA payments for claimants in the work-related activity (WRAG) group by £30 a week, bringing them down to the same level as JSA. They believe this will encourage WRAG claimants, such as those with degenerative diseases or serious mental health conditions, to go out and find work.
Twice the House of Lords voted down the changes, but yesterday the government finally got its way after declaring that the measures were covered by financial privilege rules.
The cuts will be introduced in April 2017, with the DWP claiming that no current ESA claimants will be affected.
Read more stories . . .

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Effects of Music and Vibration on Fibromyalgia (a study)

We’ve previously discussed studies that show that music can improve pain and symptoms of Fibromyalgia, as well as studies indicating that acupuncture is helpful for Fibromyalgia.  A 2014 study combined the two together to evaluate if the combination of music and acupuncture may be more helpful.
120 Fibromyalgia patients took part in this study in one of four groups.
Find out what they were and what the study revealed . . .

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How can you be positive when you live with chronic pain?

Recently I saw a meme on Facebook asking the question: “How can you be positive when you live with chronic pain?” There was a time when I would have totally agreed with that sentiment, but no more. These days I know that whether I feel positive or negative has little to do with my physical health. I have learned that not only can I be positive living with chronic pain, but that I have to be.
How can you be positive when you live with chronic pain?
Whether you feel positive or negative is a choice that you make. Not only is it a choice that you make but it’s a choice you must make repeatedly. It’s a choice you often must make hundreds of times a day.
When you live with chronic pain it seems that there is every reason to feel negative, to live in the dumps, in the land of “poor me.” It’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves, to wonder what we did to deserve this fate, and to think that life will never get better. But, whether or not the pain improves, life can get better because life is about a lot more than the pain we are in.
Continue reading . . .

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Juicing for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Illness

I started juicing about 4 years ago and it’s been an amazing adventure for me. It was the start of my return to a healthier place. I’ve had a few lapses over the years, and when I do I can always tell the difference and find myself wanting to return to daily juicing.
This year after realizing that I’d been avoiding juicing regularly because cleaning the juicer aggravated my shoulder issue, we upgraded to a masticating juicer. It juices a little slower but it’s so much easier to clean. The juice yield is also a lot better so it’s well worth the added time. I actually get almost 50% more juice out of the same amount of produce.
Find out more - and recipes . . .

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LOOKING FOR AN LDN FRIENDLY DOCTOR? | A REVIEW OF LDNDOCTOR.COM

My subscribers know by now that I’m a huge fan of low dose naltrexone as a treatment for fibromyalgia. I took LDN for about nine months in 2015, and I will be starting back on it next week. (I’ll give an update on how I’m changing my treatment protocol in an upcoming blog post.) LDN has helped to reduce my pain when no other pharmaceutical has, and I have a number of fibro friends who have benefited from it as well.
A few weeks ago, I was asked by LDNDoctor.com if I would be interested in doing an online LDN consult. I’ve been thinking about going back on LDN for the past couple of months, so it was perfect timing.
LDNDoctor.com offers online consultations and prescriptions for low dose naltrexone to U.S.-based patients via U.S.-licensed physicians. Consults are available to manage conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s/colitis, thyroid disorders (Hashimoto’s and Graves disease), rheumatoid arthritis and others.
Read the rest of Donna's LDN story . . .

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WEEK OF MARCH 14, 2016 FIBROMYALGIA AND ME/CFS NEWS

Top Stories

  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control releases new opioid prescribing guidelines, and pain patients react negatively as predicted.
  • Now this is funny (and I bet every single one of us has our own version of this script): “Why am I awake? Sleeping with chronic illness” from fellow blogger Chronic Mom.
  • “Must see” chronic fatigue syndrome documentary “Forgotten Plague” has been released to DVD, iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Instant Video.
  • Now who thought of trying this in the first place? Using human placental extract to treat ME/CFS
  • Why those of us with chronic illness should consider making a NOT to do list.
  • A lot of us with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS aren’t able to hold a typical 9-5 job due to the severity of our symptoms. My friend Julie over at Counting My Spoons gives us some alternatives for “working with chronic illness.”

And much more besides . . .

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Vote for Fibro Flare Magazine in the National Diversity Awards

Bio
Fibromyalgia/ME/CFS are chronic and debilitating conditions that have a major impact upon those diagnosed and their families. It is estimated that 3-5% of the population have been diagnosed (approx 70 million people worldwide) and despite Fibromyalgia having been around for hundreds of years very little is known or understood. Support, Awareness and Research are much needed in the future to ascertain the cause and aim for a cure.
People from across the spectrum can be struck down at any time, these chronic conditions do not discriminate. Children as young as 4 are already suffering.
Read the manifesto . . .
You can only vote up until 23rd March, so don't hang about!

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Ask your MP to become a Fibromyalgia Ambassador

Join our campaign - write to your MP and ask to become a Fibromyalgia Ambassador!
We have written to all MPs and all Members of the House of Lords to ask them to become Fibromyalgia Ambassadors. We have already received a few positive responsaes - now we need your help to get more MPs on board!
We have joined forces with UK Fibromyalgia (publishers of the Fibromyalgia Magazine) to spread the message to all our supporters to join our campaign and to write to their MPs. Please ask your MP to lobby for their support for the fibromyalgia cause. Tell them about your personal situation and how widespread fibromyalgia is within the UK, and that you are looking for their help in our campaign. We want to create Fibromyalgia Ambassadors and we would appreciate it if you would ask them to sign up to become one.
Find out how . . .

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Recognition for Janet Horton

We are delighted to announce that Janet Horton, a long-standing trustee of FMA UK, has been awarded a ‘’Highly Commended Volunteer’ recognition by Small Charities Coalition and Merkel UK for her outstanding volunteering work and commitment in all her voluntary roles, including as trustee and a volunteer for FMA UK.
Janet has been working tirelessly in the fibromyalgia field for two decades despite living with this condition herself. She became trustee of Fibromyalgia Action UK in 1997 and has also been actively involved in many projects of the charity.
Find out more about Janet . . .

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Other News from FMA UK

FMA UK submission to NICE on clinical guidance concerning the diagnosis of fibromyalgia
FMA UK is surveying GPs on fibromyalgia
as well as Contact your MP Campaign - FMAUK and UK Fibromyalgia

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Why Getting Outside Is Important For Fibromyalgia Relief

Most of us live in entirely climate controlled environments. The majority of Americans are lucky enough to have adequate shelter, with ways to heat and cool the indoors enough so that it’s always fairly comfortable. Particularly because most jobs are also done indoors, it’s completely possible to spend your days going from one indoor environment into another. But the world of nature is still out there waiting for you—and here’s why your health will benefit if you make it a priority to get outside.
6 reasons why . . .

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20 Things You Should Throw Away for Better Health

Toss these now by Nicole Cherie Jones
When we talk about the steps you need to take to get healthier, they often involve buying new things: workout clothes, fitness equipment, ingredients for healthy recipes, and the list goes on. But becoming the healthiest version of yourself also means throwing away the stuff that's holding you back—and we don't only mean junk food. Get your recycling or garbage can ready!
Find out what they are . . .

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Rising! The Health Rising Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and FM Forums Take Off!

It’s been quite a month on the HR Forums. My experience with Forums is that at some point they just catch on. That happened last month on the HR Forums with the number of posts zinging up 6 times their previous record and pageviews booming up 50%.
Health Rising Forums
The Health Rising Forums are booming ….
If you’ve checked out the Health Rising Forums please check them out again and if you haven’t – check out the only ME/CFS/FM Forums with Recovery Stories, Doctor Reviews, Resource and Media sections.
Read on . . .

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Brian Walitt and the Psychosomaticism of Fibromyalgia: Another Look

 Brian Walitt, the coordinator of the NIH's Clinical Centers chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) trial co-authored a paper which stated that both ME/CFS and FM are "psychosomatic disorders". The authors characterized psychosomatic disorders as disorders in which patients subjective experience of their cognitive abilities do not reflect the cognitive losses that show up in studies; i.e. the patients were less worse off cognitively than they said they were.
The authors asserted that chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are real, biologically based disorders and suggested immunological and epigenetic therapies as treatments but use the "P" word was overwhelming. The word psychosomatic carries connotations of a disease that is "not real" and is "all in one's head". During a recent conference call Walitt asserted that these disorders were biologically based, were not in one's head and were very real indeed.
Read more . . .

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WE'RE MAKING A FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FIBROMYALGIA!

Pheonix Morrissey
I’m a Freelance Filmmaker and Creative Director at CosmicStar Productions, however I also unfortunately suffer with Fibromyalgia (along with many of its associated illnesses and disorders). I’ve decided to create something positive out of it by merging and implementing my filmmaking skills and abilities with my on-going battle with chronic illness, therefore I’m currently planning to produce a FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FIBROMYALGIA!
WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY!
Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fibromyalgiafilm
Official Twitter page: https://twitter.com/MyFibroAlgia
If you’re interested in taking part, please email: myfibroalgia@outlook.com
Read full details here . . . 

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Depression & Fibromyalgia - An Admission.

I know, I know, we've been here before!
I wrote way back in October / November of last year about how I was battling some really dark clouds in my life. I put it down to turning fifty and being in constant pain and I was determined to overcome it without the need for medication.
Just after Christmas I thought I'd beaten it. Things began to look brighter. I was still in chronic pain and  I had, in the time since I last wrote about being depressed, been prescribed Oramorph to take alongside my Cocodamol - despite my being unwilling to go down the drug guinea pig route again. But, up until last week, everything seemed fine. I'd beaten my depression.
Or had he? . .

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The Need to Set Priorities With Fibromyalgia

Why We Should Be Setting Priorities With Fibromyalgia
Priorities — they can be a challenge to set and maintain for healthy individuals, nonetheless those dealing with the added issues that come with fibromyalgia. Still, setting priorities and learning how to fulfill them is of utmost importance if you are to regain control over your life once diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
This need has never hit home with me more than in the last few months. I have been walking the journey of life with fibro for almost 16 years, and as I face more of life’s responsibilities, duties and opportunities, I understand more than ever how invaluable the art of setting priorities is.
Find out how . . .

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Free online event

Ena Wennes
This upcoming video summit (March 28 - April 7), hosted by Pilates Instructor and Corrective Exercise Specialist, Eva Wennes, will showcase how to reduce or eliminate chronic pain without the use of drugs, and how to improve your strength, flexibility and mobility, so you can enjoy life again!
The PAIN-FREE FOR LIFE event is an easy-to-follow guide with the step-by-step processes, tools and information you need to achieve your health goals....ALL IN ONE PLACE!
    Online for FREE from March 28 to April 7
    Access it from ANY computer or mobile device
    Watch it while waiting in the doctor's office, making dinner, during your lunch break...or whenever you get a chance!
Simply tune in. We hope this event will give you the information you've been waiting for to truly change your life for the better.
Sign up now . . .

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Reverse the ESA disability benefit cut

The House of Lords has been unable to stop a planned £30-a-week cut to disability benefits forced through by Government MPs. This will cripple those in receipt of these benefits, leaving many in literal poverty.
The government must reverse this decision. Lives are at risk.
Sign this Petition . . .

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Chronic illness and light therapy

Do you have a chronic illness and long for some sunshine on your skin?
Do the winter months leave you feeling flat?
You may benefit from LIGHT THERAPY.
Many from the chronic illness community are advocates of light therapy as a powerful gift in raising their moods during winter darkness. I say gift as the negative to this therapy is cost. Most units are in the region of a hundred pounds so a good way to get one is birthdays or Christmas.
NB. Any of my family reading this, no I don't want one as I am not a good candidate for its magic, read on and see why. *
Light therapy has been shown to help with depression and sleep disorders as it resets the circadian rhythms (Biological clock) that control sleeping and waking.
Find out more . . .

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The different stages of Fibromyalgia

A lot of us have come together on this site and others.. because we all have one thing in common…FIBROMYALGIA.. FIBRO-MY-ALGIA, sometime in our past, recent or further - we have been told we have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome in which a person has long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues and BLAH BLAH BLAH you know the rest.. for GODS sake we live it everyday…we are more than a diagnosis, and we should not all be lumped together as a whole, there should be stages, and this is why:
Discover the 6 stages . . .

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24 Things No One Talks About When It Comes to Having Fibromyalgia

A lot of information comes up when you Google “fibromyalgia” — associated symptoms, treatment options and the like. It’s probably similar to what a doctor might tell someone recently diagnosed. But a lot goes unmentioned — things you might not know unless you have fibromyalgia or love someone who does. And even then, as is true with many chronic illnesses, there are things people who have it just don’t talk about.
We asked people with fibromyalgia in our community to share one thing not often talked about when it comes to having this disease. Every answer offers more insight into this misunderstood illness — and hopefully increases awareness and advocacy in the process.
See what they all said . . .

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This section is included because it provides general health education, but not necessarily fibro related.





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I am still working on The Liebster Award.  If you have any favourite blogs, please let me know and I will try and include them.  Thanks
Well wishes
Stella

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or leave your comments below under 'Post a Comment'

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N.B. The links on this my FMS eNews blog are in the BROWN text, usually in the title of each article but occasionally elsewhere too. Some titles have no links in which case the title is in GREEN like the dividers.  This blog gives just a taster of each article which can be viewed in full through its link.  The sites included are in alphabetical order.  If you have any navigation problems, let me know.
I would like to point out to you that the information in my FMS eNews blog is passed on to you mainly from other sources. Links are given to the original articles. I take no responsibility for their accuracy but freely give them publicity if I think they might be of interest to my readership. Sites I refer you to are for information only. They might conflict in their opinions, they might not even be medically sound, but I merely offer them for you to peruse and make your own judgments, accept or reject as you will. Only by reading widely can we get an overall picture of fibromyalgia syndrome and how we can deal with its symptoms, learn to cope with them and still have a life. Any advice or recommendation of a medical or legal nature should always be discussed with a qualified professional.
I also include various awareness items, benefits issues, as well as general health considerations. Anyone wishing to reproduce any of the included items in any way should seek permission from the originators.
Wordz for the Week are from ‘Wordz for the Day’ by Donnie Kuhn, Sr. who died in May 2011.
This eNews is my personal offering to fibromyalgia sufferers and their carers and is not related to any other organisation or charity although I do work in conjunction with other bloggers and Facebook groups.
If you don’t already get reminders when each new FMS eNews is posted, please send an email to fmsstella@gmail.com and you will be added to the emailing list.

1 comment:

  1. Dear Stella
    You have an appropriate name you do Stella work on your blog. I have signed the petition to stop Osbourne from reducing the PIP

    ReplyDelete