LIVING WITH ME

Action for M.E.’s full consultation report and response to the Welfare Reform Green Paper is now available to view.

http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=381

For a TRIAL period I am launching a discussion forum where you will be able to discuss various aspects of ME etc, so please have a quick look and help them get started.

You can read discussions without becoming a member, but to post you do need to sign up (FREE).

THANKS!

http://www.livingwithme.org.uk/?page_id=280

The administrators of the ‘Living With ME’ website do not advocate the use of any particular type of medication, treatment or healthcare.
YOU should ALWAYS seek advice from a DOCTOR / GP / CONSULTANT before undertaking any treatment.

Around 2.7 million people currently claim Incapacity Benefit (ICB).  The benefit is paid to people who are judged to be incapable of work, initially by a GP and then at a later date by a Benefits Agency doctor.

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/681/70/

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate a lot of your bodily functions. Along with melatonin, it’s especially involved in your sleep cycle. Melatonin helps you fall asleep, while serotonin helps you wake up feeling refreshed. At least, that’s what serotonin and melatonin do in people who are fortunate enough to have the right amount.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/treatingfmscfs/a/serotonin.htm?nl=1

This study, reported in Clinical Cardiology (July 2008), found that a considerable number of ME/CFS patients have a small heart. ”Small heart syndrome may contribute to the development of CFS as a constitutional factor predisposing to fatigue, and may be included in the genesis of CFS.”

http://www.fightingfatigue.org/?p=1638

This cyclist had to put away his bike in 2002 due to CFS. But today, this New York City resident, who has also conquered his depression, is psyched to be riding again thanks to Autoimmunity Research Foundation’s Marshall Protocol. Paul Albert will now take your questions.

http://bacteriality.com/2007/11/10/interview10/

Alexander Chester, MD says that one symptom of chronic sinusitis, bodily pain, is not listed in the medical books/journals so it may be misdiagnosed as depression, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia and arthritis.  It is estimated that approximately 14% of the population has sinusitis.  The condition can become a chronic problem that can be difficult to treat.

http://www.fightingfatigue.org/?p=1727

M.E. / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Sleepydust Video on Youtube

Are you searching for answers about Fibromyalgia? You’ve come to the right place.  There is help and you are not alone!

Fibromyalgia, CFS, Autoimmune and Chronic Pain diseases affect a large percentage of
people all over the world and more are being diagnosed every day.  Awareness about
these illnesses is severely lacking as well as medical treatment options.  Often we are
doped up on narcotics to mask the pain rather than treated in an effort to cure our
diseases because the medical community as a whole simply does not know how to
effectively treat us.

http://www.missionbeachsouth.com/

A touch of fall is in the air where I live – nights are crisp and cool, mums are in bloom, and my feet will not warm up!

It’s another aspect of fibromyalgia to which I’ve had to adjust. In the spring and summer, my hands and feet get puffy and throb. In the fall and winter, they’re so cold they ache and cramp. Pre-fibro, I was always hot and hated to have my feet covered, but now I have a drawer full of super-soft socks and slippers to wear around the house. If I forget to put them on, I usually have to use a heated rice bag under a blanket to warm them up!

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/09/23/what-season-is-worst-for-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome vs. “I Get Tired, Too”

We all get tired. It’s part of life, and especially part of modern life.

Think for a moment about the last time you were really tired at work. It’s harder to focus, harder to function, but you can push through it.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/understandCFS.htm?nl=1

Flu clinics are going on, and it’s time again for those of us with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) to decide whether to get vaccinated.

The issue is that some FMS & ME/CFS experts say they frequently see relapses or flares in their patients who do get a shot. On the other hand, some doctors point out that when we do get the flu, we tend to get it worse – we’re sicker, and for longer.

If you’ve had flu shots before and have done OK with them, or if you have another serious illness (especially heart disease, emphysema or diabetes), experts say you should go ahead and get one. If not, however, you’ve got some things to consider.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/10/14/flu-shot-or-not-when-you-have-fibromyalgia-or-mecfs.htm

Dr. William Reeves from the CDC conducted a study to test measured deficits in working memory and motor response in ME/CFS that is not associated with psychiatric and psychological problems.

The objective of the study was to examine the neuropsychological function characterized in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome at the same time controlling for relevant confounding factors. Neuropsychology addresses relationships between brain structure & function, information processing, behavior.

http://www.fightingfatigue.org/?p=1601

From The Northern Echo, Monday October 13

TWO new weekly clinics have been launched to help people who suffer from ME.

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/677/70/

After six months trekking in the desert and hacking through jungle, explorer Ed Stafford has now reached the quarter-way mark in his 4,000-mile quest to become the first man to walk without a break from the source to the mouth of the mighty River Amazon.

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/676/70/

People who want to be first-time runners in the Bath Half Marathon.

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/674/70/

The Welfare Reform Green Paper has been the focus of a number of meetings recently
On Monday 6 October, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) held their second consultation event, this time in Cardiff. Yesterday the Rt Hon James Purnell MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, answered a number of questions from people with M.E. at the APPG in London, the minutes of which will be available shortly and a further DWP consultation event took place in Edinburgh today.

http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=377

When my youngest baby was born, I experienced a serious flare, and was in a wheelchair for a while. I couldn’t walk more than about five feet due to fatigue and dizziness. As the baby got older, I was able to put the wheelchair away, but I wasn’t well, and I was still following the “very gentle exercise” and the “if it hurts, don’t do it” rules.

http://www.squidoo.com/fibrocize

Living with someone who has fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is a tough job, whether that person is completely disabled, 50% functional, or goes through occasional flares. In all likelihood, having a chronically ill person in your household will impact your life.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/forfriendsfamily/a/lifeafterfmscfs.htm?nl=1

Jonathan Kerr, Senior Lecturer, and his team is studying the genes of CFS patients to understand the causative mechanisms, develop a diagnostic test and identify treatments, following publication of their pilot study which demonstrated reproducible differences in gene expression in CFS patients.

http://www.investinme.org/Article-040%20Jonathan%20Kerr.htm

On symptoms list for both fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is temperature sensitivity. What exactly does that mean, though?

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/09/25/do-you-run-hot-cold-or-both.htm

Another study was recently conducted to try and learn more about Fibromyalgia.  In this particular study, researchers were trying to determine the physical function level of women with Fibromyalgia.

The researchers used data that was comprised by a National Fibromyalgia Association survey.  The 1,735 women who responded to the survey ranged in age from 31 – 78 who had received a Fibromyalgia diagnosis from a physician.

http://www.fightingfatigue.org/?p=1806

Experiences from people with ME/CFS who have been offered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and/or Graded Exercise Therapy since the NICE Guideline on ME/CFS was published in August 2007 are wanted by a new website launched today to support the the Judicial Review – which is expected to take place over three days in October or November.

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/659/70/

Changing Your Life to Ease Your Symptoms

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/a/coping.htm

Welcome to our Newsletter page. Here you will find copies of past newsletters.

Please feel free to subscribe.

http://www.investinme.org/IIME%20newsletter.htm

This is a brief summary on a very successful international ME/CFS conference that was held in Pavia, Italy on Friday 26 September 2008.

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/671/70/

The last meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on M.E. was held at 1pm, Tuesday 2 July 2008, House of Commons.

The minutes of that meeting are now available, in anticipation of the next APPG, which will be held Wednesday 8 October.

http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=376