Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:
What are these disorders?

Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points (18 known), particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), a person is considered to have fibromyalgia if they experience widespread pain with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites.

People with FMS may also experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and other symptoms. It has been estimated that over 8 million people suffer with these disorders and the numbers are continually climbing; yet the cause is still unknown.

Some Scientists believe that the syndrome is caused by an injury or trauma. The injury may affect the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia has been known to be associated with changes in muscle metabolism causing decreased blood flow, which in turn causes fatigue leaving one in a weakened state. Some physicians believe the syndrome may be triggered by an infectious number of viruses.

it is difficult to treat Fibromyalgia because what works for one person may not work for another. A combination of medications, relaxation, and massage can help alleviate some pain. Swimming has been known to help some FMS patients.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not like the normal good and bad days we experience in everyday life. The early sign of this illness is a very noticeable fatigue that comes on suddenly. You usually feel too tired to do the slightest activity and can become easily exhausted for no apparent reason. Most develop a fogged mind and concentration becomes poor; the agonizing weakness of CFS does not go away with a good nights sleep. Instead, it robs your energy and stamina over months and sometimes years.

Common symptoms of CFS are: headache, tender lymph nodes, fatigue, weakness in muscles and joint aches and an inability to concentrate. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS);

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS is another disorder that overlaps and presents itself in full force. This is a syndrome in which multiple symptoms occur with low-level chemical exposure. Several theories have been explained for the cause of MCS, including: toxic effects, allergy, and neurobiological sensitization. MCS patients have escalated rates of depression, and anxiety disorders.

Common symptoms include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, depression, memory loss, weakness, dizziness, headaches, heat intolerance and neuralgic pain in one or more joints. It has been suggested that Gulf War syndrome may be a variant of MCS. It is rare that one develops FMS / CFS/ MCS by itself; these three disorders usually overlap one another.

Pattie Caprio

Million Letter Campaign
Founder of the MILLION LETTER CAMPAIGN (MLC) Pattie was stricken with FMS / CFIDS / MCS after an automobile accident in May 2002. Unable to work within the tight deadlines of her chosen career, Pattie fought long and hard to receive Social Security Disability benefits. After living through this devastating lifestyle change, Pattie’s goal became finding a way to help others. The idea for the Million Letter Campaign was born out of an impassioned desire to end the financial and emotional poverty that many FMS/CFIDS/MCS patients are forced to endure and to educate the public about these painful, life-altering conditions. By collaborating with Fibromyalgia web-site owner and fellow FMS sufferer, Dominie Soo Bush, Pattie has enlisted the help of Dominie’s huge reader base. She has enlisted over 30 volunteers to help spread the word, and now shares her goal with sufferers throughout America and parts of Europe, Australia, China, South Africa and Canada. For more information about the Million Letter Campaign, log on to their site. FMS-HELP.COM

"Financial Steps for Caregivers:
What You Need to Know About Money and Retirement."

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Free Teleconference May 17th from Cancer Care

A cancer diagnosis has a profound impact on the entire family. There is new information to be learned and decisions to be made. And throughout it all the question, how much information do children need in order for them to feel comfortable and secure?

On May 17th, CancerCare will offer a free, one-hour telephone education workshop, Supporting Your Children and Teenagers During Your Cancer Treatment, with Peggy Ann Murphy, MSW, Children's Program Coordinator at CancerCare. Ms. Murphy will discuss common questions children ask, how each age group responds, the six basic needs of children whose parent has cancer and much more. The workshop will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 pm Eastern Time. The workshop is free and there are no phone charges to participate.

To register, simply go to the CancerCare website registration page.

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Introducing Medicare's New Coverage for Prescription Drugs

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May is:

Older Americans Month
Administration on Aging

Skin Cancer Awareness Month
American Cancer Society

Mental Health Month
National Mental Health Association

National Arthritis Month
Arthritis Foundation

Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

New Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Launches -Researchers Seeking Healthy Women to Participate

Healthy women at an increased risk for breast cancer, which includes all women 60 or older, may be eligible to participate in the ExCel research study. Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group, ExCel is a global prevention trial with 40 sites across the U.S. It will evaluate if the breast cancer drug exemestane can also effectively prevent the disease in healthy women at high risk. If proven effective, exemestane may provide women with a safer alternative to tamoxifen, currently the only drug FDA approved for prevention. For more information on ExCel and for a site nearest you, visit www.excelstudy.com.

Women Needed With Early State Breast Cancer Under Chemo or Radiation for Paid Focus Group

We are recruiting for an in-home study for women currently being treated with either radiation or chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. The study will involve an in-home interview, recording your cancer treatment in a paper diary, and a series of about 6 brief follow-up telephone calls. Compensation is $500. We are seeking women who live within a 1-2 hour drive of NYC, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

If you have been recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and are interested in participating in this study, please reply with the following information:: You name, age, phone, if you have you reached menopause, either naturally or as a result of your cancer treatment and when do you expect to complete radiation and/or chemotherapy.

This study is being conducted by a major healthcare company to better develop cancer treatments. Your participation will ultimately result in bringing better ideas and treatments to doctors and patients such as yourself. Of course, your responses will remain anonymous. Thank you,

Focus Forward
www.focusfwd.com

"One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these - to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both, are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do. There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it; I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate. The reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here. The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours: They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here. In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for. This comes with much love and a prayer that you remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place

Zora Neale Hurston

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot
live within.

James Baldwin

The Truth From Dr. Ruth

I noticed a person whose habits bothered me.
I wanted to change that person.
Then I realized I was looking in a "mirror".

Rivers of life flow through you every day.
Purifying these rivers involves managing the pollutants of your mind.

Breath is the Wind of Life moving through you each and every minute.
Open yourself to its power, and you become the Wind of Life.

Upon awakening, celebrate the process of waking-up.

Now tell the truth and move on:
What untruth are you telling yourself that is creating conflict in your life?

A garden of kindness is cultivated through:
forgiveness, acceptance, and appreciation.