Saturday 30 June 2012

FMSSAS eNews 12.06.30


Hello again
I am sorry I didn’t manage an eNews last week.  I spent a very enjoyable time with my daughter in Street, Somerset.  One of the things we did was to hunt swans in Wells!  Not live ones, but those decorated ones that represent the Queen’s 60 years’ reign.  I took loads of photos and for those of you who are interested a good selection is available here: http://photobucket.com/swansofwells 
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WORDz FOR THE WEEK
76.  Life will not start looking up until you stop looking down.
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Reducing Feelings of Resentment in Your Relationship
Having fibromyalgia in a partnership or marriage can dramatically change the relationship. Simple tasks that you both took for granted—mobility, housework, finances, social activities, and even making plans for the future—may be sidetracked.
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The Right Tool for the Job
Theracane – great for getting to points in your back – as well as getting leverage so you don’t tire out your hands doing trigger point releases. Another advantage – if you can arrange things so you relax into the theracane you can more easily reach deep triggers.   Read more . . .
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Common pain and pain relief myths
What you don't know about pain and pain relief can hurt you. Great strides have been made in the understanding of pain and its treatment in the last decade. Pain that was once considered beyond help is now manageable.
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Fibro Doctors Chose Pfizer Over You
In my last eNews this item prompted a response from Pam Stewart, Chair of FMA UK   I was concerned about the allegations in the last article that charitable organisations are in league with pharmaceutical companies and pass on information.
Perhaps you could point out in your next newsletter that FMA UK never passes any information out to third parties and has no funding from any drug company.”
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Dr Andrew Holman will be talking about Fibromyalgia on 21st July at 2 p.m, in Weston Education Centre, King’s College London, Denmark Hill Campus  SE5 9RJ
Dr Holman has been researching treatment options for fibromyalgia for many years and been instrumental in bringing these for approval in the States.  Unfortunately the drugs have not been approved specifically for fibromyalgia in Europe, but the findings from these studies helps in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in producing the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
We are very fortunate to have Andrew researching into fibromyalgia and for giving freely of his time whilst in the UK to update us on current thinking.  This is an opportunity not to be missed.
Tickets can be purchased through the website shop at £3 each to include tea/coffee and the receipt should be brought as proof of purchase as no actual ticket will be issued.  Places are limited, so please book in advance to avoid any possible disappointment. You can order your tickets here.  More information . . .
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Chronic Pain and Cigarette Smoking: Another Reason to Quit
People with chronic pain are significantly  more likely to be cigarette smokers than those without chronic pain. Some smokers with chronic pain report using smoking as a means of coping with their pain. However, smoking is not an effective coping strategy and has been associated with greater pain intensity, more pain interference, and more fear of pain. Smoking (and passive smoke) has been found to be linked to increased headaches.  Smokers with back pain reported more emotional distress, lower activity levels, and greater reliance on pain medication than nonsmokers with back pain.  Smoking will not enhance your ability to cope with your pain and may make your pain worse. Of course, if you smoke, you already know the dangers of smoking with respect to cancer and cardiovascular disease, among other health risks. Quitting would not only reduce your risk of cancer, heart, and other diseases, it may also improve your ability to manage your chronic pain.
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To receive Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain LIFE digital bi-monthly magazine free, please register here. Digital version and print-on-demand available after registration.
For print information, please go to MagCloud. Thanks!  Read online:
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5 Simple Steps to Cure IBS without Drugs - Video
60 million Americans suffer from IBS, and conventional medicine doesn’t have a cure. In fact, many doctors will tell you the condition is “all in your head.” But there are ways you can treat the underlying causes of IBS. This week Dr. Mark Hyman outlines 5 steps you can take to overcome IBS and heal from your digestive problems.
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CherryActive: Much-Needed Relief To Gout, Fibromyalgia And Arthritis Sufferers
Ongoing scientific studies are demonstrating how foods naturally rich in melatonin like Montmorency cherries can help sufferers of insomnia gain deep, restful sleep.  Read more:
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Relieve Fibromyalgia With These Simple Dietary Tips
Fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to treat. Medication tends to reduce symptoms only by about 30-50 per cent. Plus it can be extremely confusing sorting through all the conflicting nutritional advice about which foods to eat and which to avoid...
The following tips may help to alleviate your symptoms:
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Is Your Thyroid Gland Working Properly? Insights, an At-Home Test, and Natural Help
Terry Lemerond, a well-known author, advisor and educator, shares the wisdom of 40 years spent researching & developing more than 300 nutritional and botanical health support formulations. This article, first published Sep 16, 2011, is reproduced with kind permission from Terry's informative website TerryTalksNutrition.com ©2011-2012, all rights reserved.
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Living with Pain: Approach-Avoidance Conflict
Approach-avoidance conflict has a long tradition in psychology, having first been proposed by Dr. Kurt Lewin in the 1930s.  The idea is that some goals have both positive, inviting aspects and negative, repelling aspects.  Conflict arises out of both wanting and not wanting something. As you approach the goal, the unpleasant aspects start to dominate and you want to avoid it. If you avoid the goal, it begins to look attractive again and you approach it. It is easy to feel frustrated, unhappy, and paralyzed by an approach-avoidance conflict.  Here are a few examples as applied to living with chronic pain:
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Human cost of welfare reform: 'I'm being punished because of my health' – Video
Ministers have insisted welfare reform will protect the most vulnerable. But the Guardian has seen a memo from senior jobcentre management that acknowledges changes to the benefits system could have 'profound results' for vulnerable claimants. The Guardian spoke to both Julie Carwardine and Richard Sykes about the financial and mental impact of losing their benefits.
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Pain management health centre - What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia can make you feel miserable. Fortunately there are treatments that can reduce pain and help you get on with life.
We've brought together the best research about fibromyalgia and weighed up the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk to your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.
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I find it difficult to believe that 2012 is half over, but time marches on, regardless.  Here’s hoping the second half will be good for us all.
Stella
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N.B. I would like to point out to you all that the information in my eNewsletters does not necessarily infer endorsement by the charity Fibromyalgia Support for Surrey & Sussex.   Any advice or recommendation of a medical or legal nature must always be discussed with a qualified professional. The charity cannot be held responsible for omissions and/or errors.
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 judgements, 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.
I also include various awareness and local issues as well as general health considerations.    Anyone wishing to reproduce any of the above items in printed form should seek permission from the originators.
Wordz for the Week are from ‘Wordz for the Day’ by Donnie Kuhn, Sr.
Past issues of FMSSAS eNews can be found at www.fms-sas.co.uk/fmseNews.html and on a blog at http://fmssas-enews.blogspot.com/



Saturday 16 June 2012

FMSSAS eNews 12.06.16


Hi there
Tomorrow I’m off and away for a week so no promises for an eNews next Saturday.  Do make the most of this one!  Now the drought is over and floods have had their way, I’m hoping for a bit of sunshine whilst I am in Somerset.  After all, the day with the longest daylight hours falls this week!
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WORDz FOR THE WEEK
75.  You may not always end up where you’re heading but you’ll always end up where you are meant to be.
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Teaching Doctors to Treat Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A lot of doctors don't know what to do for their patients with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS or CFS/ME).  Sometimes, it's because they don't care. Other times, it's because they've had no training and haven't encountered it enough in their practice.
The ones who don't care aren't worth trying to educate. For the others, though, it often helps if we can point them in the right way.
A framework for fibromyalgia management for primary care providers.
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Legal Settlement in Job Discrimination Case Involving Fibromyalgia
NEWSBRIEF: A woman who had a job offer withdrawn after her prospective employer discovered she had fibromyalgia has now received a $95-thousand dollar settlement.
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Rough Guide to Accessible Britain
The brand new fourth edition of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is now available to view for free via the Zinio online reader New window icon. It’s packed with over 200 inspiring ideas for fantastic worry-free days out with reviews, hints and tips on some of the UK’s best attractions written by and for disabled people.
The book
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Seated exercises for computer and drummers: easy desktop yoga! - Video
Lots of other exercises too!  Runs as a sequence.
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Give as you Live – further information
You can find out more information about the £5 scheme here: www.giveasyoulive.com/information and also on the terms and condition page.  In short, each new sign-up has to spend just £10 through Give as you Live to be eligible. Further, a charity has to reach a total of 25 shoppers by the end of June in order to qualify.
You can find the Digital Giving Review Survey at www.giveasyoulive.com/survey/fmssas
Please take part and help us raise funds, not only from the £5 joining scheme, but from every time you shop online at participating stores.
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Worthing Fibro News for June
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Are your fibromyalgia symptoms out of control?  It may be time to re-evaluate your treatment plan.
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What does the weather do to your symptoms?
New research shows that only a few weather variables had an impact. See whether their findings match your experience, in the top spot this week.
Also, the risk of taking antidepressants while you're pregnant, and new research on what could be causing our headaches - plus something that might help!
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Fibro Doctors Chose Pfizer Over You
Do you like Lyrica, Cymbalta or Savella? Have any of these meds cured you? Or has cognitive behavioral therapy been the answer for your fibromyalgia symptoms? According to the FibroCollaborative, a program funded by Pfizer and made up of 25 physicians, these would be your only options.1 This is what they promote as the roadmap to success, but actually, it is the roadmap to doom for all fibromyalgia patients.
Food for thought!
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Until next time
Hasta la vista
Au revoir
Stella
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N.B. I would like to point out to you all that the information in my eNewsletters does not necessarily infer endorsement by the charity Fibromyalgia Support for Surrey & Sussex.   Any advice or recommendation of a medical or legal nature must always be discussed with a qualified professional. The charity cannot be held responsible for omissions and/or errors.
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 judgements, 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.
I also include various awareness and local issues as well as general health considerations.    Anyone wishing to reproduce any of the above items in printed form should seek permission from the originators.
Wordz for the Week are from ‘Wordz for the Day’ by Donnie Kuhn, Sr.
Past issues of FMSSAS eNews can be found at www.fms-sas.co.uk/fmseNews.html and on a blog at http://fmssas-enews.blogspot.com/
FMSSAS website is www.fms-sas.co.uk




Saturday 9 June 2012

FMSSAS eNews 12.06.09


Greetings everyone
I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend.  Weren’t the festivities amazing?  How the Queen survived all the cold, wind, standing for ages and was still smiling, is hard to comprehend.  The Duke of Edinburgh didn’t fare so well and we hope he will soon be out of hospital. 
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WORDz FOR THE WEEK
74.  Don’t compromise yourself, you’re all you’ve got
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‘Give as You Live’ say:-
"If we get 25 new shoppers before 30th June 2012 they will donate £5 for every one!
Please help us take advantage of this offer.  When you shop online at participating stores FMSSAS gets a % donation."
Any questions are answered here  http://www.giveasyoulive.com/help
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‘SpendandRaise’ June Offers
Help raise funds for FMSSAS when you shop at selected stores online.
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Cyclo-ssage Massage Bed for sale
I have been browsing the internet and see that there have been trials for fibromyalgia with the cyclo-ssage massage bed. I do not know if any of your members have tried this out but I have read some positive reviews about it for this condition.
I bought one of these systems for my husband as he had serious back pain and then went on to have severe arthritis of the hip requiring a replacement. The system helped him enormously and was so good for relaxation too. Anyhow, I no longer have a need for the system as my husband is now well and the system has served it's purpose. We also only have a small bungalow and I do not have space or a spare room to keep it available for regular use.
If any of your members would be interested in purchasing this from me you could pass on my details to them. I have had the system just over one year but it was used for approximately 3 months and is still under guarantee until Jan 2013. It is as new and in perfect condition. I am asking £1200.00 for this system, they are currently just under £3000. My system is a Mark 2 and therefore does not have the hand massagers incorporated in the side of the system, but everything else is the same.
If anyone could benefit from this please ask them to contact me on 07939 267911, my name is Jane Cosham and I am based in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.
Thank you so much,
Kind regards,
Jane Cosham (Mrs.)   <jane.cosham@virgin.net>
See also www.cyclo-ssage.com/
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Invisible No More
People battling various mild to severe debilitating conditions are often told they, “Don’t LOOK” sick or in pain. Because others cannot see their fatigue, cognitive dysfunctions, mental disorders or pain, they often do not believe the symptoms are real or think the person must be lazy or exaggerating.
Invisible No More! not only shines a light on what people living with disabilities contend with, but also their incredible perseverance and courage. It is our hope that when friends and family watch these stories, they will begin to realize that their loved one’s story is just as amazing,
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RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR. Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently),(i.e. It is sunny out today.)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue
NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.
Knowing this could save a life.
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Web MD Articles
Will changing your diet help you cope with fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia and Exercise: Yes, You Can
20 Ways to Fight Pain - slideshow
Exercises for Everyday - Video
Herbs and Supplements for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia: What Increases Your Risk
Muscle Relaxant May Ease Fibromyalgia Pain
Choosing to be Happy - 7 steps to becoming a happier person
Sleep truths    
From sleep deprivation to weird dreams, the quality of our sleep directly affects the quality of our waking hours – for better or for worse. Healthy sleep is essential for a healthy body. See how to optimise your night-time rest with great slumber tips in the latest edition of our sleep disorders newsletter. 
Pain Management Overview
Pain management is important for ongoing pain control, especially if you suffer with long-term or chronic pain. After getting a pain assessment, your doctor can prescribe pain medicine or other pain treatments to help you get pain relief. Sometimes psychotherapy is also useful in learning new coping skills to help with chronic pain.
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Types of Healing Therapies, from Acupuncture to Yoga
Exploring natural treatment options? Browse this informative section on complementary and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, massage, ayurveda, yoga, and more.
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FIBROMYALGINETM : First specific and effective solution for Fibromyalgia sufferers
In 2005, LABRHA, a French laboratory specialized in natural rheumatology, developed an original and innovative product for people suffering from fibromyalgia, to restore vitality and energy and improve sleep quality.
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Here’s hoping you are as well as you can be.  Stay positive, be happy, keep good! 
I send you my best wishes. 
Stella
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N.B. I would like to point out to you all that the information in my eNewsletters does not necessarily infer endorsement by the charity Fibromyalgia Support for Surrey & Sussex.   Any advice or recommendation of a medical or legal nature must always be discussed with a qualified professional. The charity cannot be held responsible for omissions and/or errors.
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 judgements, 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.
I also include various awareness and local issues as well as general health considerations.    Anyone wishing to reproduce any of the above items in printed form should seek permission from the originators.
Wordz for the Week are from ‘Wordz for the Day’ by Donnie Kuhn, Sr.
Past issues of FMSSAS eNews can be found at www.fms-sas.co.uk/fmseNews.html and on a blog at http://fmssas-enews.blogspot.com/
FMSSAS website is www.fms-sas.co.uk




Saturday 2 June 2012

FMSSAS eNews 12.06.02


My dear fibro friends and friends of fibro
Here we are in June.  How time flies.  The much awaited bank holiday and celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is upon us.  I only hope the festivities are not marred by a change in the weather.
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WORDz FOR THE WEEK
73.  Life is like a bicycle . . . you have to keep moving forward if you don’t want to fall down.
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Comment on last week’s eNews re Sun Damage.
Following on from what Stella says, don't wear sunglasses, wear a hat instead! Why? Because as soon as sunlight hits your optic nerve, it sets off a process in the pituitary which results in the production of melanin, which protects your skin and causes you to tan. If you wear sunglasses, your pituitary thinks it's dark outside and actually reduces melanin levels, thus exposing your skin to damage!  From Helena Andrews B.A. (Hons), M.A., Lic. I.S.H., M.A.R.H, RHom.  Digital Homeopath.
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How to Beat Pain
If you missed this last Monday you can watch it on iplayer – if you are quick.
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Are you still knitting?
If you have been knitting the 5 inch blanket squares I would love to have the ones you have finished.  The blanket is progressing well, but I would like an estimate of how many more squares I can expect to receive.  So please let me know.  Thank you so much to those of you who have participated so far.  Keep them coming.  I hope you enjoy knitting as much as I do.  I have recently knitted 50 hats for babies in Kenya!
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I Love Small Charities Day
Please participate in the Facebook Pledge Challenge and try to win £200 for Fibromyalgia Support for Surrey and Sussex.  Explanation and rules are in the link below.
Thank you.
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New treatments for fibromyalgia syndrome
Two studies catching the editorial eye recently in connection with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) were ‘hypnosis with guided imagery’1 and implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator.
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Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Alternative Fibromyalgia Treatments?
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Irritable Bowel Linked To Gut Bacteria, Definitively
A new study of Greek patients shows that overgrowth of bacteria in the gut is definitively linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is the first to use the "gold standard" method of examining gut bacterial cultures to connect bacteria to the cause of a disease that affects some 30 million Americans. The researchers say their findings confirm antibiotics are a successful treatment for IBS.
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Brain fog - poor memory, difficulty thinking clearly etc
What allows the brain to work quickly and efficiently is its energy supply. If this is impaired in any way, then the brain will go slow. Initially, the symptoms would be of foggy brain; but if symptoms progress, one will end up with dementia. We all see this in our everyday life, with the effect of alcohol being the best example. Short-term exposure gives us a deliciously foggy brain - we stop caring, we stop worrying, it alleviates anxiety. However, it also removes one's drive to do things, one's ability to remember; it impairs judgement and our ability to think clearly. Medium-term exposure results in mood-swings and anxiety (only alleviated by more alcohol). Longer-term use could result in severe depression and then dementia - examples include Korsakoff's psychosis and Wernike's encephalopathy.
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Cognitive Dysfunction Finding in Fibromyalgia
New research helps shed light on the cognitive dysfunction associated with fibromyalgia, which is often called "fibro fog."
The study used 2 tests of cognitive inhibition, which is what it's called when a mental process is stopped or overridden, without your intent.
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Grieving Your Losses
Coming to terms with loss is one of the biggest challenges of CFS and fibromyalgia. Both conditions create many serious losses, including loss of control over one's body, loss of friends and loss of valued activities. People are often forced to give up their job and so lose income, companionship and challenge. And often people have to abandon dreams, thus losing the future they had envisioned for themselves. In sum, we experience the loss of the person we used to be and the person we hoped to become.
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Alcohol Intolerance in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
How have you changed your alcohol consumption since you started living with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS)?
Notice I didn't ask whether you'd changed it, just how. That's because most of us discover that we just can't handle alcohol like we used to. During the holidays, it's harder not to enjoy a drink now and then - a glass of wine with Thanksgiving dinner, a champagne toast, or a beer to unwind after shopping. As with so many other things, the key is knowing your body and your limits. Some of us can handle a drink or two OK, while some can't handle any at all.
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Have a great weekend, however you choose to spend it.  Enjoy your parties and other celebrations.  Have fun.
Best wishes to you all.
Stella
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N.B. I would like to point out to you all that the information in my eNewsletters does not necessarily infer endorsement by the charity Fibromyalgia Support for Surrey & Sussex.   Any advice or recommendation of a medical or legal nature must always be discussed with a qualified professional. The charity cannot be held responsible for omissions and/or errors.
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 judgements, 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.
I also include various awareness and local issues as well as general health considerations.    Anyone wishing to reproduce any of the above items in printed form should seek permission from the originators.
Wordz for the Week are from ‘Wordz for the Day’ by Donnie Kuhn, Sr.
Past issues of FMSSAS eNews can be found at www.fms-sas.co.uk/fmseNews.html and on a blog at http://fmssas-enews.blogspot.com/