FMSSAS eNews 12.11.03

Hello everyone

Welcome to the newcomers this week, those who attended the FMSSAS AGM last Saturday and others who have contacted me recently.  And Hello to all my ‘old’ friends.  It’s good to be back with you again.  I returned from Spain on 25^th October.  The AGM was on 27^th.  My internet connection failed on 28^th and was not reconnected until 1^st November.  I have therefore not had a great deal of time to assemble this week’s items.  However, we have some breakthrough research, many tips for fighting fibro, and some items about the Benefits System.  Please note that each item can be seen in full by clicking on the link below it.

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WORDz FOR THE WEEK

91.  The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.

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Genetic Breakthrough Offers Promise for ME, Fibromyalgia

Here are some known things that may trigger Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Fibromyalgia: bacterial infections, viral infections, fungal infections, parasitic infections, chemical exposure, surgery, and stressful events such as an automobile accident.
That is quite a few triggers, and as you can imagine, based on this almost everyone in the world should have one of these diseases. But they don't.
Why is it that some people get Fibromyalgia or ME when the vast majority of people do not? And why, after decades of research, haven’t medical researchers discovered what these diseases are, what causes them, and why they generally last for life?
I believe we are on the eve of learning that ME and Fibromyalgia are caused by damaged DNA, and more specifically, the DNA in our cells that controls the genes - the epigenetic regions of the chromosomes, which is the DNA directly above and below each of our 21,000 genes. Until only recently, science has lacked the tools to understand these 'epigenes', and how they - and not the genes - may be responsible for countless diseases including Fibromyalgia and ME.

http://www.prohealth.com/ME-CFS/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=17650&B1=EM102412C&utm_source=EM102412C&utm_medium=em&utm_campaign=MECFS&slvor=10962.1078499.0.1.0.390600&eid=tjswhite1954%40live.co.uk

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Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia with D-Ribose– An Open-label, Multicenter Study           

Jacob Teitelbaum, Janelle Jandrain2and Ryan McGrew

Abstract: Objectives: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia (CFS/FMS) are debilitating syndromes affecting ~2-4% of the population. Although they are heterogeneous conditions associated with many triggers, they appear to have the common pathology of being associated with impaired energy metabolism.  As D-ribose has been shown to increase cellular energy synthesis, and was shown to significantly improve clinical outcomes in CFS/FMS in an earlier study, we hypothesized that giving D-ribose would improve function in CFS/FMS patients.

http://benthamscience.com/open/topainj/articles/V005/32TOPAINJ.pdf

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Dr. Teitelbaum on The Ricki Lake Show

Tips for Treating Migraines, Fibromyalgia, and Arthritis

Watch the video of the show and see Dr T’s advice.

http://www.vitality101.com/health-a-z/CFS_fm-dr-t-on-ricki-lake-show

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Fibromyalgia Tips...

Liam McCarthy gives you his tips for surviving CFS/FM.

http://www.fatigue-cfs.com/CFS-Tips.html

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Another 12 Tips for Coping With Fibromyalgia  (slideshow)

1.      De-Stress

Stress may trigger fibromyalgia symptoms. Minimizing stress can improve your quality of life. Some proven stress busters are yoga, exercise, sleep, and meditation. Breathing deeply and exhaling slowly can also help. Or keep in mind activities that you enjoy or that make you feel better. When stress strikes, do one or two of them.

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/ss/slideshow-fibro-coping-tips?ecd=wnl_fib_103012&ctr=wnl-fib-103012_ld-stry&mb=

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Fibromyalgia Foods to Avoid

The National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA), states that fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a musculoskeletal disorder that could create widespread muscle and soft tissue pain, fatigue and sleepiness. Following a healthy diet can help increase energy and stamina, decrease pain and inflammation, and help create a feeling of overall wellness. Food choices can be confusing at times for a person with FMS.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/40938-fibromyalgia-foods-avoid/#ixzz2B0ZOwXWm

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DOCTOR 'SHOCKED' BY BENEFITS SYSTEM

The system for claiming sickness benefits is deliberately complicated to reduce the number of claims, a GP has suggested.

Dr Anne Dyson said the system is so complex it is likely to fail the people who are most in need of help.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/355469

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Stop the Abolition of Disability Living Allowance for Personal Independence Payments

Responsible department: Department for Work and Pensions

The government intends to abolish Disability Living Allowance and replace it with Personal Independence Payments. We feel the government is doing this because it is clear by awarding the contract to assess Personal Independence Payments to ATOS, it is a means to make savage cuts welfare to the most vulnerable in society. We believe peoples lives will be lost as a result of the scrapping of DLA for Personal Independence Payments assessed by ATOS.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38182

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Investigate 'misleading' Atos bid for disability tests contract, urges Labour

Four organisations named in tendering document say they object to suggestion they planned to co-operate with firm Claims that the private IT firm Atos made misleading statements about proposed co-operation with disability groups to help secure a £400m contract to perform disability assessments must be immediately investigated, Labour and several disability charities have demanded.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/01/atos-disability-tests-contract-labour?cat=business&type=article

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And finally - Paralympics Sports Fest

Have you been inspired by the London 2012 Paralympic Games? Are you disabled, want to have fun & try something new? Then come along to ParalympicsGB Sports Fest, a free event for disabled people giving you the opportunity to try out loads of different sports, find out how to get involved, & meet some of our incredible Paralympic medal winners!

Surrey Sports Park, Guildford, 3rd-4^th December 2012

http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sportsfest

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I hope you have found items to interest you and help you.  If you have any queries, do contact me.  I hope I won’t have further computer problems but one can never be sure with this wonderful technology!

My very 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/