Supplements Quiz for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Supplements Quiz for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: How well do you know your supplements? More and more, they're being viewed as important treatment options for those of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Below are some questions about supplements that are popular with us, along with articles that can help you find the answers.

The CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and exercise webpage - The research project of 1982-4 which proved a physical basis for the fatigue

The CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and exercise webpage - The research project of 1982-4 which proved a physical basis for the fatigue: Chronic fatigue syndrome is a real physical ailment which involves real physical limitations that indicate a reduced capacity for the normal activities of life. However unscrupulous researchers shed doubt on that scientifically proven fact and argue that it is an undetectable, and therefore mental illness.

This leaves the patient in a position where they have to follow the basic principle of choosing the lesser of two evils.

Namely, they restrict their activities, in which case they are labeled as lazy or mentally ill. Their second choice is to try to keep up the pace of a normal lifestyle and soon become exhausted to the extent that they can't do anything even if they want to, in which case the are going to be labeled as faking illness.

The dilemma is that it doesn't matter what choice they make because they are either going to be labeled as lazy or mentally ill . . . or . . . faking or mentally ill.

The best thing to do in that situation is to stay within limits and remain reasonably healthy all the time, and just avoid, ignore, or tolerate the criticism.

Fibromyalgia Myths and Facts

It's hard enough to understand a complex illness, but with fibromyalgia, you often have to separate myth from fact to gain an accurate understanding.

Some of the most common myths are listed below so you can find out what makes them wrong and learn the facts.

Fibromyalgia Myths and Facts 

Hate crime against disabled people rises

BBC News - Hate crime against disabled people rises: More than 2,000 such offences were recorded in 2011, up a third on 2010. Police said this was partly due to an increased willingness to report crimes.

Is Herpes Virus Connected to Fibromyalgia?

Is Herpes Virus Connected to Fibromyalgia?: NEWSBRIEF: Alabama researchers have announced that they're launching a study on two antivirals as possible fibromyalgia treatments, based on their hypothesis that the condition may be linked to herpes simplex 1.

Five key points about the welfare cuts that are damaging the economy

Five key points about the welfare cuts that are damaging the economy | Left Foot Forward: As the days shorten, the air chills and the Welfare Reform Act begins to bite, False Economy, one of the leading evidence-based campaigners against the coalition’s cuts, have produced a new document outlining the effect of the cuts to the DWP’s budget on claimants – and the impact on the wider economy.

Where's the Benefit?: What's the difference between 1930s Germany and modern-day Britain?

Where's the Benefit?: What's the difference between 1930s Germany and modern-day Britain?: In 1930s Germany the government themselves ordered the rounding up and the killing of disabled people. In modern-day Britain the government can claim that it is not their fault, even that it should not happen, but private companies and the chasm of bureaucracy between various government departments are what kill people. Starvation, homelessness and neglect are what will kill people. The implementation is different but the outcome is the same.

The Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM A SITE CALLED WOMEN’S HEALTH MATTERS. This is a brief but complete summary of the symptoms facing people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Fatigue

The fatigue in CFS/ME is different from the fatigue that most of us experience. Usually when we overexert ourselves we feel “tired” for a short period and are able to feel refreshed after a period of relaxation or sleep. With CFS/ME, the fatigue is severe. It is severe enough to significantly reduce a person’s ability to perform their usual activities. It decreases their activity level to at least 50 percent of their former level of activity. This affects all aspects of a patient’s life – social, work, time with family and friends, etc. It can be quite devastating.

Post-exertional Malaise and/or Fatigue

The “malaise” that is felt by individuals with CFS/ME following exercise, or even routine exertion, has been described as the pain, fatigue and discomfort associated with a severe “flu”. This post-exertional malaise usually lasts for 24 hours or more. It is often accompanied by decreased mental functioning. As an example, a person with CFS/ME may have to rest in bed for three hours to recover after shopping for half an hour.

Sleep Dysfunction

Insomnia is a particularly disturbing aspect of CFS/ME. Usually, sleep restores us when we are tired. In those with CFS/ME, sleep is disturbed, with difficulty getting to sleep, frequent wakenings, and reduced deep sleep. After sleep, the person often wakes up unrefreshed, feeling as tired as they did before they went to bed.

Pain

The pain in CFS/ME is felt throughout the body. The pain in CFS/ME can be sharp, shooting, burning or aching pain in the muscles. Approximately 75 percent of those with CFS/ME experience pain in the tender points associated with fibromyalgia, however, the pain is not limited to these tender points. Joints are often painful, but not swollen. Many people also develop new headaches with the illness, including tension headaches, pressure headaches and migraines. Pain may also contribute to poor sleep quality.

Brain Function Problems - Neurological/Cognitive Dysfunction

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of CFS/ME is the loss of cognitive function that people experience, particularly when they have overextended themselves. People with CFS/ME often experience “brain fog” or confusion. They have difficulty with concentration, slowed mental processing, groping for words and difficulty multi-tasking. They have short-term memory problems to the point where they may forget their own plans, where they parked the car, or what they have just read in a book.

Other common brain function symptoms include loss of depth perception, blurred vision, loss of balance, and increased sensitivity to “sensory stimuli” such as light, sound and odors. People with CFS/ME are more easily “overloaded” by sensory stimuli, too much information, emotional stress or physical effort. They may not be able to block out background noise to listen to conversations, while at a party, for example. This “overload phenomenon” may lead to a “crash” where the person becomes immobilized by physical and mental fatigue. The cognitive symptoms become worse as the person becomes more fatigued.

Problems with Automatic Body Functioning (Autonomic Nervous System)

The autonomic nervous system regulates key functions in our bodies that occur “automatically,” without us thinking about them. This includes keeping our heart beating, blood pressure regulated, stomach and intestines functioning properly and lungs working, for example. A variety of symptoms result when this system becomes affected.

Commonly, people with CFS/ME experience a drop in blood pressure either when standing up or after standing for about 10 minutes. This can cause light-headedness, dizziness, visual changes and sweating.

Other common symptoms include shortness of breath, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, gas and bloating.

Hormonal/Neuroendocrine Symptoms

When the neuroendocrine system is affected, this affects the messengers in the brain that regulate activities such as maintaining body temperature. People with CFS/ME may have altered body temperature. Often their temperatures are below normal.

People with CFS/ME may have altered body temperature. Often their temperatures are below normal. Other symptoms include loss or change in appetite, noticeable weight gain or loss.

A frightening symptom is that of “crashing” where the person has a period of immobilizing physical and/or mental fatigue. As noted earlier, this often happens when the person is “overloaded” physically, mentally or emotionally.

Immune System Problems

Some people with CFS/ME have symptoms indicating an immune response to a viral exposure, most often at the onset of their illnesses. This includes feeling “unwell” and feverish, having a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms may occur later in the illness and be associated with activities that do not normally trigger an immune response, such as physical exercise or stress.

Other common symptoms include chemical sensitivities/intolerances such as to perfumes, diesel fuel, etc., food sensitivities and increased sensitivity to medications.

Via: Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Avoiding Distractions With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Avoiding Distractions With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: When you have cognitive dysfunction along with your fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, distractions can be a big problem. It can be hard enough for us to follow our trains of thought, and a distraction can derail us completely.

Targeting inflammation to treat depression

Targeting inflammation to treat depression: The study employed infliximab, one of the new biologic drugs used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. A biologic drug copies the effects of substances naturally made by the body's immune system. In this case, the drug was an antibody that blocks tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a key molecule in inflammation that has been shown to be elevated in some depressed individuals.

Britain swamped with zombies as Atos send the dead back to work

Britain swamped with zombies as Atos send the dead back to work | NewsBiscuit: Under the new Atos rules, silence in response to such questions as ‘do you like to eat brains’ now constitutes no defence at all against a charge that those interrogated could easily dig themselves out of a grave and lumber around slowly. They might even be able to carry something useful while they’re at it for the good of the nation, according to the Atos guidelines.

Where's the Benefit?: Consultations: Make Your Voice Heard

Where's the Benefit?: Consultations: Make Your Voice Heard: At least four consultations/calls for evidence important to the future of disabled people are ending soon, so if you want the opportunity to make your voice heard, the clock is ticking.

Britain considering mass censorship of the net: to tackle porn

Censorship 

Britain is considering mass censorship of the net: all to tackle porn | openDemocracy: They fear that children are frequently accessing ‘damaging’ pornographic material online. Whilst well-meaning, the Government’s response to this scare-mongering - a proposal to opt-in to adult material on the internet - is inept and reactionary: a form of mass censorship that will block the wrong content and be essentially useless.

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Chronic Illness & Dwindling Friendships: Finding a Balance and How to Handle Negative/Changing Relationships -

Chronic Illness & Dwindling Friendships: Finding a Balance and How to Handle Negative/Changing Relationships -: The more disabled I become, the more friends I lose and the more people I purposely end relationships with. Part of this is a result of the people in my life not being the greatest people to have as friends, and part of this is a direct result of me making positive changes: getting sick allowed me to see my world with a new perspective. My life is no longer about petty concerns and trivial bullshit. Now, it’s about creating a calm, positive, healthy environment and keeping my stress to a minimum. It’s about creating as happy a lifestyle I can for myself in spite of immense suffering.

DWP Working In Secret With Tribunals Service

DWP Working In Secret With Tribunals Service: Benefits and Work has been sent a copy of a DWP document which reveals that the DWP have been working in secret with Her Majesty Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to try to improve its appeals submissions and to set up a fast track service for some appeals. The document raises once again the question of just how impartial the top management of the Tribunals Service really is.

The elimination of the chronically sick and disabled?

The elimination of the chronically sick and disabled? � Ron's Rants…: The Internet is rife with people hopping up and down in fury, yelling that “We have to do something!” about the way the lives of chronically sick and disabled people are being fucked up by this Nazi-lite government. Of course, for all the sound and fury, no bugger ever offers a suggestion as to what we actually can do.

Cameron reshuffle sees Department of Health idiot replaced with moron

Cameron reshuffle sees Department of Health idiot replaced with moron: Political commentators have been left shocked by the news, with one telling us, “I genuinely thought it was impossible to put anyone worse than Andrew Lansley in charge of the NHS, but it seems I was wrong.”

Not austerity – but attrition and extermination…

Not austerity – but attrition and extermination… � Ron's Rants…: Really, there’s other way to describe the latest obscenity to ooze its way out of the DWP – chronically sick and disabled people will be fined �71 per week from their already meagre benefits if they are too ill to participate in workfare or other makework bullshit.

Voters Are Against Cuts To Disability Benefits

Politics And The Paralympics: Voters Are Against Cuts To Disability Benefits: Three-quarters of people think that people with disabilities often experience prejudice or discrimination in society, wihile almost the same proportion think disabled people are invisible in the media outside the Paralympics.