Kansas Senior Press Service Weekly Newsletters Kansas Senior Press Service Weekly Newsletters By Yvonne Keeny
Kansas Senior Press Service
It is my hope that by sharing my story, I can help individuals to understand fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS. And if you are one of the millions of people suffering with these illnesses, perhaps you will realize that there is cause for hope.
I had enjoyed good health most of my life. If someone had told me 30 years ago that I would suffer for years with widespread pain, tight muscles, unrelenting fatigue, digestive problems, sleep disturbance, brain fog, headaches and innumerable other symptoms, I would not have believed it.
However, in 1984 something went terribly wrong. First I developed irritable bowel syndrome and was diagnosed with lactose intolerance. Then I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. I went to several physicians over the next 10 years; most prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and sent me on my way. I finally decided that my condition had to be something other than osteoarthritis, because I hurt all over, not just in the joints, and some days I was unable to go to work because of pain and fatigue.
In October 1996, while looking through a book on arthritis, I saw an illustration of “tender points” and a description of fibromyalgia. I realized that this was the cause of my mysterious health problems. I went to my doctor, who ran tests to rule out other diseases and confirmed my suspicions. He prescribed pain medication, antacids and antidepressants for sleep.
I soon needed additional medications to counteract side effects of the first meds. My condition continued to deteriorate, and I prayed for just one day without pain. The doctor had told me there was no cure and recommended “coping skills.”
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I didn’t want to cope! I wanted my life back! I finally decided there had to be a better way. As I began searching for information, I found a helpful book, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and Environmental Illness, by Burton Goldberg. Then it was a matter of determining what had been effective for other people with the symptoms I had, and trying their solutions.
I started walking and made sure I drank eight to 10 glasses of filtered water every day. I began eating more organic food, less meat and more fresh fruits and vegetables, and started taking several supplements, including magnesium malate. I avoided MSG, artificial sweeteners, refined sugar, coffee, carbonated beverages, alcohol and tobacco smoke. These measures helped a lot.
Then, with the help of a health care professional, I began easing off the medications, and within two months was free of meds. To my amazement, my pain was no worse without the medications than it had been with them, and my energy level was much higher!
In October 1997 I went to a fibromyalgia workshop conducted by Mary Moeller, LPN. Moeller had suffered with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue since she was a child and had been symptom free for several years. When I heard she had used the same approach I was using, I knew I was on the right track.
Moeller said that many people with these conditions have a systemic yeast infection, so I found a local physician who would test for tartaric acid, a yeast byproduct and muscle toxin. The doctor also tested me for food sensitivities and other allergies. I had a bacterial infection in my GI tract as well as a yeast overgrowth. I was also sensitive to house dust, molds and several foods and chemicals such as those found in perfumes, common household cleaners and pesticides. Within a few weeks of starting treatment for the yeast and bacterial overgrowth, along with avoiding the substances to which I was sensitive, I was feeling better than I had felt in years.
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There is no quick fix for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and related conditions. My health improved gradually. Sometimes I took one step forward and two steps back. It took me about eight months of ups and downs to become symptom free. However, I stuck with the program and I’m glad I did. It is awesome to have my life back! I have not taken any medication for fibromyalgia in 11 years. I watch what I eat and drink and avoid toxic chemicals.
I’m glad that I found out about the gut connection and hidden food and chemical sensitivities after I had tried the medication route. Otherwise, my mind might have been closed to trying natural remedies and I would still be suffering. In order to stay well, I continue to do those things that helped me get well.
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In January 1998, I started a support group as an outreach to the community. I figured that if I could recover, other people could, too. We named it the Getting Well support group, and it grew rapidly. We soon had more than 70 members and I was getting calls and letters from all over the nation.
We recruited an advisory board, and in 2000 formed the nonprofit organization Fibromyalgia Coalition International, or FCI. The coalition has provided information and resources to more than 10,000 people, including more than 3,000 in the Kansas City area. FCI hosts an annual Awareness Day conference in Overland Park. Speakers include some of the leading fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue experts in the nation. We also provide continuing education for health care practitioners.
In addition to proper diagnosis and treatment of underlying causes and contributing conditions from knowledgeable health care professionals, we have found that relief of symptoms largely depends on the patient’s gathering of practical information, making use of it in dietary and lifestyle changes, and avoiding the foods and chemicals that trigger reactions. Patients’ self-help strategies have been as important as what their doctors have done for them. It takes a team effort, and patients have to be the captains of their own teams!
We understand the challenge that diet and lifestyle change creates for people. It would be much easier to pop a few pills every day. I am not opposed to medication, but taking pain medications long term for fibromyalgia can cause many unwanted side effects. It is important to identify and treat the underlying causes to improve health and prevent further injury to the organs and immune system.
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My favorite books on this subject include From Fatigued to Fantastic, by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD; I Was Poisoned By My Body: I Have a Gut Feeling You Could Be, Too, by Gloria Gilbère, ND, DA Hom, PhD; and Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, by Rodger Murphree, DC, CNS.
FCI publishes a quarterly magazine that provides objective, comprehensive reporting and helps readers find resources on natural solutions for fibromyalgia and CFS.
FCI’s eighth annual conference, “Answers and Actions to Abolish Fibromyalgia/CFS,” will be held May 16–17 at the Overland Park Marriott.
For further information, call 913-384-4673 or visit www.fibrocoalition.org.
Disclaimer: This article is meant for education only. Any attempt to diagnose and treat illness should come under the direction of a health care professional. The Fibromyalgia Coalition International and Getting Well support groups offer support as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, professional health care.
Yvonne Keeny is editor of the quarterly magazine Fibromyalgia Alternative News, and wrote “The Getting Well Support Group Leader’s Guide.” She leads support group meetings in Mission, Kan., and is available for speaking engagements.
By Kansas Senior Press Service
According to www.organdonor.gov, as of March 2008, 98,634 people are waiting to receive a donated organ.
To reduce the risk for needing an organ transplant, take steps to maintain healthy organs and tissues throughout your life. Choosing a healthful lifestyle can help you improve your health and reduce your risk of disease.
Important things you can do to help maintain a healthy lifestyle include:
People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallbladder disease and joint pain. To lose weight, you must eat less and move more. Your body needs to burn more calories than you take in. Adults need at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days. A total of 60 minutes a day may be needed to prevent weight gain.
If you have grandchildren or great-grandchildren, remember that kids need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day of the week.
For more information, contact your doctor or your local public health department.
Source: OrganDonor.Gov, an official U.S. government Web site providing access to information on organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The site is managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
By Don Carter
Kansas Senior Press Service
Four years ago, the topic of mold was a widely discussed issue in Kansas when a state office was vacating its Olathe quarters to escape mold contamination. The state had already relocated high-risk employees away from exposure to the mold Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly called “Stachy.” This mold spore is known to cause pulmonary hemorrhage and is especially tough on newborns and pregnant women.
Realtors, lenders, appraisers and inspectors were then on high alert for mold because of growing litigation. What if a buyer died from lung hemorrhage and it could be shown that someone in the selling loop failed to see mold or, worse yet, saw but failed to report mold? You get the picture. We over-achieved, often reporting a spot of mold on shower grout that could easily be eliminated with a shot of Clorox.
In the years since, there seems to have been a trend away from “mold panic.” Current thinking on mold is probably best summarized in EPA’s manual, “Mold, Moisture, and Your Home.” Some data below is paraphrased from that manual:
This closing thought: Mold has been with us since the beginning of time and humans have managed to live with it. EPA makes the point that there are no government-mandated mold limits. That leaves it up to us, so if you see more than a token amount in your house, get a mold test report. Then follow the advice of your health care provider.
Don Carter is a licensed structural engineer and managing general partner of Foundation Engineering Specialists LLC, a company specializing in residential design and assessments: don@fdnengineering.com.