ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia Around the Web

Fibromyalgia, HIV & Chronic Fatigue

When The New York Times reported on a possible link between a virus called XMRV and chronic fatigue syndrome, many readers had questions. Here, Dr. Nancy G. Klimas, who serves on the board of the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, responds to readers’ questions about fibromyalgia, H.I.V., cystitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. Dr. Klimas is a director of the department of immunology of the University of Miami School of Medicine and director of research for clinical AIDS/H.I.V. research at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

New York Times Health

Slow Breathing Reduces Pain

Research performed by a scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center has shown that controlled breathing at a slowed rate can significantly reduce feelings of pain. Chronic pain sufferers, specifically fibromyalgia (FM) patients, also reported less pain while breathing slowly, unless they were overwhelmed by negative feelings, sadness or depression.

Medical News Today

Debunking Myths: Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are ‘Laziness’

Of the many myths about fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS), this is probably the most hurtful: the belief that people with these conditions aren’t sick at all, but are just lazy. I can’t count how many stories I’ve heard about this myth destroying marriages, straining even the closest family relationships and friendships, and destroying the self esteem of the people being falsely accused. It’s too often said that we “just don’t want to work.”

About.com: FM & CF

Dead On Your Feet

There were days Jyotsna would just rise and shine. On other, not-so-exceptional days, she could barely manage to drag herself out of the bed. Her low level of stamina frustrated her, as did the inability to see any pattern emerging from the erratic energy levels. “Has the viral fever relapsed because I didn’t take as much rest as I should have? Or is it just mental stress manifesting itself in the physical form?” the 36-year-old sales manager kept contemplating. On most days she would be just dead tired. Her performance at work began to suffer as errors started creeping in the reports she prepared.

The Financial Express

Help Fighting Fatigue

I want to know if anyone has had any success fighting fatigue due to FIBROMYALGIA? I have had pain all over my body since the age of 8. I was diagnosed with Lupus at that age. My parents were always in denial about that disease so they had the doctors run blood work every couple of months to see if anything changed. For some reason when I turned 18 all my blood work changed and all of a sudden I didn’t have Lupus any more.

Duke City Fix

Mind/Body Power

Hippocrates once wrote, “The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.” This is the essence of mind/body medicine. Mind/body medicine is an approach to healing that uses the power of thoughts and emotions to positively influence physical health. Most ancient healing practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, emphasize the important links between the mind and the body.

Bella Online

Fibromyalgia Trigger Points

Fibromyalgia trigger points are a medical term that is used in reference to places on the patients body where pain is experienced.   The term is dually described to refer to points on the body where pressure will cause pain in different the parts of the body. You might have heard these called tender points as well. There are around eighteen different points that the average fibromyalgia patient will describe as causing pain when pressure is applied to them. 

Associated Content/Jim Posey