February 26, 2007
Exercise Program That Works for Me
I have had ME/CFS for about 20 years. Through personal experience as well as ME literature, I know that any aerobic exercise will leave me exhausted. About five or six years ago I started exercising using weights and weight machines. In those years I had several good trainers. My current trainer from the beginning was very interested in my medical condition and did her own research to determine what type of exercise would be best for me. We came up with a modified power lifting routine in which I lift heavier weights for fewer repetitions. Our heaviest weight in a given set would only be lifted one or two times. I can’t say that this routine would be right for all ME/CFS patients, but it leaves me energized rather than tired when we’re finished with the workout. – Tom
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Supplements That Help Me Most
I've been taking NADH since it became available some years ago and I feel that it does, indeed, enhance my overall performance. Of the handful of supplements I take daily, I rate NADH, CoQ10 and Chinese Enhance as my three most helpful mainstays. If I run out of any one of these, I notice a decline in energy, cognitive function, and overall performance. – Marnie
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How Can I Kick Start My Health?
Thank you so much for your dedicated research for a treatment for ME. I am very grateful. I have been suffering from chronic fatigue after having contracted glandular fever. After five years this dastardly virus continues to rear its head with every passing virus, cough and flu. Five years on I am continually sick. My children say, “Mum, it is psychological. Say no to it. You are giving in to the disease.” I’ve tried very hard saying no, keeping positive, trying every new remedy. However, I find myself going down hill. Even keeping up with my housework is becoming tiring…
What should I be doing that could kick start me into health? I'm on a disability pension so financially the things I need I cannot afford! I once had a life. I am a published author and have traveled the world as a public speaker. However, most times I can’t even get on the Net as I’m too tired and my eyes and brain don’t function well. The energy just to log and surf is often too much for me. I have so many ambitions to fulfill but, as it stands, my two almost-finished books languish for want of energy to complete them, and a host of other dreams lie in the dust. – Rachelle
Note: The best place to start building health is with good nutrition. Read this excerpt from Rich Carson’s personal story of recovery: “In November of 2003 I did the unthinkable for someone who owns a supplement company: I saw a nutritionist to discover how I could get nutrients from my diet (of all places!). I had been hearing great things for years about Santa Barbara nutritionist Dale Figtree, PhD, and I followed her dietary instructions to the letter. Her three-part program is easy: avoid bad foods and chemicals; eat fresh, whole, organic (whenever possible) foods; and, finally, drink fresh vegetable juice daily.
"Dr. Figtree turned out to be a godsend, as her program ushered in a new level of health and vitality that I had not known for 20 years. I learned that taking supplements is not good enough for treating a disease as serious and complex as CFS - getting a diversity of super concentrated nutrients from food sources is far more important than I ever imagined. Moreover, it is a lot of work. But it is worth it a thousand times over, so now I am addicted to a good diet and, in particular, to juicing. It is actually a great place to be ‘stuck,’ and I am eternally grateful for the huge improvement in my health and vitality.” (To read Rich’s full story, see the Founder’s Corner in the 10/04/06 issue of the CFS newsletter And for information about Dr. Figtree's "Joy of Nutrition" DVD, click here.)
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Let’s Talk Lyme
What I find amazing is that the CFS people won't talk to the Lyme disease people, many of whom were misdiagnosed with CFS. Same pain, same blank stares from the AMA docs. No treatment but psychoanalysis, since they assume it is all in your head. Thank God for homeopathic doctors, who at least care to treat the symptoms. – Robin
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Can’t Buy the Mercury Theory
Whilst I am based in the UK and have suffered from M.E. since March 1985, following an acute respiratory viral infection…I disagree with mercury amalgam dental fillings being the cause of M.E., or even contributing to the onset of M.E., other than the possible stress that can be suffered during dental treatment. I am so confident in making this statement of mercury amalgam fillings not causing my M.E. for one very simple reason: I have never had any form of dental filling in my life, and have never had any dental braces applied…Some mention the use of mercury in vaccines, notably in those years of my childhood. However, I did not receive vaccines for measles, German measles, or mumps. I became infected with all three infections before the vaccines were offered, hence vaccination was no longer appropriate…
I do agree that mercury is a toxic metal and dangerous as a result, notably when mercury vapor is inhaled. This is why removing mercury amalgam based fillings must be carried out with extreme care to avoid simply dumping the mercury straight into the body through inhalation, etc. I trust this is of some interest, and raises the issue of whether mercury really has any significance with respect to M.E., and/or the development of the illness. I suggest that it does pose a toxic risk, but as to exacerbating M.E., I have my doubts. – Andrew
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ME/CFS vs. FMS
I have been receiving your e-mails for quite some time now and find them very informative. However, I do have a question. It seems that ME/CFS gets more attention than FMS…When I look at the symptoms of FMS and ME/CFS, I don't see much difference, and have experienced many that could go either way. I guess I really have two questions:
1. Why does ME/CFS seem to be receiving more validity these days from the medical profession?
2. Are they any closer to seeing that these conditions may be the same illness? After all, lupus can manifest itself in many different ways in different people, as do many other illnesses…
Being a registered nurse myself I am still waiting for the day when the research can be more specific for ME/CFS/FMS. – Karen
Note: To answer your questions: (1) ME/CFS does appear to be getting more media attention right now because the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is conducting a year-long campaign to raise awareness for ME/CFS. Prior to the launch of the CDC campaign, however, FMS was more in the forefront. Sadly, neither illness gets the attention or the level of research funding it deserves. (2) While ME/CFS and FMS have many symptoms in common, they also have some distinct differences. For example, FMS is not an autoimmune disease, but most cases of ME/CFS have an autoimmune component. Since many people are diagnosed with both ME/CFS and FMS, the line often blurs and it can be difficult to distinguish the differences.
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