February 2009

Have you heard about the drugs to relieve Fibromyalgia pain that are not the everyday pain drugs that have been around a long time?

Fortunately, there are now a few targeted drugs on the market that specifically treat Fibromyalgia. (Hint: There’s a possibility that doctors will be using these drugs as “off label” remedies for other pain conditions soon, too. We’ll have to wait and see.)

Examples of these “targeted” drugs to treat Fibro are…

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Many people with a chronic pain condition or an active case of Fibromyalgia will tell you that they don’t get consistent relief from their pain symptoms unless they find some prescription medication that works. These drugs can be true pain drugs. Unfortunately, they often cause unpleasant side effects such as constipation, nausea, vomiting, slowed breathing and sleepiness.

If this sounds like you, these resulting symptoms are inconvenient and cause your life to be more complicated. Why? Because you have to figure out how to combat the secondary side effects. But, even more than the fact that you’re adding more and more drugs to treat the side effects of the drugs you’re already taking… there’s a more alarming problem. The real bug-a-boo is that…

You could be putting yourself in immediate or long term danger!

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In reading Dr. Rothbart’s revealing new book, Forever Free From Chronic Pain, I am struck by the following line from Chapter 2:

“Without knowing the true source of the chronic pain, the best that doctors can do is treat the symptoms; and hence practice pain management.”

What does that mean to you? Are you tired of being practiced on?

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If you buy RX drugs to help you manage Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or other health problems, high costs are realities that you must deal with every time you go to the store.

While some people are lucky enough to have adequate medical coverage and can still afford deductibles and co-pays, many people are not that fortunate and have to make tough decisions about how to pay for their prescription drugs. And that can be a sobering experience if you pay full price, 100% dollars out of pocket for name brand drugs such as Cymbalta or Lyrica.

Here is a list of resources that may help you figure out how you can afford your prescriptions:

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Making a personal health decision that you want to get well is the critical first step to opening up a new world of possibilities about healing from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or any chronic illness.

If you want renewed health to be a part of your new reality, then take a look around you at the people and resources in your world. Then ponder my wish for you below:

“Dear One,

If you’ve been listening to people who either tell you there’s no way you’ll ever feel better or they’re ill themselves and do absolutely nothing but moan and groan every time you’re around them, then you may want to step back and not expose yourself to this type of negative thinking. It doesn’t do anyone any good.

At least consider taking this step until you form your own solid perspective about attitudes of disease and healing. Develop your own self-chosen identity; don’t assume someone else’s. Adopt an attitude that will propel you farther and faster toward your healing goals.

Why?

And, finally because, with certainty and conviction, you want to master how you think and how you intend to manifest a new life and enjoy better health. I wish you all good things.”

The energy that you surround yourself in your world is vital.

I wish you empowerment, clarity and a vision for your future that includes being well from Fibromyalgia, its pain and its brain fog.

I wish you a return of energy that only comes from getting well from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and having an Immune System that is neither weak nor functioning in overdrive fighting your own body.

I wish you renewed and vibrant health.

Have a great day,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

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Last week we began to delve into a subject category that I’m wrapping up today. Critical Points to Remember if you want to Get Well from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

But before I give you the rest of these critical points, I challenge you to decide if you really want this information… if you really, really, really want to get well.

That may seem like a no-brainer question, but not so. Some people are stuck in chronic illness and can’t envision living life any other way. Yes, they claim the illness and they feel miserable, but they cannot imagine changing their perspective away from being a sick person. So…they don’t. Somehow being sick becomes safer than reaching out. Fear of the unknown paralyzes them.

But good news for those of you who are rebels. If your answer is YES you want to get well and you’re not going to rest until you do, then resolve to investigate every scrap of new information that comes your way and look at each piece with new eyes. Hear with new ears. See what’s in front of you. Hear what’s really being said.

Become your own inquisitive child who simply must know about everything in her exciting world. Then… ask the question anew… exactly what have you been missing?

16 minute Audio/ Podcast file

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More than the lines of a song, the phrase being down carries several meanings.

At first when we hear the word down, we think of direction. Down as opposed to up. We go down the stairs to the laundry room and upstairs to the bedroom.

But to a person with a chronic illness like Fibromyalgia (FMS) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), the word down can take on a whole new meaning:

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Many women with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may be approaching the age of menopause. Even if you aren’t, some of the information addressed in Christiane Northrup’s new book, Unlocking the Secret Pleasures of Menopause may give you great ideas about how to feel like a more vibrant woman.

First, check out Kathleen Doheny’s book review at Web MD- and then-

Second, come back to the Amazon.com store “entryway” here at the Health Matters Show to order your own copy today.

You’ll read about such topics discussed as:

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Sometimes it’s hard to feel connected -and- hard not to feel alone. Sometimes a personal connection helps a person to hang on to the hope of feeling better.

Often the online message boards and forums are great for us to make new friends with people who have Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other health problems. Making a personal connection with people helps us to feel more connected to the world.

Now I don’t get to hang out at those boards and forums as much as I’d like to, but I’d really love it if you’d reach me at the following social websites. We can make a more personal connection with each other there. )

Twitter at http://www.cindaontwitter.com
Facebook at http://www.cindaonfacebook.com
or
LinkedIn at http://www.cindaonlinkedin.com

Hope to hear from you soon so we can chat!

PS…

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With Valentine’s Day coming up tomorrow, surely a whole lot of love will be spread around among a whole lot of people. If you get all that you want and deserve, all the merrier. If you don’t feel loved enough, maybe it’s time to

Here are some ways you can do that:

1. If you’re stuck at home and don’t feel well, do something spontaneous that makes you smile and laugh. Maybe that’s dancing to an old song, phoning your best friend or opening up the last two pieces of your favorite chocolate to share with your caregiver who helps you day in and day out.
2. If you’re in a crowd and you don’t know why you really came along with the group, imagine they all have green hair, orange tongues and they’re standing around in their underwear! (Tee hee…)
3. If you and your caregiver are struggling to have a good relationship or you simply want him or her to know how much you care, take time out to watch the video below together. It may open the door to having a meaningful conversation.

We know that life can be darned challenging if you suffer with a chronic illness like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Arthritis, Lupus, Lyme Disease, cancer, heart disease, and on and on the list goes. That’s true for the patient and the caregiver.

And we all appreciate the people who help us get by, but it’s not always easy to express truly sentimental thoughts and tell others how we appreciate them for what they do for us.

Plan now to appreciate yourself and those around you. Valentine’s Day is a fun time of the year to express love to each other.

Audio of today’s show: (4 min 15 seconds- listen or right click to download and save)

Happy Valentine’s Day,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

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As you and I prepare for Valentine’s Day and the “wishes” we want to give to the significant people in our lives, I heard a quote that really resonated with me and thought I’d share it with you. (Plus, hang around. I’ve got some breaking news for you below.)

“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” ~Judy Garland

A wonderful expression of feelings, don’t you think?

Plus, here’s a hot off the press scoop. Just this moment I found out about the brand new Amazon Kindle 2 coming to market on 2/24/09. The more I look into this handy dandy little device, the more I realize what a great gift it would make for you (for me) and for our special loved ones. Keep reading and learn why…

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Dr. Brian Rothbart (who I introduced you several times recently) alerted me to an article in U S News & World Report about chronic pain.

Truth: Chronic pain affects millions of people with health problems.

“Chronic pain encompasses a multitude of ills, from back pain, headaches, neck pain, and conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia to pain that develops as a result of cancer treatment and lingers for months or even years.”

More and more, we are realizing…

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Okay, here’s more information and a well-written health article about the human body’s need for sunshine and an adequate supply of Vitamin D.

Please don’t neglect your need for Vitamin D during these winter months. Either 15 to 30 minutes of sunshine or take a good quality supplement. (Recommended amounts lately were 2000 iu per day. Check with your medical doctor first.)

Here’s to your good health, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show

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Recently the FDA recommended banning the use of Darvocet (Darvon) now saying this prescription drug is too “risky.” That’s annoying, but funny in a weird way. This drug has been around a long time helping people with chronic pain conditions like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and more. The drug’s side effects are known and a prescribing doctor usually can advise a patient how to get around them. Plus, the generic form of the drug is inexpensive.

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