During the previous two programs on Fibromyalgia, I have been encouraging you to think about and determine what is making you sick. In today’s interview we will look at why it so often happens that a major factor can be the stress of a job, family issues or virtually everything in your life! I know when I got so sick, it was all of those things combined.

If you’re suffering with physical stress, you need to take some time off and probably relax.

If you’re being bothered by mental and emotional stress and anxiety, you need to relax because your perceptions about this topic are housed in your mind, but often expressed in your body.

If you don’t relax and allow your system to re-balance itself, you will be headed towards worse illness symptoms of some sort. One person may suffer migraine headaches; the next, a backache. The next, Fibromyalgia or more. Think of the 3-legged stool we’ve talked about so often. Work to balance yourself in body, mind and spirit.

Now, I can hear you, “I don’t have time to relax. It’s two days before Christmas!” Well, I’m here to tell you that you can and should relax. As a matter of fact, time spent in rest and relaxation is a wonderfully positive way to make it through the holidays and start off your new year without feeling that you’re climbing out of the gutter!

Please join me today in welcoming and interviewing Mr. Dan Howard to the Health Matters Show about this topic of Intentional Resting.

(Today’s podcast interview is 18 minutes 2 seconds long.)

Today instead of thinking about some abstract “cause” of Fibromyalgia, let’s concentrate on what we do know: it’s crucial that YOU make it through the holidays (no worse for wear) and begin 2012 on as positive health note as possible. If you take this ands-off and indirect approach to your problem of “being sick with Fibromyalgia,” (or any illness), you may get further ahead faster. Listen to today’s podcast and hear Dan Howard and I talk about how to lower mental and emotional stress by using his “Intentional Resting” technique.

Your body wants respect, time spent “honoring” it and the necessary components that bring about your long term, good health. If you become less distracted with the stuff in life that does not matter, you have a better chance of getting this right and getting healthy again. Surely better health will follow you right into the 2012 New Year.

Speaking of that, be sure to keep tuned in to all that’s going on here at the Health Matters Show. I’m starting a new Newsletter and I will be interviewing Dan Howard for a longer, tell-all seminar. I can’t wait! He has so much more to tell us. Today on the broadcast, he goes over “why” his fabulous Intentional Resting technique works. In the longer seminar, he’ll share more goodies, plus help you learn to self-practice intentional resting. As I said, stay tuned right here.

Okay, that’s it for today. Congratulations, dear ones, for making it as well as you have this year. By listening to, following and acting upon what Dan Howard has to offer you, such as his 30-day email Intentional Resting program, you will be several steps ahead and moving forward towards your good health and eliminating a whole lot of mental and emotional stress. You need to relax and there is no better time than now.

Many blessings, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

Today’s Christmas season broadcast is one of three weeks of presentations when I’m highlighting Fibromyalgia Syndrome. I’m convinced that it is not a terminal condition. Even though it may seem that way when you’re in the depths of the illness, some people do get over it and go on to resume healthier lives.

Unfortunately, other people keep suffering. They can even get worse and watch their health decline further and further into an illness pit that’s hard to climb out of!!

Today, let’s talk about how to prevent staying in the Fibromyalgia rut, particularly at this time of year…the holiday, Christmas season! No one wants to feel “bad” and no one wants to be the drag on their holiday party. Fun and good times are coming!

If a person only gives up a few of life’s pleasures because of a small (lean) to moderate case of Fibromyalgia (FMS), he of she may not have to make too many sacrifices. The necessary changes needed to survive regular “living” may be doable and tolerable enough to maintain. Such a person can live a reasonably good life.

If that’s not true for you and you’re much sicker than that, could your situation be worse because you haven’t discovered the knack of adjusting to match the needs of your illness??

That question is appropriate for the people who struggle with more and worse symptoms. Adjusting may not be the end-all, universal, cure-all answer. It won’t make that much difference, yet adjusting is still wise and I’ll tell you why.

In the end, some people can change their level of personal expectations, required duties and everyday activities and get by well enough, while others don’t seem to be able to easily change or adjust barely at all. Instead, they go to the extreme and give and give and give…until they feel like an overused rubber band about to break. *Today’s idea is aimed more at the people who (so far) have refused to make any adjustments to their lives and, therefore, the illness is pushing back at them hard!)

I encourage you to honestly think through this issue. If you’re prone to diving into the holidays head first and feeling all panicky, start a Christmas Season List. Jot down all of the things, people and activities in your life that you believe to negatively affect your condition. But don’t just list these issues => =>

• Figure out why and how you’re affected by the issues (or people) yesterday, last month, last holiday season. Thinking about them and planning what you should do to circumvent them is the key here to insure you’ll have a better, healthier Christmas season holiday with fewer symptoms. Don’t let it/them get to you!
• Plan your holiday get togethers. Plan the energy requirements you’ll need to prepare and last through the event. Plan for the day ahead, the day after, and especially plan your money outlay. You don’t want to be the queen bee of giving and end up suffering the month after because you have no money for medications or a massage!
• Pre-warn people that you may or may not feel like attending if you’re especially symptomatic that day. *If you’re going to someone’s house, ask them ahead of time about the possibility of lying down, eating special foods or drinking a drink that you brought with you, etc. Pre-plan. Your host wants you there and will likely accommodate your needs, if asked.
• Keep some cute thank-you or I’m-sorry-cards handy. This will help you to easily jot down notes as to why you couldn’t attend something or had to duck out early. With all the stress and strain of the holidays, even healthy people have to forgo all the things they want to do once in awhile!

Being in your presence, hearing from you, knowing you’re suffering and being kept in the loop is what your friends and family really want from you this holiday season. No one is perfect. Don’t expect to be. This is your “Fibromyalgia” plan and a beginning step to gaining control and beginning to feel better…even during the holidays! (You don’t want to go backwards.)

My best Christmas wishes for you and your family,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show‘

PS- Next Friday return here to find edition #2 of the Fibromyalgia: Christmas Season Broadcast.

If you’re like me, your life is busy, your health demands that you pay attention to your self quite a bit, but even so, you would really like to know: What’s Happening with CFS News? Today you can find many resources here. Before you do, let’s talk a minute about where you see yourself.

There are four discussion points today plus the link to the CFS Advisory Committee page with the 28 videos… .

Today’s audio podcast is 5 minutes and 20 seconds

1) Do you keep up with everything CFS? I’m betting, “No.” You’re more likely a person with CFS or you’re the caregiver of a patient (child, teenager or adult). You’re doing the best you can to figure out what’s wrong with “you” and you’re trying to get well!

2) You only have so much time and energy available to pay attention to a specific topic, such as what’s really happening in the world of CFS News. You’re glad to know that real and important issues are being discussed, but unless your life allows the activity, you may miss a few things from time to time.

That’s assuming you don’t have such severe brain fog that you can keep up at all. If you can’t, I do my best to bring you the highlights. Such services as either reading and accessing the information here on the website or signing up for my RSS feed, and you’ll still get everything and miss nothing! The information will simply come to you easier, where and when you’re ready to consume it. Find the RSS sign up box with (orange with white stripes) in the right-hand column of this page. Sign up today!

3) You want to lend support to advocacy, awareness or research issues, as best you can. But can you do everything you want to do? Some days, can you meet any of those goals at all?

4) For most people, it’s difficult to feel that we’re getting ahead, especially in the area of research. It’s there; it’s significant. It’s there; it proves nothing. The money is not there at all…because past government officials tried to pull the wool over everyone’s ideas and abscond with the research money for their own pet projects. On and on the story goes. Where or where does the money go?

I urge you to bookmark this page right now: The 2011 November CFS Advisory Committee meeting. There are quite a few videos posted on this page. If you do this, you can watch some now, some later when you have down time. Example: when you’re suffering through your husband’s ball game. Instead, you can quietly don a pair of headphones and really learn something instead! I’m not saying that every bit of this material is worth writing home about, but there is good stuff contained within these multiple video presentations. Over the Internet is a great way to see and hear it, if you didn’t attend the CFSAC Advisory Committee meeting and conference in person.

Stay tuned for more and learn what’s happening in the field of CFS News.
AND LEAVE A COMMENT!

Thanks, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

Along with the Health Matters Show podcast today on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and some personal references to the level of sickness I overcame, see the links and information below highlighting Dr. Richard van Konynenburg and his work. You simply must check out this incredible resource for have-to-have-it information and videos on ME/CFS.

Listen to my podcast. I hope my words of encouragement give you hope to keep on…keeping doing what you’ve got to do until healing is on the horizon for ME/CFS.

Next continue down the page for the link to the extensive videos featuring Dr. Richard van Konynenberg of Sweden. He talks about the similarities and differences between ME and CFS and so much more. He demonstrates why he and many of his colleagues believe that these two health problems are really one single illness, ME/CFS. And because “chronic fatigue syndrome” is such a vague term, how and why the illness called ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis may be a better, overall name.

And, before you leave, don’t forget the October 15, 2011 Wellness Seminar by Laura Gentile & her cohorts. I’ll be among the speakers that day!

(8 minutes 54 second podcast)

Now…for Dr. Richard van Konynenburg, his documents, presentations and more brought you in several revealing videos:

• Definition and history of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis <= Click the main link to get access to the videos.
• The ME International Consensus Criteria
• How ME/CFS relates to Fibromyalgia
• Onset characteristics
• Possibilities of epidemics or clusters
• Severity of the patient’s illness state
• The variety of symptoms that seem to affect to many organs and body systems
• The possibility of genetic predisposition
• Estimates of how many people worldwide are sick with this illness; prevalence
• Likely causes or stressors
• Body’s biochemical response
• The abnormal glutathione response (depletion) and molecules affected by it
• How this relates to findings in autism research and treatment
• The role of folates in the body
• The pathogenesis (disease development) of most cases of ME/CFS
• Diagram of energy metabolism and mitrochondrial dysfunction
• Post-exertional fatigue and why too much exercise can damage the individual
• HPA (Hypothalamus/ Pituitary/ Adrenal Axis) dysfunction
• Brain Problems, such as connection of brain and hypovolemic (low blood pressure) balance
• Evidence of white spot lesions on the brain as evidenced by MRI testing
• Defect in neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism, plus blood flow to the brain
• And actual infections in the brain
• Altered immune response for the whole body
• Abnormal Digestive system
• Thyroid abnormalities (e.g. Hashimoto thryoiditis)
• Nerve abnormalities (*see remarks about electromagnetic radiation)
• Possible test: Methylation Pathways Panel (from Sweden and one branch in US)
• Recommended dosages of products he suggests

He also talks about a clinical study he and his colleagues did. The fact that such distinguished scientists and researchers want to get rid of the name we’ve shunned since it all began = Chronic Fatigue Syndrome = should give us encouragement to consider the better name, ME/CFS.

Thank you so much for joining the Health Matters Show podcast today!

Cinda Crawford, your host

In the last few days, Fibromyalgia has been in the news about: 1) a general discussion of problems and issues, 2) that yoga exercises may be able to help people with the symptoms of Fibro, 3) that acupuncture treatments may be of benefit and help provide pain relief and finally, 4) that low doses of the muscle relaxer cyclobenzaprine may help you sleep better and feel less pain. I’m sure there are even more articles, reports and blogs I could feature to update you.

The point is things are happening. If you feel like nothing changes, you’re not keeping your eyes open and your ears alert for news about Fibromyalgia. It is available.

Here at the Health Matters Show, I’m always anxious to keep you informed about the issues that can help you manage and improve your life, but in the end, much of this is up to you. Yes, read, research and learn more about what is out there in the world, but in the end, the decision of “what” or “who” is going to help you really get well is yours. In today’s audio podcast file, I talk a lot about these important issues. *Check below to the access the news about Fibromyalgia that I mentioned!

(Today’s podcast file is 5 minutes 14 seconds. Feel free to download and listen to it at your leisure!)

Muscle Relaxer: in new research released this week, TONIX Pharmaceuticals has shared news that the very first drug being developed for night time usage in the treatment of Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), named cyclobenzaprine (CBP), is working on improving the condition’s core symptoms.

Acupuncture…is most often used for postsurgical or chemotherapy-related nausea, pain management, Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, stroke rehabilitation, sports injuries, mood disorders, chronic fatigue, insomnia, stress management, migraines, tension headaches, anxiety, tinnitus, infertility, and menstrual irregularities.

Yoga: Gina Bartiromo, who had a brain injury after slipping and falling about 150 feet down the east face of Yosemite’s Half Dome in 2009, will lead a chair yoga class Thursdays in November at the Camarillo Health Care District.

“It’s for people with any sort of physical ailment, such as fibromyalgia or arthritis, or for people who have physical limitations from an injury and can’t get down on a mat,” said Bartiromo, of Camarillo. “It has all the benefits of yoga — strengthening, stretching, tuning in to the body.”

Thanks so much for joining me at the Health Matters Show today. If you suffer with Fibromyalgia, there are really great things and ideas to investigate like a new muscle relaxer, yoga or acupuncture. Some based in the western medical world; others originating from eastern-based cultures. I encourage you to consider them all as you decide what is best for you.

Thanks so much,
Cinda Crawford, your host
Host of the Health Matters Show

I’ve often wondered if ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) would be better classed as a neurological disease. Now many experts are thinking along that line. Here’s why. Even though there may be bacterial and virological triggers to this horrible, life-altering illness, certain experts within scientific circles are in agreement that CFS should be reclassified as a neurological disease in the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM in recognition of the current scientific understanding of CFS and its classification in the ICD-10 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Below you’ll find the latest information on the proposal submitted to the CFS Advisory Committee (CFSAC), an advisory committee, created under the Federal Advisory Committee (FACA) statue and regulations. Feel free to leave a comment or any new information you have.

Thanks so much, Cinda Crawford

[Submitted to Co-Cure.org by Mike Munoz ]

Please see below announcement from the Coalition for ME/CFS. We will be presenting the ICD proposal, today (Wednesday) in Baltimore, Maryland, September 14, 2011.

Coalition for ME/CFS, ICD Announcement, September 12, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Contact: Corin Ramos, Walson Communications
Cell Phone: 714-865-4147
Email: corin@walsonpr.com

*Coral Gables, FL, September 12, 2011* – The Coalition 4 ME/CFS on July 15, 2011, submitted a proposal to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for reclassification of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as a neurological disease in the United States… .

For: International Classification of Diseases-10-CM (ICD-10-CM) and International Classification of Diseases-9-CM (ICD-9-CM). The proposal was accepted for review at the upcoming meeting of the Coordination and Maintenance Committee at the Center for Medicare Services (CMS), in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 14, 2011.

The proposal request is supported by past and current recommendations from the CFS Advisory Committee (CFSAC), an advisory committee, created under the Federal Advisory Committee (FACA) statue and regulations. The proposal request is to reclassify CFS as a neurological disease in the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM in recognition of the current scientific understanding of CFS and its classification in the ICD-10 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The goal of this proposal is to ensure alignment with ICD-10 under WHO and the clinical modifications embraced by other countries, and to ensure alignment with the best current case definition for CFS, which includes both viral and bacterial triggers,” stated Mike Munoz, a member of the Coalition 4 ME/CFS steering committee.

The WHO publishes the ICD, which is used by more than 100 countries to
standardize how diseases are classified. In the ICD-10, which is the current global standard, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), and CFS are all classified under Neurological Diseases. “This proposal is a stepwise change that will separate cases of ME/CFS from cases of unspecified chronic fatigue and depression, and in the process, signal to the medical community the seriousness of this disease,” said Lori Chapo-Kroger, another steering committee member.

It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that at least one million individuals in the U.S. and 17 million worldwide (National Institutes of Health) are stricken with this debilitating, disabling, and sometimes fatal disease. The annual economic cost in the U.S. for ME/CFS according to a recent study published in the Journal of Dynamic Medicine-Bio Med Central, by Jason et al., from DePaul University is estimated to be between 18 and 23 billion dollars. Marly Silverman, another member of the current Coalition 4 ME/CFS steering committee added: “The approval for review of this historical proposal by the NCHS, highlights the fact that current science is bringing government health agencies, researchers and patient advocacy groups together to collaborate, leading to results that will improve quality of life for patients afflicted with ME/CFS in the U.S.”

The Coalition 4 ME/CFS supports our scientific research community in the efforts of retiring the name chronic fatigue syndrome and the acronym CFS. It supports a worldwide collaborative and accepted case definition, with well-defined diagnostic criteria and guidelines for implementation of well-devised treatment standards. Although the coalition recognizes pragmatically the effort and time needed to drive this welcome change across all clinical, research, legal, disability, and insurance disciplines in the U.S., we believe our ICD-10-CM and ICD-9-CM proposal initiative contributes to a productive timely result.

We acknowledge and express gratitude to Mary Dimmock, who prepared the proposal request with solid expertise and diligence on behalf of the Coalition 4 ME/CFS. We thank the Coalition 4 ME/CFS steering committee for their unwavering commitment to this project. We acknowledge CFSAC members who have voted for the recommendations that this proposal supports. We appreciate the support of physicians and researchers who provided expert input to the proposal.

To read the proposal and get more information, visit the coalition website.

*About NeuroEndocrineImmune Diseases (NEIDs)*NeuroEndocrineImmune diseases include fibromyalgia (FM), chronic Lyme disease (CLD), multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), Gulf War illnesses (GWI), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). CFS is also known in Europe and other countries as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

*About Coalition four ME/CFS was founded on March 1, 2011. The mission of the coalition is to engage and mobilize governmental health agencies, the private biomedical industry, researchers, health care providers, and the public toward finding a cure for ME/CFS and related NeuroEndocrineImmune diseases.

Coalition members are the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia Organization of Georgia, Inc., CFS Knowledge Center, CFS Solutions of West Michigan, PANDORA, Inc. (Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders Organization for Research & Advocacy, Inc.), Phoenix Rising, Rocky Mountain CFS/ME & FM Association (RMCFA), Vermont CFIDS Association, Inc., and Wisconsin ME/CFS Association, Inc.
~~~~~

*Visit the coalition on Facebook.
*Visit Cinda Crawford on Facebook.
*Visit Cinda’s new page for chronic illnesses on Facebook and “like” it today!

*Follow the coalition on Twitter.
*Follow Cinda Crawford on Twitter.

Stay informed. Come back to the Health Matters Show blog and podcast often. “Could ME/CFS be a Neurological Disease?” is just one topic of many!

Cort Johnson of Phoenix Rising discusses today the 75 years of ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis history, and how it dovetails with the knowledge and experience of CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In Cort’s words:

~~~~~~

‘ME’ or myalgic encephalomyelitis been given new life in the research community by the publication of the International Consensus Criteria for ME (ICC). (Link below.)

But is it the same ME? The first major attempt to give the ME a coherent focus occurred in 1959 with Acheson’s long review journal article on ‘benign myalgic encephalomyelitis’ *outbreaks.* From that paper to the Incline Village outbreak in the mid 1980’s the focus was mostly on describing outbreaks but the publication of a definition for chronic fatigue syndrome in 1988 lead to an almost complete focus on the non-epidemic forms of the illness. The ‘outbreaks’ continued on but they no longer figured in the literature and, despite the return of the name they were associated with, they were not given any mention in the ICC.

In this article we look at snapshots of ME over the years. Has the changed focus from the outbreaks to the non-epidemic form of the disorder changed our conception of ME? And if so – how?

So, I ask you, are these all the same disease processes? For my answer, see below, plus go ahead and grab yourself a copy of this new and important ICC Guildeline report:

I believe that there is a “sudden onset” type of ME/CFS that ushers in a stark period of immediate illness. Think the 24-hour flu that never goes away times 10! I also believe “gradual onset” is a reality for many people, too. Your health begins to decline and soon you’re wondering where the bottom will show up or not. Other people simply don’t get as ill as either of these two classes of patients before they stabilize. Does that mean we’re talking about different illnesses, different disease processes? I submit to you, possibly we are not!

When the Immune System goes haywire, anything is possible. We don’t all get sick in the same ways even when exposed to the same “cause” or trigger(s). Within the realm of the voluminous amount of published material about CFS, ME and parts in between, scientists and researchers have not categorized this specifically and without inserting a degree of doubt. Today’s International Consensus Criteria for ME Guideline goes a long ways toward that purpose. The Journal of Internal Medicine offers the following abstract about ME, CFS and the ICC’s published criteria:

The label ‘chronic fatigue syndrome’ (CFS) has persisted for many years because of lack of knowledge of the etiological agents and of the disease process. In view of more recent research and clinical experience that strongly point to widespread inflammation and multisystemic neuropathology, it is more appropriate and correct to use the term ‘myalgic encephalomyelitis’ (ME) because it indicates an underlying pathophysiology. It is also consistent with the neurological classification of ME in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD G93.3). Consequently, an International Consensus Panel consisting of clinicians, researchers, teaching faculty and an independent patient advocate was formed with the purpose of developing criteria based on current knowledge. Thirteen countries and a wide range of specialties were represented. Collectively, members have approximately 400 years of both clinical and teaching experience, authored hundreds of peer reviewed publications, diagnosed or treated approximately 50,000 ME patients, and several members coauthored previous criteria. The expertise and experience of the panel members as well as PubMed and other medical sources were utilized in a progression of suggestions/drafts/reviews/revisions. The authors, free of any sponsoring organization, achieved 100% consensus through a Delphi type process.

The scope of this paper is limited to criteria of ME and their application. Accordingly, the criteria reflect the complex symptomatology. Operational notes enhance clarity and specificity by providing guidance in the expression and interpretation of symptoms. Clinical and research application guidelines promote optimal recognition of ME by primary physicians and other health care providers, improve consistency of diagnoses in adult and paediatric patients internationally, and facilitate clearer identification of patients for research studies.

Today I urge you to do 2 things before exiting this blog:

• Leave a comment below. Tell us about your illness onset, ongoing struggle, diagnosis or whatever. Your story may help someone else and let’s face it, each of our stories matter and need to be heard!
• Then, go to the newly published ICC ME Guidelines and print out several copies. You need one for you to study and at least two more for your doctor and insurance company. If you lose this link, return here to the Health Matters Show to get access.

Thank you so much for visiting the Health Matters Show today,
Cinda Crawford
*Feel free to share this on Facebook, Twitter or wherever. This is important!

Recently I’ve been writing about brain fog symptoms and some of the other aggravating problems regarding Fibromyalgia and CFS for a renowned publisher.

If my article gets accepted and published, it will take awhile for the process to be completed. As I wrote about the topic of brain fog and my history living with it, I began to reflect upon all the times (months, years) when it bothered me the most and so-o-o affected my life. Brain fog symptoms can be proverbial bears and bother even the heartiest of souls!

Tomorrow on the Health Matters Show Friday podcast, the topic is brain fog and I’ll offer you new, additional information. I hope you’ll join me for the broadcast and invite your friends. In the meantime, here are 18 symptoms of brain fog that should get you thinking. Now, pray tell…do you experience some or all of these? (Leave your comments below.)

1. Horrible short term memory
2. Difficulty with word finding and word substitution
3. Disorientation lasting 30-60 seconds ( You might be driving somewhere and you forget where you are and where you are going)
4. Loss of mental acuity
5. Forgetfulness
6. In ability to think clearly
7. A feeling that you’re in a fog or a dark cloud is over your head
8. Decreased attention span
9. Mild depression or anxiety
10. Lack of spatial awareness
11. Difficulty concentrating
12. Lack of focus
13. Confusion
14. Spaciness or Absentmindedness
15. Trouble learning new tasks
16. Trouble solving problems
17. Decrease in creativity
18. Decreased mental stamina

This list is courtesy of MyAdrenalFatigue.com.

Thanks so much, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

Do you have Questions about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? If you do, you’re not alone. As many as a million people or more suffer with this illness and there are few answers to help them figure out: how they got sick, what to do to feel better, how to recover or exactly what is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. ????

Since 1984 at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, a group of people began to file into the doctor offices of Dan Petersen and Paul Cheney complaining about a host of symptoms that neither separately made sense nor collectively. What was wrong with them?

Many were extremely fatigued to the point that they could not get out of bed, much less work or participate in life. Plus they suffered with nausea, dizziness, immune system irregularities and truly, a long list of life-altering complaints. This all happened within a few months and the good doctors suspected that one or more infectious agents could be the cause. However, no single one could be found, even though many were suspected and studied. Since that time, many private and a few government-related research projects have sought to answer these baffling questions.

Over the years it’s become apparent…

(10 minutes 42 seconds)

Over the years it’s become apparent to me that none of those suspected causes are the cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at all, but instead the result of an impaired immune system that can no longer effectively fight off disease (e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.).

Having an impaired, dysfunctional immune system is considered a hallmark symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But surely there must be some cause or otherwise how could this be? Why? Is there one trigger among the group of suspected culprits that can bring about such a reaction within the Immune System? It turns out there are several that can affect the immune system so severely.

But are they the cause or the result of a body gone haywire?

In an attempt to answer some of your more basic questions about this puzzling illness, each first Friday for at least the next six months, I’ll attempt to discuss some of the basics that you want to know about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This week it is “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: What is it?”. *See this additional page for more references.

Thank you so much, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

I offer you the post below that is an excellent review by Kevin Short, in which he discusses recent clarifications and expert findings that cause him to believe the following: “Use of the terms Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/CFS, Fatigue Syndrome/FS, Fatigue, CFS/ME, Myalgic Encephalopathy and the like in reference to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients is clearly unjustified, harmful and needs to cease.”

*Kevin Short’s statement is bold, but he backs it up with lots of data. Facts about ME before may have been confusing to you. What do you believe? Are these all the same illness? Today you have a chance to revisit this issue and possibly change your opinion because you now have more good, concise information.

The new ‘Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria’[1] by Dr Bruce Carruthers et al was published online in the Journal of Internal Medicine in July 2011 — doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02428.x.

This landmark document is an outstanding evidence-based patient diagnosis and research subject selection guideline that warrants widespread application. It was produced by an erudite international expert panel that between them have seen many thousands of ME patients in 13 countries and have engaged with both long-established and cutting-edge evidence from clinical practice and research settings. The document is designed for adult and paediatric clinical and research use and it is to be followed up with further supportive resources from the consensus panel as specified.

Set against a context of unhelpful, opaque and profound international medico-political controversy on disease terminology and related matters, the new international consensus document brings much needed clarity; stating:

The label “chronic fatigue syndrome” (CFS) has persisted for many years because of lack of knowledge of the etiological agents and of the disease process. In view of more recent research and clinical experience that strongly point to widespread inflammation and multisystemic neuropathology, it is more appropriate and correct to use the term “myalgic encephalomyelitis”(ME) because it indicates an underlying pathophysiology. It is also consistent with the neurological classification of ME in the World Health Organization’s International
Classification of Diseases (ICD G93.3). [2]

The new international consensus document then goes on to cite evidence in the scientific literature underpinning myalgic encephalomyelitis terminology and its ICD classification and sets out problems with various broad-ranging patient selection criteria that give misplaced emphasis to ‘fatigue’:

The problem with broadly inclusive criteria is that they do not select homogeneous sets of patients. The Centers for Disease Control prevalence estimates increased tenfold from 0.24% using the Fukuda criteria to 2.54% using the Reeves empirical criteria. Jason et al suggest there are flaws in Reeves’ methodology because it is possible to meet the empirical criteria for ME without having any physical symptoms and it does not discriminate ME/CFS patients from those with Major Depressive Disorder. Patient sets that include people who do not have the disease lead to biased research findings, inappropriate treatments, and waste scarce research funds.[3]

Using ‘fatigue’ as a name of a disease gives it exclusive emphasis and has been the most confusing and misused criterion. No other fatiguing disease has ‘chronic fatigue’ attached to its name — e.g. cancer/chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis/chronic fatigue — except ME/CFS.[4]

The current revision/edition of the WHO International Classification of Diseases that most countries subscribe to, including the UK, is the tenth one (ICD-10). A few countries use their own ‘clinical modification’ version of the WHO ICD. The standard/unmodified WHO ICD-10 primary tabular list uses the term ‘Postviral Fatigue Syndrome/PVFS’ as the primary disease label with ‘Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ME’ as its synonym. PVFS/ME is classified in ICD-10 under ‘Diseases of the Nervous System’ at section G93.3 (Other disorders of brain) and nowhere else. In doing so the WHO implicitly recognises the history of viral involvement in the disease and specifically excludes the disease from mental and behavioural disorders such as ‘Fatigue Syndrome’ – which is classified separately and exclusively in ICD-10 under ‘Mental and behavioural disorders’ at section F.48.0 (Other neurotic disorders). The WHO have confirmed on many occasions that such disease classification is always exclusive and that listed disease entities are not classified under more than one rubric and are not interchangeable.

Taxonomical confusion has arisen in this field for three main reasons. Firstly, certain psychiatrists have made and published widespread claims
that are factually incorrect and at odds with the WHO (see below). Secondly, because a few countries, including the USA, use their own unique “clinical modification” version of the WHO ICD which is different from the world standard. Thirdly, because the WHO did not put all of the details of their ICD 10th Revision in their online website summary. For accuracy on ICD-10 classification therefore, full reference needs to be made to the three-volume published/book version[5].

The term ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/CFS’ (not to be confused with ICD-10-F.48.0 ‘Fatigue Syndrome/FS’) is in fact not entered/categorised anywhere in the ICD-10 tabular list whatsoever and is not therefore an ICD-10 disease classification/term in its own right. It is merely listed in the ICD-10 alphabetical index as a term by which PVFS/ME (ICD-10-G93.3) may be referred to but crucially, in clarifying this point to members of the UK ME community, the WHO unequivocally stated:

ME is classified at G93.3 and is a specific disorder. The term CFS covers many different conditions, which may or may not include ME. The use of the term CFS in the ICD index is merely colloquial and does not necessarily refer to ME. It could be referring to any syndrome of chronic fatigue, not to ME at all. The index (i.e. volume iii) cannot be taken as definitive.” [Dr Robert Jacob, Medical Officer (ICD),
Classifications, Terminologies and Standards, WHO HQ, Geneva. 4th February 2009].

Prior to this clarification there was understandable use of the compromise term ‘Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ or ‘ME/CFS’[6] (as opposed to ‘CFS/ME’ – see below) by many ME activists given that so many genuine ME patients have unfortunately been labelled and studied as CFS patients. Now that the WHO and the new Myalgic Encephalomyelitis International Consensus Criteria have added clarity to matters, use of the compromise ME/CFS terminology is no longer justified in my view: It is far better to simply stick to ICD-10 recognised ‘Myalgic Encephalomyelitis’ terminology in our literature and relegate to a caveat or footnote the fact that many genuine ME patients and research subjects have been labelled as CFS. Surely the best way for ME activists to assist fellow patients that are inappropriately labelled with CFS is to refuse to adopt the latter terminology any longer and insist that patients are examined, diagnosed and included in biomedical research studies on the scientifically justifiable basis set out in the new Carruthers et al international consensus criteria?

Alongside the problem of various “fatigue” labels diverging from WHO-IDC-10 Myalgic Encephalomyelits taxonomy, in the UK, we have the added problem of the use of Myalgic Encephalopathy by Dr Charles Shepherd and his associated charity. This wholly unclassified label was subsequently taken up by The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in production of its psychosocial ‘CFS/ME’ clinical guideline 53. The “encephalopathy” terminology is very broad-ranging and, given that most medical dictionaries state something along the lines of “the hallmark of encephalopathy is an altered mental state”[7]is wide open to psychosocial misattribution in my view. Moreover, to reiterate the views of the expert international consensus panel, the encephalomyelitis terminology is evidence-based and entirely justified:

In view of more recent research and clinical experience that strongly point to widespread inflammation and multisystemic neuropathology, it is more appropriate and correct to use the term ‘myalgic encephalomyelitis’(ME) because it indicates an underlying pathophysiology.[8]

With regard to the encephalopathy matter therefore, Dr Bruce Carruthers, lead author of the international consensus criteria, earlier cautioned:

The Politics around this are horrendous, and the motive for any name change would seem to have less than the good of mankind at heart. I would not favour any kind of name change, since -itis is well established in the name ME, and there is no good reason for changing it, since -opathy would not reduce our state of ignorance re ME but serve to further confuse everyone- perhaps that is one of the motives behind the suggestion.[9]

Even if the reason for the ‘-opathy’ name change at the UK ME Association was well-meaning it is clear that Dr Carruthers’ concerns on motives behind terminology change are broadly justified. Consider for example the case of Professor Simon Wessely who, in spite of the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases and a large body of biomedical evidence claimed “that ME is simply a belief, the belief that one has an illness called ME”[10]. Wessely then went on to misrepresent Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in a various professional for a as mental illness and misrepresent WHO ICD-10 taxonomy as merely patients’ own “lay label”. He did this, by his own admission, in order to pursue a “constructive labelling” “strategy” of having physical ME gradually subsumed into the rubric of mental disorders – by “gradually expanding understanding of the condition to incorporate the psychological and social dimensions.” Thus, in The British Medical Journal Professor Wessely tellingly stated:

“One challenge arises when patients have named their condition in a way that leaves doctors uncomfortable, as occurred with chronic fatigue syndrome. It may seem that adopting the lay label endorses the implicit causal theory and reinforces the perceived disability. For better or worse, the medical profession has lost the monopoly on naming conditions, and rejecting lay terms can needlessly alienate patients. A compromise strategy is “constructive labelling,” expanding on the lay name. It would mean treating chronic fatigue syndrome as a legitimate illness, acknowledging that it may have a viral trigger (as many patients report), while gradually expanding understanding of the condition to incorporate the psychological and social dimensions. The recent adoption by the UK Medical Research Council and the chief medical officer’s report of the term chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalitis reflects such a compromise, albeit an uneasy one.”[11]

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is WHO ICD-10 disease classification, not the “lay label” that Professor Wessely misleadingly claims. ME is rightly classified in ICD-10 as neurological/physical disease and accompanied by a large body of biomedical evidence. ME is not “simply a belief” as Wessely disgracefully asserts. Caveat Emptor therefore: the psychiatrists’ “constructive [re]labelling” “strategy” gradually moves ‘PVFS/ME’ to ‘ME/CFS’ to ‘CFS/ME’ to ‘CFS’ to ‘FS’ to ‘F’ etc in disregard of a growing body of biomedical evidence and all in aid of “gradually expanding understanding of the condition to incorporate the psychological and social dimensions.” In my view such a questionable shift is aided by changing to an ‘encephalopathy’ label “the hallmark of [which] is an altered mental state.”

Returning to the new International Consensus Criteria, not only do the authors cite evidence against use of ‘fatigue’ terminology and in support of encephalomyelitis pathology, in their concluding remarks, Carruthers et al state: “Individuals meeting the International Consensus Criteria have myalgic encephalomyelitis and should be removed from the Reeves empirical criteria and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.”[12]

I could not agree more, but if the ME community want state agencies to properly use ICD-10 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis disease taxonomy then we need to consistently lead by example.

Kevin Short, July 2011.

contact@angliameaction.org.uk

This text is available online as a PDF document .

Permission to repost]

ENDNOTES:
[1] Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria. Journal of Internal Medicine, 20 July 2011
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] For accuracy in ascertaining WHO ICD-10 disease classification, full reference needs to be made to the three-volume published/book version. The bibliographic details of all three volumes are:

- International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems -Tenth Revision — Second Edition: Volume 1 — Tabular List — ISBN: 92 4 154649 2.

- International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems -Tenth Revision — Second Edition: Volume 2 — Instruction Manual — ISBN: 92 4 154653 0.

- International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems -Tenth Revision — Second Edition: Volume 3 — Alphabetical Index — ISBN: 92 4 154654 9.

[6] See, for example, ME/CFS: TERMINOLOGY by Margaret Williams. And ME/CFS: Classification Issues by Margaret Williams

[7] “The hallmark of encephalopathy is an altered mental state.”

[8] Carruthers et al op. Cit

[9] Dr Bruce Carruthers, in personal correspondence with Kevin Short in 2005 with a view to his comments being made public. Viewable on-line at: www.investinme.org/Article%20010-Encephalopathy%20Carruthers.htm

[10] In “Microbes, Mental Illness, The Media and ME: The Construction of Disease”; Simon Wessely; 12th May 1994; 9th Eliot Slater Memorial
Lecture, Institute of Psychiatry, London. A copy of Professor Wessely’s own 12th May 1994; 9th Eliot Slater Memorial Lecture notes, along with
comment, is available here: http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/wessely_speech_120594.htm, http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/wessely_speech_120594.pdf

Cited in ‘Submission re: DSM-V and ME/CFS‘, Compiled by Professor Malcolm Hooper and Margaret Williams for submission by The 25% ME Group, 20 March 2010: http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/DSM-V-submission.

[11] Managing patients with inexplicable health problems. Baruch Fischhoff, Simon Wessely. BMJ Volume 326, 15 March 2003. BMJ
2003;326:595–7.]

[12] Carruthers et al op. Cit.

In this fourth interview for my Fibromyalgia and CFS audience, Janice Lynne Lundy, the Buddha Chick, talks about specific ways of using mindfulness and awareness to get in touch with yourself, especially as you grapple with the startling realities of controlling your emotions while trying to heal from chronic illness. That’s tough!

Today you’ll hear Janice and I refer to this topic as Emotions Are Us at times, because the more our emotions have control over us, the more sick -or shall we say less well?- we can become.

Find all 4 of our interviews here in the month of July. I suspect Janice is a wise woman. Consider her history: she recovered from Chronic Fatigue years ago and found inner peace and better health by making daily discoveries about herself. Many of those discoveries involved her emotions. She developed an expanded practice of mindfulness and today offers it to others with her Mindful Makeover Kit plus a brand, new course for women suffering with health challenges. (*Please…don’t miss reading about this transformational body of work! Click on the link, then scan down the page. There you can read how Janice gently offers you this effective, meaningful information. Somehow it seems that she knows exactly what women suffering with health challenges need!)

Now, keep going, as you read and listen. There’s more here on the Health Matters Show today, including hearing Janice offer you her “free” e-book… .

(Audio: listen on this page by clicking the right-facing button above or feel free to download the audio file. It’s 23 minutes 51 seconds in length and packed full of info.)

As you and I choose greater freedom and not being a slave to the tough task master of ‘Emotions Are Us’, we can choose healthier emotions, a healthier self-concept, a healthier way to live daily that promotes wellness and inner peace. Will you ever be 100% healthy? No one can answer that, but you can live with more peace and that one fact will definitely promote a healthier you.

Purposefully choose this great, inner freedom. Choose health. Choose it now. I hope you listen to this fantastic interview with Janice Lynne Lundy and then mark your calendar to be back here next Friday for a video interview that is sure to knock your socks off! Janice has promised to do a guided meditation to help you with all of the fantastic health goals that you’re making for yourself. I promise it will be informative and absolutely delightful.

Thank you for joining the Health Matters Show today. I’m Cinda Crawford, your host. Mindfulness is something to learn for yourself and practice anywhere and everywhere, as you become skilled in controlling your emotions for your good health.

As I do my third interview with Janice Lynne Lundy, the Buddha Chick, we talk about self-compassion, self-blessing and how these two “self” practices are vitally important if you want to stay well from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or any illness. Today’s Goal: learning how to take care of yourself in more ways than simply the physical.

I urge you to read about and listen to Janice, a lady who has walked through her own deep, illness valleys (including Chronic Fatigue) and went on to regain her health. Reason? To become a teacher capable of helping others in special ways.

Metta phrases are like soothing phrases, depending on what you’re feeling in the moment. Example: ‘May I feel relaxed. May I feel safe.’

(19 minutes 14 seconds)

Note: If you and I don’t have a safe place of stillness in our lives, we cannot navigate the hills and valleys of them well at all! Instead…engaging in this type of personal practice can evoke previously felt emotions of safety and other healthy feelings. As you practice saying metta phrases, you are promoting your own health and healing! (Without side effects or additional costs.)

QUESTION: As you talk to yourself today, are you being loving and kind or are you fussing at your body for failing you?

Instead of fussing and complaining, love your body; love your whole self in return. During today’s audio podcast, Janice explains why this is such a powerful, healing concept and then she instructs you how to do it. Wow! In addition to great info today, she and I will offer you additional audio interview on Friday, July 22nd, and then on Friday, July 29th, when we do a video interview! That’s when Janice Lynne Lundy will skillfully take you through some marvelous meditations (she promised she would!). Then she’ll tell you about her brand new program Buddha Chick Training for Women with Health Challenges, which begins in September. Take a moment to review the details and I’ll see you back here next Friday. You’ll find the info on this program below:

Thanks so much, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show

I have two- Yes 2! Health and Happening Updates for you today. I know that you want to stay in the loop of what’s going on.

#1: Starting July 26 through July 31, the “Everything is Energy” team is running an online course that you can’t afford to miss. Truly, don’t miss the Everything is Energy World Summit.

Have you heard me say how important it is to consider everything about your energy makeup, if you want to have a chance at healing completely? If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that’s a core belief for me, my work and what I try to teach my clients.

No matter what the health topic is– Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, Lyme, migraine headaches or any and all chronic illnesses– energy is both the root of your life blood supporting a healthy “you” and the root of all your health problems! If you don’t really understand or have a good handle on this topic, then you’re at the right place at the right time today. It’s time to get serious and learn what your “energy” is all about so that you improve your chances of getting healthier!

I’ll be there and I hope you will, too.

#2: This Friday, July 15, please return for my “FREE” interview of Janice Lynn Lundy on the Health Matters Show. (If you’re listening here online or at i-Tunes.) You won’t want to miss this third in a series of five interviews about mindfulness and how it can positively impact your health. Friday we’ll be talking about “metta practice” and how self blessing is a major part of self love…two very important self practices. (Access the first interview and the second one from here, if you need to catch up quickly. Friday will be here soon!)

Janice is the creator of the Mindful Makeover Kit, a fantastic resource for learning more about yourself, gaining skills to deal with your ever-changing and challenging life needs and then how to develop subtle but powerful ways to kick your life and health into a gear that promotes sustainable and comforting results.

We all want to live our lives at a level of achievement that is meaningful. And, we want to gain the skills of how to enjoy them in a more healthy state. Alive and kicking can be more than a phrase!

*See Jan’s link to her Mindful Makeover kit below. I truly love what she’s doing with it in helping so many people!

See you back here Friday for the third interview of Janice Lynne Lundy. And thanks for checking in here at the Health Matters Show for our health updates.

Cinda Crawford, your host

**In this Interview: What is a Mindful Makeover?, I am interviewing Janice Lynn Lundy, the Buddha Chick and discussing mindfulness. In case you missed last week’s Health Matters Show, she was my honored guest. Today we will discuss in more detail, what is a Buddha Chick and explain “how” you can be one! How fabulous is that? In Janice’s own words…

The Mindful Makeover Kit empowers women to live physically calm, mentally clear, openhearted lives, handling life’s challenges with ease. It includes 10 Modules, 12 hours of downloadable recordings, Workbook, Buddha Chick™ Affirmation Cards, and private mentoring support. Nothing short of a complete life makeover with mindfulness and self-compassion.

I believe in these concepts so much that I am working on my own Mindful Makeover. One can always learn new and improved skills for being healthier and enjoying a better quality of life.

With Janice’s expert guidance, she encourages you and I to do one thing at the time and be fully present (inside and out). Get rid of your tendency towards mind-less living. Begin to sense how the world is really impacting your life. What feelings (good and bad) are you most aware of? In your sickness, which feelings and awarenesses have you blocked out and chosen to ignore?

I urge you to “make over” your life for the better starting right now. How? By making better choices. Wiser choices. Learning the techniques and tools that Janice teaches will help you arrive at a place of balance and a better quality of health.

Today, you can hear Janice talk about the “Magic Formula” for inner peace… .

(17 minutes 27 second broadcast)

1. What is the magic formula for inner peace?
2. Learn how clarity can come to your world more clearly.
3. How wisdom arises through love, gratitude and calmness.
4. How through the 50 audio course, you can master self-pacing and find the support that you need to be healthy.
5. Learn the life-long benefits of manifesting self-compassion and gentleness towards yourself.

Yes, it turns out that mindfulness is a kissing cousin to self-compassion. As you grow in mindfulness, you can lead a life full of loving kindness. As you tap into your body’s innate wisdom, know that you didn’t ask to be sick from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or any illness. But you do gain advantages from living with it, if you choose to be mindful.

It’s time to embrace yourself with self-compassion and love. Do this for YOU! Discover exactly…what is a Mindful Makeover with the Buddha Chick.

Cinda Crawford, Health Matters Show

Can Anti-oxidants ease Gulf War Syndrome and CFS? One study finds the following:

By Kelly Kennedy, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Anti-oxidant supplements can significantly reduce the symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome, suffered by tens of thousands of veterans, according to research to be presented Monday to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The study by Beatrice Golomb of the medical school at the University of California-San Diego tested the value of giving doses of the coenzyme Q10 to veterans of the Persian Gulf War. “Every single one of them … improved,” Golomb said, adding that there was improvement for all 20 symptoms. “For it to have been chance alone is under one in a million.”

More than 20 years after the end of the Gulf War, the 1990-91 conflict that liberated Kuwait after an invasion by Iraq, Golomb’s study is the first research that offers potential relief for sufferers of Gulf War Syndrome, said Jim Binns, chairman of the federal panel investigating the condition.

Roughly one in four of the 697,000 veterans of the war has Gulf War illness, according to the federal Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. Symptoms include memory and concentration problems, chronic headaches, widespread pain, gastrointestinal problems and chronic fatigue.

“It is the first medication study to show a significant improvement of a major symptom of Gulf War illness in the history of Gulf War illness
research,” said Binns, the committee chairman. Although it’s not a cure, Binns said, and requires further research, “it is extremely encouraging.”

Golomb said the treatments helped veterans with headaches, inability to focus and fatigue after exertion. There were also unexpected benefits, she said, such as fewer symptoms for participants suffering from chronic diarrhea and improved blood pressure levels. She worked with 46 veterans.

Golomb found that those with Gulf War illness (i.e. Gulf War Syndrome) had the same list of symptoms as those with genetic mitochondrial disorders. Mitochondria convert oxygen and glucose into cell energy. The brain and the muscles use more energy than other parts of the body, so those organs are affected first by the disorder.

“Oxidated stress (i.e. oxidative stress) can come from a lot of bad things in the environment,” Golomb said, explaining that causes the problems in the mitochondria. Her past research has involved chemical exposures in the Persian Gulf, such as sarin gas, pesticides and anti-nerve-agent pills.

The unpublished results will be released at a committee meeting at the VA .

The research was funded by the Defense Department through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.
~~~~~

Personally I’ve used Coenzyme Q10 off and on for years. It really helps with oxidative stress, a problem that all of us face. Looks like I better add it back to my daily regimen. Many thanks to USA today for addressing Anti-oxidants ease Gulf War Syndrome and surely the impact this can have on CFS folks, too!

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show