The Health Matters Show With Cinda Crawford » Health Matters Shows

CFS Infection and Research

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:15:23 +0000

Today we’re asking — Are infections common in CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)? The answer surely is a “Yes!” But is there a CFS infection going on? And then we’ll look at some current CFS research. What causes this illness?

Some people get sick immediately after an infectious trigger event, or, at least, after a series of different ones. It’s common. If illness symptoms hit you all at once, a specialist/ doctor may class you in the sudden onset category. If you’ve been so sick for a long time and you’re gradually getting worse, then you may be classed as having gradual onset of the illness. Sudden, vicious infections can be a problem for a relatively healthy person. However, when you’re faced with a diagnosis of CFS, the issues of being sick and getting well just got a whole lot tougher to deal with.

Infections, whether bacterial, viral or parasitical, are topics addressed in medical literature and studied in laboratories the world over. But, not one of piece of research has ever been clearly identified as a cause or infectious trigger of CFS. Not one.

After you listen to my Health Matters Show podcast (below) on this topic of CFS Infection and Research, consider what you need to do to bolster your immune system and make it stronger. Next, take a look at the transcript of one health reporter, David Corcoran, as he interviews David Tuller about his recent article for the NY Times. (Thanks to ME/CFSForums Firestormm for making this transcript available.) He also discusses a new NIH research project initiative.

(Today’s Health Matters Show podcast is 7 minutes 14 seconds long.)

Science Times podcast interview with David Tuller
Tuesday February 7th with David Corcoran of the New York Times:
http://podcasts.nytimes.com/podcasts/2012/02/07/science/07science_pod/07sciencepodcast.mp3

David Corcoran [DC]: For this week’s health update we’re joined by reporter David Tuller, who’s been following the tangled developments in the search for a cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. David welcome to the podcast.

David Tuller [DT]: Hi, thanks David.

DC: So, what exactly is chronic fatigue syndrome?

DT: Well chronic fatigue syndrome is really complicated, is probably an immunological and neurological disorder. It seems to be probably triggered by an infectious illness of some kind, or multiple infectious illness, which seems to illicit a kind of immune response that is sort of hyperactive and goes on and on and doesn’t shut itself off – which is probably what causes all the symptoms.

DC: It’s quite common isn’t it?

DT: Well it’s hard to tell how common it is because it’s a little bit hard to define – since it can look like a lot of other things. But the
average estimate that people talk about is about 1 million people in the US. And some of those are really, really severely sick.
Really disabled, can’t leave the house, may be not able to tolerate light, heat and so on and so forth.

DC: For many years there was just no such diagnosis as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. When was it officially recognised by doctors?

DT: Well I can’t even say that it’s officially recognised by doctors at this point because many still think of it as a psychological or psycho-somatic kind of illness, but in the US there was an outbreak – series of outbreaks – of what appeared to be associated with Ebstein-barr virus – which causes mononucleosis – and, so, those were the first investigations of what the CDC then calls Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There had been earlier outbreaks, similar outbreaks, of a lingering or long flu-like illness from which people did not recover, in the
Thirties; in the Fifties there was a big outbreak like that in London. So there had been prior episodes the CDC just gave it a different name – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – than other people had called it earlier.

DC: So, now we have the official diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; why is it so controversial?

DT: It’s really controversial because in all the years of research it’s been very hard to come up with a biological marker. When [?] most diseases, [e.g.] HIV or Tuberculosis, you can do a lab test and you can identify, ‘Yes’ this person has it or this person doesn’t. Something that’s a syndrome – as in CFS – is a collection of symptoms and so it’s defined by the symptoms and if you don’t get the definition exact – if it’s hard to describe in some ways – and doctors aren’t sure how to identify it (and researchers also) – then it’s very very hard to get consistent findings across studies; because everyone is using a somewhat different definition of the illness.

DC: And I guess it’s possible that there could be multiple illnesses involved and therefore different causes, right?

DT: Yeah, I think basically what seems to be the emerging perspective is that it’s a cluster of illnesses. So different people are going to have different pathways to the same kind of syndrome or to the same kind of hyperactive immune response that they’re getting. So for some it might be one or more infectious triggers, it might be an episode of mononucleosis, it could be exposure to some environmental toxins; they don’t really know and I think there’s a lot of intensive research now trying to look at sub-categories of patients. Because again, when you have a lot of patients coming to it [the same diagnosis] from a different cause it again is very hard to isolate one particular [common] cause. So I think that’s been a problem as well with the epidemiology.

DC: So, as you report in your article there was quite a lot of excitement back in 2009 when a study in the Journal ‘Science’ identified a possible cause for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Can you talk about that study and what the findings were?

DT: That was a really high profile study, because ‘Science’ is the most prestigious, or among the most prestigious, Journals. This was study that found that about two thirds of a sample of people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome were harbouring a retrovirus – a mouse leukemia retrovirus – and 4% of the control population. And so for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome who have long been used to having their illness mocked or ignored or treated like something faked, this was really, just a wonderful thing to read about this and to hear about this: that someone had pinpointed something that maybe could be a causal factor.

DC: And, who’s the researcher who led this study?

DT: It was an interesting development, because often these studies would come out of well-known government agencies, or well-known academic centres, and this was a study that came out of a small research centre – the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Nevada which was founded by a wealthy couple – whose daughter was sick with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The researcher on the article was a former researcher at the National
Cancer Institute named Judy Mikovits. And so once the study was published – really it’s hard to overstate the degree to which the patient population has felt ignored and subsequently the degree to which they adopted Dr Mikovits’ as really a patron saint in a way, because she was really taking their illness seriously.

DC: And then what happened?

DT: Well, I mean over the last couple of years it’s been a real rollercoaster. Most other studies were not able to sustain the findings – they couldn’t find what she had found. One other study found something comparable which was viewed as supportive of her findings, and that was a high profile study also. But both of those studies were retracted about a month and a half ago by the respective Journals, and so the scientific base for what they reported is no longer in existence at this point.

Even so there is a study supported by the National Institutes of Health – that’s a very high profile and large study – that’s continuing to look at the issue as to whether these mouse leukemia viruses are related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. That study, which should have results coming up pretty soon, will be looked at I think as kind of the definitive look at this particular question.

DC: So it sounds like quite a tangle, but as you say we’re not exactly back at square one even with the retraction of these studies, there’s
another effort underway to find causes for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and apparently [the possibility of???] some promising results ?

DT: Yeah, I mean it’s been a very interesting phenomenon because I think while a lot of this was going on I think the patient community was feeling ‘It’s this retrovirus or it’s nothing’. You know, and they were really worried if it turned out not to be this retrovirus it would be the end of any attention for their illness; but in fact what seems to have happened is that through this whole debate a lot of researchers who were not necessarily interested in the illness before – or who may have dismissed it themselves – started looking at some of the epidemiology and some of the scientific studies about what these people have going wrong with their bodies and came to realise that, yeah, this may be a serious thing.

And at the same time I think some private philanthropies – who may have family members who have the illness or friends – have come to see
that the government funding has really been woefully lacking and have stepped up to the plate to try to fund some real effort. So there
really are some heavy hitters now involved and apparently committed to looking for causes and treatments, and hopefully that will continue.

DC: And meanwhile what are the prospects for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – are there any treatments now that are effective?

DT: It’s been really difficult [to find treatments?], there are still some people who believe in retrovirus theory and are trying anti-retrovirals. There have been some small studies with anti-virals because a lot of people really do think that, not necessarily a
retrovirus, but some kind of viral infections are causing it. So there’ve been small studies of people on anti-virals for extended periods of time – which have shown some results. There was a small study in 2010 that showed some promising results. But there’s not really anything hard and proven that people can get. I think often that doctors who are expert in treating this, look to provide symptomatic relief, rather than necessarily feeling that they can treat the underlying cause because they don’t necessarily know what the underlying cause is.

There are doctors that have had sporadic and anecdotal success with some patients and I think part of the ongoing effort now is to not
only identify the pathogens at play but also, obviously, to identify some kinds of treatments that can be used to fight them.

DC: So, to be continued… David Tuller, many thanks for following this story for us.

DT: Ok, thanks David.

DC: David Tuller is a medical reporter, who writes for the New York Times.

CFS and Germs

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:15:52 +0000

I’m been burning the candle at both ends lately (proverbially, of course) and my immune system is talking trash to me, thus the title of today’s post: CFS and Germs. Now I don’t have full-blown CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) anymore. I don’t even have symptoms unless I’m living too close to stress and gotta-get-it-done-now style of life. Even so, today I’m suffering with a runny nose, sneezing and sometimes a stopped-up nose. Go figure. I’m even betting my voice sounds scratchy on the podcast today. But I’m hoping not too much so because I’m treating myself to extra sleep, I’m doing Intentional Resting for my immune system and taking care of myself.

It’s never easy to hold yourself back when there’s so much in front of you to do. That seems to be my life right now with a book in progress and…in the coming weeks, I’m preparing two fantastic interviews for you. I know how much both men can offer us on these topics of feeling tough, not having enough energy, not being as healthy as we want to be and wanting to do something mighty about the whole situation!

*Take a look at more CFS and germs info from quite a few years ago from Andrew W. Saul. None of us can afford to sit on our hands.

Andrew W. Saul drsaul@doctoryourself.com:
FOR SOME REASON, this item caught my attention. It was sent to me by Shirley Bentley, president of the US chapter of the Common Cause Medical Research Foundation.

“Germs Patented by U.S. Government Linked to AIDS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Gulf War Syndrome, MS, Cancers and Immune and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

“West Nile Fever Virus (NYC Encephalitis Outbreak) sent to Iraq FROM U.S. Center for Disease Control 5/21/85 (page 275, Congressional Record, May 25, 1994: “Dual Use Exports to Iraq and their Impact on the Health of Persian Gulf War Veterans”) The CDC West Nile Web Site is http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid ”

I must confess I found this all a tad hard to accept, at least until I saw that there are actual U.S. Government patents for some nasty little
germs. You can check for yourself:

U.S. Patent 5,604,093: Human Herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) Isolution and Products (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Health and Human Services) February 18, 1997 U.S. Patent 5,189,022: underlying viral cause of CFS (Health and Human Services) U.S. Patent 5,242,820: Pathogenic Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma
fermentans in CFS; Department of Defense) September 7, 1993 U.S. Patent 5,827,750: JHK Virus in CFIDS (Grossberg retrovirus) National Institutes of Health Grant RO1-AI-32710. …

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Permission to reproduce single copies of this newsletter FOR NON-COMMERCIAL, PERSONAL USE ONLY is hereby granted providing no alteration of content is made and authorship credit is given. Additional single copies will be sent by postal mail to a practitioner or patient, free of charge, upon receipt of a self addressed, stamped envelope only, to Number 8 Van Buren Street, Holley, NY 14470 USA Telephone (716) 638-5357

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~~~~~~

I urge you to stay tuned and support the Health Matters Show, if you can. I depend on you to bolster me in times like this. Your care, concern and support will be returned triple fold. Together, CFS and germs will be more than just a title, but a goal to conquer and overcome.

Thanks, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show

Intentional Resting Interview: Great Health Resource Tool

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:15:48 +0000

I interviewed Dan Howard several weeks ago for the Health Matters Show blog and podcast on Intentional Resting. It was a really good talk. Both of us knew right from the beginning that we had to do more. The concept of Intentional Resting is too good and too powerful not to pay a lot more attention to it. Many people, including me, find it to be a great health resource tool!

Now…Dan and I have recorded another energetic program on “how Intentional Resting can help you.” This one is almost an hour long! It’s packed full of good, free information. Hear Dan talk about how to best use the wonderful products that he has created and how other people are using Intentional Resting as a health resource tool. Each thing he has created is designed to show you another way to be healthy through such a simple, easy, and fast concept as Intentional Resting, plus how you can learn to do it for FREE! Surely this will speak to you at a deep level once you study the how, what and where with a goal of resting for your long term health goals.

The podcast airs today of course…it’s Friday! This longer program, I spoke of, airs next Tuesday, Jan 31st, and in honor of this I’m creating a special event on Facebook. If you’d like to join in, to listen and talk via Facebook, go to GET WELL HEALTH and “like” the page. When the event notice goes out, you’ll receive all the information in your Facebook message file.

Also, please take the time to sign up on my Teleseminar List (see below). Every person on this special list gets access to ALL my teleseminars. Right now these programs are free, just like the Health Matters Show blog and podcast! You only need a password to listen to the longer program and you’ll absolutely get it if you’re on the list.

Note: I will send out several email broadcasts with this PASSWORD code. *If you’re new to signing up, be sure to complete the instructions on each email that comes to you. Look for them and follow the steps as requested. This protects your email security and insures that you will get everything I send out.

After completing the sign up process -OR- if you’re already on this list, you’ll receive a notice in your in-box. This is automatic; you don’t have to do a thing except watch out for it. If, for any reason though, you’re signed up and miss receiving it, email me and tell me what you need: cinda(at)getwellhealth.com. I’ll get it right out to you!

Okay…right now, there are only two things to do:

1) Listen to today’s short Health Matters Show podcast, and

(This podcast audio is 10 minutes 28 seconds.)

2) Sign up for my list.

I’m happy to provide this great program for you. I hope you take advantage of Dan Howard’s wonderful Intentional Resting products and short courses. Find his website by clicking the above link.)

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

CFS: 2012 Updates

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:15:28 +0000

To start the new year off right, here are some 2012 CFS updates. I hope they inform and help you in your efforts to decide what you want to to do to move forward with your illness. As more updates become available, I’ll surely will forward them on to you. *That’s one great reason to sign up NOW to receive the Health Matters Show RSS feed. (*Do so HERE and you’ll get notices in your in-box all year long! And/or sign up with i-Tunes to receive our Friday, weekly, downloadable podcast!)

It seems like there are almost always things happening in the world of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS. Even so, most people are looking for the wham-doozie news, the we-have-a-cure front-page, barn-burner notice or at least a we-know-the-cause headline! That’s not the case yet. Even so there are people writing and talking about this illness in major ways.

Listen to the podcast and then check out the links below. Keep abreast of the latest news if you can. 2012 might turn out to be a fantastic year!

Thank you, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show

(This podcast is 6 minutes 50 seconds long. Enjoy!)

Link 1: Letter from Llewellyn King

Post in Open Salon, ME/CFS: Into 2012 Without Cure or Cause

Link 2: Newsletter info from Dr. Charles Lapp

December 2011 Newsletter on the topic of a) New Research Opportunities, b) Pain Meds are a problem, c) Disposing of medications, d) Hunter Hopkins Facebook page, e) Ampligen Update and more!

Link3: The wisdom in and need for separating CFS from ME.

Worcester News Letters.

We would join the Worcestershire ME Support Group in welcoming the £1.6 million from the Medical Research Council (Sufferer welcomes ME research funds, Worcester News, 30 December 2011, if it were to be spent on biomedical research and for people with M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). Sadly, neither is accurate.

Firstly, some of the projects, said to be, are not biomedical and are led by researchers who do not believe that M.E. is of physiological origin. Secondly, it is unlikely that any conclusions drawn from these studies could be applied to people with M.E. because, contrary to common assertion and repetition, M.E. is not the same as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and attempting to apply recommendations for treatment from a different set of people is mostly ineffective and can be potentially harmful for M.E. sufferers.

We shall make no progress until this wasteful expenditure on invalid and unreliable experimental design is no longer tolerated. Precious funding must first be allocated to separating M.E. as a discrete illness from the indiscriminate CFS bundle, as a proper foundation for any work that can be trusted.

Yours sincerely, drjohngreensmith@mecommunitytrust. org
Dr John H Greensmith, ME Community Trust. org

~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks to Llewellyn King, Dr. Charles Lapp and Dr. John H. Greensmith for their input on this topic.

Please know that your comments are always very welcomed here at the Health Matters Show. Leave one today. Tell us if you like this kind of post, if you needed the info, if you’ve read it before and, especially, what you’d like to read about in the future.

Keeping a Health Diary: Planning for 2012

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:15:21 +0000

Keeping a health diary and planning for 2012 may seem like two different objectives at first, but they are quite related if we’re talking about the importance of a health diary and how your planning now to make 2012 your healthiest ever. I always suggest that people keep a health diary. Now that’s not the kind that you necessarily write down everything. Keeping such a work of art at least needs to involve keeping a record of your health with your most important data.

*Please check out the 3 great resources below. One, today’s podcast; two and three are “free” gifts.

If you have Fibromyalgia or CFS and you keep a health diary with the intention of having it be a useful health tool, here’s the information it should include and also why it may be the best and most dynamic thing you can do for yourself “free of charge” in 2012:

1) Begin with your name, address and phone number. Put in a note that if anyone finds it, to please return it to you. Your life and health depend on you having access to your health diary. (Here is one online resource.)

(Note: you can keep your record on your computer and may feel safer doing so. You can print out sections of it as needed. Either way, this work can be valuable to you now and in the future, when you’re looking back at your illness path, how you walked it and measuring your successes and failures. Otherwise, the who, why, what and when questions can be fuzzy and frustrating! This health diary can be a really useful tool.)

Today’s Health Matters Show podcast is 11 minutes 33 seconds.

2) List your data, such as your diagnosed health problems, the prescription drugs you take and the supplements. List the timing involved in taking daily doses and if you irregularly take something, state why and when you take it. Go through your medicine chest, your gym bag and your purse. Make this list as complete and thorough as possible. Leave a couple extra pages before you begin the next section so that you have room to add and subtract as your medications and supplements change.

If you go ahead and start on this part of the process now, you’ll be ready to go with the main part of your journal January 1st of the new year!

3) DREAM and imagine how you can feel better. Pie in the sky is okay here! What will you do to achieve your health and life goals?

*For this part of your diary, check out something I did last year for you, which can still work. Simply change the dates to reflect the new year coming up. Print out a copy of your first gift, Getting Started When You’re Sick with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Re-write it to reflect your personal needs. Just know that nothing you do in your own book is wrong, but if you keep your thoughts and aspirations high and positive, you’ll likely have a better outcome.

4) WRITE, Write, write => your life, symptoms and how you feel either each day or at least every week. If you make a change in medication that affects your symptoms, note that too. If something unfortunate happens that throws you off track emotionally or physically and leads you down the ole’ proverbial rabbit hole, surely note that, too.

Such a written record is proof of how you feel for your doctor, the insurance companies and possibly Social Security disability. As a matter of fact, if you write out a list of your questions and concerns (or print out or copy a portion of your health diary) and take it to your doctor during an office visit, he is obliged to make your document a permanent part of your medical record. Need I say the word “proof” again?? (Remember this if you’re scrambling to come up with medical validation of how you’re suffering and your medical condition.)

Assembling your documentation to build a case for Social Security Disability can be tough. Old records can become scare unless you give a lot of forethought to the process of “what” will constitute your health records and do this in advance of needing them. Remember, this health diary is your book and it can serve many purposes. You can ask that your doctor provide you a copy of every lab test, x-ray and, maybe even, every office visit. Some will do this and can set it up automatically. And lastly, before you leave the doctor’s office visit, don’t forget to have him actually “answer” your questions! Use a list or take a sticky note with you, if it’s necessary to remind you of what you want to ask, especially on your days when you’re suffering with more brain-fog.

Your second and final gift today points you to a Facebook public project called the My M.E. Diary 2012 Trial. Personally, I’m not joining it because I don’t have ME (or symptoms of CFS any longer). But that doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile project. I encourage you to check out and evaluate this health tool for yourself. Below is the letter to the editor of Co-Cure for worldwide distribution on December 4, 2011.

Best wishes on your personal plans for the New Year 2012. Be sure to keep a health diary of some sort in your process of planning for 2012!

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
*Check out my new Facebook page at GET WELL HEALTH

~~~~~

Letters to the Editor.

Many people affected by the illness M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) have been keeping a diary for decades. It is an ideal way to record symptoms, experiences and feelings, as they happen and look back to see if anything can be learned from it. But individual M.E. sufferers are losing the best opportunity there is to compare all their observations with fellow patients, from all over the world, simply by not sharing them, as they could so easily do.

To achieve this connection, for everyone’s benefit, the M.E. Community Trust.org is inviting M.E. sufferers, to keep a diary in a uniform way, in order to attempt to better understand the cause, onset, progression and possible outcomes, using the benefit of a much bigger population for statistical analysis and mutual support. Safety and confidentiality is insured by each diarist, assuming an alias and saving data to their own computers to avoid any hacking or personal abuse.

A more thoroughly explanatory press briefing has been sent to every national and local newspaper in this country,in the hope that features editors and health journalists will want to give it the further coverage it deserves. In addition, we have “ambassadors” in every country in the world – including Europe, USA& Canada, Australasia, the Middle East, Asia and Africa – who are publicising it in the same manner. It also appears on our companion Facebook page, My M.E. Diary 2012 Trial – http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-ME-Diary-2012-Trial/186206768135247.

As a prelude to potentially the most ambitious longitudinal study of M.E., on every continent, M.E. sufferers are invited to send an e-mail from their assumed name to mymediary@mecommunitytrust.org with “My M.E. Diary 2012 Trial” in the subject line today, or lose one of the best opportunities ever for combined co-operative strength. Think of it this way: If you don’t do it, why should you expect anyone else to.

Everyone who does makes the collective M.E. voice more audible and this awful illness more visible.

Yours sincerely, drjohngreensmith@mecommunitytrust. org, Dr John H Greensmith, ME Community Trust. org

Some countries still without ambassadors to distribute letters and press briefings for this project. Some M.E. support organisations conspicuous by absence of support. Too few diarists signed up. Please don’t lose a good chance like this by leaving it to others — who may be doing the same!

Fibromyalgia Interview Dan Howard; Week 3 of 3

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:15:28 +0000

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 life in general is getting too much to handle,
YOU REALLY NEED TO RELAX
more than anything else!

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

CFS News: What’s Happening?

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:40:22 +0000

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

“I Am Thankful For…” by Cinda Crawford

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:15:40 +0000

As I sit down to think of all the things in my life that I am thankful for, I’m also narrowing it down to what may appeal to most people who suffer with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia or other illnesses. Now, that may seem odd, but I’ll share with you why I think it is important to look at this topic. One, it’s Thanksgiving, a time when we’re stuffed full of good food and probably had a pretty good day sharing our bounty with family and friends. And two, it’s time to be grateful for what we have. We’re alive, we have time to grow and become the people we really want to be and with the growing, doing and becoming, we can look forward to a life that carries its own rewards.

Let me explain a little more. As strange as it may sound at first,

I’m thankful that I got ill.

“What?” you say. “Are you nuts?”

(This is short audio today, 2 minutes 48 seconds. I hope you listen to it & read the rest of the post. Then, leave a comment for what you feel thankful for. Many blessings, Cinda Crawford)

Nutt-y maybe, but not nuts. If I had not gotten so ill with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I would never have acquired the ability to have the compassion that I do now for people who cancel out on a fun outing (even a Thanksgiving Day meal!) at the last minute because they’re suffering with an unexpected symptom flareup -or- for people who can’t manage a part-time job because they can’t get out of bed for days at the time.

If I had not gotten so ill with Fibromyalgia, I would never have had the compassion to deal with people who have trouble thinking of the right word to say in a sentence, or who insist on telling you about the different “spots” that hurt in their body, but their doctors can’t seem to find out what is wrong -or- treat adequately.

If I had not suffered so many years in chronic pain myself, I would think a chronic pain sufferer might instead be a chronic complainer and not a worthy person to get to know or be around as a friend. If I had not had such a dysfunctional immune system, I might think that people who regularly get sick with cold or flu-like symptoms, etc., (*I know a lady who marks her calendar… . After twenty years, she’s sick for one week of every month!) are putting on airs or possibly are hypochondriacs.

After suffering for so long and now living well on the other side of illness, I can honestly say that I’m thankful for the tough and convoluted path I took to get well. My walk through the valleys was surely challenging. I’m sure yours is, too. Surely there were times when I doubted if I could or would get better.

I can assure you that having compassion and feeling grateful are not only great skills to acquire, they’re a blessing. Taking empty, non-important moments and replacing them with an attitude of gratitude is a blessing worthy of paying such a steep price.

“That could be me.
I still…could feel that badly.
I could be that sick today if it weren’t for
The many blessings I have received.
I feel grateful.”

Now, at some time during each holiday season, I give thanks. For each family visit and the shared time together, I give thanks. For each desire in life that I am lucky enough to accomplish, I am elated. For each friend I meet and each person I help, I am humbled, yet bubbling with joy. I feel grateful and I Am Thankful For YOU!

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

Relaxing for Health

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:25:03 +0000

We’re entering the busiest season of the year and that’s all the more reason to consider relaxing for health. I know this because I’m as prone to getting caught up in the hoo-ha as anyone else. Just yesterday I went to the mall and stayed too long. That’s when I officially became my own worst enemy. I lost my keys!

Well, you know how the tiredness and pain of Fibromyalgia and CFS can take you to that really bad place and you truly need a transport machine to instantly “poof” you back home? I didn’t have one and I began to get frantic as I walked around, overly tired, with an aching back and legs and surely a big frown on my face. Why me? Why did I have to lose my keys in the middle of the 8th row of sweaters in the store’s last display? It happens.

So today, dear ones, I have a treat for you. Click on the Health Matters Show podcast link below and hear me read a creative visualization to help you relax and help your health be all it can be. The title of it is Healing Firemen. I believe you’ll like it, plus I know you can benefit from such a nourishing experience. Block out a portion of your day to do this. Find a quiet spot for a few moments to really do some relaxing for health. Don’t let people or responsibilities distract you from taking care of yourself. But,…don’t drive while you’re listening either!

You should get an immediate benefit from this experience. If you’d like to create some of these visualizations for yourself, check out Julie Lusk’s great book below.

(12 minutes 18 seconds jewel of an audio- Be sure to DOWNLOAD and keep this one!)

I hope you enjoyed my creative visualization reading from Julie Lusk’s wonderful book, 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing. Get your own copy at Amazon.com…

Thanks so much me for joining the podcast today. Please leave a comment if you like this type of broadcast -and- about how your “relaxing for health” needs are or are not being met!

Cinda Crawford, your host of the Health Matters Show

Health Matters Show: Summarizing ME/CFS Information by a Doctor

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:38:08 +0000

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

News About Fibromyalgia

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:12:34 +0000

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

When “Life” Hits You Hard!

Cinda Crawford — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:20:53 +0000

When “life” hits you hard, you may find yourself in a world of hurt, aggravation and disillusionment. I’m close to that place today, but I won’t go there. Let me explain… .

My wonderful interviewee, Janice Lynne Lundy the Buddha Chick, and I have been trying to get a double-video conference recorded for you all week for the Health Matters Show that airs on Friday.

After two days of trouble and getting nothing done but a ton of emails and phone calls, we’re finally figuring out that it’s because a PC computer and a MAC don’t always talk well together. Go figure.

I am thankful that this has happened, because the messages for me in this situation are the same powerful ones that Janice teaches everyday:

1) Transparency, being comfortable with who you are, recognizing your blessings and being THANKFUL for them. (In my case, inabilities and all.) You and I have to work with what we have. Sometimes it seems that we only have problems in life and our personal health, but I assure you that’s not true. We are blessed in numerous way and have many “things” to be thankful for! It’s important to acknowledge & realize our blessings. Then we can practice being thankful for them and relish in greater peace.
2) Self-love and self-compassion. Today’s Resolution: I will love myself. I will not wallow in pity. And, especially now, I will not chastise myself for not knowing everything. After all, I’m not an Internet expert, not a professional videographer and I certainly do not know everything about how to do this, link programs, write code, etc. Like most people, I take a few elementary courses, but mostly, I must learn all of this as I go.

How about you?
What are you facing when life hits you hard?
What do you do when this happens?

Thanks, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

*Please plan to return to the Health Matters Show on Friday. I’ll have something up…that’s for sure!

And in the meantime, when life hits you hard, indulge in self-love, praise and a long, deep, cleansing, life-affirming breath.

Interview: Another Mindfulness Discussion with Janice Lynne Lundy

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:30:35 +0000

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.

“It’s time to stop this process of allowing harmful emotions to run our lives and, instead, reverse this habit. Take back control of your emotions, knowing that when you do, you’ll be a healthier person in the long run.

IT’S TIME THAT YOUR EMOTIONS WORKED FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU!”

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.

Interviewing Janice Lynne Lundy

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:30:42 +0000

The month of July 2011 on the Health Matters Show will be an extra special one as I am interviewing Janice Lynne Lundy. She is a phenomenal lady and someone who has a lot of knowledge, wisdom and tools for helping each person not only recover from Fibromyalgia, conquer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but also useable, comprehensive tips for being as healthy as possible.

Today I start off with the first of our five interviews for the month of July. The first four will show up each Friday as that week’s podcast.

The fifth will be a video interview. Read more about it below and how you can get involved and get your questions answered. Be sure to catch every one of them, if you can!

(If you do happen to miss one or you’re new to my audience, simply scan down the left side of the page until you find the podcast you’re looking for -or- check the “Broadcast Shows” tab on the top navigation bar. Each Health Matters Show broadcast is accessible there. Once on the page, click on the ‘title’ link.)

On the fifth Friday, July 29th, I will offer you a video podcast/ seminar where Janice and I will wrap up the month by summarizing the main points we’ve covered and answering any questions that you send. Please submit them this month by leaving a comment here at the Health Matters Show or email them directly to me at cinda@getwellhealth.com. Plus, plus, plus…by tuning in for the fifth and final Friday in July special broadcast, you will also get access to a special deal than Jan is offering each member of my audience!

And yes…I’m sure that you will be convinced like me, Janice Lynne Lundy is the real deal. Hear how she recovered from serious illness. She knows how much it means to suffer with chronic fatigue, chronic pain and exhaustion. She knows what it takes to struggle and finally attain a precious renewed state of health. I urge you to find Janice’s websites, products and services main link below, plus learn more about her special July 7th class called, The Fundamentals of Fear Control. And now for today’s Health Matters Show interview… .

(17 minute 50 second show)

You’ve probably guessed by now…Janice is the Buddha Chick! Click on the image above or go to the the Buddha Chick webpage. See the Events tab to learn more about her July 7th class about fear. Can’t we all learn more about this controlling emotion and how to handle it better in our lives? Of course the answer is YES! (She accepts donations to attend this 90-minute class.)

Thanks so much. Mark your calendars and leave your questions!
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

Know that in interviewing Janice Lynne Lundy, I am honored to be able to bring you quality information and help for healing what is injured and needs help within you. Whether you’re trying to recover from Fibromyalgia or seeking to conquer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or some other illness, you want to learn about how to be as healthy as possible.

Video: Run Over And Left in the Middle of the Road

Cinda Crawford — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:25:51 +0000

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve been run over and left in the middle of the road for dead, you could have Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Sounds like the title to a Jeff Foxworthy sketch, doesn’t it…except these illnesses are not funny. Please see the video podcast below and leave your comments.

Most people with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome feel so badly that they can’t remember how to feel good. Only when an occasional good day comes along can they say, “A-ha! Now I remember what it feels like to be human.” They’re not kidding. Some people with the illness only suffer mildly ‘most’ of the time, but for other people on bad days, the ‘ole truck or train heads right in their direction.

Whoot! Whoot! Here I come again. Get out of the way. I’ll get you again, again and again!

Now the video below is not perfect. I misspoke several times in the recording, but none of us have to be perfect in this world. That’s just a myth. Improved or healed is the optimal state to strive for. We only have to do the best that we can do. With that said, don’t lose hope. Remember: when you’ve been run over and left in the middle of the road, you are no longer by yourself. Other angels surround you, wishing you well, encouraging the best in you and wishing you healthy again.

Thanks, Cinda Crawford, your host of the Health Matters Show