CFS HealthWatch Treatment & Research News April 11, 2007
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS · Dr. Guyer's CFS/FM protocol   · Why doesn't my MD know this?   · Coping with disrespectful care   · Soy protein & healthy blood lipids
FEATURED PRODUCT NEW PRODUCTS CHROMIUM PICOLINATE - Promote a balanced appetite L-TRYPTOPHAN - For improved sleep, mood support and to reduce stress ALCiS - Pain relief cream HEART RATE MONITOR - Accurate tracking during exercise FIBRONOL - Supports sleep FIBROBOOST - Supports sleep - Extra energy boost FEELBRIGHTLIGHT - Full spectrum light for Seasonal Affective Disorder BOOKS - Research & information Informational DVD's The Joy of Nutrition An optimum nutrient food program I Remember Me An award-winning documentary film Fibromyalgia: Show Me Where It Hurts An invaluable educational tool HIGHEST RATED BRAIN Neuro B-12 DETOXIFICATION Guaifenesin FA DIGESTION Acidophilus Pearls ENERGY NADH IMMUNE Moducare MOOD 5-HTP PAIN ALCiS SLEEP ZMA WEIGHT CONTROL L-Carnitine Most Popular for Energy Support Enada NADH	Congratulations to the Winner of $250 in ProHealth Supplements We were delighted to inform Montana resident Catherine Hanson that she'd won a gift certificate for $250 of ProHealth supplements in our subscriber drawing on Monday, April 9. And Catherine was delighted as well. She responded: This is like winning the lottery without having to gamble! I've been using Pro-Health supplements for years. Dealing with a company with such high product and ethical standards is a pleasure. That they spend the time and resources to keep the CFIDS/FM community advised of research and legal updates is the biggest boon of all. I'm happy to be a part of your community, but then, it's really our community, isn't it? Keep up the good work! Thanks to all of you at ProHealth, Catherine Hanson The drawing was our way of thanking subscribers for adding ProHealth's newsletter address (wellness@prohealth.com) to your e-mail address books or contact lists. But for those of you who have not yet completed this task, please do so now - then click "reply" (no message needed) at the top of the newsletter to confirm. This is a simple but crucial step to help ensure that you will continue receiving the newsletters you have requested, despite your local Internet service providers' constant changes. Founder's Corner Win $100 Gift Certificate by Helping Other Patients Our Letter of the Week winners have been so pleased to win $25 gift certificates for ProHealth supplements that we decided to make the experience even more fun. From now on, we'll be selecting one ME-CFS/FM "Letter of the Month" instead of the weekly letters. The writer of the month's winning letter will receive a $100 ProHealth gift certificate. More importantly, however, sharing is caring - you are helping others by expressing your suggestions, ideas, and observations. Plus, it feels pretty darn good to do something nice for someone else. Your letters help us too, by letting us know that we are working as your partner in health, keeping you and the CFS community well informed and supported. We each have something valuable to contribute; so we hope you'll show that you care by writing to us. And remember, brevity - say 200 words or less - is brilliant. Warmest Regards, Rich Carson, ME-CFS Patient and ProHealth Founder Please rate this Founder's Corner Features Holistic Specialist Dale Guyer, MD, on Treating CFS & FM Dr. Guyer updates us on the unique blend of traditional and integrative therapies he employs with CFS/FM patients. His holistic, evidence-based approach may include selected pharmaceutical drugs - but as an additive to nutritional support and other measures "to normalize a complex internal bio-chemical milieu."   more Why Doesn't My Doctor Know This? Endocrinologist Kent Holtorf, MD, explains that the medical community lags in adopting new 'best practices' as new information becomes available - by as much as 17 years, according to a 2003 report from the National Institute of Medicine.   more Advice and Opinion The Problem of Disrespectful Medical Treatment An experienced nurse's insights into the problem of disrespectful medical treatment - past or present - and tips for dealing with your doctor.*   more The Stigma of Neuropathic Pain A doctor's view on why having chronic pain issues may become a stigma that "can considerably alter a patient's pathway of care."*   more New Clinical Trials Female volunteers sought for study of ME-CFS An ongoing NIH-funded research project is exploring the theory that malfunctioning cytokines in the blood of CFS patients are responsible for making them sleepy during the day and "wired" at night. A successful outcome could lead to corrective therapies.   more Letters From Our Readers Comments and Suggestions CFS, Cortisol Level Association Thank You to Dr. Holtorf Supplement Ingredient Info? Sending Link to Others Offended by Inspiration Quote Changed My Attitudes* Insight from South Africa* Q & A Session Why Don't MDs Know This? How Can I Coordinate Treatment? Info on Spinal Stenosis? Differentiate MS from CFS/FM? Please share your thoughts with us! CFS Research Abstracts Non-Drug Health Studies Low-dose DHA (omega-3) supports lower blood pressure in middle-aged Dietary soy isoflavones (in soy protein) support 'bad' cholesterol reduction Low blood ferritin (iron-storage) linked to depression as well as RLS CFS-related Reports Acquired" thyroid resistance may explain much in CFS, other patients fMRI finds CFS brain activity higher than controls' during memory tasks Perceived pain greater in twin with CFS than the one without Mild orthostatic stress = abnormal cardiovascular regulation in CFS teens CBT improved CFS self-reported cognitive function; not test results Serotonin-related gene variant linked to TMD, as with CFS, IBS Anxiety-associated immune activation in diarrhea-predominant IBS Can botulinum toxin put Restless Legs Syndrome to rest?* International study of novel sleep drug concept highly promising* CFS, IBS, IC, depression more frequent in endometriosis patients Aerobic exercise improves pain perception, mood in chronic pain patients* Depression & pain as product of immune-response cytokine activation* Controlled-release tramadol (opiate) improves drug's pain relief* Weekly Inspiration It goes without saying that you should never have more children than you have car windows - Erma Bombeck All We Can Do is Try We will come to realize after attempting to manage our pain that an attitude of "I must do it right or else" will not not suffice. All we can do is try. Nothing more, nothing less. When we attach right and wrong to managing our pain, we have set ourselves up and given ourselves permission to give up without even trying. All that is asked of us today is to put our best foot forward. To truly know that we have given all possibilities a sincere effort. This, however, does not guarantee every effort we put forth will have a successful outcome. But this must not stop us from continuing to try. We must remember today that if we do not try we are sure to accomplish nothing. From Living With Chronic Pain One Day At A Time, by Mark Allan Zabawa About ImmuneSupport.com Published by ProHealth, Inc., ImmuneSupport.com is the Web's largest resource for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Since 1988, ProHealth has raised and donated over 2.61 million dollars to CFS and FM research and advocacy groups seeking a cure. We believe in "commerce with compassion." Every purchase made at ImmuneSupport.com funds research - as does every purchase made from ProHealth's Health Resource catalog. Visit ImmuneSupport.com Our Mission: Empower patients to take control of their health by providing research & treatment information, advocacy & targeted health products. more If you have any comments, suggestions or ideas, please let us know. We will assume that we have your authorization to share your letter with other readers unless you instruct us not to do so. Send Us Your Feedback
* Note: This article first appeared in last week's FM Edition of CFS & FM HealthWatch (April 4, 2007)