Chronic Fatigue - Why? How? What?

Trying to understand Chronic Fatigue? So are the doctors and medical community, here is where the research and theories stand today:

http://www.prohealth.com/ME-CFS/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=18755&B1=EM022614C

Gluten Free and Fibromyalgia

I AGREE! WIth this article, yes, I do not have Celiacs disease (allergy to gluten) but I know I DO have a SENSITIVITY to gluten! When I stay away from gluten, I feel better, less pain, less fatigue, more energy. I understand my tolerances, maybe something every couple of days, but even then yes, I do begin to feel the difference. And really, when i cut out breads, I don't miss them so much. And gluten free bread? Mighty tasty to me!  just wish I could bring it to the restaurants with me to substitute!

http://www.prohealth.com/fibromyalgia/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=18639&B1=EM021214F

Top Diets Reviewed for 2014

The Best Diets of 2014 were recently reviewed and released. I have been sticking to a vegetarian/vegan diet since last September and I can say it def makes my fibro and fatigue better, and a little weight loss has also occurred along the way as well :) I am intrigued by the Mediterranean Diet, as it always seems to rank high and its pretty close to vegetarian but includes fish (which I enjoy.)

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=18590&B1=EG012214

Is anyone familiar with the DASH diet? It seemed to rank highly this year in many categories...

We are the 300,000+ -- Lyme Disease Campaign

There are more than 300,000 new Lyme Disease infections annually, and the CDC and medical community is just now acknowledging this astonishing number, MUCH higher than their previous rates of "30,000 annual cases."

If you are one of the annual 300,000 diagnosed with Lyme Disease stand up and represent. The Lyme community is launching a photo campaign to get more media attention for Lyme Disease. They are asking for your photos.

It's simple and powerful, be a part of it here:

http://lyme300000.wordpress.com/

Considering Vegetarianism?

Thinking about going vegetarian? Not sure how or where to start? Here is a great starters guide to download:

http://www.pcrm.org/pdfs/health/vsk.pdf


Also look for vegetarian/vegan meetup groups in your local area! They will be able to share tips and tricks, restaurants ideas and more!

Food Shopping & Saving at Vitacost!

I learned early on in the fibro diagnosis that I did not want to go the prescription route and wanted to stay as all natural as I could, and started down the path of vitamins and supplements. I found an excellent online resource - vitacost.com - and they have started to also offer excellent food products that fit into my healthy eating (gluten free) and my budget! I am so glad specialized food products are becoming more mainstream and affordable. Here are some of my favorites to order and keep on hand:

TULSI TUMMY - Tea for soothing digestive support -- all the Tulsi teas are excellent tasting and healing, this one is a great alternative to coffee in the morning

ANNIE'S HOMEGROWN MICROWAVABLE GLUTEN FREE MAC N CHEESE -- whats not to love, gluten free mac n cheese!!

MARY'S GONE CRACKERS -- Organic gluten free crackers

NATURE'S EARTHLY CHOICE FALAFEL WITH QUINOA -- Original Recipe (I gotta try the garlic flavor next!), cooks in minutes, lots of protein

PERKY'S CRUNCHY FLAX -- free of the 8 common allergens, great as cereal or on top of yogurt, gotta love the fiber :)

LUNDBERGS CINNAMON RICE CAKES -- I love cinnamon!


At these prices you can load up your cart and try a variety of different foods. Free shipping over $50, and unlike Whole Foods, sometimes I find it hard to get to that $50 mark, and when I do I have SO many items for my money! And how great, shopping from my couch, shipped right to my door :)

New Studies on CFS Treatments

Great article on some new research just published on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The article details how light exercise and/or a change in mental attitude coupled with the standard treatments provide better relief of CFS.

http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/650067/main.html?ic=6009

I have to agree with the studies. I do yoga twice a week, and I have read several books (Fibrowhyalgia, by Sue Ingebretson and How to Be Sick, by Toni Bernhard) which have helped me achieve a positive attitude about dealing with my CFS and fibromyalgia. I also found an online group, www.chronicbabe.com, which is an AWESOME positive environment of supportive women and information. They help keep me positive on a daily basis.

While I am not "cured" of CFS, and I am still exhausted at times, I do know that the therapies I mentioned above have made improvements in how I feel, and have helped me live a more normal life and participate in it more! :)

RECOMMENDED BOOK: Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This is an excellent book, very easy to read and very easy to resource quickly and jump to a section and read a bit about a topic. Really covers everything you would need to tackle, and in a very easy to read and easy to understand way. I recommend having it a resource in your personal library.

It's Officially Official: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Linked to Virus

from the ME-CFSCommunity.com:


Finally, the National Academy of Sciences Makes It Official:

Detection of MLV-related virus gene sequences in blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy donors

Release of study findings

Additional Stories:

New York Times

Washington Post:

A well-respected team of scientists released long-awaited new evidence Monday that a virus may be playing a role in chronic fatigue syndrome.

The researchers, from the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and Harvard Medical School, analyzed blood samples that had been collected 15 years ago from 37 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Most of the subjects--32, or 86.5 percent--tested positive for a virus known as a murine leukemia virus-related virus, the researchers found. In contrast, tests on 44 healthy blood donors detected evidence of the virus in only three of the subjects, or 6.8 percent.

While providing new evidence that a virus may play a role in the mysterious condition, the researchers said the findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are no where near proving the virus causes the syndrome.

But the findings are being hailed by advocates for chronic fatigue syndrome patients, such as the CFID Association of America. The head of that group, Kim McCleary, says the findings are a potentially important step toward finding the cause of the condition and possibly developing treatments, as well as dispelling the notion that the condition is really psychological....

- Wall Street Journal

Visit ME-CFSCommunity.com at: http://cfsknowledgecenter.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Working With Fibromyalgia

These are good blogs for insights on joining or re-joining or surviving in the workplace with a chronic illness, like FIbromyalgia and/or Chronic Fatigue:

http://workingwithchronicillness.com/
http://cicoach.com/

She is also the author of this book:

  Has anyone read or resourced this book?