from Dr. Mark J. Pellegrino’s highly praised book, Fibromyalgia: Up Close and Personal.

Fibromyalgia Is a Distinct Medical
Entity, and Appropriately So

We have long recognized, however, that many conditions overlap it, and various conditions exist that can lead to secondary Fibromyalgia. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, MD, [a professor and FM specialist at the University of Illinois College of Medicine] has developed the concept of Dysregulation Spectrum Syndrome (DSS) to describe how conditions overlap.

Dr. Yunus describes DSS as representing various associated conditions that share similar clinical characteristics and pathologic mechanisms with Fibromyalgia. Ten conditions are in the DSS umbrella: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, tension headaches, migraine headaches, primary dysmenorrhea, periodic limb movement disorder, restless leg syndrome, temporomandibular pain syndrome, and myofascial pain syndrome. He predicts other entities will be added to this list in the future.

According to Dr. Yunus, Conditions in DSS
Share a Number of Characteristics:

1. Patients with different conditions sharing similar profiles.

2. Common shared symptoms, such as pain, poor sleep, fatigue, and female predominance.

3. Hypersensitivity to pain.

4. No “diagnostic” pathology that can be measured.

5. Shared psychological complaints such as depression and anxiety.

6. Shared common genetic factor likely.

7. Common neurohormonal dysfunctions.

8. Treatments directed at the central nervous system leading to improvement.

9. TMJ [temporomandibular joint] dysfunction.

I have discussed the Fibromyalgia spectrum with my patients to help them understand the various subsets possible. I do not see Fibromyalgia as a member of a bigger family, but as the main condition. It is the “founding father” and keeps its name. If Fibromyalgia is the founding father, then the various overlapping conditions and subsets become the children. The name Fibromyalgia remains, but different subsets have unique characteristics and together they become the Fibromyalgia spectrum.

This diagram shows the concept of the Fibromyalgia spectrum. The Fibromyalgia entity partially overlaps with the normal entity on one side and the disease entity on the other side. Within the Fibromyalgia entity are 8 subsets. The first subset is in the most “normal” portion of Fibromyalgia, and the 8th subset is in the most “diseased” portion of Fibromyalgia. Each number represents a distinct subset with distinct characteristics.

www.Amazon.com

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How to cultivate a meaningful conversation with the Lord.

by Nancy Guthrie

My teenaged son, Matt, always has a great time when he visits my parents. And why shouldn’t he? Matt gets out of bed whenever he wants, eats whatever he wants, and watches whatever he wants on TV. In fact, Matt made a grand discovery at Grandma’s house during his last visit. My mother keeps a bucket of chocolate-chip cookie dough in her refrigerator that Matt enjoyed eating by the spoonful! When he returned from that visit, he began asking me to buy cookie dough from Sam’s Club, just like my mom.

I know having cookie dough easily available isn’t good for either of us, so I said “no” over and over … until last week. Matt’s repeated requests finally wore me down.

That’s one of the big differences between God’s parenting and mine. God doesn’t give me everything I repeatedly ask for when he knows it’s not best for me. But a shallow reading of Luke 11:9-10 could lead me to think otherwise. There Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Is the way to get what I want from God through wearing him down, or getting as many people as possible to ask God for it? What kinds of prayer really move the heart and hand of God?

Secret-Formula Prayer vs. Seeking Prayer

for the complete article: www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2006/marapr/9.22.html

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“Sit and Be Fit: Fibromyalgia Workout”
Mary Ann Wilson, R.N.; $18.95 (2005)

–Reviewed by Monica Towers

Fun and effective, this specially-designed workout from the popular Sit and Be Fit™ series on PBS offers a sound physical fitness option for FM patients requiring a low-impact approach to exercise.

The 27-minute routine includes exercises for both upper and lower body, with an emphasis on improving range of motion and employing proper posture and breathing technique. While the routine is not intended as a cardiovascular workout, the succession of exercises is entirely capable of stimulating blood flow and heart rate.

Host Mary Ann Wilson, RN, uses a lightweight, 10-inch ball during the routine, but such a ball is not necessary to perform the exercises, as is demonstrated by the physical therapist who joins Wilson during the program to demonstrate modifications of each activity for viewers with different levels of function. Wilson adds another element of variety, and possible progression, to the workout by showing how to execute several of the exercises from a standing position.

Wilson is a knowledgeable host and her positive demeanor is inspiring; overall, the upbeat tone of the entire production makes this workout seem more like a treat than an “exercise routine.”

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This article was originally published in FMOnline. This free online newsletter is only available to registered members.  http://www.fmaware.org

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 by Lisa Harper

Q: Should Christians get tattoos? I want one, but my Bible study girlfriends insist Scripture prohibits body art.

A: Christians getting tattoos is a timely and controversial topic. Google this issue, and you’ll see opinions varying from “Go for it!” to “You’ll go to hell for it.” Many Christians have grappled with the tattoo question.

What does the Bible say?

Ink opponents typically ignore the verse that says God “inscribed” a picture of his people on his palms (Isaiah 49:16, NASB; the Amplified Bible says “tattooed”), and instead ominously quote another Old Testament verse: “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:28, ESV). Understanding the context of the Leviticus verse, however, is imperative.

God gave this command to the Israelites around 1444 B.C. (right after the parting of the Red Sea) to forbid them from practicing the idolatrous customs they’d picked up in Egyptian captivity. Their captors had a nasty habit of slashing themselves to express grief and to appease their pantheon of imaginary gods. The Egyptians also tattooed their bodies with symbols of pagan gods. So Jehovah, the only true God, essentially said to the Israelites, I don’t want you to practice those silly superstitions anymore. You’re my people, and I love you. The heart of God’s message isn’t about body art, but about reminding the Israelites they belong to him.

Perhaps the gals in your small group didn’t consider God’s original intent for Leviticus. Because if Christians today adhered to the literal application of every moral and ceremonial rule handed down to the Israelites, no one could eat shrimp or cheeseburgers (Leviticus 11); moms would be “unclean” after childbirth (40 days of separation from society after a boy, twice as long after a girl), so new mothers couldn’t go to Beth Moore Bible studies or Curves or book clubs for more than a month (Leviticus 12); menstruating women also would have to separate from friends and family for seven days during that time of month (Leviticus 15); no one could wear clothes woven from both linen and wool (Leviticus 19); and everyone who went out to eat after church could merit a possible stoning (Exodus 31).

The great news of the gospel is that Old Testament law no longer binds Christians. Avoiding tattoo parlors or Red Lobster doesn’t make you righteous—Jesus’ death and resurrection do! While you need to remember your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16), you don’t have to let other people’s sense of religious propriety constrain you.

Maybe you should invite your Bible study friends over for a girl’s movie night to watch Madea’s Family Reunion, because midway through the film, a hilarious scene perfectly illustrates the danger of taking a Bible verse out of context!

How does this affect me?

Before you get the tattoo, journal through Psalm 139 to remind yourself God thinks you’re beautiful with or without embellishments. And remember, the butterfly you get now will likely resemble an amorphous blob when your skin succumbs to the stretches and wrinkles of age.

Most important, consider your motives for getting tattooed. Certainly some people do so to rebel against authority; if that’s your reason, remember all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23). Still, other people get tattoos for positive and deeply spiritual reasons. I recently went on a mission trip with a young man who had the story of the Crucifixion tattooed on his arm. He told me the tattoo was a great catalyst for dialogue with teenagers turned off by conservative church culture.

In the end, don’t worry too much about how you decorate your exterior as long as you devote your interior to Christ.

Lisa Harper has a Masters in Theology with an emphasis in biblical studies from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. She’s a sought-after speaker and has written several books, including Holding Out for a Hero: A New Spin on Hebrews (Tyndale) and What the Bible Is All About for Women: A Book of Devotions (Regal). Visit her at www.lisaharper.net.

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The CFIDS & Fibromyalgia Self-Help Program is currently accepting signups for the fall session of the CFIDS & Fibromyalgia Self-Help Course. The course, which begins September 8,
is a 6-week email discussion group that focuses on practical strategies
for managing common problems of CFIDS and fibromyalgia. The cost of the
course, which includes a copy of “The Patient’s Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia,” is $30. Visit our website to learn more and to register: “http://www.CFIDSselfhelp.org” .

We offer a limited number of partial scholarships for low-income patients
wanting to take our course. The deadline for scholarship applications
is August 16. For more information, see: “http://www.cfidsselfhelp.org/scholarships.htm” and please read the instructions carefully.

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 Friday, June 20, 2008

In an article titled “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A 1999 Consensus” that was published in Archives of Environmental Health, one group of 34 researchers and clinicians proposed the following criteria for the clinical diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS):
1. The symptoms are reproducible with repeated exposure.
2. The condition is chronic.
3. Low levels of exposure result in manifestations of the syndrome.
4. The symptoms improve or resolve when the incitants are removed.
5. Responses occur to multiple chemically unrelated substances.
6. Symptoms involve multiple organ systems.

One of the most distinctive features of MCS is that people who develop the condition begin to react to low-level chemical exposures that never bothered them previously. Some MCS patients have only mild cases; for others the condition can be life threatening. In most cases, as the illness progresses, the patient reports that more and more substances cause symptoms. People with MCS can have a wide variety of symptoms as the result of chemical exposures, with different patients having different symptoms. A given patient, however, will usually have the same symptom in response to a given exposure, perhaps getting a headache after exposure to paint or getting arthritic pains after exposure to natural gas.

Newspaper reporters often refer to multiple chemical senstivity as a rare condition, but this is hardly the case. In 2004 the Archives of Environmental Health published a national prevalence study by Stan Caress and Anne Steinemann. These researchers reported that in their national random phone survey 2.5 percent of the respondents said that they had been diagnosed with MCS. This result suggests that over seven million Americans may be suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity, a number that exceeds the population of Massachusetts. This is hardly a “rare condition,” as it is frequently termed in the media.

Alison Johnson is the chair of the Chemical Sensitivity Foundation. You can find more information about chemical sensitivy on her website, www.alisonjohnsonmcs.com/, where you can get extensive information about her books and DVDs on the subject. You can play the first five minutes of the DVDs, as well as the complete “Chemical Sensitivity: A 15-Minute Introduction.”

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This article was originally published in FMOnline, vol. 8, no. 6 . This free online newsletter is only available to registered members.  http://www.fmaware.org

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There are some foods that people who are at high risk for developing cancer should definitely avoid. Generally, says natural health researcher Mike Adams, they should avoid foods that contain ingredients known to cause cancer, such as refined sugars and grains, hydrogenated oils, and nitrates. But which foods are the absolute worst?

The top five cancer-causing foods are:
1.     Hot dogs

Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can’t live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.
2.     Processed meats and bacon

Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.
3.     Doughnuts

Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams, may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.
4.     French fries

Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams.
5.     Chips, crackers, and cookies

All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

(could not verify w/snopes)

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July 25, 2008

By Michael Craig Miller, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

A Genuine Apology Fosters Healing

Four Steps to a Genuine Apology

Examples of Good and Bad Apologies

Anyone who’s had to apologize for something knows how difficult it can be to get the words out. Yet an apology is often the first step toward repairing a damaged relationship, be it personal or professional. Although not all mental health experts agree on this, an apology may be a prerequisite for forgiveness.

A Genuine Apology Fosters Healing

Conflict and error can occur in any relationship. People make mistakes, lash out in anger or say things they regret later. In fact, one of the main reasons people undergo psychotherapy is to try to resolve personal conflicts, betrayals and hurts. And some therapists integrate formal apologies into couples or family therapy.

To be effective, an apology has to be genuine, says Dr. Aaron Lazare, a professor of psychiatry and former chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who has been studying this topic since 1993. Dr. Lazare has said, “A good apology can foster healing, but a faulty apology only makes a bad situation worse.”

You need to understand the nature of the hurt you’ve caused and then address it in the apology. For example, if a person you have offended feels humiliated, then the apology might be worded in a way to restore self-respect and dignity. If you’ve made a mistake that causes someone an injury, damages property or causes some other financial loss, an apology might include a promise to provide compensation or take corrective action so the mistake doesn’t happen again.

An apology doesn’t guarantee forgiveness, of course. And in some cases the offended party may be too hurt or angry to accept an apology. One dramatic example is sexual abuse: Some victims may need to hear a genuine apology in order to come to terms with the injury, while others never want to deal with the perpetrator again.

Four Steps to a Genuine Apology

A genuine apology acknowledges an offense and expresses remorse. But it’s hard for people to get it right. According to Dr. Lazare, an effective apology has four parts while ineffective apologies usually miss the mark in one of these areas.

1. Acknowledge the offense. The most common error people make is not to adequately acknowledge the offense by using vague or evasive language, or by wording the apology in a way that minimizes the offense or questions whether the victim was really hurt. Take responsibility for the offense, whether it was a physical or psychological harm, and confirm that the behavior was not acceptable. Sometimes people apologize for the wrong offense or address the wrong party.
2. Explain what happened. The challenge here is to explain how the offense occurred without excusing it. In fact, sometimes the best strategy is to say there is no excuse. “A humble remark is better than a dumb excuse,” Dr. Lazare says.
3. Express remorse. If you regret the error, feel ashamed or humiliated, say so: This is all part of expressing sincere remorse.
4. Offer to make reparation. If the offense has hurt someone’s feelings or caused a specific loss, acknowledge the pain, promise to be more sensitive in the future and offer appropriate compensation for any financial losses.

When apologizing, listen carefully to the offended person. This may be as important as speaking. Although it’s never easy to remain quiet while someone else expresses anger, sadness or disappointment, it’s necessary to truly hear what the person is saying. Active listening can help you understand what the other person wants from your apology, such as to restore dignity or to recognize fault.

Timing and delivery of an apology also matter. Although you should apologize as soon as possible after the mistake is discovered or acknowledged, a sincere apology may not be enough to restore trust after a significant personal betrayal. The person who feels wronged may need to know what specific steps will be taken to make amends and minimize future pain. This may take time and several conversations.

 Examples of Good and Bad Apologies

Here are examples of effective apologies and why they work:

From one spouse to another: “I’m sorry I lost my temper last night. I’ve been under a lot of pressure at work, but that’s no excuse for my behavior. I love you and will try harder not to take my frustrations out on you.”

Why it works: The speaker is taking responsibility, explaining but not excusing the mistake, expressing remorse and caring, and promising reparation.

From a doctor to a patient: “I prescribed the wrong dose of your medication. I apologize for this mistake. It shouldn’t have happened. I’d like to talk with you about what how we can safeguard your health in the future.”

Why it works: The physician is taking responsibility, describing the mistake, expressing a caring attitude and beginning a conversation about how to remedy the error.

Here are examples of ineffective apologies and why they are a problem:

“I apologize for whatever happened.”

Why it doesn’t work: The language is vague and the offense isn’t specified.

“Mistakes were made.”

Why it doesn’t work: Using the passive voice avoids taking responsibility.

“To the degree that you were hurt…”

Why it doesn’t work: The wording casts doubt on whether the injured party was really harmed.

“Even the best people make mistakes.”

Why it doesn’t work: This expresses arrogance rather than humility.

If you are interested in making a genuine apology, try to validate that an offense has occurred and that you are at fault. In some instances, you may need to help restore a person’s dignity and power. Make sure you show that you feel bad and that you care about the person you have hurt. This approach can provide an entrée into a dialogue based on shared values, and you can begin to right a wrong.

http://www.intelihealth.com

Michael Craig Miller, M.D. is Editor in Chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter. He is also associate physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. He has been practicing psychiatry for more than 25 years and teaches in the Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Program.

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By Natalie Vavricka, Nubella News 

Half of all Americans start their day with a bowl of cereal for breakfast, according to the National Cereal Council. And while it is typically a healthy breakfast choice (better than sugary doughnuts, giant muffins, even carb-loaded bagels), your favorite cereal might not be as healthy as you think.

Study after study has shown that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast has been shown to help people maintain a healthy weight, concentrate better, and even live longer. Cereal can be a great go-to option. However, certain cereals can do more harm than good to your waistline (and your health). Here, a look at the best and worst breakfast cereals.

WORST

A Sugar Situation
If sugar is the main ingredient in your cereal of choice, you’re heading toward a diet disaster. One 1-cup serving of Kellogs Frosted Flakes ® contains 8 grams of sugar—about the same amount you’d get by eating two and a half lollipops. Even worse, these sugar-coated flakes are also brimming with an endless list of preservatives.

Fake Fruit
Some of the most popular cereal brands deceptively boast the word fruit in their names, but as a general rule of thumb, if it turns the milk fluorescent pink, stay away. Kellogg’s Fruit Loops® gets its fruity flavor and neon hues from a slew of (often unpronounceable) artificial colorings and flavorings. In addition, it contains high amounts of sugar: 12 grams in a single cup serving.

Salt Shockers
It’s not surprising that sugary concoctions and bright colors are red flag offenders, but high amounts of sodium could be lurking in your cereal as well. To find out if your favorite cereal is saltier than you think, make sure to read the label. Despite being low in fat and made with whole grains, Post Raisin Bran ® cereal boasts 300 milligrams of salt in one serving. That’s nearly 15 percent of the amount you should consume all day.

BEST

Fiber Friendly
It fills you up, lowers cholesterol, and can even help protect against conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Why not make fiber a main ingredient in your cereal? Start your day with a bowl of General Mills Wheaties® to get four of the 20 to 30 recommended grams of daily fiber in each 1-cup serving.

How to Get Enriched
Zinc, calcium, and iron are among the many minerals that are essential for improving health and maintaining functions within the body. Fortified cereals may help fill nutritional gaps in both children and adults. If your diet could use a boost, try switching to General Mills Total® for your morning cereal. One cup of provides 100 percent of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of calcium, iron, and zinc–not to mention 100% of your RDA of vitamins A, C, E, B6, and folic acid.

Not So Sweet
Many popular cereals on the market are loaded with refined sugars, making breakfast a little too much like dessert. Read the labels carefully and aim for a brand that contains 5 grams (or less) of sugar per serving. Nabisco Shredded Wheat® and Kellogg’s All Bran® will get your morning started without a sugar rush—and will even pack a decent fiber punch, too.

Related Links:

10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Breakfast 

6 Fast, Filling Breakfast Foods

Can You Eat More and Weigh Less?

 Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., offers content intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We encourage our readers to seek prompt medical care for health issues and consult their physicians before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, or medical treatment.

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Hungering for personal growth?

Struggling with a chronic illness?

Searching for a dynamic study?

 Book orders before August 15st receive 15% discount and author’s autograph: jonnie@jonniewright.com

No matter how healthy or unhealthy we are at this moment, we know that just around the proverbial corner change crouches ready to pounce. And with any change comes unavoidable choices. As we assess our past, present, and future choices, we experience personal growth. When we apply God’s Scriptures to our daily situations and behaviors, we experience spiritual transformation. If we live our lives with knee-jerk reactions to our circumstances, the significance of our relationship with God diminishes through neglect. On the other hand, if we search for God’s truths, even while suffering constant pain, our spiritual choices become our lifeline. 

About the Author

While teaching elementary school for thirty years, author Jonnie Wright wrote innovative curriculum for both children and adults. She contributed to a national teachers’ magazine, received a grant in computer literature, and authored the Christian teachers’ workbook: Lord, What Do I Do With Sammy? Her daily struggles with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Irritable Bowel, Irritable Bladder, TMJ, and Burning Mouth Syndrome have led her to create the personal growth series: God’s Rx for Chronic Pain.Book One, The Silver Bullet ©2006, focuses on Jesus Christ being God’s prescription for the difficulties of chronic illness. Mrs. Wright provides supportive material for Bible study groups, called Good Tidings for Chronic Pain, across the U.S. She is retired and living in Rocklin, CA with her cat, Chatty.

Book orders before August 15st receive 15% discount and author’s autograph: jonnie@jonniewright.com

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