Is there a vaccine to prevent shingles?

Yes. CDC recommends Zostavax for use in people 60 years old and older to prevent shingles. This is a one-time vaccination. Zostavax does not treat shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone) once it develops.

Is the shingles vaccine safe?

The FDA has licensed the vaccine as safe. The vaccine has been tested in about 20,000 people aged 60 years old and older. The most common side effects in people who got the vaccine were redness, soreness, swelling or itching at the shot site, and headache. CDC, working with the FDA, will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccine after it is in general use.

How effective is the shingles vaccine?

In a clinical trial involving thousands of adults 60 years old or older, Zostavax prevented shingles in about half (51%) of the people and post-herpetic neuralgia in 67% of the study participants. While the vaccine was most effective in people 60-69 years old it also provided some protection for older groups.

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1. Need help? USA.gov, the U.S. government’s official web portal, offers information on grants, loans, financial aid and other benefits from the U.S. government. Among the many categories are Disability Resources, Employment and Training Assistance, Legal Assistance and more. Click here to visit the site.
2. Buying Medications Online: Consumers can buy medications from many websites that offer convenience, privacy, and safeguards for purchasing medicines—and operate legally. But there are also many “rogue websites” that offer to sell potentially dangerous drugs that have not been checked for safety or effectiveness. The Food and Drug Administration offers a free guide on how to recognize a legal Internet pharmacy and how to buy medicines online safely. (Click here)
3. Fibromyalgia AWARE Now Online: Fibromyalgia AWARE, the first and only consumer magazine that focuses exclusively on fibromyalgia, is now available online. Click here to view our complimentary online inaugural issue, which is available through April 30, 2009.
4. The Doctors Show: Lynne Matallana, president and founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association, was a featured guest on the April 16 episode of “The Doctors,” a one-hour, daytime TV talk show that launched in September 2008 on CBS. Click here to view the clip.
5. Awareness Day Update: Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is quickly approaching. For an update on events or to download the Fibromyalgia Affects Everyone Fact Sheet, click here.
6. Funding Allocated for Fibromyalgia Research: The Omnibus Appropriations Acts, 2009 (H.R. 1105) has been approved by congress and the president. The appropriations bill, which became public law on March 11, 2009, includes language specific to the funding of scientific research for fibromyalgia. Click here for more information.
7. The Patient’s Role in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: This presentation, featuring NFA President Lynne Matallana, was given during the OFFER 2007 Patient’s Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Highlights include responses to the five most frequently asked questions, self-management tips, new treatment options, and more. Click here to watch the presentation.
8. Pain Care Policy: The House of Representatives passed the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 on March 30 (H.R. 756). Designed to improve pain management and address the barriers to patients’ access to pain care, the bill has been introduced to the Senate and referred to a committee (S. 660). Please take a moment to send a letter to your senator urging his/her sponsorship of the Pain Care Policy Act. (Click here for a list of senators in your state.) A template letter is available at http://www.painfoundation.org/.
9. Promising Future Treatment Option: A low dose of a drug called naltrexone was found to reduce symptoms of pain and fatigue an average of 30 percent over placebo, according a small pilot study by Stanford University School of Medicine. According to the study, the drug is particularly promising because of the few treatment options available for fibromyalgia patients, its low cost of about $40 a month and its limited side effects. Researchers are moving forward with a second study. Click here for the full release.
10. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fibromyalgia: The Second Edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fibromyalgia has been released by the Penguin Group. Authored by Lynne Matallana, president of the NFA, the revised and updated book shows readers how to tackle fibromyalgia symptoms on a daily basis— and enhance their quality of life. Survival Skills, Communication and Relationships, a Guide to Finding a Doctor and Treating Overlapping Conditions are just a few of the areas addressed. Click here to order a copy of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fibromyalgia, Second Edition.

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International Trial of Minimally Invasive Device for Acid Reflux Relief

April 10, 2009

The trial device is designed to help restore the body’s natural barrier between the stomach and esophagus, avoiding need for medication.

Fifteen specialized medical sites* across the U.S. - including the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) - and in Italy and the Netherlands are gearing up to trial a new implantable device that could bring relief to the estimated 25 million American adults who suffer from daily heartburn.

Chronic heartburn - technically titled gastroesophogeal reflux disease, or GERD – occurs when the stomach’s acidic juices backflow into the esophagus, stirring an uncomfortable burning sensation just below the breast bone. Though a muscular ring, or sphincter, usually tightens to clamp off this backsplash, in some people this natural “plumbing” is faulty: the seal is weak, or the sphincter relaxes when it shouldn’t.

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by University of Gothenburg, Sweden
April 16, 2009

Many patients who suffer from migraines avoid taking aerobic exercise because they are afraid that the physical activity may bring on a serious migraine attack. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have now developed an exercise program that can improve fitness among migraine sufferers without aggravating this painful condition.

Patients who suffer from migraines are often advised to take exercise, but to date no studies have been conducted to show that exercise actually helps guard against migraine attacks. No exercise program has so far been scientifically proven to be safe for migraine patients.

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As a chronic pain sufferer, I find that it is often hard to focus on having a purpose for all this pain, or any challenge to my life style. Perhaps this article will encourage you that God ALWAYS has a purpose, even for your pain! He never wastes your pain…

Gaining a Clear Purpose in Life
by Dr. Gary Smalley

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20

Terry never anticipated that his boss, who was also his close friend, would lay him off after twenty-two years with the company. As vice president of one of America’s largest truck-rental companies, Terry had just returned from an out-of-state training conference when he was told the shocking news.

“Why, God, did you let this happen?” Terry asked.

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Chemical Sensitivities - The Body’s Strategy for Minimizing Risk?

by Dr. Mark Donohoe
March 26, 2009

Dr. Mark Donohoe is an Australian GP specialized in Environmental Medicine, with a special interest in ME/CFS and chemical sensitivities, adverse effects of medications, and vaccination issues (see Dr. Mark’s Medical Site).

This article is excerpted from a book on multiple chemical sensitivities – Killing Us Softly - that Dr. Donohoe has offered online for free download and sharing. He asks only that those who wish to share the book do it by passing on the link to his download page (http://web.mac.com/doctormark/DoctorMark/KUS.html).

OLFACTION AND IMMUNITY

The olfactory nerve, the first cranial nerve, is not a nerve at all. At least not in the usual sense of a nerve. It is, in my opinion, the strangest organ one could imagine. It is mysterious, primitive, courageous and an absurdity all at once.
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FDA Briefing on Unapproved Opioids was held on April 9, 2009.

An emergency stakeholder briefing was convened via conference call by the FDA to address concerns that have been raised by the pain and palliative care communities regarding warnings to nine companies to stop manufacturing and distributing 14 opioid analgesics within 60 days. APF participated in this briefing. A replay of the briefing will be available until April 15, 2009 at 11:59 PM EDT. To hear the replay, callers can dial 1-866-419-2678.

Douglas Throckmorton, M.D., Deputy Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research stated that the FDA understands that patients dealing with terminal illness have unique needs that should have been taken into consideration. The FDA reported that they are taking immediate corrective action regarding the availability of the 20mg/ml morphine sulfate solution. They regretted that they failed to include representatives from hospice and palliative care organizations in deliberations over this particular issue and will improve their consultation process with key stakeholders in the future. 
 
The FDA commented that they were not aware of the extent of disruption in patient care because of their ruling or that a critical shortage of some of these medications already exists. We would like to acknowledge them for their swift action in this case as they became aware of the impact this disruption was having on the community. In order to help remedy this; they would like to hear from providers if there are critical shortages in medications to help manage patients optimally.  

Action:
The FDA has asked to be notified of drug shortages in your area as they arise. Contact FDA by emailing this information to drugshortages@fda.hhs.gov. All correspondence should include your professional information, name of the drug, your location, name of wholesaler (if available) and identify yourself as an APF member.

To stay informed of drug shortages, visit the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/shortages/

Sincerely,
American Pain Foundation

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Valentine’s Day is every day, and surely a whole lot of love will be spread around among a whole lot of people. If you get all that you want and deserve, all the merrier. If you don’t feel loved enough, maybe it’s time to

Here are some ways you can do that:

1. If you’re stuck at home and don’t feel well, do something spontaneous that makes you smile and laugh. Maybe that’s dancing to an old song, phoning your best friend or opening up the last two pieces of your favorite chocolate to share with your caregiver who helps you day in and day out.
2. If you’re in a crowd and you don’t know why you really came along with the group, imagine they all have green hair, orange tongues and they’re standing around in their underwear! (Tee hee…)
3. If you and your caregiver are struggling to have a good relationship or you simply want him or her to know how much you care, take time out to watch the video below together. It may open the door to having a meaningful conversation.

We know that life can be darned challenging if you suffer with a chronic illness like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Arthritis, Lupus, Lyme Disease, cancer, heart disease, and on and on the list goes. That’s true for the patient and the caregiver.

And we all appreciate the people who help us get by, but it’s not always easy to express truly sentimental thoughts and tell others how we appreciate them for what they do for us.

Plan now to appreciate yourself and those around you. Valentine’s Day is a fun time of the year to express love to each other.

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A cycling team of four cyclists and 12 crew members will race nonstop for 3,000 miles across the United States in the world’s toughest bicycle race the Race Across America (RAAM). The race begins on June 20, 2009 in Oceanside, Calif. and ends in Annapolis, Maryland. The objective is to complete this coast-to-coast race in the fastest time the goal is 7 days!

The team’s endeavor, however, goes beyond completing this rigorous race. All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia is partnering with the National Fibromyalgia Association, and select sponsors in a shared ambition to raise awareness of fibromyalgia, a complex pain disorder that affects an estimated 10 million women, men and children in the U.S.

All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia will be raising funds to support fibromyalgia research and community-based education programs for individuals affected by the disorder. The team’s goal is to raise $50,000 by June 20. You can help them in their quest by making a tax-deductible donation in any amount to the National Fibromyalgia Association.

A cycling team of four cyclists and 12 crew members will race nonstop for 3,000 miles across the United States in the world’s toughest bicycle race the Race Across America (RAAM). The race begins on June 20, 2009 in Oceanside, Calif. and ends in Annapolis, Maryland. The objective is to complete this coast-to-coast race in the fastest time the goal is 7 days!

The team’s endeavor, however, goes beyond completing this rigorous race. All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia is partnering with the National Fibromyalgia Association, and select sponsors in a shared ambition to raise awareness of fibromyalgia, a complex pain disorder that affects an estimated 10 million women, men and children in the U.S.

All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia will be raising funds to support fibromyalgia research and community-based education programs for individuals affected by the disorder. The team’s goal is to raise $50,000 by June 20. You can help them in their quest by making a tax-deductible donation in any amount to the National Fibromyalgia Association.

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