Genomics behind FMS

You will be happy to know that research is now revealing some of the genomics or gene markers for the possible source of FMS. A study has been done that concluded there were definite differences in controls and people with FMS. However, depending on the activity level of the FMS group, two types of gene expressions were found.

As you may know, medical researchers are looking at the commonalities in people's genetic sequencing in their DNA when they suffer from a common disease or syndrome. These are truly amazing advances in individualized medicine based on each patient's unique DNA.

Here is the link for you to read more about the FMS study in genomics:

http://www.fmcpaware.org/news-a-updates/1309-increased-psychosocial-stress-abstract-increased-psychosocial-stress-abstract?utm_source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_
campaign=February_2013_Advocate_Newsletter_Copy_Copy&utm_medium=email

Some medical researchers are claiming that within a decade, having your DNA analyzed will become a routine part of testing for your primary care physician's records. It also has the potential to predict years in advance what diseases or syndromes you are destined to suffer unless your DNA is "fixed" in the broken parts.

Here's looking at your DNA, kid!

Dr. Linda B. Greer

Jo Jo Tabares has got a Secret Decoder!

Secret Doctor Talk Decoder Ring from http://artofeloquence.com/doctor-talk/

February 17, 2012 By Jo Jo Tabares 

 

Are you an “emotional female” droning on to your doctor, year after year. about “little things” like fibromyalgia, thyroid issues, insomnia, menopause, or hypoglycemia? Have you encountered any of the following Doctor Talk only to become confused because your brain is fuzzy from lack of sleep or the pain that is “all in your head?” Having trouble deciphering what your doctor means? Maybe you need the…
Secret Doctor Talk Decoder Ring:
* All the tests came back negative.
(Translation: I don’t know what else to do for you so you’ll just have to live with it.)
* Maybe you should take a few days off work.
(Translation: I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you, but you might feel better if you go shopping and buy a new hat.)
* Are you worried or stressed about something…how’s your family life?
(Translation: Since the tests are all negative, you must be upset about something in your life. Depressed people complain of stuff.)
* Are you sure you’re not depressed?
(Translation: You’re a hypochondriac or it’s all in your head.)
Now don’t you feel so much better?

BTW, there is a new book by Dr. Kevin White out to use as ammo against such placating "doctor speak". It's titled, Breaking through the Fibro Fog.

What do you say about this post by Jo Jo? Leave a comment below.

Tea Time, Ladies and Gents!

The April FMS meeting will be delayed to the 16th and at a later time: 2:30 PM. We will be having high tea with whatever sides for tea you bring. We'll get out the good china and do it up right for Easter and Springtime!

Be sure to wear a nice dress and comfortable shoes. Don't forget your wide-brimmed hat as well. Show off your recipe for dainty and tasty tea-time morsels and share your recipe if you like. If you bring a guest, you will earn a prize.

RSVP to Linda Greer very soon. 863-278-2018. Hope to see you then at my home for a "cuppa tea".

The Holidays are Upon Us--Be Proactive!

Try not to be like the Mad Hatter and wait until Christmas eve to do all your "last minute" items. Christmas will be a much more relaxed holiday if you pace yourself now and get a little bit done each day. I know we all tend to put off until tomorrow what we could do today, but we all pay the price eventually when things pile up "upon us".

One thing families can do is decide together which of many good things to attend or do for Christmas in advance. If each person gets to list several events, then if everyone gets at least one event off their individual list as part of the family events, it's a win-win situation.

For those with lots of adult children and grands, the best thing is to inform all concerned you are staying home for Christmas and will have open house hours 10 AM to 4 PM on a given day (or two days if needed). That way, each family may be able to drop in when his/her schedule permits and gifts can be exchanged.

For December, our support group will not be having a regular meeting, but instead a lunch date at Applebee's (Rt. 29 near Kohl's and Hobby Lobby) on Saturday, December 11 at 12:30 PM until 2:00 PM.  There will be no meeting in January since we will all be recovering from the happy u-stress of the holidays.

Pray for one another without ceasing so we can be one in His Love.

Linda Greer
Volunteer Support Group Leader

Poetry for My FMS Friends

 

                                                      “A Prayer For Those Suffering”

May Thy grace be found sufficient

For the suff’ring of the hour;

May they know Thy strength in weakness

And the fullness of Thy pow’r.

May they know Thy lovingkindness

May they feel Thy tender touch,

      In the hours of their suff’ring

Be it little, be it much.

May they sense Thy Spirit’s closeness

In the days and nights of pain;

May they know, Lord, that You trust them

With the suff’rings You ordain.

               

               

May they rest upon this promise:

               “I will never thee forsake!”

              
               May they see throughout their suff’rings

               That You make not one mistake.

  

May they wait on Thee for answers

               Which will come in Heav’n above,

          All the while trusting daily

          In the comforts of Thy love.

© Written by WDB on Sept. 16, 2010

while praying for Barbara Ledbetter

 (going "home" soon) and family.

April Support Group Meeting & Advice about Returning to College

Dear FMS Friends,

Our April meeting for Spartanburg, SC, has been rescheduled to Saturday April 17 instead of April 10. I hope you all will come out to hear Nancy, our guest speaker, give us pointers on nutrition and FMS symptoms. She is driving all the way from Seneca to visit with us, so let's make an effort to be at this meeting. I also have a great hand-out about different foods and their benefits to our health.

I also wanted to discuss a question presented to me in an email. If any of you are considering returning to college, you may want to take these suggestions on how to cope with the addition of stress from college courses and keeping your firbromyalgia under control.

Here's what I recommended:

Ask the Office of Disabilities and Learning Differences at the college about getting a note taker for days you will miss because of Fibro flares. Take a doctor's diagnosis on letterhead from your Primary Care Doctor or your Rheumatologist. Also take a Fact Sheet about FMS from the NFA website http://www.fmaware.org/ . Get classified as a Special Needs Student under the ADA.


Get a medium to small size rolling book bag and take the elevator whenever possible or handicap ramps. Pack a thin square pillow or seat pad to cushion the bottom of classroom chairs--they are usually hard as rocks. Only pack what you will need that day--a few sheets of paper for notes in a folder that you can transfer to a larger binder kept at home.

Ask the instructor if you can record the lessons since you may have trouble writing for long periods without getting hand cramps and fatigue. Ask for any copies of hand-outs to be kept by someone who is in the class whenever you are absent or make your professor aware you will need these at the next class. Ask about make up quiz and test policies since you may have a number of absences. Be sure you have been classified as a special needs student first before speaking to your instructor.

Sit near the front and center to avoid distractions and to see better. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Take no more than two courses per semester and do not take them on the same days to avoid overlapping memory problems. You will have more on your plate than you can handle if you sign up for more than two courses per regular term! For summer, take only one course for the full summer term--no compressed mini-terms.

Go to the library and make sure you know how to access full magazine articles and the card catalog electronically from home through the internet. Ask about the lending library policy from other institutions if it is a state university or college.

Get a handicap parking sticker from the office for driving licenses. You must have a note from your doctor or rheumatologist stating a need for one. Parking long distances from your classroom is only going to tire you out more. Save your energy for classroom time.

Linda B. Greer
Volunteer NFA Support Group Leader
Spartanburg, SC

Welome to the Upstate's Best Support Group

For our first post, I would like to introduce our group. We are small but very caring. We keep in touch between meetings even if we can't always be at our monthly meetings. Each meeting has the following general agenda: light, healthy lunch with non-caffeinated, non-sugar drinks; share a sentence praise and prayer; program (facilitator or guest speaker leads); discussion; closing prayer.

For 2010 we are hoping to raise enough money from members and their friends and families through online shopping through the http://www.igive.com/ portal. So far we have about $14 accumulated in our account for the Spartanburg Christian FMS Group. If we earn another $12 before May1, we will be able to get our money out in time for our Awareness Seminar. You can earn money just by searching for online purchases even if you don't buy anything. Every penney counts!

Last year's FMS Awareness Seminar featured Dr. Charles Lapp from Charlotte who is one of the foremost researchers and clinicians in the study of FMS and CFS. His presentation was very enlightening. This year we need to have committees for advance advertising, refreshements, and for program set-up and clean-up.

Please join us on the second Saturday of each month at 12:30 to 2:30 PM at my home in Raintree on the west side of Spartanburg. Our theme is "Caring by Sharing". Hope to see you soon.

National Fibromyalgia Support Group Leader
Spartanburg, SC
(864)278-2018 (use of this number for soliciting is prohibited)