....Diagnose Support

One of my issues is that I am really allergic to almost everything. Finding products that actually work and do not cause me problems is usually reason to celebrate with apple pie :). This list of items will continue to grow as I come across them or remember them. If you are interested in a product but cannot buy it in your area, please let us know and we will try to arrange to ship them to you.

• Scrub Away
• Face For a Day
• Pure Oxygen
• Finishing Touch

Some tips to make looking after yourself a little easier for those with chronic pain, limited mobility or weakness. These tips aren’t just for girls! 

• Medications
• Brushing Your Teeth 
• Showering and Bathing - New !
• Hair Care
• Colouring Your Hair
• Looking After Your Legs and Feet

Dear Prickles, I have Lupus and am hoping to start University in September, but I am worried about how I will cope. Do you have any tips? 

- Claire, Sheffield

If you are unfortunate enough to catch every bug, virus or infection going round, as time goes on you may start to become a little germaphobic. I have had sinus infections on and off since I was 7 and I was always the kid who caught everything. I hate to admit it, but I am now quite germaphobic as a result of this. I just want to avoid any risk of catching something, because whenever I do, it seems to last for twice as long as it does for the person I caught it from.

Help for those with memory and concentration problems

In this section:

• Sleep for Success 
• Some Supplements or Dietary Changes to Discuss with Your Doctor
• Stimulate Both Sides of the Brain
• Study and Revision Techniques

Some handy tips to take the hassle out of housework…

• Dust bites. Bite back! 
• Bathroom Tips 
• Washing 

For those who have chronic pain, just fixing a meal can be a daunting task. Here are some tips for making life in the kitchen a little less painful…

• The layout
• Get a grip
• Food shopping
• Cooking
• Enjoying your culinary delights

When you are diagnosed with C.F.S./M.E., Fibromyalgia, or in fact any other chronic condition, it is wise to fix the symptoms both in your own and in your Primary Care Physician’s log. When a new symptom occurs it is always frightening. On the one hand your existing condition may have become worse and on the other hand, you might have developed a new condition. 

How to differentiate between these two possibilities? Do not. New symptoms should always be registered in your Physician’s log and most importantly, looked at by your doctor. Symptoms vary in severity and some will go away with some time, a diet adjustment or the discovery (and avoidance) of a new allergen. Some will remain new visitors and some will get worse over time.  

This is an interesting question. It has come up in various communities and always triggers a lively discussion. For a good reason. The need versus quality. Which surpasses which when?

All blood banks have rules for admitting blood and, if you happen to die from A.I.D.S., or any other infectious disease, from cancer or from an hereditary disease, there is no way your organs are accepted by the transplant organisation. Everyone knows that there are risks attached to receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant. People wait for a long period of time to receive an organ and cannot risk their body rejecting it or to be subjected to infections. In other words, it has to work first time or they will die.

“Hypochondriac” is a word that is often batted around thoughtlessly. I remember hearing it at school whenever children were off sick a lot. I was afraid of being labelled as a hypochondriac myself, because I did miss a lot of school and I knew that I looked perfectly healthy even when I was feeling awful. When a rheumatologist finally diagnosed me with fibromyalgia I was so relieved that I burst into tears. It was such a relief to have a name for it, something to tell the people who kept telling me “just think positive and you’ll be fine”.

I can't imagine how hard it must be for patients who ever receive a diagnosis of hypochondria...

People who suffer from invisible illnesses know this phrase all too well. Sometimes it is an exclamation of surprise, when you tell someone that you are sick. Sometimes it’s someone trying to cheer you up by paying you a compliment.

Those times we don’t mind hearing it… but sometimes it’s a jibe, to imply that you are not as sick as you say you are. Sometimes it is uttered to show disappointment that you are not going to a social event or have otherwise let someone down. Those times it’s a terrible sentence to hear...

“Prickles, I have fibromyalgia and work a 9-5 office job. I don’t want to tell my co-workers that I am sick because I am worried that they will treat me differently or think that I am trying to get attention, but I am finding it harder and harder to conceal my symptoms. I have had a lot of sick days lately because I am too exhausted or in too much pain to make it into work and when I am at work, I am not performing as well as I should be. I always look tired and people keep asking me what’s wrong, so I just keep telling them I didn’t sleep well, but I feel like a fraud. The worst problem is that my boss is getting very irritated with me for missing so much time off work, but I’m still not sure if I should tell him. What if he thinks I am lying?”

- Sherrie, England

Triggers, misdiagnoses or causes of Fibromyalgia or M.E./C.F.S.

It is very important to look into possible triggers, misdiagnoses or causes of Fibromyalgia and / or Myalgic Encephalopathy / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

OK we all know that you have to learn to pace yourself and accept your limitations if you have a chronic illness. But we also know how hard that is when there are things you really want to do.

Some people with invisible illnesses such as fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome say they feel ashamed to use their walking stick or their disabled parking permit because they don't look sick so people are suspicious. Some people are embarrassed by the smell of their muscle rub or the fact that they can't do things that they used to do.

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Dr. Stephen Martin
Grouppe Kurosawa
El Verano , California

If You Can Cook, You Can Prepare Your Own Powerful Topical Pain Relievers in Your Own Home