• FM/CFS/ME Survey Results
• International Awareness Day - May 12
• Homeopathic Remedies For FM - Part 2 of 2
• Great Gadgets!
• Vitamin D Inadequacy May Exacerbate Chronic Pain
• Improved Actavis Recalls Certain Fentanyl Patches in the US as Precaution
• Mother's Day
• Memorial Day

In an effort to find the cause, and hopefully the cure, FM/CFS/ME RESOURCES is conducting an in-depth survey for people with FM and/or CFS/ME. Here are a few of the survey results we've compiled thus far:

• Average Age of Survey Respondent: 44 yrs old
• Average Age of Onset/First Experience: 32 yrs old
• Average Age When Diagnosed: 40 yrs old
• Respondents Living in the United States: 76%
• Family Doctor is the Primary Doctor: 32%
• Rheumatologist is the Primary Doctor: 19%
• Pain Specialist is the Primary Doctor: 7%
• Have Had Major Surgeries: 78%
• Received Disability After Applying: 65%
• Suffered Trauma Before FM/CFS/ME: 57%
• Grew Up With Alcoholic Parent: 26%
• Grew Up With Chronically Ill Parent: 20%

Review all the survey results here. If you have yet to take the survey it's never too late. Take the FM/CFS/ME RESOURCES Survey today!

The idea of Awareness Day began in 1992. The date of May 12th date was chosen to honor the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the English army nurse who was a pioneer of the Red Cross Movement. Nightingale was virtually bedridden with a painful and fatiguing illness resembling FM/CFS/ME, yet went on to inspiring accomplishments, including the founding of the first School of Nursing.

Now Awareness Day activities take place worldwide in an effort to increase awareness of FM/CFS/ME and allow patients and organizations to educate the general public, healthcare professionals and government officials. One of the most difficult aspects of having FM/CFS/ME is that most of the symptoms are invisible, making it hard for others to understand what living with this debilitating illness is really like. That's one of the reasons why Awareness Day is so important. Click on a link below for ideas.

• How To Raise Awareness
• Inform The General Public
• Alert The Media

• Basics of Letter Writing
• If Writing Is Difficult
• FM/CFS/ME Fact Sheet

• Write, call or visit your Congressional representatives. If you don't know who they are or how to contact them, call your local voter registration office or League of Women Voters, the Capitol switchboard at (202)-224-3121 or visit web sites such as www.congress.org.


• Organize a project for your support group members.


• White an advocacy letter and take copies of your letter to your support group meeting. Other group members can either copy the letter by hand or use a photocopy of your letter.


• Make and bring copies of the enclosed FM/CFS/ME Fact Sheet, which explains what FM/CFS/ME is, who gets it and how it's treated.


• Ask each group member to bring at least one envelope and one first-class stamp to the meeting.


• Have each person place their letter and the FM/CFS/ME Fact Sheet in an addressed envelope, seal it, stamp it and then mail all the letters at once.


• Start this process early! You want to have lots of time for your elected officials to receive your letters.

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• Set up a display in your local library for the week of May 12th or the month of May. This can be done by the librarian with your suggestions on what information should be included in the display.


• If members of your support group can manage some time at the mall, you may wish to set up a display there.


• Consider asking your place of worship to include a notice about the significance of May 12th in its worship material.


• Place a classified ad in your local newspaper.


• Place an awareness poster in your local grocery store window.

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• Contact the health reporters at your local TV and radio stations, newspapers and magazines regarding FM/CFS/ME and Awareness Day 2008.


• Mail your letters or call the reporters early. Program directors often plan ahead and since May is a TV and radio ratings month, they are busy preparing feature stories now for broadcast in May.


• Designate someone as your group's spokesperson, so the media has a contact for stories.

Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine that aims to treat "like with like." Despite being widely discredited in scientific circles homeopathy has grown in popularity in recent years. Homeopathic remedies are used to balance the stress factors that underlie the symptoms of Fibromyalgia (FM). The symptom profile is matched to a homeopathic remedy that helps those symptoms. This is often a very effective, quick way of creating less of pain.

As always, tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Here is a list of favorite homeopathic remedies for FM symptoms:

Hypericum is a homeopathic remedy that helps heal nerve pain. It is especially useful when there is numbness or tingling in the extremities, or radiating pain from one area to another. Hypericum is useful for the unbearable prickly pain that radiates along nerve pathways, is worse with movement, and worse when touched. Hypericum is the Latin name of St. John’s Wort, and can be beneficial when depression is an associated symptom of FM.

There are other homeopathic remedies that may more appropriately fit different specific symptoms of the client and by referring to homeopathic books or practitioners you may get better results. Homeopathic remedies are also available in formulas of two or more substances mixed together. Formulas are a more user-friendly way to use homeopathic medicines since the indications for their use are extremely clear. The use of several remedies combined in formulas provides a broad effect not available in a single remedy.

Use only one remedy, whether in a formula or as a single remedy, at a time. Single remedies are recommended when the specific symptoms are known, and when a higher potency of a remedy is desired but not available in a formula. Formula products usually contain remedies in the 3x, 6x, or 12x potencies, while people with severe pain may receive more rapid benefit from the 30c potency. Two hundred years of homeopathic clinical experience has found that the higher the potency, the more deeper and faster the medicine acts. However, the higher the potency used, the more accurate the remedy must fit the FM client. Because of this, it is recommended to use the 30c potency when the user is very confident that the remedy picked is the correct one. The use of lower potencies, such as the 6th or 12th potency, is indicated when general symptoms are used to find the remedy, or you can consider using a homeopathic formula.

When taking homeopathic remedies, it is recommended to discuss ALL that you're taking with your doctor. With homeopathy, taking more pellets is not recommended, but increasing the frequency of the remedy may be needed to get the full effect of low potency remedies. At first, when there is the greatest amount of pain and discomfort, the remedy may need to be taken every hour. Usually after four doses, the frequency can be reduced to every two hours. As the intensity of pain diminishes, taking a dose every four hours is common. If no improvement is noticeable after a few days, it is not recommended to take further doses of the same remedy.

Although most homeopathic remedies are in pill form for internal use, there are a select number of homeopathic remedies that are available in external applications. Some external applications are in ointments, gels, or sprays. Although they have a similar degree of effectiveness, each has certain benefits and detriments.

Homeopathic remedies must be considered as an integral part in creating a protocol to reduce FM symptoms. The use of these remedies will reduce stress held in the muscle tissues, and will allow the pain to be relieved in a shorter period of time. The relief of pain that homeopathic remedies can provide will make it easier to create more lifestyle changes, since you will feel better and have more energy.

Approximately one in four patients who suffer from chronic pain also have inadequate blood levels of vitamin D, possibly contributing to their ongoing pain, according to a new study. Patients lacking sufficient vitamin D also required higher doses of morphine for a longer period of time. Researchers recorded the serum vitamin D levels of 267 adults undergoing outpatient treatment for chronic pain, as well as their pain medication (morphine) dose and duration of use, and physical and general health functioning.

• Of the patients tested, 26 percent had vitamin D inadequacy. Among these patients, the morphine dose was nearly twice that of the group with adequate vitamin D levels.


• In addition, the vitamin D inadequacy group used morphine for an average of 71.1 months versus 43.8 months.


• The vitamin D deficient group also reported lower levels of physical functioning and had a poorer view of their overall health.

It has long been known that inadequate levels of vitamin D can cause pain and muscle weakness, according to the study author, W. Michael Hooten, MD, medical director, and anesthesiologist at Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center, Rochester, Minnesota. Previous studies also have suggested that pain-related symptoms of vitamin D inadequacy respond poorly to pain medications.

However, "this is the first time that we have established the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy among a diverse group of chronic pain patients," Dr. Hooten said. "The implications are that in chronic pain patients, vitamin D inadequacy is not the principal cause of pain and muscle weakness, however, it could be a contributing but unrecognized factor," Dr. Hooten said. Vitamin D inadequacy can be "easily and inexpensively" treated "with essentially no side effects" using a prescription supplement, once or twice a week for four to six weeks, Dr. Hooten said.

Actavis Inc., the United States manufacturing and marketing division of the international generic pharmaceutical company Actavis Group hf, has announced that 14 lots of Fentanyl transdermal system CII patches sold in the United States by Actavis' subsidiary Actavis South Atlantic LLC are being voluntarily recalled from wholesalers and pharmacies as a precaution.

The recalled patches were manufactured by Corium International Inc., a contract manufacturer for Actavis, and sold nationwide in the United States by Actavis South Atlantic LLC.

Fentanyl patches sold by Actavis in Europe are not affected by this recall.

The 14 lots of Fentanyl transdermal system patches being recalled may have a fold-over defect which may cause the patch to leak and expose patients or caregivers directly to the fentanyl gel. Although unaware of any injuries resulting from this issue Actavis, as a precaution, is recalling these lots. As per the approved product labeling for Fentanyl transdermal system, fentanyl is a potent Schedule II opioid medication. Fentanyl patches that are leaking or damaged in any way should not be used. Exposure to fentanyl gel may lead to serious adverse events, including respiratory depression and possible overdose, which may be fatal. Anyone who comes in contact with fentanyl gel should thoroughly rinse exposed skin with large amounts of water only; do not use soap. Immediately dispose of affected patches that may be damaged or compromised in any way by flushing them down the toilet, using caution not to handle them directly. Damaged and/or compromised patches that have leaked gel will not provide effective pain relief.

The lots covered by this recall are:

• 27261 (exp 05/09)
• 27317 (exp 05/09)
• 27318 (exp 06/09)
• 27319 (exp 06/09)
• 27391 (exp 06/09)
• 27409 (exp 06/09)
• 27475 (exp 07/09)
• 27476 (exp 06/09)
• 27488 (exp 06/09)
• 27514 (exp 07/09)
• 27536 (exp 07/09)
• 27537 (exp 08/09)
• 27538 (exp 08/09)
• 27545 (exp 07/09)

covering the following strengths: 25 mcg/hr, 50 mcg/hr, 75 mcg/hr and 100 mcg/hr.

Please note: Actavis South Atlantic LLC was formerly known as Abrika Pharmaceuticals Inc. The pouches containing the patches are labeled with an Abrika Pharmaceuticals label, but the outer carton bears the Actavis logo with the following product names:

Actavis Fentanyl Transdermal System, 25 mcg/hr. NDC 67767-120-18. Actavis Fentanyl Transdermal System, 50 mcg/hr. NDC 67767-121-18. Actavis Fentanyl Transdermal System, 75 mcg/hr. NDC 67767-122-18. Actavis Fentanyl Transdermal System, 100 mcg/hr. NDC 67767-123-18.

Anyone who has fentanyl patches labeled with an Abrika or Actavis label should check them for these lot numbers.

Affected patches should not be handled directly.

Anyone with Actavis Fentanyl transdermal system patches with the above listed lot numbers should call 1-877-422-7452.

Patients using fentanyl patches who have medical questions should contact their health-care providers.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

Fentanyl transdermal system is indicated for the management of persistent, moderate to severe chronic pain that requires continuous, around the clock opioid administration for an extended period of time and cannot be managed by other means such as non-steroidal analgesics, opioid combination products, or immediate release opioids.

FM/CFS/ME RESOURCES would like to wish all mothers a very Happy Mother's Day!

In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, MA ever year.

In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.

Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.

While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.

FM/CFS/ME RESOURCES would like to wish everyone a very Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day was passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays. Several southern states have a separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored and neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

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