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:

• Sensitive to Noise: 77%
• Sensitive to Light: 73%
• Sensitive to Cold: 71%
• Sensitive to Heat: 62%
• Sensitive to Smell: 60%
• Sensitive to Touch: 54%

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.

The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program. Below are a couple of FAQ's and their answers. Read more FAQ's about Social Security Disability .

ANSWER: Disability under Social Security for an adult is based on your inability to work because of a medical condition. To be considered disabled:

• You must be unable to do work you did before and the Social Security Administration decides that you cannot adjust to other work because of a medical condition.
• Your disability must last or be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability.

For adults, they use a five-step evaluation process to decide whether you are disabled under Social Security. The process considers any current work activity you are doing, and your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work.

Can I Apply For Social Security Benefits On The Internet

ANSWER: Yes. You can apply for Social Security Retirement benefits, Spouse's benefits or Disability benefits online. When your application is received in your local social security office, they will make sure they have all the information they need to make a decision on your claim.

You will find helpful links to all the online forms you need to apply for disability benefits. Reviewing and collecting the information shown in the Disability Starter Kit will help prepare you for your disability interview or help you to complete your online Disability Report. The Disability Report Form asks for information about your conditions or impairments that prevent you from working.

At this time, you cannot apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits online. If you wish to file for SSI benefits (aged, blind or disabled), contact the Social Security Administration immediately at 1-800-772-1213, so that you do not lose any potential benefits.

If you are filing for SSI disability for an adult or a child, you can complete the Disability Report online. You can also view the Fact Sheet and Checklist in the Disability Starter Kit to see what information you will need and the kinds of questions we will ask when you have your disability interview in your local Social Security office or over the phone. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office right away so that you do not lose potential benefits, even if you complete the Disability Report online.

Multiple studies have shown that water exercise benefits Fibromyalgia (FM) patients both physically and emotionally. In 2006, a study in Brazil looked at the effectiveness of deep water running on FM symptoms. While in Spain, researchers evaluated FM patients exercising in waist-high warm water. A 2001 Norway study compared the effects of land-based and pool-based aerobic exercise on women with FM.

In these studies, FM patients experienced reduced pain, improved functionality and better emotional health. The comparative study found that both forms of exercise resulted in physical improvements but in the pool-based group improvements were also found in the number of days of feeling good, self-reported physical impairment, pain, anxiety and depression. All of the studies also showed long-term benefits from water exercise.

There is no better place to exercise than in the water. The buoyancy of water decreases the effects of gravity, making it easier to move around. Immersion in warm water also reduces pain perception and aids in relaxation. Exercises done in water are easier to perform and more beneficial than the same exercise done on land.

Remember, as with any exercise program, check with your doctor before beginning aquatic therapy.

Finding a qualified instructor or therapist is as easy as talking to your doctor or physical therapist. You can also check with your local Arthritis Foundation or YMCA. Exercise sessions start slowly with 20 to 30 minute sessions two or three times a week, gradually working up to sessions that last 45 minutes to an hour.

When performing any exercises it's important to know your limitations. If you become tired anytime during the workout, stop and just relax in the water or leave the pool. Never push through the pain. If you experience new or increased pain, stop or slow down. Listen to your body and have fun!

Summer is the time when most of us take our long awaited vacation. However, traveling when you're disabled with a chronic illness is challenging at best. Here are a few tips to help make your vacation more relaxed.

Medications -
Put your meds in a zip-lock bag. I find it's easier if I separate my daytime meds and night time meds into different bags. Label them accordingly, this way they'll be right at your fingertips when you need them.

If you take anything that is absolutely essential; such as heart medication, insulin, etc., bring extra prescriptions in case your medication is stolen, lost, etc. If you require anything that might be suspicious to security, such as needles, have a note from your doctor stating the necessity of these items.

Shampoos, Soaps, Lotions -
Buy travel size items before you leave home or purchase them after you arrive. Many hotels now provide shampoos, conditioners and soaps, along with blow dryers. If your health condition requires special products, buy small plastic bottles and pour your items into them. Remember to put all liquids in zip-lock bags so they won't explode in your carry-on and make a mess.

Thermal Patches -
Thermal patches weigh less and are more convenient than pain-relieving gels or creams, plus they smell a lot better too. Be sure to have a supply of these on hand for those long plane or car trips.

Packing -
The less you have to fuss over your clothes, the better. Leave items that wrinkle easily at home. Many hotels now have irons in the room, but do you really want to be ironing on vacation? Make sure you leave some empty space in your suitcase for shopping and souvenirs. When I travel, I pack a small duffel bag in my suitcase. Then when I come home I have a bag all ready for my souvenirs, etc.

On An Airplane -
Most airlines allow early seating for people with children or people who need more time boarding. If you're disabled with a chronic illness this is an ideal time for you to board the plane.

Seating -
Do not sit in an exit row unless you are physically capable of opening the emergency door and assisting other passengers. If you're inadvertently seated in an exit row, ask to change your seat before the plane takes off.

Be sure to ask for a window seat when booking your flight. This will allow you to keep your seat while in flight. There's nothing more tiring and painful than getting up and down to let people in and out of their seats.

If you require carry-on luggage, put it under the seat in front of you. If you have someone with you, have them store it in the over-head compartment for you. Don't try to lift anything over your head without help.

Snacks -
If you're a diabetic be sure to bring your own snack. Here are some ideas for diabetic snacks:

• orange and grapefruit segments
• raisins
• granola bar
• popcorn

If you require gluten-free meals bring your own food. Here are some ideas for hassle-free, gluten-free travel foods:

• organic jerky
• small bags of baking nuts
• plain corn chips
• baby carrots
• apples
• canned peaches or pineapple with pull-top lids
• small cans of tuna with pull-top lids.

Hotels and Motels -
Request rooms on ground floors or near elevators so you don't have to haul suitcases up stairs. Don't forget to request a non-smoking room if you are allergic or sensitive to smoke and odors.

You might consider staying someplace with a pool, hot tub and/or exercise facility. These come in handy if you've been sitting in planes or cars all day and need to rid yourself of stiffness and soreness.

Showering is a major task for those of us with a chronic illness. It ranks right up there on the energy scale with home renovation, plowing the field, and laying carpeting. Ok, so it only seems that bad. (lol)

We all know that staying clean and presentable costs us much more in pain and fatigue than our healthy counterparts. It's been years since I've been able to take a relaxing soak in the tub, mainly because I can't get in and out of the tub without help. Somehow I don't see my 84 old Mother hoisting me out of the tub. So that leaves me with the shower.

You may not think you are "disabled" enough to warrant using a shower chair. However, even if you're able to walk fine and can stand unaided, a shower chair will lengthen your endurance for a relaxed, comfortable shower. Shower chairs can be large or small, and can be bought sturdy enough to hold up to at least 450 pounds. They can be purchased through those health product catalogs we all get in the mail, like Dr. Leonard's catalog, or they can be purchased at your nearby living aids store. I recommend checking out yard sales and flea markets first to see if you can get one cheaper. The average retail price for basic shower chairs is $20-40.

Another energy saving idea is a dual shower head that includes a hand-held shower. This way you can stand under the shower spray for all-over rinsing, train the spray on a particular set of muscles that ache, or you can hold the spray while seated and direct it where you need it. These basic dual heads range in cost from $20-30, and are available at your local home improvement or Wal-Mart store.

Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across American other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honored on Father's Day.

People who have severe Fibromyalgia (FM) may do better if they completely avoid both MSG (monosodium glutamate) and also NutraSweet (aspartame), the artificial sweetener. Both glutamate (in MSG) and the amino acid, aspartic acid (in aspartame) stimulate pain augmenting receptors within the spinal cord. These are called NMDA receptors. Some individuals with FM improve very much on a FM diet that avoids MSG and aspartame.

In addition to these restrictions, Dr. Richard Podell, one of the nation's leading experts on alternative therapies, finds that many people with chronic illness tend to do better with sensible diet therapy. Dr. Podell says to aim for five plus servings daily of multi-colored fruits and vegetables. (Nutrition science defines one "serving" as 1/2 a cup.) Eat modest-size meals without excess fats, sugars or simple carbohydrates. Perhaps, easier said than done, but many patients have reported benefit from just a few weeks on this "Fibromyalgia diet".

Occasionally, people with Fibromyalgia improve with the elimination of foods to which they personally are sensitive. Wheat/gluten, milk, yeast, and sugar are occasionally culprits. Here are some more foods that are reported to affect FM symptoms:

• acidic foods
• alcohol
• bacon
• beef
• caffeinated teas
• chicken
• chocolate
• citrus
• coffee

• corn
• cow milk products (not yogurt)
• egg whites
• eggplant
• fatty foods
• fried foods
• junk food

• liquid with your meals
• nitrates (lunch meats, cured meats, hot dogs, etc)
• peppers
• potatoes
• preservatives
• saccharine
• salt
• sodas (caffeinated & caffeine-free)
• soy

• splenda
• tobacco
• tomatoes
• wheat products
• white flour
• white sugar
• yeast

Chaga mushrooms grow on birch trees in the colder northern climates. There have been 150 species of medicinal mushrooms found to inhibit the growth of different kinds of tumors, especially cancers of the stomach, esophagus, and lungs, but Chaga seems to stand out from the rest.

Chaga has been used for centuries in many Eastern European countries including Russia, as a folk remedy for many forms of degenerative diseases, respiratory diseases, arthritis, stomach and digestive ailments, blood and cardiovascular disorders, blood sugar disorders and viral infections.

For the past 44 years, modern scientific studies and clinical trials involving Chaga-based products have demonstrated efficacy on hormonal, immune, oncological, aging, endocrine, digestive, and central nervous system disorders. Medical research has shown Chaga to be effective as an anti-tumor agent in in-vitro studies of cell cultures. Chaga activates the immune system and is a biological response modifier. In Russia and Eastern Europe, Chaga is approved by the Russian Medical Research Council.

Chaga contains over 215 anti-aging phytonutrients, has 25 to 50 times more SOD (superoxide dismutase) antioxidants than Lingzhi, Agarigus, CoQ 10, vitamin C and wild blueberries, and is rated among the highest in the antioxidant scale of measurement. Siberian Chaga contains an abundance of beta glucans, saponins, amino acids, belulinic acid, and natural minerals.

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