1. What you tell the receptionist on the telephone ...
   Tell the receptionist ... that you are looking for someone to take care of you as a whole, whatever problems should come up. Tell her that you want to establish care with the new doctor. This implies meeting the doctor so that you both can get to know each other. If the receptionist insists on a specific reason for the office visit, you can name a symptom: Allergies, sinuses, crampy bowels, rash, headache. One or two of these is enough.

2. What you write on the questionnaire ... Be selective. ...

3. But your task at the beginning is to get your bearings without mentioning FM.

4. What you tell the medical assistant on the first visit ...
   mentioning your need for routine blood tests including cholesterol; or answer with another question: “Won’t the doctor be discussing routine testing with me?”

5. What you discuss with the doctor ...
   Without meaning to do so, patients consume 40 to 50 percent of the office visit bringing up (or responding to) unrelated topics. Therefore, practice with a friend to learn to keep on track with an agenda, or bring a friend into the exam room to help you stay on topic.

   The second office visit ...
   This visit may be tied up with testing results. ...
   
   

6. The third office visit ...
   Your agenda at this and future visits will be as follows:
   * To introduce FM symptoms a few at a time.
   * To start asking about treatments such as those listed in the FMFSG Member’s Manual.2

7. * And to start mentioning possible referrals to specialists who might be able to help you.

8. Remember – make an agenda in advance of your appointment; include only a few things at a time to be covered; stay with your agenda; and act in a businesslike manner (as mentioned above).

   Bit by bit, you and your doctor are whittling away at FM symptoms. ...

   Occasionally, despite your efforts at being an exceptionally good patient, the diagnosis of FM will earn you scorn. You may now be treated disrespectfully. Unfortunately, you must continue your search until you find a physician who is more accepting.
   
   

9. Question: What about the old medical records?
   Answer: Usually old office records are not particularly needed to manage FM.
   Places that may have useful records, where FM is not usually a diagnosis of record, are the laboratory, X-ray facilities, hospitals, and specialists. ...

5-HT in the Enteric Nervous System:
Gut Function and Neuropharmacology
by Peter G. McLean, et al, November 24, 2006
A large population study found 63% of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients had Irritable Bowel Syndrome, versus 22% of the population overall. ...

The concept of visceral hypersensitivity, the characterization of neuronal networks in the “brain-gut axis” and the identification of several novel 5-HT-mediated mechanisms have contributed to this shift.

Here, we review how some of the more promising of these new mechanisms (for example, those involving 5-HT transporters and the 5-HT(2B), 5-HT(7) and putative 5-HT(1p) receptors) might lead to a range of second-generation therapies that could revolutionize the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders, particularly IBS.

Yeast Infection and Nutritional Repair.
by Mark J. Pellegrino, MD, June, 2006
Causes, Symptoms, Testing, Natural Antiyeast and Probiotic Strategies, the Fibromyalgia Diet, and Trigger Avoidance

Candida albicans is fungus or yeast that normally thrives in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, vagina, and skin. In healthy individuals this yeast is helpful in digestion and vitamin production, and it is harmless because it is kept in check by beneficial bacteria and other yeast such as Lactobacillus acidophilus that occupies the same space. ...

CAUSES OF CANDIDA ...

• Chronic illnesses or stress.
  
• Antibiotic use.
  
• Birth control pills. The estrogen favors Candida multiplication.
  
• Cortisone medicine
  
• Immunosuppressive drugs
  
• Pregnancy. Hormonal changes favor increased Candida growth.
  
• Diets high in sugar and carbohydrates. Candida loves glucose!
  
• Thyroid medicine. Increases Candida risk.
  
• Warm moist areas.
  
• Alcohol. Another food for the Candida.

When Candida albicans transforms into an invasive fungal state, it produces rhizoids which are long root-like structures. Rhizoids can penetrate the intestinal walls and leave microscopic holes that allow toxins, undigested food particles, bacteria and yeast to enter the blood stream. This “invasion” leads to many symptoms.

CANDIDIASIS SYMPTOMS

    * Bloating
    * Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
    * Chronic heartburn
    * Oral thrush (white spots on the mouth and tongue)
    * Vaginal yeast infection
    * Skin rashes
    * Skin itching
    * Vulvar pain and itching
    * Rectal itching
    * Fatigue
    * Irritability
    * Fibrofog
    * Food cravings (especially carbohydrates)
    * Malnutition (poor nutrient absorption)
    * Food allergies
    * Depression
    * Bad breath

TESTING FOR CANDIDA
A simple home test for Candidiasis can be performed. Dr. Kelly Hannigan described a test you can take (Health Points 8 (2) 2003). Before you go to sleep at night set a clear glass of water next to your bed. When you wake up in the morning (before you clear your throat, swallow or speak), deposit your saliva into the glass of water. If within 30 minutes your saliva sinks to the bottom or there are strands of saliva running down into the water or the water turns cloudy, you probably have an abundance of yeast in your body.

Lab testing can be done for a definitive diagnosis of Candidiasis. Saliva, stool and blood samples can all be tested to look for specific immunoglobulin antibodies against Candida. These tests are not routinely covered by insurance companies so the patient has to pay for these tests, which are usually several hundred dollars. ...

CANDIDIASIS TREATMENT ...

1. Antiyeast Products: Natural Treatments
   Natural antiyeast treatments include herbal products such as enteric coated oregano extract and olive leaf extract (Oleuropein).

2. Olive leaf extract has the ability to attack Candida and other potential harmful microorganisms while sparing the helpful ones. To treat Candida, two capsules every eight hours on an empty stomach are recommended. ..

   HERXHEIMER’S REACTION
   Herxheimer’s reaction can occur when the Candida die off.
   [This reaction typically involves flu-like symptoms and results when infective agents are killed/toxins are released faster than the kidneys and liver can remove them via the natural detoxification process.] ...

   
   

3. FRIENDLY REPLENISHERS (PROBIOTICS & PREBIOTICS) Lactobacillus acidophilus and the good bacteria are called probiotics. ..

4. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are the food source for healthy bacteria.
   Any good nutrient (FOS) for the probiotics (acidophilus and other friendly bacteria) is called prebiotic. ...
   
   

5. DIETARY STRATEGIES
   The Candida thrive on high sugar concentrations, so a basic diet strategy is cutting back the number of carbs. Fermented foods such as soy sauce, vinegar, pickles, cheese and yogurt have high sugar concentrations that feed yeast so these should be avoided. ... The Fibromyalgia diet that I described in Chapter 17 is also a good antiyeast diet. [see “Why Weight Gain is a Problem With Fibro, and What to Do About It” http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm?id=7468&T=CFIDS_FM ]

   In addition to watching the carbohydrates, you should make sure to get enough fiber in your diet because that will help eliminate toxins and unwanted yeast in the bowel. ...

August 30, 2006
The Difference Between
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
- Which Disease is Worse?
Rich Carson, ProHealth Founder and CFS Patient

FM and CFS are distinct diseases that share many of the same symptoms.
Problems with sleep, pain, digestion, fatigue, and memory are common to both, yet a trained physician can differentiate between the two.

How? The secret is in the expression of the syndromes' most common symptoms: pain and fatigue.
Both often involve pain - muscle pain, head pain, joint pain, and general body pain. But FM takes top honors in this category, involving long-term pain in all four quadrants of the body. FM is also distinguished by "tender points," 18 predefined points on the body that are painful when a specified amount of pressure is applied. If you have CFS, yet suffer with pain all over your body, ask your doctor to do a tender-point test. If you have pain in 11 or more of these points, you probably also have FM.

Fatigue is the hallmark of CFS; yet FM patients may experience severe fatigue as well.
The key difference here is that most CFS patients usually pay a huge price for physical exertion - one that frequently involves paralyzing fatigue, along with extraordinary malaise, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, and a host of other symptoms, some of which seem to be caused by immune system activation.

Which disease extracts the greatest toll on its sufferers?
Is it the incapacitating pain of FM, or the paralyzing fatigue of CFS? That's easy. It's the disease that you have. If you have both, it's the one that you had first, because it's the one that rewrote your life's script and seemed to leave you vulnerable to the second. ...

Studies Indicate Magnesium & Malic Acid.
Beneficial for FM Muscle Comfort and Energy.
August 18, 2006

Clinical studies consistently find individuals with FM and CFS tend to be deficient in the mineral magnesium (Mg) - a key to cellular energy production and muscle comfort. ... most favor a combination of Mg plus malic acid, an extract of tart apples ...

Magnesium plays a role in at least 300 biochemical functions in the body.
One of the most important is that it activates almost all the enzymes involved in transforming fat and sugar into high-energy adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s energy source ...

Blood tests alone don’t tell the whole Mg story, says Dr. Cheney, because they are not sensitive to intra-cellular magnesium.1 “Magnesium, like potassium, is pumped into the cell, so [there should be] a higher concentration inside the cell than there is in the blood,” he explains. “And that pump mechanism may not work very well in people with CFS, so their magnesium levels can be normal in the blood and low in the cell.” ...

Critical New Piece of Fibromyalgia Puzzle Found?
Rich Carson, ProHealth Founder and CFS Patient, Sept 13, 2006

... Specifically, the hippocampus is extremely sensitive to stress, and in fact is the brain organ that enables us to respond to environmental stressors in a way that helps us avoid danger. The best example of the beneficial stress response is when our ancestors crossed paths with a saber tooth tiger - an immediate "fight or flight" response was mandatory to ensure survival.

Studies have shown that chronic stress, however, can contribute to a disruption of normal hippocampus function. The hippocampus plays a major role in pain perception and memory formation, and it is involved in controlling the production of that crucial brain neurotransmitter, dopamine. Dopamine abnormalities have been linked to "restless leg syndrome," increased pain, and feelings of self doubt, anxiety, and problems with memory formation. ...

Pramipexole, sold under the brand name Mirapex™, is approved for treatment for Parkinson's disease - a primary dopamine disorder. Patients experienced significant improvement in their symptoms. Another drug that affects dopamine and has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for restless legs syndrome - ropinirole - also met with remarkable success in another recent Fibromyalgia study conducted by Dr. Holman. ...

The Amazing Transfer Factor
- A Transferable Immune "Database"
Rich Carson, ProHealth Founder and CFS Patient, 09-13-2006

The term “transfer factor” refers to the body’s mechanism for communicating information throughout the immune system about infectious agents it has encountered. ...

* In all animals, certain disease-fighting immune cells – helper T-cells – learn “on the job” about the world’s myriad bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms, both useful and potentially harmful. The helper T-cells then pass on or transfer specific messages about each threat they’ve encountered to other types of immune system cells – instructing them about how to recognize and fend off these known invaders in any re-infection. The messages are carried by a molecule so minute it cannot be seen with a microscope: transfer factor.

* Additionally, transfer factor enables all animal mothers to pass their lifetime “database” on encounters with infective agents to their newborn offspring: This is an instant immune system for the chick, calf, or human child, who would otherwise have to develop an immune database the hard way, through infection. Mammals, for example, pass on transfer factor via the colostrum in their very first breast milk; and egg laying species pass it on within the yolk of the egg. While the baby’s digestive system would break down larger molecules, and anything as big as a whole immune cell, the transfer factor molecule is so tiny it can pass through the gut lining and into the blood unaltered.

* Transfer factor molecules have also proven to be essentially identical among different species, and therefore capable of communicating immune system knowledge from species to species. Supplement makers have developed ways to extract highly filtered and purified, nonallergenic, transfer factor from plentiful sources – such as the colostrum of cows that have just calved, and the yolks of hens’ eggs. This is useful because animals and humans share potential exposure to many of the same organisms in air, water, ingested foods, soil, and animal waste products – E. coli bacteria being just one example. ...

* ... benefits for some individuals of supplementation with “targeted” transfer factor – produced when the animal source of the transfer factor is “primed” via exposure to specific organisms. An Italian study of women with recurrent non-bacterial cystitis who seemed to have an impaired cellular immune response to Candida (yeast) and/or herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections found a significantly improved cystitis relapse rate during six months of supplementation with Candida/HSV-targeted transfer factor.3

Non-bacterial cystitis (also known as painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis and by other names) is frequently diagnosed in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients of both sexes. Overall, while drugs such as antibiotics tend to work instead of the immune system, transfer factor supports the immune system.

[Transfer Factors may also be inhibited by Energy Blocks and destructive Imprinting patterns as well as infections and illnesses acquired in the first 3 months of human life before the human immune system has developed to any degree.]

Betaine Hydrochloride Supplementation
beneficial for Many FM Patients
Rich Carson, ProHealth Founder and CFS Patient, 09-01-2006

Betaine hydrochloride, derived from beets, is near the top of the list of dietary supplement and health aid rocommendations that CFS specialist Paul Cheney, M.D., Ph.D. had developed for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients. Why? “Because most CFS patients don’t have enough stomach acid, and Betaine (hydrochloric acid) is stomach acid,” ...

* Hydrochloric acid is responsible for converting another stomach secretion - pepsinogen - to pepsin, an enzyme largely responsible for breaking proteins down into substances that the body can absorb more easily.

* This is considered “the first step” in digestion, and is ultimately a necessity for cellular growth and repair.

* Hydrochloric acid also works in the stomach to fight infection of the digestive system by microorganisms such as bacteria that are ingested in food and water - since most of these are destroyed by an adequately acidic environment. Dr. Cheney notes that “a UCLA study of 52 FM/CFS patients found [small intestine bacterial overgrowths (SIBO)] in 90 percent of the patients.” Low levels of stomach acid may create a Ph in the small intestine that facilitates the overgrowth of bacteria. This may cause inflammation and even leaky gut syndrome.

* Further,it is thought that many people suffer recurrent yeast infections because low levels of stomach acid allow them to be reinfected continually by yeast consumed with their food. ...

* ... if there isn’t enough digestive acid in the stomach after food is ingested (with hyperchlorhydria), the valve at the stomach’s base that releases food into the small intestine may not open as it normally would, Dr. Cheney has explained. Then, the food/stomach acid mixture may be forced back up toward the esophagus, creating a burning sensation similar to the one associated with acid reflux. And the mistaken addition of antacid remedies to the mix is likely to create a “vicious cycle.” 2

One test for hypochlorhydria is to determine the extent of undigested protein in the stool.
There is also a definitive test of stomach acidity, called the Heidelberg test. It involves swallowing a “telemetry” device the size of a large vitamin capsule, and tracking the acidity-level signals it broadcasts from the stomach as doses of acid-neutralizing sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are ingested. If the acid level doesn’t return after a few doses, hypochlorhydria is a likely diagnosis. A simple preliminary test is to drink a small amount of baking soda in water first thing in the morning. If you have not belched within a few minutes, you may not be producing enough stomach acid, since hydrochloric acid reacts with baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas.3

Conversely, if an individual takes a dose of a Betain hydrochloride supplement (this should always be at the start of a meal) and experiences the warmth/burning or indigestion associated with excess acid, further B-CHl supplementation is not advisable, and a neutralizing teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in water should provide relief. ...

[Caution:]
1. People using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (NSIADs), cortisone-like drugs, or other medications with the potential to cause a peptic ulcer (a break or sore in the tissue lining the upper digestive tract) should avoid supplementation with Betaine hydrochloride.

Is it Fatigue or Is It Depression?
by Michael McNett, MD, Medical Director
of the Fibromyalgia Treatment Centers of America
Sept 13, 2006

For anyone suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS) or Fibromyalgia (FMS), it’s normal to feel down in the dumps. These conditions can dramatically limit your life, leaving you in a situation that may bear no resemblance to how you had always imagined yourself living. Being forced into a quality of life far below your desires naturally causes a great deal of anger and sadness. If it’s bad enough and lasts long enough, you may develop full-blown depression.

While depression and sadness look very similar, they are very different processes in the brain.

Sadness is about a particular situation, but depression is about life itself.
Also, while sadness is temporary and causes no long-term problems, depression involves a change in how the brain works. If left untreated, these changes may result in a permanent “rewiring” of the brain which can make it very hard for the brain not to be depressed. As a result, the longer and more severe a person’s depression, the greater the likelihood of recurring depressions over the course of the lifetime. ..

You may think, “If I could just get my health back, I’d be ok.”
Actually, this isn’t true. Once depression has developed, simply taking away the cause doesn’t cure the depression – it becomes self-sustaining. As an example, a healthy person wins the lottery and dances in the streets. A depressed person wins it and stays awake at night worrying about all the taxes they have to pay. In a very real way, depression takes over your mind and guides how you think – always toward negativity and victimization. ...

One primary way to tell the difference is the idea of hopelessness and helplessness.
If there are things a patient can do to help themselves (for example, taking medication) and they say, “What’s the use? It won’t help anyway,” that’s depression talking. Unwillingness to do physical therapy, prioritize how energy is spent on activities, keep doctor appointments, exercise, or do biofeedback may be signs that depression is developing. ...

Typically, the patient is the last person to recognize these problems. ...

There are several types of treatment for depression.
Exercise is very helpful (though it can be hard for CFIDS/FMS sufferers). Psychological counseling is important, as well. Grieving is a key factor in healing – it’s very important to let out the feelings you have about your situation. In addition, cognitive therapy can be important in helping you learn how to cope with your medical condition. Occasionally, deeper psychotherapy may also be indicated to deal with life-long patterns that may predispose you to depression. ...

NOTE:
Patients should be aware that certain medical conditions and medications can cause symptoms of depression. For example, thyroid hormone and nutritional imbalances, beta blockers, certain sleep medications and other drugs and conditions can cause you to feel depressed. ...

Preliminary Study of D-Ribose Promising

Doctor Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, Nov 2006
D-Ribose - a familiar carbohydrate (sugar) supplement known to fuel cellular production of the energy molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - "significantly reduced clinical symptoms" in two-thirds of CFS and FM patients

Correcting Disordered Sleep in CFS
Blake Graham, a Clinical Nutritionist,
"Everyone with CFS has disordered sleep, many not realizing it - and most require a multifaceted approach to get their sleep under control," ... describes scores of non-drug approaches, including light therapy and diet.

Garlic - The Immune Support Natural
Jill Neimark
Garlic is a remarkable food source with an incredible spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungal infections, and viruses. And supplements may deliver much of this activity best. ...

Many folks with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia suffer from chronic infections.
Garlic is a remarkable food source with an incredible spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungal infections, and viruses. Now, with new and stable formulations available, garlic supplements can be used to combat infections naturally, according to chemist Peter Josling, Director of the Garlic Center in Sussex, England

Evening Primrose Oil.
Now Gathering Respect for its Support of Healthful Cellular Functioning,..
Rich Carson, ProHealth Founder and CFS Patient, 09-27-2006

... supplementation with evening primrose oil plus fish oil may offer a nutrient-based “avenue” for support of proper cellular functioning in some patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

What is evening primrose oil?
It is a nearly-unique direct dietary source of a particular omega-6 essential fatty acid – gamma linolenic acid (GLA) – derived from the seeds of a wildflower originating in the Americas. “Essential” means GLA is a nutrient considered crucial for healthful cellular functioning, which like most vitamins must be derived from food sources because the body cannot manufacture it from scratch. Borage oil and black current oil are the only other commonly available supplemental sources of GLA. ...

* Most of the omega-6 essential fatty acids (including the linoleic-acid-rich corn, sunflower, and soybean oils commonly used in dressings and cooking) tend to promote the “inflammatory response” – without which our bodies could not fight infections or heal injuries. Temporary swelling and fever are the signs of infection-fighting and healing processes at work.

* The omega-3 essential fatty acids tend to balance the inflammatory response by supporting an anti-inflammatory action. The omega-3’s are plentiful, for example, in flax seed, oily fish, leafy green vegetables, nuts, fruits, and the lean meat and eggs of animals fed on omega-3 rich grains and greens. This anti-inflammatory response/balance is needed to avoid chronic inflammation and pain. (Omega-9 essential fatty acids, plentiful in a few foods such as olive oil - as in “the Mediterranean diet” - also support anti-inflammatory action.)

* Importantly, even when dietary intake of omega-6 essential fatty acids far outbalances the omega-3 intake, our bodies normally metabolize some of the omega-6 linoleic acid (LA) to produce GLA. This is the same gamma-linolenic acid that rare nutrients such as evening primrose oil can provide directly – and GLA is a maverick in the omega-6 essential fatty acid family, in that it also can support a balancing anti-inflammatory action.

GLA accomplishes this by playing a role in the production of various hormone-like substances called “prostaglandins.” These are known to help inflammation, aid in digestion, regulate hormones in the menstrual cycle, and much more. Nursing infants receive the benefits of GLA as a component of breast milk if the mother is healthy and well nourished, and in Japan, for example, GLA in the form of evening primrose oil is a standard component of infant formulas to make it more like breast milk.

* But sometimes the body’s ability to convert omega-6 LA to GLA as needed is compromised. ...

1. Modern food processing methods change the structure of omega-6 LA fatty acid to “trans fatty acids,” and these “actually block the normal conversion process,” ... are used in scores of foods, from cookies, frostings, and chips to margarine and microwave popcorn.

2. ... a release of significant amounts of the hormones adrenaline and hydrocortisone during stress; aging; certain conditions such as diabetes; and high alcohol intake. ... “this metabolic step has also been shown to be reduced in people who have certain forms of eczema, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and viral infections.”

3. ... “CFS may be associated with persistent viral infections,” which in turn “are likely to impair the ability of the body to biosynthesize omega-3 and omega-6 long-chain fatty acids by inhibiting the delta-6 desaturation” process, ... “viruses, as part of their attack strategy, may reduce the ability of cells to make 6-desaturated essential fatty acids.” ...

But importantly, nutritionists add, the body will still be unable to utilize GLA efficiently to support anti-inflammatory processes if it is deficient in some other essential nutrients. Chief among these required helper nutrients are the mineral magnesium, zinc, and the vitamins C, B-3, and B-6. ...

[Caution]
.. people with allergies to plants, schizophrenia, epilepsy, or any seizure disorder should never take evening primrose oil. In particular, anyone taking anti-seizure drugs should avoid taking it because it may interfere with the action of these medications. Likewise, evening primrose oil should not be taken by individuals using any of the following prescription and over-the-counter drugs: aspirin, “neuroleptic” agents designed to have a tranquilizing or calming effect, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) used for pain relief/reduction of inflammation, or warfarin or other anti-clotting agents.

2006-10-11
Experimenting.

Learning to manage our pain will most likely be a lifelong process.
We will be constantly experimenting. Trying this and trying that, while putting together different combinations to see what's effective and what's not.

This is sure to require courage, willingness, and patience.
Most of the time our answers will not be found on the first try but eventually we are sure to find what we are looking for. As time passes, we must realize that what has been so effective for us may fade away and no longer work. Our bodies are constantly changing and they may require us to change our methods as well. When we're willing to change and grow with our bodies, chances are we will be pleasantly surprised by the results.

from: Living With Chronic Pain One Day At A Time,
by Mark Allen Zabawa

2006-10-11
Applying for Social Security Disability and SSI, USA
by Drew L. Johnson, PC
from the Website of Drew L. Johnson, PC
http://www.drewlj.com/index.html.

Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, also called DIB, SSD, or Title 2 benefits, are for any disabled person who can no longer work, but who has the required history of working. The disabled person's spouse, dependent children and parents, and even a divorced spouse might also be able to get DIB. This program is an insurance program. While a person works he or she pays money into the Social Security system and is eligible to get benefits if he or she becomes disabled and can no longer work.

SSI (also called Title 16) benefits are for any person who is blind, disabled or elderly (65 or over) and who meets certain income and resource rules. You do not need to have a work history. The income rules depend on your living arrangements and whether you apply as a single person or couple. Resources include cash, savings, investments and valuables. But they do not include a needed car, your home, ordinary belongings, or some life insurance policies.

To get benefits from the DIB or SSI disability programs you must show you are "disabled."
"Disabled" means that a physical and/or mental impairment or impairments keep you from working any regular, paying job. Your disability must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months, or be expected to result in death. It is normally not enough to show that you cannot do your old job. You must show that you cannot do any kind of full-time work, taking into consideration your age, education and experience. Different rules apply if you are over 50 years of age. You cannot get benefits if you are able to work, even if no one will hire you.

Apply as soon as possible after disability occurs.
You do not need to wait 12 months to apply. An application for DIB may also be filed after the death of a disabled worker. You must apply within three months of the worker's death. If the claim is approved, back payments may be made for some months before the worker died.

You must make an appointment to apply.
You can make this appointment at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

To get SSI or DIB, you must have medical evidence that shows you have some physical or mental impairment(s) that makes you unable to work. Medical evidence includes doctor or hospital reports, chart notes, test results, and letters. The more medical evidence you have the better chance you will have of winning benefits. List all the medical evidence that you have when you apply.

What can I do if I am denied benefits?

Many people do not get benefits when they first apply, but don't be discouraged.
You can many times get benefits by appealing and having a Social Security hearing.

Most people are denied benefits because the SSA thinks:
• The evidence does not show a serious medical problem; or
• The disability won't last 12 months; or
• The person can do some type of work even if it is not their regular work.

If you think Social Security was wrong in denying you DIB or SSI benefits you can fight the decision by: 1) asking for a reconsideration and (if you still don't get benefits), 2) then asking for a hearing. ...

Can I be represented at the hearing?
You can go to the hearing with a lawyer.
You do not have to have a lawyer, but if you can get a lawyer to represent you, you have a better chance of winning.

[The article continues with a LIST of the Benefits of having a lawyer followed by other info including:
Preparation, Your Testamony, Other Witnesses.]

2006-10-25
What Has Worked for You?

[# Email addresses and instant messenger information MAY NOT be shared on the message board for safety reasons. They MAY be shared in the chat rooms at your discretion.]

... you readers are the real mother lode of useful health tips and discoveries.
Over the years, I have seen thousands of you - not just patients, but involved family members, caregivers, therapists, and medical professionals too - all generously sharing your findings and ideas in support group meetings and in the ImmuneSupport.com chat rooms and message boards.

Whether we are struggling with a disability today, or seeing some hopeful improvement, as one reader said this week, "I need to hear more... I need the inspiration to keep me going."

Now I'd like to issue an open invitation:
Please write to tell the community about what has worked for you, big or small.
It might be a coping strategy, a drug, a nutritional supplement, an inspirational quote or meditation, a support group, a good doctor, a way of exercising. Maybe something you learned to avoid. You name it, the list goes on.

To share your personal experience or helpful tip and to read others' contributions, just go to "What Worked For Me". As a formality, you will have to register with a personal password - a step that takes less than a minute.

I'm convinced that we will win better health only by working together.
So let's get busy and see what results we can create.

Replies include: from October 25 to December 19, 2006

• Transfer factor had the most obvious impact because it helped lift the brain fog, ..
  Magnesium--I'm low in this anyway (As are a lot of CFS sufferers)!
  But I really notice a difference if I don't take it. I take at least 1000mg over the course of the day ..

• D-ribose -- Take two teaspoons 3 times a day.
  Within a week my muscle pain was utterly gone, about 10-20% improvement in my overall health I'd say. ...

• I read some really great stuff about
  cardiac/mitochondria malfunction,
  http://www.cfids-cab.org/MESA/Lerner.html#Cheney.
  ... I took the supplements in it and I DO feel better.
  
  

• Going to bed at about 10pm helps (I am bad at this) but when I do it, I feel a LOT better the next day. They say 1 hour of sleep before midnight is worth 2 after. I thought it was hooey, (I'm a night owl) but I tried it anyway because I wanted to get better so badly. It really helps a lot. Try it! Go to bed at 10pm and get up at 8am or earlier. Do it for a week and see if it helps at all. ...

• Don't Listen to anyone who tells you Exercise can Cure You!
  If the tests are right and it's a problem with metabolism, you're only going to prolong your illness (ironic, huh?). Also, I tried all the easiest exersizes in the world, and it really wiped me out. I bet the same happens to most CFS sufferers. ...
  
  

• Every bioidentical hormone I can find.
  T3, progesterone, estrogen, oxytocin, pregnenelone, DHEA, testosterone.
  Florinef (a medication that makes up for lack of aldosterone.)
  They've all been extremely helpful.
  My adrenals seem to have gotten stronger over time
  (maybe due to supplementation with ginseng and/or natural adrenal products?). ...

• Sinus yeast is a major energy destroyer (and caused me debilitating vertigo for a while).
  Thus far Diflucan (and to a lesser extent colloidal silver inhalations) have kept that under control. ...
  
  

• EFT / Emotional Freedom Technique www.emofree.com
  This technique is amazing, initially my rational mind couldn't understand it, but I tried it out on a number of day to day and then more deeper issues and found it helpful. Free to learn and you get helpful email updates. Also Carol Look and Dr Carrington's adaptions are easy to use. ...

• My chiropractor has been the biggest help.
  Along with regular treatments he started me on DSF, an adrenal supplement with vitamins. The DSF also eliminated about 90% of the RLS. ...

• Psychiatrist Patricia Carrington's newsletter
  http://www.eftupdate.com
  about the latest in EFT research and application.

More info and a list of practitioners
http://www.eftsupport.com

Kelowna Practitioners, 5 listed,
none in Penticton, Oliver, Kaleden, or Osoyoos
Janice Potter, BSc, ND
Email: famnatcare@hotmail.com
Phone: 250-762-5100
#230-1855 Kirschner Rd., Kelowna, BC, Canada V1V 1W6

FREE SAMPLE of EFT:
If you are unsure about what EFT can do for you I offer an intial free session of 30 min. in length. I have used EFT in hundreds of sessions, with groups and individuals and am constantly amazed at the results from this simple technique. At the end of our first session my clients have learned the basic protocol and are able to continue treating themselves at home.

I can do EFT over the phone.