I need your help! Tomorrow will be one month since I developed neck pain/stiffness that is triggering a headache whenever I sit or stand for more than 30 minutes. I am having multiple headaches every day, which are only relieved when I lie down, and that is starting not to work now. :-( I've had an x-ray and MRI on my neck, and nothing abnormal showed up. My specialist believes the muscles/fascia in my neck are so tight, it is triggering tension headaches. So far, I've been doing the following to try to loosen up the muscles/fascia: massage therapy, myofascial release, chiropractic. dry … [Read more...]

1. Prohealth: The Cortene chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) drug trial begins I've read this drug may also hold promise as a potential treatment for chronic Lyme disease. 2. Pain News Network: New treatments on horizon for chronic pain From the article: "A new drug application has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for an 'opioid of the future' that is less addictive, and research has uncovered a new way to treat neuropathic pain long term with a single injection." 3. Cit2Bit Channel: Realizing remission in Lyme | Toxic is disease (YouTube video, 18 minutes) If … [Read more...]

Where I've been... Some of you may have noticed this is the first time I've posted since June 22. In late June, I confirmed through MRI that the disc in my back that was operated on in May has bulged again. Then, a day or so later, I started having unexplained neck pain, which triggers a headache anytime I am sitting or standing for more than a few minutes. I've spent most of the past two weeks in bed because lying down is the only position in which I can find any semblance of comfort. I'm going through the process of having imaging and seeing specialists now to figure out my next steps … [Read more...]

1. Intuition Physician: Morning light effectively treats fibromyalgia in just a few days From the article: "Just one hour of bright light each morning has been medically shown to decrease pain and sensitivity as well as increase functioning in patients with fibromyalgia." 2. Lyme Disease Association: Longhorned tick now confirmed in New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia and Arkansas A new tick has migrated from Asia to the U.S.! From the article: "The longhorned tick is self-cloning, and is already known to transmit several human diseases, including spotted fever rickettsiosis, in its … [Read more...]

Quick update... I'm sure some of you have noticed I've been MIA for a couple of weeks. I haven't been posting because I've been dealing with my first major Lyme flare in more than a year. I stopped taking my Lyme supplements for a couple of weeks before and after my back surgery last month, and that allowed the Lyme bacteria to reproduce and rebound with a vengeance. This recent flare has proven to me without a doubt that my Vital Plan supplements were obviously working and helping me a great deal - more than I realized! To end the flare, I went back on prescription antibiotics for a couple … [Read more...]

1. New York Times: FDA approves first drug designed to prevent migraines (Posting since migraines are a common comorbity of fibromyalgia.) From the article: "The drug, Aimovig, made by Amgen and Novartis, is a monthly injection with a device similar to an insulin pen. The list price will be $6,900 a year, and Amgen said the drug will be available to patients within a week." 2. Pain News Network: Four alternative therapies that help lower pain levels Columnist Barby Ingle explores the effectiveness of the Quell pain relief device, radiofrequency ablations, reflexology and sonopuncture, … [Read more...]

1. Change.org: $57.1 million Lyme disease lawsuit filed against CDC I'm thrilled to see this announcement! Please consider signing the accompanying petition. (Are you aware the standard testing used by most medical facilities misses around half of all Lyme cases? If you have fibromyalgia or ME/CFS and have tested negative for Lyme in the past, please read this! Since my diagnosis with chronic Lyme in 2016, I've had a number of fibro friends who have paid out of pocket for better testing and found out they have chronic Lyme. People with chronic Lyme are frequently misdiagnosed as having … [Read more...]

A quick note... I am having surgery this Monday on a herniated disc in my lower back. Depending on how I'm feeling, I may or may not post new content next week. If you feel called to do so, please send prayers and healing thoughts for a successful surgery and quick recovery. 1. PR Newswire: New hope for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) From the article: "The study's results identified that KPAX002 was most effective in subjects with more severe ME/CFS symptoms and those with both fatigue and pain...." 2. National Capital Lyme Disease … [Read more...]

1. Daily Mail: Top medical journals accused of skewing research by raking in millions of dollars in 'bribes' from drugs firms This is downright shocking! It's interesting that this didn't make big headlines in the U.S. - probably because the pharmaceutical industry spends so much on advertising with the major media companies. 2. I Told You I was Sick: The sure-fire way to get ANY doctor to listen and take you seriously! Blogger Jaime Heidel shares a simple strategy for getting your doctor to take action. 3. Fibromyalgia News Today: Biomarkers in saliva of fibromyalgia patients may … [Read more...]

1. New York Times: Many people taking antidepressants discover they cannot quit NYT did a great piece on the challenges of dealing with withdrawal symptoms when quitting Cymbalta and other antidepressants. 2. ME Association: Chronic fatigue syndrome possibly explained by lower levels of key thyroid hormones From the article: "Published in Frontiers in Endocrinology, the study indicates that CFS, a condition with unknown causes, can be explained by lower thyroid hormones - but may be distinct from thyroidal disease. This finding can be seen as a first step to finding treatment for a … [Read more...]