Here's a link to MedHelp's Health Pages for the Fibro / CFS forum (I'm the CL there). Some of the treatment plans that I posted for CFS are also treating various autoimmune conditions. I posted the links to these treatments and also links to success stories in case anyone is interested :
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Fibromyalgia/Treatments-for-Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome/show/453?cid=39
The physician who will be joining us in early October is Garth Nicholson, Ph.D. He is the founder of The Institute for Molecular Medicine and you can find his website online and read some of his research. What Dr. Nicholson and other physicians are discovering is the role that pathogens (mycoplasmas, etc) are playing in people with autoimmune diseases and syndromes (including fibro & CFS). My mother has Sjogren's syndrome and when I looked at the possible cause for her illness, I discovered that researchers suspected a viral / bacterial link. Well this was the same suspected trigger or cause with my illness (CFS) ! In addition to having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I also have a very high ANA titer, which indicates that I have some autoimmune issues and may have an autoimmune disease too. I could have Sjogren's, but I'm confident that the treatment that I'm doing is targeting not only my CFS, but my autoimmune problem as well.
I still think you should consider a chemical exposure for all of these symptoms in addition to whatever else might be the cause ... this is the most probable: for CFIDS in general, for CFS, FM. I know you have good definitions for the variations of each of these, however, the chemical that I suspect causes many variations
The proof is the fatigue that evades medical science: autoimmune hemolytic anemia, per research on what 2-butoxyethanol does ... and I suspect BUTYL in general.
I think there is something doctors are giving new moms during the birth of a baby ... that can cause these issues to show up.
Researchers cannot figure out what causes HELLP Syndrome.
Looks to me exactly like how exposure to BUTYL would look like
http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/hellpsyndrome.htm
They should also ask those in their research programs, "Do you have any short term memory loss?" MAYBE even the post partem blues ... another aspect of what EGBE exposure will do (Ethylene Glycol MonoBUTYL Ether)
I notice with the newest mom in our family, that she had horrible headaches, FATIGUE, memory loss (that I noticed by being around her a lot then) and now she is expecting another baby and her doctor says she is anemic and gave her an IV drip for iron
I am very concerned for her, and for baby, too, if neither are getting enough oxygen.
And the anemia she has ... I suspect is the anemia not found for the CFIDS, CFS, FM groups. I think it is more serious even than the cancers that can pop up later.
FIND 'the hard to find ANEMIA' - Is it part of CFIDS?
http://www.valdezlink.com/re/helps2.htm
Now 2-butoxyethanol is said to DEFAT the skin ... so that would really take moisture out of one's skin ... or even whole body. Accutane has a butylated inert ingredient, and I think it can dry out ones skin ... not just on the face, but everywhere else too. Warnings for the use of this acne medication is very much like that of 2-butoxyethanol.
Too much of any chemical (and meds are also chemicals) can cause a rash, or dryness. How does a body complain?
http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/howcomplain.htm
An annoying cough? What have you been doing differently than before the cough started?
I strongly urge you to listen to your body ... and especially look out for 'flu symptoms' the 'sniffles' ... diarrhea ... as these are reaction to BUYTL .. . not to a virus
http://www.valdezlink.com/re/avoidpesticides.htm
I have been diagnosed with Sjogrens, and I had the dryness in the mouth and eyes and vagina. I didn't have swelling, but did have burning along the jaw and below a bit. I looked up the salivary glands on the net and found that the burning pain is my salivary gland. BIOTENE is a brand name of toothpaste that works a little, they also have a gum and mouthwash. You can buy it at Target, walmart and K-mart. Probably walgreens also. Have you tried to coat your mouth with an oily spearmint type spray? I would think that would help some. I wouldn't know where to get it, but maybe a whole foods store would have it. There is probably spearmint oil in a bottle in GNC or some place like that. I will look for it and see if I can find anything. My dryness stopped after about a year. I only have it a little bit right now. But, then again, most of my symptoms are getting better all over. I am on Plaquenil and that has helped immensely, and have switched to a raw food diet and that helps my thirst. I do have trouble eating brocoli, as it sticks in my mouth and throat. But If I take tiny bites, that helps. Look on the net for BIOTENE products and see what they provide. Also check out Sjogrens dot org website. They have suggestions. Good luck to all of you.
HI, I am very new to this or any forum. I am also new, or perhaps in denial, about all of these medical issues. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Sjogrens and nerve damage of some sort.
I relate very well to the dry mouth, can't speak, swollen glands. I also have a very difficult time swallowing and have developed an annoying cough. The meds that the drs want to put me on scare me and I am trying to do this with diet, exercise and vitamins. I would be very interested in the doctor coming to do a forum. Is it Dr. Murphree? I just got his book on CFS and Fibro. We have no decent doctors out in the area where I live, but I do have a rheumatologist. She is about an hour away and difficult to see.
Do you all use anything like a certain type of toothpaste or mouthwash or throat spray when these symptoms get so bad? I'm not having any luck. I teach 44 kids one day a week and it's getting more and more difficult to keep talking for 3 hours.
Any information would be helpful.
Thank you.
MargueriteF
You're welcome ! I will definitely remember to post something here first.
Best,
PlateletGal