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 Have you considered trying the expert patient programme? This month, Ann Tee from the Black Country support group, explains how this course originated and how it could possibly help you cope with living with fibromyalgia. Anne was so impressed with the course that she trained to be a tutor to teach others the skills she had learnt.
Also, read about raising national awareness as Pam Stewart attends a European meeting in Brussels and the FM awareness coffee morning takes place at Westminster.
With the summer now in full swing, you may be setting off on holiday either abroad or in this country. Why not write in and tell us about your adventures.
With best wishes,
Kathy Longley (FMA UK Editor)(Subscribe to FaMily Magazine to get more of these articles)
Each month articles included in FaMily Magazine will be previewed on
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Raising FM Awareness in Europe by Pam Stewart
I recently attended a special roundtable meeting in Brussels on 6th May
to formalise a declaration on fibromyalgia to be presented to the
European Commission from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). At
the meeting, attended by 13 European Network of Fibromyalgia
Associations (ENFA) representatives from nine different EU countries
along with MEPs, a draft declaration and strategic plan……
International FM Awareness Day Coffee Morning by Jean Turner, APPG Coordinator
The International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Coffee Morning was held on
12th May 2008 from 10.00am to 12noon in the Atlee Suite, Portcullis
House, Westminster, London. It was not a formal meeting but a time for
sufferers and MPs to meet to discuss the problems we encounter living
with fibromyalgia. As MPs are very busy people, most were unable to
stay for the whole two hours but took the opportunity to come and meet
their constituents during part of the morning. It was also good to
meet up with FM groups from around the country……
The Black Country Group's trip to London by Patricia Rogers
We had a very good trip to London. We arrived just after 10am, dropped
off outside Portcullis House, just over the road from the Houses of
Parliament. After going through a rigorous security check we proceeded
to the Atlee Suite where we met other groups from FMA UK. Everyone was
friendly and warm towards us. Coffee, juice and biscuits were
available throughout the morning. A few of the MPs were already there……
To EPP or not EPP is that Your Question? By Anne Tee
Many of us living with fibromyalgia may have seen EPP posters or flyers
in our GP surgery or the local hospital. So what is EPP? It is the
Expert Patient Programme. What is it?
Essentially it is a programme of sessions designed to help self manage
a chronic long-term condition. That sounds very much what people with
FM may want to do - self manage!.....
Different ways you may give birth with Midwife Denyse Moore
Every birth is unique! There are a multitude of factors that may
influence each form of delivery. Vaginal birth is the most common and
so will be the topic for this month. Induction of labour
Induction of labour may be recommended if you go more than 10-12 days
overdue. The best way for you to be induced is to have your waters
broken followed by an oxytocin drip (drug to stimulate contractions) if
required. Women with FMS may find that the rapid onset of labour is
painful as natural labour usually begins more slowly allowing you to
build up your endorphin levels. Ways you can lessen your pain is by
walking around the labour room…..
Getting Active for FM Awareness by Robert Powell
I'm told that it's often easier to deal with a medical condition once
you can give it a name, once the diagnosis gives it an identity. In
our case, my wife's diagnosis of fibromyalgia brought mixed feelings.
It was certainly instructive to finally have an answer to all of the
bizarre, and seemingly unconnected bouts of anxiety and panic, nose and
stomach problems, and of course the ubiquitous muscular distress, but
also not that much of a comfort given that neither of us had ever heard
of it, and the name itself (without the benefit of a public school
Latin education) sounds pretty scary…….
Could You Have an Inhalant Allergy? By Dr. Myhill
‘Invisible’ inhalable irritants such as dust mites, mould, danders and
pollens cause a variety of physical problems. Dr. Sarah Myhill, a
UK-based preventive medicine and fatigue specialist, offers some basic
advice on the signs of these sensitivities and how to deal with them….
Is Pain a Cause or Symptom of Depression?
Pain is depressing, and depression causes and intensifies pain. People
with chronic pain have three times the average risk of developing
psychiatric symptoms — usually mood or anxiety disorders — and
depressed patients have three times the average risk of developing
chronic pain…
Advice to FM Patients
- Focus on what you need to do to get better, not what caused your illness.
Look forward, not backwards.
- Look for treatments, not cures.
Physicians cure very few chronic medical illnesses; FM/CFS is not likely to be one of them.
- Find a health care provider who will work with you….
Christine’s Cookbook
This month’s recipes both contain herbs, a plant source with
detoxifying qualities. Herbs also help to support the immune system and
have natural healing powers. They are safe and gentle in the amounts
used to flavour foods.
Brian Barr Wins Full £100,000 Insurance Claim for Norwich Woman
Mrs GL of Norwich was injured in a lifting incident at work in June and
September 2004. She suffered a back injury which became chronic and she
developed fibromyalgia. Mrs GL claimed under her Accident Protection
policy. She was unable to work after the second accident and claimed
under the Permanent Total Disablement Section of the policy. She had to
establish that she had sustained accidental bodily injury which within
twelve months resulted solely and independently of any cause in death,
permanent disability or hospitalisation….
Improving the Doctor-Patient Interaction for Fibromyalgia Sufferers
The quality of the interaction between the patient and their doctor is
extremely important in chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia
syndrome (FMS). However, unsuccessful attempts to control FMS often
lead to frustration for both the doctor and the patient. Doctors find
it difficult to treat FMS due to the lack of medication available and
the wide range of symptoms experienced by sufferers. On the other
hand, FMS patients frequently feel misunderstood, rejected, belittled
and ignored by doctors…Subscribe to FaMily Magazine to get more of these articles
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