BH CFS/FMS Support Group Links
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IMPORTANT! Before putting to personal use any health advice you find on the web, discuss it thoroughly with your health care provider.
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Some of the most reliable Web sites are those sponsored by major medical associations, hospitals, universities, or the government. The Food and Drug Administration gives tips on how to determine
whether a health or medicine web site is accurate and authentic.
Use their advice to make sure you don't get false information that
could actually be detrimental to your health. Visit
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/596_info.html |
The following links are meant to be informative and interesting.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Drugs, Supplements and Health Information
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Fibromyalgia and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Links
The CFIDS Association of America is the nation's leading charitable organization dedicated to conquering chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
The National CFIDS Foundation, Inc. was founded in February 1997 by two 14 year activists of the movement. The goals of the Foundation are to help fund medical research to expedite a treatment and eventual cure, to provide information, education, and support to those people who have Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction (CFIDS) -- also known as Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) -- and related illnesses such as Gulf War Illness.
Fibromyalgia Network is not only the name of a newsletter publication on FMS, but it also stands for a small group of patient advocates who maintain their Web site and answer a toll-free phone number, (800) 853-2929, for people living within North America. Their goal is to provide as much free information to anyone interested in learning more about FMS. You'll find up to the minute information about everything that's going on in the field of FMS.
The National Fibromyalgia Partnership, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization committed to the promotion of fibromyalgia education and awareness through the dissemination of quality, medically accurate information.
The National Fibromyalgia Association (previously known as the National Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign) is a [501(c) 3] nonprofit organization whose mission is: To develop and execute programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with Fibromyalgia by increasing the awareness of the public, media, government and medical communities.Immune Support is the largest CFS & FMS site on the Web.
The American Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (AACFS) is a non-profit organization of research scientists, physicians, licensed medical healthcare professionals, and other individuals and institutions interested in promoting the stimulation, coordination, and exchange of ideas for CFS research and patient care as well as periodic reviews of current clinical, research and treatment ideas on CFS for the benefit of CFS patients and others.
The CFIDS CFS M.E. FMS GWS Directory
Information on CFS/FMS and much more.
A new Web site offers CFS, FMS and GWS
information on the various causes of symptoms, the tests for each, and the
treatment for each. It advocates an
approach based on biochemistry, scientific research, and medical evidence
without prejudice to any one form of medicine.
Check it out at http://www.BeatCfsAndFms.org/index.html.
Cuddle Ewe Underquilt’s web site has some good FMS information in it. Check them out at http://www.cuddleewe.com/.
The CDC lists CFS support groups at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs/support/supus.htm.
Fibrohugs (largest interactive FMS site designed for the entire family): http://www.fibrohugs.com/
Fibromyalgia Patient Support Center (discussion board/information for people who are concerned about FMS) http://www.fmpsc.org/
Fibromyalgia Online offers a bi-monthly online newsletter from the
National Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign. Check
it out at http://fmaware.org/.
CINDA, the Chronic Immune and Neurological Diseases Association, was developed to address the issues of all “invisible” diseases. It is an Internet-based advocacy organization supporting education and promoting the goals of all invisible disease groups. They offer listings of support groups, advocacy groups, medical information, and personal web sites. CINDA also offers a full-service public relations department. Check it out at: http://www.cinda.org/welcome/welcome.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CFS page: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs.
The Invisible Disabilities Advocate (IDA) is a great site. Do your loved ones have a difficult time understanding your illness, because to them you "LOOK" fine? IDA's publications help friends and family see the courage and determination it takes to live with a disabling illness, amidst the challenges, frustration and losses.
William Collinge, PhD, who pioneered the first mind/body medicine program for CFS, has made his book, Recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Guide to Self-Empowerment available free online at www.healthy.net/collinge/cfs.htm. It describes the nature and course of CFS, and the key principles and practices that have helped many former sufferers heal and reclaim their lives. Collinge reports, “CFS remains a complex chronic illness with no medical cure. Self-empowerment remains the most viable pathway for coping and promoting the recovery process.
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Drugs, Supplements and Health Information Links
It’s important to consult your physician for possible drug interactions or other risks BEFORE using any dietary supplements.
For pharmaceutical drug information, check the Physician's Desk Reference site at http://consumer.pdr.net.
RX List, the Internet drug index. At this site you can learn about side effects, effectiveness as well as interaction and more for thousands of different drugs. There's also a medical encyclopedia, medical humor and free newsletters. Visit them at: http://www.rxlist.com/
Health Central (pharmacology information): http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/
These
websites provide drug and health information
to consumers:
http://consumer.pdr.net/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DrugGuide/default.asp.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science; training CAM researchers; and disseminating authoritative information. Visit them at: http://nccam.nih.gov/.
For more information on supplements,
visit these Web sites:
http://www.ftc.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/
http://www.quackwatch.com/
http://www.cspinet.org/
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After five years of focusing on information for medical
professionals on the Internet, Medscape (http://www.medscape.com/)
has set up a new site (produced in
conjunction with CBS) for consumers at http://www.cbs.medscape.com/.
Users of it will no longer have to scan through medical jargon to get
answers to their questions. The
Health Manager tool can track special interest areas.
It is free, but registration is required.
Medical professionals can access the more clinical and
research-oriented site at http://www.medscape.com/.
Medical Matrix (free directory of selected medical sites): http://www.medmatrix.org/index.asp
Health Magazine’s Whole Health MD (in-depth information on nearly100 diseases and conditions): http://www.health.com/.
MedScape (http://www.medscape.com/) is an online, peer-reviewed medical site covering a variety of topics.
The American Medical Association’s web site offers biographical data on more than 650,000 physicians: http://www.ama-assn.org/.
Healthfinder (http://www.healthfinder.gov/) was developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services. This site will help you find authoritative government and nonprofit groups concerned with specific diseases and conditions.
National Library of Medicine (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/) provides access to PubMed, the world's largest collection of medical information, featuring more than nine million references from medical journals around the world.
Kids Health offers up-to-date information about childhood diseases, infections, and more. Check out http://www.kidshealth.org./.
The National Library of Medicine provides access to PubMed, the world's largest collection of medical information, featuring more than nine million references from medical journals around the world. Check out http://www.nlm.nih.gov/.
Mayo Health Oasis, operated by the renowned Mayo Clinic, draws on the resources of its world-class staff and is updated on a daily basis. Check out http://www.mayohealth.org/.
Click on HealthSCOUT at http://www.phys.com/ and http://www.usatoday.com/. It contains concise information and goes out of its way to expose quackery and hype. They'll also send an e-mail alert whenever news breaks that's unusually important for you or your family.
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If
you’re looking for a good Web site on nutrition, try the National Institute
of Digestive and Kidney Diseases at http://www.niddk.nih.gov/.
Tufts University Nutrition Navigator
rates and reviews Web nutrition sites for accuracy, depth, and usefulness of
information. Check it out at (http://www.navigator.tufts.edu/).
The
United States Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and
Promotion site: http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/
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You can now locate information online about the
physicians who provide services at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Visit the
hospital's web site at http://www.rcrh.org and
select Medical Staff. You can search by name or by medical
specialty. Each physician's page includes a photo, professional
credentials, education and training as well as office address and telephone
number. A link is also provided to the physician's own web site if
available.
Melissa Kaplan's Chronic Neuroimmune Diseases web site has information on CFS, FMS, MCS and much more.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists CFS support groups at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs/support/supus.htm.
Nostalgic
for the simplicity of your old Underwood typewriter?
Not to worry! SeniorNet
is a San
Francisco-based Web site that offers senior Internet users all the advice, tips,
and hints they need to make the most out of the Web, from searching for
information to coping with computer hardware and software.
Online phone book: http://rw.qwestdex.com/
If you are looking for products that are free of dyes, perfume, fragrances and masking fragrance, parabens, lanolin and formaldehyde, check out the line of products that the PHARMACEUTICAL SPECIALTIES, INC. of Rochester, Minnesota has developed.
The Rapid City Regional Hospital Health Information Center offers free access to the general public to reliable, up-to-date health information resources to patients, families and the general public. The collection includes easy-to-read books and newsletters, videos and Internet access. Books and videos in the Health Information Center may be checked out free of charge. The library staff will mail information to those who are home-bound or live a long distance from the hospital. Go to: http://www.rcrh.org.
The Invisible Disabilities Advocate (IDA) is a great site. Do your loved ones have a difficult time understanding your illness, because to them you "LOOK" fine? IDA's publications help friends and family see the courage and determination it takes to live with a disabling illness, amidst the challenges, frustration and losses.
If you missed voting last year, absentee voting may be the answer for you.
Many books on CFS/FMS are available at Rapid City Public Library.
WRITE NOW: MAINTAINING A CREATIVE SPIRIT WHILE HOMEBOUND AND ILL is available without charge to patient groups, service providers and individuals through a grant from the Puffin Foundation, LTD and via support from the New Jersey CFS Association, and the National Association for Poetry Therapy.
Learn about the envelope theory.
Donating blood is not recommended for those with CFIDS.
Alternatives are available for toxic household products.
Suicide is not an option -- Twenty-five Reasons to Avoid Suicide by Susan Dion
The Art of Drawing a Blank: Fibromyalgia and Memory
Prescribed Medications for Fibromyalgia: By Mark Pellegrino, M.D.