Surfing the net, for fibromyalgia info….

In my free time for the day (wish I could insert hysterical laughter here) I’ve just about finished my weekly research for new articles, topics, papers, etc dealing with fibromyalgia.

I try to dig within the depths of the internet a little each week, and then post my findings into my forum, on my website (menwithfibro.com) and this week, the info ranged from the sublime, the absurd, and some really neat tidbits.

The run of the mill “cures” seemed to be more rampant this week, perhaps some of these companies were hoping for people with fibro to find their little cures wrapped in Christmas cheer under the tree.   One woman was drinking some type of energy water, and it had completely changed her life.  This magic wonderful water containing God in Heaven only knows what, could turn your fibro symptoms into faded memories.  By the way, she just so happened to sell this water to you at a reduced price!   Who would ever thought?

As a child, I was an avid fan of the old TV series Gunsmoke, mainly because it was one of the few stations we could receive out in the country, and because it was one of the shows my Dad insisted we all watch.  He enjoyed it, and consequently, so should we.   After all these years one episode still sticks out in my mind, and it was about a Medicine Man who came through town, selling his Miracle Tonic.  I just had a flash back to the actors on a creek, filling up bottles of the miraculous tonic, and adding some other flavoring & coloring to the bottle, before they topped it off, and put it in the box.

Obviously, I probably should be ashamed  of myself for making the assumption the energy water is nothing short of a miracle.  And even more ashamed I am subconsciously comparing them to Snake Oil!

Vitamins, herbs, patches, ointments, creams, and oodles and boodles of products were just waiting for the phone call, the swipe of the credit card, and then would arrive at my front door.   And I am certain, each were jam packed with every possible miracle known to mankind.   I would not be surprised if one could be cured of almost anything, with some of them just sitting on the shelf.   Even unopened, their ancient, futuristic, and closely guarded healing powers could radiate from the depths of the bottle, tube, or box itself.

One thing I did find a free Pain Tracker proved to be very interesting.   It is a website, where you can log in, (membership is free, and required) and record your daily pain levels.   You can even record some of the other related symptoms of fibromyalgia on a regular basis.   Membership is quick, and access is immediate.   The Pain Tracker is part of the MEDHELP website, and by it is located at   http://www.medhelp.org/land/pain-tracker

I thought it was very well done, but I’m not sure it is something I would use.  Due to the constant pain in the evening, (when I have my Internet time) and dealing with fibrofog, there is a opportunity for fibrofog to intervene, and I’ll completely forget to track the pain.

I use a program called Smart Diary Fibromyalgia Edition for my charting of daily pain, it has so many features for anyone wanting to chart related information.  And with its other features, it is a powerful tool against FibroFog.
*If you might be interested in such a program, please don’t hesitate to contact me for more information.

A few articles did dampen my spirits, some of the drug companies which I know are doing research on new fibro medications, have made announcements they are laying off employees.  With the economy being such as it is, it was to be expected.  I pray this does not delay the research and eventual offering of the new medications.   Many are promising, and there are many waiting for the day to see if the will work for them.

While on the economy and fibro, there were numerous stories where families were losing their homes, due to the economic disasters we are seeing on the horizon.  Foreclosures, mortgage companies taking back homes, and families looking for somewhere to live, right here as the Holidays approach us all.   I can only imagine the stress levels one would have when faced with losing a home, trying to find another one on fairly short notice, disruption of the Christmas Holidays, and then the physical move from one home to the other.

My heart would have to go out to these families, disrupted, and probably distraught during these trying times.

Until next time!

BOB
aka/AchinDude