Fwd: May 12th is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome Awareness...

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Re: May 12th is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome Awareness Day

Please take a few minutes to read the information below.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome are chronic illnesses that

affect the lives of people worldwide. The causes of these debilitating

illnesses are unknown.

We want you to know the names of these illnesses because without your

recognition we will never be heard.

We want you to understand some of our symptoms; otherwise no one will know how

they affect our lives every day.

We want you to see our need for more research into these illnesses; without more

research we will not find out what causes these complex illnesses, we will never

have effective treatments, and there will never

be a cure.

Please forward this email to as many people as you can; help us get the word

out.

Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) affects more than 830,00

people in the United States (422 people per 100,000), the majority of them women

(522 women per 100,000, 291 men per 100,000). That’s more women affected than

the following three illnesses combined:

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (12 women per 100,000),

Breast cancer (26 women per 100,000) and

Lung cancer (33 women per 100,000).

(See source #1 below.)

CFIDS patients suffer from severe chronic fatigue lasting six months or longer,

substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration; sore throat;

muscle pain; multi-joint pain without swelling or redness; headaches;

unrefreshing sleep; and post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours. (#2)

There are many other symptoms that patients may have, which can come and go at

any time with varying severity. Among these symptoms are: abdominal pain &

bloating, chest pain, chronic cough, diarrhea, dizziness, dry eyes or mouth,

earaches, irregular heartbeat,

jaw pain, morning stiffness, nausea, night sweats, psychological problems

(depression, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks), shortness of breath, skin

sensations, tingling sensations, and weight loss. (#2)

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is considered a “common condition” and it affects

“approximately two percent of the U.S. population. It occurs seven times more

frequently in women than in men.”(#3) FMS is the second most common rheumatic

condition, after osteoarthritis. (#4)

“Fibromyalgia, sometimes called fibrositis, …is associated with widespread

aching, stiffness and fatigue, and originates in muscles and soft tissues.

People with fibromyalgia are found to have multiple tender points in specific

muscle areas. Most individuals complain of aching and stiffness in areas around

the neck, shoulders, upper back, lower back and hip areas. Many patients have no

underlying disorders while others who develop fibromyalgia may have conditions

such as rheumatoid arthritis, spinal arthritis or Lyme disease. Some people have

symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches and numbness or

tingling of the extremities.” (#3)

If you want to help, contact your Senators and Representative and ask that they:

a.) direct their attention to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

syndrome,

b.) support more funding for research into these illnesses.

Directions for finding addresses for your Senators and Representative, as well

as a sample letter you can send, can be found on the CHARGE, Inc. web site:

http://chargeinc.org/letterwriting.html'>http://chargeinc.org/letterwriting.html

If you would like more information on CFIDS and FMS just let us know!

Please forward this email to as many people as you can.

Thank You,

CHARGE, Inc.

Email: info@...

Web: http://chargeinc.org

CHARGE, Inc.

PO Box 1085

Pearl River, NY 10965-0604

USA

Sources:

(#1) , LA, Richman JA, et al. A Community-Based Study of Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome. AMA Archives of Internal Medicine.

1999;159:2129-2137.

(#2) Information from the United States Center for Disease Control and

Prevention’s web site:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs/info.htm

(#3) Information from the American College of Rheumatology web site:

http://www.rheumatology.org/patients/factsheet/fibromya.html

(#4) PR Newswire:

http://mail.ivillage.com//jump/http://biz./prnews/010501/lat

u109.html

A copy of this letter can be found on our web site at:

http://chargeinc.org/advocacyemail.html

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