Advocacy for Fibromyalgia

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ADVOCACY NOTICE

PERMISSION TO FORWARD AND REPOSTED

On September 13, 2007 an article about FMS was published in a regional

newspaper, reaching over 60 towns throughout northern Illinois. The article

is available on-line at

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/on-fibro-091307-s1.article, but it is much more

impressive " in print " and was a real attention getter. It is in color and

spans the entire front page of the Health and Family section, with the title

" Fibro-What? " appearing in huge, bold letters. There is a great subtitle

" New drug a victory in fibromyalgia's fight for legitimacy " .

The writer ( Fosnight) did a wonderful job covering a lot of

information without getting technical. She picked up on points that really

validated fibro as a legitimate illness. Good comments from Katz,

MD, such as medications being researched; and, although there is science

behind fibro and it is gaining more awareness, it hasn't translated into

funding dollars. The article's emphasis on how fibro is a life altering

illness was good, and the writer did a nice job getting that across without

making fibro patients out to be a bunch of whiners who are just complaining

about having fibro.

There will be many people all across northern Illinois, (and wherever the

on-line link goes.) that read this article and say, " Wow, that sounds like

what I have " , or " I will have to have my boss/friends/family read this " .

Articles like this are a terrific avenue for fibromyalgia awareness. Forward

this link on if you want to be an advocate for fibromyalgia.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/on-fibro-091307-s1.article

*EXCERPT*

'Fibro-what?'

September 13, 2007

By STEPHANIE FOSNIGHT Staff Writer

Sometimes Shari Ferbert wonders if she should feign a limp when walking from

a handicapped parking spot into the store.

" People have asked me, 'Who's handicapped? What are you parking there for?' "

said Ferbert, a longtime fibromyalgia sufferer who looks great but endures

chronic pain and fatigue. She can walk, but her stamina doesn't hold out

long and saving a few steps from parking space to destination can make a big

difference in her day.

" I get exhausted easily. Everything is a chore, " said the Lake Forest

resident, who's married with two teenagers. " Sometimes I don't even feel

like going out for dinner with my husband. " Although Ferbert's long history

of health problems started in childhood, she didn't hear about fibromyalgia

until her 30s. When her physical therapist suggested she look into it,

Ferbert's response was typical-- " Fibro-what? " A battery of tests and

specialists later, Ferbert was finally diagnosed with the chronic condition

of widespread musculoskeletal pain in 1998.

<<<See link for full story>>

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/on-fibro-091307-s1.article