E-NEWS from OFFER & AF
Organization for Fatigue & Fibromyalgia Education & Research
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Partnering with the Utah/Idaho Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation
Visit OFFER's website:   http://www.offerutah.org/        
Visit UT/ID AF's website: http://www.arthritis.org/Communities/Chapters/Chapter.asp?chapid=62
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In this Issue:
   CFS/FM Education Meeting - Wednesday, August 3, 2005
    Arthritis Foundation's Self-Management Classes
    FM Research Study Update: Need volunteers
    CFS/FM Research Database
In the News:
    Chronically Tired? Help May Be at Hand
    Celadrex Europe Ltd - Breakthrough Achieved in the treatment of Arthritis
    Ropinirole Useful for Restless Legs Syndrome: Presented at AAN
    NIH Finally Issues RFA for CFS Research
Help in Managing Symptoms:
    Meditation
    Got Dry Mouth? Try Acupuncture
    A Brief Explanation of How CFS Patients are Evaluated by a Physician
Newsletter of Interest:
   Lyndonville News: David S. Bell MD, FAAP, Editor

The inclusion of information in this newsletter does not constitute or imply endorsement by OFFER or the Arthritis Foundation Utah/Idaho Chapter. Please consult your physician before using any medication or therapy.
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CFS/FM EDUCATION MEETING
Salt Lake County Complex,
2001 South State Street, North Building, SLC, UT

Wednesday, August 3  2005, 7:00 PM
Speaker: Loren Lambert, JD
Topic: "The Struggle for Legal Recognition for CFS & FM: Where are we and where we must go?"
Bring a guest and attend this month's free education meeting.  

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION:
FIBROMYALGIA AND ARTHRITIS SELF-MANAGEMENT CLASSES:
The Arthritis Management Program can help you learn to manage your arthritis on a day-to-day basis. Trained volunteers, many of whom have arthritis or fibromyalgia, lead the courses. The program allows you to share experiences with others, offering you the opportunity to both help and learn from others.
   Twin Falls: Sept. 15 – Oct. 20
    Murray: October 4 - Nov. 8
For more information check out their website at:
http://www.arthritis.org/Communities/Chapters/LocalNews.asp?idchap=62

FIBROMYALGIA RESEARCH
The Fibromyalgia Research team, within the University of Utah is seeking participants for a study involving comprehensive rehabilitative treatment for FMS. Eligible participants must:
·    have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia,
·    be between 21 and 65 years of age,
·    not exercise more than 30 minutes per week,
·    not have heart disease,
·    not be pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the next year,
·    not be planning any surgery within the next year.

The study includes comprehensive  medical, physical therapy, and pain psychology evaluations. Participants will be asked to do home assessments monitoring their FMS symptoms for 7 days.

Treatment includes active physical therapy, physical education and counseling. All treatments will be group format of 2 hours per session for ten consecutive weeks. Evaluations and treatments are provided at no cost to eligible participants.

Interested people may contact us by phone at (801) 585-7697
E-Mail: pain.research@hsc.utah.edu
or visit our website at http://www.painresearch.utah.edu/fibro.htm for more information.
 
CFS/FM RESEARCH DATABASE:
Want to participate in CFS and/or FM research? Then contact OFFER at offerregistration@yahoo.com with your request and we will send you a short survey permission form.

IN THE NEWS:
Chronically Tired? Help May Be at Hand
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25878.html

Celadrex Europe Ltd - Breakthrough Achieved in the treatment of Arthritis
http://www.cdn-news.com/news/releases/show_print.jsp?action=toolbox&actionFor=546638

Ropinirole Useful for Restless Legs Syndrome: Presented at AAN
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/NewsPrint/8525697700573E1885256FE1004CC817

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=websearch&requestId=1d60ad104f53224&clickedItemRank=4&userQuery=GSK+++Fibromyalgia&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fibromyalgiasupport.com%2Flibrary%2Fshowarticle.cfm%2FID%2F5851%2Fe%2F1%2FT%2FCFIDS_FM%2F&title=Requip+Significantly+Reduces+Periodic+Leg+Movements+in+Patients

NIH Finally Issues RFA for CFS Research
http://clk.about.com/?zi=18/17a&sdn=health_chronicfatigue&tm=160&gps=49_56_661_403&f=11&tt=2&zu=http%3A//chronicfatigue.about.com/od/articles/a/gow_me_gene_sig_p.htm

HELP IN MANAGING SYMPTOMS:
Meditation
http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2001_archives/2001_01_02_meditation.asp

Got Dry Mouth? Try Acupuncture
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/print/news/fullstory_25554.html

A Brief Explanation of How CFS Patients are Evaluated by a Physician
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs/about/definition/evaluation.htm

NEWSLETTER OF INTEREST:
Lyndonville News: David S. Bell MD, FAAP, Editor
Information and Support for the ME/CFS/FM Community
http://www.davidsbell.com/LynNewsV2N3.htm#LitRev1

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Send us an email to offer.enews@gmail.com <mailto:offer.enews@gmail.com> by August 15, 2005 and tell us what you think of E-NEWS.

VOLUNTEER'S ARE NEEDED:
Education Meetings:  Volunteers are needed for our monthly education meetings. We need people willing to call and remind people of the meeting, to help with registration, be greaters, and product sales. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Carol at carnzen@offerutah.org

OFFER Office: Volunteers are needed for the OFFER office. If you would like to volunteer, please email Carol at carnzen@offerutah.org

PHYSICIAN REFERRALS:
We need your help in developing a database of patient recommended self-help contacts and health care professionals that have helped you manage your CFS & FM.  If you are a patient and would like to recommend someone to this list, please send us their name, title, address, and phone number.

OTHER COMMUNITY CFS/FM PROGRAMS:
http://offerutah.org/support.html

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OFFER:
Visit our website:   http://www.offerutah.org/
Check out our "Resource" section for links to many informative websites.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS:
Feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested.  If you received this newsletter from a friend and would like to receive it monthly, send your request to offerregistration@yahoo.com