OFFER E-NEWS

September 2006 
 
SPONSORED BY
 THE ORGANIZATION FOR FATIGUE AND 
FIBROMYALGIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
 
AND THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION UTAH/IDAHO CHAPTER
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but
where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
 
 
 Author: Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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~~~ 
 
 
"When one door closes another
door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."
 
Author:  Alexander Graham Bell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ~~~ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
~~~ 
 
 
"Whether you think you can
or can't, either way you
are right."
 
 
Author:  Henry Ford
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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"Hope is the word which God has written on the brow of every man."
 

   
 
Author:  Victor Hugo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
~~~
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ~~~ 
 
"Today is the day in which to
express your noblest qualities of mind and heart, to do at least one worthy thing which you have long postponed, and to use your God-given abilities for the enrichment of some less fortunate fellow traveler. Today you can make your life . . . significant and worthwhile. The present is yours to do with it as you will."

Author:  Grenville Kleiser
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ~~~ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ~~~
 
 
 
"Our greatest glory consists not
in never failing, but in rising
every time we fall."
 

 
Author:  Confucius
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ~~~
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OFFER 2007 Conference:
 
OFFER's 2007 Provider and Patient Conferences have been scheduled. The Provider Conference is set for all day Friday, May 4th and Saturday morning May 5th, 2007. The Patient Conference is set for the afternoon of Saturday, May 5th, 2007. Please go to the following link on OFFER's website to see the details regarding the Provider Conference. If you are a person with CFS or Fibromyalgia and would like your medical providers to attend this groundbreaking conference, you can print the flyer and, if you like, the actual speaker list that is on our website and give them to your providers so they can pencil in the dates. Medical providers plan their schedules months in advance, so the sooner you get this information to your providers the better chance that they can attend.
 
 
 
OFFER Education Meetings 
 
OFFER's Education Meetings are the
first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.,
and are free and open to everyone.
Council Chambers, Salt Lake Country Complex North Building
2001 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT.
(Park free at the northeast corner of the complex) 
 ~~~
 
 
September 6, 2006 
 Special meeting for people who care about young people who suffer with CFS/FM. Local officials will explain 504s, student's rights, and how schools can accommodate for their needs.
 
 ~~~
 
October 4, 2006 
Kim McCleary
President, CFIDS Association of America
"Advocacy: Working to Conquer Fatigue and Immune
Dysfunction Syndrome
 
 
 
Find more information about upcoming meetings at
~~~~~~~~~~~
 
FEBRUARY AND MARCH EDUCATION MEETING
DVDs NOW AVAILABLE
~
February, 2006: "Postural Guidelines and Helpful Habits to Minimize Body Stress"
by Dawn Duran, PT, MHS, CSCS from Canyon Rim Physical Therapy 
 
If you missed February's meeting, you missed learning about "the Rule of Tongue," Kegels for men and women, and other bits of advice and helpful tips that anyone, no matter what their health condition, can do - from breathing correctly to stabilizing the core.
 
~
 
March 2006: "Finding and Evaluating Medical and Self-Help Information
by Paul Shepherd, OFFER Board member, patient advocate
 
With so much conflicting information about CFS, FM, and other conditions, it's hard to know what is reliable.  Paul offered help by assembling a wealth of information about finding and evaluating sources via the Internet and other places, lists of good links, and some important questions to ask.

 
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IN THE NEWS LINKS:
 
 The September issue of "O", the Oprah
magazine, features CFS.
Click on the link below to learn more about this and other
recent media coverage:
 
~~~
 
Minneapolis Mall of America CFS Exhibit
 
~~~

 
Minnesota Public Radio CFS Program
The following link takes you directly to the Minnesota Public Radio
CFS program direct link in their archives, in case you missed
the live show on August 9th.
Guests of host Kerri Miller are:
William Reaves, MD: Principal investigator of chronic fatigue syndrome for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Alan Kind, MD: Retired physician who formerly worked with
Park Nicollet clinic.
Laura Hillenbrand: Author of "Seabiscuit: An American Legend." She has suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome since she was 19.
 
 
 ~~~
 
 
Participate in FM and CFS Research from your Home
If you would like to contribute to a global fact bank on people with serious chronic illness, click on the link below.  The purpose of the survey is to pinpoint the factors that distinguish those patients who achieve better health and recovery.  The "Niagara Health Study," conducted by Canada's Brock University, is gathering the raw data via an online "no-names-involved" survey.  A report on the data and findings from this worldwide study will be reported by mid-2007.
 
 
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CDC/CFIDS Campaign to:
 
"Spark!" Public Awareness Update
 
 
Look for the full-page CFS ad in the July issues of
Ladies' Home Journal and
Better Homes and Gardens
 
 
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INFO-LINKS
 
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Pharmacotherapy for CFS
 
 
The most common prescription and over-the-counter drugs, nutritional supplements and herbal remedies that physicians are using to treat their patients with CFS, From the CFIDS organization:  http://www.cfids.org/special/pharma.pdf
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Prescription Drug Assistance Programs  
~~~
 
 
Young Adults Forum Section, Youth Chat
 pediatric education packages for kids with cfs
~~~
 
Mayo Clinic's Health Symptom Checker
~~~ 
 
How to Talk to your Health Care Provider
~~~~~~~~~
 
 
 
Promote OFFER
 You can support OFFER and promote awareness of FMS and CFS,
 by buying DVDs and CDs of OFFER Conferences  and Education Meetings, T-shirts, wrist bands, or turtle jewelry -
a gentle reminder that "slow and steady wins the race"
and we must learn to pace - Order online at:
 
 
  Thank you for your continuing support! 

 
~~~~~~~~~
 
 
 
Participate in Future CFS or FM  Research! 
 
 Interested in participating in future genetic or new research?
Just fill out the registration form at 
and mail it to OFFER 
 1002 E. South Temple, Suite 408
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
  OFFER will contact you when there's a study that may  interest
you; and of course, you can choose whether or not to participate.
Your information is kept confidential. 
  
~~~
 
"Does a single 25-minute period of moderate exercise have different effects on people with CFS and FM?"
 
 
Researchers are seeking FM and CFS patients to volunteer for a new study entitled, "Exercise Effects on Sensory Receptors and Cytokines in CFS and FM." The principal investigator is Kathleen Light, Ph.D., of the University of Utah Anesthesiology Department. The study is part of the University's new Program for Research on Mechanisms and Treatment of Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes, co-directed by Alan Light and C. Richard Chapman. To learn about the program's research plans, attend Dr. Kathleen Light's talk at the Aug. 2 Education Meeting.
 
For information about participating in the exercise study, contact Dr. Lucinda Bateman at support@fcclinic.com or (801) 359-7400, or Dr. Andrea White at andrea.white@health.utah.edu or (801) 573-5387. 
~~~
 
 
National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB)
Fibromyalgia Research
is conducting research into factors that lead to the development
of fibromyalgia. They need the help of people with fibromyalgia
in researching this important issue.  For more information go to 
 
 

 
Other Support Groups in Utah
for a list of other support groups around the state.
These include patient-led and professionally facilitated groups.
To suggest a group for this list, please contact OFFER at offerregistration@yahoo.com 
~~~
 
 

See OFFER's New Web Site
 
Visit OFFER's new web site at http://www.offerutah.org
 
 
See our new online store where we feature OFFER
 educational DVD's and CD's of our past conference and education meetings-Shirts, and turtle jewelry to remind ourselves to pace. Don't forget to order an "OFFER HOPE" wristband, they are great to remind us that to "OFFER HOPE" to anyone needing it is one of the most important and meaningful things we can do. Make it your personal mantra!
~
 
 
Check out the "Resource" section for links to many informative
web sites, and for past issues of E-News.  Let us know what you
 think about the new site.  We welcome any suggestions and
hope to have more to OFFER in the future!
 
~~~ 

 
Urgent Call For Volunteers!
 
 
OFFER is in need of volunteers who would like to help in one or
 
more of the following areas:     
  • Education Meeting, sales, planning speakers, publicizing, information table, running microphone, operating camera 
  • Data entry, office/clerical/phones
     
  • Fundraising
  • Special event planning and operating (Rally/Walk October 7, 2007 Conference Planning, etc.)
     
  • DVD/CD production, editing, and packaging   
  • Distribution of Brochures and DVD's
  • Website content review and writing 
  • Public service announcements and publicity  
  • Writing reviews of monthly education meetings
  • Shopping, errands, cleaning, driving, cooking, etc., for homebound  individuals 

    If you have an interest in doing any of these, please call OFFER at 328-8080 or send an email to offerregistration@yahoo.com.
               

    ~~~
      
    E-News Subscriptions:

    Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might be interested. To start  your subscription to this free newsletter, send your request to offerregistration@yahoo.com, or fill out the online form  on  our  website  at  this link
    http://offerutah.org/enewssignup.htm

    You must add offerregistration@yahoo.com to your address book or safe list so that your E-news does not get filtered as spam. 

    You may unsubscribe at anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of the E-news.  At no time will OFFER ever sell or give your email address or any other personal information to anyone. 
     

    ~~~ ~~~

    Arthritis Foundation Programs

    UT Arthritis Walk 2006 At Historic Wheeler Farm
    Date changed to October 7, 2006 at 10:00 AM 
     
     

    Time to Walk the Walk!

    The Arthritis WalkŪ is the Arthritis Foundation's annual nationwide event that raises awareness and funds to fight arthritis, the nation's leading cause of disability.
     

    At the Event?
     

    - Choose from a three-mile or one-mile walk route

     

    - Write an inspirational message on the Wall of Heroes

     

    - Wear a blue "hero" hat if you have arthritis

     

    - Enjoy the fun, festivities and free health information

    Register Today on line at http://www.arthritis.org  

    Once you register, you can set up your own personal Web page and begin fund raising. Raise $100 or more and earn an official Arthritis WalkŪ T-shirt.

    FIBROMYALGIA AND ARTHRITIS SELF-MANAGEMENT CLASSES:
     

     The Arthritis Management Program can help you learn to manage your condition 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.

    ~~~
     

    Say "Know" to Fibromyalgia Pain
     

    Take the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program, designed for people with Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and related conditions, to learn how to better manage pain and stress, how to effectively use relaxation and sleep techniques, and for information about medications and alternative therapies. Call the Arthritis Foundation at 801-536-0990/800-444-4993 or look online at http://www.arthritis.org 

 
 
 
 
 
FREE Community Arthritis Classes
 

 
The Utah Arthritis Program, the Arthritis Foundation, and TOSH-The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital present a four-part series on osteoarthritis.
 What will be covered?
? An orthopedic surgeon will present the latest in medical and surgical options related to osteoarthritis.
? A physical therapist will discuss exercise and lifestyle management options.
? A nutritionist will talk about important dietary considerations.
? A Utah Department of Health/Arthritis Foundation representative will share information on local arthritis classes and resources.
Schedule, *6:30-7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: TOSH-The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
(The building with the glass pyramid on top)
5848 S. Fashion Blvd. (300 East)  Murray, UT 84107
For more information, call 538-9340, or visit www.health.utah.gov/arthritis

Please note: 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 medical care provider before using any medication or therapy.



 
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