Bergen
CFS-FM Support Group Newsletter
Vol. IV, Issue #37
Bergen
CFS-FM Support Group Newsletter
Meeting
Report
February
18th - The meeting was an open sharing session. Those in attendance had the opportunity to
share their experiences with CFS/FM from diagnostics to present status. Everyone’s experience is unique yet there is a
common thread that brings us all together. The
consensus was that the most important aspect for them was being
evaluated by a physician well versed in CFS/FM. Given
the location, Dr. Susan Levine in
Each
member also shared coping techniques. While
most are on some prescribed medication, complementary/alternative
therapies also play a big part in CFS management for our members. Relaxation techniques, yoga, Tai Chi Chih, and
meditation are among the therapies used by group members.
We had
planned to show a video of the current CFIDS/CDC Awareness campaign,
but had to postpone that segment due to technical difficulties and lack
of time.
NJCFSA
Spring Conference
LAST CHANCE
TO REGISTER!
CFIDS
Association of
Co-host
NJCFSA Spring Conference
& CAA’s “kNOw MORE CFS” Seminar
Featuring:
Kimberly
McCleary, President/CEO CFIDS Association of America - CFS National Public Awareness Campaign;
overview, video clips of media coverage, and presentations from Jacqueline Niederle, Brian Bernard and other advocates
spotlighted in the traveling photo exhibit, “The Faces of CFS.”
Nancy
Klimas, MD – “Recent CFS
Research Advances”
Alan
Porcinki, MD – “Treatment
of CFS”
The
Traveling Photo Exhibit – The Faces of CFS
Conference includes:
exhibits, light refreshments, Q&A panel
Register: www.cfids.org / (704) 364-0466 / CFIDS
Association of America kNOw MORE tickets
Registration
forms at: www.njcfsa.org
and www.cfids.org. Since it is close to the conference, it
might be best to register at www.cfids.org
with a credit card.
In The News
The
following article was brought to our attention by one of our members.
It is part of a list of “Bouquets and Brickbats” We
have included a few of the many responses from the community – near and
far. There is a link to submit your own
response if you are so inclined.
BRICKBATS: To the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recently paid $4.5
million of taxpayers' money on a public awareness campaign involving
chronic fatigue syndrome.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is not contagious or life-threatening, and
many experts question its merits as a focus for public health. Most
researchers believe it's a real condition, but some feel the CDC has
gone too far, at times putting such ailments ahead of the public good
because advocates and politicians push for it.
The CDC was created to address serious, potentially fatal conditions
such as cancer and heart disease. With due respect to anyone who
suffers from it, chronic fatigue syndrome is just not that important.
Here are
just a few of the responses. You can read
the entire list at http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17893313&brd=1698&pag=797&dept_id=21846&startrow=1&maxrows=10
Added:
So
Sorry......I'm a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Sufferer
I have
had CFS or known as CFIDS or myalgic encephalomyelitis in other parts
of the world for 19 years. I wouldn't wish this disease on anyone, not
even someone as uninformed as you. I can truthfully say this disease
has altered every faction of my life and my ability to be a marginally
complete person. You are right, I am not dying from it; I just have to
live with it and the ignorant opinions of those who are too lazy to do
any research on its affects. The CDC is working to educate the public
and medical community about this debilitating disease found all over
the world, a disease as debilitation as MS, something you apparently
don't know. My suggestion is to open your mind before you open your
mouth and demonstrate to the public your level of ignorance. We are
citizens and we have the rights of all other citizens to have the CDC
research to find the cause and cure for us. Let me make this a bit
easier for you ... there is a website that will help you become
informed. Don't do this for us as we already have this knowledge. Do
this for yourself!
Added:
CFS-
Brickbats
To say
that CFS is "just not that important" simply shows your ignorance on
the subject- so let me help enlighten you and your reading audience.
Statistics show that CFS will affect more women in this country than
heart disease or breast cancer. The fact that is has been 'swept under
the rug" and the women/people who suffer from it considered hysterical
slackers because a cause is unknown is an outrage. You should be
outraged that this still happens in today’s society. Of course, it
wasn't so long ago that people with Epilepsy were considered to be
"possessed by the Devil"!!
B.
Added:
CDC _
ME/CFS Thoughts
Considering
the high interest (feedback) regarding the opinion piece on CFS:
It may be an impetus to do a real journalism piece on this subject.
As one who has suffered the consequences of this illness for 13 years
now, I am mostly past the anger phase.
I would just appreciate an educated, balanced follow up piece. You now
have many sources and references to start the process.
Please email a follow up link to all of us who responded.
A.B.
In the News,
Part 2
Another
member shared information she found in a current publication. We are sharing it with you but are not
necessarily endorsing the source (as is true of any information in this
newsletter).
http://www.fibromyalgia-support.org
article syndicated
from Allsup Inc.
February 2007
The Social Security
Administration uses a process called sequential evaluation to determine
who receives benefits. Here is the five-step process for a Fibromyalgia
disability explained:
STEP ONE simply
determines if an individual is "working (engaging in substantial
gainful activity)," according to the SSA definition. Earning more than
$810 a month as an employee is enough for disqualification from
receiving Social Security disability benefits. [One person who reviewed this article said, “This
is obviously not true (or else I and many others would not be
collecting disability!)“]
STEP TWO implies that
the Fibromyalgia disability must be severe enough to significantly
limit one’s ability to perform basic work activities needed to do most
jobs; for example:
STEP THREE has no
medical listing for Fibromyalgia. At this level of consideration the
adjudicator is required to consider “equating” a medical listing. To
establish Fibromyalgia as a medically determinable severe impairment
there must be evidence of widespread pain present for at least three
months. There must be pain present on palpation in at least 11 of the
18 tender point sites as identified by the
STEP FIVE looks at age,
education, work experience and physical/mental condition to determine
what other work, if any, the person can perform. To determine
Fibromyalgia disability, SSA enlists vocational rules, which vary
according to age.
For example, if a person is:
Under
age 50 and, as a result of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia, unable to
perform what SSA calls sedentary work, then SSA will reach a
determination of disabled. Sedentary work requires the ability to lift
a maximum of 10 pounds at a time, sit six hours and occasionally walk
and stand two hours per eight-hour day.
Age 50 or older and, due to his Fibromyalgia disability, limited
to performing sedentary work but has no work-related skills that allow
him to do so, SSA will reach a determination of disabled.
Over
age 60 and, due to his Fibromyalgia disability, unable to perform any
of the jobs he performed in the last 15 years, SSA will likely reach a
determination of disabled.
Any age and, because of Fibromyalgia, has a psychological
impairment that prevents even simple, unskilled work, SSA will reach a
determination of Fibromyalgia disabled.
More than one million
people will file for benefits from the Social Security Administration
this year. The bad news is, 60% who apply for benefits will be denied.
The good news is help is available to improve your odds of getting
benefits, should you or a loved one become disabled.
All working Americans
contribute 7.65 percent from every paycheck to FICA tax. Some of that
payment goes toward disability insurance coverage by the Social
Security Administration. However, bureaucratic problems plaguing SSA’s
Disability Insurance program prevent fair and speedy distribution of
benefits to people who are eligible.
These are some of the
problems you’ll face if you choose to apply by yourself:
·
A backlog of
more than a million unprocessed disability claims;
·
An average
five-month wait after filing a claim before receiving an answer on the
initial claim, and almost a year of additional delays if the claim is
appealed;
·
A backlog of 1.5
million disability cases now awaiting review, with another half million
cases coming up for review each year.
Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday
March 18th at
This newsletter is intended for CFS
patients in the area of this support group. The
purpose is to share information and support. If
you have questions about meetings please contact: Pat LaRosa at pat@larosas.net,
Nancy Visocki at ngv.njcfsa@verizon.net, Judy Machacek at judymachek@msn.com
or Frank Kawa at 201-768-4111