Northern VA CFS/FMS News 

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We're glad you could join us for a discussion of hope and what is helpful with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and over- lapping syndromes (Fibromyalgia S, MVPS/Dysautonomia, IC, etc).

CFS is a serious and complex illness that affects many body systems. It is characterized by debilitating fatigue, cognitive problems affecting information processing, memory and processing speed, flu-like symptoms,  pain in the joints and/or muscles, circulatory and blood pressure problems nausea, sleep disturbances, immune disorders and more.  CFS can be severely disabling and can last for years.  The cause is not yet fully known.  Treatment, aimed at symptom relief, varies widely from patient to patient.

The No VA CFS SIG is an informal group (not incorporated) which meets the 3rd Saturday of each month from 2-4 p.m. at the Education Conference Center (ECC), Room 5, at Fairfax Hospital. Use Blue Entrance from Gallows Road and ECC Bldg is on left behind gazebo. Park in the employee parking lot across the street.

Disclaimer: NoVA CFS representatives are not medical or counseling professionals.Please see a physician for diagnosis and treatment.

Meeting Guidelines:

Participation is voluntary
Keep focused - use notes
Treat guests with courtesy
Avoid complaining
No soliciting
Please raise your hand
Getting up is OK at any time

If the group helps you, help the group.

August 21st, 1999 --Saturday  2:P.M.---With guests from Baltimore, Richmond, Charlottesville and other surrounding chapters.

Dr, David Berg of HEMEX LABs in Arizona will speak to us on the cause of CFIDS as he sees it.  He will be in D.C. that week to speak to 9000  people at the International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis. http://www.HEMEX.com This lecture will add to our education on how CFIDS affects the blood systems of its victims.  Part of it may be a genetic predisposition.  After this lecture, between Dr. Berg and the lecture that we had from Dr. Les Simpson the Red Blood Cell Researcher from New Zealand, who spoke to us in May, we should have come full circle on CFIDS and the Blood Systems.  In this lecture may be information on the key to knowing why we are fatigued, why we have many nerve problems and why parts of our bodies are malnurished and not functioning properly.

Hemex Labs is conducting research investigating the role of hypercoagulation in CFIDS & FM Symptoms, and testing the anticoagulants; heparin and coumadin as treatments.  Their research was featured on the cover of the "Special Issue-Best of 10 Years"  CFIDS & FM Healthwatch."
You can view the article online at http://www.immunesupport.com/message/newresearch.htm

You are asked by Dr. Berg to invite your doctors to come with you to hear him.

***Our chapter also plans to video the speech and sell the videos with the top 25% donated to fund Dr. Berg's research ***

E-mail Sarah Lyon with questions atmailto:sslyon@erols.com 

COME JOIN US!!

GAO INVESTIGATION

.... HAS BEEN OPENED THIS WEEK ABOUT THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE CFS FUNDS!!! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO MADE NOISE ON THIS ISSUE!!!!  ...........

A new email list has been set up for the support group at ONElist.

ONElist is a free mailing list system. It allows for multiple moderators, web and email access, and many other useful features. Our new list is called CFSupport.

The CFSupport list is presently set up as an announcement-only list. That means that only the list moderators (currently Elly Brosius, Sarah Lyon, and Ira Forstater) can send out messages, and these will be limited to announcements about upcoming support group meetings and the support group newsletter. It is not currently configured to be a newsgroup-type list (although we have that option, if it's desired).

a.. To subscribe via the web: Go to http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/CFSupport
b.. To unsubscribe via the web: Go to http://www.onelist.com/isregistered.cgi?userinfo

a.. To subscribe via email: Send a blank email to CFSupport-subscribe@onelist.com
b.. To unsubscribe by email: Send a blank email to CFSupport-unsubscribe@onelist.com

a.. To send a message to the list moderators: Send email to CFSupport-owner@onelist.com

OR  NOTIFY IRA @TELEBOT.NET

 Newsletter items to Susan Vachal, 5420 Midship Ct. Burke, VA. 22015

We hope everyone finds the CFSupport list a helpful resource for information about our support group's meetings.

The substantial gainful activity upper limit amount will be raised to $700.00 a month on July 1, 1999!!

Be sure to read the fine print.

Money makes the world go around and the copies show up!

With the new lists, increased attendance, and speaker handouts, we spend money. Information is important! In order to keep bringing updated materials and articles good for new members, we need everyone who can to contribute to the kitty. Cash works as do checks to "No. VA CFS Support Group," which are not tax-deductible. A mailing is really the only way the group could service those that are house bound. But postage adds up, too, and it is rare that we can afford it.

**To those on the email list: Please do not use the list for your own announcements. If you have an item that you think should go out to group members, please contact mailto:sslyon@erols.com OR mailto:ira@telebot.net We do not want to overwhelm members with lots of small messages from different sources. We'd like to compile them and have a chance to add the group leadership's input. Thank you.

Member Fran Hisler mailto:Fran@tcs.wap.org is interested in keeping a log book of official (to the state boards) complaints against doctors or other professionals. Call her if you have filed complaints or are going to.

Want to borrow CFIDS books/tapes by mail? Call (804) 330-7518 and join the CFS Ass'n of VA, Inc. They send information packets to Drs and mail out quarterly newsletters. Membership is $18/yr

For a free issue of FM Survivors Newsletter write Alma-Ruth Crawford, 91 Crawford St., Rockville CT 06066- 3005. mailto:arc.fms@juno.com

Sensitive to MSG? Send SASE to the Truth and Labeling Campaign, PO Box 2532, Darien IL 60561. (312) 642-9333.mailto:adandjack@aol.com