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Upcoming Events
| Saturday, October 13th from 12-1:00 PM Walk in George Rogers Park; Social
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Saturday, October 20th from 1-4:00 PM:
Every Thursday from 7-8 PM (PDT): "Chat" Night on Ning!
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Should You Get a Flu Shot? Here's Dr. Lapp's Current Thinking
Each year as flu season advances people with 'chronic fatigue syndrome' (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, and related illnesses struggle with the flu shot decision. Here we share the current insights and recommendations of Dr. Charles Lapp, director of the Hunter-Hopkins Center in Charlotte, NC. It is reproduced with kind permission from the Hunter-Hopkins website (http://DrLapp.com), which offers many resources including an "Ask the Doctor" Q&A.
Influenza Vaccination: Should I Get a Flu Vaccine?
Due to reports of severe relapses following immunization, flu vaccinations are generally NOT recommended to persons with CFS or FM unless:
1. You have taken flu vaccinations in the past and tolerated them well, or
2. You have a serious chronic illness (such as emphysema, diabetes, or heart disease) in addition to CFS/ME/FM.
Not only do some patients relapse after flu vaccination, but many do not sero-convert (develop antibodies) to the vaccination. Thus you may suffer the discomfort of a "shot" plus the misery of a relapse, and not even develop immunity.
These are the current recommendations from the Hunter-Hopkins Center:
* If you have tolerated it in the past, you may take a flu vaccination this year if you wish.
* Recognize, however, that you may not develop protective antibodies.
* If you are elderly, infirm, or have a serious chronic illness for which vaccination is recommended, weigh the risk of immunization against the risk of contracting the flu.
If you don't take the flu vaccination, "antivirals" are available to fight influenza.
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The Thriving Fibromite
OCTOBER 2012 |
Greetings!
Fall has arrived although we have had gorgeous weather here in the Pacific Northwest. We have exciting meetings and events planned for this month, so be sure and check out the Upcoming Events! PS... Think of one person with fibromyalgia or ME/CFS who has told you, "I wish there was some support for people like us!" and to him/her. |
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Brain Training to Lift the Fog and Help Memory and Focus
Saturday, October 20th 1-4:00 PM
With Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, we often deal with brain fog and memory/concentration issues.
At our October meeting, Sandy Schwartzkopf, a Cognitive Skills Trainer specializing in movement and balance methodology, will present a hands-on training that assists memory, auditory and visual processing, ADHD, sensory integration, and much more.
Sandy will bring several of the materials for everyone to experiment with. Learn more about brain fitness at Think Straight Training.
I (Tamara) spent an hour with Sandy learning about some of the tools she uses for brain training. It was a fun time playing with a couple of the programs! Come and join the FUN!
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Webinar: Intentional Resting with Founder, Dan Howard
 Monday, October 15th 6:30-8:00 PM (PDT)
What is the Intentional Resting™ method?
It's an amazingly simple tool to:
- instantly reduce mental and physical stress
- enhance healing
- experience inner stillness
- and instantly bring yourself into present moment awareness.
You might think that rest is about lying down, going to sleep or stopping what you're doing - and of course you can experience rest that way, but did you know that you can also experience rest while you're awake during any activity, anytime, anywhere, day or night. Really.
The ability to rest is innately wired into every cell of your being. Our bodies are designed to rest, to reach homeostasis.
For so many of us, our bodies are in a continuous state of stress from pressure to work harder, be more productive, take in more information, push ourselves to do more and more and more....
So we carry around this frenetic energy of "busyness" and don't even realize how much of the time we're living in adrenaline. Our systems get worked so hard they don't get a chance to reach homeostasis...to pause, to really rest.
Intentional Resting creates that pause in the body/mind and brings the opportunity to choose rest over stress anytime by combining the power of consciousness with our innate ability to rest. Resting with intention adds to the effectiveness of rest.
And it only takes about 5 minutes to learn and experience for your self.
To read Dan Howard's bio, click here.
To read more and RSVP, click here.
To read "How Webinars Work," click here.
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Social Events in October
Walk in the Park
Saturday, October 13th, 12-1:00 PM
Come join us for a walk in George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego.
George Rogers Park is Lake Oswego's first community park and one of its most diverse. Situated on the Willamette River, the park is the site of significant Native American activity over 10,000 years ago, as well as the center of Lake Oswego's industrial iron history. The park is 26 acres and contains athletic fields, tennis courts, children's playground, picnicing, riverfront access, walking trails, and a large natural area. Of particular interest to history buffs is the "Iron Furnace", which is listed on the National Historic register and one of the few reminders of Lake Oswego's industrial past. One of the best views of the Willamette River can be found near the furnace in the lower park.
Directions
George Rogers Park
611 S. State Street
Lake Oswego, OR
Social Get-Together  Thursday, October 25th 1-3:00 PM
Come join us for some fun social time at Gustav's Restaurant in Tigard!
They do have a gluten-free menu and if you are in the mood, they even have gluten-free beer.
The restaurant is located at 10350 SW Greenburg Road, Tigard.
Google Maps
Read more about these events or register here.
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You Are Not Your Body: Janine Shepherd at TEDxKC
While this video is not about Fibromyalgia or ME/CFS, it is so inspiring that we had to share it.
We often define ourselves by things that are "outside" us: relationships, work, family - even our own bodies. But what would it mean to have your life dramatically altered and your body irrevocably damaged? Who would you be then?
This talk explores the impact of loss on the human psyche and the universal quest to find meaning and fulfillment. It is only through the process of losing everything we thought we needed that we find who we truly are.
Watch video here.
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September Recordings Available
Spencer Leek Spoke on Fascia, Why it Hurts and What We Can Do About It Spencer Leek, the myofascial release therapist who works out of The Frida Center, spoke about the fascia, why we hurt and how myofascial release therapy can help. He gave us ideas of how we can also work on ourselves at home. Releasing fascial restrictions helps remove pressure from pain sensitive structures. The lengthened fascia also creates space for easier movement and a greater range of motion. MFR hydrates fascia, thus allowing the fascial structures to glide upon one another more easily. MFR opens space for fluid and energy movement, facilitating greater circulation and communication - allowing the body to heal. Spencer is a dynamic speaker and this is a "must see" video! Fascia and Myofascial Therapy Video Recording Webinar: EFT or Tapping for Managing Pain and Other Symptoms EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or Meridian Tapping is a powerful way to manage pain and other illness symptoms. It uses "tapping" on acupuncture meridians along with saying key phrases to calm the amygdala (the fight-or-flight area of the brain). If you read Dr. Liptan's book, "Figuring Out Fibromyalgia," you know that those of us with fibromyalgia have our nervous system stuck in the fight-or-flight response. This is partly what causes increased muscle tension and pain. This interactive webinar gave us a chance to do some tapping. We learned how to design our own EFT tapping scripts so that we are able to employ this modality whenever and wherever we are in pain. EFT or Tapping Audio Recording Join our private web group here...
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 Join our Private Web Group
The Portland Area Fibromyalgia - ME/CFS Group provides a support system and social network for those dealing with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and other chronic illness and pain conditions. Our primary purpose is to encourage each other in thriving despite our illnesses.
By joining our private group, you'll have access to:
- Videos of our monthly group meetings featuring knowledgable speakers on various aspects of coping with and healing from chronic illness.
- Audio recordings of our monthly webinars featuring authors, doctors, naturopaths and other experts on fibromyalgia and ME/CFS from around the country.
- A compassionate online community where we share our stories and offer one another support.
- A library of articles on fibromyalgia and ME/CFS.
There are no membership dues and it is free to join. We hope that you will find exactly what you need in our group and look forward to meeting you!
Join the Portland Fibromyalgia-ME/CFS Group...
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Thanks for reading our October 2012 issue! We'd love your feedback on what you thought.
It would really help us if you would:
To thriving, not just surviving,
 
Tamara Staples Tami Stackelhouse
tamara@portlandfibrocfs.com tami@myrestoredhealth.com
(503) 476-9520 (971) 832-9322
Group Co-Leader Group Co-Leader
Portland Fibromyalgia-ME/CFS Group |
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