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RETURN
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OF CONTENTS
Fall
2002
One to One
A
sharing of tips, strategies, ideas and helpful thoughts from one person with CFIDS to another
Work-for-food party
Many of my friends and former coworkers live
nearly an hour
away. They feel helpless being so far away and want to help me, especially since I live alone on an acre-and-a-half
lot where the yard work can get out of hand. So I came up with the idea of a work-for-food party.
A
few times a year everyone is invited over, and I supply the yard and garden tools, post a list of projects
and fire up the grill. Every-body brings a dish to share, I supply the sodas and burgers and the only
tongue in cheek rule is “Ya don’t work, ya don’t eat!”
A surprising amount gets done. I usually
sleep for a few hours after lunch, and when I wake up, the gutters are cleaned, the gardens are raked,
the driveway is swept and everyone is feeling pleased with herself. People really want to help and this
gives them a chance to get together in a fun way and get some work done.
Pat Stegman, New Freedom,
Pa.
When cooking is too much
When you are just not well enough to cook
a full meal,
consider these two food sources: Diet-to-Go (800/743-7546) or Schwans (888/724-9267). Both companies offer
frozen, fully cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Diet-to-Go is a nationwide company offering
healthy foods that only require heating. Prices include shipping to your door and cost about $12 to $15
a day (5-day minimum). Schwans is very inexpensive and delivers to your door in many areas nationwide.
Gracie McNiff, Burke, Va.
Muscle pain relief
Soaking in a hot tub is a good way to alleviate
the muscle
pains that I experience. Start in a fairly warm tub and submerge yourself
up to your neck while running
hot water. Get the temperature as hot as you can tolerate for as long as you can. This not only relieves
pain but also helps me fall soundly asleep.
Jan Osterndorff, Rhinebeck, NY
[Editor’s Note: Soaking in a hot tub can worsen symptoms of orthostatic
intolerance.
If you have both CFIDS and OI, use caution when in warm environments, such as hot showers and baths.]
STRATEGIES FOR SLEEP
Many CFS and FMS patients
wake too early. To combat this, try going to bed earlier so that you are in accord with your sleep cycle
and can take advantage of the deepest level of sleep (there is a body temperature drop of about a degree
at your body’s natural sleep time).
I have also found that spending some time relaxing before
bedtime and/or listening to a calming book on tape is helpful in quieting the mind and relaxing the muscles
and can improve the quality of my sleep.
If you experience muscle spasms, pains and cramps that
disrupt sleep, try taking guaifenesin, which, over time, may reduce these symptoms. (Note: you must be
on an adequate dose of guaifenesin for long enough and avoid hidden salicylates for it to work. See my
web site.) If you have hypoglycemia, a low carbohydrate diet can also help sleep quality, energy levels
and cognitive abilities. Reducing sugar and carbohydrate intake and reducing food allergies and sensitivities
has also been important to improving my sleep and other symptoms. Very low doses of Ambien or Sinequan
elixir have also been helpful.
For those who do not feel sleepy until very late at night, simply
increasing exposure to bright light in the morning may also help.
For additional information,
send me a SASE at PO Box 70166, Pasadena, CA 91117-7116 or e-mail me at SynergyHN@aol.
You can also visit my web site at http://members.aol.com/SynergyHN.
—By Joyce Waterhouse
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