Yesterday Lynne Matallana, President of the National Fibromyalgia Association, left a comment on my blog. It was in response to the Associated Press article last week; AP IMPACT: Drugmakers' push boosts 'murky' ailment. This article has caused quite a stir in the Fibromyalgia community. In her comment Lynne took the time to address what was said and to counter any enforcement the article gives to the many misconceptions about Fibromyalgia. I felt her letter was too important to sit unnoticed among the comments on my blog, so I am copying it into a new post. I hope you will all take the time to … [Read more...]
Fibromyalgia Presents a Real and Significant Market Opportunity
Pardon me while I step upon my soapbox again. Excuse me while I clear my throat and take a sip of water. Give me just one moment to arrange my notes and organize my thoughts. Now please, stand back if you do not want to feel any of the vile comments I am about to spew forth. Here goes. I HATE DRUG COMPANIES! I hate that their sole purpose is to profit off the needs and health concerns of the public. I hate that they view every illness as an opportunity to line their pockets. I hate that they perpetuate a culture of sickness by treating symptoms and not caring to find a cure. Why would they … [Read more...]
Wellness Wednesday: Antidepressants and Fibromyalgia
The Fibromyalgia news wire is again abuzz with a new case study that has confirmed antidepressants reduce Fibromyalgia pain symptoms, fatigue, depressed moods and sleep disturbances. Here are the test results from JAMA - The Journal of the American Medical Association. CLINICIAN'S CORNER Treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome With AntidepressantsA Meta-analysis Winfried Häuser, MD; Kathrin Bernardy, PhD; Nurcan Üçeyler, MD; Claudia Sommer, MD JAMA. 2009;301(2):198-209. Context Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain disorder associated with multiple debilitating symptoms … [Read more...]
The National Fibromyalgia Association Pledge to Care
I have just recently become a member of the National Fibromyalgia Association. The NFA is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is: To develop and execute programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with fibromyalgia. Their website is full of resources and articles about Fibromyalgia, as well as information on programs and regional support groups. In January of this year they began a campaign called Pledge to Care. The Pledge to Care is a way for family members, friends, and healthcare providers to show their support to persons with Fibromyalgia by making a … [Read more...]
The Commerce of Fibromyalgia
Have you ever read The Road to Wellville by T.C. Boyle? If you have not, you should. It is a wickedly comic novel written by the most entertaining of contemporary American writers. This whole business with Dr. Whitcomb, and his Lake Tahoe clinic, and his false promises of a cure for Fibromyalgia is reminiscent of it. The real-life Dr. John Harvey Kellogg is fictionalized into one of the main characters in Boyle's The Road to Wellville. You might know Dr. Kellogg from the Corn Flakes you crunch occasionally for breakfast. Yes, that most famous of breakfast cereals was actually invented … [Read more...]