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Fibromyalgia Ribbon

Awareness Day 2006

Fibromyalgia Ribbon

With May 12th only a few days away, preparations
for International Awareness Day for Chronic Fatigue
Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and related illnesses
are in full swing.  CFIDS patient Tom Hennessy,
president of R.E.S.C.I.N.D., gave birth to the idea of
Awareness Day in 1992.  The May 12th date was
chosen to honor the birthday of Florence Nightingale,
the English army nurse who was was responsible for the
founding of the International Red Cross.  Nightingale
was virtually bedridden with a disease resembling CFIDS,
yet went on to inspiring accomplishments, including the
founding of the first School of Nursing.

      Now Awareness Day activities take place worldwide
in an effort to increase awareness of CFIDS and allow patients 
and organizations to educate the general public, healthcare 
professionals, government officials, and legislative bodies.  
Since the first International CFIDS Awareness Day in 1993, 
each year the numbers of Awareness Day activities
and the people involved increase.

May 12th also marks Awareness Day for an often
overlapping illness, Fibromyalgia (FM), a disease
affecting millions of people worldwide. 
People with Fibromyalgia also experience extreme
fatigue, along with widespread pain in muscles,
joints and ligaments, sleep problems, stiffness
and weakness, severe headaches, numbness and tingling,
impairment of memory and concentration, and other symptoms. 
Both CFIDS and FM have no known cause or cure.

 

"Stairway To Heaven"

This page is dedicated to
the ones that couldn't fight the battle!

((((((((HUGS))))))))

Reaching For Your Hand

My FMily, I love you yet,
My eyes are filled with tears;
I'm reaching for your hand,
Down through the lonely years.

I fain would hold you near,
I know you understand;
That in my darkest hour,
I'm reaching for your hand.

I'm treading life's pathway,
The very best I can;
And lest I fail today,
I'm reaching for your hand.

When comes the final hour,
My Saviour will command;
I'll greet you then my FMily,
By reaching for your hand.

Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS),
or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is usually referred
to as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) outside the U.S. 
Whatever name is used, it is a disabling disease that
affects men, women, and children throughout the world,
of all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. 
The hallmark of the disease is pronounced fatigue that
comes on suddenly and is relentless or relapsing, causing
debilitating exhaustion in someone who has no apparent
reason for feeling this way.  The profound tiredness
and weakness of CFS does not go away with a good night's
sleep; rather, it takes away a person's life over months and years.

People with CFS often describe it as being like a bad case
of the flu, day after day and week after week.  In fact,
other symptoms of CFS mimic the flu and include: headache,
sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle and joint aches,
inability to concentrate, and a host of other symptoms. 
Some patients are bedridden or homebound, while others must
endure a drastic reduction in their work and other activities,
since any exertion typically worsens their symptoms.

Fibromyalgia

FMS is a chronic, widespeard
musculoskeletal pain and fatigue
disorder for which the cause is unknown.
In addition to the pain and fatigue,
other symptoms include unrefreshed sleep
(likely due to a number of sleep anomalies),
irritable bowel, chronic headaches,
morning stiffness, cognitive or memory
impairments, reduced coordination
and decreased endurance. The American
College of Rheumatology published the
diagnostic criteria for FMS in 1990.
This selection criteria was shown to be 88%
accurate in its ability to identify
patients with this syndrome. Researchers
have noted a significant overlap between
FMS and CFS; a majority of patients
who meet the diagnostic criteria for FMS
also meet the CDC criteria for CFS.

 

Fibromyalgia Ribbon

Dear friends and FMily, I wanted to do this site
to make people aware, that all too often
people with CFIDS, FMS or other chronic pain disorders
succumb to secondary infections or take their own lives.
They just can't take the pain any more!
I want to make everyone aware of what CFIDS and FMS is.
Those of us that have FMS and CFIDS need support
most importantly from our doctors and health care professionals,
but also our friends and families play
an important role in how we feel!

 

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CFIDS And FMS Singles
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Our Voices

Spicelynn's CFIDS/FMS Page

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Spicelynn
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Spicelynn@yahoo.com

To all my wonderful FMily members, and friends
you have helped me more than you will ever know!