I met up with a friend recently who has Fibromyalgia (FMS). She was having trouble taking medicines that her physician prescribed. Oh, she could swallow the pills, but that wasn't the problem.

She was experiencing adverse side effects caused by one or more of her drugs. Some of the side effects made taking the drugs impossible to live with. Other side effects made her only somewhat miserable.

Here is the same suggestion that I gave her:

Most of "us" people don't pay much attention to our health before we acquire Fibromyalgia (FMS) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)....

That is until our health quality begins to decline, the birthdays start whizzing by or we're so bothered by the symptoms.

Then we get anxious and worry if and when we'll ever get well and feel good again. Help!

Imagine that...

There must be some really hilarious quips that we, the Fibromyalgia community, set aside for us and the people who know and love us well. What are they?

When one explores the positive emotions like Love, we should consider the value of Gratitude.

A friend of mine has a nice blog and put up this post about gratitude in the last few weeks.

Take a look at it and let me hear your thoughts... if you feel gratitude about a particular thing in your life.

We all should be able to find something. I'm feel gratitude for my friends today.

Thanks, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show

Okay, it's time to laugh at yourself. And laugh at your best friend, if he or she will let you! Enjoy life while good biochemicals flood every cell in your body (especially your brain) when you're happy. These biochemicals stabilize your moods, elevating them when necessary. They boost your Immune System and do nice things for you in general. Yes, in case you've already guessed it, laughter is the best medicine because it's healing.

And don't worry so much about making mistakes. The people who love you, including the dog, will not care about your snafus. The people who do notice them, do not really matter anyway, do they?

Now, smile, :-) :-) :-)
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

Okay, we're in our last week of the Fibromyalgia Humor Challenge. Have you participated yet? If not, here's a good one for you.

Now... drum roll please... here it is... the challenge of showing other people your funniest, most hilarious, most silly side!

When we talk about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS being a widespread illness that is not well known by the general public, that's true. It may not be easily recognized in people around you. Because CFS patients are not always vocal or noticeable, the illness can remain their secret, yet it easily torments them and turns their lies upside down. CFS people truly suffer with this invisible illness.

I encourage you to learn what you can about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Many of the people in your world may suffer with it. You or a loved one may even have it!

Do not allow CFS to remain an invisible illness.

Click on the 7 minutes 20 seconds audio file below. I talk about the statistics of the illness and the type of life that CFS people face everyday. It is important to get the word out about CFS. Please forward the "Permanent Link" below for this file on to someone you know.

Do what you can to spread the word!

And please send us a comment in the comment box. Share your experiences with illness. They are important.

Thank you, Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show and a former patient now turned activist and promoter of good health!

News flash: "On the October 2, 2008 evening broadcast of WSLS Channel 10 News of Roanoke, Virginia, Karen McNew, a news anchor and reporter for the "Health on Your Side" segment, interviewed Cinda Crawford about how to feel better and get well from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Get the television clip and story at this link."

(Also click on the link below for the 9 min, audio podcast)

This is vitally important to the cause of people with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Please read all the way through to the end and then send in your comments. The real story is more than the minutes that made it on air.

Books that you can say dramatically affected your life are not easy to come by. That is not the case with the The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton. This book and its concepts changed by life and mind forever. By expanding my awareness of the possibilities taught within it's covers, I am a more aware and vital person and I was able to discern the mechanism that brought about my own healing.

Read what several famous people say about this book:

Being unhealthy and incapacitated with Fibromyalgia (Fibro or FMS) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is bad enough for adults. In a relatively young to very young person, it can seem absolutely disastrous!

Lately I've run into quite a few young people on Facebook and some of the other online groups who are sick with FMS or CFS.

If that sounds like you or someone you care about, stick around for some answers and a level of understanding that you haven't found anywhere else. Why you ask?

Because...

In one way, it's good that you have courage and challenge life with an indominable spirit. That can make a difference between surviving and getting well or staying ill.

But no matter what your age, whether you're 14 or 74 when serious illness strikes, you have to come to terms with the reality of it.

(I turned another year older this last week, but it's not phasing me negatively. I have too many positive things going on in my life to consider such insignificant occurrences as age or birthdays to be a problem! Actually, my birthday was a very pleasant experience.)

"You have to get real with your health problems and quit living a life of semi-truths and day dreams."

(Audio 7 min 50 sec)

Last night I went to bed with a really sharp pain in my lower right backside. The muscles were knotted and cramped like I had done 1,000 leg lifts. What was going on?

I don't usually get muscle pain or muscle cramps much anymore, but my memory of the acute days of Fibro Pain (Fibromyalgia) are well entrenched in every cell of my body. That type of pain no one forgets very soon.

As I limped to bed, I wanted answers, but chose sanctuary...

This Friday I will interview an expert in EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique. This expert works successfully with tons of personal clients.

He also has developed a special product that helps his clients use the concept and methodology of EFT more effectively, often producing fantastic healing results.

Please let me encourage you to listen to the following introduction about EFT. Then check back here Friday, October 24, 2008 to find out who is my mystery guest and all of the great info that he is willing to share with you, my audience. Learn how emotions affect your health, particularly the stressful emotions!

"EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique..." (audio 5 min 15 sec)

We'll see you Friday if not before :-)

Thanks, Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

Recently I met a man quite skilled in one of the newer healing methodologies known as EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique. This professional's name is Till Schilling and he is also the inventor of Tappy Bear.

I won't attempt to steal Till's thunder because his description of how emotions affect the body and how EFT is a tool to positively affect your health cannot be matched. In interviewing Till, I quickly became enamored with his passion and vision of how powerful EFT and Tappy Bear are working together to improve the health of people all over the globe. (Take note of Till's mention of working with children in Mexico and Tappy Bear's entrance into Rwanda. Absolutely awesome work...)

Like James Taylor, I say, "All you have to do is call."
Winter, spring, summer, fall, just let me know that you need help.

Getting well from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is the only thing you care about when you're really sick. I happen to care about you and to be really good at helping people! (Pardon me for blowing my own horn, but you might as well know that my interest is in seeing you get well and leaving FMS & CFS behind! You can't get on with leading a full life until you conquer the illnesses.)

EMAIL ME HERE.

Have a great day & I hope you enjoyed this snippet of James Taylor.
Plus+ don't forget to return here this afternoon for the Health Matters Show!

Cinda Crawford, your host

If you're looking for information on Fibromyalgia, here is a relatively new website that you can check out. There is only one negative...

http://www.fibrocenter.com/

If you were one of the fortunate ones yesterday to hear Connie Bennett on BlogTalkRadio and Gab With the Gurus, Get Your Questions Answered, considerate yourself blessed. She talked about the dangers of ingesting sugar.

Yikes! Was she talking about your favorite food?

Being down can be more than the lines of a song. Being down can describe your general state of health and, maybe even, your mental outlook.

You may go through rough times if you have long term Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and you're not getting well.

Listen to this 7 minutes 45 seconds audio and see if you get some tips for dealing with being down and depression.