Feel-Good Guide to Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Lynette Bassman

Informations

• Publié par: New Harbinger Publications
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 0001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781608823444
• Langue: English

Extrait

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Publisher’s Note
Care has been taken to confirm the accuracy of the information presented and to describe generally accepted practices. However, the author, editors, and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information in this book and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents of the publication.
The author, editors, and publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that any drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accordance with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any change in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new or infrequently employed drug.
Some drugs and medical devices presented in this publication may have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for limited use in restricted research settings. It is the responsibility of the health care provider to ascertain the FDA status of each drug or device planned for use in their clinical practice.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright © 2007 by Lynette Bassman
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
Acquired by Jess O’Brien; Cover design by Amy Shoup;
Edited by Amy Johnson; Text design by Tracy Carlson
All Rights Reserved.
Epub ISBN: 9781608823444
The Library of Congress has Cataloged the Print Edition as:
Bassman, Lynette, 1959-
The feel-good guide to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome : a comprehensive resource for recovery / Lynette Bassman.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-57224-489-4
1. Fibromyalgia--Popular works. 2. Chronic fatigue syndrome--Popular works. I. Title.
RC927.3.B39 2007
616.7’42--dc22
2007008087
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
CHAPTER 1
Is This Book About You?
CHAPTER 2
Why Do You Feel So Sick?
CHAPTER 3
Orchestrating Your Health Care
CHAPTER 4
Medical Treatments
CHAPTER 5
Nutritional Approaches I: Food
CHAPTER 6
Nutritional Approaches II: Supplements
CHAPTER 7
Herbal Therapy
CHAPTER 8
Applied Kinesiology, Chiropractic, and Related Techniques
CHAPTER 9
Homeopathy
CHAPTER 10
Traditional Chinese Medicine
CHAPTER 11
Therapeutic Massage
CHAPTER 12
Psychotherapy
CHAPTER 13
Ayurvedic Medicine
CHAPTER 14
Adjunctive and Emerging Approaches
Resources
References
Foreword
Every century has certain illnesses that stump physicians. For at least the last half-century fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue have been the bête noir of the medical profession. In the previous century it was neurasthenia, which Florence Nightingale suffered from for many years; chronic fatigue may well be a current version of neurasthenia.
One of the most disturbing aspects of a diagnosis of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue is that most physicians react as if this means the problem is psychosomatic or all in your head. Nothing could be further from the truth. As this excellent book details, both of these diagnoses are real and can be appropriately treated when they’re understood as the body’s reactions to multiple stressors: physical, chemical, electromagnetic, and emotional. As Lynette Bassman documents in this book, when stress levels reach a critical point, many body processes begin to break down.
In my decades of clinical work with people in pain, I’ve found that treatments can be tremendously effective without the use of drugs. As you will see in this thorough, carefully researched book, a wide variety of tools is available to aid you in the recovery process. The good news is that you can feel good again. You have in your hands a wealth of good scientific information to speed you on your road to recovery. Bon voyage!
—C. Norman Shealy, MD, Ph.D.
President, Holos University Graduate Seminary
Founding President, American Holistic Medical Association
Acknowledgments
I am grateful to the following people for graciously giving their time to read portions of the manuscript: Larry Bassman, Jem Bluestein, Rosemarie Gladstar, Howard Hurtt, Monika Joshi, Joel Kreisberg, Selena Mitchell, Sue Stone, and Susun Weed. I also appreciate my editors at New Harbinger Publications for their gentle, helpful input, and Josh Johnson and Neal Kennington for research assistance. Thanks also to Bruce Cooperstein and the late Avery Ferentz for putting me on the road to recovery. And I am especially grateful to Jonah Bassman and Larry Bassman for their love, support, and understanding.
Introduction
When you have fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)—or think you might—it’s not easy to get the health care you need. A lot of people, doctors included, won’t believe you’re sick. They may believe you about nearly any other topic you discuss, but when it comes to discussing your symptoms, they’ll think you don’t know what you’re talking about. Even if they accept that FM and CFS exist and your symptoms are real and debilitating, many people will say that there isn’t much to be done to help. That’s not true.
I’m a psychologist and for almost twenty years I’ve seen people with FM and CFS and other health problems in my psychotherapy practice. I know that psychotherapy can help a lot, but I also know that other healing modalities are needed. Most people don’t know much about these modalities. When a client needs further information, I will often suggest books they can read. However, when it comes to learning about the many healing modalities available to help with FM and CFS, there isn’t a book that comprehensively covers the topic. That’s why I decided to write this book.
In addition to my professional experience with these syndromes, I also have personal experience. Twenty-three years ago I became ill with what eventually was diagnosed as chronic Epstein-Barr syndrome (an early name for CFS). Like many people, I went to a conventional MD for help. He and a rheumatologist ran a lot of tests, considered some really scary diagnoses, and eventually sent me to see a psychologist. While psychotherapy was helpful, it didn’t make all the symptoms go away. Luckily, a friend of mine suggested I see his chiropractor, who did something called applied kinesiology. He described the treatment techniques; they sounded ridiculous. I hesitated, not only because I had no knowledge of alternative medicine and viewed it as highly suspect, but also because my health insurance wouldn’t cover it and the cost would be difficult for me to manage. But I was desperate, so I went.
That first visit was a revelation. There was no question of whether this chiropractor believed in my illness. Rather than wanting to send me away as my MD had, this doctor was ready to start helping me get better. He had a variety of ways of treating what was going on in my body, and suggested things I could do to help myself, too.
It took a few years, but with nutritional supplements and herbs, dietary changes, bodywork, psychotherapy, and eventually homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine, I became well. I have been able to stay well by maintaining these dietary changes, exercising regularly, managing stress, avoiding unnecessary toxins, and getting preventive health care.
So I know that people can recover from FM and CFS. I’m grateful my friend pointed me in the right direction and that I was able to try something new and make changes in my life. I hope that this book will point you in the right direction and help inspire you to make any changes you need to recover.
I’ll begin by laying the groundwork to help you understand FM and CFS. These first three chapters are very important: not only will they help you get your bearings, they’ll also prepare you for making decisions about what healing modalities to use. Chapters 4 through 14 cover a broad range of healing arts that can help with FM and CFS. You can use these chapters as you would a reference book, picking and choosing which ones you want to read based on which methods appeal to you and what you have available in your area or can do as self-care. Or you can read all of the chapters before making any decisions. In addition to the References section at the back of the book, there’s also a Resources section that includes helpful Web sites, ways to find different types of practitioners, and other information. Not all of these resources are explicitly referred to elsewhere in the book, so it’s a good idea to browse this section to see what’s there.
My goal is to give you the information you need, both about what causes your symptoms and about what you can do to feel good again. But I’m not a physician and I can’t prescribe treatments. Treatment plans should be tailored to your needs, based on solid diagnostic information. Being an advocate for your own health care is healing in itself; I encourage you to take charge of deciding what is right for you.
One of the lessons to be learned from having FM or CFS is that we need to take very good care of ourselves in order to feel good. By picking up this book, you have begun that process. It is my fondest wish that you will emerge from this illness with the tools to stay well for a lifetime.
Chapter 1
Is This Book About You?
What Are Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Every day many things must happen in our bodies to maintain healthy, normal functioning. For most people, on most days, these processes go smoothly, without any thought. Sometimes something will go wrong with one of these processes; you might sprain an ankle, impairing your musculoskeletal functioning, or you might develop a stomac