Fibromyalgia

Learn about Fibromyalgia on our blog
Keeping Spirits Bright: Managing the Post-Holiday Letdown

Keeping Spirits Bright: Managing the Post-Holiday Letdown

Some people, especially those with chronic disease, experience depression and/or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) after the holidays are over. Dr. Stuart Drescher, a psychologist experienced in working with patients with chronic diseases including ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, gives tips on how to manage the letdown that often occurs in January and February, when the holidays are over and the days seem dark and dreary.

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When Mommy Can’t Dance: How to Be a Chronically Ill Mom

When Mommy Can’t Dance: How to Be a Chronically Ill Mom

It’s a hard to be a sick mom. For most mothers, a few days of illness may mean a back-up of laundry and a night or two of frozen pizza or cold cereal for dinner. For those of us moms that are chronically ill, it’s a whole other ball game. Certainly we have to adapt, get creative, and employ as many mom hacks as we can (i.e. Amazon prime, grocery pick up, self-serve kid snacks, and yes, we still have an above average number of cereal dinners). Beyond the physical demands and limitations, however, are the mental and emotional obstacles that we face. The mom guilt is present enough when you are healthy; it can be even more crushing when you are not.

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BHC Program and Research Update

BHC Program and Research Update

BHC’s mission is to empower patients, advance research, and improve clinical care. What is happening to further those goals? At the November education meeting, Dr. Lucinda Bateman and Dr. Suzanne Vernon shared updates on the programs BHC is developing to ensure that this mission is accomplished.  Highlights include development of a patient education program to empower patients, a practitioner education program that will improve clinical care, and implementation of a major research grant to advance the search for biomarkers.

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ME/CFS and Related Illness: Putting It All Together

ME/CFS and Related Illness: Putting It All Together

Understanding how ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia are related to and affected by other illnesses is key in helping patients find relief from symptoms. At the BHC Education Meeting in October, Dr. Nathan Holladay gave a broad view of the key aspects of the various problems that can cause these diseases or make them worse, including infections, immune system issues, and mitochondrial, metabolic, and endocrine dysfunction. Making the connections between these illnesses can help doctors and patients decide on customized treatment methods rather than “one-size-fits-all” treatments.

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Nutrition: How Food Choices Impact How You Feel

Nutrition: How Food Choices Impact How You Feel

The Whole Sisters (Nan Jensen and Nicole Bangerter) shared their journey with chronic illnesses at the September education meeting. View this presentation to learn about how food choices can affect symptoms. Visit their website for ideas on healthy food choices. Nan and Nicole discuss the importance of organic choices, the “dirty dozen” and the “clean fifteen”. They share tactics to develop self awareness and guidelines for reducing symptom presentation including recipe ideas.

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