Telephone: 07974606280 E-mail: fibromedway@yahoo.co.ukWebsite: www.fibrosupportmedway.btck.co.uk

Dec 2012/Feb 2013 ISSUE 62

Next Meeting: Thursday 28th March 2013 at St Stephen’s Church Hall, Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME4 6JE. 1.00pm to 3.00pm

********************************************

NEWSLETTER

FUTURE MEETING DATES FOR 2013 23rd May, 25th July, 26th September& 28th November

All at the above address and time.

NOVEMBER MEETING

more about that later…

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The committee members are as follows:

Sarah Russell – Group Co-ordinator

Peter Carmichael – Chair Margaret Randerson -

Librarian Pat Wickham – Leaflet

Distribution Co-ordinator Jean Spain – Leader of

Sittingbourne & Sheppey Group.

COMMITTEE VACANCY

We currently have a vacancy for a committee member. This person must have a link to our group and be prepared to attend quarterly committee meetings, assist at Group meetings, help at the odd event and carry out the odd administrative task on behalf of the Group. Enthusiasm is essential, computer literacy would be an advantage.

No company car or pension provided!!

CONTACT DETAILS CHANGE

The new contact number for the group is 07974606280 which operated by Margaret Randerson. If you leave a message, she will ring

you back on a landline at a convenient time.

This number is available for anyone who has or cares for those with Fibro and who need to talk about their concerns or get advice on accessing information.

LIBRARY BOOKS & DVDs

Books & DVDs about Fibromyalgia are available for loan at each meeting. Margaret Randerson is happy to deliver and collect within a reasonable distance in Medway. Margaret can be contacted on the Group’s mobile number as above.

Please ensure that you return all Library items at the next meeting after they have been borrowed as others may be waiting for them. If you are unable to do this please contact the Librarian.

WHEELCHAIR LOAN

We have 2 wheelchairs to loan out to members. Please call the group phone number 07974606280 to book.

November Meeting

At then November meeting we were privileged to have Colin Waldock as our guest speaker.

Colin Waldock is a Chartered Physiotherapist with over 20 years experience of treating musculoskeletal problems. He obtained a diploma in acupuncture from the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, and continued his post-graduate education in obtaining a post grad qualification in Supplementary prescribing. He recently completed a Master's Degree in Research methods.

Outside of Physiotherapy Colin is embarking on training as a Local Preacher.

The aim of his clinic is to serve the people of Medway, principally though the clinic is based in Rochester. The clinic specialises in the treatment of myofascial pain syndromes.

Musculoskeletal pain associated with local very tender points. These can produce symptoms such as headache, jaw pain, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, tennis or golfers elbow, writers cramp, low back pain, sciatica, piriformis syndrome and heel pains.

The clinic offers a combination of Western Acupuncture and Physiotherapy for these common musculoskeletal problems. The clinic also has the ability to offer prescription drugs within the scope of practise of musculoskeletal pain when a suitable arrangement has been agreed with the patient and the patient’s GP.

Colin adopt the approach that Fibromyalgia causes an amplification of our senses which causes us to feel everything, all of the time. He is also of the opinion that drugs are not usually very successful at treating us and that in many cases, we are better off having our medication reduced.

Colin’s treatment sessions last between 25 and 90 minutes, depending on the patient and during this time he will apply a combination of physical therapy, acupuncture and dry-needling, whichever is most effective.

If you wish to contact Colin to ask any questions or book an appointment, he can be contacted on 07505 805175 or at colin.waldock22@gmail.com. His current fees are £ 35 for an initial consultation and £30 per session for follow-up treatment. His practice is based at the Thorndike Centre, Rochester, ME1 2TH.

Membership Renewal

If you wish to remain a member of the group and continue to get newsletters and have the benefit of attending meetings and accessing the mass of information we have on offer, then please complete and return the form at the back of the newsletter.

Donations

Donations are not compulsory but, we are a registered charity and do rely on donations to run the group and allow us to update library books, hire the meeting hall and print newsletters etc. If you are able to make a donation, no matter how small, please either return it with your form or hand it in at the next meeting.

Details of where to return forms to are on the sheet itself.

Gift Aid

If you are a taxpayer, please complete the enclosed form which allows us to claim and extra 20% of your donation. So, if you donate £10, we can recoup an additional £2.

January Meeting

It was an unusual turn of events in January as, for the first time in the history of our group, we had to cancel the meeting.

The decision was made due to the bad weather we were experiencing at the time. People with Fibro suffer enough already and we didn’t want people at risk of slipping over on the icy pavements or catching a chill in the sub-zero temperatures.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Newsletter

As we were in the process of deciding whether to cancel the meeting at the time the January newsletter was due to be issued, it was postponed.

So, this newsletter is a bumper issue, so you haven’t lost out.

Don’t forget to return the membership renewal and Gift Aid declaration on the back page. Feel free to enclose any donations with your forms.

ESA: Employment and Support Allowance

The single biggest benefits problem ever encountered by fibro sufferers?

Over the past 10 years of our group’s existence we have come across many stories of difficulties faced by our members in trying to navigate around the UK’s often labyrinthine welfare benefits system.

However, in the past year or so, with the phased implementation of the new benefits system –spearheaded by something called ‘Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), we have heard so many terrible stories from our members that simply eclipse everything we have heard from years past in terms of the sudden, dramatic and seemingly savage and arbitrary cuts to their income.

We are a non –political and non-party –political group, which means we cannot take a political position on issues such as the NHS or benefits. However, despite this sometimes difficult position, we can report that the ESA benefit in particular is causing huge problems for many of our fibro group members, as the criteria for ESA are set at such incredibly high levels, making them extremely difficult for people such as ourselves to score against.

That said, knowledge is power, as they say and you can try to get some help from numerous websites such as the Child Poverty Action Group or the Disability Alliance organisation (just ‘Google’ either and follow their ESA information links).

Employment and Support Allowance includes the worst and most complex assessment procedure for a

benefit that many specialist benefit commentators have ever encountered. At the heart of the assessment procedure is something called the work capabilityassessment, which includes two medical tests. These tests were designed by dubiously constituted committees, tried out on a statistically insignificant number of claimants, and then crucially (as the budget cuts were being devised by Central Government) - reworked - to make them harder to pass. They were then hastilywritten up into almost incomprehensible legislation.

In 2011 the test was revised to make it shorter and even harder to pass, if no simpler to understand. The questionnaire you have to fill in is misleading and, at times, different from the actual legal tests. The guidance given to doctors carrying out the medicals is also (in the view of many commentators) at some points equally questionable.

In a recent Channel Four ‘undercover’ documentary, the instructor was captured telling the doctors who were being trained to implement ESA that they should be in no doubt that the whole point of ESA was, quite simply, to stop people (i.e. such as ourselves) from getting many forms of disability benefit.

If you are being assessed or reassessed for ESA, we recommend you follow the online advice and guidance that is out there; or if you cannot access this information, to ask our library staff to borrow one of the excellent guides us have on ESA. Following the guidance will be slow, repetitive and painstaking, with quite a few uncertainties along the way.

We cannot guarantee that, whatever guidance you have to assist you that you will be awarded ESA. That will depend on your health issues and how they affect you. We simply urge you to follow the information available in order to provide the most accurate possible evidence about your entitlement to ESA.

Should you unfortunately fail to meet the medical tests for ESA, we would also urge you to consider the statutory appeals process that exists (as you might imagine, there are unprecedented levels of appeals for ESA –a great many of which do result in success for the claimant).

At the appeal tribunal there will only usually be 3 people who will ask you questions based on the evidence in front of them (you will have been sent a pack yourself). Please review the medical information about yourself very carefully –you may be surprised and shocked at how some of the statements made on the form about you are so different from the facts, or from statements you made to the assessor.

The idea of an appeals process is very intimidating for lots of us -putting off large numbers of claimants. However it is genuinely designed not to be too intimidating, so look upon it as your chance to say how your illness (or illnesses) really affects you; and why the ATOS medics perhaps failed to take various things into account, if you believe that to be the case.

A classic ‘fibro’ case is that many of us have good and bad days, and we may have been assessed not only on a relatively ‘good’ day but our ‘mind-sets’ might also be in tune with our abilities and incapacities in that moment –meaning we over-

estimate how much we can do, and we under-estimate the true impact of our condition.

The job of the three tribunal members is to assess whether the medical people made an accurate assessment, or if it was unfair or incorrect in any way. It is your job to point out if this is the case. If you cannot, then your appeal will almost certainly fail. So be bold, be incisive and take someone with you who will speak up for you, if possible –perhaps a partner or carer. Statistically, many more people are successful at tribunals if they are accompanied.

Unfortunately, we at the support group cannot offer any official advice or support at tribunals, and the like because of our insurances and our need to be politically impartial–but we would urge you to go to the appeal and try to fight your case, making best use of the evidence that has been sent to you, and any other evidence you can use, such as a GP support letter, or from someone who knows you well, who can challenge the account in the ATOS evidence.

Very best luck to all of you, and if you are one of the people who have struggled with a small income on top of having this life–changing medical condition, only to have that small income halved (or worse), you have our deepest concerns and sympathy.

If you have recently gone through the benefits process and you have an article or short anecdote which might just help others going through this process we would welcome any short written accounts which we would like to put together into a future article to help others.

Many thanks to Peter Carmichael our resident benefits ‘guru’ for putting this article together.

New Drug Trial

An old drug in a new form is moving forward through trials, and the manufacturer hopes it will eventually be approved for treating fibromyalgia. TONIX Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has completed an early phase of testing for what's being called TNX-102.

TNX-102 is a combination of:

•Very Low-Dose Cyclobenzaprine: the drug in the muscle relaxant Flexeril, which a recent study suggests may improve sleep and other core symptoms of fibromyalgia when taken at bedtime in very low doses;•Lipids: naturally occurring substances in your cells that help with energy storage, signalling, and the structure of membranes.

The TONIX study involved 30 healthy subjects who took the medication at bedtime. It was meant only to gauge how the body processed the new formulation. Noting no severe or unexpected side effects, the company now plans to move forward with further development and testing.

In a press release, Chairman and President of TONIX said, "The results of this study provide us with valuable insights which will enable us to further advance our development programs targeting fibromyalgia and other challenging disorders of the central nervous system.... We are developing TNX-

102 to be a fundamental advance in sleep hygiene and pain management and to be safer and more effective than currently available treatments."

The press release points out that disturbed sleep is a core feature of fibromyalgia and yet no "bedtime medication" is approved for it. The road to FDA approval is long and complicated, meaning that even if all goes well, TNX-102 is unlikely to be on the market for several years. However, cyclobenzaprine already is prescribed off-label for some people with fibromyalgia, especially when muscle spasms are a serious problem.

Iron Deficiency

For many people, fibromyalgia involves certain nutritional deficiencies. One that we should all be aware of is low iron, which can lead to a type of anaemia.

A study published in 2010 showed a significant difference in serum ferritin (iron) levels between healthy people and those with fibromyalgia. Researchers concluded that low iron created a 6.5-fold increase to the risk of fibromyalgia. Some of the study participants had iron-deficiency anaemia, but some were at the low end of what's considered normal. It has been claimed that treating anaemia greatly reduces pain, fatigue and other fibromyalgia symptoms.

It's easy to see how anaemia would make fibromyalgia worse, at the very least. The symptoms include:

•Fatigue•Cognitive problems•Cold hands and feet•Headache•Pale skin

•Fast or irregular heartbeat•Shortness of breath•Chest pain

You can see how anaemia could be missed in someone with Fibro. The symptoms are also remarkably similar to those associated with low thyroid hormone (also common in Fibro). While it's possible for people with chronic fatigue syndrome to be anaemic, anaemia is one of the conditions doctors should exclude before diagnosing it.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG. TIME FOR A SPRING CLEAN?

Housework is bad enough when you don't have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome but when you do; it's a whole collection of things you just can't keep up on like you want to.

While keeping your house clean will probably never be "easy," we can do a lot of things that make it easier on us, whether they help conserve energy, ease physical strain, or reduce the amount of contact you have with allergens or chemicals that may bother you.

Piles…!

When you don't have the energy to run around the house, clutter is bound to pile up (especially next to the bed or sofa where you spend a lot of time). A small tray or basket can help you clear out those problem areas in one trip.

If you have a multi-storey house you can end up making dozens of trips up and down the stairs when you are doing a major clean. To avoid that, make piles of things. A pile for

each level so you only have to take them up once, or a pile for your other half or kids to take. Again, baskets can help.

Try putting together a basket of the items that you frequently want when you are settled in your favourite chair or spot on the sofa, for example, hand cream, a nail file, massager, painkillers and a heat patch, saving yourself the effort of searching for them once you have just got comfy.

Keep it handy…

To save energy, keep cleaning supplies in the rooms where they're needed. It takes up more space, but it's worth it, especially afterward when you don't have the energy to take it back downstairs to the kitchen cupboard and put it away.

So you don’t have to try and carry the hoover all over the house, perhaps purchase and additional one for upstairs or maybe a lightweight, hand-held vacuum that fits in the bottom of a wardrobe. It will do the job to keep the carpets tidy. If the vibration of the vacuum cleaner irritates the nerves in your hands and arms, gardening style gloves can dampen the vibrations and help a lot.

Before you buy a hoover, see if you can test it. Along with looking for one that's lightweight, see how easy it is to push. Some turn a lot easier than others. Consider a bagless vacuum if you have a dust allergy or sensitivity -- bags can release a lot of dust into the air, especially when you change them.

When vacuuming, don't push and pull rapidly with your arm, as that can be really hard on your arm and upper back. Instead, walk the

vacuum slowly forward and backward. Better still; get someone else to do it!

Some dusters can put a lot of dust in the air, so if you're allergic or sensitive you might be better off with the newer products that trap dust more effectively. To keep from straining yourself or having to climb, look for a duster with a telescoping handle. You should be able to find one that allows you to get cobwebs off the ceiling without bending or stretching.

Don’t double up…

For the chemically sensitive, cleaning products can be a real problem. An easy, inexpensive solution for your bathroom is something you already have; washing powder or washing up liquid. It does a great job on tubs, toilets and sinks, and you already know you can tolerate it. You only need a tiny amount, and it rinses off well.

Sponges can hold onto germs and spread them, which you especially don't want if you have a compromised immune system. Instead of using a dirty sponge, grab an old wash cloth and then drop it in the laundry when you're done.

Rubber gloves can protect your skin from chemicals. If they make you too clumsy, you might want to try latex gloves, which aren't as bulky, or the latex-free alternatives if you're allergic.

Cleaning shortcuts…

Although the term shortcut often makes us think of an inferior attempt, these cleaning shortcuts can really reduce the amount of time and effort that cleaning takes.

Find out some specific techniques for the basic jobs and tools that will really help your speed.

Pump Up the Music…

Music can make a big difference the speed of your cleaning. Try a mix of high energy, fast moving songs that make you feel good. Using music can help you to move more quickly, all while giving you the feeling of fun.

Start With Your Least Favourite Room…

The room you always leave until last is the best one to start in. Procrastinating the rooms we hate cleaning only makes us feel worse when we say that we're done. When we're finished with everything else, our mind still remembers that we chickened-out of the hard rooms.Do the most difficult and annoying areas of your house at the beginning, when you are most motivated. Once you accomplish the feeling of completing those tough areas, everything else will seem like a piece of cake.

Don't Clean Just To Clean:I know it sounds silly, but don't waste time cleaning things that don't need to be cleaned. If your fridge is still spotless from last weeks cleaning, then why bother moving everything around to clean it? If you never use the downstairs bathroom, then it won't need to be cleaned as often as the master bathroom. Don't clean something just because it's a scheduled day of cleaning. Clean the dirty things, and leave the rest alone.

PACING

When living with fibromyalgia, pacing is key to managing our symptoms. That's easier said than done with the busy lives most of us lead, but with some effort, you can learn to pace yourself. Pacing is important with Fibro as it can really sap your energy. When your energy is low, each activity takes a greater percentage of the whole. As you've probably learned the hard way, when you overdo it, you pay the price!

It’s really tempting to push yourself on good days, trying to catch up on everything. In one day, you try to do multiple loads of washing, clean the kitchen, weed the garden and do the shopping. When your symptoms kick in, you push yourself harder, feeling like you have to get everything done before you feel so bad you couldn't do anything.

It doesn’t take long to realise that these actions only cause setbacks: one productive day can lead to three on the sofa. So, how can you get everything done without making yourself crash? The answer is pacing. It takes practice, but after awhile, it gets to be second nature.

So, how do you pace yourself? A lot of pacing strategies can help you live better with your condition. They include:

•Knowing your body•Short activity periods•Scheduled rest•Routines•Prioritizing•Switching tasks

Don't feel like you need to use them all at once, everyone is different and you may need to experiment and see what works for you.

To be successful at pacing, you have to pay attention to your body and know your limits. It can help to keep a journal or symptom log. Your goal is to answer these questions:

•How much physical activity can I handle in a day or at a time?•How much mental exertion can I handle in a day or at a time?•What activities impact me most?•At what time of day do I have the most energy?•What symptoms are "early warning signs" that I've neared my limit?

Once you know these answers, you're ready to apply pacing techniques to your life.

Fibro sufferers are sprinters, not marathon runners. If you have a big job, don't try to work through it for hours at a time. Work for a short time, rest for a while, then work for another short period. The amount of time you work and rest depends on your capacity for activity. Start with shorter periods than you think you can handle, and rest for at least 15 minutes it between. See how you feel after a couple of days, then adjust times until you've found the right balance.

Scheduled rest periods are more than the short breaks you take between bursts of activity. Instead, it's time built in to your day when you can take a nap or get some proper rest. Again, the length of time is something you have to work out for yourself. Lying down for half an hour may give you a nice boost, or you may need a two-hour nap.

Your scheduled rest period is not the time to check e-mail, watch TV, read or make your grocery list. Your mind needs rest just like your body. Try sleeping, lying quietly, meditating or possibly taking a hot bath. Rest

means rest – for mind as well as body.

Routines can really save you, especially if you have a lot of brain fog. It may be an idea to have a weekly schedule to keep you on track both in any job you may do, as well as with household tasks. If you stick to it, you won't end up needing to go shopping on the same day as you plan to do some gardening or running errands on days when you should be answering some emails.

The biggest barrier to routines is that our conditions are unpredictable. We rarely know when we'll have bad days or when a good day will take a turn for the worse without warning. To deal with this unpredictability, build in flexibility. Look at your average energy and under-schedule each day based on that. If you finish up and still have energy, do another task.

If you have a few days when you can't get anything done, catch up over the course of several days when you are feeling better, reprioritising to take care of the most important things first.

Priorities are crucial to pacing. Try to have a clear picture of what absolutely must get done in a day, and focus your energy there. If less important things need to wait as a result, then that's just how it is. If you find yourself feeling as if too many things have to get done in one day, make a list and then break your list in to three parts: “needs”, “wants” and “shoulds”.

"Needs" are top priority, have-to-get-done-right-now things. "Wants" are things that you'd really like to do IF you have the energy. "Shoulds" are things you feel like you ought to do to please someone else or

because other people would do them (such as, "I should always have an empty washing basket because that is how I was brought up"). Take care of your "needs" first, then move on to the "wants" (again, IF you have the energy). If you can't get to the "shoulds," so be it.

The "shoulds" can be a big source of guilt, because by not doing them, you may upset or disappoint someone – usually yourself!! Good communication about the limits of your illness can often help with this by adjusting other people's expectations about what you're able to do. You may need to educate people in your life about your illness.

Instead of doing one thing for a long time, try to change the type of activity frequently. If you do one physical activity for too long, it can tire out the muscles you're using, which may lead to pain and fatigue. This goes for both physical and mental activities.

For example, say you need to wash dishes, do the ironing, and return some e-mails. Don't do them in that order! By alternating physical and mental activities, you give your brain and muscles the rest they need. (And don't forget that you may need rest periods in between each activity as well!)

Pacing takes some effort and self-discipline on your part. Once you see the difference it can make, however, you'll find that it's easier to pace yourself than to deal with the consequences of NOT doing it.

The ICATS Pain Management course covers pacing in much more depth and is a brilliant tool. If you are already registered with them, ask about it at your next appointment or

if you are not, ask your GP to refer you to them.

60 SECOND MAKEOVERS!

1. Empty a bin.

The small bins in our homes can sometimes be overlooked until they are overflowing. Make this chore easier and more quickly accomplished by storing extra bin bags (or even carrier bags if you are eco friendly) in the bottom of the bin itself. It will only take a moment to tie up the used one and pop in the new one.

2. Dust the TV screen and unit

The television screen seems to always need a good dusting. Try using disposable dusting cloths to help keep dust from resettling.

3. Empty the vacuum cleaner or take the rubbish out.

Whether your vacuum cleaner is bagless or bagged, a vacuum full of dirt puts more wear and tear on your hoover. Take a moment and double check it. If it is empty, perhaps take your rubbish out to the wheelie or recycling bin.

4. Clean a mirror.

Try using vinegar and newspaper to clean your mirror. The vinegar will help the mirror dry streak free. Newspaper will leave less fuzzy residue than kitchen roll.

5. Wipe down an appliance.

Take a moment and wipe down the outside of your dishwasher, fridge, oven, washing machine, or dryer. Wipe up spots and spills quickly, and your appliances will only need an occasional thorough clean.

6. Change the towels in the bathroom or kitchen.

Prevent cross-contamination of germs and bacteria by frequently changing hand towels and kitchen towels.

7. Test your smoke alarm.

Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries should be replaced at least annually. Try testing the battery on the same day of the month to help you remember. Similarly you might replace the batteries yearly on a memorable date or do it when the clocks go forward or back.

8. Dust window sills.

Areas where the air moves, such as around windows, attracts dust. Take a few moments to wipe down the window sills in a room or two.

9. Change the battery in a clock or other battery operated item such as a remote control.

It may seem like a little thing, until you need to use it.

10. Change the cartridge in your water filter

Most need changing once a month and you will be surprised how much better the water tastes with a new one.

11. Sort out junk mail, catalogues, or magazines.

If stacks and piles of papers, magazines, and catalogues litter your home, try taking a few moments to sort it for recycling .Who still needs the 2010 Autumn/Winter Argos book? You know who you are!!

12. Treat a stain.

It only takes a few moments to remove many common stains, keep a bottle of stain remover in your cleaning cupboard or purchase stain removal wipes that take half the effort.

13. Dust or water plants.

Keep plants healthy by remembering to dust and water plants regularly.

14. Wipe down a worktop.

The newest disinfectant wipes make it easy to quickly wipe down a countertop to prevent germs from spreading or food from sticking to your surfaces. Have a selection stored for all areas of the house.

15. Wipe down the forgotten areas.

Wipe down door knobs, handles, switch plates, remote controls, and telephones. These often used items rarely get remembered when its time to clean but are usually touched by the most grubby fingers!

16. Clean out the fridge.

Sixty seconds may not be time enough to do a thorough cleaning, but it is enough time throw out the mouldy lump of cheese or that piece of furry cucumber in the salad drawer. Stick in a fridge de-odouriser for extra freshness.

17. Sort out the tins in your food cupboard.

Ditch anything that is out of date and put the tins nearest to expiry at the front.

18. Clean a loo.

Not a favourite job to do but it still needs doing!

19. Clean the microwave.

We all forget the things behind closed doors so bite the bullet and give it a quick wipe over. Disposable kitchen wipes are perfect for this chore.

20. Clean out the cup-holders and cubby holes of your car.

Don't forget to maintain the interior of your home on wheels. Clean out the hidden places where rubbish gets stashed and make sure you top up any emergency medication that you might keep in the glovebox.

21. Throw away empty cleaning containers.

Wherever you keep your cleaning supplies, you're bound to have a few that should be thrown out. Make more space for the things you really use by throwing out old or empty cleaning bottles.

22. Go through prescription medication.

Throw away expired and unused prescriptions. Not only will you help free up space for other items, but you'll also reduce the risk of poisoning..

23. Clean your sink drains

Get out the good old “Mr Muscle” and run some sink and drain cleaner down the plug holes.

24. Shake out a rug or doormat.

Remember to regularly shake out and clean these to prevent dirt and debris from ending up in your home and to keep dust out.

25. Plan a menu for the week.

Have a quick look in the cupboards and fridge/freezer and plan to make best use of what you have in.

26. Change the bed linen.

Grab a partner and get stripping! With a bit of help it should only take a minute or so to change a sheet, duvet cover and pillow cases. If you have to do this alone, split it into two tasks; stripping the bed and then making it later.

27. Wipe down the blinds.

Use a microfibre dust cloth or try using a long handled duster. Wipe across the blinds to keep them dust free.

28. File today's mail.

We can get overwhelmed with the amount of mail we receive, but after you toss out the junk, take a moment to put away mail that needs to be kept.

29. Vacuum the hallway.

Take a minute to hoover the area that sees the most traffic and therefore the most dirt. Give a good first impression to visitors and keep it clean and tidy.

30. Make a plan.

If you have time for nothing else, take a few seconds to write out a plan of things that need to be done. When you find yourself with a few more moments to spare, you'll be ready to go.

After all of those tips I hope you are raring to go with the spring cleaning though I think that might be wishful thinking!

But whilst thinking of Spring, I wish you all a happy and hopefully not over-indulgent Easter!

FUNDING UPDATE

The balance in our Bank Account at the end of September 2012, was £3253.03.

There has been no expenditure since the September meeting.

At the November meeting and during the past two months, we raised, 50p from Plugmates, £54 on the raffle, £10 for Pens, £8.60 for Refreshments, £20.80 in Donations, £50 for sale of 024 Fibromyalgia, £1 for Car Stickers, £2 for Notepads, and £750 Donation from the Fundraising Event.

This gives a total of £896.90 to be deposited in our bank account.

This gives us total of funds of £4149.93. .

DONATIONS

I would like to acknowledge all donations sent in during the last two months. All donations help ensure the service remains at the present level. I am not able to respond to

each one personally but please accept our thanks to you all. They are much appreciated.

YOUR TIPS…

Our May meeting took a different format to usual, in the form of a question and answer session. Following on from the wide range of treatments, supplements and medications that were commented on, we will be running an A-Z of articles on each of them. The list was very long so they will be spread over the next few newsletters.

If you have a tip for relieving the symptoms of Fibro or have come across something that makes life that little bit easier, let us know and we will research and print some information on it.

AWARENESS DAY 2013

This year’s Awareness Day will be held on May 11th at the usual venue; Sir Thomas Aveling School, Arethusa Road, Rochester, thanks to funding provided by an Olympic themed party held last Summer by Mick and Rachel Hancock.

The event will run from 1000 to 1400 with free refreshments for all and an opportunity not only to catch up with other members but to look at a wide variety of stands dedicated to providing information on medical services, support services, equipment and complementary therapies that benefit those with Fibro.

Further details will be published in the next Newsletter once we have all the stallholders confirmed.

All will be welcome, so feel free to spread the word to anyone who may be interested.

YOGA CLASSES

Bridget Reader runs a yoga class for people with ME/CFS/FM or other chronic illness. The classes are held at the Cleave Warne Hall, behind St Matthews Church, Borstal, Rochester, ME1 3HL, on most Fridays 13:30 - 14:30. All are welcome. Bridget can be contacted on 07962 077597.

REMINDERS

Please note that, due to the increased cost of postage, we will no longer be issuing meeting reminder letters.

NEWSLETTER ITEMS

Items for inclusion in this newsletter are very welcome, but please note that the newsletter is about Fibromyalgia and related information, for those with Fibromyalgia, and their supporters. It would be helpful, if you are able, if you can send it via email.

USEFUL CONTACTS

NORTH KENT GROUP

Contact Philomena (Phyl): 0844 887 2348 E-mail: fibromyalgia.nkent@yahoo.co.uk

MAIDSTONE GROUP MEETINGS

Contact: Julie Amos: 0844 887 2442

SITTINGBOURNE & SHEPPEY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Contact Jean Spain: 01795 471324Email: sandsfibrosupport@googlemail.com

SPEAKERS

Have you encountered someone with a passion for helping those with Fibro? Be it a medical professional or simply someone who offers a service or therapy for those with the condition, we are always looking to invite interesting people to speak at our meetings.

If you have a suggestion for a speaker, either let us know at a meeting or call or email us on the

The inclusion of articles and features in this newsletter does not necessarily infer endorsement by the group/Association. Any advice or recommendation of a medical nature, given in this newsletter, should always be discussed with a medical professional. The Group/Association cannot be held responsible for omission and/or errors.

contact details given on the front page.

Membership Renewals 2013

Name:………………………………………………………….

Address:………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………….Tel No:

………………………………………………………….

Email:………………………………………………………….

I confirm that I wish to remain a member of the Fibromyalgia Support Group ( Medway) for the next 12 months.

Signed:………………………………………………………….

Donation: (optional) I enclose a donation of £………..

Please return form to:

Sarah Russell, Fibromyalgia Support Group (Medway), c/o 38 Wigeon Road, Iwade, Sittingbourne

ME9 8WQ

Don’t forget to return a Gift Aid Form too, if you are eligible!

Gift Aid Declaration

Fibromyalgia Support Group (Medway)

Please treat the enclosed gift of £_________ as a Gift Aid donation.

I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for the current tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for the current tax year.

I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I have given.

Donor’s details:

Title: ………………First name or initial(s): .............................………………………………Surname:

………………………………………………………….. Full Home Address: …….. ……….…………………………………………..

.………………………………………………………..Postcode: ……………………

Date: .../…/…. Signature:……………………………Please notify the charity or CASC if you:

Want to cancel this declarationChange your name or home addressNo longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.