Financial Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?!
Question: I used to have a good business till about 2 1/2 years ago whenI got really sick for no appearent reason and for two years going from doctor 2 doctor with no help I finally had my Doctor suggest that I might have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and now he is goin to send my to the mayo clinic. I am wondering if anyone knows where I can turn for financial help in this tough time I have never ever needed anyones help in my entire life and with a beautiful 4 year old daughter and a son on the way I am finding it impossible to function on a daily basis. I know most people might think that oh he must be a fat lazy guy just making excuses. I hate to but your bubble but I am not, Actually I am a fit healthy hard working guy that started working when he was 13 and hasn't stopped since, But now I am faced with this illness or whatever it is and am in need of help does anyone know of any institutions that can help with that till I get back on my feet. I will get better because I never ever give up.
Answers: I used to have a good business till about 2 1/2 years ago whenI got really sick for no appearent reason and for two years going from doctor 2 doctor with no help I finally had my Doctor suggest that I might have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and now he is goin to send my to the mayo clinic. I am wondering if anyone knows where I can turn for financial help in this tough time I have never ever needed anyones help in my entire life and with a beautiful 4 year old daughter and a son on the way I am finding it impossible to function on a daily basis. I know most people might think that oh he must be a fat lazy guy just making excuses. I hate to but your bubble but I am not, Actually I am a fit healthy hard working guy that started working when he was 13 and hasn't stopped since, But now I am faced with this illness or whatever it is and am in need of help does anyone know of any institutions that can help with that till I get back on my feet. I will get better because I never ever give up.
For financial help, you should ask your local member of the House of Representatives, State and Federal. Their staff can be exceptionally helpful to navigate through government and private financial programs.
Back in the Fall of 1976, I developed mononucleosis, followed by what would have been a chronic fatigue syndrome from which I recovered gradually over the next 5 years. This was before CFS was recognized as a medical condition.
For a chronic fatigue syndrome, you should consult a microbiologist, a medical doctor specializing in infections. A family doctor or general practitioner will not suffice. Ask your family doctor to refer you to a microbiologist practicing in a university teaching hospital as doctors practicing in university teaching hospitals tend to be better qualified, more knowledgeable and up to date.
A microbiologist will order blood tests and stool cultures to identify the infecting microorganisms, bacteria or viruses. Once the results are known, a microbiologist will prescribe the best antibiotics and antiviral agents to fight the infectious agents behind the chronic fatigue syndrome.
For four years, I was referred to a microbiologist who had a number of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. This does not make me a specialist, but I had the opportunity to speak with a CFS patient in the waiting room who was experiencing a mild relapse after more than 20 years of CFS.
As I understand it, CFS is caused by a chronic infection developing into an autoimmune disease. Much like rheumatoid arthritis stemming from gastrointestinal bacteria, the key is to run blood tests and stool cultures to identify the bacteria and /or viruses causing the chronic infection. A positive test goes a long way to convince doctors and insurance companies that you need antibiotics and antiviral agents, as the case might be.
The second step is to fight the chronic infection with an appropriate combination of antibiotics and /or antiviral agents. Finally, the antibiotic Minocin is prescribed for at least 12-18 months to address the autoimmune aspect of CFS.
When prescribing Minocin for its immunomodulatory effect, it can be used alone or in combination with Zithromax as follows:
Zithromax (azithromycin), 5 days per week, Monday to Friday afternoons, between 4 PM and 8 PM, 500 mg on Mondays, and 250 mg on Tuesdays to Fridays, for a total weekly dosage of 1,500 mg, in combination with Minocin (minocycline), 100 mg, twice a day, every 12 hours, 7 days per week. For the convenience of patients, if tinnitus, a constant hissing sound, is not a major problem, Zithromax, 500 mg, can be prescribed 3 days per week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, between 4 PM and 8 PM.
If you take any NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors, you should consider adding Losec (omeprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole) or Nexium (esomeprazole), 20 mg, once or twice a day, to reduce stomach acid, prevent the recurrence of ulcers and, possibly, increase the effectiveness of antibiotics used to fight gastrointestinal bacteria.
When you reach a pain free or an almost pain free condition through antibiotics, especially Minocin, NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors and DMARDs are no longer needed to control inflammation. As you quit these medications, you can abandon Losec, Prilosec and Nexium as well, because you are no longer at a higher risk of developing ulcers.
Minocin has unpleasant side effects for the first month following its introduction. Patients might suffer from headaches, dizziness or light headedness, imbalance and nausea. To ease your way and avoid unnecessary adverse side effects, please consider a dose reduction for the first month, i. e. Minocin, 50 mg, twice a day, or fewer days with Minocin, 5 days per week, every day except Mondays and Thursdays (or Fridays), for the first 1-2 months. After that initial period, you should resume a full dosage of Minocin, 100 mg, twice a day, every 12 hours, 7 days per week.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Avoid the sun while on Minocin.
Zithromax is prescribed for its ability to inhibit the formation of a bacterial biofilm containing proteins and portions of bacteria which would protect gastrointestinal bacteria from antibiotics and the phagocytes, polynuclear cells and macrophages generated by the immune system. Zithromax is also useful for its ability to reduce the virulence factors of gastrointestinal bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Minocin is prescribed for its immunomodulatory effect to destroy memory T cells which command the production of antibodies to attack body cells, even in the absence of infection, causing an abnormal autoimmune reaction which is likely present in chronic fatigue syndrome. Minocin is also a strong anti-inflammatory which, over time, will allow you to discontinue any NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors and codeine.
To replenish the intestinal flora destroyed by antibiotics, get acidophilus capsules sold in health food stores. Acidophilus capsules usually contain a minimum of 4.6 billion active units of lactobacillus and acidophilus bacteria which are indigenous to the human lower intestinal tract. To prevent or minimize any problem with diarrhea, take 2 capsules of acidophilus, 4 hours before Zithromax and 2 hours after Zithromax or any other antibiotic. If needed, take acidophilus 3 times per day. When introducing Zithromax, any problem with diarrhea should not last beyond the first 4 weeks.
To reduce the risk of esophageal irritation and ulceration, antibiotics should be taken with a large glass of water, while standing or sitting upright. Take antibiotics on an empty stomach, unless some food (no milk or dairy product) is needed with Minocin to prevent severe adverse effects. Do not take at bedtime. Wait at least 30-45 minutes before lying on your back or stomach.
As a result of being so weak and exhausted from inflammation, and as a side effect of antibiotics, you may want to go back to sleep just after the morning antibiotic pill. If you go back to bed, you should use a pillow chair for the first 45 minutes. A pillow chair is like a cushioned chair with its back and arms, but without a seat and legs. It is sold in large department stores and designed to help people who want to sit, read or eat in bed. Should you be very sleepy, the arms and back of the chair will allow you to remain sitting in bed, instead of falling off or lying on your back.
According to a Leyden study, the absorption of Minocin is reduced by 13% if taken with solid food, whereas it is reduced by 27% if taken with milk. When Minocin pellet-filled capsules were given concomitantly with a meal, which included dairy products, the extent of absorption was not noticeably influenced, but peak plasma concentrations were decreased by 11.2% and delayed by one hour, compared to dosing under fasting conditions.
Absorption of all tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, and iron-containing preparations. Take Minocin 2 hours away from any dairy product, calcium, magnesium or aluminum supplement and 3 hours away from any iron supplement, such as a multivitamin containing iron.
Don't interrupt any current medication for pain and inflammation until pain subsides. If you're not on any such medication, NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, acetaminophen and codeine are all available to reduce pain and inflammation.
Finally, depression is often a component of CFS, possibly a low level depression which serves to exacerbate pain. If this is the case, antidepressants can work miracles to improve your enjoyment of life and reduce pain.
A low dose of antidepressant, 25 mg or 50 mg, is often prescribed at bedtime, as a muscle relaxant, for fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis patients who wake up fully rested and pain free, just like before their illness. Plenty of dreams that you remember and an over optimistic attitude are the main side effects, unless you develop a (rare) skin rash, as I did.
For more information on chronic fatigue syndrome, please go to Medline Plus at:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/...
or join the antibio group at:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ant...
or contact:
The American Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
27 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 416
Chicago, IL 60606
Voice Mail : 847-258-7248
Fax: 847-748-8288
Web: http://www.aacfs.org