Extras Page 2
This page contains more articles and news that could not wait
for
the paper newsletter, or have not made it because they arrived after
the deadline or due to lack
of space:
Survey
E-Petition
Leeds & West Yorkshire
CFS/ME Service Funding crisis
Sandra Tomlinson is Group's
new chair
Gas Rebate
YOGA - THE
GENTLE WAY BACK TO
HEALTH
Survey
Added 17 March 2007
A survey to help improve quality of life for patients is underway. This will be presented to the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the government-funded body that decides which treatments and care should be paid for by the NHS. See the web page for more information about this QALYity Project and the QALity survey.
E-petition
Added 28 February 2007
An
e-petition has been created that states:
We the undersigned petition the Prime
Minister to get the Health Service and medical profession to accept the
WHO classification of ME/CFS as an organic neurological disorder and
not as a psychosocial syndrome.
Please take a look at the site; it will only take two seconds.
Sandra Tomlinson is
Group's new chair
Added 26 May 2006
At the group's AGM, on 10 May 2006, Sandra Tomlinson was successfully
elected to be the group's new Chairperson. We are sure Sandra will do a
fantastic job as she has kept the finances of the group in excellent
order as our Treasurer for some time.
The AGM was Jenny Gilmore's last official function as Chair and we are
all sorry to see her leave, as she has done a stunning job in all areas
of the group during the past three years. However, she will still
be involved, as she has become the new Treasurer.
Gas Rebate
Added 15 January 2006
URGENT! If you receive means-tested benefits you can claim a rebate
from British (or Scottish) Gas, though you must claim before 31 DEC
2005. Note: this has been extended for the second payment. Also
registering now will insure that you will be notified of any further
rebates, so check now.
They are giving out rebates of £60 on winter bills - it is
paid
in two installments in November and February. The rebate is worth
£20 for gas customers, £20 for electricity, i.e.
£60
for customers getting both.
Check to see if you've received a form with your gas bill or call 0845
602 2008 and press 1 for Winter Fuel Rebate. All you need is your
account details and they'll arrange it for you.
It's for British (or Scottish) Gas customers only and you have to be on
one of the following benefits:
Vulnerable Customer - Eligible Benefits
Disability living allowance
Pension Credit
Attendance allowance
War disablement pension which includes either a mobility supplement
or constant attendance allowance
Disablement pension which includes constant attendance allowance
Child tax credit where the relevant income is £14,600 or less
Working tax credit where the relevant income is £14,600 or
less
Council tax benefit
Housing benefit
Income-based job seekers allowance
Income support
Carers Allowance
Severe Disability allowance
YOGA
- THE GENTLE WAY BACK TO
HEALTH
by Angela Stevens. Added 29 December 2005
From the various case histories I have encountered in the 13 years that
I have been connected with classes of Yoga for ME/CFS, I have
come to the conclusion that Yoga must have been specially
designed for this illness, due to the way it works not only on the
physical body but subtly on nerves, glands and organs, and due to the
adaptability of yoga to suit the individual’s needs and
abilities. Brought to its gentlest level yoga can even be
adapted
to suit people confined to bed. We know about the exercise
regimes that were recommended when this illness first became accepted
by the medical profession – graded exercise and jogging were
suggested which, in many cases had disastrous results,
relapses
taking place if the level of activity was too high. So
exercise
was discouraged; but yoga does not come
into that
‘no exercise’ ban due to its adaptability.
Many of the ‘culprits’ of this illness can be
affected by
the all-embracing techniques of yoga – notably:
The Autonomic Nervous System controlled by the Hypothalamus
Gland. If this gland malfunctions some of the automatic
functions
of the body go wrong like breathing, digesting, swallowing, temperature
control etc. Hormone production goes hay-wire and some
sufferers
have enormous amounts of adrenalin pouring into the system –
a
permanent switch-on of the Flight or Fight Response, resulting in
inability to rest or sleep. Yoga can work on this through
gentle
exercise, breathing techniques, relaxation, visualisation
techniques and meditation.
Lack of blood to the brain stem: According to Dr. David Mason
Brown, who has had ME himself, one of the ways the illness can be
diagnosed is through a brain scan; if the scan shows lack of
blood at the brain stem then it is more than likely to be ME and not
some other illness which might have similar
symptoms. There
are gentle Yoga postures which invert the body and can address this
problem over a period of time.
Pain in Joints and Muscles: This can be due to a build up of
lactic acid which can be present due to lack of exercise just as it can
through over-exercising; this can be relieved through yoga
movements and exercises. Even ‘thinking’
movements
can have a profound effect. A little yoga done
regularly
can gradually improve tolerance to exercise.
Hyperventilation: Through learning to bring the breath under
control and to control emotions this common symptom can soon disappear.
The Four Kinds of Fatigue: Yoga is a Holistic Therapy which recognises
the ‘whole’ self - that we have four different
aspects to
our makeup – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, all
of
which need equal nourishment. Stress can build up due to an
imbalance in these aspects. Correspondingly, there are four
kinds
of fatigue – Physical Fatigue occurring from lack of exercise
or
inappropriate overuse of the body usually resulting in severe tension
or pain; Mental Fatigue: when we are ill we are
naturally
anxious and thoughts turn inward which can add to the problem by
causing worry, fear, anxiety, agitation etc. The brain
becomes
‘foggy’ and thoughts get stuck. Concentration is
affected
and the memory may be impaired; Emotional Fatigue:
The
physical state affects the way we think which in turn affects us
emotionally – problems become exaggerated and it is possible
to
become anxious over little things; feelings of guilt arise,
fear
of the future etc. Through emotional culturing and by
learning to
relax physically and mentally the emotions can be controlled;
Spiritual Fatigue: when the other aspects of the self are
dragged
down there is finally a fatigue of the spirit – the lowest
point
in the trough – when even thinking or speaking and life in
general take too much effort.
But you know you are going to get better. So yoga can be
something positive that you can do for yourself.
Why not
try it and see the difference?
*******
There are now 50 special Yoga for ME/CFS classes throughout the UK.
If you are unable to get to a class there are cassette tapes available
for home practice produced by Angela Stevens which are designed for
different levels of energy:
Energise & Relax
With Yoga:
Designed to be used by people who are confined to bed or who wish to
work gently. It includes extremely gentle, safe
movements;
positive visualisation; the use of sound and
colour;
breathing practices to energise and relax; practices for the
emotional and energy centres; relaxation. (for low
energy
levels)
Yoga the Gentle Way:
Includes the very gentlest of exercise designed to gradually increase
tolerance to exercise; the basics of good
breathing;
exercises in co-ordination and energy conservation;
relaxation
and visualisation techniques. (for moderate energy levels)
Breathe to Live:
Based
entirely on breathing including the importance of good posture, rhythm
and quality of breath; tension release; an
understanding of
the Life Force; tips on countering
Hyperventilation;
correct breathing techniques; energising breaths;
more
relaxation; breath meditation. Breath is the main
energy
source!
The tapes cost £7.50 each inc. postage (or £14.50
for 2
tapes, £21.50 for 3 tapes) for orders within the
UK. Orders
from outside the UK can be paid for through PayPal. For
further
details visit
www.angela-stevens.co.uk.
Previous Page
Please read the
disclaimer
