I’ve never encountered this web site before, but it was linked from a blog carnival, and the article is pretty good: Because Sitting up is for Suckers: 70+ Tools, Tips and Hacks to Work from Bed

I still miss my laptop!

And I have a pretty nice setup, but can’t help drooling at this: the Ergopod 500. I’m not about to look at the prices, though!

This isn’t specifically about CFS/ME or FMS, but I found it interesting, and I think it makes sense.

Why Mental Lethargy When Sick

During an infection, humans typically experience a set of physiological and psychological symptoms, including fever, confusion, decreased motivation, depression and anxiety that are accompanied by a slowing of movements.

These changes, collectively known as “sickness behavior,” are the body’s way of conserving energy during illness so that an effective immune response can be launched. This new study helps researchers further understand how cytokines communicate between the immune system and the brain to promote sickness behavior.

Since many people with CFS/ME have chronic fevers and other symptoms similar to those of infectious illnesses, I have to wonder if the results of this study will be examined with regards to CFS/ME.

I detest ignorant bigots. And I absolutely consider the following hate speech:

So like an HPV diagnosis in someone would almost guarantee that others would know the person’s potential morals or lack there of, and HIV almost always denotes a gay man, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia could potentially indicate a woman who has aborted a child. Just a thought.

Gosh - so all those males who have fibromyalgia were actually born as women, and had abortions before they had sex changes and developed FMS? Everybody who is HIV+ because of blood transfusions or other issues is a gay man?

I’ve never even considered having an abortion. My child certainly hasn’t had one, and she developed FMS when she was nine years old!

I did comment at the blogger’s site, giving her information on all the proof that FMS does exist and that our pain is real. I don’t believe she’ll ever approve the comment, because she doesn’t care about the truth — she just wants to spread her nasty propaganda.

I read Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease by Rosalind Joffe and Joan Friedlander a few months back, but for some reason my review on Amazon never showed up, and I didn’t think to keep a copy for myself. It seems to finally be there now, so I’ll put it here, too (slightly expanded).

This book is one the best I’ve ever found for those of us who have chronic illnesses, but want to continue working. It goes beyond the standard “coping tips” to talk bluntly about pacing yourself, searching for a job, keeping a job, negotiating with your employer for accommodations, and being self-employed. Topics like “when do I disclose a disability/illness?” are covered by authors who have extensive personal experience building their careers despite chronic illnesses.

The title does refer specifically to women, but I think the book can also be very useful for men. Likewise, there’s no reason to limit readership to people with autoimmune diseases.

I’ll be buying copies to send to some of my friends. I don’t plan to let mine out of my sight! I hope to get a copy of the accompanying workbook soon, as well.

Joffe’s blog, Working With Chronic Illness, is also good reading.

A research abstract from Dr. Paul Cheney offers an interesting conclusion.
Oxygen Toxicity as a Locus of Control for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
“We conclude that CFS is an oxygen toxic state and that oxygen toxicity status appears to determine outcome in therapeutic trials and is therefore, a locus of control in chronic fatigue syndrome.”

The possibility of an efficacious treatment for CFS is exciting. I’ll be watching the news for more information on this angle.