Abide

CFS/M.E./M.S./Epilepsy?

From U.S. Newswire:

Potential Animal (Zoonotic) Virus Identified in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy

NEEDHAM, Mass., May 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Recent independent scientific research funded by the National CFIDS Foundation, Inc. (NCF) of Needham, MA provided preliminary confirmation of a new virus identified in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The Foundation's medical research dovetails with that completed to date by Cryptic Afflictions, LLC (1), a private company.

Dr. Steven J. Robbins, virologist and Chief Executive Officer of Cryptic Afflictions, LLC has discovered a major neuropathogen identified as an RNA virus designated as Cryptovirus. Substantial clinical and molecular evidence indicates that this virus is involved in the development of neurological disorders that include Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) by the World Health Organization, Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) and Idiopathic Epilepsy of unknown cause.

. . .

Dr. Robbins' evidence includes the presence of virus-specific antibodies in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients suffering from these disorders, the ability of the virus to cause virtually identical disease in experimentally-infected animals, and nucleotide sequence data that indicates that the virus is pandemic and represents a single virus species much like measles.

. . .

As usual, it's difficult for a non-scientist to interpret this research, or to make any assessment of its potential importance -- but a virus has always been suspected.

When Sex is a Pain

An interesting article from an unlikely source:

. . . Fibromyalgia is considered a "made up" syndrome by some, but it's been described in medical literature since the 1700s. And if you've ever met someone who has it, you'll immediately realize that this is not something people invent to get attention.

. . .

As you might expect, being in pain all the time is exhausting. It has a debilitating effect on the libido, as do pain medications. Chronic pain often causes depression, frustration and anger, which adds strain to the relationship on a number of levels, including sex. And while sex helps with relaxation, it's hard to drum up desire when you're already stressed and tired.

Even if a partner wants to engage physically, an extremely sensitive neurological system can inhibit the pleasure response. A touch that feels ticklish or mildly tender on most people might be excruciating to a person with fibromyalgia.

So how do you have sex?

A graphic and useful article, it goes on to disuss various approaces and interventions, including technological ones. There is also an interesting conversation thread.

I'm impressed.

Housekeeping

A small, but very dramatic change here at Abide: a new banner (and fresh links.) I fell in love with this painting when I first saw it on Harmony's blog, and she has kindly given me permission to use it here.

Now I get to look at it often, and so do you.