Newsletter - November 2005

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Hello Everyone,

It's been a busy couple of months within the group: holding our AGM and having the accounts audited, welcoming some new committee members, saying goodbye to retiring members and taking over their roles, seeing the opening of the new clinics and holding a stall at a student fair, so I've been fairly busy!!! I'm still steadily walking - although not much further, and I've been to Harley Street again to try and keep on top of that excess nervous energy and turn it into Healing Energy.

Meetings

At our September meeting we held the AGM. Barbara gave the Chairman's report and Diane reported on the year's finances. (Both reports available on request.) We also had 3 members retiring from the committee - Barbara, Angie and Jan - all of whom had been on the committee at least 10 years - so they will be greatly missed. The committee had been out for a meal to thank them for all their hard work and they were also presented with gifts at the meeting.
Two new members were voted onto the committee - Linda Pearl and Linda Foley. Both have boys with ME and have lots of ideas for taking the group forward - so we welcome them.
After the business was over, James gave the group a talk about aromatherapy and then answered a lot of questions and let members smell the different oils.

In our October meeting we took part in the national fundraising 'Have a Cuppa For ME'. Members came for a social afternoon, but donated money towards ME research. We raised over £20 and the committee have decided to donate it to Professor Puri's ongoing research into blood tests, gene expression, brain function and how the VegEPA oils help ME sufferers.
Also, the Paediatric Nurse from the new children's clinic came along and chatted with members. We hope she will come back in the New Year to talk to the group about the progress of the local clinics.

We will be making Christmas cards at the November meeting. If you have any photographs or
pictures you would like to make into a card, please bring them (but there will be plenty of other
things to use if you don't). Please also bring a pair of scissors.
Even if you don't want to join in with the crafts, please come along for a chat and support.

Remember to make a note in your diary or on your calendar of the following meetings:

A lot of our members have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities so please can members who attend meetings try to avoid wearing hair spray, body spray, perfume or any strong smelling scent.
For more information and support about MCS visit www.chemicalfree.co.uk

Questionnaire

As the group committee is slowly evolving we are making changes and trying to cater to your needs. To this end, 2 of our committee members are, at present, creating a questionnaire which will be sent out to everyone in the near future to try and find out a bit more about you all. From name, age and sex to what would interest you at meetings and what your energy levels and symptoms are like.
We then hope to be able to provide meetings that interest certain groups e.g. children's activities, or a meeting for male sufferers. Also the newsletter can contain more relevant items.
All information will be confidential.

On this theme, we are always happy to hear from you and I would really love some articles for the newsletters. Please e-mail them to Diane or send to my address (see 'subscriptions'). Don't worry if your English skills aren't as good as they once were or you can't get out what you want to say - send me what you have and I'll edit it as necessary. Thank you!

Update on the new clinics/services for ME

Since September 1st, the children's clinic and the adult team in Peterborough (which I believe also covers Huntingdon) have been up and running.
The Adult team is still being developed for the Cambridge area and a doctor willing to specialise in ME is being sought to run the team.
Peterborough Today wrote an article about the new clinic: visit www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=1205633

National Support Groups

There are a number of National charities in the UK that support ME - in the next few newsletters I will tell you a bit about each charity.

Action For M.E.
Action for M.E. is the UK's leading charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with M.E. They've been at the forefront of the campaign for more research, better treatments and services since 1987 and they provide information and support to people affected by M.E.
The Cambridge ME Support Group is affiliated to Action for ME, so as a group we can buy their leaflets for a reduced price, receive their group newsletter and access information specifically for groups.
For £15 a year, you can become an individual member. You will have access to online counselling, the library-by-post service, residential courses, welfare rights help, telephone support, information for young people (A4ME), a large number of booklets and information leaflets at a discounted price, and four times a year you will also receive the 'InterAction' magazine which is packed with contacts, support and help on managing ME, positive ways of dealing with situations, a system to put readers in contact with other sufferers, updates on research and lots of other useful information.
To find out more or request a free information pack call 0845 1232380 or go online and visit www.afme.org.uk
Young People can visit www.a4me.org.uk

Light Boxes

A lot of our members have looked into using light boxes to help during the winter months…. This is from an article in the Mail on Sunday magazine
"If you suffer from winter blues, medically known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD, a light box and/or dawn simulator alarm clock can really brighten your life. For lots of information about SAD and a range of products, contact Outside In.
Tel: 01954 780500 (www.outsidein.co.uk)
The Dawn Simulators (called Body Clocks), which wake you naturally with a gradual sunrise, can be found online at www.lumie.com (Tel: 0845 6589292)

Eye Tests At Home (from IMEGA-e)

The Outside Clinic is a national domiciliary optician service that offers free home visits and eye tests to people unable to attend a street optician. Its mobile opticians will provide a complete home test on the NHS and offers a full dispensing service.
For more information visit www.outsideclinic.com or telephone freephone 0500 295245.

When I receive your subsciptions, I often get comments, information or your experiences sent to me as well. There are so many different approaches to try and not everything works for everyone, but this member believes that Christian Healing helped him. Here's Adrian's story:

CHRISTIAN HEALING by Adrian Rose

My first experience of Christian Healing came in October 1997. I had been completely bed-bound with M.E. for 18 months, and was having a terrible time. I had been suffering with dreadful brain symptoms and hypersensitive nerves and was really struggling.
My parents contacted a local lady called LiesI Alexander who was well known in our area as having a very powerful Christian Healing and Deliverance Ministry called Free to Live Ministries.
Thankfully, Liesl agreed to come and pray with me. As she laid her hands on me and prayed I felt a sudden surge of energy and found, from that point onwards, that I could sit-up all day (previously I had only been able to sit-up for 15 minutes at a time.) I had hoped that I would go on to quickly recover completely, but unfortunately the next few years were still very tough, (though I never returned to being bed-bound again). It was all a bit confusing.

My second experience happened in early March 2003 when I went to a Church Healing Service held by the same lady who had visited me in Oct 1997. When I was prayed for at the end of the service, I noticed a sensation of deep warmth appear in my back (where I had previously experienced a lot of pain). These sensations of warmth continued to appear in my back on a daily basis throughout the spring and summer of 2003 and I noticed gradual slight improvements in my condition.

My most dramatic experiences of Christian Healing though, took place during the latter part of 2003 and are continuing to this date, (9th August 2005).
My ability to read suddenly, dramatically improved in the autumn of 2003 which led me to be able to read an extremely good book on the subject of Christian Healing. The book was called "Healing the Sick" by T.L Osborn.
I am convinced that the teaching on Christian Healing which is outlined in this book has been responsible for the improvements which I have experienced and am continuing to experience. I seemed to find so many answers in its pages to so many questions I had about life, sickness, suffering and, of course, healing.

As soon as I began acting on the principles outlined in Healing the Sick, I started seeing miracles, constantly, every day and am still, to this day, in a constant state of amazement at the changes which have taken place in my life and health.

The book claims that many thousands of people have received healing from God simply by acting on the information contained in its pages. I will freely admit that I was initially extremely skeptical, until I witnessed it for myself.

I, quite suddenly and dramatically, became able to be up on my feet, walking around, for hours at a time (previously I had only been able to walk for 2-3 minutes at a time). I started to go out and about for rides in the car (not driving initially) everyday, (before this I had only been out in the car 9 times in 7 years). I also started to enjoy seeing friends and relatives that I had not been well enough to see for years.

As my strength continued to grow, I began to find bizarre pleasure in doing the housework, (hoovering, dusting, polishing, washing-up etc), all of these things had previously been unthinkable, as I had been almost 100% disabled. I could even cope well with busy supermarkets again. "Praise God!"

At the time of writing this letter (Summer 2005), my health is still only improving (no relapse at all). I had hoped that my healing would be quick but since my big breakthrough it has actually continued in a more gradual and sustained way (God knows best!)

Over the last eighteen months I have become increasingly more active within my local Churches. On top of this I have managed to record a CD album of songs which I have recently written (I used to play and sing in a band before I became ill). I recently started driving again for the first time in nine years and am also currently trying to get a publishing deal for a book which I have just finished writing about my experiences called Love Never Fails. It all feels incredibly good.

To find out more - email Adrian

Or Visit his website www.Adrian-Rose.com

Student Fair

Earlier in the year the group was asked if we wanted to have a stall at the Anglia Poly University (ARU) Community Fair held at the end of September.
The theme was an old fashioned village fair, so we decided to have a buzzer game where the students pay to thread the loop around the bendy wire without touching the wire and causing it to buzz. The fastest would then win a prize. We also had a lucky dip, our information leaflets and blue ribbons and wristbands for sale.
The day was fun, but unfortunately a lot of the students just wanted to partake in the free activities, so we didn't make much money. They did pick up leaflets though, so at least it helped spread ME awareness.
Thank you to the members who came along to support and help us.

Car Parking in Cambridge

When I first received Disability Living Allowance I was told I could apply for a Blue Badge. To begin with I was really unsure about it, as it was a nod to being disabled and I didn't want that - just my pride and stubbornness that I had to swallow and that we all have to deal with! But now I have it, I'm so glad. It's been a godsend allowing me to do more and to go to places I wouldn't consider as I can now park much closer and therefore don't use all my energy walking there!!
But I've learnt to be cautious over the last few months, as I've come unstuck a few times! As a rule you can park anywhere sensible (when you first get the badge there is a leaflet with where you can and can't park) and it's usually free for a set period (that period of time is usually longer than I have energy for, so it works well!)
Here's where I got caught out:
In the Grafton Centre car park, by the cinema: we were there just over 3 hours (first 3 hours are free) so we knew we'd incur a charge, but rather than charging us for the last hour - which was after 6pm therefore around 50p, we were charged £1.40 which is the standard 1hour charge for during the day!
At the new Leisure Park on Cherry Hinton Road - again parking for the cinema - we had parked in the disabled spaces near the Travelodge several times before, for free, but now the building work is virtually finished there is a sign which states disabled people must Pay and Display. We didn't see this as its displayed several metres before the parking spaces, so we got a parking ticket!!!

The irony is, when we go to London, we bought a £10 Congestion Charge exempting us from £5-a-time charges for a year and we park for 3 hours in Harley Street for free!!!

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Cambridge ME Support Group. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy of information, this cannot be guaranteed.

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