No matter why you have come...it is great to have you here. If you have needs, feel free to ask for help. If you can offer help, then please share that as well.

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Hiya everyone....I've just arrived..and from the UK.

Thanx for the invite Rev

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Solent...Your arm must be awful tired from holding those balloons all the way!

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For the invite Rev, I guess I am here to both help and be helped...I have considerable experience of the benefits system lol, so may be able to help there, I am also fairly up to date on many of the mental health services available...I am in the UK so my knowledge is about UK stuff, but am happy to help wherever I can really.

I can also offer a well padded shoulder if needed!

BB

Wytche

Nil Illegitimae Carborundum! (nicked from Terry Pratchett....)

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Welcome my friends! Thanks for joining us!

Here's something cool from Michael E.:

Make free donations to over 70 causes at no cost to you! You click & sponsors pay!

http://www.thenonprofits.com/

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Hi,

I applied for disability after a six month LOA from my career did not bring me a dx ... later found out I had the viral form of ME ... known in the USA by the humiliating name of "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" - planted on us and the the world by the NIH because the young researchers sent to check out the outbreak in Incline Village were more interested in Skiing than researching ... Read the "bible" on this = Rev... help my brain fogged mind ...

Apologies = this is a very bad day ...

I need help finding AFFORDABLE help in my home or an ALF I am rapidly losing the ability to take care of myself AND my home.

More later. thank you, Skull for the Group

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I posted an SOS to a friend asking about the name of the book and author -

Hillary Johnson authored Ostler's Web ... here is some info on it:

A new book by journalist/patient Hillary Johnson (published in March 1996) chronicles the actions of public health officials and scientists in dealing with CFS, and finds great fault with the slowness of meeting this challenge. Johnson's weighty 736-page book is titled "Osler's Web: Inside the Labyrinth of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic". Its tone and format have been compared by many reviewers to "And the Band Played On", the narrative by the late journalist Randy Shilts which chronicled the checkered response of public health officials to the AIDS crisis.

Johnson has written what appears to be a comprehensive history of how government officials and scientists in the USA have dealt CFS in the late 1980s through the early 1990s. Among its many claims, the author makes the case that CFS is an organic and contagious illness, and yet despite evidence supporting this *and* specific directives from Congress, government scientists have tacitly but firmly put this challenge aside, effectively refusing for many years to research this illness. Johnson argues that promising research such as that by Paul Cheney and Elaine DeFreitas has been set aside and opposed by medical officials.

"Osler's Web" also documents the seriousness and severity of CFS, and how the current name "chronic fatigue syndrome" blocks progress towards legitimizing this illness among medical professionals and the public. The book is named after Sir William Osler MD who promoted the notion that good medical science follows from gathering evidence by directly observing patients.

Hillary Johnson is a professional journalist who has been published in many periodicals including Life, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone magazine. She fell ill with CFS in 1986.

• Book info from the publisher
• Interviews with the author
• Discussion with author on Prodigy network
• Book reviews
• New York Times
• Newsweek
• Book Review by Mary Ann Spurgin
• AACFS (a doctors organization)
• Dr. John Renner
• National CFS/FM Assoc.
• Info from Amazon books
• Audio book on Internet, from TST

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I am Sally in Tx.  I am work in the medical field.  I have a 19yo son going to college---nursing.  I wanted to share a link. Since I am new, you may have already heard of it but wanted to share it since medicine is so HIGH!

https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

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Sorry I've been away from the group but I needed to reorganize and cut down the number of groups I was in.

Let me know if you need anything specific...you can always message or email me...

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Hi Yall'  I'm C.C. from NC! 36yr old mother w/ multiple physical disabilities currently re-applying for SSI 3rd time! I've already seen many helpful resources here & hope to contribute myself as well.

Wishing you all the best thru this nation-wide heat wave <I can't even go out during the day>!!

Peace & Prayers, C.C. 

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Just starting the disability paperwork over the past 2 months and temp disability from work ends Sept 1.  I am a single mother of a wonderful 13-yr-old girl.  I suffer from Chronic Fatigue Immume Deficiency, Fibromyalgia, COPD, blah, blah, blah....

Just glad to find a support group to be with me through all this.  Praying I don't end up homeless and lose custody of my daughter through this mess.

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Okay, I really need to be locked up for joing and thank you dear CC for the invite. Hello to all familiar faces. Funny, I am in desperate need of help from my co-hosts for my disability group and I am might as well beat my head against a wall. Not even sure what I can contribute her as my group has grown very large. Well enough that whining. Great group here and I hope that more spring up!

Hey, Rev. I love ya and also you Gayle B.! I am in seriouus need of an active co-host or I might have to walk away for the sake of my health.

Love to all of you, Dreama

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First I want to thank CC for the invite to the group.  I am so happy to be here with you all.  I enjoy helping others who are going through the process of trying to get on Social Security Disabilty or SSI because of being disabled.  So many tend to want to give up and we need to keep with them and have them keep fighting for the benefits they do deserve.

I am the group owner of another group on Care2 called "Disabled Support" and this is one of the issue we deal with there also, and the more groups like this we have, we are sure to reach those who need this support, so I am glad to be here with you all, to help when and where I can.  You are also free to check out my group also. http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/support

Thanks again CC, and God bless you all.

Michael B. 

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Maybe this is not the right place to post this but I am really struggling as I have far too many co-hosts involved in everything and my other co-host in absentia and that leaves 2 too carry the huge load for my "Calling All Disabled, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security Recipients" and it really growing. I have put my heart and soul into to this group and it is my life's passion but if I do not get serious co-hosts, then I will be forced to close it and re-open only a small and limited group and I am so crying as I am typing this and it really blows.

Love,

Dreama

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Great Group here!

Dreama, Sounds like you and I are swimmin in the same drowning pool! I'd jump right in to help you my dear friend, if I was going under (physically & mentally) myself.  If I can pull myself out of this slump in the next little while, I would definately offer you any help I can give to your group! You have done so much for everyone involved, and helped so many disbaled people accross America!  God Bless you my sweet friend. I'll be in touch....

~Barb

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Hello Jas and welcome to the group, although I am so very sad and sorry that such circumstances has brought you to us.

Perhaps you might care to browse...
http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/NFR/
....and if your Pop-up Blocker prevents you from exploring any of the links, just hold down your "Control" key as you left-click and all will unfold before your eyes.

If you could type in size 3 (12pt) or larger, it would be so much easier for me (and others) to read.  I have real problems with the small default size Care2 have chosen, and I have to take each small post off site and send it to myself selecting a larger font size as I do....thankyou..

Martin ...

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Hi All

Judy invited me along here. I have heaps of groups I host and own Reach Out..but I will certainly make time for this group.

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Hi everyone! Thanks for joining Helen!

I have Reflective Sympathic Disrophy Syndrome,  Fybromyaglia, and other medical problems. I have been on disablity for alittle over 10 years. It was very hard to get! Which is such a shame when your sick, you do not need the extra stress. Plus while you are waiting to be approved your bills mount up and your credit goes to pot!

I have invited all my friends whether they need asistance or not! They may know someone who does!

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Hello and thanks for the invite Judy

I’m Allen, I myself have been dealing for over 20yrs with chronic anxiety disorder w/agoraphobia, for the most part I have learned to manage (control it rather then be controlled) to a point where I have been able to successfully serve in the military and now work as a Resource Counselor for youth and young adults who struggle with mental and or emotional/behavioral disorders, some of who also have a variety of physical conditions including diabetes, epilepsy and fetal alcohol syndrome to name a few, I find my work incredibly challenging but equally rewarding.

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Thanks Judy for the invite, decided to take you up on it.  I am disabled, but live in aussie land.  But maybe I can help friends who are in difficulties in the US that I know of.  I have Neck and back injuries, Hypothyroidism, Bi Polar Disorder, Depression and Anxiety.  Plus chronic sinusitis and a touch of Arthritis.  No energy.

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My name is Jaylena and I thank Ms. O for the invitation to this group.

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