One of the things that drew me to medicine was the importance of combining both the art and the science of medicine. In the ~ 3 decades since I finished medical school, most physicians have lost faith in their own ability to diagnose by listening to and examining the patient, and seen the average time allotted them per patient visit drop to around 4-7 minutes. Many have also forgotten about “bedside manner” and the ability of words to both harm and heal (to tell someone their condition is hopeless is both a lie and in the olden days was called “putting a curse on someone”). We now think we are relying on science (called “evidence-based medicine"), ignoring that science itself is telling us that it has been hijacked by drug company money and is no longer reliable.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified Myers' formula of intravenous nutrient therapy (IVNT) on the symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) in therapy-resistant FM patients. Methods: In this pilot clinical trial, 7 participants with therapy resistant FM were given IVNT once per week for 8 weeks. Patient's pain levels, fatigue, and activities of daily living were evaluated weekly. RESULTS: All participants reported decreased pain levels, decreased fatigue, and increased activities of daily living.

This study suggests that support groups can leave you more empowered… or not. Here are a few thoughts when it comes to choosing a support group. Some people go to support groups seeking emotional support and a place where they can talk about their problems with others who understand. Others go mostly to find out what things may help them get well, by comparing notes with others. Different people have different needs, based on their personalities or the stage of the illness they are in. It is important to go to, or be involved in, the group that fits your needs best. It is not hard to tell though. After a meeting, see how you feel. If you feel better, it is a good group for you. If you feel like your energy has been sucked dry by vampires after a meeting, then you're in the wrong group ! ;-)

Note that the figures for Fibromyalgia in the United States are over a decade old, and that newer figures overseas suggest that the prevalence of Fibromyalgia in the United States has increased to 4-8% of the population (12-24 million people) - especially when "intermediate/milder" forms are included.