Expert: Candy - 7/7/2008

Question
My daughter was just diagnosed with Chronic Epstein-Barr/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She has seen a naturopath who prescribed hydrotherapy to help release toxins in her body. The treatments caused her to become constipated. I have read that constipation can also be a side effect or symptom of the Epstein-Barr virus. Has anyone else experienced this? If so what have you done for it. Also she lives in Iowa and is looking for a support group and physician who has experience in treating this disease. She was diagnosed by a Naturopath in Arizona and has now returned to her home in Iowa. She lives in the Quad City area. Thanks for your help..

Answer
Yes.....CFIDS can cause irregularity.  Below are some of the natural remedies  use that have been helpful. I'm also including some websites that may assist you.

Vitamins and Minerals Maximum Daily Dose

Malic acid/Magnesium hydroxide 1,800-6,000 mg (take in 6 small doses)
Beta carotene (pro vitamin A) 10,000 I.U.
Vitamin B complex
B1 (thiamine) 50 mg
B2 (riboflavin) 75 mg
B3 (niacin amide) 200 mg
B5 (pantothenic acid) 200 mg
B6 (pyridoxine) 75 mg
B12 (cyanocobalamin) 100 mcg
Folic acid 400 mcg
Biotin 400 mcg
Choline 700 mg
Inositol 500 mg
PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) 50 mg
Vitamin C 2000 mg
Vitamin D 200 I.U.
Vitamin E 400 I.U.
Calcium aspartate 1200 mg
Magnesium aspartate 600 mg
Potassium aspartate 200 mg
Iron 18 mg
Chromium 150 mcg
Manganese 20 mg
Selenium 50 mcg
Zinc 15 mg
Copper 2 mg
Iodine 150 mcg

Dosage: Take one-quarter to full amount of the above nutrients on a daily basis. Begin this formula with the lowest dose of each nutrient and increase the dose slowly and gradually to the recommended maximum depending on how you are feeling.

yourbal Tinctures Maximum Daily Dose
Ginkgo biloba 2 droppers full
Ginger root 2 droppers full
Burdock root 2 droppers full
Dandelion root 2 droppers full
Licorice root 1/2 dropper full

Dosage: Take one-quarter to full amount of the above nutrients on a daily basis. Begin this formula with the lowest dose of each nutrient and increase the dose slowly and gradually to the recommended maximum depending on how you are feeling.


Food Sources of Vitamin A

Vegetables
Carrots
Carrot juice
Collard greens
Dandelion greens
Green onion
Kale
Parsley
Spinach

www.cfids.org

www.ncf-net.org

www.cfidsselfhelp.org

wwcoco.com/cfids/forms.html

www.cfidsers.org

www.supportalk.com/detail-1244625.html

virtualhometown.com/dfwcfids/doctor.html

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs/support/supus.htm

www.healingwell.com/pages/Chronic_Fatigue_Syndrome/Organizations


Applying for Social Security Disability based on CFIDS or Fibromyalgia alone can be an ordeal in itself. Because our wonderful government has dipped into the Social Security budget to fund other things, the Social Security Administration needs time to stall so they can dip into another budget for the funds owed the "appee". So they deny applications for, what they call, "questionable" disabilities. (The only automatic awarded disabilities are quadriplegia and total blindness.) The denial process entails 3 phases. When the first one is received (via letter) it can be appealed by simply returning a form enclosed with the denial letter. At that point SSD will make you an appointment to see one of their doctors. Then, in most cases, you'll get a letter stating you've still been denied. To appeal this denial you'll need to go to court. This hearing will be in front of a court commissioner (maybe a judge) in a local court. As a rule, the claims get accepted at that point, providing your case is strong. But if this "judge" denies you, you'll have to go before a Supreme Court judge. This is the last and final ruling. Once denied in this court, you're done. You can't appeal it. Most people don't make it that far. They give up and try to go back to work (which is what SSD is counting on). In my own case, I had to go to the first court hearing before getting my claim approved which took a year and a half from the date I first filed. That's a year and a half with no income and plenty of stress, which aggravates the CFIDS symptoms. My suggestion is, if you think you can endure the process (and all the stresses and frustrations), #1 - start a diary/journal describing each day, your activities, your symptoms, etc. and keep it current until the check is in your hand, #2 - find a doctor that will run the EBV test and give a clear and concise diagnosis and who is willing to help supply whatever it takes to convince Social Security, #3 - At the first denial, find an attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability cases (they work on a contingency basis. They don't get paid unless you get approved and they are only allowed to charge 25% of your award). You probably won't need them for the first appeal because that one's on paper, but do not go to court alone. You will lose. Also, check with the state you live in to see if it provides a State Supplemental Income. Most states have what they call a "poverty level" base line (the amount of income that makes you eligible for public assistance.) If the amount of your Social Security doesn't meet that base line amount, some states will supplement the balance so you don't have to go on their welfare roles.  Here is a website that may have more definitive answers for you regarding disability.

www.mcsinfo.homestead.com/files/SSDIArticle01Web.htm

www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/About_Hepatitis_pdf/1.1.1_Living_With_HepatitisC/Fibro_CFIDS.pdf

www.masscfids.org/publications/disability_handbook/MassCFIDS-FM_Disability_Handbook_12-40.pdf

www.disabilityassistance.com/social_security_disability.html
members.tripod.com/bh.cfs-fms/Links_at_Top/DisabilityInfo/Disability_information.htm

members.tripod.com/bh.cfs-fms/Links_at_Top/DisabilityInfo/How_to_Apply_for_SS_Disability_Insurance_benefits_if_you_have_FMS.htm

www.disabilitysecrets.com/

www.immunesupport.com/articles/articles.cfm?disease=Fibromyalgia

pbcers.org/ssd.htm

pbcers.org/SSD-ALL.htm

www.disabilitydoc.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-d/

www.myida.org/dislinks.htm


I hope this helps.