Uninsured With ME/CFS and/or Fibromyalgia - Part 3 - Prescription Medications

This post is the third in a series concerning financial strategies for those who've been diagnosed with a chronic illness, are uninsured and living on a low income. Click below to see the original post:

What to Do When You're Diagnosed With ME/CFS and/or FMS and Don't Have Health Insurance

So, you've seen the doctor, had some blood work done and depending on the results, may have gotten a prescription to address your pain, fatigue or other symptoms.  Many prescriptions for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia are new and really expensive.  This also means that there aren't generic alternatives.  One doctor I saw prescribed Cymbalta which has a three-hundred-fifty dollar per month price tag!  Incidentally, this particular doctor (a Rheumatologist) had almost no experience dealing with low income and/or uninsured patients as well as countless other faults.   I filled only half of the prescription and charged it on my credit card.

The clinic my GP (who I really like) practices at, has a person on staff who helps uninsured, low-income patients obtain prescription medications at discounted rates or for free, depending on the situation.  When I first started seeing this patient advocate few years ago, it all seemed like magic.  My doctor wrote the prescription and had it forwarded to the advocate.  I made an appointment to see her, she explained which financial papers I needed to provide, she'd fill out some forms and I'd sign them.  In about two weeks, I'd go back, she'd hand me a bag of name-brand prescription bottles, I'd thank her and walk out the door without paying a dime.  Later I started catching on to what she was doing.  The best part is, anyone can do it!

The advocate was simply contacting the pharmaceutical companies and applying for financial assistance on my behalf.  I thought, I'm pretty smart, I can do this myself.  It ended up being easier than I ever imagined.

When I first learned about the high cost of Cymbalta, I started to panic, thinking I'd never be able to afford it.  Then I looked back in my records at the forms my advocate had filled out.  I tried to mimic what she had done. 

The pharmaceutical company that manufactures Cymbalta is Lilly, the same company that makes Prozac. I went to the Lilly website, searched around a bit and finally found a financial assistance form to download.  I can't remember exactly which financial documents they required, but I believe I sent a copy of my previous years tax return and a month's worth of my husband's pay stubs.  I put the application and accompanying documentation in the mail and prepared myself for the usual routine, complete with countless follow-up calls and re-submissions of my application.  To my overwhelming shock, the situation I'd come to expect, never materialized.

About two weeks after I submitted my application, I took out the copies of what I'd sent, took a deep breath and dialed the customer service number, poised for battle.  A friendly man answered the phone  and asked what he could do for me.  I explained that I was calling to check on the status of a financial aid form I had submitted.  After obtaining my name, he quickly pulled up my file.  I had expected the usual "I'm sorry, our computers are really slow today" line, but no excuse was needed.  He cheerfully reported that my application had been approved and the medication was already on its way to my doctor's office.  I thanked him profusely, and hung up the phone in utter disbelief.  His claims were not fiction as I picked up the four bottles of Cymbalta during my next doctor's visit.  My doctor, apparently not used to dealing with uninsured patients, did not handle the whole situation well at all and I never saw her again after that.  But that's beside the point.

What I'm about to write is also beside the point but has to be said. I found it interesting, to put it mildly, that the pharmaceutical company was so willing to mail me drugs with a value of approximately $350. It says volumes about how over-priced these drugs must be in the first place and how huge the profits are. You wouldn't, for example, walk into a grocery store, show them a copy of your tax return and get $350 worth of groceries. But, I suppose I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth (if you'll excuse the cliche) so I won't continue with this particular tirade

The point is, that it is possible to get prescription drugs at a discount. Most drug companies will give just about anyone (with a prescription from your doctor of course) a free one month trial. You can usually print the coupon out on your computer and give it to your pharmacist with your prescription.

In the next post, I'll tell you about third party drug distributors that offer huge discounts. Yes, it's legal and based in the USA.

Amitriptyline/ Ativan Reaction

Amitriptyline 50mg Tablets



I've been taking Amitriptyline for the last month and so far, it's helped me more than any other medication I've tried.  I did have an unsettling experience yesterday, however.  When I woke up, I immediately recalled a few bizarre, disturbing dreams I'd had that night.  I'd stopped having sleep disturbances, for the most part, some time ago so I found the dreams puzzling.  I've been taking Ativan/Lorazepam for the last two years to help me sleep.  Doctors have discouraged this and even scolded me for taking it since it's a "controlled substance" and "not to be used as a sleep aid" but that's a story for another post. 

Since I've been taking Ativan and Amitriptyline I've actually been sleeping quite well.  So when I woke yesterday morning I was confused but that feeling vanished the instant I walked into the kitchen and saw the pills sitting on the counter.  Apparently, I'd removed them from the bottles but never actually taken them.  This explained the dreams, as well as proving (to myself mostly) that I wasn't experiencing a placebo effect from either of the drugs. 

My day wasn't going very well, so conflicts with my husband, two year old and the hotel I manage, caused a completemental collapse.  At about ten am, I had a full blown anxiety attack complete with cold sweats, shakes and shortness of breath.  It had been quite a few years since I'd had one, though they were once a very  common occurrence (along with severe panic attacks).  I took a hot shower and calmed down quite a bit.  A couple hours later, however, another attack hit and I found myself laying on my bed, hardly able to catch my breath, shaking uncontrollably and soaked in cold sweats.  My husband, who was formerly an EMT/ fire fighter instinctively took my pulse and got a cool damp cloth for my head.

I've taken Lorazepam on and off for years and never had this kind of withdrawal reaction.  Maybe it was the combination of the two drugs together.  I don't know, but after I took 1mg of Lorazepam during the second attack, I felt much better. 

I recently read a theory that suggests FMS and/or ME/CFS sufferers may acquire a "chemical sensitivity".  In the past, I wasn't typically sensitive to medication side-effects as I am now, so it's a possible explanation.  I only know that I'll never forget to take my pills before bed again!

Amitriptyline is Kicking My Butt!



I've been taking 100mg Amitriptyline for three days now and I and I feel like I've been living in a dense fog - denser than usual I should say.  I'm so tired and zoned out, I can hardly do anything.  The prescription is for 150mg per day so as soon as I feel more normal, I'll have to bump it up even more, which I can't say I'm looking forward to.  I've been off Zoloft for three days, so tonight I'm going to take the first dose of Savella from the titration pack.  I have a feeling this week is going to be difficult until I've adjusted to the new medications.  I've been having problems sleeping again complete with nightmares and disturbing dreams.  The body pain and muscle weakness haven't gotten any better either.  I really am tired of this medication cha-cha, withdrawal symptoms while going off, side effects of the new meds.

Wow - I'm just full of positive words today!

Zoloft for Fibromyalgia Pain?

Fibromyalgia Trigger Points

As I posted Tuesday, I've been titrating off Zoloft and replacing it with Amitriptylene so I'm able to take the Fibromyalgia drug Savella.  According to drug interaction information, Savella should not be taken with an SSRI so this change, as inconvenient as it is, was necessary.

Late last year, while conducting yet another of my countless experiments with regards to curing this dismal disease, I also weaned myself off Zoloft (as well as all other medications) in order to follow the Alpha Nutrition Diet for Aching and fatigue (original post).  I noticed when I was completely off Zoloft, that some of my symptoms, which had been absent for some time, returned.  I started again to feel as though I had the flu.  I felt feverish, sweaty and my entire body ached as one does when afflicted with a high fever.  I attributed it, simply, as another phase of the ever changing disease, however, I did make a mental note that the symptoms had appeared almost exactly to the day that I stopped taking Zoloft.

I hadn't read anywhere that Zoloft was being used as a treatment for Fibromyalgia or ME/CFS so I didn't put much stock in the idea that the timing was significant.  The flu-like symptoms did go away, though I can't remember the relationship with when I began taking Zoloft again.

Last night my two year old daughter had one of her infamous sleepless nights which, of course, meant I got very little sleep as well.  Anyone who has Fibromyalgia or ME/CFS knows that lack of sleep is a killer.  Last night, as I lay next to my daughter in her small bed, afraid to move a muscle or even breathe too deeply for fear she would awake, I felt my leg muscles begin to throb and ache, then, the pain slowly spread throughout my entire body all the way to my finger tips.  In what seemed like minutes from when my body started aching, I felt sweat begin to form on my upper lip and the fever-like chills began.  I thought,  "Oh shit!  It's back!".  I'd been fortunate to be rid of these flu-like symptoms for some time and it hardly seemed coincidental that I had taken my last Zoloft two nights before.

I've discovered through reading others' experiences, that treatments for both ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia vary greatly from patient to patient.  One of the strangest and most baffling things about these diseases is the drastically different ways they effect each sufferer and therefore, the methods of treatment that are used.  Zoloft!  Who knew?  If my experiment with Savella doesn't pan out, I'll be going back on Zoloft for sure!  If I can't be completely cured, at least I know some of my symptoms can be relieved.

Vegan Diet for CFS & FMS - Day 16

I have to admit, of all the different diets I've tried, this is the easiest to stick with.  Since I've been mostly vegetarian for years, cutting out dairy wasn't as hard as I would have thought.  There is actually a very wide variety of vegan food choices including pasta and marinara sauce, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, humus and spinach wraps, brown rice with cooked vegetables and olive oil and many more meals don't contain any meat or dairy.  I try to use organic ingredients when possible because I still believe that there's something to the theory about chemical sensitivity in food and it's connection to autoimmune disease.  I can't just dismiss the presence of chemicals in our food supply as having no deleterious effect on the health of the general public.  The increase in diagnoses of strange unexplained diseases (such as Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue) is unequivocally on the rise.  The statistics are indisputable, but I digress.

I still believe my experiment with diet change is having good results.  They aren't drastic by any means but I do feel as though I have more energy and I even lost five pounds.  I hope that as I continue eating a plant based diet, the results will become more noticable.

To change the subject a bit, I'm also experimenting with an over-the-counter supplement called Zyflamend by New Chapter which was recommended to me by Dr. Richard Podell in New Jersey.  The capsules are quite expensive so I want to know they really work before investing any more money in them.  Zyflamend is a supplement that was created to address joint and muscle pain (among other ailments).  I started taking two capsules a day back in January and I felt as though my muscles didn't feel as weak as they had but I couldn't be sure the Zyflamend was responsible.  I'd cut down to one capsule a day for the last couple weeks to extend my supply.  I've been noticing increased muscle weakness and knee pain.  Yesterday I took my last capsule.  If the muscle weakness and joint pain continues or gets worse, I'll try taking the Zyflamend again and see if it was in fact what had alleviated the weakness and pain initially. 

Here's the link to the Zyflamend site if you want to check it out.
http://www.newchapter.com/zyflamend

Stroller Ban at an Aquarium??!!

http://www.mom365.com/Preschool/Posts/2012/Feb/Will-Stroller-Bans-Hurt-Aquarium-Business.aspx

Yesterday I read the above post on the Our365 website about the Cleveland Aquarium banning strollers in their facility.  This struck me as pretty outrageous considering aquariums are such a popular place to take small children.  I would never be able to take my daughter anywhere without her stroller, especially a place that would require so much walking and standing like an aquarium.  After reading the post, I looked down at the comments and the first one I read (Teresa) really got my blood boiling. I just had to put my two cents in and I did (that's me - Kristy).

I don't mean to come down on Teresa, after all, there was probably a time in my life that I would have made a similarly insensitive remark without even knowing I had.  I realize it's very hard to appreciate your health until you don't have it anymore.  I used to hike to the top of one of my favorite trails here on Catalina and admire the beautiful view and fresh air at 1500' but I never thought to feel thankful for being able to get there.  I took for granted that I could walk or hike almost anywhere I wanted.  (here's the comment and mine if you didn't read the original post)

Teresa February 18, 2012
We have a membership to our local aquarium and they have a similar policy during peak hrs. I think it makes sense, stollers are ***bersome and some ppl use then like battering rams in busy places! Those "umbrella" stollers are one thing, but to parade your SUV of a stoller through busy places is just inconsiderate. Though I am bias, devote fans of slinging our child. It works well for us!

 Kristy February 19, 2012
This is terrible! We recently took our daughter to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA where they DO NOT have a stroller ban. Great aquarium btw. Sure strollers can get in the way but so do kids not in strollers, people in wheelchairs, elderly or disabled people who move slowly, etc. This is clearly discrimination! And to the first commentor who wrote that people are inconsiderate who bring "SUV strollers" and carries her baby in a sling, I just hope you realize how lucky you are that you are well enough to carry your child. I have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue and can barely lift my two year old, never mind carry her. My trip to the aquarium was exhausting and very painful but as a chronically ill person these are sacrifices I always have to make. I would never have been able to bring my daughter to the aquarium without my "SUV stroller" (which doubles as a walker for me to lean on since I don't walk very well).

Here's the link to the Cleveland Aquarium contact page if anyone feels like voicing their mind.  I know I will.
http://greaterclevelandaquarium.com/plan-your-visit/contact/

My Messy Apartment is Driving Me INSANE!

Are any other Fibros out there sick and friggin' tired of their homes looking like pig sties?  Unless you are fortunate enough to have a husband/wife/roommate who cleans, you probably have an abode that looks something like mine.  Laundry piles up, dishes pile up, dust piles up, etc, etc.  Sometimes when I roll out of bed and walk into my living room I want to cry.  The floor hasn't been vacuumed in weeks, there are toys scattered all over the floor and overdue bills and other neglected paperwork piled on practically every surface.  I can't lift the full laundry basket so I have to wait till my husband is around or make several trips to the washing machine with small arm-fulls.  By the time I've done that, I'm spent.  On a good day I can recuperate for an hour or so and continue with chores.  On a bad day, that may be all I get done.  I may not even get the clothes from the washer to the dryer.

I know other ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia sufferers can understand how incredibly frustrating this is.  I was never a neat freak by any means, but a messy home gives me so much stress and I don't think the excess dust does me any good either.  If I had the money, I'd certainly hire a cleaning person once a week or so but since I can no longer work, that's out of the question.  I just have to do what I can and put blinders on for the rest, although that's a whole lot easier said than done.

Alpha Nutrition Diet - Take Two

Now that I'm finally feeling a little more stable, mentally, it's time to get back to my "I'll try anything..." mode.  Researching this stuff and trying new things is the only thing that keeps me from slipping down "the black hole" of hopelessness.  Maybe I haven't fully accepted that I'm chronically ill.  I still have a feeling deep down that if I keep trying different things, I'll eventually find what's causing this and continue leading my life where I left off two years ago.  Maybe this is naive but I'm not to the stage yet where I can accept that this is how I will possibly feel for the rest of my life. 

So......I'm trying the "Alpha Nutrition Diet for Aching and Fatigue" again.  I posted about it some months ago and made it to day two, I think.  The timeline is ten days and I'm on day three this time.  I've ingested nothing but Alpha ENF, white rice, water and juice.  Surprisingly, I feel pretty good (relatively speaking of course).  My energy level seems better than normal, which, I didn't expect so early on.  It's hard to resist the few holiday treats still lingering around but it is nice not having to think about what to eat. 

The Delayed Pattern Food Allergy hypothesis did make a lot of sense to me when I read about it.  One of the things researchers think might be causing these unusual food allergies, are all the chemicals, like pesticides, that are in the food we eat.  Our immune systems go into overdrive trying to attack them then get stuck in this hypersensitive mode and begin attacking things that aren't harmful to your body.  Some theories add that this hypersensitivity is what eventually causes autoimmune disease, when your immune system starts attacking your organs.  Personally, I'm sure I've ingested enough chemicals to easily make my immune system crazy.  I don't do much cooking (to put it mildly) and I've been know to eat every meal of my day out of a box.

Well, I hope I make it to day ten this time.  Who knows, maybe it'll actually make me feel better.  I have to have the hope that it will.  For more information about the Alpha Nutrition Program here's the link:  http://www.nutramed.com/alpha/index.htm

Lots to Catch Up On

Things had become so frustrating in my search for relief from this ailment that I even lost my enthusiasm for writing.  I just realized that it had been so long since I had posted.

I am currently staying with my parents in New Jersey and I've been here since early December.  I'm sorry to report that things aren't really much better.  I had planned on visiting my family for the holidays (as I do every year).  But when I found a specialist (Dr. Podell in Summit, NJ) on the Internet who's office is not 30 minutes from my parents house, my trip took on a second purpose. 

I've been here for about four weeks and have tried two different prescription medications (Nuvigil & Prednisone) and about three herbal supplements (potassium, DHEA & Zyflamend).  The prescriptions did little for my condition so the doctor told me to stop taking them.  I'm not sure about the supplements, but he said to give those about four weeks.  I've seen the doctor once for a two hour appointment and had numerous phone conversations.  He has a lot of experience with these "autoimmune mysteries" and has said that the only real way to find relief is through extensive trial and error.  Of course this concept is not new to me and has been how I've been living for the past two years.  He did find those elusive trigger points that my other doctors couldn't find so at least I now have a definitive diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, however, he thinks there may be other things going on as well such as Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.

I've been compiling and organizing all of my medical records for the last two years including blood work and medication history.  My next few posts will list this information as it may be helpful for anyone else out there who's going through a similar experience. 

I'm feeling very frustrated, discouraged and depressed.  I'm so scared that I'll never get better.

Can hardly lift my arm. So scared

Still in bed. Don't have strength to lift my head from the pillow. Sorry about the fragmented sentences. Typing this on my iPhone with only one eye opened. Can type a couple words then have to close my eye and rest again. Eye lids are so heavy I can only hold them open for a minute or so, then they close.

My husband is in the other room. Must think I'm just sleeping late. I'll have to text him since I can't call out to him. I feel like I must be dying. Would be a relief from this - whatever it is that's slowly rotting my body.

As I lay here in pain and profound weakness I hear the joyful cheers of spectators outside my window as athletes in a triathlon victoriously cross the finish line. Oh my god.

Coming Down Off Cymbalta

I don't know if I'm feeling the way I am because I lowered my Cymbalta dosage or if it's just one of those "fibro-lows".  Last night I sat on the floor in my scalding hot shower and cried, my body hurt so much.  I'm really feeling terrible.  Everything is worse from joint pain and all-over body pain to headaches, fatigue and weird symptoms like eye pain.  In my misery last night, I decided that I would start the "Alpha Diet" today because I had to find some relief and I didn't have any time to loose. 

According to the Alpha Nutrition book by D. Gisalason (although it does encourage flexibility), those who are suffering with severe disease should follow the "slow track" and begin with ten days of fasting while only taking liquid nutrients.  I didn't want to begin fasting until I was completely off my medications, so I've started eating only "Phase One" foods and liquid nutrients and plan to start fasting when my body is drug-free.

The list of Phase One foods is VERY limited.  I think there are thirty-three items on the list and that includes olive oil and at least four derivatives of rice (rice, rice cakes, rice (only) cereal, rice crackers, etc.).  Basically the Phase One diet includes certain vegetables, peaches, pears and rice.  I'm doing ok with it today but can see this getting really old really fast.  So far I'm still feeling like shit symptom-wize but I realize it may take at least ten days to feel any relief.  I'll be keeping my food and symptom journal here on my blog.  The journal entries will be titled "Day One", Day Two", etc.

If this doesn't work I don't know what I'll do.

Sitting With Old Men and Pigeons

Today my husband took care of our daughter and gave me a "day off".  Of course it wasn't really a day off because I used the time to catch up on hotel and personal business.  I went outside at one point to check the mail (we don't have mail delivery here so we all have PO boxes).  It was a really windy day, actually a gale, but sunny and a pleasant temperature.  I would have loved to go for a walk but being that I'm too weak these days, I sat down on a bench near the ocean and watched people walk by.  There were a couple of old men sitting on benches nearby also.  I felt like I too was old.  A couple acquaintances stopped for a quick chat, but eventually continued on.  Finally I got up and started home although I had to stop once more from fatigue before getting there.  My legs just don't work well anymore.  The muscles just burn and begin to give out.

Next Stop... Tijuana

My husband's mother has been stabilized and discharged from the hospital.  She's staying with one of her sons until she's well enough to go home, so my husband has spent several days on the mainland with her.  My mother has been visiting and was able to help me care for my daughter as well as help with housework while my husband was gone.  I realized suddenly that if my husband were ever gone for an extended period of time, I wouldn't be able to care for our daughter alone in my current condition.  After my mom left yesterday I started seriously thinking about having to move closer to my family.  I thought with profound sadness that I may have to leave this island that I love so much and move back to NJ, a place I do not love, even though I was born and raised there. This notion filled my heart with such sadness that I cried.  I don't know how I would mentally survive such a move back to the Gotham City gloom that is New Jersey.

I have an appointment with my doctor next week.  If she gives me the same run-around, I'm moving on to plan B.  I've found a treatment center in Tijuana that specializes in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc.  I cannot afford treatment in the US anymore.  I had started researching treatment in other countries through the somewhat new field of  "Medical Tourism" when I discovered the treatment center in Mexico.  I've emailed them for more information.

Good Days and Bad Days

Fortunately, I can classify the last few days as "good days" relatively speaking of course.  I was actually able to take a walk this morning and at a somewhat normal human pace.  Now that it's evening, I'm getting the sore throat, shortness of breath thing, but no pain.  Pain isn't actually my primary complaint.  I do have pain a lot of the time all over my body but it's more like an ache.  Sometimes pain shoots through my extremities but it's never as severe as I've heard other fibro sufferers report.  My main problem is fatigue and shortness of breath.  When I'm in the midst of a flare, I can't do anything.  I can barely get up and make myself something to eat (like a sandwich even) before I'm getting light headed, starting to sweat, becoming short of breath and feeling as though my legs are just going to give out.  Walking up stairs has become a horrible experience.  My leg muscles feel so weak, I have to summon all my strength to lift them up each stair.  Unfortunately I have to ascend one and a half flights of stairs just to get to my front door.  Once I do get in the door, I'm spent.

I've been trying to eat really well.  I've been eating lots of raw fruits and veggies and cutting out as much sugar as possible.  Cutting out sugar (and other "bad" foods) is very hard for me because I have hardly any self-control.  I think I may actually have a bit of an eating disorder.  If there's a box of cookies in my kitchen, I've been known to eat the whole thing in one sitting.  I absolutely can't help myself, which is why I have very little food in my house.  I only buy what I'll need for the day or next couple of days.  I used to binge when I was a kid.  Before my mom was home from work, once I actually ate an entire box of brown sugar because there was nothing else around.  Fortunately I had a really good metabolism and stayed skinny as a rail (I wish I could still say that ).  I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I have a problem with food, being that I'm a recovering alcoholic.  I'm obviously an addict in other aspects of my life as well.  In two days I will have been sober for three years!  I can't believe it.  I never thought I could go this long without a drink.  Of course now I have a daughter which is a whole new motivation.

Wow, I really digressed from my original topic.  Anyway, I'll try to keep eating well and exercising in moderation, when I can, and hope it makes a difference. 

Now that I'm finishing this post, I'm starting to get achy and my hands are hurting, which means I should go to bed (even though it's only 9pm). Oh well, you have to take the good days, or even hours, when you can.   It sounds cliche, but that's something I learned in AA and you can apply to  your whole life.

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Articles Comparing Gulf War Illness & Fibromyalgia, etc.

The other day my husband was searching the web for information about Gulf War Illness.  He served in Desert Storm & Desert Sheild and had some friends who were trying to find info about it.  He stumbled across some very interesting articles.  Basically, there is a group of doctors and scientists who have a very good theory about GWI, Fibromyalgia, CFS, etc.  They believe that they are actually all the same disease and may be caused by Mycoplasmal Fermentans which is a form of cellular bacteria.  I'm not a scientist so I won't go any further down that road.  Below are several articles from different sources that talk about this more intelligently.  Apparently one Microbiologist cured his daughter (a Desert Storm Vet) of GWI by administering long term Doxycycline (an anti-biotic).  One of the links has a paper written by him that was published in the International Journal of Medicine and another in the Journal of American Medicine. 

I'm always very sceptical about government conspiracy theories, but this seems very plausable.  I'm going to show the articles to my Dr. (who is very open-minded) and see what her take is.  If this is true, this is HUGE!  All the people that suffered for so long could have been healed using simple antibiotics.  Wow!

My husband is going to visit the VA hospital next week armed with the reports.  He has had mild GWI symptoms since he returned from the war, mainly fatigue and depression.  I'm sure they will deny that GWI is infectous and transmittable.  The official CDC definition of GWI is in one of the links.  Of course it doesn't mention Mycoplasmal Fermentans.

CDCs Definition of GWI  http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/veterans/default2g.htm

Article by Marjorie Tietjen "What Chronic Disease Have You Been Labeled With?" http://www.bariumblues.com/designer_diseases.htm

Gulf War Illness Research  http://www.immed.org/illness/gulfwar_illness_research.html  I suggest reading the last artical listed in the "publications" section - "Mycoplasmal Infections and Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue.......".  It's an rtf.doc file.  Also, two articles above that one "Doxycyclene Treatment.....".  is good too.  There are many more.

Mycoplasmas - The missing Link in Fatiguing Illness   http://www.prohealth.com/library/print.cfm?libid=7933

Official Testimony to House of Representatives - Commitee on Government Reform  http://www.gulfwarvets.com/testimony_2.htm

Happy reading!