Yvonne Keeny

Presentation + Questions & Answers
For CFS-FMS-Holistic Discussion Group
http://www.HolisticMed.Com/cfs/


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: mgold@tiac.net
Subject: CFS/FMS: Introduction of Visiting Expert!
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 17:52:22 -0600

Hi!

I found out about the work of our next honored Visiting Expert by reading a recent piece in Alternative Medicine Digest. Our Visiting Expert, Yvonne Kenny has created a large and quickly-growing network of support groups for persons with FMS and CFS who choose to place the focus on healing. Support groups were one of the tools that were extremely helpful in my recovery (especially when I was struggling) and they continue to be helpful in my growth. So, I am very excited and hope that you will join me in welcoming Yvonne Keeny to the CFS/FMS Holistic Discussion Group!
[Clap, clap, clap, clap!]

Getting Well Support Groups (GWSG) is a division of Fibromyalgia Coalition International, which publishes a quarterly newsletter and provides educational materials for members, support groups, and health care providers. GWSG also sponsors information booths at medical conferences, and maintains a database of health care referrals throughout the United States plus a few in Canada and England. Their goal is to provide people with fibromyalgia/ chronic fatigue syndrome (FM/CFS) with useful information and health care referrals that treat the cause of their problems not just the symptoms.

GWSG was founded in January 1998 by Yvonne Keeny and is now the largest support group of its kind in the nation. Suffering with symptoms for over eleven years, Yvonne was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1996. After experiencing remarkable improvement in her own health by utilizing what she refers to as "her natural road to recovery" she has dedicated her life to imparting HOPE to people who are suffering from fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome. She brings over sixteen years of leadership training and experience to the Getting Well Support Group program.

It is through groups like GWSG that people with FMS/CFS can create a global network of support and powerful natural treatment ideas. We are pleased to have Yvonne visit our Internet discussion group to tell us more about GWSG and Fibromyalgia Coalition International, the resources offered, their planned activities, and to share ideas with us for community outreach and creating support groups.

The opening presentation will be posted tomorrow (Sunday).

Best Wishes,
- Mark
mgold@tiac.net

CFS/FMS Holistic Resource Center & Mailing List
http://www.HolisticMed.com/cfs/


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: KeenyCo@aol.com
Subject: CFS/FMS: Visiting Expert Presentation
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 16:49:55 -0600

Dear friends,

My name is Yvonne Keeny and I am pleased to have this opportunity to share information and ideas with you thanks to the endeavors of Mark Gold.

It is my hope that by sharing with you that you will better understand fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Also, if you are one of the millions of people who are now suffering with multiple symptoms, you will realize there is HOPE.

I have fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome and suffered with digestive problems, varying degrees of pain, anxiety, depression, etc., etc. for over 11 years. Every evening after work I was exhausted. Some days I was not able to work. Now I have been mostly symptom free for over 2 years and have lots of energy! It is not the diagnosis that we should be concerned with but the things we can change!

After trying the prescription drug route, I researched non-drug solutions and found there were many out there. I talked to my niece, who had recovered from the illness. She advised me to walk every day, to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, drink more water, avoid refined sugar and take natural sleep aids and other supplements. That helped.

Then, in October 1997 I attended a seminar on fibromyalgia. At the seminar I learned about the yeast connection. I found a physician who tested me for this. And, yes, I had a yeast overgrowth and a bacterial infection in my GI tract. Also, I was sensitive to house dust and certain foods, molds, and chemicals. Within a few weeks after starting treatment for the yeast and bacteria and avoiding those foods and chemicals, I was feeling better than I had felt in years. I also found that eating organically grown foods and meats free of growth hormones and antibiotics is extremely important. Vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements played a big role in my recovery.

The seminar I attended featured Mary Moeller, author of Fibromyalgia Cookbook, A Daily Guide to Becoming Healthy Again who has also recovered from FM/CFS. At that seminar Moeller asked for volunteers who would begin support groups in their communities. I signed up while praying I would have the energy to carry out that commitment. My pain disappeared in December 1997 and in January 1998 the first Getting Well support group became a reality.

Group discussions do not focus on the illness or the symptoms. Instead we talk about tasty "legal" foods, drinking adequate water, decreasing caffeine intake, exercising, and natural sleep and pain aids, etc. Because there is no one reason why these illnesses exist there is no one solution. Each person s needs are unique; therefore a therapy that may work for one person may not work for another. While we believe that medications can be helpful in certain instances, we have found that "natural" is better most of the time. Our bodies have been bombarded with toxins from the things we eat, drink, breath, wear, and rub on. Many drugs do us more harm than good because they add to our toxic load.

The group grew so rapidly that all of a sudden people became dependent on us to provide up-to-date information on alternative solutions. Sensing the tremendous need, the decision was made to train more support group leaders. Today there are Getting Well support groups in 11 states. And we have established a non-profit organization, Fibromyalgia Coalition International, that includes people with FM/CFS, doctors, researchers and other health care professionals who believe that FM/CFS are reversible.

Our mission statement is:

"Getting Well Support Groups is dedicated to the education, support and encouragement of people with fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome and related illnesses, providing information about proven techniques and lifestyle changes conducive to recovery."

Membership is $30 per year and comes with a subscription to our quarterly newsletter Conquering the Challenge. The newsletter contains information that you can actually use to improve your health and enhance your quality of life. We know your concerns and can help. Membership also includes a list of physicians in your state, an extensive packet of information, and a 10% discount on educational books and tapes.

Getting Well Support Groups have bimonthly meetings with guest speakers who have knowledge in non-drug solutions. Topics may include, but are not limited to, natural sleep aids; natural pain aids; supplements and nutrition; stress management; exercise; acupuncture; massage therapy; chiropractic care.

As a member a person may choose to become a group facilitator where they will organize meetings and talk directly to professionals about speaking at their meetings. You may want to become involved in advocacy as well. We guide you through the process of facilitator and/or advocacy.

Contact Info:

Getting Well Support Groups
6101 Nall
Mission, Kansas 66202
913-384-1991
KeenyCo@aol.com

I would like to discuss ways we can get more community outreach programs going. Now lets open it up for questions and answers.

Yvonne Keeny, Executive Director


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: jill727@webtv.net (Jill Flynn)
Subject: Re: CFS/FMS: Resources

Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 20:03:34 -0800 (PST)

greetings. yes i am looking for a support group in the area of las vegas. i have found a physicain but interested in meetings with other folks.
jill


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: "Diane" djbocch@worldnet.att.net
Subject: Re: CFS/FMS: Visiting Expert Presentation

Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 12:05:06 -0500

Yvonne and all,

> Our mission statement is:
> "Getting Well Support Groups is dedicated to the education, support
> and encouragement of people with fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue
> syndrome and related illnesses, providing information about proven
> techniques and lifestyle changes conducive to recovery."

Your group discussions sound interesting. While it can be helpful to vent sometimes, I think it is important for groups not to get stuck there and to focus more on hope and things one can try to see if they work for one. Your group seems to focus on discussing ways to deal and address CFS.

One issue that is a problem for PWCs especially, is that the ones who may most need info and support may be too ill to get out to the group meetings. This was the problem I had the first few years I had CFS. Does your group/group sessions have some type of "outreach" to help those PWCs get some info and make some contacts even though they may not be able to get to the meetings?

> As a member a person may choose to become a group facilitator where
> they will organize meetings and talk directly to professionals about
> speaking at their meetings. You may want to become involved in
> advocacy as well. We guide you through the process of facilitator
> and/or advocacy.

Since there is apparently many areas which don't have these meetings, could you give us some specifics about what it might entail for someone to start such a group, especially when one has limited energy?

Thank you for your participation here,

..diane


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: KeenyCo@aol.com
Subject: Re: CFS/FMS: Resources

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 19:06:13 EST

Dear Jill,
We would love to start a support group in the Las Vegas area but do not have one at this time. If you know of anyone who would be interested please let me know. We do offer a newsletter and other educational materials. If you will send me your mailing address I will send you a sample.
Yvonne


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: KeenyCo@aol.com
Subject: Re: CFS/FMS: Visiting Expert Presentation

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 19:39:20 EST

Dear Diane,

We have a great time at the meetings! Members share one thing they have done to improve their health or one area in which they are feeling better during the introductions. New people have two minutes to tell us about al-l-l-l-l-l-l their aches and pains. We make it fun and fast moving by using a two-minute timer. When I forget the timer the members always remind me. We share tips to overcome the symptoms rather than talking about "coping" skills.

I certainly understand that some people are too ill to come to the meetings. They can get the newsletter and other educational materials so they can start on their road to recovery. We also have a HOPE line people can call. One or more of our members call people on a regular basis and those who choose to can call each other.

I would encourage anyone interested in starting a support group to do so. You can always get volunteers to help with whatever you need including leading the group. It takes the load off of the leader and besides people support that which they help create. The first step is to have an organizational meeting. The leader's guide includes step-by-step instructions for everything from getting started to handouts for the meetings. I would be happy to send you some information.

Yvonne


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: mgold@tiac.net
Subject: CFS/FMS: Visiting Expert Questions

Yvonne,

Thank you very much for your excellent presentation! It is amazing how large and successful the Getting Well Support Groups (GWSG) system has become in such a short time. Clearly there was a big demand for support groups with a focus on natural healing and recovery. Thank you for getting it going and keeping it going.

If you have any examples of successes or comments from people who became involved in an existing group or started a new support group (with your guidance), I would be interested in hearing them.

Also, we have a number of people on the group from various contries outside the U.S. (Canada, U.K., The Netherlands, Australia, etc.). Do you take memberships from outside the U.S. and help people start groups in other countries?

If someone wants to find out if there is an existing group in their area or perhaps learn how to start a group, do they get that information as part of membership in GWSG?

Thanks again for your participation.

Best Wishes,
- Mark
mgold@tiac.net

CFS/FMS Holistic Resource Center & Mailing List
http://www.HolisticMed.com/cfs/


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: KeenyCo@aol.com
Subject: Re: CFS/FMS: Resources

Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 11:33:44 EST

Cam,

You are right on when you say, "Look for other pollutants, mercury (silver) fillings, processed foods, additives." Based on what I have read, seen and experienced over the years, I believe FM/CFS are environmental illnesses. All of the above, along with many other things, add to our toxic load. Also, see my message to Christine 1/20/00.

Articles in our latest newsletter include:

Yvonne Keeny


To: cfs-fms@holisticmed.com
From: KeenyCo@aol.com
Subject: Re: CFS/FMS: Visiting Expert Questions

Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 18:48:25 EST

Mark,

Thanks for the applause! I have lots of "testimonials". Here are a few.

Comments from a couple of support group leaders:

"The training and leader's guide are even better than I expected -- so thorough! I have 21 reservations for my first meeting so I feel I have a good start on getting this going. Thanks! " --Pat Robbins, Topeka, KS.

"I'm so impressed with all the material. You have done such a wonderful job! I enjoyed the leader's training video and need to watch it several times over. We had a wonderful first meeting! The workbooks came just in time. I love all the inforamtion you sent; it has been great. The Lord bless. Thank you!" -- Pam Schram, Ponca, NE.

Comments from support group members:

"When I started the program I was tired all the time. I had limited physical activities and motivation. Now my energy level has increased a lot and I'm a lot more motivated. For example, I was recently able to work out on an exercise bike with no lasting negative effects." -- Linda Dailey, Overland Park, KS.

"I have finished the Fibromyalgia Cookbook. I am following the dietary guidelines, using supplements and walking everyday -- thanks to you." -- Pearl Wells, Mission, KS.

Comments from health care professionals:

"I am dedicated to helping people achieve good, if not great health and it's a joy to see people willing to change their lifestyles in order to lead a more productive life. I commend all of you. Stick with the plan and have faith in God and you will be better. Best of luck. You are doing a fantastic job!" -- Kimberly Shara, DC, Merriam, KS.

"I was pleased to see that the (support group) meeting seemed to have a very positive tone to it, that they are talking about things that work well. The person with one of these syndromes really has to take charge, to read about it and learn about it...." -- Jane Murray, MD, Founder of the Sastun Center for Integrative Health, Mission, KS as quoted in the Kansas City Star, August 8, 1998.

Yes, we do have memberships outside the U.S. We don't have support groups outside the united states at this time, but we could help a lot via email. We hope to establish a Web site before long.

Support groups are listed in our newsletter Conquering the Challenge, which goes to all members.

For those interested in starting a support group in their area, there are various tools including a leader's guide (manual) and a video that can be purchashed from Getting Well Support Groups for a nominal fee. These include information on everything from getting started to handouts for the meetings. We also publish a newsletter especially for leaders. Anyone interested in more information may email me at keenyco@aol.com.

Mark, thank you so much for the wonderful work that you do.

Blessings,
Yvonne