When you feel as if you are always getting instead of giving, it is a wonderful feeling to be able to give back. I was able to do this recently when I got an email from someone newly diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome. The woman also had other chronic illnesses but her rheumatologist and opthamologist were not up to date on her new dx. She also lives in a rural area where there are not a lot of doctors to choose from.

I answered her questions to the best of my abilities and provided links to her for the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation and an online support group. She replied that just knowing someone who had the same disease as her was helpful. She had felt alone until our email exchange. It felt better than getting gift cards to her favorite stores. It wasn’t that I was able to answer all of her questions, but be there for her. I felt worthwhile and like I had accomplished something.

Reach out to others in some way. It can be the perfect gift for the two of you.

DOUA, The Disabled Online Users Association, now has a brand new area on their training center to help you learn how to blog. Membership to DOUA is free and open to anyone with any type of disability from MS to Fibromyagia, from Raynaud’s Syndrome to Bipolar Disease, any type of physical or mental impairment.

You just fill out an online form, get approved and gain access to the Training Center. Inside you can learn about earning money online. This organization mainly teaches about selling on eBay, but has opened up to starting your own website, selling on Etsy, Amazon and blogging. There is information on all types of ways to make money. DOUA is also a support group where members get to know and trust each other. I’ve been a member and a mentor there for years.

Take advantage of this offer and learn how to blog for free.

No not McDonald’s, though I do love those burgers and fries! I’m loving the fun I’m having planning my Chronic Illness Support Group meeting. We stopped meeting over the summer so Sept. 8th will be our first meeting back again.

I’m working on keeping the group much more positive. So I’m looking for some games to get us started. Not anything embarassing like those games from jewelery parties, but something to get people smiling and laughing.

I also have some uplifting music to play while we eat a bit and socialize. There will be a new tone for the group and I’ll be the one to set it. So to keep this going I need to be pumped up!

How do you feel about support groups that are centered around a specific illness or health problem? I run a support group for people with chronic illnesses which hasn’t been meeting for a few months due to my being too sick to take charge of things.

I’ll be starting it up again in September and I’m looking for ideas to keep the group positive. I don’t want it to be a pity part but a group where we can find solutions to our problems or at least feel heard and understood. What ends up happening sometimes though is that we have several very lonely people in the group who don’t get out much. The group is their time to socialize which is fine, but it’s also their time to complain.

I can sympathize but I can’t let them control the group and have other people just listening. I’m not good at getting the conversation turned around to another topic. So we usually end up listening and I end up getting worried that the other members are getting annoyed. Our meetings go on too long also because of this. This is difficult for me as I’m there early to set up and then have to stay to clean up. I’m exhausted on meeting days.

Any advice or suggestions? If you are a member of a support group or run one, please let me know some of your ideas.

March is National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Month. MS is a difficult disease to diagnose and to treat. It affects 1 in 700 people in the United States . (from Understanding Autoimmune Disease:NIAD)

There are many organizations that provide information, support and funding for people with MS, caregivers, family and friends and for physicians and researchers. Here is a short list:

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
• Multiple Sclerosis International Federation

Often when the diagnosis of MS hits, people may feel that it means a death sentence. It helps a great deal to find a doctor that specializes in MS. There are often clinics in major research hospitals also.

Online support, support groups and blogs offer people with MS a way to connect with others in the same position. These are sometimes based on weight loss groups where members can share their struggles and their triumphs.

Ever since I was diagnosed with a rare disease, named of all things - Myasthenia Gravis - I’ve learned to do research. I started out at the library because that was the way I was used to doing it. Then as I realized the books were old and the information was outdated I began to use the internet to learn about this disease. When I did I was able to find out about the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation which then helped me to locate a specialist for this neuromuscular disease.

As my diagnoses increased I researched more on the internet. I learned what sites were from accurate medical authorities and what were sited trying to sell the latest cure-all. My neurologist suggested staying informed of new treatments, support groups online, and any new information online. I’m one of the lucky ones. Some people with chronic illnesses have doctors who dislike when their patients do any type of research.

Some suggestions for anyone doing medical research are to keep it in perspective and to look at it in the framework of as much legitimate information you can find. Do talk to your doctor about what you’ve found if you feel it is something helpful. Find some sites where people who have the same diagnosis meet and hear their opinions. Be careful with that too. Some people on social medical sites are there to sell something.

Keep your eyes open for snake oil salesmen. They may pitch the latest juice, plasma cutting, a vitamin or even some type of counseling that you can only get at one certain health resort.