WHAT'S NEW?

You mean other than the fact that To M.E. or not to M.E. lost it's MSN home, switched to Aimoo and then switched again to Yuku? lol.  Many of our old members have dropped and we have some incredibly active new members; management is different and the style of the group has evolved. 

M.E. is the same, however, and we're still a group for support, companionship, education and plain, old good fun for those surviving this challenging condition.

When MSN announced it's closing date, the management of To M.E. or not to M.E. got busy looking for the perfect site for the continuation of this group.  They thought they'd found it with Aimoo Forums but found, after they'd set up shop, that support was only a fantasy on that host.  So the search continued and Yuku turned out to be the perfect site.  Our managers are learning to work the technical end, the support is outstanding and we've found some dear, new friends. 

We'd love to see some of our old friends back!  If you're challenged by the sign up process, there is a step by step tutorial on the new To M.E. or not to M.E. Information Site.  Just click here for that.

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MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE YEARS

Having just experienced another management change, let's look back through the years and see how we've changed before. 

To M.E. or not to M.E. opened it's doors in February of 2005 with Shell, Carol and Steve at the helm.  By September of 2005, Steve was finding that his business was taking most of his time and stepped down from his management position, remaining a full and faithful member.  At that same time Teri, Loz and Allie were asked to become Assistant Managers and all three accepted.  With Carol and Shell at the helm with Teri, Loz and Allie helping out with the "day to day" chores, To M.E. or not to M.E. flourished.  Posting was up, support was the prevalent attitude of the day, and new friendships were being made. 

By March of 2006, Carol was working her EFT to the point where she was well enough to be working and traveling quite a lot with her significant other.  Allie was asked and stepped up to the plate as full Manager with Loz and Teri helping out.  This too was a great team.

In July of 2006, Teri was asked to become and full manager and in September, Carol stepped down to member.  Her life had gotten too busy!  That's the goal isn't it?  To get well enough to have a life!

In the spring of 2006, Sara joined the team.  During all the changes in management To M.E. or not to M.E. has continued to run smoothly and it will continue to do so as long as there are people with M.E. needing companionship, education, and support as well as a place for fun.

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A TOUR OF TO M.E. OR NOT TO M.E.

For some, the change in format at To M.E. or not to M.E. is daunting.  It was for the managers at first too!  So in an attempt at making it easier for you, let's take a tour! 

When you click on http://tomeornottome.yuku.com to M.E's main page will come up. 

The logo at the top of the page is clickable and when you click on it, you will be taken to our new Information Site.  

Just below the logo is the featured post of the day.  Clicking on the topic title will take you to that post, where you will be able to read it in it's entirety and also reply. 

Below the featured post of the day is our Welcome Forum.  In this forum newbies can find our group guidelines, can meet the managers and moderators and reply to their individual welcome threads.  This is also where the introductions are.  Here's hoping all of you are familiar with those threads lol! After newbies have replied to their welcome threads and posted an introduction they will be given access to the general message board where most all of our daily posting can be found.  The other message board found in the Welcome Forum is the Energy Healing board, where we can ask for help from those who provide distant energy healing.

The next forum is our Group Information Forum, find information about our conditions and where we can discuss our medications; what works for us, what doesn't and what kind of experience we had with what medication.

We also have a Games Room, A board where we can find or post Current News about our conditions, a Spiritual Board where we place all things spiritual, A snags and tags board where we're all free to pick up snags or post for others to pick up, and a board for Old Chit Chat threads to make catching up easier for those who miss out for a time. 

Be sure to join us in The Bar!  This is an over 18 only board where members can let down their hair.  It's moderated by Paul and Steve (Athaaba) and it's truly a great place to socialize.

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CHAT

Chat is back! This winter was a hard one for our managers and moderated chat was one of the activities at To M.E. or not to M.E. that went by the wayside.  It's back!  Same time, new station; chat is on Wednesdays at 8PM UK time in our new chat room.  Please be sure to join us!  We're having an awful lot of fun! 

And remember chat time can be any time you want.  Just post an invitation on the General Message Board and who ever is free will join you.  The chat room is open 24/7, 7 day's a week and you'll find a link to it on the main page just under the link to The Bar. 

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Article of the Month

The Most Overlooked Vitamin of the Summer Season
Mercola. Com

If you’re like most in our society, you work indoors all day, in essence becoming a modern-day caveman (or woman).

You probably arrive at work while the sun’s still low in the sky… maybe step out from your office to your car to go out for lunch, or eat at your desk… and then get home late in the day when the sun is way past its peak for optimizing your vitamin D.

Even if you get outside at lunchtime, it may be for just a few moments. Further, it’s somewhat likely that you’re wearing long sleeves and long pants, preventing the sun from even reaching your skin.

And to add injury to insult – you may be playing catch-up from a long winter of having absolutely no sun exposure to your skin, and starting the summer season with hugely sub-par vitamin D levels!

Assuming that just because the sun is shining and it looks pretty out there, you’re getting enough vitamin D, can be truly risky for your health.  Especially when you’re talking about something as critical to your health and well-being as vitamin D is.  You see, after thirty years of being vilified by the medical establishment and the press, vitamin D is gaining new popularity -- and even becoming a hero -- as a nutrient that supports your overall health.  Recent discoveries suggest it has significantly more far-reaching effects than just for your bone health.

Research suggests that up to 85% of people could be deficient in vitamin D without knowing it... leaving them with less-than-optimal health. In fact, some scientists call for urgent action.  Why?  Because current scientific research suggests that all cells and tissues in your body have vitamin D receptors -- and further concludes that every cell and tissue needs vitamin D for its well-being.  Not only that, but vitamin D is responsible for the regulation of over 2,000 genes in your body!  Vitamin D engages in very complex metabolic processes within your body.* Scientists believe that vitamin D serves a wide range of fundamental biological functions relating to many aspects of your health.  Your skin naturally produces your body's supply of vitamin D from direct exposure to bright midday sun with a mere ten or fifteen minutes' exposure per day.

For more information click here

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SINCE WE'VE GONE PUBLIC

Going public isn't as easy as it would seem.  We have many members who are quite open on the message boards and that openness needs to be protected.  Going public means our site will be picked up by the search engines.  For To M.E. or not to M.E. that means more members and more and varied posts.  It means we're reaching out to those who are in need of companionship, education about their conditions and a little distraction from coping with pain and exhaustion day after day. 

In order to protect the privacy of our members, the management has provided a couple of filters.  The main page of To M.E. or not to M.E. will be public and will be picked up by the search engines.  Also public will be:  The New Member Welcome and Information Board, Medications, CFS/Fibro, the Games Room, Latest News, the Spiritual Board, and snags and tags.  The boards to be kept private will be even more private than before because new members will be required to post twice (a reply to their welcome messages and an introduction) before they will be allowed access to the private boards.  In this way our privacy is protected from those who join but never mean to join in and be an active member of our group.  The private boards include:  the General board, the Energy Healing board, Introductions (newbies will be given access after they post on their welcome thread), the Bar and the Old Chit Chat threads. 

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NEW MEMBERS IN MAY

Welcome Rhawnie !

Rhawnie's Introduction:  Hi Everyone: Thanks for allowing me to join your site. I live in Ontario, Canada. I am 53 years of age and have had Fibromyalgia since 2000. It reared its ugly head first in the form of deep depression and within a short time the pain hit with a vengeance. I have been in pain ever since from my neck to the bottoms of my ankles. I am blessed with a wonderful husband who has researched FMS probably as much as I have so that he has a true understanding of it (or as much as anyone has). I could not ask for nor even imagine greater support than what I get from him and although he is disabled as well due to a back injury he still does everything for me that he can.

I look forward to getting to know everyone.

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INTRODUCTIONS

We're posting our introductions again!  Many of the introductions that were posted before were lost in some of the changeovers so we've asked that all members post a new one.  It would be great if you would use your nick as a topic title for your introduction.  It makes it easier for newbies to look you up. 

There are a couple of reasons introductions are important in a group like To M.E. or  not to M.E.  First of all, it helps newbies figure out who's who so they can join in more easily.  Second, it helps the oldies get to know the newbies.  An introduction is just a good icebreaker all the way around.

Here are the new introductions that have been posted so far.

Shell
Hi I'm Shell, 41 and from Scotland (although I'm English, born in Shropshire).

I'm happily married to Scouse of 23 years and have two teenagers, Elysha & Nathan, I've been a sufferer of M.E. for 22 years, IBS for 20 years, and 2 years with FIBRO, My hobbies include collection strange wooden ornaments, Drinking vodka and my computer, if you'd like to know more about me just ask image 

ScribblersHeart
Hi! I'm Teri. I am diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Along with that comes Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I spent my early years undiagnosed and trying to be "normal". It was a mixed blessing to get my diagnosis as you all know . I was lucky to have a Fibromyalgia counselor in the beginning. The very most important thing she said to me was, "You can't have your life back, Teri, but you can build a life that's even better than the one you are pining for". The trick is to stay as positive as we can and plan our lives so the M.E./Fibro doesn't interfere so very much. For more about me, click here!

Paul (Maktub)
Greetings I am Paul (Maktub) And I am an Alco...... Oppps wrong forum LOL.  I suffer with crazy-itus but I am quite safe.  I am a Scouser in exile in Cornwall UK.  I build guitars for a living.  What you see is what you get with me...CHAOS...LOL

MaiaG
Hi

My name is Melanie but I seem to go by Maia online. I'm Scribblers daughter. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, as Mom does.

I recently graduated with my Associate's in Criminal Justice Technology and am pursuing my Associate Private Investigators license so I can finish the training and become a PI.

Introductions are always so hard I'm just not sure what to say... Please feel free to ask if you have any questions. 

Flikky
Hi am Flikky & I live on a large holiday park near Bournemouth I live in a park home with my daughter Joanne & my partner Colin....although I don't have ME not many people know am disabled as I have lost a lot of hearing I also have really bad days where I can hardly put one foot in front of the other as the hearing loss has affected my balance & it makes me very tired. Am also dyslexic so I can't join in with heavy debates.....well if there's anything you wish to ask me feel free to leave a message.

love flikky

Lynda
Hi
I live in Plymouth, Devon. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis about 5 years ago, but I have had it a lot longer than that. Earlier this year my diagnosis was changed to Psoriatic Arthritis. I have good days and bad days like those of you with M.E.

My husband has Crohns disease and has been seriously ill with it at times. We have 2 children, Hannah 17 and Bradley 14. Hannah has mild Cerebral Palsy and learning difficulties. Because of my daughter I am also involved with a Carers group and I am treasurer of the local branch of Carers UK.

Dr Love
Hi I'm Steve, or better known as Dr Love which is a nickname given to by a friend of mine, from America, because I've got a very large...(oh hang on the phone just gone).....now where was I, oh yes, I've got a very large group of female friends, whenever I go to a Sci-Fi convention, which is one of my many hobbies, as you can see. It's a curse I know, but women just love me .

I'm 45 and very happily married (so my wife keep telling me) to Cath, who is my rock, my best friend, my whole life and I would be nothing without her, this is my family, although this picture was taken 23 years ago when I was handsome.

We have two children Adrian and Joanne although I like to call them Faulty Condom & Dirty Weekend in Brighton, the other picture was when they were cute, things are different matter now a days.

I've suffered with M.E for over 10 years, which started with an incurable disease called Bohurhom, which attacked my muscular function, this then developed into full body M.E and caused other debilitating illnesses, such as I.B.S, Muscular Spasms & Weakness, Depression, Colic and Diabetes, so being unable to do conventional exorcises, this then resulted in weight gain, but later in the year I'm due to have a Gastric Bypass Operation, which I hope will help me battle my weight problem.

Before I got M.E my life was a lot different, I was a professional Actor and Performer, and came from a well known gymnastic family which helped pioneer the sport Gymnastic Acrobatics, and in their late 60's still run a group of success of gyms in the North East.

Now a days I'm in a wheelchair, and have to depend on Cath in helping me to still have some quality of life. Although my body doesn't work as well as it did, I've still got my mined, and for the last couple of years I've been writing a Fantasy, Sci-Fi book based on the war between Science & Magic, and features the legendary King Arthur and Merlin. I think that's it, as you can see I'm a man of few words, so I hope this Introduction is enough, I like to think I bring a lot of fun & laughter to the group and I'll see you all in the dallies.

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INFORMATION SITE

Our new Information Site has been placed on Google Sites.  This takes it off Healing Tides where Teri was the only Manager who could access the control panel to make changes.  It also gives us a back up site so if anything were to go wrong on Healing Tides, the information would still be intact.  This site also will be picked up by the search engines.  You can easily find it by clicking the logo at the top of every page in To M.E. or not to M.E.