Hi from Nottingham!

I am really sorry I haven't been in touch for a while, I have been absolutely snowed under with the aftermath of the launch of the APPG.

It all went extremely well; over 100 sufferers from around the country went to Westminster to celebrate the launch. It was also well attended by M.P.s. We have had quite a coup too! Really! The Secretary for the Minister for Public Health, Yvette Cooper, only 32 herself, gave us 40 minutes of her time. She explained that she had recovered from M.E. and was acutely aware of chronic pain and fatigue. She pledged her total support for the cause and the APPG, which was really rather heartening. Problem now being is that we have an imminent election, so lobbying is still going on in a big way.

Following on from the launch, I was on the local TV, along with the Treasurer of the group, Rose, which resulted in over 50 telephone calls to the Helpline. This of course, created more work. Our membership is now over 300, and we are expecting a large number of new people at our group meeting tomorrow.

The true situation here regarding the foot and mouth is not as published in a lot of the media worldwide. It has been bad for the farmers and livestock, but it is mostly contained in three areas, and the spread is slowing down. Nottinghamshire is not effected at all, nor are the surrounding areas. Life is totally unchanged by the epidemic for us. I was even told yesterday, that some people from USA believe that our food chain is poisoned, and if they come here they need to bring their own food. Rumours such as this do not help. Britain is alive and kicking, and the sun started to shine today, always a welcome sight for FM sufferers as we do have flare ups during our winter period.

I have a member's husband who is acting as a Researcher and he is also co-coordinating the APPG's doctors' forum. These are doctors we have chosen to act in an advisory capacity to the APPG - so, if you come across any research items, could you let me have details, please? Things grind slowly on, but any information may be relevant. Peter (our researcher, and his wife, Caron) browsed your website and found it very interesting and informative - I must look at it tonight.

We are about to conduct a short national survey through our groups - I will let you know if anything comes out of it. One of the questions is surrounding issues of family members who are also sufferers. This is the driving force behind my mission to do all I can for FM sufferers - there has got to be an answer out there, somewhere. We also wonder here if there is some sort of connection between FM and cancer - some members have had both, and that is one of the questions in the survey. There is also a question on medications, and exercise because there is a lot of research here into FM and exercise. Peter is in the process of devising a large national questionnaire. Would you like a copy when it is ready?

It is all so confusing and complicated. I have this strong feeling that if the doctors could sort out the sleep deprivation and the delta 4 sleep, this may help us, also the hormone connection - what is your opinion? Getting back to the cancer thing, we cannot fault the Health Service in this area - Oh! if only the same could be said for Fibro! The nightmare stories still go on.

If I can think of any material, which will help your Awareness Day, I will send it on to you. I will send you my report of the APPG Launch also.

Must close now, my friends

Take care,

Anne from Nottingham, England.