If 'Interaction' is the Key word, then our first Saturday Seminar was 'Spot On'. On Saturday, 29 March 2003, people attending the inaugural meeting of the Auckland Saturday Seminars for Fibromyalgia found they were amongst friends. Besides having excellent discussions with the speakers, there was a continual hum of harmony amongst the people who attended. What else do you want?

This meeting was held by Auckland Fibro Support and 'Positive Living' in Takapuna on the North Shore. We are very conscious that Auckland is a large Region and that there are difficulties for people travelling to meetings in Central Auckland. With the decline in attendance on Thursday afternoons, we are guaging your support for Saturday meetings. Cost is a factor in hiring halls in various places, but with light lunches included, we are trying to keep costs to a bare, break-even, non-profit minimum.

We are asking for your support. We hope to hold two more Saturday Seminars this year - one in New Lynn for West Auckland, and hopefully one somehwere in the South Auckland area, like in Manukau or Papatoetoe. Where else could you make one trip and find this expertise and wealth of knowledge related specifically to your medical condition? Where else can you find like-minded people gathered together and where can you comfortably discuss similar problems with others?

This is certainly what occurred in Takapuna! People came from as far and wide as Port Waikato and Waiuku in the south, Whangerai and Whangaparoa in the north, Henderson and Muriwai Beach in the west. It really was wonderful to see you all and to meet and greet people I have only known on email, over the telephone or by name on a database.

Our thoughts went out to one of our speakers-to-be: Anthony Fong who was unhurt but shaken in an accident earlier in the morning, in the Domain on his way to take his Fitness classes.

Anthony is a 'flexibility and mobility specialist' and has his own Fitness Center. He is also the Convenor for the Ankylosing Spondylitis Support Group. Ant understands the necessity for gentle, yet adequate exercise for fibro. He recommends and was going to speak to us about the use of Swiss Balls for Fibro, as well as giving us 'sitting down' exercises we can do in a chair at home. We trust you are recovering well from the shock, Anthony.

Naturopath Anaia Barnett began our session with an interactive talk on Body Balance and Life Force. Anaia can be found in Panmure and is the mother of four beautiful, healthy children, the youngest born this Christmas past. Anaia has been working in the health industry for eight years and has been a massage therapist during this time. She approaches healing from a nutritional perspective and has a passion for helping people find ways to naturally heal themselves. Anaia carried out the Noni Juice survey for us recently and has now been working with Life Force for two years.

Dr Gaille Brennan spoke next on 'Pain and Pain Management'. An American citizen and a fibromyalgic, Gaille decided to take early retirement in Port Waikato as her fibro illness became more severe and disabling. After listening to one of our speakers: Megan Parker last April, Gaille started using Guaifenesin and following a few difficult months of hard cycling, the process of Guaifenesin reversal through symptoms, she now spends time back at her practice both here and in Maine, New England.

I must admit I was very surprised when I did not recognise Gaille. From an obviously unwell person, whom I could see was extremely ill last April, she had altered dramatically to the bright sunny person in a teal blouse who spoke to us. Megan - eat your heart out - you should have been here!

Gaille spoke of the changes in her life, from the severe challenges she was facing as the consequence of her fibro, to the life-altering consequences of using Guauifenesin. This was a terrible story to lisen to. How pleased we were that Gaille had tried Guai and that it had worked for her. You may read some of her story if you click here.

From Guaifenesin, Gaille went on to explain how, when she was ill, she had recorded all of her courses in self-hypnotherapy - the skill where Gaille helps people to manage their pain, by themselves. This skill is a management tool, which anyone can learn to use. With the aid of her CDs, people can find the precious ability to relax and eliminate large amounts of stress, that crippling precursor of Fibro, from their lives. Read more about Gaille's CDs here

At the lunch break, there was much to look at and talk about with displays around the room. All the speakers were freely available to speak with people and the time passed quickly over susage rolls and Hot Cross buns with a cuppa. People were also free to go across the road to the Malls if they wished. However, it was not long before we returned to listen to the PowerPoint presentations from our next speakers.

Jacqui spoke about the manufacture and selling of Guaifenesin in New Zealand first, after the lunch break. It is now nearly one year since 'Positive Living' began investigating the manufacturing process, finding a compounding pharmacist, and then importing bulk suplies of Guaifenesin to make up into capsules. It has been a tough year, as we were committed to building up a clientele. However, we must thank everyone who uses Guai for successfully supporting us in this quest. We are now looking at importing our second shipment and the Government's 'Supplements' Bill,' which originally hastened our decision to manufacture, is on hold until 2004 when it will be reviewed.

Janice Roseingrave is our Treasurer and writes the ANZMES Journal for N.Z. We are grateful for her help in sponsoring the mailout with this year's Fibro schedule. Generous donations from people help to keep 'Positive Living' alive and help to keep everyone informed.

Janice spoke on Colostrum, the New Zealand-produced supplement which is making a tremendous impact overseas. Our colostrum is the highest grade obtainable in the world because of our pasture-fed dairy industry. Although there is no medically proven research yet specifically for fibro, Colostrum is a very useful nutritional supplement for any illness, including FM. It is easily ingested and digested -an important aspect for unwell people and invalids. Thee is a New Zealand Institute researching the benefits of Colostrum and I am eagerly awaiting the results.

I have had two reports come back to me about this high-grade colostrum since the seminar last weekend. A person who uses Panadol for pain, found the colostrum worked within ten minutes, instead of the previous twenty-five minutes. Janice herself, a very unwell person with Lymes Disease ~ a rare condition in New Zealand, has had remarkable results. Although still unwell, she is now able to do things which were impossible for her before.

Dr Terry Macedo, Diagnostic Rheumatologist was our guest rheumatologist for the day. He practises at South Auckland Health and in a Remuera Clinic. Dr Macedo sits on the Executive of the Auckland Arthritis Division and has been giving his time unstintingly to help educate people about the various rheumatic problems. He addresses groups of practitioners and associated professional people, from which he gave us an abridged version of the interesting presentation he normally gives to those professional people.

Dr Macedo explained that there were many aspects of Fibromyalgia which go beyond the medical elements and he could only touch on some of these. It is because of the many myths about fibro that there are a number of misunderstandings in the community which he would try and dispel.

With this he took us to the ACR or American College of Rheumatologists Definition of Fibromyalgia, which was classified in 1990. Characterised by widespread symmetrical chronic pain in the muscles, fibromyalgia is defined by the presence of 18 tenderpoints in various parts of the body.

Fibromyalgia may occur alone as in primary fibromyalgia, where there is no other rheumatic condition. However, in secondary fibro it may occur as a result of an event or as a result of another associated condition. Strikingly, it may be the result of a genetic or familial inheritance.

It is particularly important that the condition is carefully diagnosed as it may be easily confused with 4 or 5 similar conditions which can all be successfully treated. Fibro at present may be relieved by some medications but by far the most successful treatment is gained through a person's education and knowledge, leading to their self-management. Gentle exercise, diet and physical therapy are fundamental and particularly vital to obtaining a good quality of life.

The importance of people's attitudes and understanding from relatives, carers and friends cannot be underestimated. However, it is by reducing a person's dependence on passive treatment or medications, and encouraging healthy illness behaviour and the development of coping skills, which is encouraged. The many gentle forms of relaxation and stress management, along with the person finding an appropriate therapy for themselves is the best course of long-term management.

There were many interesting questions raised during Dr Macedo's presentation. He skillfully answered wide-ranging topics about Fibro and satisfied many inquiring questioners. It was noticeable he incorporates new complementary therapies into his talk and strongly advocates good self-management skills being the key to coping with fibro for good quality of life.

The New Zealand Pharmacy Journal published an article on Fibromyalgia in their April 2003 issue. This article incorporates many aspects of Dr Terry Macedo's talk. Shortly, the article will be available on our website and will be accessible from this page. It will also be available in printed format from 'Positive Living'.