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Searching for Relief

A Mayo Clinic website defines fibromyalgia as a chronic condition "characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points--places on your body where slight pressure causes pain." Other symptoms can include fatigue, sleep disturbances, heightened sensitivity, and headaches. Researchers don't know the cause or the cure, and the condition is more common in women than men.
Forty-year-old Sandy McKenzie reads this column in the Cambridge Star (Minnesota). She said, in a telephone interview, "I have a lot of fibromyalgia symptoms. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, in any sense, but I do have flu-like aches throughout my body, sometimes extreme. The pain never completely goes away. I have muscle spasms, nausea, fatigue, and sensitivity to sunlight and noise."
She also mentioned having memory and cognitive skill loss, which people with fibromyalgia often refer to as "fibro fog." Gradually increasing since high school, her symptoms began rapidly accelerating the last three years to the point of now being "pretty severe."
"I don't know if I can count the number of doctors I've gone to," she said. "When I go to my clinic, my records are thick as a phone book because of the many tests I've taken. All that, and I was told by one doctor the pain is only in my head. Most doctors I see believe I really am suffering these things, except they don't know what to do about it. I've been looking all around the state for a doctor."
She said doctors were unable to find anything wrong. In 2006, finally, a rheumatologist diagnosed her with fibromyalgia, though she has her doubts.
"My husband is still hoping to find an answer to it," she said, referring to a possible cure. "I have a hard time going out in public because of the pain and sensitivities, and when I do go out I usually need a few days to recover afterwards. I can't get off the couch then for a couple days."
To cope, she spends a great deal of time looking for a doctor, and searching the Internet for anything at all that will help her feel better. She has joined various web groups made up of people that share her symptoms, and from them learns new information and ideas.
She advised people in similar situations to "never give up."
Contact danieljvance.com [Blue Valley Sod and Palmer Bus Service grants make this column possible.]

What is an administrative
license suspension?

An Administrative License Suspension (ALS) is a driver's license suspension  that can be imposed, before any court involvement, upon individuals charged with Operating a Vehicle Impaired (OVI).
Upon arrest for OVI, if you submit to a chemical test and the results are at or above the legal limit, your license will be suspended, immediately, for 90 days.  No driving privileges can be granted for the first 15 days.  If you refuse to submit to a chemical test, your license will be suspended, immediately, for one year, and you will not be eligible for limited driving privileges for the first 30 days.
The duration of the suspension and time without limited driving privileges are extended for those who have committed more than one OVI offense.
Q.: Can I drive during the suspension? A.: You may be granted limited driving privileges after the appropriate waiting period, or "hard suspension." Once you become eligible, a court may grant you driving privileges for the remainder of your suspension for employment, medical, educational and vocational purposes. In addition, the court may grant you privileges to attend court ordered treatment and to take a driver's examination.
Q.: Can I challenge an ALS? A.: Yes. You must file an appeal within 30 days of the initial appearance, which must be held within five days of your arrest. A hearing on your appeal may take place at the initial appearance or at any time thereafter.  If appropriate legal procedures are followed by the arresting officer, the ALS is deemed valid and you have the burden of proving that the ALS was wrongfully imposed. If it finds that the ALS was illegally imposed or if certain legal procedures are not followed, the court can declare the ALS void and terminate it.
Q.: How do I get my license back when the ALS suspension period is over? A.: Your license will have been destroyed, but you can get a new license once you pay a reinstatement fee of $425.00 and show proof that you have car insurance. Generally, the ALS is eliminated as part of your OVI case. It is wise to seek the advice of counsel before you pay the reinstatement fee.
Q.: If I am found not guilty of the OVI offense, does the ALS end? A.: If you submitted to a chemical test, the ALS will be terminated if you are found not guilty of the OVI. Most judges will terminate the ALS if the prosecution asks the judge to dismiss the OVI charge, but some judges will not terminate the ALS without a "not guilty" finding by a judge on a jury after trial.
If you refused to submit to a chemical test, the ALS will remain in effect even if your OVI charge is dismissed or you receive a "not guilty" verdict. If you refused to submit to a chemical test, the only way your ALS can be terminated is if the court declares the ALS void or you win your appeal.
Law You Can Use is a weekly consumer legal information column provided by the Ohio State Bar Association. This article was prepared by attorney Jon J. Saia, a partner in the Columbus law firm, Saia & Piatt, P.L.L. Articles appearing in this column are intended to provide broad, general information about the law. Before applying this information to a specific legal problem, readers are urged to seek advice from an attorney.

The husband and wife stood in the driveway next to their minivan, contemplating the flat tire. The wife was a know-it-all harridan. The husband was a patient, tolerant man and he was not quite as simple-minded as his wife thought.
They tolerated each other for the most part, but only because the husband was willing to give his wife time to come to the same conclusions he already had. Because of the wife's superior attitude, however, there were many conversations like this one:
"There's a flat in the tire, dear wife."
"Well, then you should fix it, dear husband."
"With what shall I fix it, dear wife?"
"Use the air pump, dear husband. (Duh!)"
"The hose isn't connected, dear wife."
"Well, let me think…What if you connected it, dear husband?"
"With what shall I connect it, dear wife?"
"With a flippin' wrench, dear husband."
"Where shall I get a wrench dear wife?"
"In that disaster you call a toolbox, dear husband."
"The toolbox is locked, dear wife."
"Well then…gosh, what to do? …oh, I don't know.. UNLOCK IT, dear husband."
"The kids dropped the key into a sewer drain, dear wife."
"Then use a screwdriver, dear husband."
"The screwdriver is in the toolbox, dear wife."
"Well, then, it only makes sense to buy a new screwdriver, doesn't it, dear husband."
"Where shall I buy one, dear wife?"
"At the hardware store; where else, dear husband?"
"How shall I get there, dear wife?"
"Have you ever heard of a car, dear husband?"
There's a flat in the tire…Got any other bright ideas…dear wife?" (Any similarity this column may have to the song "There's A Hole In My Bucket" is purely coincidental.)
My husband is much like this patient, tolerant man. He'd wait until I had exhausted all of my bluster, and then, wham! He'd prove his undeniable intelligence with a scathing comment that would peel the hide off a more sensitive person. Then the lights would come on in an "Oooohhhhh!" moment and I would be just a tiny bit ashamed of my attitude.
In the 27 years of our marriage, however, I have learned to be less critical in my conversations with him and I give him the benefit of the doubt more often. There is no place for sarcasm in a marriage.
It's very embarrassing to think that you are queen of all you survey and then suddenly find out that you are simply human after all. Apparently, I need my husband to remind me of this now and then.
…I just hate it when he's right, though.
You can reach Laura at lsnyder@lauraonlife.com Or visit her website www.lauraonlife.com for more columns and info about her books.

46th annual antiques show and sale

There will be an antiques show and sale Friday, March 28 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, March 29 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Howland Community Church, 198 Niles-Cortland Rd. S.E. in Warren. For more information call 330-856-3628.
Appraisals will be done by Ken Yenke on Saturday, March 29, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The appraisals will be $5 a piece and limited to two items per person. Donations is $3. New dealers will be introduced.

Coffee House and Concert

His Music Connection invites you to this Saturday night's Coffee House at the Old Wellman Theater in Girard, located at 29 West Liberty St. The groups performing this Saturday, March 29, from 6 to 10 pm, are 24 Flames of Akron, and A New Creation of Dayton. These Contemporary bands perform outstanding original music and cover songs. His Music Connection has picked up the tab for this concert. Also provided: Meat ball sandwiches, pizza, Hot Chocolate, Cappuccinos, and extras. Bring a friend and enjoy these great bands. Call 330-539-5349 for more info.

Rabbi went to the barber shop. After his hair cut, he got ready to pay the barber and the barber said, "No Rabbi, I don't charge the clergy for haircuts." So the next morning the barber found a loaf of Jewish rye bread outside of his door step.
A couple of days past and a Catholic priest came in to get his hair cut. He got ready to pay and the barber said, "No Father, I don't charge the clergy for hair cuts." So the next morning he found a bottle of wine outside his front door step.
A couple of days later the Baptist preacher came in to get his hair cut and when he got ready to pay the barber said, "No Reverend, I don't charge the clergy for their hair cuts." So the next morning, the barber found 15 Baptist preachers on his doorstep, ready to get their hair cut!