SW FLORIDA MYOSITIS SUPPORT GROUP
Research has found that people who receive support from a social network cope better, feel more in control, and have better outcomes than those who are isolated.
The next meeting of the SW FL Support group for people with the rare autoimmune muscle disease: myositis is Saturday, February 2, 2013.10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
People with myositis or those interested in learning more about it are invited to attend.
The meeting will be at MixonFruitFarmConferenceCenter, 2525 27th St. E.; Bradenton, FL. 34208. RSVP to Marianne at Marianne.moyer@verizon.net .
There are about 50,000 people in theUSwith this disease called “myositis”. On the Southwest coast ofFlorida, there are at least 130 myositis patients. The diseases cause extreme muscle weakness that often require patients to be confined to wheelchairs or be required to take many expensive medications.
Many of these people had never had an opportunity to talk with others who share their plight. The three diseases ‘represented’: Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis and Inclusion Body Myositis, are all somewhat different but share the same mysterious apparent link to an autoimmune system that’s out of control. Because support groups are so valuable in helping patients and their families cope, this group tailors their meetings to offering opportunities for people to share their experiences and concerns and also to learn from invited professionals who have advised on everything from medications to how to travel with a disability. Members of this very active local support group known as a KIT (for Keep In Touch) meet each quarter, to share what their lives are like as they cope with this disease. It is the largest KIT in the nation!
The SW FL KIT was formed as a local off-shoot of The Myositis Association (TMA) www.myositis.org which supports those with myositis diseases. TMA has funded over $3 million for research into causes and treatments for myositis.