Sometimes, not knowing the truth about something of immediate importance can create some of the most intense stress, says former chronic pain sufferer Janet Komanchuk.

"The families of victims who've been missing for years or decades - identifying the body of their loved one, for example, can bring closure. For me, being diagnosed with fibromyalgia was also a relief - it meant that I had a name for my chronic pain," says Komanchuk, whose pain was so intense over a period of several years that she had to retire as a schoolteacher.

"My diagnosis meant I wasn't crazy, that the pain wasn't 'all in my head,' as some had suggested. It meant that my flu-like symptoms, accompanied by intense waves of pain, finally had form and dimension. I understood I was just one of many suffering with chronic pain that at last had a name."

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a complex, chronic condition of widespread muscular pain and fatigue. It often includes sleep disturbances, impaired memory and concentration, depression and other debilitating symptoms. The syndrome is one of the most common chronic pain disorders, affecting nearly one in every 60 Americans.

"When medical leave, morphine patches, codeine and myriad pharmaceuticals brought no relief, I tried a different approach in combination with medical treatment," says Komanchuk, (www.jkomanchuk.com), who has since enjoyed more than 13 years of pain-free and prescription-free living after finding an alternative healing therapy that works for her. She now works as an educational writer and public relations assistant with Joy of Healing, the alternative healing modality that she says brought about her remission.

"Through the years, I've learned a thing or two about dealing with the psychological trauma of illness."

Komanchuk shares tips to keep in mind for those suffering from an indeterminate condition.

•  Trust in yourself. "At times, the pain was so intense that I was certain my flesh was tearing away from my bones," says Komanchuk, who was just like the more than 100 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain, which costs nearly $600 billion annually in medical treatments and lost productivity, according to the Institute of Medicine. Despite her unmistakable pain, the critical doubt from others as to what she was experiencing was disheartening, at times causing her to doubt herself.

"Trust in yourself, for you know what you're feeling," she says. "Don't fall victim to the judgment and criticism of others who doubt your illness and the limitations it places on you or your activities."

•  Don't quit! Despite the immense scope of chronic pain, very little is spent on research to find better ways to manage pain. Komanchuk was faced with the prospect of spending the rest of her life in a nursing home.

"Yes, the pain was excruciating, debilitating and fatiguing, yet I still felt as though my life had the potential for vitality," she says. "The idea of going to a nursing home - reasonable for some - felt like a kind of death to me."

Convinced that there was hope for her in overcoming fibromyalgia, she persisted in her search for wellness answers.

•  Seriously consider alternatives. She was able to achieve what she thought was impossible - not just temporary relief, but permanent, lasting mind-body-spirit wellness. She had been to orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, rheumatologists, psychologists, underwent MRIs and took all manner of medications for her unbearable pain. In a narrow sense, it would seem as though she exhausted her options - until she looked beyond traditional Western medicine. Alternative treatment guided her to recognize the layers of stress throughout her life that she believes were a primary driver of her chronic pain.

"Every day, I am filled with gratitude for the fact that I am free of the torment from fibromyalgia that had plagued me throughout my life," she says. "I just wish I could give others a piece of the relief that I've found. All I can say is keep your eyes open, keep the hope alive and don't give up!"

About Janet Komanchuk

Janet Komanchuk, www.jkomanchuk.com, is a retired schoolteacher who has experienced the miraculous remission of chronic, debilitating fibromyalgia, which was the result of many overlapping stressors and unresolved issues throughout her life. While weathering extreme fatigue and pain, she'd tried everything from traditional Western medicine to alcohol consumption and various holistic treatments. It wasn't until she experienced the healing work of medium and healer Andrew Overlee, and his wife, Tamara, a dedicated spiritual counselor and author, that she was able to regain her life. She is now pain-free without any use of prescription medication. She is an educational writer and public relations assistant with Joy of Healing, Inc., in Valrico, Fla.

Cattle prices are at an all-time high, but high prices don't necessarily equate to high profits. With tight margins, it's important for cattle feeders to focus on the management and marketing skills needed to maintain profitability. That's why Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University is helping sponsor a Cattle Feeders Summer Seminar next month.

Denise Schwab, ISU Extension and Outreach beef program specialist, said the program emphasis is on marketing opportunities and management to optimize cattle performance and profitability. The seminar will be Monday, Aug. 11, from 3 to 9 p.m., starting at the Jones County Extension Expo hall in Monticello and concluding with an on-farm demonstration.

"It will include industry updates related to animal care and sustainability, marketing opportunities in eastern Iowa, and animal handling techniques," Schwab said. "Speakers include IBC director Dan Loy, Doug Bear of Iowa Beef Industry Council and Dave Rueber of Innovative Ag Services."

Loy will talk about high quality cattle marketing, Bear will offer Beef Quality Assurance training and certification, and Rueber will share his observations on beef finishing facilities.

Tom Noffsinger, consulting feedyard veterinarian from Benkelman, Neb., who is well known for his work with low-stress handling techniques, will present information and a demonstration.

"Animal disposition and stress has a direct impact on gain, feed efficiency and health, and numerous research studies show that stressed cattle have higher health treatment rates and costs, increased mortality rates and lower quality grades," Schwab said. "Dr. Noffsinger's demonstration will focus on ways to acclimate cattle to human handling that reduces stress and improves cattle behavior and performance. Calmer cattle also result in fewer injuries to farmers."

Partners joining IBC to offer this seminar are Merck Animal Health, Iowa Beef Industry Council and Innovative Ag Services. Cost for the seminar is $10, which can be paid at the door. Preregistration is requested by calling the Benton County Extension office at 319-472-4739 or emailing Schwab at dschwab@iastate.edu. For more information contact Schwab at 319-721-9624.

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The Institute hosts breakfast roundtable and job fair for veterans in manufacturing

(DAVENPORT) -  Today, Get Skills to Work, in partnership with The Manufacturing Institute, Home Base Iowa, the Alcoa Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will host Governor Terry Branstad and welcome Iowa as the third state to join the Get Skills to Work coalition. Get Skills to Work helps veterans get job-specific training or transition their military experience into rewarding careers in manufacturing.

"I am proud to support efforts such as Home Base Iowa, Get Skills to Work and Hiring Our Heroes. Each offers our veterans and transitioning service members every opportunity to successfully transition from military careers into the private sector," said Governor Terry Branstad. "These efforts are opportunities to honor those who served and to strengthen our economy with a workforce that exemplifies hard work, teamwork, and discipline."

The event begins with a breakfast roundtable for employers with local manufacturers and partners, including the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Alcoa Davenport Works, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, and Hiring our Heroes.

Following the roundtable, Governor Branstad will announce Iowa as the third state to join the Get Skills to Work coalition. By joining the coalition, Iowa continues to demonstrate its commitment to helping veterans transition from military to civilian life. In addition, the event will include a free workshop for veterans focused on resume writing, interview skills, and job search techniques for all military members and their spouses.

"We are excited to expand our Get Skills to Work program with Iowa's statewide launch of the coalition. This program will help local manufacturers connect with skilled veterans ready to enter the civilian workforce," Institute President Jennifer McNelly said.

The Get Skills to Work coalition includes more than 500 manufacturers, and it focuses on training veterans in manufacturing and helping them translate existing military skills into manufacturing careers. The Institute along with GE, Aloca, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin, founded Get Skills to Work in October 2012, and together, the initiative has set a goal to reach 100,000 veterans by 2015. This program aims to train military veterans for advanced manufacturing careers, bolster the talent pipeline, and enhance American competitiveness.

The event will take place in the RiverCenter at 136 E. 3^rd Street in Davenport, IA, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Speakers at the event include :                      

Mike Ralston, President, Iowa Association of Business Industry

Rob Woodall, Manufacturing Director, Alcoa Davenport Works

Dr. Don Doucette, Chancellor, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

Derek Hill, Brigadier General, Iowa ANG

Rob Schroder, Vice President, International Strategy and Operations, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Brent Weil, Senior Vice President, The Manufacturing Institute.

For more information, please visit www.getskillstowork.org

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About The Manufacturing Institute 

The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification and development of world-class manufacturing talent. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

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