Welcome
to our home on the web
Welcome to The Carousel Network (TCN) of Sonoma County. We hope that you
will find useful information here. Please take some time to explore our
resources. You may have visited www.cndsinfo.net prior to 2003, and noticed
a different format and content. We are the same organization with a new
webmaster. If you are looking for one of Melissa's (our past webmaster)
numerous informational articles on chronic neuroimmune diseases please
visit her current web site (hint: see sidebar for the link).
What
are chronic neuroimmune diseases (CNDS)?
Variously called chronic neuroimmunological disease, chronic neuroimmunoendocrinological
disease, or chronic immunological neurological disease, these are biologically
multi-systemic diseases most likely caused by infective, genetic, and
environmental factors. These diseases and disorders, such as chronic
fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, are
documented in the medical literature, but as of yet there is no known
cause, no cure, and no magic bullet. Unfortunately, the majority of
the general public (and a big chunk of the medical professions) find
it easier to dismiss these very real conditions as being "all in our
heads." Ironically, these disorders are in our heads, in our brains,
to be exact, not the hypochondriasis or psychosomatization, but some
very real functional and organic changes in our brain, and how the brain,
immune, and endocrine systems functions and responds to input from the
world around us and dysfunctions within us. What is the prognosis for
those who have one or more of these disorders? Some regain a degree
of health, some remain the same, and some worsen over time. There are
many treatment options available and often treatments work well for
some and not at all for others. It takes patience and commitment, but
improvement is possible for many.
The Carousel
Network
We are here to provide information and support to those who are afflicted
with CNDS, as well as their friends and family members. We believe that
by sharing information and our experience, we empower each other to
find effective ways of managing these diseases. We have monthly speaker
meetings, a bimonthly newsletter, a web site, a phone list, educational
materials, a community resource list, and a place to meet on line 24/7.
If this is your first visit to us, we welcome you!
Become a TCN
member
Members get our bimonthly newsletter, are eligible for membership in
our private email list, receive email reminders for meetings and events,
and have borrowing privileges with the TCN Library.
The information in our newsletter often complements the information
covered at the meetings during those months, enabling those who attend
meetings to better understand the material covered by the speaker or
other program. For annual membership, please complete a membership
form, and send it with your check for $20 made out to The Carousel
Network to the address to the left. You may also join when you attend
one of our meetings.
NOTE: OUR LAST
MONTHLY MEETING AT PALM DRIVE HOSPITAL IS NOVEMBER 1, 2008. WE ARE LOOKING
FOR A NEW MEETING PLACE. AS SOON AS ONE IS FOUND, WE WILL POST THE NEW
LOCATION ON OUR MEETING PAGE.
Donations
Monetary donations may be made payable to The Carousel Network,
and sent to our mailing address. If you would like to donate books,
videos, or other media related to CNDS please contact us. We appreciate
your assistance.
Volunteer
We are an all-volunteer organization, currently operated exclusively
by people with CNDS. We will happily take healthy volunteers, too. We
are looking for folks to help with tasks large and small. Please let
us know if you would like to be of service by emailing us at carousel@cndsinfo.net.
For information on the types of things we need volunteers for, please
see our Volunteers Are The Carousel
Network page.
Peer-to-Peer
Support
Join CarouselNet,
the e-mail list for TCN members to share experiences and coping
strategies. To join the group, enter your email address in the box below.
Once your request has been approved by our membership coordinator, you
will receive an email from Google asking you to confirm. (Please
note: our monthly meetings are open to everyone, but only TCN members
receive the TCN newsletter, have borrowing privileges from our library,
and can join our e-mail group.)