Is Naltrexone Effective for Treating Fibromyalgia?
Written By: Wyatt Redd
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Image:Shutterstock.com/Monkey Business Images
Fibromyalgia sufferers know how hard it is to find a medication that can help manage their symptoms. But the thing is that with so little research on fibromyalgia, new drugs aren’t exactly coming along every day. Here’s the thing though: it turns out an old drug that’s used to treat opiate addiction may be the best treatment yet for fibromyalgia.
What Is naltrexone?
Naltrexone is a medication designed to help people who were addicted to opiates avoid a relapse. It works by targeting and deactivating the opioid receptors in your brain. Opioid receptors are the cells that respond to the presence of opiates and produce the pleasure that people taking these drugs feel.
Drugs like naltrexone shut down those receptors so that if someone on naltrexone took an opiate, they wouldn’t feel any effects from it. And so people who take naltrexone have no reason to take opiates anymore. After all, they wouldn’t feel it if they did.
How Can It Treat Fibromyalgia?
Naltrexone has shown incredible promise in treating fibromyalgia. Dr. Jarred Younger has studied fibromyalgia for years. He ran tests on the efficacy of the opioid dependence drug at Stanford university and concluded that it was more effective than Cymbalta, Lyrica, and Savella, which are the three drugs doctors use to treat fibromyalgia in the US.
Naltrexone therapy for fibromyalgia involves using a consistent low dose of the drug to treat symptoms. Larger doses are given to people to help them manage opioid addiction. But low doses help people manage chronic pain. And doctors are testing the use of low dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for fibromyalgia.
It’s not yet understood why this drug would be so effective in treating fibromyalgia. But Younger believes it has something to do with the way that the drug can pass through the barrier into the brain. Younger believes that the cause of fibromyalgia rests in over-active immune cells in the brain. So the drug may be able to deactivate these cells.
Ian Zagon is another professor at Penn State University. He believes that the reason might actually be the way naltrexone blocks the opioid receptors in the brain. This causes the body to naturally release more pain-suppressing hormones which help people with fibromyalgia feel less pain.
Can Naltrexone Help You?
Currently, it remains difficult for many fibromyalgia patients to get access to naltrexone. Its ability to treat fibromyalgia is not well understood. And many doctors are reluctant to prescribe it to patients. Scientists are testing the drug. And more research will help doctors determine if LDN is an effective treatment.
But if you feel that naltrexone will help your fibromyalgia make sure to do your research. Discuss the possibility of using it with your doctor. And if they are unwilling to prescribe it, you are not out of luck just yet. The LDN research trust keeps a list of doctors who do on its website. And it may be worth a trip to meet with a doctor who can offer relief for your symptoms.
Ultimately, only you can know if it is the right treatment for you. But early trials suggest that it might offer hope for many fibromyalgia sufferers.
Microglia and Fibromyalgia: How our Brains may be the key to Fibromyalgia
Written By: Wyatt Redd
admin
Image: Shutterstock.com/Jose Luis Calvo
People who suffer from fibromyalgia hear constantly that they are just imagining their symptoms. It’s one of the most infuriating parts of getting help for the disease. But is true that fibromyalgia is in your head? Research into the relationship between microglia and fibromyalgia shows it may be literally in your head.
Microglia
Microglia are immune cells that pass through the barrier of your brain. This causes inflammation in the brain. It’s a normal part of your body’s immune system.
But when you develop certain brain disorders, the microglia go into overdrive. They begin attacking the structures of the brain. And that plays a role in diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
And it turns out that these microglia may actually be responsible for fibromyalgia.
Microglia and Fibromyalgia
Jarred Younger at the University of Alabama is a scientist studying the role that microglia play in fibromyalgia. Tired of hearing patients told that “your fibromyalgia is in your head,” Younger began looking for explanations of what might cause the disorder.
He focused in on the immune system of fibromyalgia patients. The first step was to test the patients’ blood for abnormalities. He found that there were a number of markers in their blood that were unusual.
First, the level of leptin was far higher in the blood of fibromyalgia patients. Leptin is a hormone that is released from fat cells. Younger found that not only was the concentration in fibromyalgia patients’ blood higher but that the concentration of leptin could predict how severe their symptoms were from day to day.
But leptin is also a hormone that can pass through the barrier into the brain. And that’s where the microglia come in. Younger believes that the presence of higher levels of leptin might be causing microglia to become activated and triggering the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is (literally) in your head
If Younger is correct, it means in a strict sense that fibromyalgia is in your head. The reaction between increased leptin levels and the microglia in your brain could easily be the reason that fibromyalgia causes the symptoms it does.
Microglia defend our brain against everything. When we get the flu, for instance, microglia are activated. These cells make us want to crawl into bed and do nothing – so our body can devote its resources to fighting off the flu.
Fatigue and flu-like aches? Sounds a lot like fibromyalgia, right?
And that means that by understanding the role that microglia play in fibromyalgia, we could get closer to a cure. But the problem is that there is no good way to measure the way that your brain’s immune cells respond to leptin. And Younger hopes that developing a better way to measure this response can help develop a test for fibromyalgia. And hopefully, that is the first step to a cure.
Younger’s research is a great first step in finally getting to the cause of fibromyalgia. And understanding how fibromyalgia is caused by the brain can make treating it easier.
We are still a long way from getting to the bottom of the disease. But this research into microglia and fibromyalgia is a good start.
If you have fibromyalgia, you know how much of a mental toll it can take on you. Living with that kind of constant, agonizing pain is hard. And not having the energy or the focus to do the things you used to can be even worse. So, it’s easy to understand why so many people with fibromyalgia struggle with depression.
In fact, while fibromyalgia isn’t fatal, the suicide rate for fibromyalgia sufferers is tragically high. Anything we can learn about the unique mental health challenges that people with the condition face is extremely valuable in helping those who are suffering.
For instance, did you know that there are actually many different kinds of depression? Doctors grade the condition based on the cause, symptoms, and duration. And one of the longest-lasting forms is dysthymia. So what is dysthymia, and what can you do to help manage it?
What Is Dysthymia?
Dysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder, is a condition that causes long-term depressive episodes. While other types of depression may strike suddenly and resolve the worst of the symptoms within a month or two, dysthymia can last for years. The symptoms are generally similar though. They include a loss of interest in everyday activities, fatigue, mental fog, irritability, and a loss of appetite.
But the symptoms can be less obvious as well. Usually, people who struggle with depression are consumed by negative thoughts. They get caught up thinking about how they’ve made mistakes, or about how they are worthless. Those thoughts can be so consuming that it can make even getting out of bed difficult some days.
When it comes to dysthymia, these symptoms can often be milder than those of other forms of depression. But they can also vary in intensity. Simply put, some days you feel much worse than others. Think about it like a rain cloud following you. Sometimes, the storm is worse, but it’s always raining.
The main difference between dysthymia and other forms of depression is that dysthymia lasts much longer. The main criterion for a diagnosis is that the patient shows that kind of negative thinking patterns for at least two years. Some days, when the condition is worse, they may also show the physical symptoms as well, like mental fog and loss of appetite.
It’s hard to say what causes someone to develop depression. A number of factors probably play some role like:
Brain Chemistry- Our brains are formed from complicated systems of chemicals called neurotransmitters and electrical signals. When the system gets out of balance, it can lead to depression. People with depression usually have a lower level of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which regulates our moods.
Genetics- There’s a strong link between depression and genetics. People with a family history of the condition are more likely to develop the condition themselves. This is probably due to inherited traits affecting the chemistry of the brain.
Circumstances- Obviously, negative life events- like developing fibromyalgia- can leave us feeling depressed. But they can also affect the chemistry in our brains, which can lead to clinical depression.
If you’ve been struggling with the condition for a long time, it might actually be hard to recognize it. You adjust to that way of thinking and begin to believe that it is normal. And while it can seem like there’s no way out of those thoughts, there are a number of things that can help.
Management Methods
There are three basic medications used to treat dysthymia: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
They work in a similar way, helping to regulate the balance of the neurotransmitters in your brain. But everyone’s brain is different. And an antidepressant that works for one person may be useless for someone else. Finding the right antidepressant for you usually takes a bit of trial and error. So it’s important to stay in close contact with your doctor about what you’re feeling until you find something that works for you.
But antidepressants sometimes aren’t enough on their own, especially when you have fibromyalgia. The depressing struggles of living with fibromyalgia can’t be medicated away. So, it’s usually best to look for a therapist who can help you find ways to cope with them. A good therapist can help you with new ways to manage the daily problems of fibromyalgia and help develop new thinking patterns that can relieve your depression.
Always remember that if you’re having a hard time managing your depression and feel like you might be a risk to yourself or others, you need to get help. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255.
So, what do you think? Have you experienced depression while struggling with fibromyalgia? What did you do?
Systemic lupus erythematosus is one of those ominous sounding medical conditions with an impenetrable name. It’s a lot of syllables and few of them give you any useful information about what the condition actually is. But luckily, understanding systemic lupus erythematosus isn’t that complicated and it’s much simpler than it sounds.
So what exactly is systemic lupus erythematosus? What are the symptoms? And how is it treated?
What Is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus sounds really complicated, but it might help you understand the condition better to learn that most of the time people just call it “lupus.” That’s right, systemic lupus erythematosus is actually just the long, technical name for lupus.
So what exactly is lupus?
Put simply lupus is a disorder of the body’s immune system. In a healthy immune system, your body produces antibodies that identify and destroy foreign cells like bacteria and viruses. These antibodies attach to the foreign cells and kill them and in the process, they learn to recognize these cells more quickly in the future.
This is why people are able to develop immunities to certain illnesses after being exposed to them. The body’s immune system becomes conditioned to identify these foreign cells quickly and destroy them immediately before they can infect the body.
But in someone with lupus, these antibodies are conditioned to attack the body’s own cells rather than foreign cells. As a result, they begin destroying the tissue of the body. This makes lupus an autoimmune condition- a disease where the immune system turns against the body.
In systemic lupus erythematosus, your vital organs can begin to shut down under the progressive damage caused by your own body’s immune system. In severe cases of lupus, this leads to death. But lupus can also cause less serious, but still debilitating symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms?
The symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus are often quite diverse. Systemic lupus erythematosus affects tissue all over the body, and as a result, patients can experience symptoms nearly everywhere.
One of the most visible symptoms of lupus, and perhaps the one that people think of first, is inflammation of the skin. This inflammation often results in a distinctive rash across the face (sometimes called a butterfly rash). While often this skin damage is limited to minor redness, occasionally lupus can cause truly disfiguring damage to the skin.
Lupus also produces symptoms like chronic fatigue and muscle pain, which can make it difficult to distinguish from conditions like fibromyalgia. Often the joints are painful and can get swollen due to inflammation. Lupus also damages vital organs like the heart and kidneys and unexplained kidney or heart damage can be a sign of lupus.
How Is It Treated?
Doctors usually treat systemic lupus erythematosus by focusing on the inflammation that the condition causes. So the most commonly prescribed drugs for treating lupus are anti-inflammatory drugs, which are a class of drugs that, obviously, reduce inflammation.
And in fact, one of the drugs that are often used to treat lupus is something you can get over the counter at almost any drugstore. Aspirin, in addition to being one of the most familiar painkillers, is actually a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (or NSAID). That makes it useful for treating a lot of the symptoms of lupus. And this is also true for other NSAIDs like Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen.
In addition, for more serious cases of lupus-caused inflammation, doctors can prescribe a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are a class of hormones that are usually produced in the body naturally, but can also be injected for medical purposes. When injected, corticosteroids help to control and reduce inflammation, which makes them useful for treating lupus.
And in other cases of lupus, doctors sometimes need to prescribe an immunosuppressant drug. Immunosuppressants reduce the activity of the immune system. And obviously, with systemic lupus erythematosus, which is a condition that causes an overactive immune system, that can be a very effective treatment.
And the good news is with that these forms of treatment, systemic lupus erythematosus is far from a death sentence. In fact, 80-90% of people with lupus will not have their lifespan significantly shortened by the condition. With proper treatment, it’s perfectly possible to live a long life with lupus. Of course, even with treatment, the symptoms of lupus can reduce your quality of life.
And there is currently no cure for lupus, which means it’s important to continue supporting research that will help people with the condition.
So tell us, do you have lupus? How do you manage it? Let us know in the comments.
Remembering the Challenger Disaster on its 33rd Anniversary
Written By: Chuck Bednar
John
Thirty-three years ago today, much of America witnessed one of the most tragic chapters in space exploration history, as NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart shortly after liftoff and plunged 60,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven people on board.
Challenger, which had taken off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the morning of January 28, 1986, began to disintegrate 73 seconds into its flight after an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster failed due to cold temperatures at the time of the launch.
This failure caused a breach in the booster joint it sealed, allowing pressurized burning from within the solid rocket motor to escape and impinge on the adjacent rocker booster’s aft field joint attachment and external fuel tank, ultimately causing a structural failure in the tank and bringing Challenger’s 10th mission to a sudden and horrific end.
“We were all standing there and we saw the cloud engulf the vehicle, the huge cloud of smoke. We were all standing there kind of looking at each other and looking up and scratching our heads and trying to figure out what had happened,” CNN correspondent John Zarrella, who had been covering the launch, recalled during an interview with CBS News. “There’s just no way to really describe it except to say it was just total chaos.”
Once that chaos subsided, the sad truth became evident: Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, pilot Michael J. Smith, mission specialist Ronald E. McNair, mission specialist Ellison Onizuka, mission specialist Judith Resnik, payload specialist Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space, had all lost their lives during the explosion.
The legacy of the Challenger Seven
President Ronald Reagan, who had been scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address that day, instead postponed the speech to address the nation about the disaster, calling the night a time for “mourning and remembering” and adding that the astronauts “honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them.”
“On the day of the disaster, our nation held a vigil by our television sets. In one cruel moment, our exhilaration turned to horror,” he later said in a eulogy of the astronauts, who had come to be known as the Challenger Seven. “Sometimes, when we reach for the stars, we fall short. But we must pick ourselves up again and press on despite the pain. Our nation is indeed fortunate… that we are still blessed with heroes like those of the space shuttle Challenger.”
Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute, now best known for his work on New Horizons, worked on two experiments onboard Challenger when it exploded and was friends with many of the crewmembers. He told National Geographic that he “had a really hard time” dealing with the tragedy, adding “I still think about them. But it gets easier. It’s the salve of time going by.”
In the aftermath of the disaster, Richard Scobee’s widow June Scobee Rodgers gathered together the family members of the fallen crew to discuss how to best honor their memory. They decided to launch the Challenger Center, which is an educational facility where students go to learn about science and engineering through simulated space missions. Nearly 4.5 million students have been taught at the now 40-plus Challenger Centers worldwide, according to reports.
While there is a small memorial to the Challenger Seven on the moon, Nat Geo suggested that perhaps it is time for a larger tribute to the fallen astronauts, possibly a Voyager-like craft or an orbiting memorial. Scobee Rodgers told the website that she would be in favor of that, but said that something like that should “serve a purpose… something like helping people to advance the space program.”
“What if every human spaceflight, every time, carried a memorial – the same memorial?” Stern suggested. “It would recognize everybody lost in spaceflight and be in solidarity with those pioneers. It could be very understated, but every astronaut on every spaceflight would know, and every space tourist would know, that they’re a part of saluting that.”
Fibroid….it’s a rather obnoxious sounding word, don’t you think? Just saying it aloud even has an ominous tone. Probably because it sounds similar to other foreboding conditions like fibromyalgia or cystic fibrosis. However, unlike those diseases, fibroids are actually treatable. Unfortunately, they can be a real pain in the….abdomen. Although, not everyone has symptoms. So, just what are these things called fibroids? Who gets them and in what ways are they treated?
First things first: fibroids are mostly benign tumors (non-cancerous) that grow in the wall of the uterus. So, from that we can determine that men have no risk of developing fibroids. In fact, neither does a woman who has had her uterus removed. We’ll narrow that list down even further as we go along. In the meantime, when we say “tumors,” that means you can have a single fibroid or several. And the size can range from an apple seed or a pea all the way up to a grapefruit. In rare cases, they can get even larger. If you’d like a brave a Google search to see the spectrum of sizes, go for it. Just remember that they are tumors, so expect something pretty odd-looking.
Symptoms of Fibroid Tumors
Recall that not everyone has symptoms. But if you do, the Office on Women’s Health provides a basic list of what to look for:
Heavy bleeding (which can be heavy enough to cause anemia) or painful periods
Feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower stomach area)
Enlargement of the lower abdomen
Frequent urination
Pain during sex
Lower back pain
Complications during pregnancy and labor, including a six-time greater risk of cesarean section
Reproductive problems, such as infertility, which is very rare
If you are a woman, then you know the tricky part here is that most of these symptoms can be the result of a variety of other issues related to the female reproductive system. That’s why it’s such a good idea to have routine pelvic exams. This is especially true when you consider that some women have fibroids without a single symptom.
Just Who is at Risk?
Fibroids are one of those weird conditions for which researchers have yet to determine a cause. But one of the things they do know is that the growth of cells that lead to fibroid tumors is directly related to estrogen, especially high levels of it. The Obstetrics and Gynecology department at UCLA explains: “Women who are approaching menopause are at the greatest risk for fibroids because of their long exposure to high levels of estrogen. Women who are obese and of African-American heritage also seem to be at an increased risk, although the reasons for this are not clearly understood.”
Our list of those at risk just shrunk even further. Well, UCLA adds that the risk of developing fibroids is also cut in half if a woman has had two live-births when compared to women who have not had children. There are many questions surrounding these findings. Particularly, does having children somehow protect a woman from fibroids? Or is there something related to infertility that increases her odds?
Treating Fibroids
The upside to all of this is that these tumors aren’t cancerous. Thus, many women who have little or no symptoms at all often just monitor them rather than seeking treatment or removal. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that they rarely interfere with pregnancy and often shrink on their own after menopause. Most fibroid tumors grow pretty slowly anyway, while some don’t grow at all. And if that’s not enough good news, there are actually quite a few options for treating them. The first option is medication. Keep in mind that we are dealing with a growth that seems to feed off estrogen. Thus, medications used to treat fibroid tumors are going to target hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle in an attempt to shrink them. Talk to your doctor about various options and just know that messing with hormones can be some scary territory.
There are non-invasive procedures like ultrasound that can precisely destroy some of the fibroid tissue. Other options include minimally invasive procedures which are designed to target and destroy fibroids without major surgery. Of course, major surgery is also an option depending on the severity and debilitating nature of your fibroids. Hysterectomy is the last resort. In fact, the Mayo Clinic adds an alternative for women who are told hysterectomy is their only option. It’s called an abdominal myomectomy and is an open abdominal surgical procedure that leaves your uterus in tact in case you desire to have children later.
Do you have fibroids? What has been your experience? Have you experienced fibroids while simultaneously living with fibromyalgia or other conditions that increase pain sensitivity? Please share your story with us.
Fibromyalgia can be a weird illness. Your doctor may say that fatigue and pain are the only real symptoms of fibro, but you can’t help but wonder if your latest uncomfortable symptoms can be attributed to your illness. Here are some of the rare symptoms of fibromyalgia that you might experience.
Rare symptoms of fibromyalgia
Non-Cardiac Chest Pain
This is one of the scariest of the rare symptoms of fibromyalgia. Any time you feel severe chest pain, it’s normal that your first worry will be that you’re having a heart attack. Many fibro sufferers deal with chest pain due to non-cardiac causes, also called angina. If you experience this, it will feel like a crushing, squeezing pressure in your chest. An attack of this symptom can be very scary and will probably send you to an emergency room, only to be told that you’re fine. However, fibromyalgia sufferers can have heart disease the same as anyone else can, and it is the number-one killer of Americans. If you feel chest pain, get it checked out because it’s much better to be safe than sorry.
Sensitivity to Noise and Light
If the nearby table of shrieking little kids at a restaurant seems to bother you more than everybody else, it’s likely a fibro symptom. Although most doctors will tell you that sensitivity to noise, particularly high-pitched or exceptionally loud noise, isn’t a fibromyalgia symptom, enough fibro sufferers do experience this issue that it shouldn’t be considered rare. Many fibro sufferers are also extremely sensitive to bright lights.
Alcohol Intolerance
You start feeling like you’ve had way too much alcohol after only a glass or two of wine. This isn’t the same as being tipsy. Instead, you feel excessive effects of alcohol like dehydration and nausea.
Increased Side Effects of Medication
Or you get every possible bad side effect from medications. That might make your doctor question why drugs never seem to help you. This is actually not uncommon in people who have fibromyalgia, though nobody knows why.
Difficulties with Your Senses
Many fibromyalgia sufferers feel like their vision isn’t quite right. You may have difficulty with driving at night or you may lose the ability to distinguish the difference between colors. Some people are more sensitive to strong odors, which is not the same as being allergic to specific fragrances. Some fibro patients even lose their hearing.
Skin Issues
Fibromyalgia patients often have problems with their skin. You may experience the sensation that your skin is crawling, itching, prickling or burning, a symptom called paraesthesia. Some fibro sufferers deal with acne far beyond the adolescent years. Still other people with fibromyalgia have mottled skin that looks like it has red blotchy spots.
Tissue Overgrowth
Overgrowth of body tissues can affect you both internally and externally. In women, internal tissue overgrowth leads to a painful condition called fibroids, which cause benign tumors to grow in the uterus. The most common symptoms of fibroids include heavy bleeding and extremely painful periods. Fibroids may also cause pelvic pain. Other forms of tissue overgrowth include the following:
frequent ingrown hairs
adhesions
heavy, splitting cuticles
For unknown reasons, tissue overgrowth may be more common in those with fibromyalgia.
Because the medical community still doesn’t have a great understanding of fibromyalgia, it’s entirely possible that the rare symptoms of fibromyalgia your doctor dismisses may indeed be part of your illness. Regardless of the cause of your symptoms, it’s important to be open with your doctor and committed to taking care of yourself.
Fibromyalgia is an illness that stumps doctors while patients look for relief. The mainstream medical community has only a relatively small group of treatments for fibromyalgia, most of which provide only incomplete relief from chronic pain or have a long list of unpleasant side effects. Consider instead some of these natural alternatives that may provide some comfort without unwanted effects.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese remedy that involves sticking tiny needles in the skin on specific points of the body. Three studies have found acupuncture effective for fibromyalgia pain relief when combined with a pulse of electrical current. Despite the fact that acupuncture works, the results appear to be short-lived.
Vitamin D
Researchers have noticed that fibromyalgia patients have chronically low levels of vitamin D, the best source of which comes from exposure to sunlight. Fibro folks also have low levels of magnesium. Although it hasn’t yet been conclusively proven that increasing vitamin D and magnesium intake will minimize or eliminate fibromyalgia symptoms, vitamin D and magnesium both have enough other benefits for proper nerve function that supplementing them could still be useful.
S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)
Supplementing with S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) can help to relieve pain associated with fibromyalgia as well as arthritis and depression. This is an amino acid produced by the liver, although not in great quantities. SAMe is supposed to help with fibromyalgia pain, stiffness, and fatigue. However, studies show that the benefits from SAMe may be small, and it must be obtained from a supplement because it isn’t present in food.
Yoga
Yoga can provide fibromyalgia relief because it helps on two fronts: relaxation and movement. A study backs up the idea that yoga is beneficial for fibromyalgia pain, too. The findings of the study suggest that yoga may help to change the patient’s perception of pain, making the experience of fibromyalgia pain more bearable.
5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)
This supplement is the building block of serotonin, one of the brain chemicals linked to depression and pain. One study found that 5-HTP supplements reduced anxiety, fibromyalgia pain, and insomnia. 5-HTP is made from the amino acid tryptophan, which can be gotten from supplements or from food sources of tryptophan such as turkey, milk, pumpkin, or potatoes.
Regular Exercise
Although the pain of fibromyalgia can make the thought of exercise seem unpleasant, regular exercise can actually help to lessen pain. Exercise doesn’t have to involve heavy weight lifting or running marathons to provide benefit: even a moderate 20-minute walk or short stretching routine can help.
Adequate Sleep
Almost all Americans are sleep-deprived. But this has more consequences for people with fibromyalgia, because lack of adequate sleep prevents the body from healing each night. As a result, pain and fatigue are generally much worse when patients with fibromyalgia don’t get enough sleep. Many of the supplements that are recommended for fibromyalgia, such as 5-HTP and SAM-e, promote better sleep, which may reduce pain.
Natural treatments for fibromyalgia begin with the basics of a healthy lifestyle, such as a balanced diet and stress reduction, and include a few supplements and complementary treatments. Keep a positive outlook and take an active role in your healing.
Urinary incontinence is a term that basically describes any condition that makes it hard to control your bladder. Obviously, it’s not an easy thing to live with. It’s embarrassing, obviously. But many conditions that cause incontinence are very painful as well.
And if you have fibromyalgia, there’s a good chance that you’ve struggled with bladder issues at some point. Studies have shown that a large percentage of people with fibromyalgia struggle with bladder control issues and pelvic pain.
So, what is the link between bladder issues and fibromyalgia? And what can you do about it?
Urinary Incontinence and Fibromyalgia
We usually imagine urinary incontinence as something that makes you suddenly urinate, or “wet your pants,” so to speak. But that’s not exactly accurate. More often, urinary incontinence is more like a weakened control over the muscles that control your bladder.
While sometimes it is difficult to get to a bathroom in time, more often an episode of incontinence causes urine to leak out slowly in small amounts. And there are actually a few different kinds of incontinence.
For instance, there’s something called stress incontinence. It’s caused by a sudden event, like a sneeze or laugh, that causes you to lose control of your bladder. Something similar is urge incontinence. Urge incontinence occurs when you suddenly have an intense need to urinate and you suddenly lose control over the bladder, allowing a small stream of urine to escape.
Urge incontinence is actually the most common type that people with fibromyalgia struggle with. Essentially, it occurs when you have a sudden, powerful need to urinate along with a minor leak. Although we aren’t sure what causes it, many people with fibromyalgia report having frequent urges to urinate. They usually occur at night, which can mean interrupting sleep to attend to the need to use the bathroom. As you can imagine, this isn’t the type of symptom you want to struggle with when you have a condition that causes chronic fatigue.
In addition, many people with fibromyalgia report chronic pain in their pelvis, along with frequent urges to urinate. This is a condition known as painful bladder syndrome (PBS). PBS is actually not one condition, but several. Any condition that causes these symptoms is considered to fall under the umbrella of PBS.
When it comes to fibromyalgia, the best explanation for PBS symptoms may be neurological. Fibromyalgia seems to affect the nervous system. And we know that other neurological conditions can cause urge incontinence by triggering the nerves that control the bladder. But until we understand more about the condition, we can’t say for sure why fibromyalgia leads to bladder problems.
Luckily, there are few things you can do to manage the condition.
What Can You Do To Manage It?
Obviously, if you’re experiencing urinary incontinence, you want to see a doctor and find a way to treat it. More importantly, it can sometimes be a sign of more serious health problems, so getting it checked out by a professional is always a good idea. Your doctor may also be able to find out what’s causing your condition. Just because you have fibromyalgia doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s causing your bladder problems. You might actually have one of a wide range of other conditions.
As far as managing the condition goes, there are a few lifestyle changes you can make that will help limit the urge to urinate. There are many different foods and drinks that act to stimulate the bladder and make urges worse. Anything with caffeine, for instance, works as a diuretic and triggers your bladder. So does alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and even chocolate.
Limiting your consumption of these things can help reduce the amount of urine you produce and help manage your bladder. And maintaining a healthy weight takes pressure off your bladder, which can also help. Finally, smoking increases the amount of bladder trouble you will have, so quitting can help.
Doctors recommend a number of treatments to help control the need to urinate. They may instruct you in some pelvic control exercises that strengthen the muscles that control the bladder. This can help you hold in your urine more effectively.
In addition, you can actually strengthen your control over your bladder by waiting a few extra minutes every time you need to use the bathroom. This trains your body to hold urine in more effectively.
Finally, “double voiding,” or using the bathroom then trying again in a few minutes, can help empty your bladder more thoroughly and prevent the need to urinate.
So, have you ever experienced bladder problems with fibromyalgia? What did you do to treat it? Let us know in the comments.
Can Practicing Tai Chi Help Your Fibromyalgia Pain?
Written By: Mandy Burkholder
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Image: Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock
A new randomized trial of tai chi and its effects on fibromyalgia patients has surfaced in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, conducted by eight top doctors and scientists in their field, was interested in understanding the therapeutic benefits of tai chi on fibromyalgia sufferers.
Fibromyalgia is a common chronic illness characterized by its widespread musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and mental impairment. While there is no cure for the disease, avenues of treatment are available to patients who wish to explore medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exercise.
The researchers who created this study wanted to combine elements of both exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy by focusing on the mind-body practice of tai chi.
Originating from China as a martial art, the study states tai chi, “…combines meditation with slow, gentle, graceful movements, as well as deep breathing and relaxation, to move vital energy (or qi) throughout the body. It is considered a complex, multicomponent intervention that integrates physical, psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, and behavioral elements.”
It was the combination of mind and body elements that led the researches to believe that tai chi would be an effective therapeutic treatment for fibromyalgia. And the results they got agreed with their hypothesis.
For the test, the scientists assigned fibromyalgia patients to take tai chi classes twice a week for twelve weeks. Before they began classes, they were given a Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) that asked about the effects of fibromyalgia on their daily lives. Questions included: intensity of pain, anxiety, job difficulty, fatigue, stiffness, and overall well-being.
The class was taught by a tai chi master of over twenty years and he spent the first class discussing the background, history, and mind-body nature of the practice. Each session included warm up self-massages, overviews of breathing techniques, and tai chi relaxation and movement. Participants were also assigned to practice tai chi for twenty minutes at home each day.
After the twelve week study, the participants were given another copy of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire for the researchers to compare. The results were illuminating: a clear 50% of participants had clinically important improvements in the overall FIQ score and specifically in the “quality of life” category. And it’s important to note that zero adverse results were reported.
Would you consider tai chi as a supplemental therapeutic treatment for your fibromyalgia pain? If so, let us know in the comments!
What to Know About Going in for Surgery With Fibromyalgia
Written By: Christine Cioppa
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The fear of pain worsening in fibromyalgia patients can be a big deterrent to surgery, but it doesn’t have to be. People with fibromyalgia can still have surgery, even elective surgery, whether it be for a knee replacement, a cosmetic procedure, or something else.
“It is not a contraindication to have surgery,” says Gordon A. Starkebaum, M.D., emeritus professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at the University of Washington in Seattle. “One just has to realize that because people with fibromyalgia have higher intensity pain, that post-op may be more painful. Recovery period may be longer. There is the risk that pain may be somewhat worse after surgery. But it doesn’t exacerbate the fibromyalgia condition by itself.”
If the idea of pain is frightening, Dr. Starkebaum says it may help patients to call on past experience. “People with fibromyalgia must have had some experience with surgery. That experience should help them predict what it is gong to be like,” he says. “Like going to the dentist and getting a root canal.… Or, like childbirth, it’s painful, but mothers get through it all the time,” he adds.
Dr. Starkebaum says guided imagery can help, which is putting oneself in another place, or imagining something pleasant. Guided imagery is a mind-body practice that the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says has some research to support that it may decrease pain and fatigue symptoms in those with fibromyalgia.
“People with fibromyalgia need to know that the cause of pain is often mixed, says Dr. Starkebaum. One example is an arthritis patient who also has fibromyalgia. “If you have surgery, it depends on what is going on. If you are having a knee replacement [and the knee] has osteoarthritis, it may improve the pain from that knee, and it may not affect the rest of your fibromyalgia. Sometimes fibromyalgia is driven by pain in one place, but sort of becomes generalized,” says Dr. Starkebaum.
Pain Flares
While surgery shouldn’t exacerbate the fibromyalgia in general, there are incidences of short-term flares after other more benign procedures.
The Arthritis Foundation describes a circumstance where a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia experienced a flare of both conditions for a few days after dental cleanings.
Rheumatologist Daniel Clauw, M.D., explained that anxiety, discomfort from the procedure, and immune system stimulation from the procedure itself may have contributed to the flare.
Medications and Fibromyalgia
There are several drugs approved to treat fibromyalgia, some which work by affecting brain chemicals that control pain levels, like duloxetine (Cymbalta), or some that affect nerve cells involved with pain transmission, such as gabapentin (Neurontin).
Dr. Starkebaum says that most drugs used to treat fibromyalgia have no particular surgical interaction. “That is to say they don’t prolong wound healing or bleeding, like you would stop aspirin or ibuprofen before surgery. They don’t particularly have a wash out period. So if they were held during surgery, there wouldn’t be a withdrawal necessarily or a long time to get rid of them. One exception would be narcotics, which I don’t recommend for fibromyalgia,” says Starkebaum.
The American College of Rheumatology also does not recommend narcotics for fibromyalgia and cautions that these drugs may cause “greater pain sensitivity or make pain persist,” with the exception of Tramadol (Ultram), used to treat fibromyalgia pain over a short period of time.
“If you are on narcotics, then that has to be taken into account,” says Dr. Starkebaum. “The surgeon and anesthesiologist need to be aware of it.” Because patients get narcotics after surgery, he says the usual dose of post-surgical narcotics may not be enough for these patients and their dose may need to be adjusted.
Fibromyalgia Patients with Sleep Apnea
Most people with fibromyalgia have sleep problems. Another concern after surgery is a sleep condition that may coincide with fibromyalgia.
“Sometimes people with fibromyalgia have sleep apnea, and they need sleep apnea CPAP machines,” says Dr. Starkebaum. “One thing to keep in mind—if that is the case—is that people who have sleep apnea may be more sensitive to anesthetics or pain medicines post surgery. They should definitely let their doctors know. And a lot of times, it will be necessary for them to bring their CPAP to the hospital so that they continue that at night after surgery.”
Fibromyalgia and anxiety go together like root beer and vanilla ice cream. According to some studies, 20% of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia are also diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Fibro cause pain. It causes fatigue. Sleeplessness. Headaches. Cognitive impairments. Now we can add panic attacks.
Which comes first, the fibromyalgia or anxiety?
Fibromyalgia and anxiety are thought to work like this: the anxiety may feel like physical symptoms, which gets you thinking about your condition and wondering if it’s getting worse, and this in turn makes you anxious, and then the whole thing spins around and around in a vicious cycle. In fact you may be left wondering whether the fibromyalgia is causing the anxiety or if the anxiety is causing the fibromyalgia.
There are number of treatments that can help you manage your anxiety.
Therapy is also helpful in managing anxiety. Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) works to change negative and pessimistic thoughts, including self-defeating behaviors. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was originally designed to treat distress due to traumatic memories, such as that associated with PTSD, but has shown promise in helping reduce fibromyalgia symptons.
Medications, such as anti-depressants in the SSRI category can help manage your anxiety. Anticonvulsants such as gabapentin, and beta blockers can help with mild social anxiety. These drugs need to be taken daily as prescribed by your physician. For acute anxiety attacks, benzodiazepines such alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan) can provide immediate relief.
How do I know if I have anxiety?
There are number of tests you can take online, but you’ll really want to speak with your medical professional. They’re well trained in these issues and at the very least will be able to refer you to a someone who can help. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a database of therapists, so you can search for one near you.
What is your experience with anxiety or panic attacks with your fibromyalgia? How do you deal with it? Share your story with us in the comments.
One of the latest health trends to sweep the internet is Earthing. You may have heard of earthing, or you may have heard another name for it, grounding. Basically, Earthing promises health benefits from putting yourself in touch with the planet.
People who believe earthing is effective argue that the Earth has a natural energy field that everyone is constantly tapping into. In the early days of the human race, people had a more direct contact with this field because their feet were constantly touching the bare ground.
But since we started wearing shoes and living in houses, we have lost that natural connection. Proponents of Earthing think this loss of connection to the Earth’s energy field is responsible for all kinds of health problems. And there’s no doubt that many people believe that Earthing has cured them of these problems.
Of course, it sounds a little unscientific, right? However, many different things, like yoga, that don’t necessarily rely on modern medicine have been shown to have significant health benefits. Is it possible that Earthing falls into this category?
So, let’s talk about what Earthing is and whether or not it works.
What Is Earthing?
Earthing proponents argue that the body is naturally in balance with the magnetic field of the earth. Specifically, they argue that the electrons in the earth’s surface naturally move into the body and bind to chemicals in the body called “free radicals.”
These free radicals do take electrons from your body’s cells, which can damage the DNA.
And according to the theory, your body needs these electrons to keep the immune system functioning properly. Without them, you’re more likely to develop autoimmune diseases, mental health problems, and chronic pain. So, according to the people who believe in the benefits of Earthing, the process can help cure pain, insomnia, and autoimmune disorders.
If you’re interested in Earthing, the good news is that it’s a pretty easy therapy to do. All you really have to do is spend some time putting your bare skin in contact with the ground. But if you can’t find the time to walk around barefoot, many Earthing sites can sell you specially designed beds or mats to help you ground yourself while you sleep.
The idea is that by balancing out the levels of electrons in the body with the electrons in the ground, you’ll get all of these miraculous health benefits.
But is that supported by science?
Does Earthing Really Work?
Earthing is a relatively new theory. And there have been very few scientifically rigorous studies into the benefits of the therapy. The ones that have been published, and are regularly cited by pro-earthing articles, are usually in less reputable scientific journals and written by people with suspicious medical credentials.
These studies do often show a benefit from Earthing in reducing pain and regulating sleep patterns. But be sure to take that with a grain of salt. Most of these studies don’t meet the standards for peer-reviewed medical research.
And the scientific basis behind Earthing is a little shakey. The main benefit, that the Earth gives you electrons to fight free radicals, is based on a misunderstanding about how free radicals work. Yes, free radicals take electrons, but simply putting more electrons in the body doesn’t do anything to fight them. Instead, your body naturally produces anti-oxidants that do that.
There’s little evidence that touching your skin to the ground will suddenly rid your body of free radicals. And there’s no scientific reason to think that it would.
That doesn’t mean that people who practice Earthing aren’t seeing a benefit. The truth may be that they are, and you’ll find hundreds of testimonials from people who argue that Earthing has changed their lives.
But, is that because the therapy itself is effective?
It may be, but there’s little evidence to suggest it is. Instead, these people may be experiencing the “placebo effect.” The placebo effect is well-documented in medicine and essentially, it occurs when someone undergoes a therapy without any proven benefits, and yet they still see benefits. That’s because the brain is capable of some amazing things. People benefit from the therapy simply because they believe they will.
Of course, with so little information on the benefits of Earthing, it may be too early to completely discount it. There may be a real physical benefit to the therapy, but it’s probably rooted in psychology and not in the Earth’s magnetic field. It’s always nice to feel like you’re getting in touch with nature. And the reduction in stress you experience from that feeling may be good for your physical health.
Until we have better studies on the therapy, we simply don’t know what the benefits are, if there are any.
So remember, many of the people on the internet who suggest Earthing has benefits don’t really have the facts to back it up yet. And in many cases, they simply want to sell you products. Always be skeptical of anyone who recommends a therapy on the same site where they’re selling products related to that therapy.
And always do independent research on any therapy before you commit your money to it.
Fibromyalgia is a tough disease to diagnose. That’s because it leaves few obvious markers that doctors can use to determine if a patient has fibromyalgia. So if you have fibromyalgia, it’s difficult to get the diagnosis you need to begin finding a useful treatment. So what kinds of tests can you ask your doctor to run if you think you have fibromyalgia?
Tests For Fibromyalgia
The primary way that doctors test for fibromyalgia is still by testing the 18 tender points around your body. And after discussing your symptoms with you, they will press their finger into these points and ask if they hurt. This is the most reliable way to look for fibromyalgia.
The other symptoms of fibromyalgia can also be things like chronic fatigue disorder, which causes a constant feeling of exhaustion, similar to the fatigue of fibromyalgia. The best way for the doctor to rule out other diseases is to run tests. While fibromyalgia can’t be detected by most forms of medical tests, things like arthritis or chronic fatigue disorder can. Your doctor may want to test you for these diseases before they conclude that you have fibromyalgia.
They will also ask you about your symptoms to determine if your pain has the marks of fibromyalgia, which are that the pain is widespread and has been present for at least three months.
There’s really only one test for fibromyalgia that a doctor can actually run in a lab. Your doctor can order a blood test if they suspect you have fibromyalgia. They will then test your blood for an increased number of immune cells. While this isn’t definitive proof of fibromyalgia, it can help rule out other possible diseases.
What Can You Do To Find Out If You Have Fibromyalgia?
There aren’t really any effective tests available for fibromyalgia, which means that diagnosing the disease requires doctors to judge based on your symptoms. It’s important to keep up with your symptoms and remember when they started, as well as where they were located.
It’s only by being very specific and honest with your doctor that you’ll be able to get an accurate diagnosis. And remember that if your doctor doesn’t know what is causing your symptoms and you feel that you might still have fibro, there are many doctors who specialize in the disease.
The most important thing is to be aware of your symptoms and not be afraid to go to a doctor. Fibromyalgia is not curable, but there are many ways to treat it. You just have to be proactive about finding something that works for you.
Fibromyalgia is a disease that makes daily life hard. Even getting out of bed in the morning is a struggle with such a painful condition. And that makes it hard to handle your obligations at work… if not impossible. But can you qualify for fibromyalgia disability?
What are disability benefits?
Disability benefits are payments you receive to protect you from the financial hardship of disability. The federal government is required to provide people with disabilities that prevent them from working with benefits under the Americans With Disabilities Act or ADA.
So if you have a medically documented disability, you are entitled under the law to receive support from the government. And if you have private disability insurance through an insurance provider and become disabled, they are also required to pay you a portion of your lost wages. These benefits last until you reach retirement, or until you are no longer disabled.
Of course, with fibromyalgia, getting those benefits can be challenging.
Can you get fibromyalgia disability?
Technically speaking if any disease makes it impossible for you to work, then you qualify for disability. However, it is sometimes tough to prove to insurance providers or the government that your fibromyalgia meets that standard.
Fibromyalgia qualifies as a disability according to the ADA, but only under certain conditions. First, you have to have a history of widespread pain. While that is probably the case if you have fibromyalgia, the pain must also be located in at least 11 of the 18 tender points associated with fibromyalgia. These are on both sides of the body and located at:
The base of the skull
The lower spine
Shoulder
Supraspinatus muscle
Top of the rib cage
Outer Elbow
Top of the buttock
Below the hip
The inner knee
So to qualify for disability, you have to feel chronic pain in at least 11 of these. You also need a history of at least six fibromyalgia symptoms. Such as:
Fatigue
Cognitive or memory problems
Waking unrefreshed
Depression
Anxiety disorder
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
So if you have pain in at least 11 points and at least six chronic symptoms then you can qualify for disability. But you also have to have professional documentation to back up your disability claim.
How should you apply?
To apply for disability, you first have to gather a lot of medical documents. You first need a doctor to test you for fibromyalgia and establish that you meet the criteria for disability. They will then provide you with documentation for your application.
Second, you have to go to other specialists and psychiatrists to establish that your fibromyalgia is not actually the result of some other condition. Once you have documentation stretching back for a year that shows you have all the disabling symptoms and that you don’t have any other conditions, then you can apply for disability.
The government or your insurance provider will then try to find out if your symptoms are severe enough that they prevent you from working. If they find that your symptoms make work impossible, then they will qualify you for disability.
It’s important that while your disability is being processed that you don’t do anything that could be considered gainful employment. Even if you drag yourself into work and deal with horrible pain, the fact that you were able to work would disqualify you for disability and you will have to start the process over.
That’s part of why it is so hard to get disability for fibromyalgia. It’s a disease that most people don’t understand and it’s hard to survive while disabled without either working or getting disability insurance. Remember to stay informed of the procedures for getting disability. And try to manage your symptoms as well as you can in the meantime.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is recognized as a disorder by the US National Institutes of Health and the American College of Rheumatology. The word comes from a combination of Greek and Latin terms that put together mean, “pain in muscles and fibrous tissue.” It can also be incredibly hard to cope with fibromyalgia pain and fatigue.
In medical and popular literature FM is often described as a medical condition characterized by chronic widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure. Other symptoms include feeling tired to a degree that normal activities are affected, sleep problems, and troubles with memory. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown; however, it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Perhaps most the most crucial symptoms of FM involve chronic pain and tenderness in nine paired points that constitute the 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria for the condition. One pair of points are in the elbows, one in the knees, one in the chest, two in the front and back of the neck, and two in the hips. If the most obvious pain is clustered in those nine pairs of points, the patient is a candidate for a diagnosis of FM.
Medical advice regarding the treatment of FM sometimes offers little beyond boilerplate considerations common to health in general: exercise, eat right, and get enough sleep. However, I’ve found many day-to-day ways to ease the pain and cope with fibromyalgia in the roughly twenty years that I’ve had t cope with fibromyalgia symptoms.
1. Talk to your doctor
Begin by discussing your symptoms with your doctor, and get one or more second opinions if you feel it’s necessary. Different doctors may offer different diagnoses, so one doctor may say that your symptoms are due to FM while another says they’re accompanying Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and still another recommends a rheumatologist. Follow your doctor’s directions and don’t start a course of treatment without first getting professional medical advice.
2. Sleep
Getting plenty of bedrest is one of the best ways to cope with fibromyalgia—it will help ease the tension in your muscles–but make sure your bed is the one that’s most comfortable for you. The wrong mattress can be a source of pain and restlessness. Don’t put up with a mattress that’s too soft, too hard, too old, too bumpy. Mattress stores will often help you identify an affordable mattress that’s right for you. Also make sure your pillow is providing proper support. Pillows may be soft, medium, or firm, and which one’s right for you will help ease the stress on your neck and shoulders.
3. Over-the-counter pain relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, Advil, or Aleve are often effective against the pain caused by FM. You’ll notice the labels will say “as directed by your physician.” Ask your doctor if you should follow the dosage the label prescribes, or if another regime will offer more and safer relief.
4. Guafenisen
The doctor who first described my pain symptoms as FM—rather than as a component of my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome—prescribed guaifenesin, which is an expectorant, not a painkiller. I never clearly understood his complicated explanation for it, but I remember he maintained it would boost my immune system. I did find relief while I was on the regime. I cannot speak to the issue of how it “works” over an extended period of time, as I did eventually change doctors, and stopped the course of guaifenesin, for reasons too complicated to explain here. I will welcome the chance to re-start that particular regime should another healthcare practitioner agree.
5. Hot baths with epsom salt
Frequently soak in a hot bath to ease the pain, using about a pint of Epsom salt every time. Scrub yourself down with a brush, paying particular attention to your fibromyalgia pressure points. This is one of the best ways to cope with fibromyalgia.
6. Swedish Massage
Make a full-body Swedish-style massage a regular part of your health regime. Direct the masseur/masseuse to pay particular attention to your nine paired FM points.
7. Back rubs from a friend or loved one
If you can’t afford regular trips to a massage parlor (or even if you can) arrange with a caring friend or relative for a back rub now and then. Loosen those neck and shoulder muscles.
8. Spa Treatment
Splurge on a professional spa treatment—get all hot and sweaty, then shock your system with cold water. For an inexpensive at-home version, first soak one or two towels in hot-as-you-can-stand-it water, and wrap yourself up. (Undress first.) Then turn on the cold shower, doff the towel(s), grit your teeth, and hop in.
9. Prescription medications
If you’ve tried other methods faithfully and still feel you need additional pain management, ask your doctor about Cymbalta or Lyrica, prescription medications approved for FM.
Simple Ways to Make Getting Up in the Morning Easier
Written By: Holly Case
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Image: Piotr Marcinski/Shutterstock
Waking up is not usually the best moment of the day for anybody. It’s hard to leave your warm, comfy bed and get moving, especially on chilly mornings. But mornings can be especially tough when you have fibromyalgia. Many people with fibromyalgia report that mornings are the hardest time of day, when symptoms are at their worst. Some of the most common symptoms are morning stiffness, muscle aches, puffiness around the eyes and in the feet, and exhaustion. It’s normal if you wake up feeling like you never slept at all! Try a few of these easy life hacks to see if mornings with fibromyalgia can be a little more comfortable.
Get Cozy in a Bath
Ease your morning muscle pain by taking a warm bath before bed or first thing upon waking up in the morning – or both. A soak in a warm bath for at least 10 minutes should help relieve a lot of the muscle stiffness.
Just Say No to Coffee
When you’re this tired, how can you possibly function without coffee? Most people would say that coffee is a must-have for the mornings. Despite how much you need to perk up in the morning, caffeine is not your friend when you have fibromyalgia. Most people with fibromyalgia have issues with adrenal fatigue, and the cycle of a caffeine boost followed by a crash only makes things worse in the long run. Caffeine can also interfere with sleep, and fibromyalgia folks don’t need any more factors that can mess up their sleep.
Don’t Short-Change Your Sleep
Sleep is possibly the most important factor in what your fibromyalgia symptoms will be like. Too little sleep will set you up for worse fibromyalgia symptoms, including muscle pain and spasms, poor concentration, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Other people might be able to burn the candle at both ends, but having fibromyalgia forces you to take better care of yourself than most people do. Focus on trying to get to bed at approximately the same time every day and make sure to allow enough time for at least 7-8 hours of sleep, although some people with fibromyalgia need more. If you get enough sleep, it will make it easier to wake up in the mornings.
Focus on Fighting Puffiness
Morning puffiness is one of the most uncomfortable nuisances of fibromyalgia. Researchers aren’t certain yet whether puffiness is due to inflammation or water retention. However, focusing on reducing water retention may provide some relief. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and add cucumbers to your water or salad, because cucumbers naturally contain substances that reduce water retention.
Don’t Stop Moving
Exercise can sound like a difficult obligation when you’re dealing with the pain and fatigue that commonly goes along with fibromyalgia, but it’s actually one of the best things you can do to reduce your pain. Getting some low to moderate impact exercise on a daily basis – anything ranging from yoga to a brisk walk or a Zumba class – will help you to sleep better and make it a little easier to wake up in the mornings.
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed? Unlike some other conditions, fibromyalgia is not visible with X-rays or MRIs. It can’t be found in a biopsy or measured through blood or urine tests. Although fibromyalgia does come with symptoms, many of them are also common to other conditions. In some cases, the symptoms of fibromyalgia can occur simultaneously with other symptoms from other present conditions. All of this makes for a confusing scenario that makes it exceedingly difficult for doctors attempting to diagnose fibromyalgia.
What are the Obstacles to How is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?
Even now, fibromyalgia is frequently diagnosed based solely on the subjective reports of the patient. Before 1980, there was not even a name for fibromyalgia. Patients who reported fibromyalgia symptoms were diagnosed as having everything from rheumatoid arthritis to depression.
In 1980, a group of doctors finally joined forces and did extensive research on two groups of patients. Their findings eventually formed the core foundation of the diagnostic criteria adopted by the American College of Rheumatology. The first obstacle to getting fibromyalgia diagnosed has been overcome, which was putting a name to it and recognizing it as being a specific physical condition.
Another set of obstacles to how is fibromyalgia diagnosed is the unpredictable behavior of the symptoms themselves. Patients with fibromyalgia know that one day they may have a multitude of symptoms, and the next they feel perfectly normal, with no symptoms at all. Imagine the frustration of trying to answer the physician’s questions about the frequency of symptoms and having to try to explain that there seems to be no rhyme or reason to their onset and disappearance. This “come and go” nature of the symptoms makes it frustrating and embarrassing for the patient, and challenging for the physician.
Yet one more challenge to how is fibromyalgia diagnosed is that the symptoms tend to inexplicably vary from one patient to the next. The symptoms and reactions to the symptoms tend to be purely subjective, depending on the patient. This makes it very difficult to come up with a basic list of symptoms and stages of fibromyalgia that patients and their doctors can base anything on. In addition, pre-existing underlying conditions—or what are sometimes called fibromyalgia imitators—can influence both the severity and presence of symptoms, making it hard to separate which symptoms might be related to fibromyalgia and which might be due to an entirely different condition.
What is the Diagnostic Process for Fibromyalgia?
Because of all these obstacles, the diagnosing of fibromyalgia can take a long time. Patients and doctors need to be patient, diligent and thorough during the diagnostic process. This will help to ensure, not only that the diagnosis is correct, but that the treatment is correct and will be effective.
The moment you first discuss your fibromyalgia symptoms with the doctor is when the diagnosing of fibromyalgia can begin. Because there are no specific tests that can pinpoint the presence of fibromyalgia, your careful reporting of symptoms is still going to be the primary way that your doctor makes your fibromyalgia diagnosis.
What Symptoms are Used to Diagnose Fibromyalgia?
The aforementioned guidelines set out in the American College of Rheumatology describes one of the criteria for fibromyalgia diagnosis as widespread pain throughout the body for a minimum of three months. Widespread pain is considered to be pain that occurs on both sides, above and below.
Another common symptom that is laid out in the American College of Rheumatology guidelines for diagnosing fibromyalgia is skin tenderness. Fibromyalgia sufferers often have heightened pain sensitivity all over their skin. One way that your doctor may test this is to press with his fingers, with varying degrees of pressure, over several different areas of your skin. It will be your job to try to report how much pain you might be experiencing as he performs this simple, non-invasive test in the doctor’s office. It’s easy to imagine how difficult is might be to attach a level of pain or sensitivity to a test that is so subjective.
What Tests are Used to Diagnose Fibromyalgia?
Although there is no one test that exclusively diagnoses for fibromyalgia, you should expect that your physician will want to do some tests on you. These tests will not only help to diagnose fibromyalgia, but they will assist your physician in ruling out other, similar conditions that may be the culprit for your fibromyalgia symptoms, such as an autoimmune disease, anemia or other. To understand how is fibromyalgia diagnosed, here are some of the tests that your physician may use include:
Blood tests
Urine tests
Lyme disease test
Thyroid disease test
Sleep test
Vitamin deficiency test
How to Ensure the Best Chances of a Correct Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
By now you’ve realized that how is fibromyalgia diagnosed is a long and sometimes arduous process undertaken between you and your physician. To ensure your best chances of a correct fibromyalgia diagnosis, you’ll want to choose your fibromyalgia physician carefully.
The physician should be someone with whom you have a respectful rapport. During your visit, you should feel that you are being listened to and trusted. You should never feel rushed or patronized while you are expressing yourself.
Understand that your physician may need to run seemingly non-related tests in order to rule out other conditions, including ones that might be psychological or neurological in nature. These tests will only help the doctor through their process of elimination to reach a definitive diagnosis faster.
Consider keeping a record of your symptoms to better enable recollection of timing and severity of symptoms when you are reporting to the doctor.
In many ways, you and your doctor are pioneers for future patients and physicians who need to deal with fibromyalgia. Understanding that how is fibromyalgia diagnosed is not an accurate science yet will help both of you to be patient and attentive to symptoms and reactions to treatment. Your progress will ultimately help those who suffer from fibromyalgia in the future to obtain a faster diagnosis.
Fibromyalgia is a disease that causes constant pain in the people who suffer from it. And like anyone who is in constant pain, fibromyalgia sufferers know that the pain can lead to depression. But is it possible to cope with your fibromyalgia depression?
Are Fibromyalgia And Depression Linked?
Fibromyalgia patients deal with a huge number of symptoms that make living a normal life difficult. There’s the constant fatigue and aching limbs. And the worst part can be feeling like there is no support or understanding among the people around you. Not to mention the fact that finding a way to treat it can feel like banging your head against a wall.
It can get overwhelming very easily. After all, what’s more depressing than feeling trapped in your own body? So it’s easy to see how fibromyalgia sufferers can get depressed.
And science backs that up. Research shows that patients who suffer from chronic pain are more likely to develop depression. That’s not to mention the fact that the lack of mobility that comes with chronic pain is another major known cause of depression.
But, many of those, such as fatigue, are common among people who suffer from fibromyalgia. It’s totally understandable to feel down about your disease. But it’s important to know when your feelings are actually signs of depression. And if you feel like you are depressed, visit a doctor. Often they will be able to offer effective medication to treat your symptoms.
How Can You Cope With Fibromyalgia Depression?
The most important thing to remember when it comes to fibromyalgia depression is that you aren’t alone. And feeling depressed is something that affects most people with fibromyalgia at some point. Realize that what you’re feeling is totally normal. In fact, it would be far stranger to not feel angry or hopeless after dealing with a disease as chronic and painful as fibromyalgia.
But you can also resolve to not let that make you lose hope.
There Is Hope
There are ways to manage your condition. And fibromyalgia will be treatable one day.
Even now, exciting new therapies are leading to breakthroughs for fibromyalgia patients. Medications like low dose naltrexone are providing relief to sufferers around the world. And research is close to narrowing in on the fundamental causes of the disease.
There is hope. Research new therapies and engage with your health care provider about the new options for treating the disorder. But if your doctor isn’t knowledgeable about the disorder. Or if they are unwilling to help you get the treatment you need, look for a new doctor.
There are doctors around the country who specialize in this condition. You can find a list of them here.
But the most important thing is always to be proactive about managing your condition. If you feel like you might be developing depression along with your fibromyalgia, see a doctor. And the good news is that many anti-depressant medications are also effective in managing chronic pain.
But anti-depressants are extremely hit-or-miss when it comes to each individual patient. Even if you have been on an anti-depressant before that didn’t work, try again. After all, a different form of anti-depressant may be all you need. Just remember to not give up. You can manage your fibromyalgia depression.
What Medical Research has Shown About Fibromyalgia
Written By: L.B. Jacks
admin
Image: l i g h t p o e t / Shutterstock
Fibromyalgia is a condition found worldwide that has prompted ongoing research aimed at proper diagnosis, the impact of the condition on quality of life, and the search for treatment, as there is no cure.
About 10 million Americans suffer with fibromyalgia pain. It is a disease that impacts men and women, children and people of all ethnicities, although women are impacted at a higher rate, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association. Fibromyalgia typically presents in a person’s 20s or 30s and becomes progressively worse with age.
Diagnosis of fibromyalgia falls into classifications based on severity of the affliction. Those criteria were established by the American College of Rheumatology in 1990. The condition is described as widespread musculoskeletal pain that presents in 11 of 18 designated tender points that react when pressure is applied to them.
The ACR added new criteria in 2010 that may not use tender point pressure, but also looks at sleep problems, mental clarity, and fatigue levels.
The chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia typically impacts sleep quality, which causes fatigue, memory, and mood issues. Tension headaches are common in fibromyalgia patients, as are joint disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and depression.
Conventional medical treatments for the disorder include an anti-depressive group of drugs, called tricyclic anti-depressants. Also, short-acting sleep medications can help. The anti-depressants commonly used to treat fibromyalgia include duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella), and velafaxin (Effexor).
It is important to note that when these medications are halted, especially Cymbalta, it can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
A paper published Jan. 17, 2017, in the Annals of Internal Medicine based on research from the University Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, announces that another drug, Pregabalin, is successful in reducing fibromyalgia pain, but it also comes with adverse events.
Fibromyalgia and Quality of Life Issues
The impact fibromyalgia has on quality of life can be isolating. According to a study released in early 2016 that examined the quality of life issues of a Turkish geriatric population, as the severity of the disorder increased, so did the social isolation of the patient.
In fact, a third of the older patients who were diagnosed with the disorder suffered severely with social isolation and emotional instability, even across gender lines.
From Stigma to Validation
As new scientific evidence is revealed, fibromyalgia is moving from a stigmatized and misunderstood syndrome once dismissed as purely a psychological disorder to a true disease with its own pathology. Studies linking dysfunctional brain processing to fibromyalgia will help erase the stigma from sufferers.
For example, studies are finding that fibromyalgia sufferers are sensitive to more than just touch and movement, and that they also may have trouble processing sight, sound, and touch. This finding has been documented in a 2014 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology that states researchers illustrated a decreased functionality in the brain.
Researchers are proposing using neurostimulation treatments in the visual and auditory regions of the brain to treat these symptoms in fibromyalgia patients.
Treatments: From Chemical to Holistic
Managing pain levels is paramount to survival and quality of life issues for fibromyalgia sufferers. The first task is to gain a level of comfort for everyday living, and that means pain management.
While the medications already mentioned can be considered established go-to’s, non-pharmacological therapies also need to be incorporated into the lifestyle. Research physicians are suggesting that fibromyalgia patients who are advised to work through the pain and engage in activities such as aerobic exercise, stretching such as yoga and cognitive-behavioral therapy will benefit from it.
Alternative therapies also have proved to work with pain levels such as lymphatic massage, acupuncture, herbal supplements, meditation and relaxation practices, according to treatment records.
Mainstream medical science agrees with naturopathic doctors that diet along with supplementation of vitamin D and magnesium may also impact fibromyalgia pain levels.
Partner with the Doctor
Other research has shown that fibromyalgia patients benefit from goal setting and detailed communication with their physicians. Physicians also need to be aware that they are treating multiple symptoms of a singular disease, and that problems will present themselves at varying times and with differing intensities.
Therefore, communication between patient and physician and a lifestyle as well as pharmaceutical approach can lead to better quality of life for those who suffer from fibromyalgia.
Do you ever feel like you don’t want to open up to new people? Maybe because you’re worried that they may judge you, or ridicule you? Most people have of course. But for some people, it’s much more than that. Some people have a condition called avoidant personality disorder, and for them, the idea of meeting new people doesn’t just make them a little uncomfortable. It’s a source of sheer terror. And that fear can actually seriously impair their ability to live a normal life.
So, what exactly is avoidant personality disorder? And how can it be treated?
What Is Avoidant Personality Disorder?
Avoidant personality disorder is a condition marked by an extreme fear of rejection or ridicule and a desire to avoid social interactions as a result. People with the condition are constantly afraid of being judged by those around them and are often very critical of themselves. As a result, they tend to avoid any situation where there will be people they don’t know.
Though they may want the same kind of emotional connections with others as everyone else, their fear that people won’t like them tends to make them avoid making the effort to make those kinds of connections. This fact often means that they have a hard time making friends or starting relationships.
Obviously, everyone worries about what others think of them from time to time. But for people with AvPD, that anxiety is closer to a phobia.
We aren’t sure what causes the condition, but emotional neglect or abuse during childhood often leads people to develop the condition. But many people with happy childhoods can suffer from it as well.
Avoidance of social activities due to a fear of rejection.
Extreme sensitivity to criticism.
Feelings of worthlessness or self-criticism.
A sense that other people will dislike you.
Usually, these symptoms develop in early childhood and continue into adulthood. As people with the condition age, they may grow more fearful of interactions with others. Often, people with the condition realize that they have more trouble with social interactions than others. And they usually want to do something to change that, but simply don’t know how.
This fact is often very tragic because they still feel loneliness like everyone else, but their condition prevents them from meeting new people. So, someone with the condition can experience a significantly lower quality of life.
In addition, chronic loneliness often leads to substance abuse problems or even suicide. So AvPD is actually a very serious threat to your health and possibly even life. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help manage it.
How Can You Manage It?
It would be great if AvPD were a condition that could be solved by medication. Unfortunately, this isn’t usually the case. Antidepressants can be useful in reducing the amount of anxiety or stress someone feels when in social settings, but it can’t fix the underlying problems that cause the condition.
Usually, talk therapy is more beneficial to a patient’s long-term health than medication. If you’re suffering from the condition, it can be a good idea to look for a therapist who specializes in personality disorders. They can help you examine the root of your anxiety and find ways to overcome it. And they can also help you learn coping mechanisms to help manage the anxiety you feel in social interactions.
AvPD is a lifelong condition and is usually formed in childhood, so people who suffer from it have adapted to a negative way of thinking for most of their lives. Overcoming those patterns of thinking isn’t really something that can be done quickly. It usually takes years of therapy.
The best solution for treating the condition is a combination of therapy and medication. But what’s important is that people who suffer from AvPD get some form of treatment. Without treatment, they can be forced to live their lives without the kind of emotional connections that our minds and bodies crave.
Humans are social creatures, and our brains are tuned to want companionship. People who spend too much time socially isolated don’t just suffer emotionally, but physically. Healthy relationships and connections are an important part of a healthy and productive life.
So, have you struggled with avoidance personality disorder? What’s it like? What treatment was effective for you? Let us know in the comments.
Are you asking yourself, “Do I have fibromyalgia?” This troublesome condition can cause a wide range of symptoms. If you are suffering from one or a multitude of fibromyalgia symptoms, it is worthwhile to at least consider the possibility that fibromyalgia might be the cause. If you do suspect fibromyalgia, the next step would be to contact your physician for a formal diagnosis and treatment plan.
There are many symptoms of fibromyalgia to be aware of. It’s also important to know that the symptoms of fibromyalgia are often the same as symptoms of other conditions. Just because you may have one or more of the following symptoms isn’t proof that you have fibromyalgia, or that you don’t. Having said that, here are some of the most common indicators of fibromyalgia to look out for in the event that you’re worried about your symptoms, and are asking, “Do I have fibromyalgia?”
Fatigue
Fatigue is more than just normal tiredness. Almost everyone has what can be called fatigue every now and again. It may have been caused as a side effect of the flu, or from overexertion, or have been brought on by a particularly long spell of hard work coupled with a lack of sleep.
Fatigue associated with fibromyalgia, however, is much worse. Fibromyalgia fatigue is a lingering condition that persists no matter how much rest you get or how many hours of sleep you had. It persists even when you’re presented with an activity that you really want to partake in. Fibromyalgia fatigue is a feeling that you can’t combat; it doesn’t respond to caffeine, or trying to have a “cheery” attitude, or listening to peppy music. It’s a heavy feeling that prevents you from doing what you want.
If your fatigue is keeping you from engaging with your family and friends or causing you to miss days from school or work, that could be a sign of fibromyalgia. If your fatigue prevents you from having the energy to do even small tasks like packing a lunch, taking a shower or getting out of bed, it’s definitely time to contact a physician.
Brain Fog
Most women who have gone through a pregnancy have experienced the quintessential “brain fog” that inhibits logical thinking. Brain fog might keep you from figuring out the tip on the restaurant bill, remembering where you put your glasses, or worse, forgetting to take your medication.
Brain fog can even happen after a heavy night of drinking or as a side effect of taking a sleep aid. These infrequent bouts of brain fog aren’t something that you should probably need to be concerned about.
Fibromyalgia brain fog, though, is something that lasts all day or longer, without any apparent cause. This type of brain fog is so troubling that it may make you not only ask, “Do I have fibromyalgia?” but it may make you think you’re completely losing your mental capacity. If you have this kind of brain fog that is causing you to doubt yourself or your ability to function, or it’s a lingering brain fog with no apparent cause, it’s recommended that you mention it to your doctor along with any other fibromyalgia symptoms you may have.
Skin Sensitivity
One of the most pervasive and commonly reported signs of fibromyalgia is skin sensitivity or skin pain. Fibromyalgia is thought to be at least partially caused by the nerve endings in the body being hypersensitive. This presents itself as ultra sensitivity, including painful skin. This shouldn’t be confused with mild skin sensitivity after an injury. You may have bruised skin with little or no discoloration. This will cause pain upon touch at the localized site. That’s not the kind of skin sensitivity that fibromyalgia sufferers experience.
Fibromyalgia skin sensitivity or skin pain is characterized, according to the American College of Rheumatology, as being a whole body pain, on both sides of the body, and on the upper portion of the body above the waist, as well as below. If you’ve been asking yourself, “Do I have fibromyalgia?” and you have whole body skin sensitivity or whole body pain, it’s time to consult with your physician.
Intestinal Discomfort
Everyone suffers from intestinal discomfort at one time or another. You may even have chronic intestinal discomfort, exacerbated by some food or another. Usually this is put down to indigestion or acid reflux, and is relieved with an over the counter medication, sitting up while sleeping or avoiding the food culprit.
But if you suspect that you have fibromyalgia and have been asking, “Do I have fibromyalgia?” it’s likely that you’ve been experiencing the kind of severe intestinal discomfort that many fibromyalgia sufferers report. According to research, between 50% and 75% of people who have been officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia have symptoms that mimic IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms include:
Cramps
Stomach pain
Diarrhea
Constipation
Bloating
In those who suffer with fibromyalgia, these symptoms frequently interfere with normal daily activity, and can keep people from going to work, playing sports, or leaving the house. IBS symptoms by themselves do not necessarily mean you have fibromyalgia; but coupled with some of the other symptoms mentioned above, there might be a chance that the answer to your question, “Do I have fibromyalgia?” could be “yes.”
The symptoms mentioned are not the only ones associated with fibromyalgia. You may have one or more signs of fibromyalgia that are not mentioned here. Only your doctor and you, working together, can determine if you have the condition known as fibromyalgia. Self-diagnosis is not possible, and there are no over the counter tests that you can self-administer to diagnose fibromyalgia. If you are asking yourself if you have fibromyalgia, and you have one or more of the symptoms listed, it’s worth it to consult with a physician about your experience. Your doctor can then ask further questions to determine the likelihood of a fibromyalgia diagnosis. If warranted, tests can be done that will rule out other possible causes for your symptoms. Don’t keep wondering if you have fibromyalgia. Talk to your doctor soon.
Do Fibromyalgia Tender Points Guarantee a Diagnosis?
Written By: Tiffany Vance-Huffman
admin
Image: ESB Professional / Shutterstock
If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it probably felt like you had to move mountains just to figure out what was wrong with you. That’s because diagnosing fibro is a beast. Part of the reason is that, in addition to having an array of seemingly disconnected symptoms or symptoms that mimic other conditions, everyone’s experience of pain is different. Meaning that one person’s scratch is another’s gaping wound. I speak in hyperbole, of course, but that is to demonstrate the vast differences in experience. It is for this reason that the American College of Rheumatology set the Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia in 1990. It’s supposed to be an acid test of sorts to make a conclusive diagnosis. But is it reliable?
Image: Alila Medical Media / Shutterstock
Fibromyalgia Tender Points
This probably isn’t the first time you’ve seen the chart that shows the tender points on the body. You may have accidentally discovered these on your own or your physician may have pressed on them when you were initially diagnosed. As you can see on the chart, there are 18 tender points which are found on the front and back of the neck, inside the knees and elbows, and on the back just above and just below the buttocks. During a clinical visit, a physician trying to determine whether you have fibromyalgia will test each of these precise locations with a specific amount of pressure. Traditionally, if you experience extreme sensitivity in 11 out of the 18 tender points, then you are officially given a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Do All Fibromyalgia Patients Have Tender Points?
The tender points have been the key criteria for making this diagnosis, in addition to other factors such as pain on both sides of the body and pain both above and below the waist. Furthermore, experts say that there are conditions that can make tender point pain worse. These include:
Anxiety
Changes in weather
Depression
Fatigue
Hormonal fluctuations
Infections
Lack of sleep or quality sleep
Periods of emotional stress
Physical exhaustion
Sedentary lifestyle
You may have fibromyalgia, however, your experience with the tender point locations may not be the same. It is important not to confuse tender points with trigger points, which do not always hurt by themselves. Rather, as the name suggests, trigger points cause pain on a different part of the body when the area is triggered with pressure.
A little digging reveals a good deal of conflict regarding the use of tender points as a criterion for diagnosing fibromyalgia. Now, even the Mayo Clinic states that the 18 tender points are no longer necessary for diagnosing fibro. “Instead, a fibromyalgia diagnosis can be made if a person has had widespread pain for more than three months – with no underlying medical condition that could cause the pain.”
Is Getting Rid of the Tender Point Test a Good Idea?
Perhaps one of the most important reasons to stop relying so heavily on the tender points test has to do with catching those fibromyalgia patients who otherwise would have been dismissed or misdiagnosed. For example, we often think of fibro as a “woman’s disease/condition/problem/etc.” because we do not often hear about men with fibro. But Dr. Ginevra Liptan argues that the tender point exam is the culprit of this gross misconception: “Why have we vastly underestimated how many men have fibromyalgia? It turns out the way we have been diagnosing it since 1990 – a tender point exam – is not as accurate in men. To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia from a tender point exam requires tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific muscle areas. But this test was developed from studying women! Newer research shows that the men with fibromyalgia tend to have less tender points than women, and require much more pressure to elicit a pain response. This means the tender point exam is often going to miss the diagnosis in a man.”
Apparently, the exam misses the diagnosis in women as well because many of you have had a similar experience. Thankfully, more physicians are expanding their testing options beyond the tender point exam. Nevertheless, it is a strange symptom of the vast majority of women who suffer from fibromyalgia. What has your experience been with tender points? Are you a male who was misdiagnosed for this reason? Please share your story with us to help spread the word!
At the end of the day, it is often hard for people with chronic pain to find the pain tolerance or energy to prep and cook a meal for their family. How can someone with fibromyalgia find the strength to feed their family at the end of a long and painful day? The answer is to find gadgets and tools that make the job easier. The chief easy cooking gadget in the kitchen is the slow cooker. This is a tool that EVERY person with chronic pain should own. You can throw items into a crock pot in the mourning, so that when you arrive home after a long day, dinner is ready. Another tool that makes cooking easier is a food processor or table-top chopper to make chopping vegetables quicker and easier. Another tip that makes cooking easier for people with chronic pain is to prepare the ingredients beforehand. Onions and other vegetables can be chopped, and stored in the refrigerator or freezer for use later. You can even buy chopped onions and bell peppers in the supermarket to make your job that much easier. Getting this prep out of the way on the weekend can make your mornings easier. The goal is to get everything ready so that all you have to do is dump the ingredients into the slow cooker to make easy slow cooker meals.
Here is a list of some easy slow cooker meals that you can prep ahead of time and cook all day while you are about your business.
This slow-cooker recipe is a favorite in my house. This meal is so versatile that you can have soup one day and use the meat to make nachos, tacos, burritos the next day for lunch or dinner. This is one of the best of the easy slow cooker meals.
This is a great meal to come home to after a long day. The trick is adding a little extra liquid so that the pasta actually cooks in the slow cooker! This recipe is a great entry on the list of easy slow cooker meals, and we hope that you enjoy it.
This is a take on a classic. This is a delicious and easy recipe that will make you look like you are a french gourmet. the secret here is to put the chicken thighs skin up under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp the skin a bit.
This is the traditional beef stew that we all know and love. Imagine walking through the door on a cold fall day and having a hearty beef stew waiting for you. The recipe calls for a cut-up roast, but you could easily replace that with already-cut stew meat.
This is a nice and smokey meatless meal for those that want to avoid animal proteins, but you could easily add meat to this dish. The recipe uses smoked paprika and cumin to give it a rich smokey broth, and the potatoes make the broth a thick and hearty. this recipe is great for a hot summer day, or a cold winter or fall day. we hope that this makes your day easier.
This is a super rich and creamy beef stroganoff recipe that will make you feel warm and cozy when you walk in the door. This recipe is super easy and hearty. you will have to boil some water to make your favorite pasta to go with it, or if you have a rice cooker, rice would be great with this recipe.
The main thing is to set yourself up for the easiest meal prep that you can. Slow cooker recipes and doing some prep before will make your life so much easier on those busy weeknights. What are some of your favorite easy slow cooker meals? Please leave a comment below to let us know.
Some patients who have been diagnosed with fibro find relief using natural supplements for fibromyalgia. In addition to the treatment prescribed by your doctor, you may find that one or more of the following fibromyalgia natural supplements complements or enhances prescribed treatment regimens. Remember that natural supplements have real and often potent results, so be sure to consult with your doctor before using any.
Using Natural Supplements for Fibromyalgia
There are many brands of natural supplements on the market. It can be difficult to choose among different brands, especially when you have a choice of forms and dosages. Forms of natural supplements for fibromyalgia include:
Capsules
Tablets
Dried herbs
Tea sachets
Powders
It will be up to you and your physician to determine how you take your natural supplement. Be assured though, that whatever form you take will be just as effective as the next, providing that you choose a quality brand or source.
Resources for Locating Natural Supplements for Fibromyalgia
Your local health food market is the first best place to search for natural supplements for fibromyalgia. Most health food stores do their own vetting to ensure that they sell only quality brands. You can also speak to one of the store representatives about the differences among brands. Be sure to mention that you have fibromyalgia, as the clerk may have special recommendations they can offer you. If you don’t have a health food store nearby or you’re unable to travel due to your fibromyalgia, you can also shop online from that store’s website. Barring that, you can always contact your local shop the old fashioned way – with a telephone – and ask if they can deliver or mail your products to your house. You may be pleasantly surprised at how willing they are to make a special delivery for someone who lives locally.
Another possible source for natural supplements is online. Bear in mind that anyone can sell natural supplements. Shop at sites of well-known brands like GNC, Nature Made and NOW. When possible, purchase organic products, and ones that are labeled non-GMO.
Natural Supplements for Fibromyalgia Matched to Symptoms
Fibromyalgia patients suffer from a multitude of symptoms. You may have one or many symptoms at any one time, so it helps to be able to match the natural supplement to whichever symptom is currently troubling you.
Which Natural Supplements to Use for Fibromyalgia
The following natural supplements and herbs have been shown to have benefits that can help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Before instituting a regimen of natural supplements for fibromyalgia, though, be sure to let your doctor know what you plan to take, and how often. The doctor will then be able to advise you as to whether it’s safe for you to take them. Use all supplements according to package instructions or your doctor’s orders.
Vitamin C
Yes, good old vitamin C is recommended for people with fibromyalgia. Vitamin C supports a healthy immune function, which may be lacking in those with fibro. Excellent (and little known) food sources of vitamin C include tomatoes and potatoes. An over the counter vitamin C tablet or chewable is also sufficient.
Probiotic
Probiotics help your digestive system to work more effectively. Regular use may lessen the uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptoms of indigestion that fibro patients suffer from. A commonly used probiotic that seems to work well with fibro patients is acidophilus. This particular probiotic needs to be refrigerated. Check your package labeling for special storage or dosage instructions. It’s worth noting that while certain yogurts have added probiotics, they may also contain added sugar, which can lead to bloating or unwanted weight gain.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil can help ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, as well as headache. For irritable bowel syndrome, you can take an enteric-coated peppermint oil tablet. You can also place a tiny dot of peppermint essential oil on the tip of the tongue for relief. Mix the essential oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil first, to ensure that it doesn’t irritate the tongue. For headaches, heat a wash cloth with warm water. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil and rub into the cloth. Apply the cloth to the forehead and lie down for several minutes or as needed until the headache subsides.
5-HTP
This is a chemical that can induce sleep and relieve depression. It’s available over the counter, but can have side effects when taken in conjunction with prescription antidepressants, so use with caution and always consult with your doctor before taking your first dose.
Ginseng
Ginseng has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It’s safety and efficacy is widely accepted for use as a mental stimulant for energy and motivation. However, it can be too stimulating and can lead to high blood pressure and an inability to get to sleep. Use sparingly, only increasing your dose as needed. Ginseng is available in tea form as well as in tablets.
Ginger
If you have brain fog, a common symptom of fibromyalgia, you might want to add more ginger to your diet. Ginger has been shown to increase mental clarity. You can drink ginger in tea, add powdered ginger to your dishes as you cook, or take it alone as a supplement in capsule form. Pickled ginger is effective for stomach upset. Just a few pieces of pickled ginger eaten by itself has been known to help almost instantly.
Bay Leaves
If you have irritable bowel syndrome, you know that after you eat you often feel uncomfortable. Drinking bay leaf tea can help with those symptoms. Just heat up some hot water as you would to make a regular cup of tea. Add five or six bay leaves and allow them to steep as the tea cools. Discard the bay leaves. By the time you finish the cup of tea, you should be feeling at least a little better.
Natural supplements can be added to your daily diet as long as you clear it first with your doctor. Usually your doctor will approve any natural supplement that doesn’t interfere with your prescription medication or any other health conditions you may have.
Scientists are predicting that this year could be the worst in years, and a result, they’re predicting that cases of tick-borne illnesses will become more common as well. There are a few reasons for that. To begin with, the population of mice that ticks feed on and carry conditions like Lyme disease have exploded due to a larger than usual supply of acorns. That means the tick population is rising as well. In addition, the trend of hotter summers has made it possible for ticks to stay active later in the year. So, as you get ready to head outside this summer, it’s a good time to educate yourself on a pretty common tick-borne illness: Ehrlichiosis.
Though most people are less familiar with ehrlichiosis than Lyme disease, it’s still definitely something you want to avoid. So what is ehrlichiosis? How is it treated? And what can you do to prevent it?
What is Ehrlichiosis?
Ehrlichiosis is a disease spread by the bite of infected ticks. Certain ticks carry the bacteria that cause ehrlichiosis and when they bite a human, it introduces this bacteria into the bloodstream. The bacteria then spread and multiply which leads to the symptoms of ehrlichiosis as your body tries to fight off the infection.
The symptoms of ehrlichiosis are similar to the common flu and even to conditions like fibromyalgia. Ehrlichiosis causes symptoms like:
Widespread muscle pain
Pain in the joints
Headaches
Fever
Fatigue
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Rash
Often, ehrlichiosis is mild enough to go away on its own. But occasionally, the condition can become serious enough to require medical intervention. And it can even be fatal if left untreated. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to treat it.
How is it Treated?
The main course of treatment for ehrlichiosis is a medication that fights the bacterial infection. But unlike many bacterial infections, ehrlichiosis doesn’t usually respond to most antibiotics, which means doctors have to be careful about which medication they prescribe.
The most common medication that doctors prescribe to treat the condition is Doxycycline. Doxycycline helps kill the bacteria that cause Ehrlichiosis and is usually sufficient to take care of the infection. In fact, if treated with Doxycycline within the first week of contracting the condition, ehrlichiosis usually resolves within a day or two.
The severity of Ehrlichiosis symptoms usually depends on the immune system of the person affected. Those with compromised immune systems like people with HIV or the elderly are at particular risk, which is why they should be especially careful when it comes to preventing tick bites.
How to Prevent Ehrlichiosis
The best way to prevent tick-borne illness is obviously to prevent the bites of the ticks that spread the disease. And there are a few things that the Center for Disease Control recommends for preventing bites. To begin with, the best way to avoid tick bites is to simply avoid ticks. That means being aware of the type of places that ticks tend to live in and steering clear of them.
Ticks usually live in wooded areas with large mouse or deer populations. This provides them with places to hide from predators and a ready food supply. Ticks begin their life cycle as eggs. Once they hatch, the tick needs to find a steady supply of blood in order to grow to the next stage of their development. After finding a host, they molt and grow into adults, who then must find a larger host in order to get enough blood to breed. During the winter, ticks lay dormant and eggs don’t hatch, which is why tick bites are most common in the summer.
Ticks can’t jump, so to find blood, they have to first find a way to reach it. They do this by climbing up long blades of grass, giving them a platform from which to grab onto passing animals. And that means that if you have to enter places where ticks live, like if you’re doing yard work, avoid patches of long grass where the ticks are most likely to be hiding. And it’s often helpful to wear long pants rather than shorts and tuck the legs into your socks. This won’t prevent ticks from climbing onto you, but it will keep them on the outside of your clothes where they’re more visible.
And if you’re going outside, make sure to spray your clothes down around the area that ticks are most likely to latch on with a high-quality bug repellant.
Taking some of these basic actions will go a long way to preventing tick bites, which will protect you from the wide range of tick-borne diseases. And an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. It helps supply every cell in the body with the oxygen they need to function. It’s so important that if it ever stops beating, you can die within a few minutes. In fact, heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. The CDC estimates that in 2017, 1 in 3 deaths was the direct result of heart problems.
There are a lot of things you can do to reduce your risk of death from heart disease, but there are some conditions that you can contribute to heart problems that you really can’t do much about. That includes conditions like Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). So what is Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome? And what can be done to treat it?
What Is Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome?
Your heart is basically a pump that moves blood around the body. It’s made up of four chambers that contract, pulling in blood and sending it back out into the body. These contractions are controlled by electrical signals from a small area of in the upper right atrium of the heart called the sinus node.
The electrical signals move across the tissue of the heart and to another area called the atrioventricular node. From there, they spread out across the heart and trigger the contractions that make your heart function. For your heart to work correctly, this process of contractions needs to be timed in a very particular way. There has to be a slight delay so that the heart has time to fill with blood before it contracts again and pumps the blood back out into the body.
That is why the system of electrical impulses is so important. It controls the timing of the contractions.
However, when you have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, you develop an extra electrical pathway in the heart. This interferes with the normal functioning of the heart and produces a number of different symptoms, like:
Chest Pain
Tightness in the Chest
Difficulty Breathing
Fainting Spells
Anxiety
Fatigue
In addition, the condition usually causes a rapid heartbeat as the extra electrical signals through the heart trigger contractions too rapidly. These rapid contractions prevent the heart from pumping out enough blood. That means that you can’t get enough oxygen to your cells, which is the cause of most of the symptoms.
We aren’t sure what causes WPW, but in some cases, there seems to be a genetic link. And doctors have identified a gene that causes the condition. But only a small percentage of people with the condition have that gene. So, the cause for the rest of the people with the condition is still a bit of a mystery.
The good news is that WPW isn’t usually a life-threatening condition. Usually, people don’t even notice physical symptoms until their late 20’s, though they’ve had the extra electrical pathway since birth. If you have WPW but no physical symptoms, treatment usually isn’t necessary. But if you’re experiencing frequent episodes of a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, or chest pain, then you should seek a doctor’s advice.
How Is It Treated?
Doctors usually diagnose WPW with a device called an electrocardiogram or ECG. An ECG measures the electrical signals in your heart, and doctors can use it to detect any irregular signals that might suggest a patient has WPW.
Once you’ve been diagnosed, the first step in treatment is correcting the rapid heartbeat that causes most of the symptoms. Doctors use a few different methods to do so, including:
Vagal Maneuvers: The nerves that control the electrical signals in the heart are closely linked to something called the Vagus Nerve. And you can actually affect the performance of these nerves by performing a number of physical movements. Your doctor can suggest a few different techniques that can actually help slow your heart rate by manipulating this nerve.
Medication: One of the most common treatments for WPW is an injection of anti-arrhythmic drugs. These drugs help regulate your heart rate and prevent symptoms.
Cardioversion: If these techniques aren’t effective, doctors can use paddles or patches that shock the heart and reset the pattern of electrical signals.
Catheter Ablation: This technique involves inserting long tubes, or catheters, into the blood vessels leading to the heart. These catheters have electrical nodes on the ends that a doctor can heat up and use to actually destroy the tissue that causes the extra electrical pathway. This therapy has the potential to totally cure the condition.
The important thing is to get treatment. Keeping your heart healthy is vital to living a long, productive life. And while WPW isn’t usually dangerous, it can lead to serious complications.
So, have you struggled with WPW? What did you do to treat it? Let us know in the comments.
Every summer, people trade in winter clothes for shorts and head outside. But that means the possibility of tick bites, which also means the possibility of Lyme disease. So as summer approaches, it’s a good time to learn about some common Lyme disease symptoms.
After all, Lyme disease can be a very serious condition that leads to a lifetime of debilitating symptoms. Treating it early is the best way to limit the amount of suffering someone with Lyme disease has to experience. So, what is Lyme disease exactly? And what are the most common Lyme disease symptoms?
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a dangerous condition spread by the bite of a specific kind of tick, the blacklegged tick. Though not every tick bite can cause Lyme disease, certain ticks can be infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease and their bites can spread the disease. But the ticks that spread Lyme disease are located in a few specific areas rather than nationwide. And in fact, 95% of reported Lyme disease cases in 2015 came from just 14 states.
Lyme disease itself has to be treated early or it will progress to what’s called the “chronic stage,” which is significantly harder to treat. The symptoms of chronic Lyme disease are similar to the early symptoms of Lyme disease but recur frequently over, leading to a kind of ebb and flow of symptoms.
Early stage Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. But as the disease progresses into the chronic stage, antibiotics become less effective. That means catching the disease early is the most important thing when it comes to treatment, which means recognizing the symptoms of Lyme disease as early as possible is vital to treatment. And while Lyme disease symptoms can vary widely, there are a few things to look out for.
10 Common Lyme Disease Symptoms
There are a number of different Lyme disease symptoms. And not everyone with Lyme disease will experience the same ones. But if you experience more than one of these symptoms after a tick bite, it is probably worth having a doctor evaluate you. The best way to treat Lyme disease and prevent it from becoming worse is to detect and treat it early.
Rash– The most obvious symptom of Lyme disease is the distinctive rash that develops around the site of the tick bite. The rash is frequently described as looking like a “bullseye,” because it consists of a central red dot and then a ring surrounding it. Typically, the rash develops within a week or so of the bite and it can be painful and warm to the touch or completely.
Fever– Like any bacterial infection, Lyme disease causes a fever. The fever is a result of your immune system trying to fight off the infection and is a good sign when combined with the other symptoms that you have Lyme disease.
Fatigue– As Lyme disease progresses to the chronic stage, it frequently causes chronic fatigue. This can become quite debilitating to people who suffer from it.
Headache– Another prominent feature of chronic Lyme disease is that it frequently causes serious headaches. And frequent headaches are a sign of Lyme.
Neck Pain– Chronic Lyme disease often causes a stiff and aching neck. It might be difficult to move your neck and the stiffness can become more or less severe depending on how bad your symptoms are that day.
Sleep Issues– In addition to the chronic fatigue, Lyme disease can also lead to insomnia. That’s partly because of the pain and high fever that Lyme disease causes, but also partly because Lyme disease seems to also disrupt your sleeping patterns.
Arthritis– Someone who suffers from Lyme disease also frequently experiences pain in the joints. And there are many cases of people who develop arthritis after they are infected with chronic Lyme disease.
Muscle Pain– Along with pain in the joints, Lyme disease can also lead to pain in the muscles. This pain can spread all over the body and leads to stiffness and a difficulty using the limbs.
Facial Palsy– One of the rarer Lyme disease symptoms is facial palsy, which is a condition that causes the muscles in the face to relax involuntarily. This often leaves one side of the face with a drooping appearance and can make speech difficult.
Heart Arrhythmias– Lyme carditis develops when the bacteria that causes Lyme disease begins to infect the muscles lining the heart. As a result, the heart becomes weaker and the tissue of the heart becomes stiffer. That makes it hard for the heart to beat normally. As a result, it will sometimes produce something called “arrhythmias,” which are sudden flutters in the beating of the heart as it struggles to pump blood normally. This condition can occasionally be life threatening, and so should be treated as early as possible.
So if you plan to spend a lot of time outside anytime soon, it’s good to keep these symptoms in mind. And make sure to use insect repellent to prevent tick bites. It’s the best way to avoid Lyme disease. But let us know, do you have Lyme disease? Do you worry about the symptoms? Tell us in the comments.
Is It True That The Weather Affects Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
Written By: Mandy Burkholder
admin
Image: Aleshyn_Andrei/Shutterstock
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disease that affects about 2% of the world’s population, with most of the patients being women. The primary symptoms are painful pressure points around the body, headaches, difficulty sleeping, increased sensitivity to light and sound, and unexplained fatigue.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this mysterious disease. Scientists still have no idea why some people develop it while others don’t.
Many people who suffer from fibromyalgia also report experiencing a difference in pain levels as the weather changes.
According to a study by Ercolie Bossema, Ph.D. from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, “Many fibromyalgia patients report that certain weather conditions seem to aggravate their symptoms.” These changing weather conditions include precipitation, sunshine, and temperature.
And not just a few sufferers claim that the weather exacerbates their symptoms—nearly 92% cite the phenomenon
Unfortunately, according to Dr. Bossema’s study, their sense of pain might be inflated.
To explain this information further, the team gathered 333 female patients to participate in a study on how weather affects the symptoms of fibromyalgia. The study participants, who had a average age of 47 and had been diagnosed around 2 years prior, answered a detail survey for a 28-day period.
Questions on the survey asked about the women’s pain and fatigue each day, while researchers gathered data on atmospheric pressure, sunshine duration, precipitation, air temperature, and relative humidity from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.
The results were interesting: in only 10% of analyses, weather variables showed a significant (but small) effect on pain or fatigue symptoms.
This gave researchers the information they needed to make such claims that the weather doesn’t really affect fibromyalgia much at all.
Dr. Bossema states, “This study is the first to investigate the impact of weather on fibromyalgia symptoms in a large cohort, and our findings show no association between specific fibromyalgia patient characteristics and weather sensitivity.”
Do you agree that the weather doesn’t bother your fatigue and pain symptoms much? It’s important to remember that each case of fibromyalgia is different, so what one line of research says might not have anything to do with your illness.
If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, it’s always best to consult your doctor if you experience any changes in pain levels at any time.
The tick population is predicted to explode this season. A mild winter meant a rise in the mouse population that many ticks feed on and allowed ticks to stay active for a longer period during the year. And that means there’s going to be a lot more tick bites happening this year and a lot more tick-borne illnesses like babesiosis.
While probably not as familiar an illness to most people as the similar Lyme disease, babesiosis can be just as dangerous if left untreated. But with a little bit of knowledge and some basic precautions, you can protect yourself and enjoy your summer. So what is babesiosis? How is it treated? And what can you do to prevent it?
What is Babesiosis?
Babesiosis is a disease spread by parasites that live inside the body of a specific kind of tick, the blacklegged deer tick. This parasite, Babesia microti, attaches itself to the red blood cells that circulate through the body. The first human cases of babesiosis weren’t discovered until 1957 when a Hungarian farmer contracted the condition and died a few weeks later. Since then, babesiosis has spread to much of the rest world, where the number of infections has been increasing rapidly.
Typically, the symptoms resemble that of the flu and include things like fever, headache, muscle pains, and fatigue. Many people who are infected, however, display no symptoms. And a lot of people with babesiosis have no idea that they have it.
The disease is usually spread by the bites of ticks in their larval, or nymph, stage. And because these ticks are so small, they are usually very hard to spot. And the small bites means you likely won’t feel it. But babesiosis can be very dangerous to people with a compromised immune system.
The parasites attaching themselves to the red blood cells can gradually destroy them, resulting in a dangerous condition called hemolytic anemia, which eventually causes your organs to be starved of oxygen and begin dying.
How is it Treated?
The first step in treating any illness is the diagnosis. And babesiosis presents some particular challenges when it comes to getting a diagnosis. To begin with, the symptoms are usually hard to detect. And the disease is rare enough that most doctors likely won’t think to look for it.
So being aware of the possibility of babesiosis infection is important. And so is being aware of any tick bites that you receive and monitoring your health for a few weeks afterward so you’ll notice the early flu-like symptoms. If you can inform your doctor that you think you might have been exposed, they can then test your blood for the babesiosis parasites.
Once you have a diagnosis, most cases of babesiosis are easily treated with the same measures doctors use to treat other parasitic illnesses like malaria. A 7-10 day course of treatment with basic anti-malarial drugs is usually enough to cure babesiosis.
How can you Prevent it?
But by far, the best thing to do is to practice some basic preventive measures whenever you go outside. Babesiosis, Lyme disease, and other similar illnesses are spread by the bite of infected ticks. So by avoiding tick bites, you can avoid these diseases quite easily.
The first step is to be aware of where ticks are likely to live. Ticks feed by hanging off of tall stalks of grass and grabbing onto the legs of animals as they pass by. So avoid any large patches of tall grass that are likely to have ticks in them. Any area that’s densely wooded or generally untouched by people is a good source of ticks. And you should exercise particular care anytime you do outdoor activities like hiking or camping, but anytime you go outside, you run the risk of a tick bite.
Luckily, you can avoid most ticks by not giving them an opening onto your skin. As hot as it may be, wear long pants rather than shorts, and tuck the legs of your pants into your socks. This forces ticks to climb over your clothes instead of under them, where you are less likely to spot them in time.
Secondly, use a good bug repellant whenever you go outside. Spray it on any exposed skin and on the legs of your pants where ticks are likely to try to grab on. And finally, check your body for any ticks whenever you come back inside.
By following these steps, you can avoid babesiosis along with all tick-borne illnesses. So just remember, be aware of the danger, but don’t let it stop you from enjoying your summer.
One of the most common issues that people have with fibromyalgia is a problem that is referred to as “fibro fog.” It can make you feel as if you aren’t able to think straight, you forget simple things, and you wonder what is going on a majority of the time.
Because of this, it’s really important that we work to try and fight it off as much as we can. In this article, we’re going to look at what causes fibro fog and what we can do in order to try and beat it as best we can.
Fibro fog: What causes it to happen?
This is kind of a hard question to ask, but in short, the cause really isn’t known or understood. The chronic pain that you’re dealing with will, basically, cause you to forget what is going on, thus making it hard for you to do your daily tasks, it can make you forget who you’re talking to, and it can cause a number of other issues. Fibro fog is also, at times, referred to as “brain fog.”
Now, of course, there are theories as to why this goes on in our minds. The nervous system is already messed up from the fibromyalgia, so it’s no wonder that our brain starts to get affected as well. The imbalances that happen in the central nervous system can be a real pain, and thus we end up dealing with some memory loss, and sometimes we end up having difficulty when it comes to retaining information as well.
Another theory has to deal with the stress that you’re dealing with as a result of the fibromyalgia. On a daily basis, your body is fighting off so much, that you really aren’t able to cope with much else that is going on. The distraction that you’re coping with, on top of the pain, is going to make it hard for you to focus, and thus hard for you to remember important things that you need to remember as part of your routine.
All that being said, fibro fog is relatively common. More severe cases can be worrying and a sign of other problems going on in the mind, but in general, fibro brain fog should not be making you incredibly concerned. It is, however, an inconvenient thing that you have to deal with, thus making it important that you understand the problem and where it comes from.
Tips for Helping to Fend off Fibro fog
Fibro fog can be really debilitating, especially if you aren’t taking as good of care of your mind and body as you should be, especially with fibromyalgia. That being said, there are a lot of things that you can do in order to fend off the brain fog. Here are some very general tips that you can use in order to help lessen the effects of this often frustrating side effect of fibromyalgia.
Write it all down. This is a good tip whether you’re dealing with brain fog or not. Make sure that all of your appointments and everything that you need to do during a week is written down. Get a planner to put it all together if that will help you keep everything straight during the week.
Keep post it notes handy in order to keep notes, or make use of technology to voice record or write down important information that you may need for certain circumstances. Not only will it be there if you need it, but writing it down helps to reinforce remembering things as well, which means you will be less likely to forget things in the first place.
Stay within a regular routine. A routine can be really helpful when fighting off fibro fog. If you’re doing the same thing, week in, and week out, even if you forget what is going on, you will have those reflexes built into to everything that you’re doing. Your instinct will be to continue doing those things, and your motor memory will be more likely to remember what’s going on. Exercise, eat, and take medicine at the same time every single day. Sure, routine may get boring, but if it can help you with remembering what you have to do and help you to keep functioning even when brain fog starts to creep in, you will find it a lot easier to function and it will help to reduce any of the stress that may be caused by having fibrofog.
Make sure that there aren’t outside circumstances causing the fibro fog to become worse. This is a big one, because if we don’t keep everything in check, it could end up being a lot more difficult than we expected. In some cases, medication can end up making the brain fog a lot worse. Look at your medications and see if memory loss and difficulty concentrating are part of the side effects – they could be making it harder for you to overcome the issues related to your brain fog.
Other things that you want to take a look at include your diet and exercise plan. There are some foods that could end up making your fibromyalgia a lot worse. Caffeine is definitely something that you want to steer clear from, and there are a variety of other foods that could cause flare ups and, thus, end up making your fibro fog a little bit worse for a period of time. Exercise can also play a huge role in fending it off, so make sure you’re exercising regularly.
Brain fog doesn’t have to completely control your life if you want to take the time to ensure that you are able to deal with it properly. Fighting it off is going to take some effort on your part, but if you take the time to try and deal with it and you make sure that you’re constantly keeping yourself in check, you’re going to be a lot better off and you’re going to feel more in control of your life and the things that are going on with it.
Fibromyalgia sufferers are well aware of just how debilitating their illness can be. Widespread fatigue, chronic fatigue, and a host of other symptoms wear away at both your physical and mental wellbeing. What’s more, fibromyalgia can leave its victims more susceptible than others to developing other conditions. Conditions that may even worsen their current fibromyalgia symptoms. Conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder, also referred to as SAD, is a form of depression that only occurs during certain times of the year. The most common form of SAD is brought on by the onset of fall and winter and lasts until spring. SAD is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression, over-sleeping, craving carbohydrate heavy foods, and associated overeating and weight gain.
Like all forms of depressive illness, SAD varies in its severity. In the most extreme cases, SAD can be incredibly debilitating with those affected being perfectly healthy during spring and summer, but unable to function during the winter.
It is worth noting that while the most common form of SAD is developed in response to the winter months, there are those who experience the opposite. For them, SAD begins with the start of spring and lasts until late fall.
How does SAD affect Fibromyalgia?
Experts estimate that seasonal affective disorder affects 4 to 6% of the general population, with an additional 10 to 20% experiencing mild symptoms that don’t meet the requirements for an official SAD diagnosis. The illness is more common among women than men, with 70 to 80% of all SAD diagnoses being female. Those who live in the Northern Hemisphere are more likely to suffer from SAD as well as those who have a history of psychiatric illness in their immediate family.
If you suspect you may suffer from seasonal affective disorder be on the lookout for any of these symptoms associated with a particular time of year:
Decreased energy
Fatigue
Sleep disorders, particularly excessive sleeping
Cravings for carbohydrates and sugary foods
Weight gain
Irritability
Depression
Loss of libido
For those who have been diagnosed with SAD, there are a number of treatments available. Many doctors recommend that those who are experiencing SAD symptoms go through light therapy. Light therapy is the first line of treatment for most cases of seasonal affective disorder. It is suspected that the decreased exposure to light during the winter months leads to a hormonal imbalance that causes SAD. To counter this, bright fluorescent lights are shone upon the patient for 30 to 60 minutes every day. Patients are free to carry on with other activities while sitting in front of the light box. Up to 80% of patients undergoing light therapy experience a dramatic improvement in their symptoms.
The other most common way of treating SAD is through the prescription of antidepressants. Antidepressants, alongside light therapy, can help to significantly reduce feelings of depression and anxiety caused by SAD. SSRIs are commonly used to help alleviate the mood disorder without exacerbating fatigue or weight gain. Antidepressants often prescribed for SAD include Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft.
If you believe you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder or that the illness may be worsening your fibromyalgia, it is important to talk with your physician about it as soon as possible. Discuss all of your treatment options with your doctor, and be sure to decide on a plan that will not have any adverse effects when combined with any other medication you may already be taking.
And remember, don’t give up. Spring is coming, and the sun will return.
3 Supplements for Arthritis to Ease Arthritis Pain
Written By: Tiffany Vance-Huffman
John
Image: Pat_Hastings / Shutterstock
There are literally more than 100 types of arthritis. That means that there’s no treatment that’s going to work across the board for people suffering from these conditions. There are definitely a lot of options out there, including self-care, therapies, medications, and so on. Supplements are often complementary to whatever treatment options you use. But there are several choices, so we thought we’d tackle just a few of them.
Supplements for Arthritis
SAM-e
S-adenosylmethionine or SAM-e is a naturally occurring compound in the body and one of the best supplements for arthritis. It helps form, activate, and break down other chemicals in the body. As it pertains to arthritis, researchers think that SAM-e may not only stimulate cartilage growth but also affect neurotransmitters to reduce one’s perception of pain. Indeed, it is so valuable and helpful in the body, that it has been used to treat everything from depression, fibromyalgia, and dementia to Parkinson’s, seizures, and even slowing the aging process. While it may not be helpful in all kinds of arthritis, SAM-e has been extensively studied and actually proven to help with osteoarthritis. Regarding its efficacy and dosage, the Mayo Clinic says, “Results suggest that SAMe may be more effective than placebo and as effective as anti-inflammatory drugs. Doses have ranged from 600 to 1,200 milligrams taken by mouth daily, but the optimal dose still needs to be determined.”
Turmeric
Turmeric is an herb in the ginger family and one of the coolest supplements for arthritis. In fact, you can buy it raw at some grocery stores and it is often found right in the same vicinity as fresh ginger. Turmeric is the main spice in curry. As such, it should not surprise you to know that it is very important in both Indian and Chinese medicine systems. The chemical found in turmeric that gives it healing power is curcumin. Sometimes you will see that name on the spice label instead of turmeric. Like SAMe, it’s somewhat of a wonder treatment in that its benefits are sweeping. Because, in addition to directly treating inflammation, it is used to treat everything from parasites, diabetes, and skin diseases to cancer, mental disorders and so much more.
A study of osteoarthritis patients in Italy yielded excellent results when patients included turmeric in combination with their physician’s treatment. Furthermore, the turmeric patients showed a 300% improvement in emotional well-being compared to those who did not take the supplement. Other studies have shown that turmeric also reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis and bursitis. You can buy turmeric as a capsule, powder, or even raw from your grocer. There are definitely varying degrees of quality, however. It is important to do your research and check reviews to find the best option or brand for you.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
You’re most familiar with seeing omega-3 fatty acids in relation to fish oil, and they are wonderful supplements for arthritis. That’s because fish oil contains two types of fatty acids: EPA and DHA, both of which reduce inflammation. In fact, omega-3s are converted into powerful anti-inflammatory chemicals. Apparently, some studies have even indicated that the acids seem to suppress the body’s immune system. That explains why fish oils have been so effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disease. In that case, the immune system turns against the body. For rheumatoid arthritis, it attacks the joints and other parts of the body. In other words, the immune system is overactive in a person with an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis. That’s why suppressing it through omega-3s found in fish oil is probably so helpful.
A nutritionist once told me that when it comes to fish oils, the best quality comes from the tiniest of fish. So, before I stopped eating meat, I made a point of buying krill oil. If, however, you’re vegan or vegetarian, there are non-fish options for us too. In addition to supplements in capsule form, you may wish to consider incorporating alternatives such as flax, chia, and hemp seeds, as well as berries, wild rice, and winter squash into your diet.
Like many supplements, you can find these at most drugstores and retail outlets, such as Walgreens, Target, and Vitamin Shoppe. You are likely to find higher quality versions at your local health food or nutrition store. In fact, I usually get the best advice and direction from my local privately owned nutrition store. They tend to get into the business because they have a great knowledge and passion for natural remedies. You can also find these supplements online. But it is best to do some checking and find out which brands offer the highest quality. As with most conditions that don’t have a cure, you’ll probably have to go through some trial and error. That may include trying different brands or versions before you get to the one that works best for you.
Have you found any supplements for arthritis that have worked exceptionally well for you? Tell us about your experience!
A 2013 study conducted by researchers in the Netherlands set out to examine any correlations between the painful symptoms associated with fibromyalgia patients and weather conditions. They concluded that there is actually more evidence against than in support of the weather having any influence over daily symptoms. There were a few fibromyalgia patients whose pain seemed to worsen during cold weather, but not enough out of 333 test subjects to merit a conclusive correlation. Similar studies such as those examining the correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and the weather, do not find a substantial link between weather patterns and symptoms similar to those found in fibromyalgia patients.
Studies like these often speculate a similar theory: that the belief that fibromyalgia pain is exacerbated during poor weather conditions, especially those related to cold and wet temperatures, is what leads to the pain. Before you come out with guns blazing, let’s look at how they come to speculate such things. They base the theory on the way they conduct their studies, which is quite measured. They typically instruct fibro patients to keep a journal of their symptoms each day for a specified amount of time. Then the researchers take the patient data and compare it with the weather in that area for each day, including factors such as temperature, precipitation, and barometric pressure. Each time these studies are conducted, they usually get the same kind of results: there is usually no difference in the pain levels of the fibromyalgia patients on colder days, and for the few that do notice a difference, it’s relatively negligible. A 2001 study found similar results; however, they also discovered something quite interesting. Those suffering from fibromyalgia for less than 10 years actually had significantly greater weather sensitivity. Of course, they have no explanation for why this is the case.
Don’t you just love it when science tells you that you’re wrong about your own pain? You may be one of those people whose pain truly escalates in almost measurable ways on cold days and seasons. Research is a funny thing, after all. It is not uncommon for studies to be conducted in the same way, addressing the same issue, and come out with the exact opposite conclusion. In thinking outside of the box a little, perhaps there are other explanations for why many with fibromyalgia often experience a worsening of symptoms when the weather is colder. For example, have you ever noticed how your body physically responds to the cold? Think about it in the context of the game Charades. To indicate you are cold, you would likely hunch over, tense your muscles, pull your neck in, and grab your arms. It seems like a natural response, a reflex of sorts. But think about the tension in your muscles for a moment. When you are dealing with a fibromyalgia flare, it may feel like every muscle in your body or perhaps just a certain region is in pain. It may seem like relief is never coming, but consider the little bit of respite that comes from relaxing your muscles, as opposed to keeping them tense.
Image: Instagram
But wait, there’s more! Yet another team of researchers led by a neuroscientist and a neurologist out of New York found “an enormous increase in the number of sensory nerve fibers within the blood vessels of the skin on the palms of fibromyalgia patients’ hands.” Since these blood vessels in the hands and feet help regulate body temperature, they open up when exposed to cold. Therefore, the increased activity could be an explanation for the added pain often experienced by fibromyalgia patients. With this in mind, simply relaxing the muscles despite the cold will not necessarily do the trick. If nerve fibers and blood vessels are running the show, then it seems the only option is to simply stay warm. For example, fellow fibromyalgia sufferer Lady Gaga uses an infrared sauna with an emergency blanket to relieve pain. You may have other methods, like staying indoors as much as possible. With this option, it is important to remember that the lack of Vitamin D from regular exposure to sunlight will heavily impact your depression and overall health. Thus, it would be wise to consider a high quality supplement. Of course, you will want to discuss the dosage with your healthcare practitioner before beginning this regimen.
With or without fibromyalgia, cold temperatures can take a toll on the joints and body because it must work harder to stay warm. Whatever the reasons are that many fibromyalgia patients feel worse during harsher temperatures, pain is pain. Do your best to be mindful of how you are tensing your muscles and ways to stay warm in order to minimize the pain. Good luck this winter!
These days, celiac disease is finally getting some of the attention it deserves. People who suffer from it have long known how horrible the symptoms are. But recently more people are switching to a gluten-free diet. And one of the reasons for that is an increased awareness of the condition.
But we have to admit that the “gluten-free” lifestyle has become a bit of a fad. Lots of people are being taken in by false information about what gluten is. And there are many people who will tell you that seemingly every health problem is caused by gluten and wheat sensitivity. Many people even claim that fibromyalgia is the result of an intolerance to gluten. But what are the real facts? What is gluten and why could it be bad for you? And is there actually a link with fibromyalgia?
What Is Gluten?
Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat products like bread or pasta. Humans have been eating gluten since they discovered how to cultivate wheat around 10,000 years ago. And most people’s bodies are perfectly adjusted to eating gluten. Their small intestine breaks it down into glucose for energy.
But a small percentage of people, estimated at 1% of the general population, can’t break down gluten. These people suffer from a condition called celiac disease. For these people, eating gluten causes their body’s immune system to begin attacking the lining of their intestines. Over time, these attacks break down the system that allows their body to absorb nutrients from food. This can lead to a range of health conditions like diabetes or cancer. The condition is generally hereditary and passed down among close relatives.
But some people are also gluten-sensitive. That means that even if they don’t have celiac disease, their body reacts negatively to gluten. However, doctors disagree on how common this is. What is clear is that for the vast majority of people, gluten is perfectly safe.
And by not eating gluten, they’re depriving their body of valuable nutrients found in gluten-rich foods.
Celiac Disease And Fibromyalgia
Some say that gluten leads to chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia. And some of the symptoms of celiac disease resemble the symptoms of fibromyalgia. The condition can lead to things like chronic fatigue, widespread pain, and mental fog.
So, there is a chance that you could be presenting a lot of the symptoms of fibromyalgia and actually be suffering from celiac disease. This similarity can make getting an accurate diagnosis difficult. Obviously, there are a few key differences.
First, celiac disease only acts up when you eat gluten. So, if your symptoms seem worse after eating anything with gluten in it, then that could be your answer. But because so many different things contain gluten, you might have a tough time connecting your symptoms to what you eat.
Secondly, there’s one thing that makes fibromyalgia distinctive. Fibromyalgia pain occurs in 18 specific points around the body and gets worse when someone applies pressure to these points. This makes it possible to tell fibro from other chronic pain conditions. A doctor can tell if you have fibromyalgia by performing a diagnostic test based on these “tender points.”But while these two conditions have much in common, it is simply not accurate to say that a gluten free diet can cure fibromyalgia.
Our tendency to view gluten as some kind of dietary boogeyman has led some to say that fibromyalgia can be explained as the body’s response to gluten. Unfortunately, there’s just not much evidence to support that. And though some people attest that eliminating gluten has cured their fibromyalgia symptoms, there are other explanations for this improvement.
People who eat gluten-free diets often say that they feel healthier, but the reality is that anyone who is careful about what they eat and avoids processed sugar and carbs is going to feel better. These things are known to be very bad for both physical and mental health. And in fact, they can make fibromyalgia symptoms much worse. So eliminating certain foods from your diet can make a big difference.
But gluten isn’t really one that most people need to worry about. Gluten is completely harmless to everyone except the small percentage who suffer from gluten-sensitivity. So if you feel like gluten-free dieting helps you, then by all means, keep it up. It’s probably not hurting you. But people who try to boil down a complex condition like fibromyalgia to eliminating one thing from their diet are doing a serious disservice to the people who suffer from it. They raise hope that there is an easy fix, when there simply isn’t.
So, am I totally wrong about gluten? Did not eating gluten make all your symptoms go away? Or do you get angry when you hear people say fibromyalgia is caused by an element of your diet? Let us know in the comments.
Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune and rheumatic disease. It’s one of those conditions that is incredibly varied from person to person, with scleroderma symptoms literally ranging from mildly annoying to life-threatening. It’s also pretty rare with estimates hovering around 300,000-500,000 scleroderma patients in the United States. One thing should be obvious from that statistic alone: it’s not contagious. It’s not cancerous either. And like many similar conditions in the autoimmune and rheumatic families, they aren’t really sure of what causes scleroderma either.
We can learn a little about it just from the name alone. It comes from Greek: “sclero” means hard and “derma,” of course, means skin. But what exactly does “hard skin” mean? And how can that possibly become life-threatening?
Scleroderma Symptoms
Hardened skin is actually one of the most visible manifestations, according to the Scleroderma Foundation. More specifically, it’s hardening connective tissue which is comprised of many kinds of proteins, including collagen. You see, as an autoimmune disease, the immune system turns against itself. In the case of scleroderma, the cells make excess collagen as if they are treating an injury. But there is no injury. Usually, one of the first places it can be noticed is on the fingers and hands. Indeed, the abnormal build-up of tissue in the skin can cause the skin to tighten so much, that the fingers curl and the patient loses the hand mobility.
While not every patient has the same experience, many experience a change in their fingers. Cold or stress causes their fingers to change colors due to a sensitivity. Also, their fingers and hands will become stiff and puffy. Johns Hopkins Medicine, which has an entire center solely focused on scleroderma, explains: “Finger color changes are caused by spasm and narrowing of blood vessels. This occurs because of excess collagen that has narrowed the blood vessels and over reaction of the skin blood vessel to cold temperatures and emotional stress. The cold sensitivity and color changes are called Raynaud’s (pronounced RAY-KNOWDS) phenomenon. Raynaud’s phenomenon is a common condition. Most people with Raynaud’s phenomenon will NOT develop scleroderma.”
Recall that scleroderma symptoms can even be life-threatening in some situations. Johns Hopkins adds that the reason for that has to do with the volume of skin involved. In other words, the more skin affected by scleroderma, the more serious the condition becomes.
Who Gets Scleroderma?
Even though scleroderma isn’t genetic, other family members tend to have other autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. Interestingly, Johns Hopkins adds, “African Americans and Native Americans generally have more severe scleroderma than Caucasians. These findings suggest a hereditary (genetic) component to scleroderma and other autoimmune disorders.” So, at the very least, there certainly appears to be some sort of predisposition that runs in certain families.
The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association says that, “of the 50 million Americans living and coping with autoimmune disease (AD), more than 75 percent of them are women.” Scleroderma is no exception, effecting a disproportionate number of women with estimates at six out of every seven patients. It develops most frequently between ages 22-55, but infants and the eldery have also been known to get it. And this is a really good time to emphasize the wide variety associated with scleroderma. These stats are merely the most common, but the rest of the data ranges all over the place. In fact, the Scleroderma Foundation says, “There are many exceptions to the rules in scleroderma, perhaps more so than in other diseases.” With that in mind, you will probably need to see both a neurologist and a dermatologist to be certain of a diagnosis.
How to Treat Scleroderma
Remember, there is no cure. That means your options for dealing with this condition fall into the category of management. An added difficulty to the fact that no two scleroderma stories are alike is that there are multiple kinds of this disease, each of which require a different sort of treatment. So, the first thing to do is identify which kind you have, what stage it’s in, and what organs are being effected. For example, one type can cause inflammation of the joints, muscles, or the lining of the heart or lungs. Thus, it typically responds well to antiinflammatories and corticosteroids. While another type of scleroderma inflammation relates to the tissue caused by the damage of the disease itself. Antiinflammatories and corticosteroids can actually cause more harm in these phases of scleroderma so they have to be used very precisely.
Johns Hopkins recommends other treatments such as immunosuppresive therapy, drug therapy of vascular disease (widespread with scleroderma), and anti-fibrotic agents.
Further Reading
For a more in-depth understanding of the comprehensive care related to scleroderma, Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center offers a download of Chapter 23 of Systemic Sclerosis (pdf) by Dr. Laura Hummers and Dr. Fred Wigley.
Having fibromyalgia is hard. It’s the kind of condition that changes your life completely. You can’t do the sort of things you used to, which means you have to make huge adjustments to your entire lifestyle. And through it all, you’re dealing with chronic, horrible pain and debilitating fatigue.
But fibromyalgia isn’t just hard for the people who have it. Too often we forget about how it can change the lives of those who have loved ones who suffer from the condition. Often, these people are thrust into the position of caregiver.
So what do you do when someone you love develops fibromyalgia? The most important thing is to educate yourself on the condition. There is a lot of misinformation out there about fibromyalgia, so it’s vital to get the real facts. So, let’s discuss what you should know about fibromyalgia if you have a loved one with the condition and talk about some tips for fibromyalgia caregivers.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
If your loved one is diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you may begin to notice that they are frequently tired or constantly in pain. That’s because fibromyalgia causes chronic fatigue and pain which radiates out of 18 specific points on the body. These points are called tender points because when you press into them, the pain spikes. But the pain doesn’t just occur when the points are touched.
Instead, the pain of fibromyalgia is basically constant. But that’s not to suggest that it’s always the same. The person you’re caring for may experience something known as “flare-ups.” These are basically days when the symptoms of the condition are much more severe. They’re typically caused by stress or physical activity, and they can be severe enough to make it almost impossible to get out of bed.
And you may also notice that, during these flare-ups, someone with fibromyalgia may seem especially forgetful, or have a hard time focusing. That’s because fibromyalgia causes a sort of mental cloudiness. People in the fibromyalgia community often refer to this as “fibro fog.”
We don’t know what causes fibromyalgia, but the best theory is that it’s somehow linked to a condition in the nervous system that causes the nerves to send out pain signals without any source of physical damage.
So, now that you know a little more about fibromyalgia, what are some things you should keep in mind when caring for someone who has the condition?
Tips For Fibromyalgia Caregivers
The first thing to consider when caring for someone with fibromyalgia is that they should remember to take their medication. Due to their fibro fog, they may sometimes forget. In addition, many people who struggle with fibromyalgia feel like their medication isn’t really working for them. And for many people, this may actually be true.
The standard medication for treating fibromyalgia is something called an SSRI. These drugs work by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain, and they can be helpful for a lot of people with the condition. But they don’t seem to work for everyone. As a result, the person with fibromyalgia may not want to take them. However, medication decisions should always be made by a doctor. If the person your caring for doesn’t feel like their medication is working, help them set up an appointment with their physician to discuss other options, but encourage them to take their medication until a doctor changes their prescription.
Many people with fibromyalgia also take opioid pain relievers. These carry their own risks, and as you’ve probably heard, opioid overdose deaths have often been described as an epidemic. Make sure that the person you’re caring for is taking these medications responsibly.
The second most important part of caring for someone with fibromyalgia is to remember that they are suffering. Often, people with fibromyalgia have a hard time maintaining relationships. Fibromyalgia is life-changing in more ways than one. It can change your personality when you’re struggling with chronic pain. And the fatigue and mental fog make it difficult to handle daily tasks.
So, the person you’re caring for might struggle with daily life, and it’s important to be there for them. Simply be a friend first and a caregiver second. Those struggles that people with fibromyalgia endure often lead to depression, which is something you should also watch out for. While fibromyalgia isn’t fatal, the suicide rate among people with fibromyalgia is tragically high. And the depression can be much worse if the person with the condition feels socially isolated.
So, keep a close lookout for signs of depression, and assist the person you’re caring for with getting professional help if it seems like they need it.
And remember, there isn’t much you can do to help someone with the pain of fibromyalgia, but you can make their life easier in a lot of ways. And most importantly, you can help them continue to live their lives as normally as possible.
So, are you providing care for someone with fibromyalgia? What other things should caregivers consider? Let us know in the comments.
Is There a Link Between Synesthesia and Fibromyalgia?
Written By: Wyatt Redd
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Image: Pixabay
We usually think of ourselves as having five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. But for some people, it’s a little more complicated. If you have a condition known as synesthesia, you might actually taste things that you see, or feel things that you hear. Or you may even see colors that other people don’t see.
There’s a lot that we don’t understand about the condition, but some people have suggested that there may be a link between synesthesia and fibromyalgia. And you may have heard somewhere that people with fibromyalgia are more likely to have the condition.
But is there actually a link? Are people with fibromyalgia really more likely to experience synesthesia? Let’s talk about what synesthesia actually is. And then let’s look at some of the evidence that may connect it to fibromyalgia?
What Is Synesthesia?
Basically, the things we sense are sent to the brain through a complicated system of nerves. But the sensations we think of as a taste or the way something feels actually occur in the brain. Your brain interprets the data your nerves collect into a sense. And while we don’t understand exactly how, these sensations can get crossed in the brain.
As a result, some people experience things as a combined sense, or synesthesia.
Typically, people are born with this condition. And it usually isn’t until later in life that they learn that they are different from everyone else. But there have been cases of people developing the condition after traumatic brain injuries. That suggests that it has something to do with the fundamental wiring of the nervous system and that changes to that wiring can produce the condition.
One of the most common forms of the condition is something called “grapheme-color synesthesia.” Basically, when someone with this form of the condition sees or hears a letter or number, they imagine it as being shaded a certain color. The color seems to be more or less random, but each letter or number has one. And if you were to show someone with the condition a letter that was already colored, they would see the number with the color they normally associate with it blended into the real color.
But there are also other types of synesthesia. Some people will see colors when they hear music, for instance, or will hear music when they see colors. As you can imagine, it’s a difficult concept to grasp for people who don’t have the condition.
And there’s also a form of the condition called “mirror-touch synesthesia.” People who have this form of the condition have a close association between things they see and things they feel. So if they see someone gets tapped on the shoulder, they may feel a tap on their own shoulder.
Again, we don’t know what causes this kind of synesthesia, but it seems to be linked with higher levels of empathy for other people’s pain. And that may actually be relevant to the question of a link between synesthesia and fibromyalgia.
Synesthesia And Fibromyalgia
Some therapists have reported that a significant number of the people they see with synesthesia also have chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia. Others have suggested that people with fibromyalgia have a higher level of empathy for other people’s pain, and thus are more likely to have mirror-touch synesthesia.
But, it’s worth pointing out that there has been very little formal study of the link between the two conditions. And a study that tested whether people with fibromyalgia were more likely to experience physical sensations when other people were in pain concluded that they were no more likely than the control group without fibromyalgia.
However, there have been studies that suggest that people with IBS are more likely to have synesthesia. And we know that there is also a definite link between IBS and fibromyalgia. Both conditions seemed to be linked to extra activity in the nervous system. It’s plausible that there is something going on in the nervous system that links these conditions to synesthesia. But there’s not much hard evidence for what that is at the moment.
And a link between IBS and synesthesia is not the same as a link between fibromyalgia and synesthesia. So, while it’s possible that further research will establish a link, but there’s no reason at the moment to think that there is one.
But let us know, do you think there might be a link? Do you experience synesthesia? Is it related to your fibromyalgia? Tell us in the comments.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by a number of symptoms. The biggest symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread and chronic body pain. This is caused by the over-sensitization of the central nervous system to pain signals from various parts of the body. This chronic pain can also lead to depression and mood swings in addition to affecting a person’s ability to interact properly in social situations.
Fibromyalgia also affects the cognitive ability of a person. Patients suffering from this disease reported difficulty in the ability to concentrate on their tasks. They also find it difficult to perform more than a single task at one time.
In addition to these problems, fibromyalgia also causes irregularities in the sleep patterns of a patient. People suffering from fibromyalgia report feeling tired even after long periods of continuous sleep.
The reason for this is that they are not actually getting a long period of continuous sleep. Rather, the sleep of a patient suffering from fibromyalgia is interrupted several times during the night.
This can be due to many reasons. The first of these is sleep apnea which is caused by irregularity in the breathing patterns while a person is sleeping. In sleep apnea, a person’s breathing is very irregular and may even stop for a number of seconds causing them to awaken. This period of wakefulness is too small to be remembered and a person cannot recall it once they are fully awake.
However, as sleep has been interrupted several times the body and brain continue to feel fatigued and all the regular problems that are associated with sleep deprivation can be seen clearly. Other problems that cause interrupted sleep are the chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia and other conditions like restless leg syndrome, muscle spasms, and tremors.
What can cause fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a very complicated disease. This is because it is a disease of the central nervous system. The main cause of fibromyalgia is thought to be an over sensitization or abnormal sensitization of the central nervous system in response to certain stimuli that are received from the sensory centers of the body.
This causes patients with fibromyalgia to have a central nervous system that overreacts to even the slightest impulses of pain giving rise to chronicle widespread body pain that cannot be pinpointed to a single cause.
Fibromyalgia is also thought to be genetically linked and may be hereditary. This disease and seem to be more common in people whose relatives have it than those who do not. There are also several triggers that are thought to begin the problems associated with fibromyalgia.
Among these are physiological and psychological stresses that are endured during physical injury or mental stresses. A lot of the patients suffering from fibromyalgia also have some kind of posttraumatic stress disorder or others psychological problem. It is also thought that injuries to the head and neck can cause a patient to develop this disease.
Food additives & fibromyalgia
In order to properly combat any disease, it is important to ensure that the diet is right. You are what you eat is a maxim that can be applied not only to the gyms but also to hospitals. One of the most common problems that is seen in people suffering from fibromyalgia is the disruption of the gastric system. Irritable bowel syndrome is very common among patients with fibromyalgia.
The best way to control and minimize the symptoms of fibromyalgia is to take a diet that is rich in fiber and completely balanced. This will greatly help in reducing any gastric distress and digestive problems which can go a long way in mitigating the other symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Food additives are constantly put in our food in order to enhance the flavor or the color or other superficial characteristics. These food additives such as MSG among others, cause severe problems that are very difficult to detect in their initial stages.
The harmful effects of food additives tend to accumulate over time and then present themselves when it is much too late and the problem has grown too much. It is important to avoid food additives as much as possible in order to minimize the risk of developing fibromyalgia later in life.
In case a person is already suffering from fibromyalgia, it is important to make significant lifestyle changes, one of the most important of which is diet. A healthy and balanced diet has very little if any room for food additives.
How Amitriptyline May Help People With Fibromyalgia
Written By: Fibromyalgia Treating
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Image: Alexander Raths/shutterstock
Over the years, various medications have undergone evaluation for use in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Those medications include muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), sedatives and tricylic antidepressants.
Tricylic antidepressants actually have some history in the treatment of fibromyalgia. In fact, several of these antidepressants are used in the treatment of the condition. Nortriptyline, doxepin and amitriptyline are all used in the treatment of fibromyalgia. When used for fibromyalgia, in particular, it has been demonstrated in studies to be the most efficient antidepressant for treating the condition.
About amitriptyline for fibromyalgia
Amitriptyline is, as mentioned, a type of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) used for treating clinical depression. As a result, it’s considered the most common TCA used around the world.
The antidepressant was originally developed by Merck, and was first synthesized in 1960. It was later approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April 1961.
This medication works as an inhibitor of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine. The medication’s mechanism of action acts strongly on the serotonin transporter, while it causes a moderate effect on the norepinephrine transporter. It doesn’t do anything to affect the dopamine transporter, however.
Amitriptyline is used for several medical conditions, including its FDA approved use for major depressive disorder. That doesn’t stop other medical resources from claiming it plays a role in assisting recovery from other similar conditions.
Amitriptyline is even said to act more efficient than other antidepressants when treating disorders. Interestingly enough, it is actually passed over for other newer antidepressants, since it is known to cause side effects and can get very toxic if consumed to overdose.
Antidepressants, especially tricylic antidepressants, have been used in the treatment of fibromyalgia for years. Tricylic antidepressants are actually some of the oldest antidepressants on the market, and have been utilized in fibromyalgia treatments for years.
Tricylic antidepressants like amitriptyline work by boosting the levels of the brain’s chemicals or neurotransmitters. When the levels of neurotransmitters are boosted, it prevents the brain from succumbing to impairment in its natural function. These antidepressants mainly boost the neurochemicals serotonin and norepinephrine. After taking these antidepressants, people with chronic pain typically feel much better, since they are known to have lower levels of those aforementioned neurotransmitters present in their brain.
Tricylic antidepressants also play a role in helping relax pain-ridden muscles. It also boosts the body’s natural painkiller, also known as endorphins. Even though these medications have positive results for conditions like fibromyalgia, they have various side effects that might make them hard to take on a regular basis.
Interestingly enough, the tricylic antidepressants that are prescribed for fibromyalgia include duloxetine, milnacipran and venlafaxine. Both duloxetine and milnacipran are already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for fibromyalgia treatment.
Venlafaxine has less research and, therefore, evidence supporting it as an effective treatment. Other antidepressants that have been studied and proposed as potential fibromyalgia treatments include citalopram, paroxetine and fluoxetine.
Amitriptyline falls in the category of relative untested tricylic antidepressants without further support as a fibromyalgia treatment. Though, it hasn’t stopped researchers from studying it and its potential as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia.
Studies on Amitriptyline
Antidepressants have been used to treat chronic pain disorders for years. Even though that’s true, only a limited amount of studies exist covering how tricylic antidepressants help people treat their fibromyalgia symptoms.
According to information collected about fibromyalgia and antidepressants, antidepressants like tricyclic antidepressants ‘produced mild to moderate improvements in [fibromyalgia] symptoms.’ In controlled studies, it was found that as much as ‘one third to half of the monitored patients responded to medication-based treatment.
There was one study that had tested the effects of amitriptyline and fluoxetine on patients with fibromyalgia. Patients in that study were given 25 mg of amitriptyline, while others were given 20 mg of fluoxetine.
As a result, the patients found that either medication helped reduce their fibromyalgia symptoms. Patients who took both medications found that the combination was actually ‘twice as effective’ than just taking one medication alone.
The dosages used for amitriptyline for fibromyalgia are much lower than the usual doses for treating depression. In most cases, dosage can be started at as low as 10 mg each day, taken 2 to 3 hours before going to sleep. This allows the patient to take advantage of the medication’s sedative effects without experiencing those same effects when awake.
Another study of amitriptyline followed 70 different patients with the condition with fibromyalgia. The study’s main purpose evaluated the effectiveness of a regular 50 mg dose for fibromyalgia.
The results of the study revealed some interesting data. The patients who had received the regular 50 mg dose for fibromyalgia saw a ‘significant improvement in their sleep quality, morning stiffness and pain thresholds.’ The ‘tender point score’ taken at the time didn’t improve.
Newer studies concerning the drug for fibromyalgia patients follow the newest iteration of fibromyalgia criteria. A complication of data from other studies about the medication found that ‘amitriptyline for fibromyalgia can continue to be used for [neuropathic pain] treatment, but most patients won’t achieve enough pain relief.’
Various studies collected in the complication lasted as long as 6 weeks (on average). They also tested between anywhere from 15 to as much as 100 participants, with four of the studies hosting over 100 participants. Each study administered doses between 15 mg to 125 mg.
Some studies gradually increased the dose during selected intervals of the study trial. Overall, no concrete evidence was found to support amitriptyline as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia. Some studies did find that it may play a role in reducing some neuropathic pain, such as the pain associated with fibromyalgia.
One of the worst things about living with fibromyalgia is the way it seems to lead to so many other conditions. People with fibromyalgia are more likely to experience everything from heartburn to restless leg syndrome. And one of the conditions that people with fibromyalgia frequently end up experiencing is trouble with the digestive tract, like when they develop inflammatory bowel disease.
But not only does fibromyalgia make you more likely to suffer from the condition, but it can make the pain much worse. So what is inflammatory bowel disease? How is it related to fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?
What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) covers a number a number of different conditions that lead to inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. That includes things like ulcerative colitis, where sores or ulcers develop inside the intestine, and Chron’s disease, where the digestive tract swells and grows inflamed. Both conditions lead to symptoms like weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stool, and severe stomach pain.
Over time, the chronic inflammation of the bowels can damage the lining of the digestive tract. And though the condition isn’t fatal in most cases, it can eventually lead to serious health problems.
We don’t know what causes IBD, but stress and diet both seem to play a role. And as with most conditions, genetics is probably a big factor as well. People with a family history of bowel conditions are more likely to develop them themselves. Finally, smoking is a serious health risk, especially when it comes to Chron’s disease.
And interestingly, having fibromyalgia seems to make you more likely to develop the condition as well.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease And Fibromyalgia
Studies have shown that people with inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis, are also more likely to have fibromyalgia. In fact, around 30% of people with UC also have fibromyalgia, which is high enough to suggest a link between the two conditions.
It’s hard to say what that link may be, especially when we don’t fully understand what causes either condition. But if UC is an autoimmune disease, as many people suggest, then it would make sense that it would frequently affect people with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia sufferers are generally more likely to develop autoimmune diseases than the rest of the population. And some people have even speculated that fibromyalgia itself may be an autoimmune condition. However, the majority of researchers agree that this is probably not the case.
The main reason for the link might actually be stress. People with fibromyalgia live very stressful lives as they struggle to cope with their chronic pain. And we know that stress makes you more likely to develop autoimmune diseases.
Whatever the reason, having fibromyalgia can also make the pain of inflammatory bowel disease much worse. That’s probably because the frequent pain of fibromyalgia makes your nerves more sensitive to all kinds of pain. As a result, people who have IBD with fibromyalgia feel the stomach pain of the condition more severely than other people. And that can make the condition much harder to live with.
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to treat it.
How Can You Treat It?
Obviously, the first step in treatment is getting a diagnosis. There are a few different methods doctors use to diagnose IBD. The first is a blood test that will check to see if your cells are delivering enough oxygen. If they aren’t delivering enough blood, a condition called anemia, then it’s a good sign that something is wrong. The doctor will then probably order a colonoscopy, where they insert a long, flexible tube with a camera into the bowels to check for signs of inflammation.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with the condition, the doctor can prescribe medication to treat it. The most common medication is basic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include things like aspirin and ibuprofen and work by blocking the production of enzymes that contribute to inflammation.
In addition, doctors might prescribe immuno-suppressant drugs that reduce the activity of the immune system. These immune cells contribute to inflammation, so by suppressing them, doctors can reduce the inflammation in the bowels.
Other treatments are focused on the symptoms, like anti-diarrheal medications and pain relievers. Finally, the chronic bleeding that sometimes comes with IBD can lead to iron deficiency in the blood. So, many doctors recommend iron supplements as well to prevent anemia.
If you’re suffering from intense abdominal pains or any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. They can help figure out what’s wrong and recommend a treatment plan.
So, do you have bowel issues with fibromyalgia? What do you think the link is? What do you do to manage them? Let us know in the comments.
When we talk about fibromyalgia, we usually focus on the physical symptoms. And that makes sense, the physical symptoms are so severe that they can completely change your life. Not to mention that any time we talk about medical conditions, we like to focus on the obvious things. What symptoms does it cause? Is there some way to treat them? What do I need to know to fix this?
Of course, when it comes to fibromyalgia, that approach ignores one of the hardest parts of living with the condition: the mental state it puts you in. Fibromyalgia isn’t just physically devastating, it can take a huge emotional toll on the people who suffer from it as well.
In fact, the toll is so heavy that people with fibromyalgia often show symptoms of something called panic disorder. Panic disorder is a mental health condition that leads to chronic anxiety and severe panic attacks. And if you’re not aware of it, those symptoms can be hard to recognize. So, what is panic disorder? How is it related to fibromyalgia? And what can you do to help manage it?
Panic Disorder
Do you ever get a sudden, intense rush of fear? Have you ever experienced a sudden sweating in your hands, numbness radiating across your chest, and a feeling like something really bad is about to happen? If so, you may have experienced a panic attack.
Panic attacks are basically what the name suggests. They’re intense episodes of panic that come on suddenly and result in uncontrollable anxiety. They also lead to physical symptoms like sweaty palms, a pounding heart rate, and light-headedness. A lot of people suffer from one every now and then, but if you’re experiencing them frequently, then the odds are good that you have panic disorder, which causes recurrent and frequent panic attacks.
We don’t know what causes panic disorder, but there are a few things that definitely seem to make it worse like smoking, drug use, and chronic stress. And some researchers have suggested that the cause could be our “flight or fight response.” Basically, when you’re in danger, your body pumps out adrenaline and prepares to either fight or run. But when you have a panic attack, your body triggers this response for no real reason and you struggle with the effects.
One of the worst things about panic attacks is that a lot of anxiety actually comes from the attacks themselves. A panic attack is an intensely frightening experience. And the physical symptoms can be similar to a heart attack or other life-threatening condition. So, you may even feel like you’re about to die in the middle of an attack.
So, it’s easy to see how these attacks form a kind of feedback loop. You have an attack because you have anxiety, then you worry that you’re going to experience another attack, which increases that anxiety and makes you more likely to have another one.
And when you have fibromyalgia, a condition that naturally leads to anxiety and stress, it can be even worse.
Panic Disorder And Fibromyalgia
Obviously, fibromyalgia leads to a lot of stress. There are medical bills that you have to worry about and obligations that you have to find some way to meet. And through it all, you’re struggling with constant, horrible pain. So it makes sense that people with fibromyalgia often have mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
But these issues also make it more likely that you’ll suffer from panic attacks. The chronic stress of the condition leaves you constantly on edge mentally, and for some people, all it takes is a small trigger to set off an attack.
Stress is something everyone deals with, but chronic stress can actually be very dangerous. It can lead to a wide range of health problems. And it can even reduce your life expectancy. Not to mention that adding panic disorder to fibromyalgia can make the stress even worse.
Luckily, there are things you can do to treat the condition.
Managing The Condition
There are a few antidepressant medications that doctors use to treat panic disorder. These drugs work by helping to balance the level of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and plays an important role in regulating our moods. When your serotonin levels are low, you’re more likely to experience depression and anxiety.
In addition, doctors can prescribe something called beta blockers. These drugs stop adrenaline from reaching the receptors in your brain and are good for stopping a panic attack quickly if you feel like you have one coming on.
But, medication is really only half of the treatment for panic disorder. It’s important to combine it with visits to a therapist. A good therapist can help you find ways to cope with your anxiety and work through the issues in your life that are stressing you out.
So, do you suffer from anxiety? Is it related to your fibromyalgia? What do you do to treat it? Let us know in the comments.
If there’s one thing someone with fibromyalgia knows, it’s pain. After all, anyone living with the kind of chronic, excruciating pain that fibromyalgia causes quickly finds that their life becomes all about it.
But did you know that there are actually several different types of pain?
Doctors spend a lot of their time trying to help people in pain. And they’ve developed a system for classifying it over the years. One of these categories is something called “visceral pain.” Visceral pain can be one of the most painful kinds and is often an indication that something is seriously wrong with the body.
So, let’s talk about visceral pain. What is it? What causes it? And what can you do about it?
What Is Visceral Pain?
The most widely accepted system for classifying pain breaks it into two large categories: nociceptive and neuropathic.
Nociceptive pain is a normal response to injury or disease that arises in the tissue of the body. Meanwhile, neuropathic pain is rooted in the nervous system. And within those categories are subcategories, including visceral pain.
Visceral pain is classified under nociceptive pain because it comes from within the tissue of the body. Specifically, visceral pain affects the inner organs, or viscera. This category usually refers to organs inside the abdomen like the liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart.
Doctors used to believe that these organs were actually unable to feel pain. But we now understand that these organs just feel pain differently than the rest of the body. If you were to say, slice your liver with a knife, you may not actually feel that much pain. But if you were to twist or stretch your liver, you would experience a great deal of pain.
That’s because of the way the nervous system around these organs is structured. These nerves are very sensitive to certain types of pain and insensitive to others. And visceral pain is often very felt very differently from other types of pain as well.
The pain is often described as a sort of vague, unpleasant sensation that seems to spread across the abdomen. And it is often hard to identify by the feeling where the pain is actually coming from. In addition, visceral pain can produce symptoms in your mood. Many people who suffer from this type of pain report feelings of malaise or anxiety.
That’s not to suggest that visceral pain isn’t as physically uncomfortable as other types of pain. In fact, when someone develops a medical condition that leads to visceral pain, it can be truly agonizing.
What Causes It?
For instance, one source of visceral pain, kidney stones, is considered by many to be the most intense physical pain that someone can experience. People have even described it being worse than the pain of childbirth. Kidney stones are caused by a build-up of minerals in the kidneys that grow into solid masses inside the organs and have to be passed through the urinary tract, a process which can be miserable to go through.
And generally, any condition that leads to inflammation or distention (being pulled out of place) of the organs can lead to extreme visceral pain. For instance, a heart attack is one of the most common conditions that lead to visceral pain. And conditions like inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or clots in the veins that prevent blood from flowing to organs are common causes of visceral pain as well.
There are many different, less-common sources of pain in the organs, and a doctor will be able to give you a diagnosis of what is causing your pain. And that diagnosis will determine how your pain is treated.
How Can You Treat It?
The first step in treating visceral pain is to help the patient with the pain itself. There are a number of ways to do this, like opioid pain-relievers or a nerve block, where medication is injected directly into a group of nerves to cut off the sensation of pain.
After finding a way to manage the pain, the doctor will try to identify what is causing it. Treatment will then focus on fixing the underlying issue. For a condition like kidney stones, for instance, doctors can use a machine that sends shockwaves into the kidneys, breaking the stones up into smaller pieces that are easier to pass.
Ultimately, what type of treatment you get will depend on what condition you have. Always consult a doctor as soon as possible if you’re experiencing severe pain. They will be able to recommend effective treatment.
So, have you experienced visceral pain? Is it worse than other types of pain? What did you do for treatment? Let us know in the comments.
Achalasia is a rare disease. So rare in fact, that you may never have heard of it. But for people who suffer from the condition, it’s very real and often extremely painful. And it actually has a fair amount of relevance for people with fibromyalgia.
That’s because people with fibromyalgia often deal with persistent heartburn. And achalasia can mimic many of the symptoms of that condition. So it’s possible that if you have fibromyalgia and you’re dealing with frequent chest pains, you may actually have achalasia. And learning to recognize the signs can help prevent misdiagnoses and help you get effective treatment.
So, what is Achalasia? Why is it a concern for people with fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?
What Is Achalasia?
Achalasia is a condition where the muscles in the lower esophagus lose the ability to relax and contract. That ability of the esophagus to relax and contract is important in the process of digestion. When you swallow food, the esophagus expands to allow it to pass into the stomach. When you have achalasia, this normal process stops functioning correctly. And food can essentially get stuck in the esophagus. Obviously, this is often quite painful.
We don’t fully understand what causes the condition, but it probably has something to do with damage to the nerves that control the muscles in the esophagus.
The condition leads to a number of uncomfortable symptoms. There’s the obvious difficulty swallowing food or liquids. And when food gets trapped in the esophagus, your body may naturally regurgitate it. If this regurgitation occurs when you are lying down, the food may actually travel into the lungs, which can be dangerous.
And achalasia can also lead to sharp chest pains with no clear cause. This pain is a little different from heartburn, but people with the condition can have heartburn as well. That fact can sometimes make it difficult to diagnose the condition.
Achalasia is quite rare, but heartburn is very common. So, if you’re experiencing pain in the chest, a doctor will likely assume that you’re suffering from acid reflux. Luckily, there are a few tests that can determine if you have Achalasia. The doctor can take X-rays of the esophagus to look for contractions, or use an endoscopy tube to visually examine the esophagus.
People with fibromyalgia also have a higher risk of heartburn, which means that you may experience symptoms similar to achalasia.
Achalasia And Fibromyalgia
Having fibromyalgia makes you more likely to develop heartburn. The most likely explanation for this link is that having fibromyalgia makes it difficult to exercise. A condition that causes chronic fatigue and constant pain obviously makes getting regular cardio a challenge.
As a result, people with fibromyalgia often struggle with obesity. Those extra pounds put pressure on the stomach and esophagus, which can lead to acid reflux. Acid reflux causes chronic chest pain, which can sometimes be quite sharp. And these symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from achalasia.
If you’re experiencing chest pain, it’s always a good idea to see a doctor. It may even be a symptom of a more serious condition like heart problems.
What Are Your Treatment Options?
Your treatment will depend on which condition you have. If you have achalasia, there are a few options. Your doctor may perform a procedure where a balloon is inserted into the esophagus and inflated, forcing it to open. This procedure may need to be repeated several times if the condition reoccurs.
In addition, the doctor can inject muscle relaxants directly into the esophagus. This procedure may also need to be repeated regularly for best results.
There are also more permanent surgical procedures. The most common procedure is called a Heller myotomy and involves cutting away a portion of the esophagus, expanding the space for food to pass through. But this procedure can increase your risk of developing acid reflux. So, it may need to be combined with a procedure where a portion of the stomach is wrapped around the lower part of the esophagus, tightening the muscles to prevent reflux.
If you’re just suffering from acid reflux, your best bet is to lose weight. Losing just a few pounds can significantly improve your symptoms. But there are also a number of effective medications that reduce the amount of stomach acid you produce. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best treatment program for you.
So, do you suffer from heartburn? Do you think it’s related to your fibromyalgia? Have you ever had achalasia? What did you do to treat it? Let us know in the comments.
Dysphagia is a medical term that means that a patient has difficulty swallowing. There are a number of different conditions that can cause dysphagia. And someone who suffers from dysphagia often finds that it makes life very difficult. Depending on their condition, swallowing can be very painful, which makes eating and getting enough nutrition a challenge.
And what’s even more alarming is that many people with fibromyalgia report having problems with dysphagia.
So, what are some of the things that can cause dysphagia? Is there a link between the condition and fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?
What Causes Dysphagia?
There are a number of different things that can cause dysphagia. Anything that interferes with the complex system of nerves and muscles that control the esophagus can make swallowing difficult. But some of the most common causes are:
Achalasia– a condition that causes the muscles in the esophagus to constrict.
Diffuse Spasm– a condition where the muscles spasm uncontrollably, usually after swallowing.
Esophageal Stricture– a narrowing of the opening of the esophagus caused by scar tissue or tumors.
Gastro-Intestinal Reflux Disease (GERD)– The gradual destruction of the tissue in the esophagus caused by acid from the stomach washing up into the esophagus.
Dysphagia can also occur without any obvious source. But whatever the cause, the symptoms are often similar. The most commons symptoms are difficulty swallowing, pain in the throat, frequent heartburn, a hoarse voice, and regurgitating food you’ve already eaten.
In most cases, dysphagia isn’t dangerous. But it can lead to dramatic weight loss and can be life-threatening if it causes you to regurgitate food into the lungs.
And while we don’t always know what causes the condition, we do know that it is abnormally common in people with fibromyalgia.
Dysphagia And Fibromyalgia
A study by the National Institute of Health in the United States determined that a significant number of patients with fibromyalgia reported problems with swallowing. Patients in the study reported suffering from dysphagia at a rate 40% higher than people without fibromyalgia.
Unfortunately, the reason this sort of symptom is common in people with fibromyalgia remains a mystery. There’s so much that we don’t know about how fibromyalgia works, including why it would cause dysphagia. But we can speculate on a number of possibilities.
People with fibromyalgia often experience muscle weakness. This weakness could explain why they suffer from dysphagia. The muscles that control the process of swallowing may be affected by the general weakness caused by fibromyalgia.
In addition, we know that people with fibromyalgia have problems with their nervous system. An NIH study found that patients with fibro had significantly more neurological abnormalities than a control group. If fibromyalgia is a condition that affects the nervous system, as many doctors suggest it is, then it could be causing a breakdown between the nerves that control the esophagus and the brain.
This would explain why people with fibromyalgia have a hard time swallowing. Their brain can’t control the muscles in the esophagus as it normally would. But until we know more about the condition, we can’t say for sure what the link is.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to treat the condition.
Treatment Options
The first step in treatment is a diagnosis. The most common way to diagnose the condition is with an imaging test, like a barium X-ray. Essentially, the patient drinks a contrast material – barium- which coats the esophagus and makes it easier to see on the X-ray. The doctor can then examine the image to see if your esophagus is expanding correctly. And this examination can also be done with an endoscopic camera.
Your treatment will depend on what’s causing the condition. If the condition is caused by weakened muscles, there are a number of exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles. And you can learn different swallowing techniques to compensate for the weakened muscles. Your doctor will be able to advise you on what to do.
If the treatment is caused by muscle constriction in the esophagus, there are a number of medications that can help relax the muscles. In addition, a surgeon can perform a procedure to dilate the muscles and force them to relax. Finally, a surgeon can remove portions of the esophagus to widen the space for food to pass through.
If you’re experiencing difficulties swallowing, it’s always a good idea to see a doctor. They will be able to give you advice on the best course of treatment.
So, have you ever had dysphagia? Do you think it’s related to fibromyalgia? What did you do to treat it? Let us know in the comments.
For many their only information about fibromyalgia comes from commercials about treatment options. In those commercials, most of the patients are young to middle-aged. But fibromyalgia is not just a young person’s disease and studies have focused on its effect on the quality of life in older people with fibromyalgia.
Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia can be the same as symptoms of other diseases associated with aging, sometimes other diseases have been diagnosed when those symptoms are actually a result of the fibromyalgia. For example, some older people who complain of widespread pain may be misdiagnosed as having a form of arthritis. Seniors with cognitive difficulties may be mistakenly diagnosed with dementia when they are suffering from “fibro fog.” This can be detrimental since patients fare better the earlier they are diagnosed and can receive treatment.
Older people with fibromyalgia
A recent study published recently in the Turkish medical journal Agri Pain gave researchers another look at older people with fibromyalgia. While the study group was small, the results mirrored those from other studies conducted recently. One-hundred patients between the ages of 65 and 80 were in the group. Of these patients, 31 percent had fibromyalgia and the rest did not. Of those with the condition, 25 were women and six were men.
The group
The study looked at various ailments affecting the older population. The following compares the diagnosis between older people with fibromyalgia patients who do not have the condition.
Table 1
While some of the patients without fibromyalgia complained of more hip and knee pain, those with the condition scored higher in overall pain and other symptoms. Those included lack of sleep, energy, social isolation and emotional reactions.
Study conclusions
Noting its limitations because of the number of patients, the study did not just cite its own data. In referencing a 2009 study, also done in Turkey, researchers noted that in 80 patients between the ages of 20 and 57 the most common complaint was fatigue. Ninety-seven point five percent of patients complained of this symptom. The next most commons symptom was morning stiffness with 77.5 percent. Sleep problems were reported in 71.3 percent.
Researchers concluded the study by saying the severity of fibromyalgia reduced with increasing age and that the finding was consistent with previous studies. In other words, middle-age adults reported more symptoms than their older counterparts. One of the reasons cited in the study is that younger people want to be perceived as younger and active and are less tolerant of fibromyalgia symptoms.
Treating older people with fibromyalgia
Treating someone over the age of 60 for any disease comes with complications not found in younger patients. Here are a few tips to consider if you or your loved one is facing a fibromyalgia diagnosis at an older age:
Work with your doctor on medications. Often seniors have a host of medical problems such as heart conditions or arthritis. Make sure any medication prescribed won’t have a negative reaction with what you or your loved one is already taking.
One of the symptoms of fibromyalgia is cognitive problems. It may be easy for a doctor to attribute any confusion to fibromyalgia. Ask questions of the doctor to get a correct diagnosis.
Exercise is often recommended as a way to alleviate pain for fibromyalgia patients. With elderly patients, movement may be more difficult. Consider some low impact weight training or water exercises to minimize impact. Tai-chi has been recommended as a low-impact approach to managing health that may benefit senior citizens.
Fibromyalgia patients of all ages struggle with sleep problems. Following a regular bedtime pattern can help reduce these symptoms in senior citizens.
Even with increased awareness of fibromyalgia, the condition is still misdiagnosed and misunderstood, not only for seniors but for patients of all ages. But due to other age-related issues, seniors particularly need to be aware of their symptoms and any possible link to fibromyalgia.
Dealing with Comorbidity: Managing Multiple Diagnoses
Written By: Tiffany Vance-Huffman
admin
If you’re here, there’s a good chance you have fibromyalgia. And if you have fibro, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with some other conditions at the same time. As if the myriad of symptoms associated with fibro weren’t enough, there’s something about it that makes you susceptible to other problems. For example, even though fibromyalgia is not officially classified as an autoimmune disease, it nevertheless is linked to them. Some research even shows that having autoimmune diseases makes you more susceptible to fibro.
So, if you’re reading this, then you or someone you love is probably trying to cope with lupus and/or rheumatoid arthritis as well as fibromyalgia. But wait, there’s more! You’re probably also trying to manage your migraines, IBS, restless legs, pelvic pain, depression, and even obesity. And let’s not leave out the constant juggling of treatments, medications, doctor visits, special diets, limited activity, and sleepless nights. I can keep going, but I’m confident you get the point. You’re also likely frustrated and depressed just being reminded of all the conditions you have to cope with every day.
The Department of Health and Human Services adds, “the health care system is primarily organized to provide care on a disease-by-disease basis. So when individuals see a number of specialists, the opportunity for confusion escalates.” This can be especially true when it comes to medications. For example, you may take a medication for your depression that sends your anxiety or migraines through the roof. The possibilities for chaos with medications alone are endless.
Try an Osteopath
The Association of American Medical Colleges provides a list of over 120 specialties and sub-specialties in Western medicine. On the surface, you might think that this is a good thing. It can be. But it can also cause big problems. Not the least of which is the concept of treating symptoms, rather than the actual problem. That’s because you have a root problem that manifests itself in multiple ways. It may appear to be one condition and several unrelated issues. When, in reality, they are all tied to the same problem that has yet to be determined. So, what does your specialist do? They treat the symptoms that are within their specialty.
But take a look at a different kind of doctor. Though still within the Western system of medicine, osteopathy is a different kind of practice all together. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine explains, “As guardians of wellness, DOs [Doctors of Osteopathy, as opposed to MD which stands for Medical Doctor] focus on prevention by gaining a deeper understanding of your lifestyle and environment, rather than just treating your symptoms.” Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. You see, an osteopath takes a holistic approach. That means, rather than simply treating migraines, for example, they are going to look at everything else going on in your body, your mind, and what’s happening in your life.
Visiting an osteopath can make a life changing difference for someone trying to cope with multiple conditions. They are also trained to work with the body’s natural tendency to heal itself. And if you’re insistent on seeing a specialist, then guess what? There are more than 100,000 Doctors of Osteopathy in the U.S. who are practicing in every medical specialty.
Stop Criticizing Yourself
You know how you blame yourself because of being sick and tired all the time? Hopefully no one has ever said such ignorant words to you. Although, having been through severe postpartum depression, I know that some of the most well-meaning people in your life can say some of the most thoughtless things to you. While I certainly do not advocate violence, there is a tiny part of me that thinks about punching them when I go back to those words.
But let’s get back to you and the hate-filled and thoughtless things you tell yourself. You know you do it, but you probably don’t even think about it. “It’s my fault anyway. I shouldn’t have….” fill-in-the-blank. Or a classic you might here from others but would never dream of saying yourself (except you actually do): “This is absurd. I should just get over it, pick myself up, and get on with life.”
But here’s the thing: you’re a HUMAN. You didn’t cause this. Oh, you don’t believe me? So, you’re telling me that you woke up one day and thought, “Ya know, I think I’d like to spend the next several years in bed using medications that make me sick, having surgeries, and just stay in chronic pain.” Did you? No, of course not. No one does that because no one wants to suffer.
One chronically ill woman writes of her experience after finding Danea Horn’s book, Chronic Resilience: 10 Sanity Saving Strategies for Women Coping with the Stress of Illness. She writes “that the idea isn’t that we have no control. The idea is to let go of asking “Why?” and instead focus on, “What can I do that’s useful?” And for me, I think all this analyzing has gone too far. The next time I get stuck in a worry groove asking “Why?” or “What have I done?” I’m going to gently tell myself, “Hey, you haven’t done anything wrong. You’ve already got the answer. You’re human.”
We still don’t know what causes fibromyalgia. But we often treat it with a class of drugs that are usually used to treat disorders like seizures. While these drugs can help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia, they can also cause a range of side effects, including dyskinesia.
Dyskinesia is a condition that causes frequent, uncontrollable movements of the limbs. And it can become very difficult to manage if you suffer from it for a long time. So what exactly is dyskinesia, what’s the link to fibromyalgia, and what can you do to treat it?
What Is Dyskinesia?
Tardive dyskinesia, or TD, is a common side effect of drugs used to treat seizures. One in particular that we should look at when it comes to fibromyalgia is Gabapentin. Gabapentin works by calming the interaction between nerves in the brain. This is effective for treating seizures which are caused by rapid-firing interactions between these nerves. But it’s also frequently used to treat fibromyalgia.
Gabapentin can work to manage many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Interestingly, in addition to the pain, it’s often prescribed to treat some of the chronic itching that comes along with fibromyalgia. It’s a symptom we don’t often think of when it comes to fibromyalgia, but chronic itching can be one of the worst elements of the condition if you suffer from it.
Because the chronic itching seems to be the result of interactions between the nerves, Gabapentin can help to treat the itching.
But it can also lead to dyskinesia. Dyskinesia is basically an uncontrollable tendency to jerk your legs or arms. But it can also include other less obvious things like a tendency to purse or smack your lips together. The condition is usually worse when you have been resting, which can make the sleep issues caused by fibromyalgia even worse. But in addition, TD can cause you to jerk your head, blink your eyes, or even stick out your tongue without really realizing that you are doing it.
Dyskinesia And Fibromyalgia
It’s believed that TD is caused by low levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Low levels of dopamine are actually quite common in people with fibromyalgia, though we don’t know why. But TD seems to be more of a side effect of medications used to treat fibromyalgia than a complication of fibromyalgia itself.
The most likely reason that someone would develop TD is if they’ve been taking a drug like a SSRI or anti-seizure medication for at least three months. And we know that the majority of people who suffer from both TD and fibromyalgia tend to be older women.
So, people who have fibromyalgia currently being treated with these kinds of drugs have an elevated risk of developing it. And there are many anecdotal accounts of people who have developed it as a result of their fibromyalgia medication. If you’re interested, you can likely ask around within the fibromyalgia community and find people who have had a similar experience.
How Is It Treated?
The best way to cure TD is to simply stop taking the medications that cause it. Of course, this isn’t always an option. Many people depend on those medications to keep their fibromyalgia symptoms in check. And you should never stop taking a medication on your own without first consulting a doctor.
If you think you’re suffering from TD, you can go to a doctor for a test. The doctor will determine if you’re suffering from involuntary movements. They may decide that it is the result of your medication, or it’s possible that you’re suffering from another condition that causes involuntary movements. There are a number of these conditions including cerebral palsy, brain tumors, or Parkinson’s disease. Going to a doctor is a good way to eliminate some of these other possibilities.
There’s no medication that’s currently approved by the FDA to treat TD, but some psychiatric drugs might help. Others have reported success with treating the condition with dietary supplements like Gingko, but the scientific evidence for this is somewhat limited.
If the TD is really debilitating, you may have to judge with your doctor whether the benefits you get from the medication is worth the side effects. It’s an unfortunate position to be in, but we don’t really have any other good alternatives at the moment.
So, let us know. Do you suffer from TD? Is it related to your fibromyalgia medication? How did you decide what you needed to do? Did any supplements help you? Tell us in the comments.
Travel is a necessary part of life in our modern world. Many people enjoy the excitement of getting to see a new place and to experience a change of scenery. Jobs often require occasional or frequent travel as well. Travel feels like a disruption of your normal schedule under the best of circumstances. But when you have fibromyalgia, this can take a much greater toll on your health. Here’s how you can make travel more comfortable when you have fibromyalgia.
Schedule in Extra Rest
Travel is likely to require more rest time to help you recover, especially if you cross multiple time zones. Make sure to block out extra time to get rest before, during, and after your trip. Schedule times for naps if possible. If you work outside the home, see if you can arrange to work from home or on an abbreviated schedule in the days leading up to and immediately following a trip.
Make a Detailed Plan
Travel doesn’t have to be freewheeling and spontaneous, and flying by the seat of your pants isn’t necessary to have a good time. Planning your daily schedule is a lot more important when you have fibromyalgia. Creating a daily plan of your intended activities limits the exhaustion that comes from last-minute changes or unexpectedly long waits. Make sure your “must-see” sites are on the top of your list so that you don’t return home with regrets over things you missed.
Have a Talk with Your Travel Companions
Most people push themselves to the limits while traveling, trying to get as much done as possible in each day. This doesn’t work when you have fibromyalgia. You may have to go to fewer places, move a little more slowly, or schedule time out for a brief siesta in the afternoon. Tell your travel companions about your limitations to help prevent them from getting frustrated with you and to make you less likely to exceed your boundaries.
Take a Comfort/Survival Kit
Your home is already customized in several ways to make you most comfortable. This is true for everyone but especially so if you have fibromyalgia. Don’t look at travel as a time when you have to live without these support items – bring them with you! Whether it’s a lumbar support pillow, thermal pads, or spray bottles of cooling mist, create your own personal collection of things that will help you feel more comfortable wherever you are.
Pace Yourself
You may not have control over the pace of your days if you’re traveling for business, but choose to see the sights on your own schedule whenever possible. You may want to avoid most guided tours as these are designed with efficiency in mind and this may push you past your limits.
Pack Light
Many people pack too much for a trip. Women are especially likely to bring far more clothes than they need, in addition to toiletries and entertainment items. But this is just extra weight that you need to lug around and that’s the last thing you need when you have fibromyalgia. Choose easy-care pieces designed to easily mix and match. Take advantage of laundry service in your hotel if necessary.
Opt Out of Some Things
Don’t feel obligated to participate in everything if you’re not feeling up for it. There’s no harm in letting your travel companions go on to see a landmark they really want to see or do something too physically strenuous for you. Let them go and have their fun while you take a rest period and catch up with them later.
Fibromyalgia comes in with a whole lot of challenges and limitations, and handling the pain is just one of them.
As if choosing the right lotions and soaps wasn’t difficult enough, there is also the issue of choosing the right clothes that don’t hurt and are breathable.
Lucky for you, I have got the list of fabrics that are best for fibro sufferers
Choosing underwear and bras
Many of the fibromyalgia sufferers choose to go commando when they are at home just to relieve the pain, but if you pick the right fabrics, there is really no need for that.
For underwear, go for cotton ones which do not have any elastic waistband because those could really cause pressure on your stomach. Also, no thongs or bikini underwear.
Coming to bras, you need to make sure that you are wearing the right size. If the band is too tight, or if you feel any extra pressure on your back, then you need to get measured up again.
Also, ditch all your underwire bras. Yes, they might give you that extra support and push up but it’s not worth the pain.
Picking out dresses
Always go for dresses with light fabrics like cotton or chiffon. Choose the dresses that flow and do not have any elastic bands around the sleeves or the waist.
To keep yourself comfortable, you could wrap yourself with a woollen scarf.
Finding shirts and sweaters
Pick out pure cotton or cotton blend shirts, but make sure they are one size bigger than what you usually wear to keep the comfort levels high. For days when you are too much in pain, opt for button-up shirts instead of T-shirts because the former are easier to wear.
While buying sweaters, make sure they are lightweight because bulky woollen sweaters could put pressure on your skin.
Trousers and skirts
Yes, denims make us look amazing, but wearing them can be extremely painful. So this is where you need to keep fashion aside and take your wellbeing seriously.
Go for cotton blend loose fitted trousers for formal meetings, and drawstring sweatpants for everything else.
And for skirts, stick to silk fabrics with comfortable waistbands.
Also, if you do like to wear socks daily, then skip the long ones and wear ankle waist socks instead. And remember – stay away from bulky fabrics, cotton should be your way to go.
You could give tight diabetic hosiery a try, but not everyone feels comfortable in them.
Panty hoses are a big no-no because they are skin tight and they can leave you in severe pain. If you don’t want to show bare legs, just wear a long dress instead.
What fabrics to stay away from
Though the answer will differ from person to person, as a whole stay away from man-made fabrics like nylon, polyester, acetate, acrylic and rayon.
All of these fabrics have been chemically created and they are a source of toxins. Before buying clothes, have a look at the clothing label properly. The company might claim the clothes are ‘pure cotton’ when actually they might be 90% cotton, and 10% polyester.
Also, try and see what fabrics work the most for you. If certain fabrics are causing too much discomfort, discard them immediately and move further. After all, it is all about easing the pain.
Fibromyalgia Treating is now part of the RedOrbit.com community!
We are excited to announce that FibromyalgiaTreating.com is now part of RedOrbit.com. All of the same great people, writers and editors but now with more firepower. We now have access to an enormous amount of additional research information
from doctors and scientists. We can now extend to other conditions that may be part of your everyday lives and help you on a broad level if that is what you need. We are here for you and now, better than ever so sit back and enjoy
the new Fibromyalgia Treating by RedOrbit!
