Dear Fibromyalgia

Category: Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Learn how Fibromyalgia is diagnosed, including key symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and the tests used to rule out other conditions.

  • The Consequences of Delay in Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia in Patients

    Results released from a national survey of U.S. women with fibromyalgia, illustrate the private and prolonged physical and emotional struggles patients with this condition face, underscored by delays in diagnosis, which a majority of respondents report as being one year or longer.

    As a result of fibromyalgia, two thirds (67%) of respondents say they are unable to keep up with household chores, nearly half (47%) report that their work-life or career has been negatively affected, and two in five (42%) spend less quality time with their friends. Nearly one-third (31%) say fibromyalgia has negatively affected their ability to experience intimacy.

    Fibromyalgia is a condition marked by chronic, widespread pain and tenderness, and decreased physical function. It affects six to 12 million Americans, mostly women, three-quarters of whom are estimated to be undiagnosed. Results of the 48-state, 508-person survey were released by sources the nation’s leading independent source of health information for women. The survey was sponsored by Forest Laboratories, Inc.

    “Fibromyalgia is a common medical condition affecting women,” said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, Executive Director of HealthyWomen.org and a registered nurse. “It is estimated that there could be as many American women living with fibromyalgia as there are living with diabetes. And while increased awareness has dramatically improved care for patients with this condition, we still have a lot of work to do to ensure patients have the support they need to live their lives fully.”

    Remarkably, one in four (23%) respondents report having suffered for at least five years before receiving a diagnosis for their condition. Most respondents (71%) say they waited until they could no longer tolerate their symptoms before seeking a diagnosis. Examples of perceived barriers to a proper diagnosis include patients’ own lack of knowledge about the condition and physicians not recognizing symptoms.

    Although fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder, a majority of respondents say they fear skepticism about their condition, with 64% expressing concern about being taken seriously, and 79% indicating the top quality they seek in a healthcare professional is assurance that their condition is being taken seriously.

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    “This survey quantifies what patients and their supporters have known and experienced that stigma, skepticism, lack of knowledge about fibromyalgia, and delays in diagnosis contribute negatively to patient outcomes,” added Battaglino Cahill. “However, with more knowledge, patients are overcoming these barriers to improving their lives, and that is an important lesson we can take away from this survey.”

    Early diagnosis is important

    Respondents whose diagnosis was delayed were more likely to report severe symptoms (68%) at the time of diagnosis, compared to those who were diagnosed within a year (42%). Patients diagnosed within a year are also significantly less likely to experience daily challenges in the management of their households, relationships, and careers.

    “An earlier diagnosis is important,” said David Edelberg, M.D., founder of WholeHealth Chicago and a physician specializing in fibromyalgia treatment. “The sooner patients are diagnosed, the sooner they can begin an effective management plan and get back to their daily activities. This is why it’s critical for both doctors and patients to communicate effectively and for patients to not wait until they can no longer bear their symptoms before seeking help.”

    Effective treatment and support from loved ones are critical

    Since being treated, 51% of patients believe that their overall day-to-day life has improved. In addition, a greater number of patients who received more support from their spouse report that their day-to-day life has improved due to treatment (56%), compared to those who received the same amount of or less support (47%) since being treated.

    Respondents say the following types of treatment have improved their symptoms:

    — Prescription drug therapy (58%)

    — Exercise (46%)

    — Alternative therapies (43%), such as massage, meditation, acupuncture, and chiropractic care

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    Unfortunately, many patients do not receive the support from friends and loved ones that they need:

    — Of the 43% of respondents who say they rely most often on their spouse or significant other for support, only about a quarter (27%) say this person fully understands how fibromyalgia affects them
    — After learning about their diagnosis, less than half of respondents say their friends (28%), children (33%), and spouses (43%) offered more support

    “Arriving at an earlier and accurate diagnosis is only the first step for patients with fibromyalgia,” said Battaglino Cahill. “Women need to work closely with their physicians to find an effective treatment plan, and friends and loved ones must do their part to provide the ongoing encouragement that is critical to a patient’s improvement.”

    About the survey

    The survey, known as WE FEEL (Women Expressing Fibromyalgia’s Effects on their Everyday Lives), was designed to gather data and better understand perspectives on diagnosis and treatment, the relationship between fibromyalgia patients and their physicians, the impact of the condition on patient’s daily activities, and the types of support patients need and receive.

    Research for WE FEEL was conducted by Edelman StrategyOne, using the field services of Harris Interactive Service Bureau. The 20-minute survey was fielded between May 5 and May 11, 2010. The findings are nationally representative of diagnosed, female fibromyalgia sufferers in the US.

    The total sample of 508 yields a margin of error of ±4.4% at the 95% confidence level, which means that 95 out of 100 times that a sample of this size is drawn, the results will not vary by more than 4.4 percentage points in either direction. The statistical significance is reported at the 95% level.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • It’s Not Fibromyalgia. Most Likely You are Not Aware

    I stood in my closet this morning, looking around as though I’d never been there. I couldn’t remember what I was doing, why, or what I should do next. So I stood still, waiting for it to come to me. Moments before I had been violently panting like a wild animal, bent over in pain and hugging my own body. I’d simply gone upstairs to get dressed for the day, but just as it does every day of my life in varying degrees, my illness reminded me who was in charge.

    Tears welled up. That happens a lot, too. I don’t always have words anymore when I want to express what I’m feeling so my soul expresses it for me. I forget. A lot.

    It’s Not Fibromyalgia

    I was first diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in my early 30s by a young doctor who had clearly just learned the word on a sleepover at Junior Doctor Camp.

    “You will grow weaker and weaker until finally your muscles atrophy. Your life span will be drastically shortened, and you’ll live out your final year’s wheelchair–bound.”

    Over the years I would experience sporadic periods of improvement and so I’d decided that Fibromyalgia was a bullshit diagnosis, and I damn sure didn’t have it.

    Then I’d get really sick again.

    My Symptoms

    My arms and legs go numb, almost always both at the same time but sometimes not. Either way, I fall down, bump into things, lose my balance. I can’t always tell where my foot is hitting, and when that happens you would think that our floors are made of chewed-up bubble gum.

    My joints stiffen so severely that my ankles don’t want to bend and my elbows always feel like someone hit them with a hammer while I slept.

    I move like Frankenstein, only not as gracefully.

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    My muscles ache down to the bone in a way that feels like I am always battling influenza. It never stops. Ever.

    But, by far the worst thing I’ve been living with for so long is extreme fatigue. I’ve thought so often about what word I could possibly use to describe what it feels like, and I’ve always come up empty. All I can tell you is the kind of fatigue I live with every day is what I believe it must feel like to die. When it’s very bad, doctors notice a palsy that comes over my face, and I have trouble even standing. I can’t rest enough to recover. I say it’s like someone is embalming me.

    That can happen whether I am sitting in a chair with my feet up, or it can happen after I’ve played with my grand–monkeys. It doesn’t matter what I do. It’s always there.

    I’ve said to every doctor I’ve seen, “I know that I will not live much longer. I’m dying.” I’ve known that for a long time. In years past I’d have bursts of weeks or months of energy that would allow me to behave normally. But, I always knew I was dying. In the past three years, I’ve really felt my life slipping away. There have been almost no bursts of energy or good days – just me waiting to go to sleep and not wake up.

    I figured that in my autopsy results they’d discover what was really wrong with me and “the world” would know I wasn’t crazy. Well, at least as it pertains to my health.

    Across decades I’ve been seen by new doctors, and with each came mounds of new medical bills. “You are presenting like you have MS,” they’d all say, and then after the same battery of tests came the same diagnosis.

    Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

    “I don’t believe that either of those is a diagnosis,” I’d say to them. “You are labeling me with those words because I am a woman, and because you don’t know what else to do with me.”

    Want to piss off a doctor? Tell them you think they don’t know what they’re talking about. One particularly cocky son-of-a-bitch said to me, “You seem like you’d rather I’d have said you have MS.”

    I know people who suffer unspeakably from Multiple Sclerosis. It’s vicious. But, yes. Sometimes I’d have taken the diagnosis of that horrific disease if only to have a “real thing” that explains why I so often can’t walk the ten feet from my recliner to the closest bathroom without holding onto something. People believe you when you say you have MS. They understand (as best they can), that you’re not well and that you’re not a liar who is seeking attention.

    It’s not the same mindset with regard to Fibro and CFS.

    I remember someone I deeply respect who suddenly made a proclamation on Facebook about women and Fibromyalgia. Going on a diet, getting some exercise, and growing up pretty much sums up the sentiment. There was no way I could tell people how sick I’ve been for fear they’d think of me as someone who wasn’t trying hard enough to be healthy, or worse, have them think it was all in my head.

    Just to be sure, I went to see a psychiatrist. “Sher, you aren’t crazy. This isn’t in your head,” he said. To his credit, he also said, “I could prescribe Lyrica for you, but if I do that it’s the same as saying I believe what you’ve been told about what’s going on and I don’t. You have to keep pushing until you get to the person who can help you.”

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    Well-meaning close friends and not-so-well-meaning relatives had more to say when I would take them into my confidence about how unwell I was. To be fair, there is only one person who knows how bad I am. Some people in my life know a little, and some a little more, but no one knows the extent of just how damn bad it’s been beyond my partner.

    What People Say to Me

    You need to cut out gluten. You need to cut out sugar. You need to push through it. You need to exercise. You should pray. You need to try harder to force yourself to do uncomfortable things. My friend knows someone who knows someone who has Fibromyalgia and they are living their life, not laying around letting it happen.

    And the worst things that have been said? The things that I can’t get out of my head and that bring me to tears even as I write?

    “Are you planning on being sick next month?”

    “Seriously? Don’t tell me you’re sick again. Really? It’s funny how you’re sick when I need something from you.”

    Finally, a Diagnosis

    An acquaintance dropped me a note one day that encouraged me to see an infectious disease doc here in the Midwest. A close family member of hers was made healthier by this man and she felt I should at least see him. It took months to get in, and I was profoundly skeptical.

    The day came and I brought my partner with me to help me express what was happening, ask smart questions, and remember it all. When you lose your words and you forget things the way I do, you stop going to appointments alone. You stop going anywhere alone.

    When he walked in, I knew right away something was different. He told me he was allowing two hours for our visit. I’d never had more than minutes with any doctor. He asked me questions about my current life and my past. In many cases, before I could answer he’d tell me what he suspected my answer was going to be. He was always right.

    He explained his research into Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and how it had become his driving passion for many, many years. He spoke to us about his research, the two papers he’d published, and the third on which he was currently working.

    “I am 95% positive, Sher, that when we test your urine you will be positive for mycotoxins – black mold.”

    In my life, no doctor has made such a bold statement. No physician of any kind had ever before been so confident to use such language BEFORE tests.

    “It’s with good reason that you tell me you know you are dying. That’s exactly what is happening. The mycotoxins are killing you at a cellular level.”

    And, then he said two little sentences that changed everything.

    “I can help you. I will help you.”

    I cried, and when at the end of our time together he got up to leave he opened his arms wide to me. “Around here, we give hugs.”

    I came home and prayed that I’d be positive for black mold. There’s a prayer I never imagined.

    When the tests came back, about two weeks, I received a copy of my results. There it was in black and white. Black mold. Mycotoxins. “You have a black mold factory living in your sinus cavity, Sher,” the doctor said.

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    It could have begun as a very young girl in the South. It could have happened all the years I lived in Kentucky. It could have been in Germany. It definitely could have been made worse again by all the flooding and old homes in Southeast Kansas.

    “You don’t have to be living in a home with black mold on the walls to have this happen to you,” he said.

    That’s been several weeks ago now, and every day I take the treatment he’s prescribed. It amounts to inhaling a drug to kill the mold. There is no way to know how long it will take, but I don’t care. If it takes a year I’ll do it every day and wait for this to be over. The only side effects I’m currently having are that I’m so nauseous almost all the time now, and the fatigue has gotten even worse… if you can imagine such a thing.

    I’m waiting on a call from his nurse right now about those things, but I’ve told myself the nausea is from the treatment running down my throat to my stomach. And the worsening fatigue? Well, I used to tell my babies that when your body is working hard to make you well, you have to rest because it takes so much energy for healing. There is a war inside my body now and I’m just going to have to do the best I can to wait it out.

    At least we know what the hell this invisible, torturous monster is and there is hope now. I want to be healthy again. I want to take my grand-monkeys on outings. I want to run. I want to drink coffee in Portland, and sleep in a treehouse in New England, and drink great wine with friends in Chicago, and eat the best pizza in New York, and zipline in some place lush and warm. I want to be me again.

    I have two incredibly loving and supportive children and a man in my corner who says things like, “I’d rather have a life with you – even when you’re not well than life without you. No question.”

    Can’t quit now. I’m three feet from sunshine.

    If you’re wondering about black mold poisoning, I’ll leave you with the following information:

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    Black Mold Symptoms

    Please note that this is an exhaustive list. You do not have to have every single symptom to have a mold-related illness.

    My hope is that you feel better very soon. Please know that while I cannot respond to every comment, I do read them all and my heart hurts for each of you who are suffering.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • 21 Gastrointestinal Symptoms People With Fibromyalgia Have Experienced

    Fibromyalgia may be known to cause widespread pain and fatigue, but there are a number of other symptoms and side effects we don’t talk about as often. For many with fibro, gastrointestinal symptoms are unfortunately a common occurrence. Although researchers are not yet clear on whether the fibromyalgia itself causes these digestive issues to occur, studies have shown that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other GI issues frequently coexist with fibromyalgia.

    While this may be the case for some, others might have gastrointestinal symptoms as a side effect of medication, or even as a result of a different illness. Even though GI issues are common among those with fibro, it’s important to talk to your doctor about any symptoms you’re experiencing to determine the source of the issue and receive proper treatment.

    Still, regardless of the cause, digestive issues can be frustrating and, at times, perhaps a bit embarrassing to deal with. It can be especially difficult if it feels like no one else really “gets it” – so, to better understand the reality of fibromyalgia and its coexisting issues, we asked our Mighty community to share the gastrointestinal symptoms they’ve experienced. If you have fibro and struggle with any of the following, know you’re not alone.

    Here’s what the community shared with us:

    1. “Any stress I have normally shows as violent stomach cramps and diarrhea, especially when I have a high pain day.” – Elyse B.

    2. “Getting stuck in the bathroom for an embarrassing amount of time.” – Lauren H.

    3. “My stomach produces too much acid. The pain is horrible. I am getting my gall bladder checked. This has been going on since last summer.” – Crystal R.

    4. “My doctor said that fibromyalgia and IBS-D [irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea] tend to go hand in hand. It can be quite debilitating, especially when I’m on the downswing of my fibromyalgia because it makes the IBS–D so much worse.” – Taisha A.

    5. “IBS, food intolerances, I’m uh… more poorly and gassy. Oh, bloated stomach always!” – Kirst F.

    6. “I get stabbing pains in my abdominal area for no apparent reason. It’s random and severe and never in the same place so I can only imagine it’s something upsetting my gastrointestinal tract.” – Kelly W.

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    7. “I never know if eating will set off the IBS or not. It’s a guessing game I wish I didn’t have to play!” – Lori A.

    8. “IBS with both constipation and the other end of the spectrum. I also get so bloated that I can’t wear pants sometimes. When I tell people they try to fix it with ‘Well what have you changed lately?’ or ‘Have you tried _____?’ But I know it is a matter of just waiting out the flare-up.” – Jaimie R.

    9. “I have IBS ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus, bloating, trapped gas.” – Amethyst R.

    10. “Almost constant nausea. And suddenly I have severe diarrhea and vomiting around my menstrual cycle.” – Christi S. F.

    11. “For a few months, close to six months, I didn’t eat almost at all. I drank a lot of stuff. The thought of chewing made me nauseous and my stomach could only handle drinks basically. I can feel it trying to start again. It is the worst.” – Eloise T.

    12. “Food sensitivities and intolerances.” – Laura Ann M.

    13. “Bloating which looks and feels more like ‘ballooning.’ I keep two sizes of clothes. My stomach dictates my fashion for the day. And add the gas… lots of it. I do mindful eating for my health and comfort.” – Vee Vee Y.

    14. “GERD [gastroesophageal reflux disorder], IBS, and extremely intense stomach cramping.” – Jen B.

    15. “IBS has to be one of the worst symptoms of fibromyalgia. I went for months on end with constant stomach upsets. It settled down but somehow the waiting and wondering when it’s coming back is almost as bad as a flare. It’s painful, it’s embarrassing and not being able to stray far from a toilet during a flare makes an already isolating illness that much lonelier.” – Sophie R.

    16. “IBS. One day I can’t go and the next day I can’t stop going.” – Ashley W.

    17. “Nausea and chronic cyclical vomiting.” – Chelsea N.

    18. “There’s no way to prove it, unfortunately. But my GI issues damaged my pancreas so much that it doesn’t digest food properly. Took me five years to figure out I had exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The excruciating pain that would land me in the hospital. My weight would fluctuate like crazy! (Still does.)” – Sydney L. V.

    19. “Wicked acid reflux.” – Terri D.

    20. “Bouts of chronic diarrhea, especially in this heat. Which then leads to increased pain that wraps itself around my middle.” – Hayley C.

    21. “What don’t I have? I feel like the Pepto-Bismol jingle. Heartburn, nausea, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea – yay Pepto-Bismol! Uggh.” – Brittany H.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • What is Occipital Neuralgia? How Is It Related To Fibromyalgia?

    One of the worst things about fibromyalgia, besides the chronic pain and fatigue, has to be the way that people who suffer from fibromyalgia are at risk of so many other conditions like autoimmune diseases and especially, chronic headaches.

    It’s estimated that up to forty percent of people with fibromyalgia suffer from migraines or some other form of a persistent headache. But like fibromyalgia, it’s hard to get to the bottom of what’s causing your headaches. And like fibromyalgia, migraines are often misdiagnosed. In fact, some people who suffer from persistent headaches aren’t actually suffering from migraines, but from a related condition called occipital neuralgia. So, what is occipital neuralgia? How is it related to fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?

    What Is Occipital Neuralgia?

    Occipital neuralgia is a condition that causes chronic pain in the base of the skull. People often describe it as being like an electrical shock or even similar to being stabbed in the muscle. The pain usually radiates from the back of the head down the neck and up the sides of the head or behind the eye.

    The root of the condition lies in the occipital nerves. These are nerves that run from the back of the neck and the spine up through the sides of the head to the scalp. But sometimes, injuries or inflammation of the muscles in the spine cause the tissue to start pressing on these nerves. This leads to a condition called neuralgia, where the nerves begin to send pain signals to the brain.

    That produces symptoms that are similar to migraines, which makes it difficult to diagnose the condition. Doctors can diagnose the condition by performing a physical exam, pressing their finger into the base of the skull to see if your pain gets worse. In addition, they can also give you something called a nerve block, which shuts off the interaction between the nerves, which can help prove that it’s neuralgia rather than migraines.

    But there are many different conditions that can lead to neuropathy, which is why it might affect people with fibromyalgia more frequently than the general population.

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    How Is It Related To Fibromyalgia?

    Fibromyalgia puts you at risk of a number of different conditions and some of them are also contributing factors to neuralgia. For instance, diabetes is a common complaint of people with fibromyalgia. And the nerve pain from diabetes can contribute significantly to the risk of developing occipital neuralgia.

    In addition, we know that having fibromyalgia makes you more likely to develop autoimmune conditions. An autoimmune condition is one where the body’s immune system begins to attack the body’s own tissue. This results in painful inflammation all over the body. And a common autoimmune condition is something called arteritis. Arteritis causes inflammation in the walls of the blood vessels. This inflammation can put pressure on the occipital nerves and can be a root cause of neuralgia.

    And fibromyalgia also seems to affect the nerves themselves. Fibromyalgia seems to trigger your nerves to send pain signals to the brain. And it could be that the same nerve connections can contribute to the symptoms of occipital neuralgia.

    So, there are a lot of different possible reasons that fibromyalgia could contribute to the condition, but what you probably want to know if you suffer from it is what you can do to treat it.

    How Can You Treat It?

    There are a few things you can do to immediately provide some relief. The best thing to do is to get some rest. Moving your neck can make the pain worse. Instead, lay down and apply a warm compress to the back of the neck. And massaging the muscles of the neck can help, as can basic, over-the-counter pain medication.

    Your doctor can also prescribe a number of medications that can help with the symptoms. Your doctor might prescribe muscle relaxants to help ease the overly-tight muscles that are pressing on the nerves. And they can also prescribe steroid shots that help reduce inflammation of the tissue.

    In addition, the doctor can give you regular nerve block injections. These nerve blocks tend to wear off after a week or two, so you will probably need a number of treatments to help control the symptoms.

    Combined with rest and warm compresses, these medications are usually enough to help resolve the worst symptoms of the condition.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Lady Gaga Fibromyalgia Announcement Gives Voice To Millions of Patients

    Logan, Utah. Statement from Sharon Waldrop, Vice President of the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association on Lady Gaga’s recent announcement that she suffers from the illness:

    “We commend Lady Gaga for the incredibly brave act of revealing her fibromyalgia diagnosis. By sharing her story with the world, she is giving voice to the estimated five million Americans like me–overwhelmingly women–who suffer from the illness.

    Fibromyalgia is characterized by a long list of symptoms, including chronic pain and debilitating fatigue. The cause is still unknown, there is no cure and it lacks effective treatments and understanding. Better treatments and a cure can be found, if we raise awareness of the disease and the devastating challenges it presents daily to millions of American families.

    Fibromyalgia’s invisibility and the public’s misunderstanding of its effects often leave people afraid to reveal their diagnosis. When I was diagnosed with the disease I thought my life was over. My once-healthy body suddenly felt badly bruised and broken even though on the outside I looked completely fine.

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    I was even yelled at for using my disability parking pass because people didn’t believe it was mine. Those who suffer from fibromyalgia could be your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family members, who have been suffering in silence with this disease for years. It is our hope that Lady Gaga’s courageous act to step forward into the light will inspire others to do the same.

    More answers are out there, but we need everyone’s help to advocate for increased resources toward finding them. We urge the public to contact their legislators and ask them to implement and fund the National Pain Strategy developed by the Department of Health & Human Services to address the burden of Chronic Pain in America.

    We look forward to continuing our work on finding a cure for fibromyalgia. With the support and participation of leaders like Lady Gaga, the government, advocates, and patients, no goal is unachievable.”

    The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association is your partner in tackling fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Our goal is to end chronic pain conditions from derailing lives by promoting early diagnosis, driving scientific research for a cure, and advocating for appropriate, accessible, and affordable treatments.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Bad Habits That Can lead to Fibromyalgia

    Millions of people get affected by this disease in the USA annually. Although it is not a well-known syndrome and its diagnosis can be very difficult, Fibromyalgia is a very painful and serious problem.

    The causes and the symptoms of this disorder are not very clear and most people including medical professionals are not sure about what leads to its development and how are the symptoms related to the causes. Fibromyalgia continues to baffle researchers and till now, there has not been a general agreement on most of the factors that manipulate the development of this disorder.

    The extensive pain over a long period without any clear reason is one of the main symptoms. The other thing on which most of the researchers will have the same opinion is the fact that Fibromyalgia is not mental chaos and that it rather falls into the category of neurobiological disorders and/or that of the functional somatic syndromes.

    Fibromyalgia is related to definite neurochemical imbalances that may appear in the brain and lead to improper functioning of it when it comes to perceiving pain is the main reason for the agreement of the researchers on this fact.

    There is a number of symptoms and examinations that lead to a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and they vary from patient to patient. The most common symptoms are:

    Sometimes patients also start being more sensitive to certain factors like bright lights, odors, certain temperatures, foods, or noises. Swollen legs and hands are also related to being the effect of Fibromyalgia.

    The doctor will perform a series of examinations which may include blood examinations, examinations of the kidneys, testing Inflammatory Arthritis in order to diagnose this disease. A patient is asked a number of questions to identify the problem.

    If the patients experience pain in 11 out of 18 trigger points and also experience pain in all the four quadrants of the body for at least 3 months, then the chances of Fibromyalgia increase.

    As prevention is better than cure so here are the bad habits that can be avoided to eliminate the risk of such disorder from our life.

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    1-Stress

    Nowadays stress is a very common thing without knowing that it will not only affect the state of mind but will also damage the physical The state of stress will develop the disease. It is impossible to live a stress-free life but one can do a number of things to control the stress level and not let it destroy your health and mind. Workouts, meditation and simply disconnecting from all sources of stress and anxiety will help.

    2- Smoking

    Smoking cigarettes seriously affects your life and will lead to a number of diseases and disorders. Fibromyalgia is one of them because smoking affects the immune system and may lead to severe panic disorders.

    3- Surrendering

    The one factor that may lead to an extreme level of the disorder is surrendering and not trying to fight your problem. It means that you stop trying to fight against it, which in turn not only affects your physical condition but also leads you to depression. The worse state of mind in any problem act as a poison.

    4- Indulging in dietary sins

    Most people consider eating as a source of comfort and remedy for physical or psychological problems. But the reality is high-saturated fats, sweets, and commonly junk and fast food will only take you to the higher levels of disorder.

    Choose the meals that make you feel energetic and healthy. Choose fatty fish, fruits, beef, vegetables, nuts, and the foods that are usually recommended as “healthy” by most nutritionists.

    5- Coffee and caffeine-based products

    A warm cup of coffee or tea is mostly considered essential for breakfast. Some people love it all day long and consider it a headache and exhaustion reliever but patients with Fibromyalgia experience that caffeine is one of the basic sources leading to bad sleeping patterns.

    The truth is that caffeine will only lead to creating a bad cycle in which patients feel more energized on the surface but internally it drains much. Thus avoid too much coffee, tea, chocolates, and alcohol in order to keep yourself away from discomforts and live a long happy life.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Young people reported worse fibromyalgia symptoms

    Fibromyalgia is referred to as a worse chronic pain condition due to which a person’s muscles and tissues have painful tenderness and achiness. It can be shown up in the age between 20 to 30s, but most people can have this condition later in life.  Moderate to severe pain can arise in multiple areas of the body due to this chronic pain.

    Young people find it difficult to deal with fibromyalgia because it can be very painful and devastating. The whole social life of a young person is disturbed. They start facing fatigue and might not get into being social and active anymore.

    Young people should try their level best to get in touch with their social life and continue to indulge in the activities as possible and also involve in hobbies that can relieve stress and add joy and happiness in life, even if diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

    Young people can have unbearable pain due to which they are unable to go out of the house and work all day. Fatigue, depression, and anxiety could be there in young people. These symptoms are serious and can be difficult to fight with like depression.

    There should be extra energy reserves in young people so that they can use that energy to maintain their healthy social and personal life that makes them feel fulfilling. Going out with friends and family and maintaining a social circle is good for mind relaxation and not just for the condition.

    If one doesn’t feel or want to get out of home and socialize for fun should find some other activities in which they have interest and that can help them in relaxing their mind. Such activities can give hope, like some art activity, some painting, or sketching. It could be listening to music. Every individual possesses different tastes and interests in chilling out and having fun.

    A variety of symptoms of fibromyalgia is there in young people that cause early diagnosis. Widespread muscle pain, deep achy pain in muscles and tissue are included in these symptoms. More common symptoms include fatigue and tiredness.

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    These symptoms arise differently in different people. Some people face more intense pain than others have. Flare-ups arise and then go at different times. We can never have this idea of how much pain a person is bearing because fibromyalgia symptoms are all internal.

    It feels so difficult to explain your condition to your friends, coworkers, and family. They think you are fine and good, just seems tired. Those who are experiencing it can only know how hard it is to face this fatigue and pain.

    Other symptoms include:

    An accompanying condition of fibromyalgia is fibro fog that affects memory and focus.

    The presence of these symptoms can be so discouraging and disheartening to young people, as they can feel hopeless and lonely. That is the reason why young people should maintain their social life as possible as they can and should make them busy to be normal in their life.

    There should be a scheduled routine that doesn’t seem overwhelming, just to manage their pain from fibromyalgia. Their schedule should include rest and refreshing activities. Different activities are there for young people for enjoyment and fun.

    Going to a movie can give pleasure to someone or going to get a happy drink with friends can give pleasure also. So many options are there but the point is how you choose them to make your life relaxing and positive.

    It is a moment of discouragement when you are diagnosed with fibromyalgia at an early stage. Of course, there could be a way to live a satisfactory life with fibromyalgia. All you need is positivity, planning, and responsibility. Prevent yourself from getting overtired and burdened. You should cancel a plan if you are not feeling okay.

    You can get a fulfilling life with proper management. All you need to do is stay positive and calm.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Etiology of Fibromyalgia

    Fibromyalgia is a condition that is still a mystery and doctors as well as individuals suffering from it get confused. No cure for fibromyalgia has still been found. Doctors don’t know the actual cause of fibromyalgia.

    The belief of some doctors is that some circumstances cause this condition. Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread severe pain all over the body. Those who are having fibromyalgia suffer physically and emotionally. More than 6 million people are suffering from it and more women are having fibromyalgia than men. Still, there is no cure.

    Fibromyalgia symptoms

    Evaluate the signs and symptoms that arise with fibromyalgia, if you feel like you are having this disease. Keep this thing in mind that these signs have to be present for a longer time period, 6 or more months to consider it as fibromyalgia. A number of signs indicate that fibromyalgia is there in your body. Some of these include:

    The doctors need to rule out other diseases before they determine that it is fibromyalgia because a lot of people are suffering from other diseases as well along with fibromyalgia-like some kind of allergies etc.

    Different people have different symptoms and the effect of symptoms is different in different people. For a fibromyalgia sufferer, some days can be better than others. A person must have pain for more than 6 months to have fibromyalgia. The doctors should also perform many tests and exams as well.

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    Things to do if you have fibromyalgia

    If you think that you are suffering from fibromyalgia, it is must consult your doctor for the diagnosis as well as get the right treatment. a lot of tests and procedures will be taken to ensure that you have fibromyalgia. The treatment will depend on the type of symptoms you have encountered.

    Support groups are also good. They can be found locally, online or there can be a family member to support you. You can get help from them in a lot of ways. If you feel like you are not alone, this idea of feeling is even worth it and there can be a difference in your treatment. Your life can get easier with a few tips and tricks.

    Sometimes pain medications are prescribed by the doctor to treat fibromyalgia and sometimes anti-inflammatory medications are also prescribed to reduce swelling and other symptoms as well. This depends upon the severity of pain you are having. Evaluation of your condition is important in giving you the right treatment.

    Moreover, exercise is also good for the condition. It should be added to your daily routine. Fibromyalgia can make your life even worse than you have ever imagined and you may also find difficulties when it comes to physical activities. But if you add up exercise, it can actually reduce the severity level. You can consult your doctor about different exercises that might help you and which exercise you should give preference to. By doing this, you might not let fibromyalgia win the battle.

    Rest should also be endorsed in your lifestyle. No doubt, there are a lot of things that you want to do but are unable to perform due to your condition. Do the things day by day. Try to avoid doing things together. Do not try to push yourself up to the limits on days you feel worse. Do that thing on days in which you are feeling good.

    Fibromyalgia and diet

    Changes in your diet can help you in reducing pain. The doctor might recommend you change your diet. You might be deficient in the vitamins and nutrients to stay healthy if you are not taking the right food. Include fruits and vegetables in your diet. You have to make some changes to your diet. Various foods can be cooked for a fibro-approved diet and they should be on the menu.

    Bottom line

    It is true that no cure has been discovered for fibromyalgia but there are some treatments that can help you in easing the symptoms and pain. If you are a fibromyalgia sufferer, you should consider these things to help to get yourself back to normal life. It is a new condition for the medical world. You can live with fibromyalgia if you know what you should do. don’t allow fibromyalgia to dominate your life.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Usage of Fibromyalgia Scales

    One of the biggest challenges that fibromyalgia faces are the difficulty of diagnosing it in the first place. There does has been a long history of generating skepticism and the tendency to think it’s all in the head. So, doctors need to understand and be able to identify the syndrome before treating it. It is important to have such methods of diagnosis that are reliable.

    However, fibromyalgia has symptoms that seem similar to the other disease’s symptoms. The major symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain and it is also a symptom of many other diseases. Fibromyalgia is still a mystery that needs to be solved due to this it is difficult to know that patient has the condition.

    No simple test is available for the condition. We don’t know what to test for; all we do is judge our symptoms. A wide variety of things often come along with fibromyalgia. So doctors have to rule those other things to properly diagnose fibromyalgia.

    This syndrome hurts all over the body, and this is the major one. Unfortunately, it is not necessary that if one person says “it hurts all over” means the same thing as another person. The main focus of diagnosis is on tender points that arise with fibromyalgia. 18 tender points are connected with fibromyalgia. If the person is suffering from widespread pain for three months and 11 out of 18 tender points are having pain, it means that the person is having this syndrome.

    However, it has been always difficult to count all these tenders. It might be possible that a person experiences pain in 11 tender points in one examination, but he might experience pain in fewer tender points on the next examination.

    The criteria of tender points were developed for research studies, and it is still used for selecting purposes of candidates. However, the conditions might be strict for clinical diagnostic purposes. There might be some people who have fibromyalgia but don’t meet all the criteria. Besides, many general practitioners find it uncomfortable to do tender point count. More ways are being in research for a while.

    In newer research, two scores of combination from different scales are used to make a diagnosis. One is the widespread pain index and the other is the Symptom Severity Scale.

    Widespread Pain Index

    The points where the patient has encountered pain during the last week are 19 points of different areas of the body. The scoring of WPI is the total areas indicated by the patient. It is recommended to check that how the patient felt last week and how he or she felt about treatments and medication to get an accurate score. Moreover, it is also recommended to check for other conditions you know you might suffer from that, which causes pain. Areas of consideration for the index are:

    • Shoulder girdle (between neck and shoulder), left and right
    • Upper arm, left and right
    • Lower arm, left and right
    • Chest
    • Abdomen
    • Neck
    • Upper and Lower Back
    • Hips, left and right
    • Upper leg, left and right
    • Lower leg, left and right
    • Jaw, left and right

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    Symptom Severity Scale

    The three symptom areas of the patient are measured on this scale. It includes sleep that fails to give you rest, cognitive function issues, and chronic fatigue. There is a ranking from 0 to 3 in four areas for a possible total of 12. Areas include fatigue, waking restless, cognitive issues, and other symptoms. 0 is “no problem” and 3 refers to “severe”. You need to check how the patient felt the previous week, just like WPI. Other symptoms are:

    Good results arrived from the new approach and it is considered that it will discover more than 88% of the cases. Some practitioners and organizations have been showing some unwillingness to remove the tender point criteria. Because, tender points have been a definitive feature of fibromyalgia, so eliminating it is causing concerns.

    However, this might indicate that we are going in the right direction. It is good to argue or have a discussion. There is hope that this will diagnose the syndrome. If you feel like you are having fibromyalgia, a record of all the details of your pain will be kept. You should record all the things like severity, duration, and circumstances. The doctor will then find it easy to understand the symptoms.

    These indexes are taken into account for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. A patient has chances that he is having fibromyalgia if any of these indexes are satisfied and the patient is having symptoms for more than three months

    • WPI score greater than 7 and SS score greater than 5
    • WPI score between 3 and 6 and SS score greater than 9

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Overlook on the 10 causes of Fibromyalgia

    As fibromyalgia is referred to as a neurological condition that has a variety of symptoms, but the most highlighted one is the widespread pain in tender points all over the body. The diagnosis and the treatment are still a challenge because the causes of the syndrome are still a mystery. More than 10 million people are suffering from this syndrome.

    The treatment is still of trial and error because it hasn’t been discovered yet, how fibromyalgia actually works. This can be a challenge also to diagnose the syndrome and then the doctor will give you combine drugs and some remedies to get you in a normal state. Here are some causes of the syndrome that should be overlooked by you and doctors as well:

    Intolerance of gluten

    It is actually an autoimmune disorder and also called celiac disease. In wheat and other grains, gluten is present. The intolerance in you is due to genetics. It means if this disease is present in your family, you are more likely to have this disease then.

    It is also related to what you eat. It is autoimmune in nature so it is not necessary to be present as a digestive issue, rather it can be present as a neurological condition. Pain, cognitive impairment, behavioral issues, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression might be present in patients. These are similar to the symptoms of fibromyalgia, so they can create confusion.

    55 different diseases are linked with gluten intolerance. So, it means your symptoms can be determined by dietary issues.

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    Overgrowth of Candida

    Candida is a natural as well as considered to be a helpful part of natural creatures of our intestines. A small proportion of it is living in our intestines. This yeast started getting overproduced when your intake of sugar gets high. It is difficult to avoid taking too much sugar while you are living in North America. Many foods are already possessed with a great deal of sugar, so you need to be aware of it.

    This beneficial yeast breaks down the wall of the intestines and enters into the bloodstream, due to which toxic by-products are released into your body and unpleasant symptoms like brain fog, digestive issues, pain, and fatigue are caused, when there is too much candida. Anyone who is having fibromyalgia can have similar symptoms. But again, this can be an outcome of your diet.

    Thyroid

    Fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism can have similar symptoms. Hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia have a lot of neurological complaints in common such as brain fog, sleep issues, and depression. One major difference in both of them is that patient feels so much pain when suffering from fibromyalgia, while hypothyroid patients do not suffer from this issue.

    So, it is really important that your doctor should check whether your thyroid is working properly or not. It can be checked through a blood test, and a person having fibromyalgia can often have negative reports. It might mean that the test that has measured the hormone levels can be a little outside of the standard. So, rather than checking standard levels, your doctor will need to check for “optimal” levels.

    Deficiency in Vitamin

    There might be a deficiency in various vitamins and minerals in people with fibromyalgia. These levels can be checked from a standard blood test. Magnesium, vitamin D, and B12 are common vitamins that are deficient in people with fibromyalgia. These deficiencies can be supplemented by pills available in medical stores or grocery stores.

    Leaky gut and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

    Our body contains a lot of bacteria than we have cells. The majority of the bacteria present in our body are useful and essential for the proper functioning of our body. We find it difficult to absorb the nutrients when there is an over or under population of bacteria. It can be through antibiotics or too much sugar intake.

    SIBO or leaky gut can be formed due to the unbalancing of intestinal flora or bacteria. Too much intake of gluten can cause both these conditions and can lead you towards gluten and other food intolerances. As a result, you can suffer from fibromyalgia. In anyone having fibromyalgia, this shows the importance of dealing with digestive issues along with the problems caused by candida.

    Mycotoxins

    Environmental factors, as well as issues with the body itself, can cause fibromyalgia. Mycotoxins are toxic substances that are released by some patterns in the environment. You can suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms due to these toxins. These elevated levels can be determined from a blood test.

    If this issue is found in your case, you can move from your office to an area that is less moldy, and there you can get treated for the toxins that caused your sufferings. Of course, it could be difficult for you to remove it from your environment if it is in your home.

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    Mercury harmfulness

    A lot of people have teeth that contain silver fillings. Whenever you chew, grind your teeth, or clean your teeth, some mercury is released in your body because these fillings are about half mercury. Other sources of mercury are also there in the environment. Fertilizers, car exhaust, pesticides, fish, fabric softeners, floor waxes, paint pigments, batteries, polishes, body powders, mascara, air conditioning filters, and drinking water can be found with mercury.

    Fibromyalgia can be caused due to this mercury among various other diseases and syndromes, that includes arthritis, ALS, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, acrodynia, autism, eczema, Crohn’s, emphysema, and asthma. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to test the level of mercury because mercury is locked in tissues rather than just floating in the blood. But you can investigate your silver fillings.

    Adrenal exhaustion

    Slowing down of adrenal glands to the level in which you feel the difficulty is adrenal exhaustion. Long-term stress and long-term infections can be the reason for arising. The patient gets a feeling of chronic exhaustion and then he starts to self-medicate himself with coffee, colas, or other stimulants.

    Most often, fibromyalgia and adrenal exhaustion go together. There might often be a certain amount of adrenal gland malfunction in people with FMS. It is not clear yet that either adrenal exhaustion is caused due to the prolonged stress of FMS or this exhaustion caused FMS first.

    MTHFR mutations

    MTHFR genes might have certain changes. The production of the enzymes is regulated by the gene that processes folate so that it can be used by the body. The normal process of Methylation gets disrupted by the dysfunctioning of this gene, due to which many essential body functions can be affected and thereby FMS can cause.

    This mutation can be treated to some extent. Some of the nutrients can be substituted by dietary supplements that you aren’t taking due to the problems with the MTHFR gene.

    A genetic test can be done to find out the condition of this gene.

    Deficiency of Glutathione

    An essential part of the body’s immune system is Glutathione. It is considered to be the necessary antioxidant in cells as well as the primary agent responsible for detoxification. It is basically a small protein that is produced by the cells naturally. It also has the ability to control pain. Unfortunately, there is a deficiency of this protein in FMS sufferers.

    Pills cannot fulfill this deficiency, but they can be produced in the cells themselves. Therefore, you need to take more glutathione precursors in your diet more. Either the food that you take or the supplements you consume can fulfill this deficiency.

    There are a number of things that are causing fibromyalgia. Because there is no simple test to diagnose FMS, so it is necessary to overlook all the options. As you have seen, many of these conditions are dependent on dietary issues. The first thing you and your doctor can do is regulate your diet. Obviously, it cannot be the only concern but still, it plays an important part in dealing with FMS.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store