Dear Fibromyalgia

Category: Fibromyalgia Medication

Explore the medications commonly used to treat Fibromyalgia, including pain relievers, antidepressants, and other options to manage symptoms effectively.

  • AHA News: Worried About Her Health, She Lost 163 Pounds – And Inspired Her Husband to Drop 55

    A few weeks before Thanksgiving, Ken and Morgan House of Newington, Connecticut, spent a week at one of her favorite places – Disney World. They walked to all the theme parks, went on countless rides and shared healthy meals.

    Every day, Morgan would smile broadly at Ken and shoot him an expression that said, “Do you even believe this?”

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    The last time the Houses were there, Morgan weighed 357 pounds. Ken weighed 280.

    While they enjoyed the trip, Morgan couldn’t walk for more than 10 minutes without needing to take a break, her knees hurt and she didn’t fit on some of the rides, including Avatar Flight of Passage, one of her favorites.

    That was in January 2020.

    In November 2021, Morgan weighed 194 pounds. Ken weighed 225.

    “I wasn’t struggling to get in and out of rides,” Morgan said. “I wasn’t struggling to walk. In fact, I was doing 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day without batting an eye.”

    One day, she cried with gratitude exiting Flight of Passage.

    The tears of joy were as much about conquering her lifelong struggle as they were about enjoying that ride.

    “Being overweight prevented me from being my best self, my confident self,” she said. “You internalize how society views you as a fat person.”

    In high school, she began what would become years of trying various diets and workout plans. Her weight yo-yoed, always ending higher.

    In her 20s, she started getting migraines and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition marked by pain. Later, she developed sleep apnea and prediabetes.

    Doctors recommended bariatric surgery. Morgan saw that as a last resort. She wanted to continue trying to lose the weight on her own.

    In her 30s, her struggles continued. Between pain from the fibromyalgia and a lack of activity, “I kind of spiraled,” she said.

    “Once my weight got to a certain point, I had depression, anxiety and felt out of control,” she continued. “My life was feeling unmanageable.”

    Morgan was in her early 20s when she met Ken. They married five years later.

    “She was always beautiful to me, and I’ve always loved her,” Ken said. “But I saw the weight as impacting her quality of life and self-esteem.”

    A few years ago, a doctor encouraged Morgan to learn more about gastric bypass surgery. It’s not enough to want the operation; patients must meet certain guidelines to qualify. These include a willingness to make permanent lifestyle changes.

    “I thought, ‘This is a tool that can physically help me,’” Morgan said. “It was very scary, and I had a lot of emotions, but it also felt promising.”

    Ken, meanwhile, was having his own middle-age wakeup call. He’d long been on medication for high blood pressure.

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    “I always knew I was too heavy, but it just didn’t bother me,” he said. “Then my physician told me I was a ticking time bomb for stroke and heart attack because of my blood pressure, heart rate and metabolic panel.”

    He was also developing sleep apnea. He’d wake up in the middle of the night feeling like he was drowning. He feared leaving behind Morgan and his daughter from a previous relationship.

    “I want to be there for both of them,” he said.

    Ken vowed to walk 10,000 steps a day. He aimed to limit his daily diet to 2,000 calories.

    As he began slimming down, Morgan received the OK for the bariatric surgery. She underwent the procedure in September 2020, then began adjusting to her new life.

    “I might think, ‘Oh, I can’t fit between that chair and the wall’ – when, in fact, now I can,” she said. “It’s a weird feeling.”

    Another weird feeling: Adjusting to people treating her differently just because there’s less of her. It makes her angry.

    “At 357 pounds, I felt invisible,” she said. “Then when you’re the same person but 163 pounds lighter, you’re suddenly visible.”

    The weight loss has made them healthier.

    Ken said his sleep apnea is gone and he’s in the best shape of his life. Morgan is especially excited about walking long distances without knee pain.

    She’s looking forward to their Disney-themed vacation for her 40th birthday on Jan. 28.

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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

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  • Mindfulness for Fibromyalgia by best possible treatment in our holistic

    Mindfulness for Fibromyalgia by best possible treatment in our holistic

    In order to provide patients with the best possible treatment in our holistic approach at our Multi-disciplinary Clinic we try to consider everything available and as part of that we’ve looked at many non-drug therapies over the years. Many of these treatments or therapies are for reducing the Sympathetic Nervous System over stimulation (or the heightened fight or flight reaction most readers will have heard of) of Fibromyalgia have been studied and now part of our scientific treatment.

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    One therapy that’s getting a lot of attention lately and is thought to reduce the Sympathetic Nervous System over stimulation and has shown improvements in Fibro symptoms is Mindfulness. Kim Jones, PhD recently completed a clinical study on Fibromyalgia and Mindfulness and it was the cover article in the USA Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Life Winter Magazine 2014 issue, where they state “These results indicate that practicing mindfulness techniques may be a low-cost, side effect free option for people wishing to reduce the severity of their fibromyalgia.”

    Basically practicing mindfulness techniques starts with the concept of living in the moment and not looking back into the past or forward into the future. Try to keep your mind in the present moment of whatever you’re doing, so if you’re ironing, doing paperwork or walking, just focus on those things in your mind and don’t think about other things. My best Mindfulness moments are when I walk my dogs, no matter how stressed I am at the beginning of the walk I come back….calm.

    Another good principal is to stop multi-tasking. You really can’t be calm if your mind is racing, trying to do several things at one. Try to just do the one thing and do it well, then move on to the next thing that needs doing and just focus on that one thing.

    Finally, meditation and deep breathing are also essential to obtaining Mindfulnesses possible stress reducing effects, which should then hopefully reduce the Sympathetic Nervous System over stimulation and possibly help reduce your Fibro symptoms. The body can’t heal if it feels it’s under threat, so being calm and rested are thought to be essential to one’s recovery.

    There are many sources of Mindfulness online and most CBT (Cognitive Behaviour) Therapists will be familiar with it and be able to offer advice. So relax and don’t stress if you don’t get Mindfulness at first – as that defeats the entire purpose!

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    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

  • How Can I Increase My Energy Level During A CFS and Fibromyalgia?

    How To Manage A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Crash

    Anyone suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome is familiar with the term ‘crash’. It’s used to describe what happens when you push your body past its’ current energy production capabilities.

    The technical term for a crash is ‘post-exertional malaise. How severely you are affected by chronic fatigue syndrome will dictate how badly you crash, how debilitating the crash is, and how long you take to recover from it. In a study, PEM was found to worsen symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and reduce daily functioning.

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    When you push yourself physically, mentally or both, outside your energy envelope, your body systems will be unable to cope and force you to rest.

    You may have had a good couple of days, been feeling better, gone out for the day, or worked longer hours than usual. Perhaps you went to a party or some other social gathering and stayed longer than you should have because you were having fun catching up with friends.

    Whatever the activity, you know you’ve pushed it too far and arrive home from your outing feeling pretty tired. But the following day, it’s worse than just the normal fatigue you cope with each day, you can barely get out of bed and now you are paying for overdoing it the previous day.

    Your muscles are painful and you feel like you have the flu, you are so fatigued you have no energy to do anything. Dragging yourself out of bed to use the toilet is a major feat.

    But you have life to live and stuff that needs to be done, what are you going to do? You are desperately asking yourself ” How can I increase my energy level during a crash”?

    When going through a crash, even the simple act of standing upright to take a shower was unthinkable for me. I started taking baths instead and tried to make them as relaxing and pleasant as possible. Even then, it took all of my diminished energy to push myself up and out of the bath, I felt like a ninety-year-old woman.

    Unfortunately, the reality is that even when you are pretty tuned in to your own energy limits, there are going to be times when you push things too hard and you crash. So, what are you going to do?

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    Give In To It……….

    Pushing yourself any further will only result in even more debilitating fatigue and worsening symptoms. So, give in to your crash and realize you must restfully and completely recover even a small amount of your diminished energy reserve again.

    One of the most difficult things for me to get to grips with mentally was the realization that I had an illness. Once I acknowledged this, it made it easier for me to treat myself well and stop beating myself up for everything I could no longer do.

    Going over and over in your mind all of the things you need to do, have to do, and should be doing whilst in the midst of a debilitating crash is pointless.

    With this realization, I was able to give in to each crash, knowing that if I took it easy for a couple of days I’d recover sufficiently to return to leading what had become my new normal, a semi-normal life.

    Luckily for me, I only had one period during my illness where I was pretty much bedridden for about a month. All other crashes I recovered from in a few days once I simply let go, gave in to it, and allowed my body the time it needed to recover some energy.

    A Crash Can Be Scary……

    Experiencing a crash is scary because you feel as if you’ve lost control over your health and your life. It’s impossible to know how long each crash will last, will it be one day or two days, maybe a week, or perhaps even longer before you can crawl out of bed, get dressed, and function semi normally again?

    My version of chronic fatigue syndrome was waking up every morning totally unrefreshed with a feeling of having the flu. The feeling that my bones had been filled with lead made every movement an effort. Tight and painful muscles and a never-ending array of symptoms that grew weekly added to my distress. This was my new normal life. But,  when I experienced a crash, things got even worse.

    Each crash put me flat on my back, incapable of doing anything, and all my varied and confusing symptoms worsened. Everything hurt, my arms, shoulders, neck, and back along with the extremely tight and painful Achilles area in my legs which also affected my balance somehow. My entire body seemed waterlogged as my fluid balance went haywire and night sweats were out of control.

    So, What Should You Do During A Crash?

    The short answer is zip, zero………………absolutely nothing! Stay in bed, or camp out on the sofa, get comfortable and simply rest. You’ve used up all of the available energy your body is capable of producing right now and you’re in a deficit.

    For me, what made dealing with each crash difficult was that my mind was still fully alert and active, it was my body that was letting me down. It was hard to relax my body for recovery when my mind was still humming along and raring to go.

    Mentally, I had to continually remind myself of the benefit of just giving in to it and being confident that if I did, my recovery period would not become prolonged.

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    Settle In And Get Comfortable

    Whether it takes a day or a week to recover, acknowledging you have an illness that will inevitably result in having crashes means you can be prepared when they arrive.

    Here are 4 ideas for managing a crash:

    #1. Get Prepared

    On days when you feel better, do some cooking and food prep. Stock up the freezer with ready-prepared meals that can be easily re-heated during times when you’re experiencing a crash. This way, you’ll have nutritious and easily digestible food ready.

    This should prevent the need to order fast food, or eat whatever junk is readily available when you don’t have the energy to cook. More than at any other time your body needs good, healthy, and nutritious food to provide nutrients to your cells for energy production.

    Meals should ideally include a good balance of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. If the thought of eating solid food is even too much for you, having some nutritious soups on hand is a good idea. You can make them with some healthy chicken bone broth and vegetables and place them in the freezer.

    The most important thing to remember is not to indulge any cravings for sugary, fatty, high-carb fast food and to understand the cravings are simply your body’s way of trying to get energy quickly whilst in such a depleted state.

    #2. Reading Material

    Load up your Kindle with reading material to relieve boredom.

    I found this a lifesaver for me, so simple and convenient to use a couple of clicks and a new book is downloaded immediately. However, you shouldn’t have long periods of screen time. So, break up your reading time with some audiobooks too.

    #3. Take A Bath

    As I mentioned, during my worst episodes with crashes I could not even summon up enough energy to stand upright in the shower, so I started taking baths instead.

    Putting a couple of handfuls of Epsom salts and a few drops of essential oil in the bathwater turned it into a relaxing pleasant experience.

    The Epsom salts help relax tight muscles and the essential oils can be uplifting or relaxing depending on which oils you choose.

    #4. Light and Sound

    Always sensitive to bright lights and loud noises, I became even more so during a crash. It’s helpful to pull the shades and keep the lighting subdued to alleviate over sensitivity.

    Putting It All Together

    During a crash, it’s important to stay positive, continue to work towards recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome using some of the tips on this website together with a protocol from your naturopath.

    Meanwhile, make your bedroom as comfortable as possible and keep necessities close at hand to limit how much you need to move.

    Crashes will become fewer and recovery from crashes will be faster as your body gets stronger. By keeping a positive attitude and slowly moving towards your goal of recovery, crashes will gradually become a thing of the past.

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    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

  • Words You Hear Frequently When You Have Fibromyalgia

    Words You Hear Frequently When You Have Fibromyalgia

    The moment the words ‘get active’ escape their lips my focus shifts 100% to holding back the incredible urge to roll my eyes. For the most part, unsuccessfully.

    It’s like constantly replaying the perfect vine loop of watching Groundhog Day over and over. We keep hearing how we need to get active in order to feel better. But, what people don’t understand is, we need to feel better in order to get active in the first place.

    Press play and repeat day after day after day the exhausting loop plays.

    For five years I spent a lot of days, months actually, beating myself up for not being active. It’s exhausting silently screaming at yourself constantly to get up and get active.

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    Music is Good Medicine

    Then about a year ago I started listening to music again. Not only did the right playlist cheer me up, but often I’d catch myself bee bopping to the music.

    Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t pulling off DWTS or anything. Sometimes I was simply swaying to the music or shuffling around like Tim Conway. But, I was standing and I was moving. 

    Which when you are battling fibromyalgia’s chronic pain, counts as getting active as far as I’m concerned. Music doesn’t always get me moving. But, it does some days and in my opinion, that’s better than no days at all.

    Anyway, I remembered how much I loved going out dancing and how good it made me feel and so for a while now I’ve been working at wiggling my butt daily.

    The right playlist lifts my spirits and gets me moving

    I created a bunch of personal mood–lifting playlists. Each one is 6 songs and about 20 minutes long. While prepping for my shower, I press play, and more days than not the music gets me swaying. I always try to get boogieing before hopping into the shower, because I’m usually physically zapped after.

    Turns out, well for me anyway, that music is good medicine. Hmmm, who knew?

    Get Active, It’s a Personal Thing

    What I had to learn was, to set the bar at a realistic level for me. And, to give me credit for any and all physical activity. To encourage me to get up and just get moving instead of putting myself down because I expected my version of “getting active” to be on par with die-hard gym-goers or the people I see out jogging.

    It’s time Fellow Fibro Warriors to pat yourself on the back each and every time you wiggle that butt, even if it’s ever so slightly.

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    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

  • Three of My Cheaters to Fight Fibromyalgia Pain

    If you know me, then you know I call things I use to assist me when I have painful flare; cheaters! I don’t know why. Here are three of my cheaters just for you! Consider it an early Christmas Gift…

    1. Tommy Copper

    Hello, Tommy Copper! Why haven’t I tried this before?!?! Well, I have tried ‘other’ copper products. But. Tommy Copper, the brand name, is a must! I got the back belt first but was so thrilled with the results I added the leg and arm sleeves! This product isn’t about compression, just get the copper cloth as close to your skin as possible. This means under your clothes. Start slow, a few hours a day, and build. I felt relief within one minute after I put on the back brace. I had no back pain within seven days! I’m dead serious! (Yes, the pain comes back but to get an hour of relief, not to mention 8 to 10 hours in ONE DAY?!?! I’m sold!)

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    This product may not work for everyone! But for $20? It is worth a shot. The company states that these items are for those who are in pain but cannot ‘slow down to rest. Well, I got to put these on, rest, and run errands! Yahtzee! These come in black and also in (my favorite) camouflage! I put mine on, and I am sure I’m invisible, blending in with my surroundings!

    2. Epson Salt

    I just cannot stress the importance of soaking in Epson salt. Put a cup of Epson salt into your bathwater. (At least soak your feet in Epson salt!) As I no longer have a bathtub at my disposal, I soak my feet in Epson Salt about three times a week. You can add essential oils! I did happen across Dr. Teal’s Epson salt, there are many kinds, infused with beautiful smelling essential oils. Get yourself some Epson Salt. It is so cheap and had such wonderful results! Calming, detoxifying, and great to do before trying to sleep.

    3. Ibuprofen

    I am not supposed to take NSAIDs (ibuprofen), but there are times that I do because recently, I was denied any access to my pain medication. (Yep. It happened, I knew it eventually would.) Hello, ibuprofen. When I was younger, in my early 20s, I suffered from bursitis in my right shoulder. Very painful! The doctor I was seeing told me I could take 800 mg of ibuprofen every six hours, and that was almost the equivalent of taking a pain pill. It works, folks.* Not great, but tamps down the stabbing, take your breath away, pain. Take your regular medication, supplement your pain management protocol with 800 mg of ibuprofen 2-3 times for one day. (Don’t do this for very long, maybe one to three days max.)

    *Please check with your doctor before doing this. There are always risks and rewards with every medication you take! The pros and cons, according to your own body chemistry. I am NOT a doctor nor do I play one on TV! Talk to your medical professional.

    https://teespring.com/stores/fibromyalgia-6
    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

  • The Fibromyalgia Cure? OK, Let’s Talk About This…

    There is a NEW cure for fibromyalgia plastered on FaceBook! Yep. They have done it! AGAIN! Another cure for us fibro sufferers, for crying out loud! It is about time!!!  (Really?) Well, let’s talk about this…

    Here is the hook…

    Ok. There is a blood test called the FM/a to diagnose fibromyalgia. This is real. Your insurance, whatever that may be, will cover the cost of this blood test.

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    What does the FM/a test for? (Researcher-speak) This is a multi-biomarker-based test that analyzes your immune systems’ white blood cells’ chemokine and cytokine patterns. People with fibro have an irregular pattern regarding these proteins. 

    What does the FM/a test for? (Kim-speak) This test measures the proteins in your body that increase when you are ill. These proteins increase your white blood cell count considerably to fight the likes of the flu, mono, infection, etc… These measurements should prove to be erratic if you have fibromyalgia.

    Next, here is the theory ‘MOJO’ statement…

    The theory ‘MOJO’ statement is a promise to be admitted to their clinical trial if you test positive on the FM/a blood test.

    (Researcher–speak) Take the FM/a test.

    (Kim-speak) Do not rule out being tested for the FM/a test, just don’t be first in case it’s a deciding factor in the treatment you are allowed to receive! (This is not a one-size-fits-all illness!)

    The result in this proposed theory will be a cure for the incurable… AND (drumroll!) they have the ONLY cure!

    Just what is this cure? It is the TB vaccine. Period. Will this work? I haven’t researched one case where it has worked. I have not studied one case where it has caused any harm. Go ahead and research the TB vaccine and see if you think it may hold promise for your ‘type’ of fibromyalgia. Go ahead and get the TB vaccine if you think it might work. Just ask your doctor to administer the TB vaccine. The cost is low, the vaccine is available. There is no need for such a cryptic message of a wonderous ‘cure!’ I trust YOU to make the best decision for YOU!

    https://teespring.com/stores/fibromyalgia-6
    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

  • In Lonely Journey Finding Your Fibromyalgia Support

    Our journeys with Fibromyalgia are often long and very lonely.

    It is difficult it seems for our loved ones, friends, and colleagues to contemplate ever feeling so awful and wracked with pain when in most cases you look surprisingly well. Doctors, if you get a sympathetic one, are busy and how do you pour your heart out in just a few minutes assigned to each patient? Finding your Fibromyalgia support network isn’t always easy.

    At times, I think it is the loneliness that I find the hardest to deal with. The holding inside of the things that scare me and my sheer frustrations of having a condition that nobody, including some medical professionals, has no comprehension of. Add to that the feelings of guilt at not always being able to function the same as everybody else and it all makes for some pretty grim days.

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    So just where do those suffering with Fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions get their support if not from those closest to us?

    A simple search on google reveals plenty of groups and communities but do they really offer the kind of Fibromyalgia support you are looking for? I know that for me when I was first diagnosed, I looked to the internet for some guidance and was desperate for somebody that just understood.

    Sadly in those days, I found plenty of sites but the reality was that there seemed to be some huge pity party going on and that really wasn’t me. Don’t get me wrong, I can do feel sorry for myself with the best of them but truth is, I have Fibromyalgia but it was never going to have me. So I plodded on alone for pretty much 25 years with no real, tangible support. I have an amazing husband who constantly tells me to rest and who takes care of me very well but after all these years, he still just doesn’t get it but he loves me anyway.

    When I decided to put my experience to good use and start the blog, I was determined that I was going to offer positive Fibromyalgia support and advice to my fellow sufferers. I wanted to empower and show that despite us having a condition that can take over our bodies from time to time, we could still function and with some determination lead a pretty normal life.

    Well now, having had a good look around, it seems things have moved on in the past 28 years.

    There are groups of Fibro Warriors who use their personal knowledge of the condition to motivate and support others in the same situation. I have come across Facebook groups where the love contained on the page is almost tangible. It is uplifting seeing people sharing their experiences of Fibromyalgia with the one constant of supporting one another and offering advice to those who are unsure or confused about their condition.

    I am passionate about getting the Fibro message out there, but more importantly, I want to stand alongside fellow sufferers as they navigate their Fibromyalgia journey. I have 28 years of experience with this condition and can take the guesswork away from you when you are looking for answers.

    Facebook allows us to come together to support one another and I have both a public page but probably more importantly I have the safe sanctuary of a closed group. The support fellow sufferers can give one another is invaluable, it is very hard for our family and friends to really comprehend what we deal with daily. You would be more than welcome to either the page or group.

    https://teespring.com/stores/fibromyalgia-6
    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

  • Cryotherapy for Fibromyalgia Pain

    Europe’s doing it. Athletes are doing it. The medical community is doing it. What is cryotherapy?

    Cryotherapy is a treatment that uses freezing or near-freezing temperatures to attain specific results, namely pain reduction. The most popular thing right now is whole-body cryotherapy (WBC). WBC involves standing in a chamber called a cryo-chamber for anywhere from two to five minutes. While you are standing in this chamber, the temperature is taken down to a range between negative 100 and negative 140 degrees. You are virtually naked while you stand in a cryotherapy chamber.

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    Usually, the facility where the cryotherapy is performed will give you a pair of clean, thick socks (a nice alpaca blend) to wear, as well as thick slippers and thick industrial-strength winter gloves. For women, they can either wear underwear and a bra or they can stand in there completely naked. It is highly encouraged for men to keep their underwear on while cryotherapy is performed. For men, it is not recommended to stand in the buff unless they want their “bits” to get a little bit extra chilly (frostbit). A nice furry, fluffy robe is provided for you so you can get from the dressing room to the cryotherapy chamber.

    You step up into this cryo chamber that has a door on the front that hinges open and close. Once you’re inside the chamber, the operator will close the door tight and only your head will stick out of the top. It doesn’t matter if you’re short or tall, just about everybody fits in a cryotherapy chamber. There are little mini foam platforms that are placed on the bottom for you to stand on. This makes the height completely adjustable so almost everybody fits.

    Once you are inside you will notice that it is a little bit chilly. Surprisingly, it’s a different kind of cold than what you think it would be. You’ll then be locked into the chamber and the doors closed so you can take off your robe and toss it over the side to the staff member who is monitoring the controls.

    The temperature when you enter the cryotherapy chamber is usually around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on whether there was already someone in there prior to you, the temperature can be colder than that. So now that your robe is off, hold on tight because your three-minute journey is about to start. If you have any “bits” that you don’t feel like you want to have icicles grow from, I suggest holding on to them tight, because that is exactly what will happen if you don’t.

    Now that you are officially ready to go, the cryotherapy practitioner will set the time and the temperature on the cryo–chamber. Generally, when you’re new to cryotherapy the operator will start you at a temperature around negative 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Once that is set, it triggers the nitrogen to release its gas that cools off the inside of the chamber. Cold, smoky steam will start billowing out of the top where your head sticks through and will make it hard to see. You can feel the cold air coming from the jets that are positioned in several different places throughout the inside of the chamber. After about a minute or so you can see icicles forming where your fine body hair “used to be” on your arm and other places of your body.

    While cryotherapy is cold, it is not the kind of cold that you would think about not being able to tolerate. I live in the snow belt of Ohio and I have lived here my entire life, so I know cold. In the winter of 1996, we had five feet of snowfall in less than a week and the National Guard had to come to my hometown and dig us out. In the Cleveland area, we are used to having winters where, when the wind chill is factored in, it will easily be negative 40 degrees outside. Let me tell you, it is the most unbearable thing you could ever possibly imagine. It does not matter how layered up you are, or the quality of your “thermal underwear,” it’s dang cold and there’s no way to get around it.

    I don’t know how the designers did it, but cryotherapy is different. There is absolutely no way in hell that you would ever catch me standing outside in the middle of January in the snow belt of Ohio butt naked for three minutes and be able to tolerate it. It doesn’t matter what lifetime, it’s not happening! Somehow the geniuses that came up with the cryotherapy chamber have made it just cold enough for you to be able to stand there butt naked and not pray for death. Don’t get me wrong, it’s miserable. It’s very, very miserable. I counted in my head the seconds until the nitrogen would be turned off and I could find some relief from the cold. It still wasn’t January snowbelt cold miserable.

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    Even while you’re standing there freezing off your cha-chas, you start to get a sense of invigoration and energy that you hadn’t had before. It is amazing the energy you feel from doing a whole-body cryotherapy session. The theory behind this and why this happens is because the air becomes so cold that in order to protect itself, your body concentrates all of its blood to your main internal organs, away from your extremities.

    This affects both your brain and the pain receptors in your body. Your body starts releasing anti-inflammatory molecules and endorphins to protect itself from the extreme cold. Cryotherapy increases white blood cells, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and beta-endorphins. Once you are done with the cryotherapy and your body starts to return to normal temperature the blood that was protecting your major organs moves back to your extremities. Immunostimulation due to noradrenaline responds to cold which causes a reduction of pain through the alteration of nerve conduction. This causes oxygen-rich blood to be returned to the extremities, which in turn helps with decreasing pain and inflammation in your muscles and joints.

    To have the best results for Fibromyalgia, it is suggested that you perform three to five consecutive whole-body cryotherapy sessions in a row. After that, it is suggested that you follow a maintenance schedule of two to three times a week to maintain the benefits.

    Cryotherapy is being used for many different conditions. Some of them are Fibromyalgia and chronic pain, sprains, different types of arthritis, pain, and swelling after surgery, tendonitis, sports injuries, low back pain, broken bones, and more.

    You may be wondering how effective cryotherapy is for Fibromyalgia. That is a very good question. According to one study, whole body cryotherapy worked for 83% of Fibromyalgia patients during the three weeks while they were undergoing treatment. Results may last for up to a week after the last treatment. Long-term effects were not measured in this particular study.

    My personal experience with cryotherapy was that it wasn’t worth the monetary cost to continue. I spent hundreds of dollars and felt minimal relief that only lasted for an hour or so after my treatments. On the other hand, when I did localized cryotherapy on my neck where I have spinal stenosis, I had an incredible amount of relief. I also highly suggest a cryotherapy facial. It is so relaxing and amazing and refreshing. You walk away with a glow and tightness you could never imagine.

    To see the full benefits of cryotherapy, it is suggested that you have continuous treatments. Unfortunately, the pain relief results aren’t permanent. On the other hand, when you are in the throws of pain and agony, cryotherapy could be the answer to alleviating some of your symptoms.

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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

  • Cannabis For Fibromyalgia

    Cannabis for fibromyalgia patients can be life-changing. At least it was for me! As a neuroscientist diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I tried all the traditional treatments, but nothing worked and the side effects were awful. Cannabis and CBD are helpful for fibro patients because they treat some of the root causes of fibromyalgia instead of just covering up symptoms.

    What Are The Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia?

    Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues. It is often diagnosed by pressing on tender points throughout the body that results in pain upon light touching. Fibromyalgia flares occur when symptoms rapidly increase in severity or number; these flares may last for days or weeks and are often dependent on stress levels or triggers like a poor diet.

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    Approximately 10 million patients in the United States have fibromyalgia, and 75-90% are women. While the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, infections, physical or emotional trauma, and genetics appear to play a role in onset. Patients with lupus, osteoarthritis, and or rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of developing fibromyalgia.

    In Canada, 30% of patients with fibromyalgia are on disability, whereas in the United States, the percentage is unclear because disability, as well as a fibromyalgia diagnosis, is harder for patients to obtain. In a survey conducted by the National Fibromyalgia Association in 2003, 99% of the respondents who were currently disabled because of fibromyalgia said that they would return to work immediately if they could find some relief for their pain.

    Symptoms of fibromyalgia include muscle pain and tenderness, muscle spasms, joint pain, bone pain, neurological pain, pelvic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, anxiety or depression, gastrointestinal issues, and cognitive issues including memory problems.

    What Are The Common Treatments For Fibromyalgia?

    Common treatments of fibromyalgia include anti-inflammatories such as Aleve (naproxen), Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), aspirin, and meloxicam, pain relievers Tylenol (acetaminophen), morphine (MScontin), and Percocet (oxycodone), and anti-anxiety medications including Valium (diazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Ativan (lorazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam). Anti-depressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline), selective norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs) like Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Savella (milnacipran), and tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline are also used.

    Anti-seizure drug Lyrica (pregabalin) is most well-known for fibromyalgia because of the constant commercials played in the United States; Neurontin (gabapentin) is another anticonvulsant used to treat fibromyalgia. Finally, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, myofascial therapy, massage therapy, yoga, meditation, and cognitive therapy are also used to treat fibromyalgia.

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    Role Of The Endocannabinoid System In Fibromyalgia

    Cannabis helps fibromyalgia by reducing neuropathic pain, pelvic pain, and other forms of pain. It reduces spasms, headaches, inflammation, anxiety, and stress that may trigger or worsen flares. It can improve mood and depression that often comes with having a painful chronic disease with no cure. Finally, cannabis may improve serotonin or other neurotransmitter imbalances in fibromyalgia.

    No genetic causes of fibromyalgia have been found yet, and a blood test for diagnosis was only recently developed and is not widely used or covered by most health insurance plans. It is possible that mutations in genes that regulate the endocannabinoid system could be involved in its development, but no study has looked at that.

    Clinical Research On Cannabis For Fibromyalgia

    There is limited clinical research on cannabis and fibromyalgia because of its Schedule 1 nature in the United States and limited funding on the medical benefits of cannabis. However, a survey by the National Pain Report found cannabis was more effective than standard treatments for fibromyalgia including Cymbalta, Lyrica, and Savella, and fibromyalgia patients prefer it. No research has suggested harm from using cannabis in fibromyalgia patients.

    Patients are already using cannabis, partly due to tightening restrictions on opioid use in the United States. The National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association completed a survey on the impact on patients of changing hydrocodone from Schedule 3 to Schedule 2. The survey found 17% of fibromyalgia patients who were no longer able to fill their hydrocodone prescription shifted to medical marijuana, and 13% moved to alcohol to treat pain, a much less desirable outcome. Another study published in 2012 found 13% of fibromyalgia patients used cannabis, with 80% using smoked marijuana and 24% using prescription cannabinoids.

    In a pilot study of nine patients, THC in doses of 2.5-15 mg per day for three months significantly reduced subjective pain in the four patients that completed the study. In a study of 40 patients with fibromyalgia, four weeks of 1 mg of nabilone, a synthetic THC-like drug that binds strongly to the CB1 receptor improved insomnia but has little impact on pain, mood, or quality of life.

    Twenty-eight fibromyalgia patients using cannabis had significantly reduced pain and stiffness and increased feelings of well-being, relaxation, and sleepiness two hours after use in another study. Finally, a survey of fibromyalgia patients in Israel found 50% of patients stopped using all prescriptions medications for fibromyalgia when they began using cannabis, and there were significant improvements in all quality of life and symptom scores on the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR).

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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

  • A Neuroscientist With Fibromyalgia

    It’s been 5 years since I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and 12 years since I got my Ph.D. in Neuroscience in the Department of Molecular Psychiatry.

    To be honest, I’ve never met another neuroscientist who has fibromyalgia. And maybe that’s why my approach to treating fibromyalgia is so different than most clinicians.

    When it came to treating my fibromyalgia, I let the professionals take the reins at first. I went through the typical medications like opioids, Lyrica, muscle relaxers, antidepressants, and hormone pills. 

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    When all I got was dependence on opioids, and side effects like weight gain, nausea, and more pain, the scientist in me said there has to be a better way. 

    I learned the rules so that I could break them.

    As a neuroscientist, I understand the brain, how both emotional and physical pain is processed, how pharmaceutical drugs impact brain chemistry, and how disease harms it.

    I also know how to research solutions to complex problems, compare weak versus strong evidence, test hypotheses, communicate my findings, and teach students.

    Fibromyalgia is a complex disease that requires a personalized medicine approach and no two cases are the same. It’s a disease that is worsened by stress, and the mind-body connection must be respected.

    No wonder why throwing a bunch of pills at it wasn’t the answer.

    I did my research. Part reading the clinical research, part talking to alternative medicine experts and caregivers, and part playing guinea pig on myself and other patients.

    Plant-assisted therapy (PAT) was the answer.

    I have a unique protocol that uses cannabis, kratom, and magic mushrooms to rewire the brain and heal the emotional and physical pain underlying fibromyalgia. 

    I’m sharing my secret sauce to how I ditched all my pills, got out of my walker, back to work, got my executive MBA, and wrote multiple books, all when my fibromyalgia doctor told me my best case scenario was to accept my illness and collect disability checks.

    I’m going to teach you how to use plants to heal yourself and give your finger to your doctor. 

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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