Dear Fibromyalgia

Category: Fibromyalgia Pain

A comprehensive look at Fibromyalgia pain, its symptoms, triggers, and effective strategies to manage and alleviate discomfort.

  • Some Fibromyalgia Patients are Going to P.O.T.(S.)

    It has recently come to my attention that there is another condition that is commonly found in a number of fibromyalgia patients. The condition is called “postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome,” P.O.T.S., also known as postural tachycardia syndrome. The condition is caused by a change from the supine (face down) position to an upright position causing an abnormal increase in heart rate. The increase can range from 30 beats per minute for adults to an increase of 40 beats per minute for people ages 12 to 19. There is no change in blood pressure. Symptoms are relieved by reclining.

    Common symptoms of this syndrome are fainting, lightheadedness, headaches which can be migraine, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, weakness, and blurred vision.

    There appears to be a significant relationship between this syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome in as many as 50% of the cases. Because of this relationship this health condition is therefore considered an additional problem that fibromyalgia patients must consider and deal with.

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    The bad news is that the mechanism of POTS is poorly understood. Genetics likely plays a role. It can be triggered by a recent viral illness, physical deconditioning, or chronic fatigue syndrome. POTS may also be triggered by secondary conditions including chronic diabetes or gastrointestinal disorders.

    Treatments should begin with non-pharmaceutical forms including increasing water intake (8 to 10 cups daily) and increased salt unless a blood pressure problem. Large meals usually worsen the condition. Smaller meals, no alcohol, lower carbohydrate consumption, reduced caffeine are all suggested natural treatments. Reduced exposure to extreme heat, a problem for those living in Arizona, along with reduced physical activity should be part of your treatment.

    As of 2013, no medication has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    Prognosis is good when managed appropriately with the suggestions already mentioned. Often symptoms improve within five years of diagnosis and many return to their original level of functioning. However, if POTS is caused by another condition, it depends on the prognosis of the other disorder.

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    References:

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

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  • Fibromyalgia: Living on high alert

    Fibromyalgia: Living on high alert

    “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are”, Anaïs Nin

    One of the common sayings in Mindfulness Meditation is that thoughts are not facts. In chronic pain clinics, we are told that hurt does not necessarily mean harm. B.K.S Iyengar, a yoga master, says to think light and feel light.

    But what are we to do when we are in a state of high arousal, waiting for disaster to fall, whether it be in the form of new symptoms or the same old ones we have become accustomed to over these many years? How are we to reduce the amount of anxiety and /or trauma we live with every day?

    There are many strategies that one could employ but the key is to keep watch over our breath. Breathing is key to meditation, yoga, and living with chronic pain. A state of mind is crucial to living a life of ease (somewhat) in spite of the daily challenges we face with this condition of fibromyalgia.

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    We are told to be vigilant about our breathing and it is well documented that we are people who hold our breaths when thoughts become fearful. It is our minds that are in need of reassurance that the worst is not to befall us.

    I have heard and recorded some key phrases that help me (sometimes, when I am diligent about it) calm a frightened mind. One of which is the RAW approach: REGISTER your pain; ACCEPT it; WORK with your body, not against it.

    Another method to reduce the potential threat within our nervous system is to differentiate between emotional and contextual memory. We can train our minds to bring up the specific context of the source that is calling up the traumatic information to our mind, rather than simply responding emotionally, without thought to the source. We do this without the drama of imagined angst.

    There are other strategies I have learned over the years and have to work with continually:

    1. Avoid catastrophic thinking. It is an ‘all’ or ‘nothing’ approach to life.
    2. Avoid self-blaming such as “should have” or “would of”. Do grant me self-compassion instead.
    3. Avoid mind-reading…imagining that the worst is about to happen. The glass is NOT always half empty.
    4. Avoid fortune-telling. The pain, fatigue, and anxiety are not forever. I WILL have some good days.

    I hope these strategies will help in the new year and as I gaze up at the winter sky (at least it is winter in my part of the world, while my Australian friends celebrated the summer solstice just recently!) I can see the dark clouds dissipating while the amazing brightness of the pinks and blues predominate.

    HAPPY 2022 TO US ALL AS WE MANAGE OUR LIVES AS BEST WE CAN WITH HOPE, SELF-COMPASSION, AND CHALLENGES  WELL MET.

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    References:

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

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  • Fibromyalgia: “what’s that smell”?

    “For the sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories and it is a pity that we use it so little”, Rachel Carson

    Many of us with fibromyalgia are extremely sensitive to environmental stimulation such as loud noises, dogs barking, loud music, bright lights, frightening images, strong tastes, and even certain smells which can be very provocative. While some smells are deliciously pleasant to many the same ones may not be ones that trigger happy memories for others.

    Imagine a rose and the strong scent it evokes. What is the brain’s reaction? Hopefully, it is a joyous one.

    However, for some this aroma might be troublesome as it could be associated with a tragic or unhappy event. A good smell for some may be a bad odor for others. As an example, for me, the smell of popcorn in a movie theatre makes me nauseous, although I do not have bad memories of movie theatres or popcorn which I quite like! 

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    Going into a home where wood is burning makes me cough and there is increasing evidence that home wood stoves are unhealthy, although not everyone reacts overtly to that smell as I do. What are we to make of this other than we with this syndrome of fibromyalgia have hypersensitive senses.

    These neurological ‘dysfunctions’ and contradictions of ours sometimes cannot be always understood. While it is easy to comprehend how the perfume or soap aisle in a department store or pharmacy(!) can cause many of us to feel dizzy, nauseated, lightheaded, and/or even experience shortness of breath, why is it that we can sometimes smell a scent that brings about pleasant memories and is happily tolerated?

    Another quirk of mine: I hate the smell of aftershave, any perfumes, and cologne but love the scent of the natural oils of patchouli and sandalwood. Hair spray or strong shampoos can bring about a feeling of weakness, and walking into a shop that does cosmetic nails or some hair-dressing places can be overwhelming. It can be the body itself reacting to triggers that may or may not have associations with our past. But, it may also be an energy crisis within our bodies responding to extreme stimuli.

    This is the case of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) from buildings that are considered ‘sick buildings’  and in which people develop sensitivities from toxic substances. But, I do not work in such places and I live in a city in which government offices, schools, hospitals, and mostly all public places, excluding malls and theatres, are scent-free. So, I should be able to tolerate most scents that are not chemical in origin. Puzzling, indeed!

    Have I inherited these tendencies from a mother who responded in a panic to loud noises and would ask repeatedly: “what IS that smell?”. I can tell immediately if a person has been in a place where food has been cooking. Like my mother, this smell on someone’s clothing makes me feel nauseous. 

    So I can say with certainty that odors affect me dramatically, even innocuous ones and that most of my senses are overactive, except my hearing which has deteriorated, but still cannot abide loud noises. But, there is another point of view. While I believe that we have an overactive sense of smell a small study conducted at Tel-Aviv University with fibromyalgia volunteers suggests a different story.

    The research took place in 2014 by Amital, H., Agmon-Levin, N. et al with 24 people who had fibro, a control group, and another group of sclerosis patients. The study published in Immunologic Research (“Olfactory impairment in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and systemic sclerosis”) suggests the fibromyalgia sample had a worse sense of smell and it impacted taste.

    They used the Sniffin’ Sticks test as their ‘instrument’ for the testing smell. Since this is a very small sample it cannot be used as proof that this sense is decreased in fibromyalgia. The jury is still out! Many of us do lose our hearing and have no sense of smell or taste. Still, others cannot bear to be touched and many, many more of us are sensitive to light and temperature. It is up to us individually to keep tabs on that which causes discomfort.

    These words of Sir William Osler, a Canadian physician educator  (1849-1919) are poignant:” Observe, record, tabulate, communicate. Use your five senses…learn to see, listen to hear, learn to feel, learn to SMELL and know that by practice alone you can become expert”. While he may have been writing this to his fellow physicians we have to become the medical expert in our own lives.

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    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

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  • Fibromyalgia and the tendency toward anxiety

    “When anxious people anticipate something bad about to happen- such as being confronted with creepy pictures of snakes or spiders- their right frontal insulas go into overdrive”, Blakeslee and Blakeslee

    Many of us with fibromyalgia can remember childhood as the beginning of a lifetime of fear, and anxiety. Since there might have been a significant childhood episode that triggered this dis-ease called fibromyalgia, it stayed with us while other troublesome events in our lives piled these generalized feelings one on top of the other.

    It is as if we accumulate and store anxieties in our psyche (frontal insula of the brain) until we can’t differentiate between everyday events that aren’t fearful and those that are. We feel things too deeply. Our empathy capacity is filled with overload. We cannot respond healthily to any form of drama or excitement.

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    While there are some of the beginning signs of this in childhood, such as a tendency to have symptoms such as fainting, hyperventilating, or to have panic attacks, it appears as though we are usually able to live a normal life until a major crisis brings us full on to fibromyalgia, generally in middle age. Rather than this being a beginning, it is usually the end of the lifelong tendency headed for the finale. A central nervous system that can no longer keep the brain from responding to this build-up of anxieties in highly sensitive persons is the way I describe fibromyalgia.

    While I have repeatedly written about the treatment for this devastating syndrome (NOT A “DISEASE”!) I cannot claim to know of a permanent solution. Meditation, avoiding stress and anxiety, light exercise, movement, talk therapy, massage, and undertaking a ‘hobby’ that is repetitive, creative, and new to you are all strategies for a better quality of life, but there isn’t a cure. 

    Talk therapy is extremely important, particularly with an experienced professional. Understanding our ‘triggers’ is especially helpful.  People with fibromyalgia have too much empathy and we must learn how to reign it in as it seems to pour out of our bodies, or more appropriately stated, pours pain into our bodies. In the book The Body Has A Mind of Its Own by Sandra Blakeslee and Matthew Blakeslee, the authors write:

    Research now shows that your brain is teeming with body maps- maps of your body’s surface, its musculature, its intentions, its potential for action, and even a map that automatically tracks and emulates the actions and intentions of other people around you.

    Given that we respond not only to our own fearfulness and anxieties but that we respond to that of others it is little wonder that we are acutely aware at all times of that which is going on in the world around us, which is extremely overwhelming these days.

    Consider an alternative: rather than focusing on the dreadful news of the day, the despair of so many who are suffering, political leaders who lack empathy, massacres, and the fearfulness/anxieties of many, ourselves included, should we not focus on a few brief moments on the beauty of the season? We have to learn to live in the moment and tend to our own pain.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

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  • Fibromyalgia and foot pain

    Fibromyalgia and foot pain

    ” When things get really bad, just raise your glass and stamp your feet and do a little jig”, Leonard Cohen

    As I have been limping along these past few months following hip surgery I began to have foot pain, a condition I had never had before. I was speculating about the cause. Too little walking of late? Plantar fasciitis? Shifting from soft sponge shoes (GoWalk) to sneakers that are heavier? Shuffling after the surgery? The possibilities are endless. No one can tell me what the issues are that inhibit my walking and cause almost shock-like pain in arches and the top of my foot.

    Once more I was in a quandary and begin thinking it was just a fibromyalgia symptom. Why not? I find myself blaming all my woes on this devilish syndrome…not a disease but a dis-ease of the central nervous system. It affects all my muscles, joints, and body parts so the feet are not immune. This is a dangerous state of mind. One can have other conditions that cannot be blamed on fibromyalgia. But, the puzzle persisted. Should I try other shoes?

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    I have been having reflexology which is very soothing and comforting. Foot massages are lovely and I do them myself. Nonetheless, pain in the arches and tops of feet persists. I cannot find any research on fibromyalgia and foot pain. Then alas! I was referred to the Chronic Pain Clinic where I met with a wonderful registered nurse and a phenomenal physician who explained to me (once more!) about degenerative disc disease and lumbar spine pain.

    I learned (once more!) about pain from these discs which can radiate down the legs and feet. Aha! Aging is not for cowards. One thing leads to another and it is a matter of extrapolating, yet joining together the dots of the body’s complex, yet wonderful central nervous system and its relationship to the brain and even the feet. I suffer from low back pain and of course, those bulging discs radiate pain down the legs and feet, made worse by the hyper-aroused central nervous system.

    The staff at the Clinic tell me that the majority of their clients have fibromyalgia. When I gave the physician my short version of fibromyalgia he said it was “well stated”.

    As written eloquently in the most recent blog

    Do we need more of an understanding of the physiology of pain (and other symptoms) of this fibromyalgia syndrome (central sensitization)? For those of us suffering from chronically overstimulated nerves ( in lay language) all we want is to find ways to live a better quality of life.

    So, once more the treatment: meditation, walking, light yoga/chi gong/tai chi, avoiding stimulating foods like sugar, alcohol, caffeine, talk therapy addressing past traumas which are responsible for these conditions, and avoiding stressful situations or those which are too stimulating. In short, a change in lifestyle while recognizing that our central nervous systems are not going to ‘recover’ completely.

    So, what about my sore feet now that it is established that my spine, which does have some abnormalities (ah, but we all have this degenerative disc disease as we age!) is sending messages to my brain that walking hurts my feet? Well, there is some degree of help through paravertebral blocks which may temporarily help with leg and foot pain, but I was advised that fibromyalgia clients do not do as well as others with disc disease, for all the reasons cited above.

    Nonetheless, I am happy there is the possibility I will be walking for longer periods of time without foot and back pain! I will walk for short periods of time like 15 minutes, several times a day, and sometimes supplement this with my trekking sticks.  “Hope springs eternal in the human breast” (Alexander Pope).

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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

  • Fibromyalgia and Skin Problems: Clothing that Causes Itching

    Fibromyalgia and Skin Problems: Clothing that Causes Itching

    “I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn’t itch”, Gilda Radner

    There isn’t anything more comforting to me than cloth that is soft and soothing. Mostly, it is cotton that gives me a feeling of being in a cocoon. Since the most popular blog on this busy website is about itching it has brought to mind the ways in which we can reduce the itching and scratching (the “Itchy & Scratchy Show” from The Simpsons is brought to mind) of fabric that does not bring comfort.

    In an effort to “change my brain” regarding pain, I followed the advice of experts many years ago and took on a project which was creative and new to me. In addition, it is somewhat repetitive, also part of the triad of characteristics that make up this endeavor. Quilting was my choice of a new project/hobby. Never a sewer it was indeed a steep learning curve but it brought me into the realm of fabrics.

    I found myself in shops that were new to me as I walked among the bolts of material that were either comforting or irritating to the touch. It was then that I finally understood why I have never been a fashion queen. I am only at ease in soft, cotton fabrics, otherwise, my body is ‘itchy and scratchy. Rashes, tingling, and burning will develop if the clothing I wear is not soothing to the touch.

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    When my oldest son was a toddler he would take a piece of new clothing and rub it against his face and if he did not like the feel of it he would say it was ‘picky’ and would not wear it. It seems as though this is hereditary but maybe not! Raised in the 1970s he and his two brothers were a product of that terrible acrylic, flashy and scratchy clothes for boys. Nylon, rayon, and other non-natural fabrics were the bane of their existence.

    Raised in the 1950s myself I remember the unpleasant sensations of the crinoline skirts, tight waistbands, itchy dresses, and uncomfortable high-heeled shoes. I would itch after wearing a crinoline and anything tight, in particular nylon stockings and later panty-hose. High-heeled shoes were another pain-evoking dilemma for me.

    Currently, I am embarking on making a quilt for a friend from African fabric which has been in her home for many years from her working days in Africa. The dyed (done by hand) material is soft and enticing. I could imagine the lovely draping and amazing feel of the soft fabric on my skin.

    I am certain that all the itching and subsequent skin problems that we ‘fibromyalgia persons’, (mainly women) experience are no doubt exacerbated by irritating fabric against the skin, make-up that is poisonous, and shoes that affect our feet in later life. Is it little wonder that more women than men experience itching and scratching until the skin erupts? Added to this is the pressure women are under to dress fashionably which usually means uncomfortably.

    The fashion industry is the second greatest polluter of the environment after oil. Not only is it responsible for pollution of the earth but it also pollutes our sensitive bodies. Do try a day without makeup and nail polish (poisonous substances have been found in nail polish that can affect the endocrine system and potentially the reproductive system, The research in this area is ongoing).

    Spend a week in soft, loose,non-irritating clothing, avoid chemicals in the form of hair dyes and makeup, give up the heeled shoes, and note for yourself if it helps with the itching and rashes. Above all, it is our central nervous system that will enjoy the vacation from what is considered fashionable ( note: uncomfortable). It is primarily men who determine women’s fashion although as it is often said: women dress for other women, not for men!

    This could be more complex in the area of transgender and fluid orientations nonetheless, for all humans comfort is paramount. We can all redefine what is fashionable and how we present ourselves to the world if we demand clothing that is healthy for our bodies and not made from toxic fabric.

    Taking care of our skin, the largest organ of the body will reduce the amount of itching and rashes we experience as persons with fibromyalgia – the dis-ease of the central nervous system.

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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

  • The many faces of fibromyalgia

    The many faces of fibromyalgia

    “What’s in a name?”, Shakespeare

    The nomenclature of Fibromyalgia can be known as: “Central Sensitization”, “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”, “Cycles of Over-Exertion-Relapse”, and “Chronic Fatigue Disorder”, and now a new term: “Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disorder”- all with the same characteristics.  What’s to be done so that we can explain ourselves to others while so many labels of these invisible syndromes abound?

    In fact, do all these terms mean the same thing? Are they bio–psycho–social in nature yet present with symptoms that are almost identical? The more I read, live with, and experience these conditions the more certain I am that they are linked under the umbrella of “medically unexplained symptoms”, referred to as MUS. It appears to me that there is less understanding of the linkages than ever before as new labels appear. How can we separate the ‘bio’ from the ‘psycho’ ‘social’? Are they all neurological conditions?

    Fibromyalgia (FMS)  and Chronic Fatigue (CFS) are no doubt, identical twins. It is rare to have one without the other.  Pain, malaise, sleep disorders, brain ‘fog’, digestive disorders, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, and pain affected by exertion,  among a host of other symptoms affect the person to such an extent that the central nervous system becomes overly sensitized/ hyper-aroused. Extreme reactions to a vast array of environmental situations or over-exertion plague the person with FMS and CFS and are known triggers that bring on a flare-up.

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    But wait! People with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experience these same symptoms: physical pain, sleeping difficulties, dizziness, fatigue, digestive disorders, triggers that are known as flashbacks, hyper-arousal of the central nervous system, anxiety, and depression make up the countless list of challenges that face the person with PTSD. Is this condition a cousin, a sibling, or a triplet of FMS and CFS?

    So what’s with this label of Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disorder (SEID)? Who is this new relative? Ah, but this is the identical twin to CFS! It’s a ‘Cycle of Over- Exertion-Relapse‘ (COER) syndrome that is common among those with FMS, PTSD, and CFS. Are they all siblings or quints?

    Now to the next ‘syndrome’ ( a list of symptoms that do not in and of themselves make up an actual disease). This appears to be the biggie these days- Central Sensitization (CSS). Is this the mother who has spawned these neurological offspring? Her personality is highlighted by a history of anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue, psychological trauma, heightened pain affected by movement, and over sensitivity of the central nervous system.

    Is this the term that makes these conditions more acceptable to those in the health professions? It sounds more ‘scientific’ and medical. It fits a ‘bio’ interpretation and covers the ‘psycho’ and ‘social’ aspects of the other siblings. Is the psycho the result of a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) that can make many uncomfortable, and therefore to be avoided? The ‘social’ is something we have to live with every day and not a welcome one for the health professionals with whom we have contact.

    As can be seen, I have more questions than answers. But, there is little doubt that whichever label we identify with we are HSPs with a hyper-aroused central nervous system, and there are millions of people facing the same kinds of daily challenges.

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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

  • “Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps”: struggling with fibromyalgia

    “Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps”: struggling with fibromyalgia

    ” Early in life, I was visited by the bluebird of anxiety”, Woody Allen

    Anxiety is the root cause of fibromyalgia, particularly at an early age, or even in the womb. So, how is one to overcome the early stages of this deep-seated emotional characteristic that those of us with fibromyalgia struggle with on a day-to-day basis?

    Even more significant: how do we explain to others that the challenges of life-long anxiety cannot be overcome by those who lack empathy or compassion who suggest we just get on with life and stop complaining? It would seem as though I begin each new blog with a series of questions that aren’t easily answered.

    It is fear that triggers the amygdala to release neurotransmitters. In turn, the hypothalamus dumps adrenaline which causes elevated heart rate, flushing, shallow breathing, and other physiological symptoms. Fear and anxiety are two sides of the same coin.

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    I can trace my early anxieties/ fear to anxious parenting, Catholic nuns who terrified me with thoughts of hell, a crisis of moving from a large city to a small town as an adolescent, and a 17-year-old who like others of the day, was used as a source of free labor in a diploma based nursing school, nursing in general, an early bad marriage, three C sections, a divorce, completing a Ph.D. as a single parent, being stalked, remarriage with a blended family of five teenagers, caring for elderly parents, and finally, a heart attack, followed by a hip replacement.

    Now, of course, aging has reared its challenging head. Each new crisis, no matter the seriousness, triggers the amygdala. One might look at this list and believe it is not as horrific as the life of those who suffer greater atrocities. Nonetheless, there are two kinds of people- those who thrive in acute stress situations and those who don’t. I am of the latter kind of person, born as a highly sensitive person.

    Beginning life as a high-energy person I am no longer that same woman. While age is certainly a factor I have not survived those life events as one who has much resilience to spare. Now, while I am fortunate with my wonderful, caregiving spouse, financially secure, and proud of the adult children and grandchildren, I still suffer from chronic fatigue and pain.

    More than that I have general free-floating anxieties which are often unexplained. I am quick to fearfulness, and the glass is often half empty. I meditate, although not as consistently as I should and could. I ride my exercise bike regularly. I have regular massages and great friends.

    However, I am very self-conscious about even mentioning any ailments to many, and specifically to a certain friend who suffers from what I call “boot-strap-ism”. She believes one should just get on with life and that aging is not a state of gloom and doom, mentioning old star performers as an example of embracing old age.

    Perhaps I too should do the same, uncurl those bootstraps. After all, the alternative to old age is not all that desirable! I do try, but then a flare-up occurs, often for no reason that I can identify and I simply cannot pull myself away from anxiety. In all consciousness, I cannot feel sorry for myself. I am a privileged woman. I have not suffered the ravages of war, racism, extreme poverty, or homophobia.

    As young women, we are trained for fear, but many of us become strong, fearless, resilient women as we age. Others struggle with a hyper-aroused central nervous system that produces a highly vigilant woman (or man) who is overly empathetic and lives with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and PTSD. We can’t judge another’s fears and anxieties. We can never know the struggles someone else goes through. We might think we do but never can. So, self-compassion is paramount, rather than self-criticism.

    Now a new season is emerging. Storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, unsettling political climates, and threats of nuclear wars have most of us in a tizzy and a state of permanent anxiety. Shall those of us in a more calm country with so far none of the ravages of hurricanes and other current climate disasters (excepting for the fires on the west coast of Canada) relish in the beauty of the autumn leaves? I don’t know if the cup is half empty or half full. My bootstraps are tangled and it isn’t easy to lift myself up too high.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
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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

  • The twins: Fibromyalgia/ PTSD

    The twins: Fibromyalgia/ PTSD

    “After a traumatic experience, the human system of self-preservation seems to go onto permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment”, Judith Lewis Herman

    In my book almost a decade ago, I wrote about Gulf War syndrome and the similarities between this condition and fibromyalgia. From the terms ‘shell shock’ and ‘Gulf War syndrome’ has emerged the contemporary ‘Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder’  label.  We have now landed firmly on the relationship between these three conditions and fibromyalgia.

    Years and years of studying and researching the topic of fibromyalgia have convinced me that PTSD and fibromyalgia are the same things. There I’ve said it! And, finally, others are saying it too. What do all those terms share in common?   How is it that PTSD and fibromyalgia are twined? Wars, abuse, crises, and trauma of many sorts take their toll on us all, but it is the highly sensitive person whose psyche becomes over-burdened. Here are the ways in which the two conditions match:

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    Sleep: Insomnia is insidious, silent, and invisible. Worse still are night terrors and dreams that rob peace of mind and wear one down. Not only do physical ailments develop from unrestful sleep, but also emotional problems develop. Things that seem bearable somewhat during the day become unbearable in the dark. Sleep deprivation and other disturbances are common.

    Anxiety: Often gripped with the feeling of dread but cannot tell why. There is a constant merry-go-round of fearful thoughts in the brain. Looking constantly for anticipated trouble. A neurotic terror of the unknown is a frequent companion. The world is seen in black and white. The anxiety levels rise to panic. Change is not well tolerated.

    Lack of contentment: Achieving even little contentment and peace is a struggle. Living in the moment is difficult as there is the anticipation of the possibility that danger lurks around the corner. Living with tension and fear of the future while remembering the past is common.

    Lack of resilience: Easily startled, frightened even when not in a dangerous situation. Flashbacks in terms of smells, sights, and sounds from shocking, scary, or crises once experienced. Negative thoughts about oneself result in being hard on self and mired in depressive thoughts.

    Along with these emotional reactions, there are the physical ailments that accompany the emotional ones. Pain, fatigue, abdominal upsets, lack of energy, sensitivity to sounds, smells, frightening sights, uncontrollable itching, tingling of limbs, and a myriad of other symptoms are what PTSD and fibromyalgia have in common to a lesser or higher degree.

    • Each person is unique and may or may not share all of these emotional and physical symptoms but the similarities can no longer go unheeded.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia After Hip Surgery: A slow process

    Fibromyalgia After Hip Surgery: A slow process

    ” Patience is a conquering virtue”, Geoffrey Chaucer

    So, the hip replacement happened almost three weeks ago. I had hoped that when I took my first step post-operatively I would not have pain. So many people told me that would happen. I should have known better. Of course, there is still pain. It is too soon for me to know the nature of it. Is it fibromyalgia? The scar? The hip itself? I thought I was the expert of my own body but it has now had an assault of a different nature. I believe I will have a handle on it in a few more weeks. For now, I am trying to live every day in a slower manner. At first, I rushed through walking, stopped using the walker too soon, and developed shin splints. It is my misfortune I am not patient and calm. I have learned even more about this highly motivated personality of mine. Are all of us with fibromyalgia this energetic type who suffers because we rush through life?

    It is a beautiful summer day with a slight breeze. Time to heal.

    I will write more in a few weeks, for now, breathe and slow down…

    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