Dear Fibromyalgia

Tag: Fibromyalgia

An in-depth guide on Fibromyalgia, covering its symptoms, causes, treatments, and tips for managing this chronic condition effectively.

Fibromyalgia Conditions | How Dysphagia and Fibromyalgia are Connected?
Dysphagia is a medical term that means that a patient has difficulty swallowing. There are a number of different conditions that can cause dysphagia. And someone who suffers from dysphagia often finds that it makes life very difficult. Depending on their condition, swallowing can be very painful, which makes eating and getting enough nutrition a challenge.

And what’s even more alarming is that many people with fibromyalgia report having problems with dysphagia.

So, what are some of the things that can cause dysphagia? Is there a link between the condition and fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?

What Causes Dysphagia?

There are a number of different things that can cause dysphagia. Anything that interferes with the complex system of nerves and muscles that control the esophagus can make swallowing difficult. But some of the most common causes are:
- Achalasia– a condition that causes the muscles in the esophagus to constrict.
- Diffuse Spasm– a condition where the muscles spasm uncontrollably, usually after swallowing.
- Esophageal Stricture– a narrowing of the opening of the esophagus caused by scar tissue or tumors.
- Gastro-Intestinal Reflux Disease (GERD)– The gradual destruction of the tissue in the esophagus caused by acid from the stomach washing up into the esophagus.
Dysphagia can also occur without any obvious source. But whatever the cause, the symptoms are often similar. The most common symptoms are difficulty swallowing, pain in the throat, frequent heartburn, a hoarse voice, and regurgitating food you’ve already eaten.

In most cases, dysphagia isn’t dangerous. But it can lead to dramatic weight loss and can be life-threatening if it causes you to regurgitate food into the lungs.

And while we don’t always know what causes the condition, we do know that it is abnormally common in people with fibromyalgia.

Dysphagia And Fibromyalgia

A study by the National Institute of Health in the United States determined that a significant number of patients with fibromyalgia reported problems with swallowing. Patients in the study reported suffering from dysphagia at a rate 40% higher than people without fibromyalgia.

Unfortunately, the reason this sort of symptom is common in people with fibromyalgia remains a mystery. There’s so much that we don’t know about how fibromyalgia works, including why it would cause dysphagia. But we can speculate on a number of possibilities.

People with fibromyalgia often experience muscle weakness. This weakness could explain why they suffer from dysphagia. The muscles that control the process of swallowing may be affected by the general weakness caused by fibromyalgia.

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In addition, we know that people with fibromyalgia have problems with their nervous system. An NIH study found that patients with fibro had significantly more neurological abnormalities than a control group. If fibromyalgia is a condition that affects the nervous system, as many doctors suggest it is, then it could be causing a breakdown between the nerves that control the esophagus and the brain.

This would explain why people with fibromyalgia have a hard time swallowing. Their brain can’t control the muscles in the esophagus as they normally would. But until we know more about the condition, we can’t say for sure what the link is.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to treat the condition.

The first step in treatment is a diagnosis. The most common way to diagnose the condition is with an imaging test, like a barium X-ray. Essentially, the patient drinks a contrast material – barium- which coats the esophagus and makes it easier to see on the X-ray. The doctor can then examine the image to see if your esophagus is expanding correctly. And this examination can also be done with an endoscopic camera.

Your treatment will depend on what’s causing the condition. If the condition is caused by weakened muscles, there are a number of exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles. And you can learn different swallowing techniques to compensate for the weakened muscles. Your doctor will be able to advise you on what to do.

If the treatment is caused by muscle constriction in the esophagus, there are a number of medications that can help relax the muscles. In addition, a surgeon can perform a procedure to dilate the muscles and force them to relax. Finally, a surgeon can remove portions of the esophagus to widen the space for food to pass through.

If you’re experiencing difficulties swallowing, it’s always a good idea to see a doctor. They will be able to give you advice on the best course of treatment.

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11/17/2023
Fibromyalgia Supplements | A Miracle Thyme Tea Reliefs Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigues

Thyme is an herb from the mint family. This is a truly ancient herb, used by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for ceremonial and ritualistic purposes. Through the Middle Ages where it was also used for religious and medicinal reasons. It is an incredibly potent yet simple herb affecting multiple systems in the body and capable of treating dozens of diseases. It contains one of the strongest antioxidants known and is proven to kill 98% of breast cancer cells.

Thyme contains thymol which is a natural antiseptic, antibacterial, and an expectorant, making this tea with honey and lemon a delicious remedy for all of you suffering from sore throats and coughs.

Wild thyme tea is recommended for cough, hangover, flu, and sore throat. Thyme has primarily been used for respiratory ailments for its infection-fighting and cough suppressive qualities. Thyme honey is ideal for sweetening herb teas. Blend thyme with nettle for allergies and mints for colds and congestion. It is also help’s if you have fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus & multiple sclerosis.

Thyme Tea Recipe

Ingredients:

-1c Boiling Water
-1tbs dry or 1T fresh Thyme
-1tbs dry or 1T fresh sage
-1-1 Ginger slices
-Honey to taste

Directions:
-Warm your teacup with hot water.
-Pour away the water.
-Put herbs in the cup. Add fresh boiling water and cover.
-Leave to steep 3 to 5 minutes. Add more herbs for a stronger flavor.
-Steeping too long will make the tea bitter. Use Honey or a natural herbal sweetener like Stevia.
-Add ginger slices and/or lemon slices if desired.

Other Health Benefits Of Thyme

-Lower Blood Pressure
-Boost your Immunity
-Boost your Mood
-Improves bone health
-Antioxidant Capacity
-Immune System
-Anti-fungal Ability

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11/16/2023
CFS | Light and Noise Sensitivity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Light and noise sensitivity in fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have been scientifically established since the early 1990s, but they’re still underrecognized and rarely make symptoms lists. Rest assured that you’re not alone in experiencing this symptom!

When I used to take my kids to daycare, some mornings the noise would hit me like a brick wall. In an instant, I’d have pain, nausea, dizziness, trembling, and a looming panic attack.

More than once, I had to call in sick as a result of it. I’ve had similar experiences with bright or flashing lights, or with visual chaos in general.

Causes

We don’t know the causes of light and noise sensitivity, but they’re often called “generalized hypervigilance.” That means our bodies are constantly on high alert. It’s also a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hypervigilance is beneficial for people in potentially dangerous situations, such as soldiers or police officers, because it speeds up to several processes and helps with crisis response.

In FMS and ME/CFS, however, hypervigilance overwhelms us. We don’t know why, but possibilities include:
- Nervous system abnormalities
- Stress-system (HPA axis) problems
- Neurotransmitter dysregulation
- Blood pressure irregularities
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Symptoms of Generalized Hypervigilance

Common symptoms of hypervigilance include:
- Anxiety
- Rapid heartbeat
- Trembling
- Rapid or labored breathing
- Sweating
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
Treatments

So far, we don’t have research showing that specific treatments alleviate light and noise sensitivity in FMS and ME/CFS.

In people with PTSD, treatment for the anxiety related to generalized hypervigilance can include mental-health counseling and medications, especially antidepressants.

Supplements for anxiety and stress may help you cope better with light and noise sensitivity as well. Some people also benefit from treatments such as massage or acupuncture.

Coping

Light and noise sensitivity can have a huge impact on your life. You may avoid certain situations and even fear them, which increases anxiety. It can also contribute to social isolation, which is common in people with FMS or ME/CFS and can worsen depression.

Some work environments are difficult to endure. I used to be a television news producer, which meant sitting under a lighting grid in a room with dozens of TVs and ringing phones. I went from thriving in the chaos to having regular anxiety attacks. I decided to leave the job. Other people may be able to get reasonable accommodation to lessen the impact of this symptom.

You might be able to eliminate or avoid many sources of excess noise and light, but you probably can’t eliminate all of them. Several simple things can help you deal with light and noise sensitivity in your daily life:
- Sunglasses are a must outside.
- If fluorescent lights bother you, lightly tinted sunglasses or a hat with a brim may help.
- In a noisy environment, earplugs or listening to music on headphones may help some people.
- Deep breathing and other relaxation techniques can help you get through episodes of sensory overload due to light and noise.
- Teach your family and friends about the impact that light and noise have on you so they understand your requests to turn off lights or turn down the volume.
- If your computer screen bothers you, try adjusting the brightness and contrast.
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11/15/2023
Fibromyalgia Flares | Fibromyalgia Linked to Overactive Brain Networks

Many fibromyalgia sufferers have been told that the pain is “all in their head.” New research indicates there may be some truth to that, and that overactive brain networks could play a role in the hypersensitivity of fibromyalgia patients.

Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood disorder characterized by deep tissue pain, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, and insomnia. There is no known cause and successful treatments have been elusive.

In a lengthy study published in the journal Scientific Reports, an international team of researchers at the University of Michigan and in South Korea report that patients with fibromyalgia have brain networks primed for rapid responses to minor changes. This abnormal hypersensitivity is known as called explosive synchronization (ES).

“For the first time, this research shows that the hypersensitivity experienced by chronic pain patients may result from hypersensitive brain networks,” says co-senior author Richard Harris, Ph.D., an associate professor of anesthesiology at Michigan Medicine’s Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center.

In ES, a small stimulus can lead to a dramatic synchronized reaction throughout the network, as can happen when a power outage triggers a major grid failure or blackout. Until recently, this phenomenon was studied in physics rather than medicine. Researchers say it’s a promising avenue to explore in the quest to determine how a person develops fibromyalgia.

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“As opposed to the normal process of gradually linking up different centers in the brain after a stimulus, chronic pain patients have conditions that predispose them to link up in an abrupt, explosive manner,” says first author UnCheol Lee, PhD., a physicist and assistant professor of anesthesiology at Michigan Medicine.

The researchers tested their theory by conducting electroencephalogram (EEG) tests on the brains of 10 female patients with fibromyalgia. Baseline EEG results showed the patients had hypersensitive brain networks, and that there was a strong correlation between the degree of ES conditions and the self-reported intensity of their pain during EEG testing.

Lee’s research team and collaborators in South Korea then used computer models of brain activity to compare the stimulus responses of the fibromyalgia patients to those of healthy ones. As expected, the fibromyalgia model was more sensitive to electrical stimulation.

“We again see the chronic pain brain is electrically unstable and sensitive,” Harris says.

Harris says this type of modeling could help guide future treatments for fibromyalgia. Since ES can be modeled outside of the brain in computers, researchers can test for influential regions that transform a hypersensitive network into a more stable one. These regions could then be targeted in living humans using noninvasive brain modulation therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, which is currently used to treat fibromyalgia and depression.

“We expect that our study may ultimately suggest new approaches for analgesic treatments. ES provides a theoretical framework and quantitative approach to test interventions that shift a hypersensitive brain network to a more normal brain network,” researchers reported.

“It may be possible to convert an ES network to a non-ES network just by modulating one or two hub nodes. Indeed, transcranial magnetic stimulation and/or transcranial direct current stimulation may be improved by ‘targeting’ these sensitive hub nodes. The application of deep brain stimulation to critical nodes that could modify ES conditions is another therapeutic possibility that could be explored.”

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11/14/2023
Medications | Why Doctors Over prescribing Gabapentin and Pregabalin (Lyrica) for Pain?

Let’s be perfectly honest. Most doctors have a difficult time with chronic pain patients. One physician described it to us many years ago: “When I see a patient suffering severe chronic pain come in the front door I want to go out the back door.” That’s because there are few good options. Drugs like hydrocodone or oxycodone used to be prescribed in huge quantities. Now gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are on the ascendency and opioids are shunned.
The Opioid Epidemic:
Doctors are dismayed by the opioid epidemic sweeping the nation. Over the last year, the drumbeat of headlines about opioid overdoses and deaths has scared a lot of physicians into cutting back on prescribing drugs like hydrocodone or oxycodone.

Many of the overdose deaths are caused by illicit fentanyl. People OD because they have no idea how potent the narcotics are that they are snorting, swallowing, or injecting. According to the CDC (Nov. 3, 2017):

“Preliminary estimates of U.S. drug overdose deaths exceeded 60,000 in 2016 and were partially driven by a fivefold increase in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (excluding methadone), from 3,105 in 2013 to approximately 20,000 in 2016. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50–100 times more potent than morphine, is primarily responsible for this rapid increase. In addition, fentanyl analogs such as acetylfentanyl, furanylfentanyl, and carfentanil are being detected increasingly in overdose deaths and the illicit opioid drug supply.”

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Fentanyl powder does not come from your local pharmacy. Most of it is illicit and is coming from foreign countries (CBS News; New York Times, Aug. 10, 2017). China and Mexico are major suppliers. It is being added to heroin or even counterfeit opioid pills that look like Percocet (CNN June 8, 2017) or Oxycontin. The government does not seem to know how to stem the flow of illicit fentanyl that is flooding the country.
Doctors and Opioids:
It is hardly any wonder that doctors have cut back on prescriptions for hydrocodone and oxycodone. Like the rest of us, they read horrifying reports about opioid deaths. The evening news often leads with graphic accounts of accidental overdoses. Federal guidelines and restrictions have made it harder for physicians to prescribe opioids.
Gabapentinoids: What Are They?

As a result of the negative publicity and constraints about opioids, many people who are in severe pain have been left without relief. Consequently, physicians are searching for other drugs they can prescribe instead of narcotics. They may turn to gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin).

Gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are both used to treat nerve pain. Doctors prescribed these medications three times more often in 2015 than they did in 2002, despite no radical change in the number of patients with neuropathic pain (JAMA Internal Medicine, online Jan. 2, 2018).
The author advises his colleagues to use these drugs cautiously:

“The combination of a dearth of long-term safety data, small effect sizes, concern for increased risk of overdose in combination with opioid use, and high rates of off-label prescribing, which are associated with high rates of adverse effects, raises concern about the levels of gabapentinoid use. While individual clinical scenarios can be challenging, caution should be advised in the use of gabapentinoids, particularly for those individuals who are longterm opioid users, given the lack of proven long-term efficacy and the known and unknown risks of gabapentinoid use.”

A perspective published in the New England Journal of Medicine goes even further (Aug. 3, 2017).

The authors note that guidelines from the CDC recommend acetaminophen and NSAIDs as first-line options for osteoarthritis and low back pain. The physicians point out that “acetaminophen is often ineffective, and NSAIDs are associated with adverse effects that limit their use…”
They go on to say:

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“The CDC guidelines also recommend gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin) as first-line agents for neuropathic pain. We believe, however, that gabapentinoids are being prescribed excessively — partly in response to the opioid epidemic”

They conclude:

“Patients who are in pain deserve empathy, understanding, time, and attention. We believe some of them may benefit from a therapeutic trial of gabapentin or pregabalin for off-label indications, and we support robust efforts to limit opioid prescribing. Nevertheless, clinicians shouldn’t assume that gabapentinoids are an effective approach for most pain syndromes or a routinely appropriate substitute for opioids.”

Gabapentin Side Effects:
The history of gabapentin (Neurontin) is fascinating. It was originally approved by the FDA for treating epilepsy in 1993. There is a tale of woe and intrigue about how the company that marketed Neurontin got into trouble with the FDA for illegal off-label marketing practices. We won’t go into that here, but you can read all about it in this article:
Surprising Gabapentin Side Effects
Gabapentin has become a go-to drug for doctors who are trying to control chronic pain problems. At last count, dispensed prescriptions have gone from 39 million in 2012 to 51 million in 2014 to 64 million in 2016 (Quintiles IMS, May 2017, now IQVIA Institute).

Gabapentin can cause depression, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, digestive tract upset, trouble with balance, cognitive difficulties, and visual problems. The official prescribing information warns:

“Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including gabapentin, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.”

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11/13/2023
Fibromyalgia Researches | Endocannabinoid Deficiency Leads to Fibromyalgia. National Pain Foundation Survey

In 2014, a survey of more than 1,300 fibromyalgia patients by the National Pain Foundation and National Pain Report found medical marijuana is more effective than Lyrica, Cymbalta, or Savella, the three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat the disorder. (If you’re curious about the effectiveness of Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella, then you might be interested in my post, “Why your fibro meds aren’t working.”)

There’s growing anecdotal evidence that marijuana relieves fibromyalgia pain, but actual research is still scant. Cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, making it difficult for researchers to study the plant’s pain-relieving properties. To date, there have been less than a handful of small studies using cannabis or its derivatives to treat fibromyalgia. Most of those have shown it to be beneficial, especially for pain relief.

But why does cannabis seem to work so well? Dr. Ethan Russo, medical director of PHYTECS, believes fibromyalgia’s multifaceted symptoms may be caused by a deficiency in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a condition he calls Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CED). Maybe the reason cannabis is so effective is that it’s simply supplementing what the body needs – similar to how people take a supplement to treat vitamin D or B12 deficiency.

Russo explores the evidence behind his hypothesis in a soon-to-be-published review entitled, “Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered: Current Research Supports the Theory in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, and Other Treatment-Resistant Syndromes.” While his idea is still theoretical, there is some early research indicating he may be onto something.

The ECS is made up of cannabinoid receptors within the brain, spinal cord, nerves, gut, organs, and other locations in the body. It helps the body maintain homeostasis and is involved in a number of physiological processes, including pain sensation, mood, memory, and appetite, among others. The body naturally makes endocannabinoids – the same kinds of endocannabinoids found in cannabis – that feed the ECS and keep it functioning.

Fibromyalgia causes symptoms throughout the body, with the primary ones being a pain, fatigue, cognitive and sleep difficulties. Certain conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraine, are extremely common among those with fibromyalgia – so much so that Russo believes they may all be connected to an ECS deficiency.

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His theory makes sense. The ECS plays a role in so many of the body’s major systems, so if it was indeed malfunctioning, that would account for why fibro sufferers have such varied symptoms. Supplementing the ECS with cannabinoids from the cannabis plant would, in theory, relieve symptoms because the deficiency is being treated.

Russo first posited that fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraine may be caused by an ECS deficiency back in 2001. (Click here to read his first review on the subject.) His latest review gives an update on new research that supports ECS deficiency as a possible culprit for fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraine.

“Additional studies have provided a firmer foundation for the theory,” he writes in the review, “while clinical data have also produced evidence for decreased pain, improved sleep, and other benefits to cannabinoid treatment and adjunctive lifestyle approaches affecting the endocannabinoid system.”

CED is based on the premise that many brain disorders have been linked to neurotransmitter deficiencies. For example, dopamine has been implicated in Parkinson’s disease, and serotonin and norepinephrine have been associated with depression.

“If endocannabinoid function were decreased, it follows that a lowered pain threshold would be operative, along with derangements of digestion, mood and sleep among the almost universal physiological systems sub-served by the ECS,” Russo writes.

That’s a mouthful, but essentially it means if the ECS isn’t properly working, then it could account for the pain, sleep, digestive and other issues so common among fibromyalgia patients. Adding cannabinoids to the body through the use of cannabis may help to bring the ECS back into balance.

“It’s a key in a lock in your body that exists for a reason,” explains Dr. Jahan Marcu, chief scientist with Americans for Safe Access. “We send in cannabinoids to activate this system that’s supposed to be working. It’s a sort of care and feeding of the ECS so it can do its job.”

The best evidence for CED comes from an Italian migraine study, which found reduced levels of an endocannabinoid known as anandamide in patients with chronic migraines versus healthy controls.

“Reduced [anandamide] levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of chronic migraine patients support the hypothesis of the failure of this endogenous cannabinoid system in chronic migraine,” read the study.

Unfortunately, the Italian study will probably never be repeated in the United States because it required risky and invasive lumbar punctures.

In the gut, the ECS modulates the movement of food along the digestive tract, the release of digestive juices to break down food, and inflammation.

Cannabis has long been used to treat digestive issues and was one of the first effective treatments for diarrhea caused by cholera in the 19th century.

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“Unfortunately while many patient surveys have touted the benefit of cannabinoid treatment of IBS symptoms, and abundant anecdotal support is evident on the Internet, little actual clinical work has been accomplished,” Russo writes.

A few studies using marijuana for fibromyalgia have had positive results. Overall, marijuana has been found to decrease pain and anxiety, and improve sleep and general well-being.

“There is actually some evidence that the levels of at least one endocannabinoid (anandamide) increase in the circulation of patients with fibromyalgia,” says Prof. Roger G. Pertwee from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. “There is also considerable evidence that anandamide is often released in a manner that reduces unwanted symptoms such as pain and spasticity in certain disorders. … It is generally accepted that THC, the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, can relieve pain, including neuropathic pain for example, by directly activating cannabinoid receptors. … Some non-psychoactive constituents of cannabis have also been found to relieve signs of pain, at least in animal models.”

For anecdotal evidence, Russo cites the National Pain Foundation/National Pain Report survey in his review, saying, “The results of the survey strongly favor cannabis over the poorly effective prescription medicines. These results certainly support an urgent need for more definitive randomized controlled trials of a well-formulated and standardized cannabis-based medicine in fibromyalgia inasmuch as existing medicines with regulatory approval seem to fall quite short of the mark.”

More research needs to be done to either prove or disprove CED’s existence.

“What we really need is randomized controlled trials to look at this more carefully, and that’s the only kind of evidence that the [Food and Drug Administration] and most doctors are going to find acceptable in the end,” Russo says.

MRI and PET scans are not yet able to detect endocannabinoid levels in living patients, but as technology advances, that may become a possibility. The ability to actually test endocannabinoid levels in fibromyalgia patients and compare those against healthy controls would help to confirm Russo’s theory.

“We’re on the edge of having that capability,” Russo says. “It’s in my plans to look at this type of thing in the future.”

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11/12/2023
Fibromyalgia Symptoms | Root Causes of Fibromyalgia

Gluten has been liked to more than 55 diseases and is often called the ‘big masquerader’. The reason for this is that the majority of symptoms of gluten intolerance are not digestive in nature but rather neurological such as pain, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, behavioral issues, fatigue, and depression.

Adrenal Fatigue:
Adrenal fatigue is a result of chronic stress whether real or perceived. Chronic pain is a stress to the adrenal glands, though typically not the initial adrenal stressor. The initial stressor is usually something such as food intolerances, Candida, mercury toxicity, vitamin deficiencies, or mycotoxins. The goal is to support the adrenals while searching for the root cause of the stress and correct it.

Thyroid:
More than half of the people with thyroid issues have no idea they have one and 90% of these have hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland. It is vital that your doctor check six different blood markers to measure your thyroid gland’s function, and it’s imperative that your doctor use the optimal levels rather than the standard reference range when assessing and diagnosing thyroid disorders.

Candida Overgrowth:
Candida is a fungus or yeast, and a very small amount of it lives in your intestines. However, when overproduced, Candida breaks down the wall of the intestines and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts into your body causing a host of unpleasant symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues, and pain. A lot of fibromyalgia patients have had Candida overgrowth.

Glutathione Deficiency:
Glutathione, a molecule, is the most critical part of our body’s detoxification system. Glutathione gets recycled in our body unless our toxic burden gets too high or we lack GSTM1 and GSTP1, the enzymes needed to recycle and produce glutathione. Taking a glutathione supplement or the precursors (NAC, alpha-lipoic acid, milk thistle) often helps dramatically with fatigue.

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Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Leaky Gut:
There are more bacteria in us and on us than there are of our own cells. When these bacteria get out of balance through the use of antibiotics or a sugar-rich diet we can lose our ability to digest and absorb nutrients, particularly B12. Gluten can cause SIBO and leaky gut and SIBO and leaky gut can lead to gluten and other food intolerances. It’s a catch-22 and a vicious cycle. You must first heal the gut in anyone with fibromyalgia or any chronic illness.

Mycotoxins:
Mycotoxins are very toxic substances produced by toxic molds. Only about 25% of the population carries the genes to be susceptible to the effects of mycotoxins. Conventional environmental mold testing only tests for levels of mold spores and does not test for mycotoxins.

MTHFR Mutations:
This is a genetic test you can get through any conventional lab. The more mutations you have in the MTHFR gene the less able you are to methylate and detoxify, particularly toxins such as mercury and lead. The more mutations you have in this gene the higher your requirements for methyl-B6, methyl-B12, and folinic acid in order to keep your detoxification pathways working properly.

Vitamin Deficiencies:
Magnesium, vitamin D, and B12 deficiency are the most common vitamin deficiencies in those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The best way to measure magnesium is a red blood cell (RBC) magnesium level, which can be ordered by your conventional doctor.

As you can see from the above list, many of these causes are interrelated and often there is no single root cause of fibromyalgia or any chronic illness. It is a combination of several or possibly all of the above.

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11/11/2023
Fibromyalgia Conditions | Fibromyalgia, the Optic Nerve, and Neuro-degeneration
Are the eyes the window to whatever’s going wrong with the brain in fibromyalgia? Research published in 2015 and 2016 suggests that it just might be.

Fibromyalgia is widely believed to be a condition of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal column. It also includes the eyes and the structures that help our brains interpret what we see.

Chief among these structures is the optic nerve, which is similar to a cable made up of many smaller fibers.

Among them is a layer of nerves called the retina nerve fiber layer (RNFL).

Those nerve fibers are of special interest to researchers because of other recent work that’s uncovered dysfunction of the small nerve fibers. It suggests that, in people with fibromyalgia, small-fiber neuropathy (nerve damage) may be responsible for at least some of the pain.

In two studies, Spanish researchers have also discovered evidence of neuropathy in the small fibers of the eye.

Blood-Flow Problems

In the study published in 2015, researchers looked at blood flow to the optic nerve and the RNFL. Blood flow, also called perfusion, is hypothesized to be irregular in several regions of the brains of people with fibromyalgia.

Researchers examined and took photographs of the eyes of 118 people with this condition plus 76 healthy people in the control group.

The photos were then analyzed with special software. The researchers concluded that the fibromyalgia eyes did in fact show low perfusion rates in several sectors, but the only significant difference was in certain RNFL.

Optic Nerve Thinning

The study published in 2016 built on that research, involving many of the same researchers. This time, they included 116 people with fibromyalgia and 144 in the control group.

They found:
- a significant decrease in the RNFL in fibromyalgia compared to controls
- a thinning of multiple structures in the eye
- greater optic nerve thinning in those with severe fibromyalgia than in those with a milder case
- greater optic nerve thinning in subgroups without depression than in those with depression
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Neuro-degeneration

Before now, fibromyalgia has been considered non-neurodegenerative, meaning that no biological structures were being damaged or destroyed as they’re known to be in other neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer’s disease.

However, this research suggests that fibromyalgia may, in fact, involve some neurodegeneration in structures inside the central nervous system.

This, combined with earlier research on small nerve fiber damage in the skin, could mean that the degeneration is not confined to the central nervous system but may extend to the peripheral nervous system, which includes the nerves in the limbs, hands, and feet.

The Relationship Between Fibromyalgia, the Optic Nerve, and Neuro-degeneration

Fibromyalgia has always posed problems for doctors. We have pain, but no obvious cause. If this research is accurate, which we won’t know until it’s been replicated, it could mean that our pain comes from a very understandable source. After all, neuropathic pain has been recognized for a long time.

Suddenly, it makes our “mysterious” pain not mysterious at all.

On the other hand, it opens new doors for questioning. If we have damaged nerves, then why? What is causing the damage?

Possible candidates could include autoimmunity, which would involve the immune system going haywire and attacking the nerves as if they were bacteria or viruses, and problems with how the body uses substances that grow or maintain nerves.

Researchers have long speculated about possible autoimmunity in fibromyalgia, but so far we don’t have solid evidence pointing toward it. Now that researchers have discovered actual damage, they may gain better insight into where to look for autoimmune activity.

They may also be able to pinpoint shortages or inefficiencies in how nerves are maintained.

When it comes to diagnostic tests, it’s too early to say whether abnormalities in the eye could lead to a more objective test than we currently have. If so, it would be a major advancement in how fibromyalgia is detected.

Because the thinning was worse in more severe cases, it could provide a marker for doctors to monitor treatments as well as progression.

It’s also possible that these discoveries could lead to targeted treatments.

We won’t know the full impact of this research for some time, as any advancement in diagnostics and treatments would have to come after further research either confirms or contradicts these findings.

https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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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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11/09/2023
Fibromyalgia Awareness | The Part of Life With Fibromyalgia I Haven’t Told You About

I’m a fairly open person when it comes to physical and mental illness, but I can also be very reserved, especially about my chronic pain and fatigue. It’s not because I don’t want to share about what’s going on with me, but because I don’t want people to think I’m a “whiner” or “attention seeker.” I am neither of those things. In fact, I’m quite the opposite.

A lot of people know I have fibromyalgia. What they don’t know is the reality of what I deal with. They see a positive, silly, young 25-year-old woman on the outside, but they don’t realize how much pain I’m in, or how badly my anxiety is affecting me. I don’t think people really understand the intensity of my conditions. I’ll admit that part of it is my fault, for showing only the good parts of my life on social media, but showing the not-so-good parts can sometimes come off as attention seeking. I don’t want attention, I want my conditions to stop being stigmatized. I don’t want pity, I want people to understand these illnesses.

Here is the reality of someone with fibromyalgia:

1. Pain

When you tell someone you’re in pain, they don’t really take it very seriously. They usually think that you have a typical headache or backache. They don’t realize that your whole body is experiencing aches, stabbing pain, needles, numbness, or oftentimes a burning sensation. They also don’t realize that the clothing you’re wearing, or the cloth chair you’re sitting on could be causing you pain as well. People with fibromyalgia have sensitives to certain fabrics and materials. Some of us (including myself) feel pain in our organs. I’ve had ovarian pain for years and didn’t know what it was until I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Our pain is often unbearable and can cause difficulties in everyday situations. When I’m going through bad flare-ups, I am sometimes late to work. It seems like no matter how early I wake up, it takes me 30 minutes to an hour to get out of bed because my body is stiff, my hips are locked, and my hands ache. Carrying a grocery basket can cause my hands and elbows to tense up, opening jars is sometimes impossible, household chores can take everything out of you, and the list could go on.

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2. Fatigue

Speaking of being late to work, fatigue is another reason it’s so difficult to get out of bed. I could have had the best sleep of my life, but it will feel like I didn’t sleep a wink. For me, chronic fatigue is one of the most difficult symptoms. There have been days I’m nervous to drive long distances because the sun causes really bad fatigue. I work a desk job, but by midday, I feel like I’ve been doing hard labor, and all I want to do is go home and sit on the couch. And good luck trying to schedule anything with me after work. I’ll just be too exhausted to do anything. If you’re able to get me to hang out with you on weekdays, it’s probably because no matter how tired I am, I really need your company.

3. Brain Fog

This is the last symptom I will touch on. Brain fog is a bitch, to say the least. Completely forgetting a conversation you had yesterday, having to pause mid-sentence because you forgot what you were saying, or stopping a conversation altogether because you can’t think of the right words to use. This is the most embarrassing symptom of fibromyalgia. Feeling incompetent is incredibly frustrating and heartbreaking. I often wonder if people are judging me because of this. I find at times, I can’t even remember how to spell a word when I’m typing. I proofread my text messages, emails, and social media posts multiple times before pressing the “send” or “submit” button. The embarrassment of brain fog causes me so much anxiety. I just want people to know can’t control the way my brain works sometimes.

Here are some other common things fibro warriors struggle with:

1. Mental illness including, but not limited to, depression and anxiety.

2. Temperature sensitives. Summers, and especially Winters are often unbearable.

3. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

4. Night sweats/hot and cold flashes.

5. Insomnia.

6. Painful and irregular menstrual cycles.

7. Problems with balance.

8. Tinnitus (ringing in ears).

9. Restless leg syndrome.

10. Rashes and skin disorders.

It’s very common that individuals with fibromyalgia will struggle with different symptoms than others. All symptoms are different for everyone, so it’s difficult to explain to doctors what your symptoms are. Chronically ill patients seem to know about their illness than professionals, and that can be hard when it comes to medications and treatments. We’re all in this together, and we need support and understanding from the people and loved ones in our lives.

I hope this sheds some light on this awful illness. If you know someone living with fibromyalgia, go give them a (gentle) hug and ask what you can do to help them. Just being there to listen could mean the world!

https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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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

11/08/2023
Fibromyalgia Supplements | Magnesium For Fibromyalgia: How It Can Help The Pain

Whether it is you or a loved one, we all know people who just plain ache. They hurt all the time and are simply worn out by pain.

This is what it is like to have fibromyalgia. Your muscles hurt and ache, they feel worse with touch or pressure, and being in pain all the time leads to chronic fatigue.

Fortunately, a recent study shows that taking magnesium for fibromyalgia can help reduce both the number of tender points and the overall intensity.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

The most common symptom of fibromyalgia (or ‘FM’ or ‘Fibro’ as sufferers call it) is widespread muscle pain. Other common symptoms include fatigue and cognitive dysfunction (‘fibrofog’).

The cause of the ache and fatigue remains unclear, though some research shows that people with fibromyalgia may have developed a greater sensitivity to pain.

Trauma, repetitive motion, and surgery have all been linked to initial fibromyalgia symptoms in some people. Genetics may also play a part.

Psychological stress can be a factor as well. Fibromyalgia is often associated with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Fibromyalgia affects women 7-9 times more often than men.

What Medication Is Available?

A number of medications may be helpful, specifically Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella. How successful they are can depend on the level of pain, depression, muscle activity, or sleep-related problems.

In particular, the pain-reducing properties of these medications may be due to the release of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Unfortunately, as with any medication, there may be side effects. Lyrica may induce sleepiness, weight gain, and swelling of the extremities. Cymbalta may bring depression and have suicidal risks. Savella may have similar side effects but is specifically associated with nausea, insomnia, heart rate anomalies, and BP problems.

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Coping Naturally By Reducing Stress

Physical and mental stress are associated with many instances of fibromyalgia. Working to reduce the overall stress in your environment can have a positive impact on symptoms. So can reduce your body’s response to stress.

It is important to take care of yourself by eliminating what stress you can. You can’t say no to everything, but you can often temporarily set some things aside so that you can focus on healing.

Some stressors you can’t eliminate, though. Good ways to cope with these include relaxation, exercise, meditation, and getting more sleep. In particular, cardiovascular exercise has been shown to reduce symptom severity.

Magnesium For Fibromyalgia?

What about nutrition as a method for managing symptoms?

One recent study showed that people with fibromyalgia tend to have low levels of various minerals, including magnesium.

Even more interesting, another study showed that supplementing with magnesium citrate actually reduced the number of tender points as well as their severity. It also helped reduce the depression that is often associated with fibromyalgia.

There’s also an infographic at Cure Together that shows a range of fibromyalgia treatments and how well each has helped people who responded to a poll. Magnesium is in the upper right quadrant of treatments which puts it in the ‘effective and popular’ group.

Personally, I picked up some magnesium for my mom shortly after I realized just how much it was helping me with migraines, anxiety, and dizziness. She reported it helped greatly with her fibromyalgia. In particular, my mom said magnesium malate helped her the most.

What Helps You?

If you have fibromyalgia and have found a way to cope that helps you, please let us know in the comments below.

As always, you are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician or another qualified medical professional to help determine your own optimal level of magnesium and to see whether magnesium supplementation is right for you.

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

11/05/2023