RE: FYI-->Fibromyalgia article

[Danusmom]

 
I seem to recall a few people on PUT forum having this disorder.  I came across the article below while searching for material for my term paper on CAM (complementary alternative medicine).  Although this aritcle was published in May of 2001, I thought the information may still be relevant for some of you.
 
 http://www.betternutrition.com/view.asp?article=32&terms=/searchMagazine.asp-!!-curpage=4-!-terms=CAM-!-command=OR
 
 Peace be with you all.
 

[wahoonc]

 Danusmom
Thanks " mom" ,
 My MIL has this and we are always looking for articles to help her out.
 
 Aaron(moooooo)[8D][]

[dee106]

 Danusmom
interesting ! ty
 

[wiininkwe]

 Danusmom
Thank you for posting this well written article.
   I suffer from fibromyalgia, with arthritis as a bonus, and sometimes have occasion to try to explain to someone just what it is or does.  This is a simply written yet very accurate description of the disease.  And the treatments it suggests for some of the many symptoms that are produced by this ailment seem to make as much sense as anything else that I have read or heard.   There doesn t seem to be any quick remedy for the many aches and pains we suffer from so these are certainly worth looking into.  
   In case any of you are wondering about exercise, I ve found that water aerobics is a low-impact way of getting some muscle stretches and relief from pain and stiffness.  The warm water exercise program that I am involved with averages around 20 members per class, some for various other reasons, but the primary complaint seems to be FM.   After our class we usually end up having coffee together, and trying to help each other by talking about the kinds of things each of us does to make our lives more pleasant.   This article will make a very intersesting discussion for Thursday s session.
 T
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[Popupnut]

 Danusmom
Is this disorder along the same lines as chronic fatigue syndrome?  I once heard someone refer to their fibromylagia as this and wasn t sure....I have been diagnosed with Ebstein Barr and Chronic fatigue - both I am told will never go away.  
 

[Danusmom]

 Danusmom

Is this disorder along the same lines as chronic fatigue syndrome?

 I haven t studied this disorder thoroughly.  Yet, it is my understanding that Fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed as simply a generic chronic fatigue syndrome.  Of course, if someone is in constant pain, he/she would not be sleeping very well.  Consequently, " chronic"  fatigue would be prevelant.  This is not dismissing those who have a diagnosis of a more serious nature.  Several diseases/disorders tend to mimic one another symptomatically.  Superior testing equipment used by highly qualified professionals is only one portion of the factor for a keen physician in determining the correct diagnosis.
 
 Sorry to hear about your challenge with Epstein Barr.  You may want to search this site http://www.alternativemedicince.com & then confer with your physician to determine the best CAM (complementary & alternative medicine) for your situation.
 
 In my extensive search of CAM, both professionally & personally, many studies have determined those people in chronic pain noted less pain when adequately hydrated.  Hence, another reason to drink water & stay away from the caffine & alcohol.  The best rule of thumb for calculating how much water to drink is not " 8 glasses"  per day.  But, rather drink half your body weight number in ounces of water.  For example, if someone weighs 100#, consuming 50 ounces of water per day is advised.  Unless enduring strenuous exercise, then increase water intake as needed.
 
 By all means, please speak with you PCP (primary care physician) prior to administering any form of CAM for yourself.
 
 Peace be with you all.

[Popupnut]

 Danusmom
Thank you so much for your valuable input - I will check out the site - but wanted to say that I do notice that when I am well hydrated I feel so much better than when I have neglected the H20 intake.  If I do indulge in alcohol I can really feel my body dragging for days and days on end - the caffeine exhausts me and I have learned to only have 1 cup a day and the rest is decaf.  I have also modified my sugar intake - when I m disciplined - I feel great - when I m lazy I get tired easily - thus " tired and lazy"  - viscious cycle!!  The docs are not as well versed on this disorder as I would like - I sometimes feel like docs don t view this as a qualified diagnosis that demands much serious consideration for treatment but that has only been my expereince.  My current physician is much better - I am learning as I go - but really appreciate your info!
 

[wiininkwe]

 Danusmom
Just responding to something that Beth mentioned.   Sugar and carbs have the same bad effects on me, and if I am indulging in them they seem to  ask for more .   ( little turns into a lot)   The more you eat the worse you feel, but the more you want to eat the carbs.  
 Also, the issue of staying well hydrated is very important, and does make a difference in how well you function.  
  Last, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is part of FM, and it also becomes a vicious cycle.   It sometimes starts because irritable bladder and bowel syndrome are also involved, the bladder wakes you up several times a night, then you begin waking up out of habit.   When I was first diagnosed with FM, the Dr. had me try Flexoril at bedtime to relax my bladder and it did help.  But I still wasn t sleeping soundly, and was waking up constantly.   I switched to another Dr., one who has considerably more experience with patients of FM, and the new Dr. put me on Elavil at bedtime, to help get into the REM sleep state.  This way I don t wake up as often, sleep much more deeply, and get more restorative sleep.   I can really tell a big difference in how I cope with things because I am more well rested.  I still have days that are extremely bad, and if the weather is cold and damp (thankfully, summer is coming) I am totally miserable.    But, I am also now taking a low dosage of an antidepressant, not for the pain, but to help cope with the pain.  It works, but I am glad to see that there could be alternatives to these drugs.   I m looking forward to talking this over with my Doc.
   One last thing.   I m ashamed to admit this, but I was very skeptical of a neighbor at one time, because she claimed to have FM, and on some days she would have trouble with her back, other days trouble with her legs, and on another day, something completley different.   I suspected that she was a hypochrondriac, and made light of her complaints.  But, as I started to have problems of my own, and finally was diagnosed, I found the same to be true for me.   It s possible to hurt in one place one day, and another place the next day.  It s even possible to hurt in two or even three different places within the same day.  And on some days, everything hurts at once.    Some days you may not hurt at all, but you can t remember what your name is, and may find yourself just sitting and staring off into space when you should be hurrying to get ready for.....Where was I going?    
 If you have a friend with FM, please, keep in mind....She/He is not crazy.  
 T
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[Popupnut]

 Danusmom
Toni - you mentioned so many symptoms I also have - I have never been treated for them all as a whole - which is frustrating now that I think of it - I also have IBS and GERD - have taken Elavil (years ago) for sleep trouble - now I have a rx for ambien but I don t take it very often - just when I know I m going to have a restless night.....I have had this stuff ongoing for years - but no-one has ever tied them all together.  The aches and pains are just the added bonus.  The worst part of this is the vigilience you need to stay on a healthy diet and excercise.  I am constantly battling to keep moving - and I keep my schedule full - I find that it helps alot.   Folks think I m crazy to be running all the time - but if I sit still for too long - the engines shut down and its tough to get moving again - or like you said - figure out what I was doing in the first place.  That staring off into space comment - cracked me up - that s me... Trying to rememebr what my agenda was...why am I in the basement?  Oh yeah to get the laundry folded....Why am I in the pantry?  Oh yeah to get the stuff to start dinner for those people that keep hanging around me and calling me Mom - oh yeah my family!!!!  This could be old age setting in too - WHO KNOWS!!!!!!
 Laugh with it as much as you can - we still have so much to be thankful for!!!
 

[wiininkwe]

 Danusmom
There is a very important point which I forgot to mention.   Even if your Dr. hasn t diagnosed you with FM, and you strongly suspect that may be the problem, find a support group in your area for FM sufferers.   The people there will help you to find a Dr. that understands FM and actually believes there is such a thing.  They will agree with you that the things you are feeling are real, and validate your sense of self worth.  They will also give you very good tips on ways to manage the way your life will be from now on, and they will laugh with you about the silly things that happen while you are in a  Fibro Fog .   The Dr. I was seeing didn t believe that there was such a thing as FM, even tho I had been diagnosed by a prominent local specialist in that field.   He came right out and said, " It s all in your head, get some exercise and you ll feel better."    (He was right about the exercise, but...)  I found a support group, and they helped to steer me toward a Dr. that makes the disease a very big part of his practice.  He is the one who instituted changes in my meds, and suggested water aerobics and a low carb diet.)   They recommended some very good reading material, and helped me to be able to explain to my DH the symptoms that I have, even tho I look fine.       Your support group is very important, even if you only go on the occasions when you are really having big problems.     Just wanted to make sure that I got that point across.
 T
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