Fibromyalgia and Stress

It has been three weeks since my husband's surgery and 10 days since he returned home from the hospital. There has not been a whole lot of change, but a lot of ups and downs, mostly downs.

He has ate very little food for over three months, and he is really having a hard time eating. It is hard for us who have never had that problem to understand. But for him it is almost impossible. His stomach has shrank so much that he can only put a few bites in his mouth at a time. Also, it is a bit mental too. For three months every time he put food in his mouth, he would instantly have to run to the bathroom. I guess in his mind he was trying to protect himself. Now he has to get a new mindset that food is not his enemy, that it is his friend and he must eat to get better.

This has been the most stress that either of us has ever had to deal with. For a long time before this I was able to get plenty of rest and take care of my fibromyalgia. I was home by myself all day, I could sleep when I needed to and in general do what my body needed me to do to control the pain. My husband ran most errands on his way home from work, did most of the grocery shopping and I didn't have to do much running around.

This summer I have not been able to any of the things that I need to do to take care of myself. I have decided that I am going to be tired forever! I can't see an end to the tiredness any time in the future. I do everything now. As far as pain goes I no longer can tell where it starts or ends. It is constant. The second week in the hospital I went through the worst bout of fibro fog ever. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't make sense of anything. I wasn't making sense to anyone else either.

I am pretty sure that when everything gets normal again, my husband finally getting well and back to work, I am going to go to bed and stay there for however long it takes. That could be days, weeks or months, whatever it takes to get well again.

Fibromyalgia and Crohn's Update

Since my husband left the hospital about 10 days ago, we have been at home taking care of our ailments. Yesterday was the first day that he has left the house since returning home and he did very well I must say. He had broke his glasses during his hospital stay and hasn't been able to read anything since. So we went to get him some new glasses. So now he has something to do besides look at TV. And it is a good thing we just recently bought a 46 inch TV or he wouldn't have been able to see that either! He has been pretty bored. He has now lost 27 1/2 pounds in 4-5 weeks. He was wanting to lose 20 pounds anyway, but not this way. He is getting some of his strength back slowly.

I on the other hand have raging fibromyalgia and trying desperately to get it calmed down. I recently read a horoscope that described me as prone to addiction when I am going through stressful times. I was a little shocked, mainly because it is very true. I have found myself craving to do the things that calm me, or at least sidetrack me during bad times. One is playing games online, almost to an obsession. The other is under severe stress I want to go to the casino. While my husband was in the hospital the urge was huge. I never went of course, but if it had been possible I may have tried to sneak it in.

I have found in the last several days that I have been having pains right under and around my rib cage and on my sides in my lower hip region. I attribute that to my fibromyalgia trigger points. It seems to be right around those. I sure have done more running around, standing and walking than usual and I suspected that I would pay for it in one way or another. And here it is. Plus with the other usual pain. I plan to get some extra sleep and rest for a day or so. Hopefully that will help.

I hope that all you fibromyalgia sufferers are doing the best you can for yourselves. I have found that we know our body better than anyone else. And your body will tell you when it is time to rest and get off your feet. So listen to your body and you will help it heal. For me it is now nap time! God Bless until the next time.

Back In The Saddle Again

Hello to all. I am trying to get back in the groove of things after being absent for several weeks. I am doing it rather slowly, but surely. My husband is home from the hospital after an eight day stay. He is doing his best to get his strength back so he doesn't have to go back there again. It will be a slow process, but we will get through it. I will write more on him later.

Sitting on hard plastic hospital chairs for eight days does not bode well with fibromyalgia at all. It took longer than I thought it would for the pain to set in, but when it came it just flooded my whole body. My legs have probably been the biggest surprise. They are really aching and throbbing at night and causing me to not be able to get good sleep. My body seems very week and sore all over. From experience it will be a week or two before it gets better.

I have several messages to pass on and I will try to get that posted tomorrow if all goes well.

Thank you all for the prayers, well wishes and good thoughts for my husband and I. They were very much appreciated.

Fibromyalgia and A Good Night's Sleep

Getting the best night's sleep you can is essential when dealing with fibromyalgia. There are various medications and herbal remedies you can try; those that increase the time spent in deep sleep are believed to be the most effective, but if you can find something that will help you fall asleep and stay asleep that is a good place to start. Some prescribed medications can be split into two doses so that if you awaken during the night you can take a second dose. You can also do practical things to increase your chances of a good night's sleep: *Establish a regular sleeping pattern: go to bed at the same time each evening and get up at the same time every morning *Do an activity to relax you before going to bed. This could be listening to music or a novel on cassette, having a warm bath with lavender bath oil, doing some relaxation exercises, or simply reading a book. Watching something scary or thrilling on TV can sometimes be a little too stimulating. *Ensure that your bed and pillow are comfortable and supportive. Try out various mattresses and ergonomic pillows; an Adjustamatic bed or a Tempur mattress and pillow come with good recommendations, though they are quite expensive. Make sure you stay warm during the night and avoid being near any drafts from open windows. When you get a good night's sleep it is much easier to face the day and cope with the nagging pain and fatigue. It is certainly worth persisting with good sleeping habits and various medications to achieve the best night's sleep you can. MY SLEEP HABITS Getting a good nights sleep has been the one big thing that I have constantly struggled with. Some of my other problems come and go from time to time, but I have never been able to consistently get a good nights sleep. For me, Ambian worked wonderfully for awhile, but our insurance company decided they wanted me to pay an arm and a leg for the pleasure of a good night's sleep. My sleeping habits change like the seasons. I am now in my going to bed at 4:00am season. No matter how hard I try, I almost always see the clock roll past 4:00am, 5:00am and sometimes 6:00am. Needless to say my day is always screwed up.

Fibromyalgia Causes and Risks

The cause of this disorder is unknown. Physical or emotional trauma may play a role in development of the syndrome. A number of lines of evidence suggest that fibromyalgia patients have abnormal pain transmission responses. It has been suggested that sleep disturbances, which are common in fibromyalgia patients, may actually cause the condition. Another hypothesis suggests that the disorder may be associated with changes in skeletal muscle metabolism, possibly caused by decreased blood flow, which could cause chronic fatigue and weakness. Others have suggested that an infectious microbe, such as a virus, triggers the illness. At this point, no such virus or microbe has been identified. Pilot studies have shown a possible inherited tendency toward the disease, though evidence is very preliminary. The information about Fibromyalgia presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Fibromyalgia or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes. The disorder has an increased frequency among women 20 to 50 years old. The prevalence of the disease has been estimated between 0.7% and 13% for women, and between 0.2% and 3.9% for men. Symptoms * Multiple tender areas (muscle and joint pain) on the back of the neck, shoulders, sternum, lower back, hip, shin, elbows, knees. * Fatigue * Sleep disturbances * Body aches * Reduced exercise tolerance * Chronic facial muscle pain or aching Signs and Tests A number of tests may be done to rule out other disorders. An examination reveals multiple tender areas on the back of the neck, shoulders, sternum, lower back, hip, shin, elbows, or knees. Sometimes, laboratory and X-ray tests are done to help confirm the diagnosis. The tests will also rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. Other underlying ailments, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis, can also be present. New patients should be checked for these underlying conditions as well as fibromyalgia

Ten Years With Fibromyalgia

I have had a fibromyalgia diagnosis for about ten years. I sometimes find it hard to write about it or talk about it because I really don't acknowledge that I have it openly. When I first learned that I had fibro it was a huge relief to finally know that it wasn't just me being crazy. A relief mostly that it was real. A real disease, not just me, but something actually that I could read about and get information. It didn't just choose me, there were other people out there experiencing the same thing. I think what is the biggest thing of all, is finding out the symptoms are real, not in your head, or that you are not being lazy, or looking for ways to get out of things. Which I believe a lot of non-fibro people think and in turn makes you wonder that too. I can say that I live with it, but it is a daily chore living around it. I can never make plans too far ahead, because I don't know how I will be that day. What I miss most is being able to go on long walks and trips to Chicago. I live just south of Chicago and at one time I could spend the whole day there just walking and sight seeing. Now when we ride the train, I am lucky to get 2 or 3 blocks from the train station. This really makes me sad, because I miss seeing and doing so many things that I have available to me.

My Fibromyalgia Trigger

We all have read that they don't know how people get fibromyalgia. But a lot of people seem to know when it started and it usually has to do with a very traumatic event. It could be an accident, a death, almost anything that was extremely hard to go through. My event was a nasty fall at work. It had been snowing and freezing rain and the sidewalks weren't cleared yet. I was leaving work and I was being careful, but my feet just slid and went right into the air and I came down hard on my back, neck and shoulders. And then I slid down the sidewalk, through the landscaping stones, over a curb, and almost under a car. I laid there for a few moments wondering if I would be able to get up or not. I slowly got up. I knew I broke my finger, because it hurt something awful. I didn't drop my purse or my lunch bag. I think I fell fairly gracefully as far as falls go. It wasn't the kind of fall that your friends stand there and laugh at you. It was an "oh no" kind of fall. I should have went with my first instinct and gone to the hospital and been checked out. But I did as my manager said and went to see the company doctor. And so the story goes on and on and on for over a year of the most ridiculous ideas and so many doctors that I can't remember them all. If I would have taken care of it myself, I would have been able to have the surgery on my neck right away, and been back to work in probably 6 to 8 weeks. There wouldn't have been all the trauma that went on with workman's comp and my workplace management. They made me work that whole year, which made my problem worse over time until I could no longer feel my shoulder, arm or my hand. I couldn't hold on to anything without dropping it. I may not be in the place I am now if I had went with my first instinct. I did break my finger and I had a discectomy with a fusion on my C5-C6 vertebrae. I never did get back to work. There are times to this day that I still want to put a brace on just to hold my neck up. When my neck flares up really bad, it feels like it takes all of my energy to hold it up. It is very tiring and uncomfortable.

Fibromylgia Comments

I have received comments from followers making a personal statement or asking for a response from myself, or anyone who can relate to fibromyalgia. When I first started this blog I really had no idea what niche I was going to follow, other than writing posts about personal experiences that other people may be able to relate to. Being a baby boomer I have plenty of things I could write about or embarrass myself with! However, I have got a very real response to all the fibomyalgia articles that I have posted here, on Twitter and Facebook. I discovered that everyone needs someone that can relate to this disease and talk to. I myself have no one to talk to so I have decided this is going to my niche. You will still get stories about myself and anything I decide to add that I feel people may like. If you would like for me to add your questions and or information in one of my posts, email me at purrfectone@ymail.com. I will only add your name if you agree to it, otherwise your information will be left anonymous. Here is one of the comments: I have also noticed the following symptoms: * shakes/tremors that tend to be worse after activity or while experiencing higher levels of pain; * nausea that seems to be occurring daily around lunchtime; and * bouts of sweating, especially during the night. Anyone else out there have these? If you have any of these symptoms you may make a comment at the bottom of this post. I myself have noticed shakes/tremors that tend to be worse after activity or while experiencing higher levels of pain. I do experience nausea occasionally along with dizziness. But not very often. I can't remember right now if I knew what may have set it off. (bouts of sweating, especially during the night.) I can attest to bouts of sweating at any time day or night! Everyone else can be freezing, but I will be sweating like an old man in the fields on a hot summer day. Oh my, can I ever relate!! I don't want my posts to get too long, so I will address this issue again later.

Tips For Friends, Family And Co-Workers Of People Who Suffer With Fibromyalgia

"Don't Wait Another Moment! Improve Relationships Between Friends, Co-workers And Those With FMS Now!" Having experienced the symptoms of FMS since 1978 [even before it was recognized by most as a legitimate disorder] I have had to deal with the reactions of friends, family and co-workers to my illness. I would say that without a doubt that if you do not know someone with FM, you do not understand it....not really. If you are acquainted with someone with , there are certain things that they desperately need you to know. These are several points and suggestions [tips] I would like to make to those who know of someone with fibromyalgia [FMS]. Invalidation And Disbelief "You look fine to me." I do not know how many times I have heard this over the years. This is why fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as "The Invisible Illness". Please recognize that "seeing is not always believing!". Looks can be deceiving, especially with people with FM. People sometimes think that people with fibromyalgia are just lazy or depressed. Don't even think that, "If they just push themselves a bit, they can do anything the rest of us can do", just because they don't look sick! The fact of the matter is that fibromyalgia is a medical illness, not a psychiatric one, and all the wishing or pushing in the world will not help. As often implied, it is not "all in their heads". I have often replied when a doctor or friend asks me how I am feeling to look deep into my eyes, and take a gander at my soul. Then and only then will they possibly comprehend how I feel. "Oh, I've felt that way at times. I get tired and achy also!" It is mainly people saying "I've had that too!" which can be devastating. Please do not feel tempted to find common ground with those who have fibromyalgia. You may be well intentioned but saying "I've had that too!" is as if I, Bill Wallmuller, hadn't lived 31 years before getting this illness and as if I didn't know the difference between what I have now and what I was like before. I....we are not "making a mountain out of a mole hill". No need to suggest that all I...we need is some more rest. "Have you tried the latest FM treatment of choice?" Friends and family and [yes, even fellow people with fibromyalgia] sometimes suggest using, with good intentions, any and all alternative medical treatments in existence. When doing so they manage to imply, usually without intending to, that because we with FM do not follow their advice, that it is our own fault we are sick. Poppycock! Please don't put this guilt trip on us with fibromyalgia. The last thing a person with FM needs is to feel blamed for being ill. Fibromyalgia - The Better We Inform Ourselves, The Better We Can Manage Communication With Others Having Fibromyalgia. A person with fibromyalgia is always better off being able to communicate with others with the same disorder. There is beneficial relief in sharing one's experiences with others with FM, hearing what helps for some, and what doesn't help for others, etc. Attending Support Group Meetings if possible is ideal. Sometimes though, support groups are not always near by and convenient. This is where online support in the form of Message Boards, Chat Rooms and just reading Web Pages about other peoples experiences, can be a blessing to us with FM. If you are acquainted with anyone with fibromyalgia, and they do not have access to or the finances available to obtain a computer, you can really show your concern by helping them to obtain this important channel of support. One does not have to spend a lot of money today on a basic computer capable of surfing the net and getting access to an Internet Service Provider [hint: maybe you could sign them on as an identity on your ISP account]. Even the most computer illiterate person can learn enough to be able to contact some good well intentioned FM Chat Rooms and FM Message Boards. I have found that having a computer for the last 10 years and being able to contact, communicate, research and exchange ideas with others with fibromyalgia to be most beneficial. I hope this material was helpful to the friends, family and co-workers who know someone with fibromyalgia. We plan to bring more tips and points of view on this subject at a future date.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Associated Syndromes

"List of Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Associated Syndromes, Apart From General Pain and Fatigue" Go to a Valued Guest's Article..."Living With Pain" and also... "Fibromyalgia...A Man's Perspective Fibromyalgia is a complex, chronic disorder which causes widespread pain and fatigue usually accompanied by a variety of other symptoms. Few symptoms are outwardly visible, which has led to much confusion. Sometimes FM has been called "the invisible disibility". Fibromyalgia pain usually consists of diffuse aching or burning described as "head-to-toe". I know personally that many times I could only explain and describe my pain to my physicians as a feeling as if my entire body was [ON FIRE]! Not like a sunburn or surface irritation, but a deep down, in the muscles, bones and joints type burning! I feel it is very important that we be as descriptive as possible when discussing our pains and symptoms with our doctors. Doing this can help the physician to better ascertain our condition and possibly uncover any hidden serious illnesses that we have brushed off as fibromyalgia. It is important to note that these fibromyalgia symptoms will and do vary in intensity and duration from person to person. As a result, the effect of fibromyalgia symptoms on our quality of life is also different for each of us who have to contend with this disorder. Stiffness: Body stiffness may be particularly apparent upon awakening and after prolonged periods of sitting or standing in one position or coincide with changes in temperature or relative humidity Increased Headaches Or Facial Pain: Fibromyalgia patients may experience frequent migraine, tension, or vascular headaches. Pain may also consist of referred pain to the temporal area (temples) or behind the eyes. Approximately one-third of patients with fibromyalgia are thought to have pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, (located where the jaw meets the ear) which produces not only headaches but also jaw and facial pain. Sleep Disturbances: Despite sufficient amounts of sleep, FMS patients may awaken feeling non-refreshed, as if they have barely slept. Alternatively, they may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Some also suffer from the condition, sleep apnea. The reasons for the non-restorative sleep and other sleep difficulties of fibromyalgia are unknown. Gastrointestinal Complaints: Digestive disturbances, abdominal pain, and bloating are quite common in FMS as are constipation and/or diarrhea (also known as "irritable bowel syndrome" or IBS). Genito-Urinary Problems: FMS patients may experience increased frequency of urination or increased urgency to urinate, typically in the absence of a bladder infection. Women with FMS may have more painful menstrual periods or experience worsening of their FMS symptoms during this time. Conditions such as vulvar vestibulitis or vulvodynia, characterized by a painful vulvar region and painful sexual intercourse, may also develop in women. Paresthesia: Numbness or tingling, particularly, in the hands or feet, sometimes accompanies FMS. Also known as "paresthesia", the sensation can be described as prickling or burning. Temperature Sensitivity: Persons with fibromyalgia tend to be highly sensitive to ambient temperature. Some often feel abnormally cold (compared to others around them) while others feel abnormally warm. An unusual sensitivity to cold in the hands and/or feet, accompanied by color changes in the skin, sometimes occurs in persons with fibromyalgia. This condition is known as "Raynaud's Phenomenon". Skin Complaints: Nagging symptoms, such as itchy, dry, or blotchy skin, may accompany FMS. Dryness of the eyes and mouth is also not uncommon. Additionally, fibromyalgia patients may experience a sensation of swelling, particularly in extremities, like fingers. A common complaint is that a ring no longer fits on a finger. Such swelling, however, is not equivalent to the joint inflammation of arthritis; rather, it is a localized anomaly of FMS whose cause is currently unknown. Chest Symptoms: Individuals with fibromyalgia who engage in activities involving continuous, forward body posture (i.e., typing, sitting at a desk, etc.) often have special problems with chest and upper body pain known as "thoracic pain and dysfunction".1. Often accompanying the pain is shallow breathing and postural problems. Patients may also develop a condition called "costochondralgia" which involves muscle pain where the ribs meet the chest bone. Such conditions may mimic heart disease and are therefore sometimes misdiagnosed. Note: Anyone experiencing chest pain should always consult a physician immediately. [Remember that persons with fibromyalgia can have other health problems!] Dysequilibrium: FMS patients may be troubled by light-headedness and/or balance problems which manifest themselves in a number of ways. Cognitive Disorders: Persons with FMS report a number of cognitive symptoms which tend to vary from day to day. These include difficulty concentrating, "spaciness," short-term memory lapses, and being overwhelmed easily. Many fibromyalgia patients refer to such symptoms as "fibro-fog". Leg Sensations: Some FMS patients may develop a neurological disorder known as "restless legs syndrome" (RLS) which involves an irresistible urge to move the legs particularly when at rest or when lying down. One recent study reported that 31% of the fibromyalgia patients studied had RLS.6 The syndrome may also involve periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) which can be very disruptive to both the patient and to his/her sleeping partner. Environmental Sensitivity: Hypersensitivity to light, noise, odors, and weather patterns is common and is usually explained as being a result of the hyper-vigilance seen in the nervous systems of patients with FMS. Allergic-like reactions to a variety of substances (i.e., medications, chemicals, food additives, pollutants, etc.) are common, and patients may also experience a form of non-allergic rhinitis consisting of nasal congestion/discharge and sinus pain, but in the absence of the immunologic reactions which the body experiences in allergic conditions. Depression and Anxiety: Although FMS patients are frequently misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety disorders ["it's all in your head"], research has repeatedly shown that fibromyalgia is not a form of depression or hypochondriasis. However, where depression or anxiety exist concomitant to fibromyalgia, their treatment is important as both can exacerbate FMS and interfere with successful symptom management.

Definition of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fibromyalgia (new lat., fibro-, fibrous tissue, Gk. myo-, muscle, Gk. algos-, pain), meaning muscle and connective tissue pain (also referred to as FM or FMS), is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain and a heightened and painful response to gentle touch (tactile allodynia).[1] Other core features of the disorder include debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. In addition, persons affected by the disorder frequently experience a range of other symptoms that involve multiple body systems, including difficulty with swallowing,[2] functional bowel and bladder abnormalities,[3] difficulty breathing,[4] diffuse sensations of numbness and tingling (non-dermatomal paresthesia),[5] abnormal motor activity (i.e. nocturnal myoclonus, sleep bruxism),[6] and cognitive dysfunction.[7] An increased prevalence of affective and anxiety-related symptoms is also well known.[8] While the criteria for such an entity have not yet been thoroughly developed, the recognition that fibromyalgia involves more than just pain has led to the frequent use of the term "fibromyalgia syndrome".[9] Not all affected persons experience all the symptoms associated with the greater syndrome. Fibromyalgia is considered a controversial diagnosis, with some authors contending that the disorder is a ‘non-disease’, due in part to a lack of objective laboratory tests or medical imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis.[10] While historically considered either a musculoskeletal disease or neuropsychiatric condition, evidence from research conducted in the last three decades has revealed abnormalities within the central nervous system affecting brain regions that may be linked both to clinical symptoms and research phenomena.[11] Although there is as yet no generally accepted cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments that have been demonstrated by controlled clinical trials to be effective in reducing symptoms, including medications, patient education, exercise, and behavioral interventions.

Springtime

Finally, it is here. Spring has sprung and I hope that it lasts. Here in the Midwest it has been cold and rainy and a few snowflakes from time to time. My favorite seasons are spring and fall because of the warm temps, but not too hot. I am probably one of the few people who doesn't like summer. But for me, it is because of the heat and humidity. We have started taking vacations during the cooler weather and we have been delighted with the beauty of each season in different areas of the US. I love the springtime flowers in the Florida Panhandle and the orange and red leaves in Michigan in the fall. I am a fibromyalgia sufferer and hot weather is not my friend nor is extreme sunlight. This now limits the kind of vacations I take and the activities that I can do. I will be posting articles about fibromyalgia from time to time and also my own insights about the disease.

SpringTime

Finally, it is here. Spring has sprung and I hope that it lasts. Here in the Midwest it has been cold and rainy and a few snowflakes from time to time. My favorite seasons are spring and fall because of the warm temps, but not too hot. I am probably one of the few people who doesn't like summer. But for me, it is because of the heat and humidity. We have started taking vacations during the cooler weather and we have been

delighted with the beauty of each season in different areas of the US. I love the springtime flowers in the Florida Panhandle and the orange and red leaves in Michigan in the fall. I am a fibromyalgia sufferer and hot weather is not my friend nor is extreme sunlight. This now limits the kind of vacations I take and the activities that I can do. I will be posting articles about fibromyalgia from time to time and also my own insights about the disease.