Christmas and Fibromyalgia

I hope everyone had a great Christmas despite Fibromyalgia.  I had an awesome time with my family, but of course I’m in a really bad flare now.  That’s just a part of life with Fibromyalgia.  It’s so annoying, but what can you do?  Life isn’t easy anyway and life with a chronic illness is worse, but yet there are still worse things in life so we just have to keep on keeping on.

Most of my gifts this year were centered on the Fibro.  My mom gave me a neck and shoulder massager which is totally awesome.  The biggest gift was seeing that my mom has finally accepted that I’m sick.  I know that this is a big step for.  She’s been in denial for so long now because she feels like it’s her fault that I’m sick.  It’s nobody’s fault…it happens.  Many of my friends and family members have really showed me that I finally have their support and understanding and I can’t think of a better way to start off the New Year. 

What did you all get for Christmas?  How do you feel now that it’s over?

Can I Run Away Now?

Do you ever get the urge to just run away?  Do you just want to run away from the pain and everyone around you so that for just maybe one moment you can breathe?  That’s what I’m feeling right now.  The pain is too intense to be able to handle the normal life stuff and everyone is pushing me over the edge. I just want to run away from everything, but especially the Fibro.  I just can’t handle it today, not with everything else going on.  We all know that we don’t have that luxury though.  We can’t just run and hide from the pain and other frustrating symptoms.  Our only choices are to stand tall and fight back or lie down and die.  I’m trying my hardest to stand tall and fight, but on days like this it’s so hard.  I guess that’s why I write more when I’m in a flare.  It’s my own personal escape, my release. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the day, but I know that somehow I will make it through. To all of those who are sick and finding it hard to make it through the day may you find the strength you need to keep fighting and the courage to keep on keeping on.   

Strange Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a pain in the ass and everywhere else.  We are all very much aware of this.  It restricts everything we do in some way or another and makes our lives a living hell, but we deal with it and somehow we manage to make it through the day.

We’re all are familiar with the pain and fatigue, but what about the other stranger symptoms that aren’t talked about as much?  Since my journey with Fibromyalgia began I have experienced random nose bleeds, oh so sexy hemorrhoids, my skin feeling like it’s going to peel right off and all of a sudden I seem to talk backwards on occasion. There’s more but the Fibro fog is starting to take over now. It was months after my diagnosis before I realized that all these strange symptoms were a part of Fibromyalgia.

What strange symptoms do you experience?  How long did it take you to realize that they’re all just part of this beast we call Fibromyalgia?

Constructive Ways of Dealing with Feelings of Hopelessness

When I found out I had Fibromyalgia it was a bittersweet moment because I was happy to finally have a diagnosis, but after everything I read about it I knew it was going to be a lifelong fight to survive.  We all know that Fibromyalgia itself is not life-threatning…well they say this even though they don’t know exactly what causes it yet…but it’s a chronic pain illness that makes you want to die and some of our fellow Fibromites have already given up the fight.

We all have those days where we just want to give up and stop living. I know that at least once every 2 months I get really depressed and I just can’t imagine going on another day with this illness.  Every time it passes and I’m good to go again, but at that moment I want to die and it’s a scary and lonely place to be in.  I know that many of us, if not all of us go through this so how do you cope with it?  Do you have a constructive way of dealing with your feelings when you feel hopeless?  What helps you to bounce back when it all becomes too much to deal with?

Mobility Aids for Fibromyalgia

Today I found myself reading an article about mobility aids for those of us with Fibromyalgia.  I never thought that at 30 years old, such an article would be important to me, but it is and the reality of that is a little scary.  My family and friends think that I shouldn’t worry about things like that yet and maybe they’re right, but I feel like I have to prepare myself for the future as much as possible.  This illness is hard as hell to deal with and I have this constant need to try to stay one step ahead of it.  I think that’s actually an impossible task, but I still try.  The thought of needing assistance to walk on a regular basis isn’t something I like to think about, but I can’t act like it’s not a possibility.  My body is failing me and there’s not a lot I can do about that, but I can keep my mind strong and I don’t feel that I can have a strong mind if I can’t come to terms with what the future holds.  I don’t know about all of you, but I can’t afford to be in denial.  I’ve tried that and I almost ended everything.  I don’t care if everyone thinks I research Fibromyalgia too much because I know I’m doing what I have to do to survive this illness.  They would do the same if they were in my situation, but I hope they never have to be.

PAIN!

The pain is excruciating today.  It hurts to move and it hurts to breathe.  It’s hard to stay positive when every inch of your body hurts and when all your energy goes into just dealing with the pain. I have to prepare myself for the end of the day because most likely the thought of dying will cross my mind at least once.  I’ll have to fight, once again, the urge to take the easy way out.  This is my life; my reality.  I’m not being dramatic.  I’m being real.  I’m being honest.  This is the part of Fibromyalgia that you don’t see in the commercials.  Someday EVERYONE will be able to see this invisible demon that we are fighting…hopefully that day will come soon.

Fibromyalgia and Winter

Winter is fast approaching and we all know that the cold and Fibromyalgia do not go together.  I despise winter.  It always feels like I’m in a flare the entire time.  I know I’m not alone in this so what are some of the things you do to get through the winter months.  What helps?  What makes things worse? How do you prepare to go out if you have to?

My biggest worry when it’s cold is jaw pain.  It is excruciating and lasts for hours. Anytime I’m out in the cold too long and I start shivering it happens.  So I’ve learned to dress extra warm and to always wear a scarf to make sure I can cover my jaw.  If it’s really cold I refuse to go out unless it’s a must because that is one pain I just can’t handle.

Other than staying as warm as possible, I have no other advice.  I just don’t function very well during the winter.  If you have advice or even just a Winter/Fibromyalgia story please share it. What works for one doesn’t always work for the other, but it’s nice to at least have options.  

Fibromyalgia: It's Not Just About the Pain

I had a thought once, but I lost it.  The Fibro fog came in and stole them all away.  Fibromyalgia is cruel like that.  People assume that the pain is all we have to worry about it.  I would rather be in intense pain 24/7 with no relief than to deal with the myriad of other Fibromyalgia symptoms.  I could stand to live without the blurry vision and the ringing in my ears or how about the dry itchy skin and the nose bleeds. It would be nice if my hair wouldn’t fall out or if I didn’t have bright red cheeks.  The constant dry mouth and yes of course the Fibro fog are two more of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia that push me closer to the edge.  The list goes on and on and even the pain can’t be described as just pain.  It’s more like burning, aching, stabbing and throbbing.  So next time you meet someone with Fibromyalgia take the time to look inside of them.  Remember that Fibromyalgia is real and that the pain, most of the time, is the least of our worries.  Our lives are changing so quickly and it’s hard to keep up.  Most of the time we are able to be happy, but sometimes we just want to die.  We spend a lot of time alone, not because we want to, but because most of the time it’s just easier. We don’t try to be difficult.  Our illness is just difficult to deal with.  It’s lonely.  It’s frustrating.  It’s our new life whether we like it or not.

Stop "Complaining"!

How many times have you been told to stop complaining while talking about your Fibromyalgia symptoms?  I’ve personally lost count.  This is something that I will never get use to and it’s something that breaks my heart a little more every day. 

We wake up with pain and exhaustion and we go to sleep with pain and exhaustion.  We are so confused by our illness that we talk about it a lot.  This isn’t complaining people.  We are trying to understand what’s going on inside of us and sometime’s talking about it is the only way to make some sense of it. 

I get angry when people tell me that it’s just crazy and they don’t understand it.  How the hell do they think we feel?  That’s why it’s constantly on our minds.  Every day it seems like something else malfunctions and it’s scary and we feel alone. 

If you want to call what we do complaining then so be it, but I hope you never have to be in the place we’re in right now. It’s easy to say oh just forget about it and get on with your lives.  Every day I wish I could and I know everyone else with Fibromyalgia or any other chronic illness feels the same way.  Don’t judge us.  Don’t condemn us.  We didn’t do anything wrong. We’re sick and we just need everyone in our lives to accept that because it’s not going to go away. We don't want to be sick, but we are and we're dealing with it the best we can.

Fibromyalgia and Neurontin

I started taking Neurontin about 6 months ago.  The first 3 months I took 300 mg a day and for the last 3 months I have been on 900 mg a day.  It seemed to help with the pain, but over the last month during some major life changes I realized something.  It was making me extremely depressed.  I can’t be 100% that it’s the Neurontin, but I strongly believe that it is.  I’ve cut way back and my mood has improved greatly.  I feel like a different person.  Two weeks ago I wanted to die.  It was scary and it definitely wasn’t me.  I haven’t been suicidal since before my diagnosis more than a year ago.

It seems like every day is getting better.  Don’t get me wrong I’m still in some massive pain, but I’m happy and I’m ready to live my life.  It’s no secret anymore that I’m single again at 30 and that is so scary, but I’m ready for the challenge now.  I actually feel like I can do this.  I go back to the doctor soon, I’m going to talk to him about the Neurontin, and I may try to go without meds for a while and see what happens.  I’ve learned that I can deal with all the pain in the world as long as I’m mentally stable. 

We all know that there are a million unexpected turns in the Fibromyalgia journey, but it keeps life interesting.  That’s the way I like to see it anyway. I hope everyone is doing good and if anyone has any feedback on Neurontin please leave a comment and share your experience with it.

I'm Not Crazy...I'm Sick

Learning to live with Fibromyalgia is not an easy task.  There are so many symptoms to deal with and then on top of that we have to deal with the scrutiny from others who don’t believe we are really sick.  That’s the hardest part.  We get called attention seekers and hypochondriacs all the while we feel like we’re dying inside.  There have already been so many of us who have given up this fight and have taken their own lives, and still people don’t believe that Fibromyalgia is real.

One of the biggest questions we have for one another is how do you deal with people who don’t believe we are sick?  What do you say to those people who make negative remarks and laugh at our misery?  Most of the time I just ignore it and then I go home and cry.  I’ve had many thoughts of dying and most of the time it was because of people thinking I’m crazy and not sick.  I’m learning to become more open about my illness and I’m also learning how to explain it better.  YouTube videos have been helpful in helping my family to understand better.

So what do you say?  We have to stick together in this fight.  One person alone cannot defeat this monster.  I wish everyone a pain free day.  *Gentle Hugs*

Bye Bye Happy, Hello Pain and Nausea

I still had a fairly decent day, but the pain and nausea overtook my super awesome happy feeling.  I took a 2 hour nap and got back up a few hours ago so that I could attempt to function and cook supper and all that good stuff.  The pain is quickly approaching the unbearable stage and the nausea doesn’t want to go away.  I would just puke and get it over with, but I took my meds and don’t really want to puke them up. I never imagined my life would turn out like this, but here I am.  Oh well, it could be worse.  My life isn’t anything I ever wanted it to be, but it doesn’t mean that it can be something awesome. 

I probably need to go to bed before my body completely malfunctions on me.  Tomorrow is a new day.  It could be a good day, bad day or a combination like today!  *Gentle Hugs*

I'm in Pain...But I'm HAPPY!

I’m in a flare today and normally that would be a bad thing, but not so much.  I’m in a fantastic mood and it’s overriding the fact that it feels like an elephant is sitting on my shoulders.  I just woke this way today and when I can wake up happy despite the pain and other symptoms then it’s a good day.  I hope it stays this way.

Happiness is essential when you have Fibromyalgia or any other chronic illness.  When you’re truly happy, it makes it so much easier to deal with all the bad things that come with the illness.  It makes it easier to laugh at the insane things that are happening to your body and mind.  I know that being happy is sometimes easier said than done, but it’s worth working on.  Find something or someone that gives you a reason to wake up in the morning.  You’ll see the difference.

I hope that everyone can be happy for at least a little while today.  *Gentle Hugs*

Important Facts about Fibromyalgia

Important Facts about Fibromyalgia

Author: Jordan Marks

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and common disease that affects 2-4% people of total world population. Although the cause behind this disease is unknown till date, but the syndromes are very well known. It is very painful for the people suffering from this disease. The pain is widespread and produces a fatigue disorder. This disease mostly affects muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft fibres in the body; as a consequence patients feel the pain in the muscle joint areas of body, such as neck, shoulder, elbow and heap.

Some experts take it as a special form of arthritis but the fact is the affected muscles in the body are not deformed like arthritis cases. Fibromyalgia is some sort of neuro-muscular pain, which affects the musculoskeletal schema of human body. Patients can suffer from the following symptoms:

* Widespread pain for more than 3 months.

* Tenderness in the neck, shoulder, knee, elbow, or upper buttocks or thigh areas.

* Trouble sleeping.

* Tiredness in the morning or late in the day.

* Mood changes.

* Irritable bowel syndrome.

* Headaches, sometimes migraines.

* Difficulty concentrating.

* Numbness and tingling in hands, arms, feet, legs or face.

* Abdominal pain.

* Bloating.

* Long lasting morning stiffness

* Constipation.

* Diarrhoea.

* Fatigue that interferes with work and daily activities.

* Sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep, waking up feeling tired).

In addition of those symptoms fibromyalgia patients often feels anxiety along with depression. They feel lethargic and may feel frustrated in their life. This depression often leads them to commit suicide.

Women may also face problems in their periods and suffer from other feminine diseases.

In a recent research it is found that women are more affected than men. It is a common phenomenon that women lacks calcium a bit more than men, this may be the reason behind that.

Fibromyalgia disturbs sleep; this leads to mental weakness and often causes mental disorder. The cause behind this disease is still mystery but the resultant effects are very acute. It generally affects people of any age, some experts have revealed that after a traumatic disease or a massive flue fibromyalgia may starts.

Identifying the tender points in the body makes diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome. At the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, other chronic syndromes such as thyroid disturbance, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome are assumed eliminated. Pain in 11 to 18 tender points indicates fibromyalgia syndrome.

To learn about gorilla monkey and orangutan monkey, visit the Monkey Facts website.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1508880_17.html

Fibromyalgia and Cymbalta

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes widespread pain and fatigue among a multitude of other symptoms. Fibromyalgia is complex illness that needs a combination of treatments to control it and that’s where Cymbalta comes into play. Cymbalta is one of the few medications that have been FDA approved for the treatment of Fibromyalgia. Cymbalta doesn’t work on everyone, but it has been proven to provide relief of Fibromyalgia symptoms in many individuals.

Cymbalta is in a class of medications known as Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor or SSNRI’s. It is an antidepressant that was approved by the FDA in June of 2008 for the treatment of Fibromyalgia. It was approved earlier by the FDA for the treatment of depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Diabetic nerve pain.

Fibromyalgia and Cymbalta

Fibromyalgia: Ten Helpful Web-sites | HealthMad

Fibromyalgia: Ten Helpful Web-sites | HealthMad

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Does Exercise Help The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia? | HealthMad

Does Exercise Help The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia? | HealthMad

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Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12, 2010

Today is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and I’m in a really bad flare.  Isn’t that just a fun coincidence.  Please do everything you can to help raise awareness for Fibromyalgia and all the other invisible illness not only today, but every day.  It’s time for people to start taking these illnesses seriously.   No one understands how much of our lives these illnesses have taken from us.  They don’t understand the hell we have to go through.  We don’t have to suffer in silence.  We have to stop being afraid of talking about our illness.  I know it’s hard when people look at you like you’re crazy every time the word Fibromyalgia comes out of your mouth, but we have to raise awareness.  If we don’t who will?

I hope everyone is having a great awareness day!  What have you done today to raise awareness?

Fibromyalgia awareness May 12th 2010 "He's Invisible"

Staying Happy with Fibromyalgia

Staying happy with Fibromyalgia can be extremely difficult. Every day there are new road blocks and the possibility of leading a “normal” life seems to only get farther and farther away. It seems like new symptoms pop up every day and no one can figure out why you cry and why you get so distressed. They have no idea how bad life with Fibromyalgia is and the bottom line is they probably never will, so you can’t rely on other people to make you happy. You may have a few close friends or family members that understand Fibromyalgia enough to improve your mood on those bad days, but the rest you must seek out for yourself.

Staying Happy with Fibromyalgia

Three Ways to Cope with Fibromyalgia

Finding ways to cope with Fibromyalgia are essential to your recovery and to your life. Fibromyalgia affects every aspect of your life and can destroy it in seconds if you don’t learn to cope. Staying positive, limiting your activity to avoid overdoing it and educating yourself are just some of the basic tools to cope with Fibromyalgia.

Three Ways to Cope with Fibromyalgia

How do You Get Through the Bad Days?

I need to be working whether it be cleaning my house or writing an article, but I’m in pain and it has reached the excruciating point.  Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could live at least a fraction of a normal life.  I want to be able to get up and go to work, then come home and cook and clean.  I want to be able to socialize with my friends without worrying about how much pain I’m going to be in afterwards.  I want to be able to go out of town on a moment’s notice without worrying about how I feel and if I have all my medications.  I just want to be me again. 

I have days that I am at peace with my diagnosis and my new life that has come from it and then I have days where I take too many steps backwards and I’m angry and frustrated and I can’t handle being sick.  Today is one of those days.  I’m tired of having to tell my family and friends that I can go somewhere with them IF I feel okay.  I’m suppose to go see a movie with my niece in a few hours and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to go because the pain is so bad right now.

How do you cope with a chronic illness?  How do you get through the bad days and how do you find the strength to keep going?

Fixing Health Care by John Cantillo

Fixing Health Care

By: John Cantillo

The cost of health insurance continues to climb unabated. As the number of uninsured in America swells to 45 million people, many look to our political leaders for answers and relief.

Presidential campaign rhetoric about how to control skyrocketing health care costs provides only short-term solutions focused on the sticker price. But the administration should address long-term solutions to the spiraling crisis.

In 2002, the United States spent $1.6 trillion, or nearly 15 percent of GDP, on health expenditures. Medicare, the government's single payer model for seniors, spent $267 billion.

Analysts project national health care expenditures to reach $3.1 trillion by 2012 - nearly twice the amount spent in 2002. The dramatic numbers have a tendency to overstate the obvious - for many, the cost of insurance can be as much, if not more, than rent or a mortgage. Until the administration places its focus on the rising cost of health care, those costs will continue to escalate far exceeding the rates of earnings. Whether you subscribe to a higher monthly premium charged by an HMO or a payroll tax collected by Uncle Sam, someone has to pay the bill. Shifting the burden from our premium bill to our tax bill is not an acceptable solution.

There are basic initiatives that policymakers need to address in an effort to streamline the delivery system and minimize the soaring cost of health care.

First, encourage investments in technology improvements across all levels of the health care delivery system, including insurers, hospitals and physicians. For a $1.6 trillion industry in the 21st century, the technology employed is comparable to driving a Model T on a highway full of modern cars.

Consider the banking industry. A simple piece of plastic, from any bank, allows you to purchase anything from antiques on eBay to milk at the local grocery store. In health care, the piece of plastic serving as an ID card serves little purpose other than to inform the physician where to send the bill. Physicians and their staffs then spend an inordinate amount of time completing the proper paperwork to get paid.

Inefficiencies are expensive. Administrative expenses are the fastest-rising component of health expenditures. In 2002, public and private insurance spent $105 billion on administrative expenses, almost 13 percent more than in 2001. Support for developing common standards and technology improvements is necessary to eliminate the costly inefficiencies that contribute to rising health costs.

Next, support the release of cost and quality information. Most of us know where we can find the best deal on a car, mortgage or even shoes. But how many people can afford to buy something without ever knowing the price?

Do you know the average cost of a physician office visit? We have grown accustomed to the minimal office co-payment as the benchmark for the cost of delivering care. Yet who would seriously consider a $10 co-payment a sufficient amount for physician treatment?

As consumers, we are asked to bear a greater share of health care costs. In return, we should demand more information about price and quality. Disclosure of such information has the potential to have a profound effect on consumer behavior and the cost and quality of health care. Such transparency should reform inequities and deficiencies in the cost of health services.

There is no single magic bullet to solving the issues facing the American health care system. Our system is an immense and complex web of interdependencies. Expanded public financing and subsidies will provide only short-term relief unless the drivers of health care expenditures are resolved. Solely addressing the problem by throwing more money at it, public or private, while ignoring the elephant in the living room serves little to alleviate the large financial burden the health care system has become.

We must accept the fact that health care in the United States is expensive and get to work on long-term solutions that will effectively control costs. We have the ability to control health care costs in this country; what we lack are the commitment and stamina to get it done.

Author Bio

JOHN R. CANTILLO is vice president of underwriting at Vista Health Plan Inc. in Hollywood, Florida. An industry expert with more than 10 years of experience in health insurance, he received his MBA from the University of Florida. Cantillo is a member of the Health Underwriting Study Group, a national think tank and information source for health insurance executives. Reach him at (954) 965-3420.

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Top 5 Ways to Stay Calm and Reduce Stress by John Halderman

Top 5 ways to stay calm and reduce stress

By: John Halderman

Are you looking for more calm satisfying experience with you daily life?

Do you get frustrated with yourself at the end of the day because you've gotten stressed, unfocused or agitated?

Are you tired of getting over emotional and worn out.

Whether you are experiencing one or all of these feelings here are my 5 best tips on reducing the unwanted feelings so that you will feel calm and satisfied with yourself each day.

1. Catch yourself when you exhibit a feeling of behavior that you don't like and change it.

At first you may not notice the feeling until after you have gone through it, that's fine.

Think about how you would rather have felt.

Think about how you would rather have handled yourself. Decide how you want to do it next time.

As you continue with this process each day you will find that you will notice more easily what you are doing throughout the day.

You will begin to catch yourself earlier and earlier as you do this.

Eventually, you will be seeing yourself while you are doing it, then stop yourself.

At some point you will be able to notice before you even begin to feel and react in the undesirable way.

Here is where you will actually begin to change the way you react to the situations in your life and change your behavior.

2. Stay centered all day by refocusing throughout the day.

Develop the habit of paying attention to your mindset as the day goes on.

Several times a day, step away from what you are doing to get re-centered.

Sit down close your eyes and take several long slow deep breaths while imagining the tension washing slowly out of your body.

Notice your breathing getting slower and calmer.

Just think about your breath.

Try to keep from thinking about anything in particular.

It's ok to not be actively thinking for a while!

3. Watch out for your expectations.

You are setting yourself up for failure, upset and frustration when you set too many standards as to how you think things should be.

Think about what leads you to getting upset?

Why does it upset you?

Notice that you decide how many things should be, based on your own outlook and desire.

The things others do that are not to your liking, even the things you do that don't match your expectations.

Ask yourself, really how important is it that they be exactly that way

Ask, who am I to insist that they are that way?

Does it matter that much?

Is it worth getting myself worked up about?

Choose which expectations are really important for you to hold on to and which ones are not.

Holding on to many expectations just complicates your life, with constant judgment.

Simplify your life and reduce the stress!

4. Delegate.

This applies to your personal life as well as at work.

Most of us think of delegating as a workplace skill, but it can apply personally as well.

We are all very busy these days with our activities and duties.

Trying to fit it all in and get it all accomplished can lead to tension.

For various reasons, many of us have developed the habit of thinking we must do it all ourselves.

Take a look at your situation.

Think about it, really, how important is it that everything must be done perfectly to your standards?

Are you sure there are not other people who can assist you. Are the other people in your life pulling their weight?

Many times we get into habitual ruts that don't need to be as they are.

Look at what has been, with the eye of reducing the pressure on yourself.

5. Accept other people as one.

As you think of yourself as different and separate from the rest of mankind, you unknowingly create thinking and behavior that separates you from others.

This kind of separate thinking leads us to think we are superior to others which leads to judgment then selfish thinking and behavior.

We are then having an internal battle with others, which brings on fear, competition and comparison, ending in frustration and anxiety.

Look to discovering how to see yourself as one with all of mankind, not as separate.

Focus on what we have in common rather that the relatively small uniqueness.

Author Bio

John Halderman is a writer, speaker and trainer, dedicated to helping people with getting real results with their personal development efforts. He supports strategies, methods, tools and information that actually bridge the gap between information and effective results. Go to www.activepersonaldevelopment.com for free information and newsletter.

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What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Part 2

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Part 2

Second part of the medical condition known as CFS or ME
-Complete Stool Analysis including parasites: Stools are teeming with bacteria, some beneficial, some neutral, and some that can be harmful. It is important to know what you have, especially if you have health problems. Health-enhancing intestinal bacteria serve to prevent the overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria in the gut. Stool testing can also assess your body’s ability to digest food, the pH, and the amount of mucus present. A Triple Faeces Test is recommended for parasite testing, given that specificity drops when a single sample is taken. Three days in a row is recommended and scraped in the external annus is also necessary, given that is where parasites eggs are normally displayed.

Content Source: Bukisa - What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Part 2

Is Lyrica a Good Treatment for Fibromyalgia?

Is Lyrica a Good Treatment for Fibromyalgia?
Can Lyrica help to control the symptoms of fibromyalgia? Find out what one study shows.
If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you know how debilitating and persistent the symptoms can be! You may experience persistent muscle aches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and frequent stiffness and joint discomfort.The
symptoms can be so severe and restricting that it's difficult to complete simple daily tasks or hold down a full time job. Previously, the only effective class of drugs recommended for initial treatment of fibromyalgia have been antidepressants which don't always provide adequate symptom relief. Plus, antidepressants can cause significant side effects in users including dry mouth, dizziness, excessive sleepiness, anxiety, and weight gain which can limit their usage.

A recent double-blind, controlled fibromyalgia study, presented at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting, looked at the effects of a drug called pregabalin or Lyrica on the symptoms of 745 patients who had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The drug, although not yet approved specifically for use in fibromyalgia, was approved for use in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia in 2004. This drug has proven to be effective and well tolerated for treatment of these two conditions and have been well tolerated, in general.

In this current study, Lyrica was found to relieve the chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia and improve the general quality of life for persons diagnosed with this difficult to treat disorder.Patients began to experience improvement in their levels of pain and fatigue as early as the first week on the new drug treatment. By the end of the study, many patients reported up to a 50% reduction in pain after treatment with Lyrica when compared with the placebo group. Lyrica also seemed to have positive effects on the sleep patterns of fibromyalgia sufferers and helped to reduce daytime fatigue. The most frequent side effects associated with the use of Lyrica were dizziness and excessive sleepiness.

If further studies support use of this drug to treat fibromyalgia, the consequences. could be far reaching. This disorder affects around 6 millions Americans and can cause significant disability and loss of productivity of untreated. At the present time, the cause of this disease has been undetermined.

This particular study was sponsored by the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, which has an application pending for approval of Lyrica for treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms. If this drug is approved and goes into widespread use, could it be the answer to successfully treating fibromyalgia? Millions of fibromyalgia sufferers who experience symptoms on a daily basis certainly hope so!

If further studies support use of this drug to treat fibromyalgia, the consequences. could be far reaching. This disorder affects around 6 millions Americans and can cause significant disability and loss of productivity of untreated. At the present time, the cause of this disease has been undetermined.

This particular study was sponsored by the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, which has an application pending for approval of Lyrica for treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms. If this drug is approved and goes into widespread use, could it be the answer to successfully treating fibromyalgia? Millions of fibromyalgia sufferers who experience symptoms on a daily basis certainly hope so!

Content Source: Bukisa - Is Lyrica a Good Treatment for Fibromyalgia?

How Does Marijuana Treat Pain?

How Does Marijuana Treat Pain?
Lucy Brown, a 38-year-old breast cancer patient from New York, is finally sent back home after her second surgery. Now, she has to fight with pain that makes her feel like a living-dead. Nausea, headaches, dizziness, hallucinations, depression and insomnia are only some of the side-effects caused by heavy medication.
Lucy Brown, a 38-year-old breast cancer patient from New York, is finally sent back home after her second surgery. Now, she has to fight with pain that makes her feel like a living-dead. Nausea, headaches, dizziness, hallucinations, depression and insomnia are only some of the side-effects caused by heavy medication.

Content Source: Bukisa - How does marijuana treat pain

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Part 1

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Part 1

There is a summary of the condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or ME. There are 3 parts of this article.
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? (Part 1)
We all get tired. Many of us at times have felt depressed. But the mystery known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not like the normal ups and downs we experience in everyday life. The early sign of this illness is a strong and noticeable fatigue that comes on suddenly and often comes and goes or never stops. You feel too tired to do normal activities or are easily exhausted with no apparent reason. Unlike the mind fog of a serious hangover, to which researchers have compared CFS, the profound weakness of CFS does not go away with a few good nights of sleep. Instead, it steals your energy and vigor over months and sometimes years.

The following chart shows some statistics taken in Australia regarding length of continuing disability symptoms, although is actually very unpredictable to forecast when are you going to improve your symptoms, and also if they may come back at a later stage.



Despite of the chart of persistence of CFS symptoms, full recovery is estimated at 10 percent, with the greatest chance of recovery appearing to be within the first five years of illness. Some people cycle between periods of relatively good health and illness, and some gradually worsen over time. Others neither get worse nor better, while some improve gradually but never fully recover

How does CFS begin, and what are CFS symptoms?

For many people, CFS begins after a bout with a cold, bronchitis, hepatitis, or an intestinal bug. For some, it follows a bout of infectious mononucleosis, or mono, which temporarily saps the energy of many teenagers and young adults. Often, people say that their illnesses started during a period of high stress. In others, CFS develops more gradually, with no clear illness or other event starting it.

DEFINITION:

Just for a sake of clarity, the name of this illness has brought a lot of controversy, and currently they are trying to change it to neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome, or NDS, which better reflects the symptoms of this illness, is not just fatigue...

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an Illness characterized by a permanent fatigue (that it does not improve with the rest), for at least six consecutive months, accompanied of other symptoms as difficulty of concentration, lost of memory, non-refreshing sleep, muscular pains, pains you will articulate (without inflammation), migraines, general discomfort post exercise that extends more than 24 hours and alterations of the sleep.

This Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has also been called Immune Malfunction, epidemic Neuromiastenia and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

The illness has proven to be both complex and mysterious, and there is still no known cause or cure. However, there is abundant scientific evidence that CFS is a real biologic illness, not a psychiatric condition. And there are treatment options that can help patients manage symptoms, cope with the impact of the illness, improve function and manage activity levels.

CAUSES:

There is not known yet the final cause of it, but it is believed that a viral infection is involved in it. Among the viruses responsible for CFS are: Epstein-Barr, HIV, HHV-6, Cytomegalovirus, retrovirus or enterovirus.

The World Health Organization has listed the discrete disease, CFS under neurological disorders specifically excluding it from psychiatric disorders. Doctors treating patients medically diagnosed with CFS describe them are more functionally ill than cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients with HIV, Type 2 diabetes and another neurological disorder MS.

In one study, Ablashi et al. (15) found that 25% of the sera &am 300 CFS patients, tested for HHV-6 IgG and EBV-VCA IgG antibody, showed elevated antibodies to both HHV-6 and EBV.
There has been considerable interest in investigating its possible role in CFS. Most of us have already been infected with the virus in our first year of life. In most individuals the virus is latent. When HHV-6 is reactivated, or during reinfection, it may contribute to CFS.
Evidence of the involvement of HHV-6 in CFS, compared to that of other human herpes viruses (EBV, CMV, HSV-1 and 2, VZV, HHV-7), is much stronger. The evidence is based on:

1. Elevated IgG antibody;
2. Detection of anti-IgM antibody in equal to or less than 50% of patients, which is a good indication of virus reactivation;
3. Detection of HHV-6 antigen expressing cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of CFS patients by culture techniques;
4. Detection of HHV-6 DNA in lymphocytes of CFS patients by PCR and Southern blot hybridization (22-23,33,35-36).

DIAGNOSTIC AND BIOLOGICAL MARKERS:

In the following chart, we can see how clinical diagnostic can be made, and RNASe biological marker is simply a confirmation of the clinical diagnostic.




Content Source: Bukisa - What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Part 1

WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR SOMEONE LIVING WITH FIBROMYALGIA?

What is it like for someone living with Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a little understood disorder or syndrome that can also be manifested as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. For many years doctors believed it was a psychiactric disorder and not a true disease process because it occurs primarily in women and does not show up in any known diagnostic testing. Recently however Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been legitimized.

How to understand what it is like living with Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions

Content Source: Bukisa - What is it like for someone living with Fibromyalgia?

Surviving Fibromyalgia with Young Children

Surviving fibromyalgia with young children!

I know fibromyalgia is difficult to live with. Add this to being a mom of young children, and wife, friend, and family member. I cannot tell you how to live this way, but I can tell you how I manage to get by.
The only thing worse than having fibromylagia is having fibromyalgia and toddlers.  I am a mother of two young children, Levi 3 and Ruby 1.  They are really good kids, but they are toddlers and like every toddler, they are very busy kids.  They run, climb, jump, fight, hate each other one minute, and love each other the other minute.  I love my kids and would never give them up, but sometimes, I feel like I can't do it for one more minute literally.

Content Source: Bukisa - Surviving fibromyalgia with young children!

Fibromyalgia: One Mother's Struggle for a Normal Life

Fibromyalgia: One Mother’s Struggle for a Normal Life

From getting a diagnosis to finding the right treatments, fibromyalgia is a daily struggle. A victim to the disease at the age of 20, I share the frustration and complications I experienced.
A single mom working two full-time jobs, I was outgoing and enthusiastic. I spent time with family and friends or worked on one of the many creative projects that I had on the go. With the exception of a few minor bumps in the road, my life seemed to cruise along smoothly until fibromyalgia slowly transformed my identity.

Content Source: Bukisa - Fibromyalgia: One Mother’s Struggle for a Normal Life

Letter to "Normals"

Almost every day I bookmark something on Fibromyalgia. Learning as much as I can about it, helps me to cope with being sick. One of the first things I found while searching for information on Fibromyalgia was the letter to “normals”. There are several different letters, but this one is my favorite. I wish I could express my thoughts on this illness as well as this author did.

There are the things I would like you to understand before you judge me...

Please know that being sick doesn't mean I'm not human. I may spend most of my day flat on my back and I might not seem like great company, but I'm still me stuck inside this body. I worry about school, work, family and friends and I'd still like to hear about yours.

Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu you probably feel miserable but it will pass. I've been sick for for so long that I can't afford to be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable. So if I sound happy, it means that I'm happy, it does not mean that I am well. I may be in pain and sicker than ever.

Please, don't say, "Oh, you're sounding better!".

I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you're welcome.

Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn't mean that I can stand ten minutes, or an hour. It's likely that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I'll need to recover - imagine an athlete after a race. They couldn't repeat that feat right away either. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed or you can move, but with Fibromyalgia it gets more confusing.

Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, "sitting up", "walking", "thinking", "being sociable" and so on ... it applies to everything. That's what a fatigue-based illness does to you.

Please understand that chronic illnesses are variable. It's quite possible (for me, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, and the next I'll struggle to reach the kitchen.

Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!".

If you want me to do something, ask if I can and I'll tell you. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please don't take it personally.

Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and can often make me worse. Fibromyalgia may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed if you were no longer able to participate in life?) but it is not caused by depression. Telling me that I need exercise is not appreciated or correct - if I could do it, I would.

Please understand that if I say I have to sit down/lie down/take these pills now, that I do have to do it right now - it can't be put off or forgotten just because I'm doing something. Fibromyalgia does not forgive.

Please understand that I can't spend all of my energy trying to get well. With a short-term illness like the flu, you can afford to put life on hold for a week or two while you get well. But part of having a chronic illness is coming to the realization that you have to spend some energy on having a life now. This doesn't mean I'm not trying to get better. It doesn't mean I've given up. It's just how life is when you're dealing with a chronic illness.

If you want to suggest a cure, please don't. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't want to get well. It's because every one of my friends has already suggested every theory known to man. I tried them all, but quickly realized I was using up so much energy trying new treatments I was making myself sicker, not better. If there was something that cured Fibromyalgia, all of us would know about it by now.

If you read this and still want to suggest a cure, submit it in writing but don't expect me to rush out and try it. If it is something new, with merit, I'll discuss it with my doctor.

Please understand that getting better can be a slow process. Fibromyalgia entails numerous symptoms and it can take a long time to sort them all out.

I depend on you - people who are not sick for many things but most importantly, I need you to understand me.

The above text may be printed freely, and shared as needed providing all content is kept intact. No other person shall ever publish this work citing themselves as the author.

Fibromyalgia Is Real by Kammy Salmon

This poem says it all.

Fibromyalgia is real

There is no doubt

If you don’t believe it

Here’s what it is all about !

It’s about being a professional

At the top of your career

And losing your future

In less than a year

It’s about having unrelenting pain

No one can figure out

Having test after test

That shows nothing but doubt

It’s about knowing your pain is real

And fighting for your rights

Being so upset and frustrated

Getting no sleep so many nights !

It’s about trying to find the right doctor

Who can offer you some hope

Who knows what it’s all about

Who can give you what you need to cope !

It’s about learning to live again

With a whole new personality

Letting go of the person you once were

And facing a whole new reality !

It’s about losing friends and family

Because they think “it’s all in your head”.

But truth be known, there are days

You hurt so much, you can’t get out of bed !

It’s about setting new priorities

“So what if there is dust”

You have to take care of yourself now

And do only what you must !

It’s about holding on to hope

Each new day could bring a cure

It’s holding on to this hope

That will raise your mood for sure !

It’s about being thankful for the few

Friends and family that are true

Believing and hoping for a miracle

Praying for strength to make it through !

© 2004Kammy Salmon

Kami922@hotmail.com

The Effects of Fibromyalgia on Sexual Relationships

Fibromyalgia takes over every aspect of our lives including our sexual relationships. This often becomes a touchy subject within a relationship or marriage because often times our partners or spouses may feel like we’re just making excuses because we no longer find them sexually attractive and this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The fatigue, pain, medications and the negative self-image we obtain from the Fibromyalgia greatly affects our desires and ability to have sex.

FATIGUE

Those of us with Fibromyalgia don’t always get the kind of sleep we need and we often are left feeling exhausted. The thought of sex when we are this tired is incomprehensible. Sex takes a lot of energy and when we just don’t have it, we don’t want it.

ACHES AND PAINS

We are all aware of the horrible aches and pains we get with Fibromyalgia. When you’re hurting it’s hard to get into the mood, much less take on the physical task of having sex. Fibromyalgia also affects the pelvic muscles and this can make sex extremely painful and unbearable.

MEDICATION

The medication is never in short supply when you have Fibromyalgia. The medicine that helps us control our Fibromyalgia can also wreak havoc on our sex lives. Many medications can cause decreased libido and erectile dysfunction and well, it makes us just not want it even if we are feeling halfway decent. There’s not a whole lot we can do about this one either. We have to take our medicine.

NEGATIVE SELF-IMAGE

Fibromyalgia is an emotional bully. Our bodies can change greatly because of the Fibromyalgia. We may gain weight or lose too much weight, our skin can be blotchy and red and sometimes our hair falls out, so every time we look in the mirror we hate what we see. We just don’t feel sexy anymore and the thought of taking our clothes off for someone else to see is just not something we want to do.

All of these things turn a once pleasurable activity into an extremely negative experience but don’t let Fibromyalgia destroy your relationship. Talk to your partner about how you feel and make sure you listen to their concerns as well. Fibromyalgia doesn’t just effect us. It effects our family, our friends and everyone around us. Remember that it’s just as hard for them to accept that we have morphed into different people as it is for us, so be patient.

5 Exercises for Fibromyalgia

The best treatment for Fibromyalgia is exercise. Exercise is hard to do when you are in constant pain, but eventually, exercise will help you control the pain. It’s important to start out slow and then increase your work-outs a little at a time. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself right away. The five best exercises for Fibromyalgia are walking, Yoga, swimming, Pilates and biking.

WALKING

Walking is a great beginner exercise for someone who has Fibromyalgia. Start walking just ten minutes a day for at least five days a week. Every week increase your time by five minutes. You’re going to be extremely sore, but don’t stop. The more you walk, the better you will feel. Another great benefit of walking is that it gives you a feeling of accomplishment. This may seem silly to most people, but those of us who have Fibromyalgia understand the importance of the little victories.

YOGA

Yoga is very beneficial for those who have Fibromyalgia. The deep breathing allows us to relax, and the poses stretch out our tight, aching muscles. It’s very important to start out slow with Yoga, because the breathing can cause you to pass out if you’re not careful. Start at a beginner’s level and work your way up as you feel comfortable doing so. Don’t worry about doing everything perfect, just do it.

SWIMMING

Swimming is great because it is very low impact. It doesn’t put any stress on our bodies and the water can be very relaxing. You don’t have to be an Olympic swimmer. Actually, you don’t even have to know how to swim. Strap on a floaty and move around the pool. When you’re working out in a nice swimming pool it just doesn’t seem like exercise. So enjoy yourself, but don’t overdo it.

PILATES

Pilates has basically the same benefits as Yoga, but it will also strengthen your muscles. Dancer’s use Pilates so that they can strengthen their muscles without getting bulky muscles. Some of the Pilate exercises may be a little difficult to do when you have Fibromyalgia, but find the ones you can do and get into a routine.

BIKING

Biking is great if you are able to do it. I tried this one, but my body just wasn’t ready for it. If you can do it though it’s a fun way to get your exercise in for the day. As with all the exercises, start out slow and build yourself up. Even if you only ride for five minutes a day, it’s better than sitting on the sofa.

Doing just one of these on a daily basis will make a world of difference. So pick one, two or even three of these and get your Fibromyalgia under control. Always remember that you have Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia doesn’t have

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain, tenderness and a whole host of other symptoms. The pain and fatigue that are associated with Fibromyalgia are debilitating and relentless, but this chronic invisible illness involves so much more than that. So many are unaware of the multitude of Fibromyalgia symptoms and the effects they have on day-to-day living.

PAIN SYMPTOMS

The most prominent symptoms of Fibromyalgia include pain. The pain can manifest in many ways such as burning, stabbing, aching, numbness and tingling. Pain symptoms include headaches, tender points or trigger points, muscle pain, muscle twitching, muscle weakness, paralysis or severe weakness of an arm or leg, joint pain, TMJ syndrome and chest pain. The chest pain can be so severe that it feels like a heart attack.

BASIC SYMPTOMS

The basic symptoms of Fibromyalgia are fatigue that is made worse by stress or physical exertion, recurrent flu-like illness, sore throat, hoarseness, tender or swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, frequent sighing, tremor or trembling, severe nasal allergies, cough and night sweats. Other basic symptoms are low-grade fevers, feeling cold or hot often, cold hands and feet, low body temperature (below 97.6), heart palpitations, dry eyes and mouth, increased thirst and symptoms worsened by temperature changes, air travel and stress.

NEOROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

It was recently in the news that researchers have found a neurological connection to fibromyalgia. Neurological symptoms include lightheadedness, inability to think clearly (also known as brain fog or Fibro fog), seizures, seizure-like episodes, fainting, dizziness, numbness or tingling sensations, ringing in one or both ears, sensitivity to light and noise intolerance. Other symptoms are feeling spatially disoriented, balance difficulty, clumsy walking, dropping things frequently, difficulty judging distances and difficulty seeing what you are looking at.

COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS

The cognitive symptoms can be the most frustrating. They include difficulty with simple calculations, difficulty finding the right word, using the wrong word, difficulty expressing ideas in words, difficulty moving your mouth to speak, slowed speech, stuttering or stammering, inability to concentrate, easily distracted during a task, difficulty paying attention, difficulty following a conversation when there is background noise, losing your train of thought in the middle of a sentence and difficulty putting tasks or things in proper sequence. Those with Fibromyalgia may also experience short-term memory loss, long-term memory loss, forgetting how to do routine things, difficulty understanding what you read, verbal dyslexia, written dyslexia, difficulty remembering names of objects or people, difficulty recognizing faces, difficulty following written or verbal instructions, poor judgment, difficulty making decisions, difficulty following directions when driving, becoming lost when driving and feeling too disoriented to drive.

GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS

Gastrointestinal symptoms are stomachache and cramps, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, frequent diarrhea and constipation, bloating, decreased or increased appetite, food cravings and weight gain or weight loss.

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

Fibromyalgia greatly affects a person’s mood. Emotional symptoms are depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, frequent crying, feeling helpless and hopeless, inability to enjoy previously enjoyed activities, anxiety, irritability and overreaction, anger outbursts, unpredictable mood swings, phobias and personality changes. It’s important to note that Fibromyalgia causes depression. Depression does not cause Fibromyalgia.

SLEEP SYMPTOMS

Sleep symptoms include excessive sleeping, unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep and vivid or disturbing dreams or nightmares. The sleep symptoms of Fibromyalgia can be some of the most frustrating because without a good night’s sleep, the body can’t rest and this causes the pain to become even more unbearable.

SENSITIVITIES

Fibromyalgia causes you to be more sensitive to just about everything. You become more sensitive to medications, odors from cleaning products, exhaust fumes, colognes, hairsprays, etc., and foods. Those with Fibromyalgia may also experience Alcohol intolerance and an alteration of taste, smell and hearing.

OTHER

Other symptoms of Fibromyalgia include rashes or sores, eczema or psoriasis, hair loss, mitral valve prolapse, cancer, dental problems, gum disease, canker sores, eye pain, changes in visual acuity, difficulty switching focus from one thing to another, blind spots in vision, hemorrhoids, nose bleeds, frequent urination, painful urination or bladder pain, prostate pain, impotence, Endometriosis, worsening of PMS and decreased sex drive.

Fibromyalgia is difficult to treat and even harder to understand. All of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia make it extremely difficult for people to believe you and this makes coping with this invisible illness all the more harder. The symptoms are real. Fibromyalgia is real.