Does anyone have Fibromyalgia?

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   vivicaposted 16 years ago

   I have a mild case of Fibromyalgia. I don't deal a lot with the chronic fatigue side of it but have to struggle to function sometimes because of the widespread pain.I am currently just taking panadol as I don't find NSAIDs work.
   
   Does anyone with the condition have suggestion on how to deal with it?
   
   I am not taking serotonin or dopamine because I haven't seen the need yet and would prefer natural supplements.
   
   Thanks guys

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      ProCWposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      My mother's friend has fibromialgia (the worst cases her doctors had ever seen.) My cousin has it as well. The way my mother's friend deals with her pain is alot of pain medication. My cousin deals with it by choosing to displace her pain. I've heard of people using acupuncture effectively with it. I hope you feel better soon!
      
      ProCW

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      Kelley Eidemposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Customers at my store have found malic acid (magnesium malate) to help them releive the pain from fibromyalgia.
      
      In addition, since you've asked for help, my hub on ending food cravings and flattening your tummy applies equally well to any auto-immune disorder including fibromyalgia.
      
      The best to you.
      
      Kelley Eidem

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      Bonnie Ramseyposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Vivica,
      
      I have a close friend with Fibro and while I have not been diagnosed as yet, have had several people with it say that the symptoms that I have had was exactly as theirs. However, I did find relief (after 10 years of severe pain!) While I am not an affiliate of this natural supplement in any way, I won't post the link to it here. If you are interested, simply contact me by email and I will give you details and a link to the site. Because of this natural supplement, I have been totally pain free for 2 years now. I wish you all the best!
      
      Bonnie

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      COZ9posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Hi - please check out my blogsite http://fibromyalgiaremedies.blogspot.com before your condition worsens which fibromyalgia generally does without intervention.  It is curable as I have been cured after having it for 30 years.My story is there and what to do for help. Hope this helps.  I feel really sorry for anyone with FMS.

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   Mark Knowlesposted 16 years ago

   Relax.
   
   That might sound like no advice, but I believe stress is one of the major contributors of this.

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      guidebabaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      You are wrong Mr. Mark Knowles (Is this your real name???)
      
      Fibromyalgia is a kind of Arthritis that happens mostly to women. I suggest you to do your homework before posting.
      
      

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         Mark Knowlesposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         You are wrong guidebaba. ( is that your real name?) LOL
         
         Fybromyalgia is not a kind of arthritis that happens mostly to women. lol
         
         Fybromyalgia means literally, "Pain (algia) in the fibres(fybro)" or soft tissue.
         
         Arthritis means, literally, "Inflammation(itis) of the joints (arth).
         
         The two are completely unrelated.
         
         There are no known causes or cures for fybromyalgia, and in fact, some of the symptoms are contradictory.
         
         After ten years of treating clients with this syndrome, I can promise you that stress aggravates the condition.
         
         The only thing you got correct is that it seems to affect women more often than men.
         
         I suggest a little education before voicing an opinion on some thing you know nothing about.
         
         And if you had taken the trouble to do any research whatsoever, you would discover that this is indeed my real name and I am contactable.
         
         guidebaba - lol
         
         What do you guide people to? lol

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            ambr9895posted 16 years agoin reply to this

            Fibro(meaning fibrous tissue) my{myo}(meaning of the muscle) algia(pain)
            myo(of muscle)facsial(of the muscle facia or deep muscle) pain syndrome
            whichever your doc. calls it it's the same.
            Actually studies have shown that the constent pain and lethargy of this disease is what causes the unrelenting stress. Imagine waking every morning of your life so stiff and sore/raw that it takes MAJOR narcotics just 2 edge the pain away 2 move, couple that with chronic fatigue syndrome, irratible bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitus, depression(really more of a sadness brought on by your inability to phsically function as the wife/mother/daughter that you truly want to be, yet because of the pain and energy it takes to complete even small tasks the roughNtumble with the kids or w/your husband for that matter becomes a MAJOR ordeal that you know you will "pay" for later, and the anxiety stemming from knowing you cannot measure up nor be the person that mentally you want to be and that tomarrow will be the same fucken nightmare of your body and emotions bottoming out on you day after day.  My day is filled w/a beeper that goes off 5X/day for meds.(pain meds,muscle relaxers,benefiber,nsaids,neurotransmitter blockers, anti-deppressants,anti-anxiety,along w/a few others.
            People with this condition also typically suffer from sleep apnea and/or(dont remember exact name of condition) but it is described as ...patient typically falls asleep easily but when brain attempts 2 enter stage3(semi-deep sleep)they spend most night w/1 foot in deep sleep and the other in "waking" sleep, rarely, if ever, entering into a stage4 state{true state of complete deep sleep) of sleep. Therefore causing the patient's body to be in a physical/pschological/emotional state typically diagnosed as fibromyalgia/myofascial pain syndrome. Couple this with intense pharma.drug addiction and a demanding husband, a few kids, a home to run, a job to maintain, and life in general and you have 1 real nasty situation.
            I have been treated for fibromyalgia for 12 yrs. I am 30 now.  @ 18 i honestly dont believe my stress levels alone was so high and out of control to cause this lifelong curse.
            Although regular exercise can help some in other cases the pain afterwards is 2 severe.  A person w/ Fibro. has heightened sensory perceptions to heat/cold, humid/dry air, noise, and the biggest is a heightened sense of touch, which plays out as low tolerance to pain.
            It plays out as a living hell
            <snipped for language> I take enough valium that stress isn't my main issue Sir....THE UNRELENTING PAIN IS THE PROBLEM
            
            
            

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               ambr9895posted 16 years agoin reply to this

               It is similiar in physioogical aspects to arthritis in that it causes inflammation of the fibrous tissues, mainly muscles but can also include tendons and ligaments
               

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               guidebabaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

               Well Mark. I still stick to my point that Fibromyalgia happens mostly to women (80-90%). I am no doctor but I have done some study on Internet. Fibromyalgia and arthritis. You can check it out.
               
               Yes, Your Definition of arthritis is correct I Agree. BUt both arthritis and Fibromyalgia are related to pain.
               
               Fibromyalgia is considered an arthritis-related condition. However,it is not a form of arthritis.
               
               Have nice time.
               
               By the way what is LOL?

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                  Mark Knowlesposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                  LOL means "Laugh Out Loud."
                  
                  And Fibromyalgia is not an arthritis related condition. Where did you read that?
                  
                  I don't need to check it out. I spent ten years as a massage therapist working almost exclusively with chronic pain conditions. I was the guy they came to after the aleopathic treatments failed to work
                  
                  And I can tell you the two are unrelated.

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                     guidebabaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                     Thanks Mark for all the explanation. Maybe the site that I read do not provide legitimate info. Maybe the little argument between us may lead to our friendship. I am very sorry if I hurt you in any possible way. Here I think you can help me. One of my friend, aged 28, was fit and fine till 18 months ago. All of a sudden he had back pain. He went for some scanning and fell down at the hospital. He could not stand on his legs. He was taken to Apollo Hospital (One of the best Hospital in India). All kinds of treatment was done but no good result. Huge Money was spent on his treatment. He was also given Neuro Therapy for around 15 months but no good result. The boy is still not able to stand on his own legs and uses a wheelchair. This is very-very sad. I understand that this is a Neuro Problem but I get the feeling that maybe you can provide me some suggestion. Do you have any good suggestion for this boy so that he can once again stand on his legs and be as happy as he was.....?????

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            brimancandyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I Have Fibro, and the body chart you showed with the stress points is exactly where a majority of my pain is located. Some days it may be one or two places, while other days it is every stress point, including a major head ache.
            
            I take 60 mg of duloxitine, and 10 mg of Nortripiline, plus a pian killer and a multi-vitamin every day. I have also taken a sleep vitamin that does work well. Not sure if it is meletonin or seratoni. I t ake so many things some days. i can't remember them all. I was also on seraquel, but that just made me so sleepy, I could not function. I sleep for 3 days straight the first time I took it. My doctor told me, it was because my body lacked so much sleep, that when I was finally able to get it, sleep just took over.
            
            Another problem I have is with sudden attacks of shaking, followed by dizziness, then I either blackout and fall, or my legs just pop out from under me, and I fall to the floor. When this happens it is very frightening. I sometimes come out of it not knowing where I am, or talking to someone that isn't there.
            It's the worst feeling.
            
            For a time I was seeing things, and hearing things. My sister was bipolar, and she constantly seemed to be talking to people that were not there. So, when I saw my dead cat in the kitchen drinking out of new cats water bowl. I about freaked out. I also saw my dead brother at the salad bar at The Buffet. My friend I was with asked me if I was going to freak out. I said no, and when I looked again my brother was gone. It's freaky scary shit.

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      daflaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      You are right, and magnesium deficiency as well.

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   vivicaposted 16 years ago

   Stress can exarcabate the problem although I think that the major cause was something about brain chemical imbalance (from research). Thanks for replying guys. Might consider getting accupunture.

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   knolyourselfposted 16 years ago

   What is Fibromyalgia? My grandparents always said they had arthritis/rheumatism - arthritis the bones, and rheumatism the muscles and or nerves. I always tell people I have rheumatism.
   Now they tell me it's fibromyalgia. Have to wear many layers of clothes, hoods, blankets at night. Can't do anything physical but walk and is difficult to sit up. The only thing I do for it is recline in a Lazy Boy in front of the computer and TV. That is the least pain and fairly comfortable.

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   Mishaposted 16 years ago

   LOL Mark, when and how did you step on this guidebaba? It seems to be partial to you

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   Mark Knowlesposted 16 years ago

   It even asked me if this is my real name lol
   
   If I was going to make up a fake name, I like to think I could come up with something better than guidebaba

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   RFoxposted 16 years ago

   Seems you've found a new friend Mark.
   
   And Fibromyalgia isn't a type of arthritis. I've talked to a number of Rheumatologists because of my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Mark's definition of arthritis is correct. Fibromyalgia has to do with muscle pain, among other issues.
   
   And for Vivica: I don't have Fibromyalgia but my condition also causes chronic pain and so I wrote a hub about how to deal with chronic illness if you're interested.
   
   Stress is a major contributor to feeling bad. I do use NSAID's when it gets really bad, although I try to limit it. I do find meditation helps to train the mind to cope with the pain.
   
   Good luck with everything.

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   Mark Knowlesposted 16 years ago

   lol
   
   Not going to get embroiled in an argument with a faceless no one who joined up just to shout at me.
   
   We agree on the definition and when you get arthritis you will discover that the two are very different. One of the main issues both I and the medical people come across when attempting to treat fybromyalgia is the lack of physical symptoms. If you are actually inflamed you are very unusual in displaying something measurable. 
   
   I am sorry you feel this bad but I am certainly not going to argue with you over whether or not relaxing will help. Stick to your drugs. Don't try a massage, don't try any relaxation therapies, don't try a brine bath, don't seek counseling, don't change your diet. If you don't think relaxing will help - <snipped for language>

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   knolyourselfposted 16 years ago

   If you're not affiliated in any way, seems you ought to be able to post the link. I would like to know what it is.

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      Bonnie Ramseyposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Hi, Knoly!
      
      No, I am only affiliated in the sense that I use the products religiously myself. I do not sell them but I do tell people about them that I feel will benefit from their effects. The supplement is called Colostrum and you can get it in either powder form or capsules. I use the capsules as the powder form is intended to promote serious weight loss and I didn't need that. May need to lose a few pounds but nothing that serious.
      
      A friend of mine in Iowa told me about it because at the time I first met her, neither of us had a life at all outside of the home due to severe pain and eventually depression from it. She also suffered from severe obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. When she heard about these products, she talked to her doctor to let him know that she wanted to try them. He began to work with her, keeping checks on her blood sugar, weight and blood pressure. In the beginning, she was pretty much confined to her home as it was too painful for her to even go shopping. After a few months on these products, she lost a tremendous amount of weight, her blood pressure and blood sugar dropped to normal and the doctor decreased her medications to the point that she is off most of them altogether now.
      
      Naturally, there is no garauntee of how these products will effect these aspects for everyone but she and I have both had the same great results in the fact that we have literally gotten our lives back since we started taking them. The cost for 180 capsules is around $35 USD and I feel it has been the best investment we have ever made in my health. I was spending more that that on OTC pain meds alone, let alone all of those pain meds the doc gave me that did nothing but knock me out so that I couldn't even function! I refused to take them because of that. When I started taking them (on a Sunday morning), I began to feel a slight releif in my neck (also had herniated discs that cause a knot the size of a fist on the back of my neck) but at that point was afraid to become hopeful after everything I had tried over the years. But when I got up the next morning totally pain free and able to fully stretch again, I couldn't help but become excited then. Even my family members asked me what I had done that made such a difference! Now, I don't even hesitate to climb onto the trampoline with the grand-kids again and it is wonderful! I never thought I would be able to enjoy life again.
      
      The name of the company is Total Wellness incorporated and the link is http://www.twinow.com  You just go there and create a customer account and you can either order as you need it or set it up on autoship. That is your choice. I had mine set up on auto after I tried them until I got a buil-up from having them ship 2 bottles per month for a while and then I had to stop the auto until I use some down lol.
      
      I truly hope that this is as helpful to others as it has been to me! I know my family (especially the grandkids) are so glad my friend shared this info with me and I am forever in her debt! I wish all of you the best and hope this info is useful to you.
      
      Bonnie

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    knolyourselfposted 16 years ago

    Thanks Bonnie. I have ordered some Colostrum. Will give it a try.

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    Mark Knowlesposted 16 years ago

    Oh - Please don't feel you have offended me. If I was offended by anyone I argued with - I would have no friends at all lol Nothing personal was taken.
    
    I wish I could help your friend, but without seeing him, almost impossible I'm afraid.
    
    There are just too many possibilities as to what the problem might be. It sounds like some sort of neural damage that's for sure. Perhaps an infection somewhere along his spinal column. If he has only lost the use of his legs, somewhere low down the spine I would think. But I would imagine the hospital looked for this so.... Sorry I can't really help.

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       guidebabaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Mark. Thanks for the reply. Yes it was a viral infection. The virus affected mostly the RIGHT SIDE of his body. The left side is quite OK. His Right Hand and Right leg has LOST all Strength. There also seems some damage in the back. He often has back pain.

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    ToriCposted 16 years ago

    Hi all..I have been reading this hub for a few minutes..i would type more but im having some really bad weakness in my hands lately. I have a few questions. Although I have not been officially diagnosed with fibro they have said i have osteoarthritis..i am not sure this dx is right however for a few reasons and was hoping someone could help me..also...could I have BOTH?..ok..so...muscle twitching...enough for me to even miss a step..not little twitches..but almost jerks...weakness in my hands so i cant open a jar or lid or button my clothes or my babies clothes..pain all over..but it migrates...one day its both hands..then both elbows ..then my shoulders...but almost always affecting both sides of my body equally...crap..my hands..Ill type more later..someone please help me. My doctor is a lazy quack and just wants to get my money and shove a pain pill at me...I am on medicare and medicaid..so don't tell me to go to another doc....it doesn't work that way..sorry about the sloppy tyoping..my hands wont do it any more

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    allshookupposted 16 years ago

    Hi,
    My husband has it. He got his dx years ago. He has all of the symptoms you mentioned. He has a hard time holding things. His hands let go of items without his brain telling them to.He has broken a lot of things in the kitchen. He hurts 24/7. His muscles jerk hard. He can't stay in bed for over 6 hours because he starts to hurt. Doctors have tried different meds on him, but nothing has helped any and they have side-effects. It's very frustrating. The meds seems to do more harm than good. He is not taking any meds right now, since nothing has worked. As time has moved on, he has increasingly less energy and doesn't feel like doing near what he used to do. I'm sorry that I have no answers for you, we are in the same both with you. I wonder if doctors know exactly what they are doing when giving meds or if they are just guessing. If you find any asnwers, we'd love to hear them. I'll do the same for you. I will share your story with my husband. You will be in our prayers.

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    steimmanbernardposted 16 years ago

    well its really what we think our rather psychological thinking. its our fear that went to disease. but for sure you may try some relaxation techniques. like yoga, massage, and other that could lessen your stress. You may try your self to enjoy and forget some pains you felt.  using some drugs for sleeping is just temporary. thats useless until you set your self you can manage the pain and relax your mind.

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       Bonnie Ramseyposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       I am sorry but you obbviously have never had something like this. I have had many nights that just the touch of my husband lying his arm across me was so painful that I would have to get out of bed and cry. Yoga? Massage? How on earth can you stand the pain of something like this if your pain is already so severe that the slightest touch makes you feel as if someone is drilling into a bruise just by touching you? You can't lie down because the weight of your body hurts. You can't sit because the weight of your body hurts. You can't stand well... because the weight of your body hurts. Unfortunately, levitation was never a power I could posess so that was out of the equation.
       
       Fortget some of your pain? Trust me, you do NOT just forget about a pain so excrutiating that you can not even function! Try having a migraine headache so severe that it causes you to go into a seizure. I don't mean for a day but for an entire year, with no releif, whatsoever! Light hurts, sound hurts, breathing hurts, even your heartbeat hurts! That is not something that you just tell your brain to ignore and go skipping along on your merry way!
       
       This type of pain is so severe that your brain can not even function properly, much less just tell it to go away and get relief! And sleep aids? Please! This pain is as much alive in your sleep as it is when you are awake. My husband has sat many nights as I lay knocked out from the pain meds and listened to me moan and cry from pain. Do you really think that a sleep aid will result in restful sleep?
       
       For 10 years I suffered, simply existing in my own little solitude because the pain had taken control of my life, even to the point of depression. Of course, I tried the "mind ove matter" technique and while I agree that it brings great results in most stages of your life, it is not always affective in physical pain.
       
       When I look back at that time and give thanks for having my life back, I know in my heart that I fought that pain with everything in my existance! Even to the point of refusing to sleep or lie down for days because I was so determined to beat it that I was afraid if I stopped to even rest, I would lose ground and it would conquer me. I spent 10 years and God only knows how many thousands of dollars on doctors, hospitals and meds, fighting, refusing to give up, suffering along the way and there is no amount of brain power in the world that can forget this type of pain! And the only fear that I had to face prior to this was raising 2 teenage daughters! DIsease has never been something I have worried about or even given much thought to, so to imply that I brought on my own pain through a fear of illness is just rediculous! If anything, I had fear to set in during those 10 years of suffering, not before.

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    knolyourselfposted 16 years ago

    "Does anyone have Fibromyalgia?" I have it I think. Seems to be undiagnosible. Not so bad though I guess.
    Moving air hurts. Mine comes from dampness. The damper the place the worse it is. Mostly have to stay warm and wear lots of layers all the time.

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       Bonnie Ramseyposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Hi, Knoly!
       
       I also believe that is my problem as well. The only way it is diagnosed is through elimination of all other illnesses. I have been through so many tests (some more like torture chambers) that once I found some relief and got back on track, I decided that was all I needed. I got sick of all the torture from the tests as well as thousands and thousands of dollars in medical bills to be told they are guessing. No thanks! The pain is gone now and the shakes and jerks, numbness and paralysis has lessened to rarity so I can live with it. I hope you find your answer soon, my friend!
       
       Bonnie

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    knolyourselfposted 16 years ago

    "I hope you find your answer soon, my friend!" Thanks Bonnie. But there is no answer is so far as can determine, other than what I am already doing. Can only hope it doesn't get worse.

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    rw115posted 16 years ago

    For those people that don't know exactly what Fibromyalgia is, I found this link which has an overview on the condition and what causes it.   It sounds like a chronic condition that is different for everyone.
    
    http://www.fitscoop.com/items/What_is_f … ses_it?c=0
    
    Has anyone heard of natural remedies which provide relief?

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    Simone Sleepposted 16 years ago

    Nasty symptom to have. Person needs to be asked the right questions:
    
    Do they eat and drink things that have artificial sweetners in it?
    Do they have/or did have silver fillings in their teeth?
    Have they been exposed to any chemicals in their earlier childhood to now?
    Make sure there are no hidden infections in the gums?
    How much sugar is in the diet and that includes bread, pasta and packaged food?
    
    Eating dense nutrient foods and develop your eating habits with 60% good fat (know the difference to bad fat) e.g. Good fat off the organic meat, organic cream, organic butter, full fat soft cheeses, eggs (eggs help pull out chemicals and mercury poisoning from the fat of your cells).  So eat everyday but not fried.  Stay away from any package food or juices or anything that is sugar especially keep your fruit levels low.  You will find people with fibromyalgia will be close to diabetes.  Remember it's only a symptom of something else that went wrong before you got fibromyalgia just need to delve deeper and find it.  Always comes back to what we put in our mouths.

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    sbeakrposted 15 years ago

    herbal vitamin/mineral supplements (powdered or capped; not tablet) and easy-to-digest rice protein shakes have helped me.
    
    i have been several years malnourished (underweight) because severe stress took its toll on my digestion and made eating much intolerable.  i have almost every fibromyalgia symptom you could name and live with consistently high stress levels; regular exercise is part of my lifestyle, but malnourishment debilitates what efforts i make to beat chronic fatigue and depression.
    
    SO...reintroducing readily digestible food supplements has alleviated many symptoms literally within one day.  any other supps i've ever taken have been useless without basic quality nourishment.  my digestive system can easily handle powdered multivitamins and rice protein.  i also recommend fortified rice milk as a shake base in lieu of any cow products, since many people are sensitive to either lactose or casein.
    
    i do not have insurance and do not trust most doctors (or prescription meds) anyway, since they failed to help me for the last 10 years.  i can't say that my homegrown help will work for you, nor that ALL my symptoms have yet disappeared.  but i can say that the average diet is seriously lacking in available nutrients; couple that with high demands on the body, such as stress, unhappiness or extreme athleticism, and you have a recipe for bodily disaster.

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    Deanna Blantonposted 15 years ago

    Someone out there will probably debate this.Fibromyalgia's cause is still mostly unknown.Most Doctors are unsure what causes it. I've been told it's symptoms can be brought on by various things. I have recently been diagnosed with it. All I know is that with mine I have sensations that cause wide spread pain all over my body. It's like I have pulled a muscle every where in my body (and can't get rid of it),I have these feelings of itching and crawling skin, tenderness to the touch, chronic fatigue,heightened sensitivity to menstrual cramps and heightened emotional responses to just about everything. I've tried physical therapy and all OTC pain relievers and nothing worked. It got so bad that at the time of seeing my doctor the first time for the pain, I thought I pulled my shoulder out of place. He prescribed me Lyrica which was wonderful. Unfortunately my husbands insurance only paid a measly $5.00 towards the medication which is $65.00 to start with. And I had no choice to take the generic Gabapentin. I don't know how others feel about this generic brand, but I've been on it for almost a month. And I've decided to just suck it up and fork out the $60.00 for the Lyrica. At least with it I can live almost a normal life. To all those who are suffering and haven't tried Lyrica, if you can afford it and your doctor will prescribe it. Try it. It may just be the only thing that helps. Good luck to everyone.

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