Once again, reference to pinched nerves in the spinal cord, which intrigues me, in particular the percent of sufferers that have spinal, neck and back pain history and have fibromyalgia:
Monday, 27 November 2017
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
I find this link to spinal injury so very interesting...
https://www.our-arthritis.com/arthritis-blog/arthritis-treatments/contemporary-medicine/378-your-fibromyalgia-may-be-a-spine-disorder
and this...
https://fibromyalgianewstoday.com/2017/05/17/fibromyalgia-can-mask-spa-chronic-inflammatory-disease-study-suggests/
Sunday, 12 November 2017
Life has been ever-changing for me at the moment, it has taken me from updating my blog regularly. With the changes my symptoms have been very up and down as well. I know that some have said stress is a related factor in flare ups for Fibro sufferers.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315646.php
I can't say that changing career is 100% stressful, it is also exciting and new. So I haven't felt the severe flare ups I have had in the past but I still have moments, they usually are lasting 24-48 hours as opposed to a few days as they have in past. So maybe I either have better management or I'm just learning to ignore ha ha! Wouldn't that be fantastic to be able to ignore our pain.
There are a few things I've noticed that have made a difference, one thing is I make sure I do my stretches every day (gentle stretching), not quite yoga but just stretching out those muscles and being mindful about it. Another thing I've been doing is having a 'super green' smoothie every morning (I take a break on weekends)... if anything this is the biggest change for me and I would have to say I am certainly feeling better all over for it. Don't get me wrong, I still hurt everyday - why wouldn't I??? Chronic pain is a b-tch we all know it! But I am hurting on a lower scale 1,2,3 as opposed to 4-5 regularly. Of course there is no scientific bases to these super greens but for me, it feels like they are working some sort of magic... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'll try anything to minimise the discomfort.
I've also started drinking a Tumeric latte, there is mounds of studies on Tumeric's ability to help with muscle and joint pain. I know it all sounds very 'hippy' but like I said, I'm keen to try anything that may attribute to lessening the aches and pains.
On to other things...did you know that Lady Gaga has fibro?!! I didn't, and imagine living that life with fibro... it's inspiring to know that someone who works so hard and entertains for a living can manage fibro and continue as she does. If you are interested in reading here is an article I found:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/97288462/fibromyalgia-the-misunderstood-chronic-illness
I love Lady Gaga more now than ever - not only does she inspire with her music and her grounded attitude, she suffers like the rest of us, and is obviously open and understanding to people with chronic pain and fibro.
Once again, I always aim to get onto blogging and I will continue to try with my busy schedule, I sure miss it when I don't!! Go well, sleep well, rest well, eat well, and take good care of you!
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315646.php
I can't say that changing career is 100% stressful, it is also exciting and new. So I haven't felt the severe flare ups I have had in the past but I still have moments, they usually are lasting 24-48 hours as opposed to a few days as they have in past. So maybe I either have better management or I'm just learning to ignore ha ha! Wouldn't that be fantastic to be able to ignore our pain.
There are a few things I've noticed that have made a difference, one thing is I make sure I do my stretches every day (gentle stretching), not quite yoga but just stretching out those muscles and being mindful about it. Another thing I've been doing is having a 'super green' smoothie every morning (I take a break on weekends)... if anything this is the biggest change for me and I would have to say I am certainly feeling better all over for it. Don't get me wrong, I still hurt everyday - why wouldn't I??? Chronic pain is a b-tch we all know it! But I am hurting on a lower scale 1,2,3 as opposed to 4-5 regularly. Of course there is no scientific bases to these super greens but for me, it feels like they are working some sort of magic... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'll try anything to minimise the discomfort.
I've also started drinking a Tumeric latte, there is mounds of studies on Tumeric's ability to help with muscle and joint pain. I know it all sounds very 'hippy' but like I said, I'm keen to try anything that may attribute to lessening the aches and pains.
On to other things...did you know that Lady Gaga has fibro?!! I didn't, and imagine living that life with fibro... it's inspiring to know that someone who works so hard and entertains for a living can manage fibro and continue as she does. If you are interested in reading here is an article I found:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/97288462/fibromyalgia-the-misunderstood-chronic-illness
I love Lady Gaga more now than ever - not only does she inspire with her music and her grounded attitude, she suffers like the rest of us, and is obviously open and understanding to people with chronic pain and fibro.
Once again, I always aim to get onto blogging and I will continue to try with my busy schedule, I sure miss it when I don't!! Go well, sleep well, rest well, eat well, and take good care of you!
Sunday, 30 April 2017
Once again... I have left the blog for far too long!
I have still been reading, and theres been some pain along the way as well, no surprises there, BUT I have been flare up free or mild for awhile now. I read a recent article about blood vessels and fibro:
http://medicalhealthnews.info/fibromyalgia-mystery-finally-solved-researchers-find-main-source-of-pain-in-blood-vessels/
Although I read this theory awhile ago it is now just showing up again and as 'Breaking News', so if it was breaking news in 2016, can it be breaking news in 2017, same article etc. I can't stand the CNN banner style 'Breaking News'... I find this very disconcerting. It's almost a bit like a joke. Many of us are constantly checking for new news on fibro, real news, updates on studies, a cure, anything that would be useful and helpful to inform us on this very confusing disorder.
From all the things I have read I feel strongly that is is auto-immune linked, but there are articles out there that suggest it is too complicated and not science based to put it in this basket.
http://www.emaxhealth.com/12410/fibromyalgia-autoimmune-disease
More info in this link.
https://www.verywell.com/is-fibromyalgia-an-autoimmune-disease-716148
There are so many links between certain symptoms or side symptom to fibro sufferers, I found another one that didn't surprise me at all. Both my sister and I, and possibly my mother who was undiagnosed fibro sufferer (we think) but can't ask her (RIP), have issues with ulcers or gastro issues if you like. You'd think that if a worldwide questionnaire went out most fibro sufferers would all be linked and the scientists could do a correlation on the most common and then pinpoint their studies on these... I bet it wouldn't take too long to get an answer. I'm not talking all the symptoms we know but these overlapping ones, like gastro intestinal issues, etc. I personally think they should be looking at even smaller ones like reactions to bee-stings and other odd immune responses. You can see where this is leading again. I firmly believe that fibro sufferers have more in common with autoimmune issues than they do muscularly etc. Most people quite often brush of those allergy type symptoms as normal allergic reactions, as I did for many years, but the more my sister and I share our symptoms and links to studies and news on fibro the more I believe it is genetically linked as well! That there is a true connection to genes and it is a proper disease that many go undiagnosed particularly the older generation like our mum, who struggled with all the same type symptoms but the old fashioned unrecognised, all in your mind diagnoses is what she would have gotten.
It is very unsettling to know that there are so many suffering worldwide, and there are still many who have an old fashioned view on it. When I say many I usually mean doctors! How do we get around this? Big question! I don't really know myself, after all these years, I HATE going to the doctors because no matter what chances are whatever I am experiencing will be automatically linked to fibro and a prescription ensues or I don't get taken seriously... it's a sad day when a fibro sufferer has to go to yet another appointment and be deflated or walk way rattling with pills.
No matter...the only consolation until we have an answer is knowing we are in it together. From one fibro sufferer to the next, I know how you feel, and I know it isn't easy! Keep reading positive and inspirational text, and keep others informed of any news you find, so we can get through as one.
Go well!
I have still been reading, and theres been some pain along the way as well, no surprises there, BUT I have been flare up free or mild for awhile now. I read a recent article about blood vessels and fibro:
http://medicalhealthnews.info/fibromyalgia-mystery-finally-solved-researchers-find-main-source-of-pain-in-blood-vessels/
Although I read this theory awhile ago it is now just showing up again and as 'Breaking News', so if it was breaking news in 2016, can it be breaking news in 2017, same article etc. I can't stand the CNN banner style 'Breaking News'... I find this very disconcerting. It's almost a bit like a joke. Many of us are constantly checking for new news on fibro, real news, updates on studies, a cure, anything that would be useful and helpful to inform us on this very confusing disorder.
From all the things I have read I feel strongly that is is auto-immune linked, but there are articles out there that suggest it is too complicated and not science based to put it in this basket.
http://www.emaxhealth.com/12410/fibromyalgia-autoimmune-disease
More info in this link.
https://www.verywell.com/is-fibromyalgia-an-autoimmune-disease-716148
There are so many links between certain symptoms or side symptom to fibro sufferers, I found another one that didn't surprise me at all. Both my sister and I, and possibly my mother who was undiagnosed fibro sufferer (we think) but can't ask her (RIP), have issues with ulcers or gastro issues if you like. You'd think that if a worldwide questionnaire went out most fibro sufferers would all be linked and the scientists could do a correlation on the most common and then pinpoint their studies on these... I bet it wouldn't take too long to get an answer. I'm not talking all the symptoms we know but these overlapping ones, like gastro intestinal issues, etc. I personally think they should be looking at even smaller ones like reactions to bee-stings and other odd immune responses. You can see where this is leading again. I firmly believe that fibro sufferers have more in common with autoimmune issues than they do muscularly etc. Most people quite often brush of those allergy type symptoms as normal allergic reactions, as I did for many years, but the more my sister and I share our symptoms and links to studies and news on fibro the more I believe it is genetically linked as well! That there is a true connection to genes and it is a proper disease that many go undiagnosed particularly the older generation like our mum, who struggled with all the same type symptoms but the old fashioned unrecognised, all in your mind diagnoses is what she would have gotten.
It is very unsettling to know that there are so many suffering worldwide, and there are still many who have an old fashioned view on it. When I say many I usually mean doctors! How do we get around this? Big question! I don't really know myself, after all these years, I HATE going to the doctors because no matter what chances are whatever I am experiencing will be automatically linked to fibro and a prescription ensues or I don't get taken seriously... it's a sad day when a fibro sufferer has to go to yet another appointment and be deflated or walk way rattling with pills.
No matter...the only consolation until we have an answer is knowing we are in it together. From one fibro sufferer to the next, I know how you feel, and I know it isn't easy! Keep reading positive and inspirational text, and keep others informed of any news you find, so we can get through as one.
Go well!
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Well, shame on me! Its been a few months and I haven't connected up, HaPpY NeW yEAr!!!
I've been struggling a little with what to write about, I always hope to bring new news or something that isn't repeated very often... and if I can't then I don't blog. There is now an abundance of information about Fibro, it's exciting to see people taking it very seriously now. I've read we are on the cusp of moving from syndrome to disease, all we need to have is a cause. I've read research suggesting it is blood brain flow in our brains, to some research thinking it is a link to the cold sore virus, to some research thinking it is linked to allergies and intolerance to certain things. Does it do your head in? It does mine sometimes.
I know this is how all unknown diseases begin, there has to be pathway to a firm diagnoses and then tests, and research and so on and so forth. What most people including Fibro sufferers don't understand (before we knew we had it) is that a declaration or confirmation is important. No matter what syndrome or disease, you want the reality, the facts, the confirmation that 'this is what you have' 'we can prove it' and 'we know for sure'.
When I read other blogs and information from Fibro'ees I know that it is Fibro. We all share similiar symptoms. We all know what it is like. Some symptoms more serious than others, more consistent, more understandable, others, not so much. Here's an example... numbing hands! I have had 2 carpel tunnel releases (as I have blogged about before), I have had 1 guyon tunnel release, I have seen neurologists, I have have had MRI's, I have been on b12 supplements, I have used wrist supports, I have tried all sorts... and since there is no valid confirmation, or tests that prove otherwise, this has simply been put in the Fibro basket. Have the Dr's done all that can to be sure it is not anything else? I guess so. However, there MUST have been carpel tunnel, or why would they do the surgery? I have a slight bony encroachment in my spine that could link to the hand nerves. I have very low b12. I am clearly at my wits end with it. Yes it wakes me at night sometimes. Yes it goes numb when I hold my arm in a certain position. Do the Dr's just give up, do they just pop that symptom in the Fibro basket? I really don't know... what I really do know is that is is a not so common symptom in fibromyalgia list of symptoms, but some of those people have had serious whiplash like I have... is the whiplash the reason for Fibro as I have read studies that suggest most people with Fibro have suffered back or neck trauma... see what I am getting at? I feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz in the tornado, whipping around, being tossed about, not knowing the who, what, where, when or why's of Fibro.
On another note, I found an interesting link on medication specifically for Fibro in trials that you may find very interesting!
http://nationalpainreport.com/three-new-fibromyalgia-drugs-could-be-on-the-way-8830514.html
Reading about the new trials I suppose gives one hope that this is a syndrome that deserves consideration of relief. It is a battle to find the 'thing' that works for you... to ease the pain, to let you rest and get restorative sleep, to help you get on with life. As you may remember from my past blogs, I have tried a host of drugs. What am I currently taking? Celebrex daily, Tramadol for severe pain, and back on Amitryptiline (only 1 a night) to help relax muscles and try to get restorative sleep. I have to say that 1 certainly is less zombiesh than the 3 I used to take... when I was trying to find something that worked... at the moment this mix seems to be ok... I am making every day count, some days count less but I do the best I can, as we all do.
As always I know that many of you will relate in this tornado of Fibro, it does help to know that you aren't the only one, as much as you wouldn't wish it on anyone, surely there some relief in us being in it together, even strangers from afar. A Fibro sufferer here reaches out to a Fibro sufferer there.
Go well, and keep your chin up!
I've been struggling a little with what to write about, I always hope to bring new news or something that isn't repeated very often... and if I can't then I don't blog. There is now an abundance of information about Fibro, it's exciting to see people taking it very seriously now. I've read we are on the cusp of moving from syndrome to disease, all we need to have is a cause. I've read research suggesting it is blood brain flow in our brains, to some research thinking it is a link to the cold sore virus, to some research thinking it is linked to allergies and intolerance to certain things. Does it do your head in? It does mine sometimes.
I know this is how all unknown diseases begin, there has to be pathway to a firm diagnoses and then tests, and research and so on and so forth. What most people including Fibro sufferers don't understand (before we knew we had it) is that a declaration or confirmation is important. No matter what syndrome or disease, you want the reality, the facts, the confirmation that 'this is what you have' 'we can prove it' and 'we know for sure'.
When I read other blogs and information from Fibro'ees I know that it is Fibro. We all share similiar symptoms. We all know what it is like. Some symptoms more serious than others, more consistent, more understandable, others, not so much. Here's an example... numbing hands! I have had 2 carpel tunnel releases (as I have blogged about before), I have had 1 guyon tunnel release, I have seen neurologists, I have have had MRI's, I have been on b12 supplements, I have used wrist supports, I have tried all sorts... and since there is no valid confirmation, or tests that prove otherwise, this has simply been put in the Fibro basket. Have the Dr's done all that can to be sure it is not anything else? I guess so. However, there MUST have been carpel tunnel, or why would they do the surgery? I have a slight bony encroachment in my spine that could link to the hand nerves. I have very low b12. I am clearly at my wits end with it. Yes it wakes me at night sometimes. Yes it goes numb when I hold my arm in a certain position. Do the Dr's just give up, do they just pop that symptom in the Fibro basket? I really don't know... what I really do know is that is is a not so common symptom in fibromyalgia list of symptoms, but some of those people have had serious whiplash like I have... is the whiplash the reason for Fibro as I have read studies that suggest most people with Fibro have suffered back or neck trauma... see what I am getting at? I feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz in the tornado, whipping around, being tossed about, not knowing the who, what, where, when or why's of Fibro.
On another note, I found an interesting link on medication specifically for Fibro in trials that you may find very interesting!
http://nationalpainreport.com/three-new-fibromyalgia-drugs-could-be-on-the-way-8830514.html
Reading about the new trials I suppose gives one hope that this is a syndrome that deserves consideration of relief. It is a battle to find the 'thing' that works for you... to ease the pain, to let you rest and get restorative sleep, to help you get on with life. As you may remember from my past blogs, I have tried a host of drugs. What am I currently taking? Celebrex daily, Tramadol for severe pain, and back on Amitryptiline (only 1 a night) to help relax muscles and try to get restorative sleep. I have to say that 1 certainly is less zombiesh than the 3 I used to take... when I was trying to find something that worked... at the moment this mix seems to be ok... I am making every day count, some days count less but I do the best I can, as we all do.
As always I know that many of you will relate in this tornado of Fibro, it does help to know that you aren't the only one, as much as you wouldn't wish it on anyone, surely there some relief in us being in it together, even strangers from afar. A Fibro sufferer here reaches out to a Fibro sufferer there.
Go well, and keep your chin up!
Sunday, 20 November 2016
It's been a bit! I haven't blogged mostly because life has gotten in the way!! Also, I was incredibly 'out of it' with managing my pain on top of life itself... trying to see through the fog and wondering how I was going to get through the 'fire in my blood'... or what feels like constant bone pain during my nights!!
I was intrigued by a fellow bloggers post a couple weeks ago, from http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/ regarding studies that were done on families and their members with symptoms that seem to be similar to mine... this was a genetic study with links to Tryptase causing these issues. I was SURE, beyond SURE that this was my problem, so much so because my sister had symptoms on the list as well, it was beyond surreal, I seriously was 100 percent sure I had my answer!
So off I went to the doctors, request in hand, for a Tryptase test!! I went away, smug that I had diagnosed the 'true' reason for my pain and suffering. I waited a couple days and would you believe it?????? I had normal Tryptase!!! I was dumbfounded because I was so sure of the symptoms matching, and I wanted a diagnoses that I could understand, that I was more sure of.
Can someone tell me why I can't be ok with a Fibromyalgia diagnoses? Is it because there is no 'testing' that can be done? Why I am skeptical? In my gut I feel like they've got it wrong, and they have just put me in this Fibro basket... and they are going to miss the real reason for my demise! I say demise because I imagine 'it' will ultimately consume me! I do carry on with life, my normal, very normal life. Very few people know of my condition, so much so that my neighbour and I were talking (we've been neighbours for 11 years) and I just mentioned something about being sore... she said "why's that?"... I guess I thought she knew for some reason and I said my Fibro is flaring... she literally laughed, and said "YOU?", "You have fibro?"... usually people don't have a clue what Fibro is... So I was surprised a) she even knew about it b) she laughed. Then she explained, and I understood why she found this so amusing!! Her husband's niece has Fibro, and she obviously has a different set of symptoms, so much she is housebound and lives basically on her computer. I explained that everyone responds differently, some people are very open about their condition, me... well I don't like pity, or people feeling sorry for me, and I know if they Googled Fibro they would treat me a whole different way!
I feel bad for my neighbours niece, and I know that some people have different pain, and different pain thresholds. I think that maybe suffering in silence isn't a great option, as I choose to do, and cry quietly about the deep aching my body is terrorised with. When I turn off the lights at night and hurt, and don't sleep, and shift at least 100 times to get comfortable... As my readers know, I have tried all sort of prescriptions to help alleviate the painful symptoms without too much avail. How do people cope? I wonder what the ratio of those that just stop and accept, and can't continue as usual, to those that don't stop and carry on pretending that this is normal. Well, I guess it is my normal. I guess I feel if I stop I will get ravaged... and become the person my neighbours talk about... that don't 'seem to be fighting' this thing (don't get me wrong I know you are...), but in comparison my neighbours incredulous gasp at the fact that I actually have Fibro and she's lived beside me for so long and didn't know!! She wondered why I don't have canes, or assisted walking devise? Why I don't go on to social media and tell everyone all the time how bad my pain is, how bad life is with Fibro, how come I don't say 'feel for me I'm suffering'...!!! I don't know. I guess I feel like if I admit it, outwardly, it will be true. I guess I don't want it to be true. Maybe that is why I keep searching for answers, and a different diagnoses, that has 'tests to confirm', or medication assigned to the disorder, that helps!
Fibro people... all sorts... those bedridden, those housebound, those who have lots of flares, those who don't have many flares, those who admit it, those who don't... the only people who will ever understand it, are those that suffer from it! It's a huge challenge but just know that no matter what, you will get through it day by day! Just knowing there are people thinking about you, sending positive energy, even those who don't know you... should help us see this thing through.
Go well!
I was intrigued by a fellow bloggers post a couple weeks ago, from http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/ regarding studies that were done on families and their members with symptoms that seem to be similar to mine... this was a genetic study with links to Tryptase causing these issues. I was SURE, beyond SURE that this was my problem, so much so because my sister had symptoms on the list as well, it was beyond surreal, I seriously was 100 percent sure I had my answer!
So off I went to the doctors, request in hand, for a Tryptase test!! I went away, smug that I had diagnosed the 'true' reason for my pain and suffering. I waited a couple days and would you believe it?????? I had normal Tryptase!!! I was dumbfounded because I was so sure of the symptoms matching, and I wanted a diagnoses that I could understand, that I was more sure of.
Can someone tell me why I can't be ok with a Fibromyalgia diagnoses? Is it because there is no 'testing' that can be done? Why I am skeptical? In my gut I feel like they've got it wrong, and they have just put me in this Fibro basket... and they are going to miss the real reason for my demise! I say demise because I imagine 'it' will ultimately consume me! I do carry on with life, my normal, very normal life. Very few people know of my condition, so much so that my neighbour and I were talking (we've been neighbours for 11 years) and I just mentioned something about being sore... she said "why's that?"... I guess I thought she knew for some reason and I said my Fibro is flaring... she literally laughed, and said "YOU?", "You have fibro?"... usually people don't have a clue what Fibro is... So I was surprised a) she even knew about it b) she laughed. Then she explained, and I understood why she found this so amusing!! Her husband's niece has Fibro, and she obviously has a different set of symptoms, so much she is housebound and lives basically on her computer. I explained that everyone responds differently, some people are very open about their condition, me... well I don't like pity, or people feeling sorry for me, and I know if they Googled Fibro they would treat me a whole different way!
I feel bad for my neighbours niece, and I know that some people have different pain, and different pain thresholds. I think that maybe suffering in silence isn't a great option, as I choose to do, and cry quietly about the deep aching my body is terrorised with. When I turn off the lights at night and hurt, and don't sleep, and shift at least 100 times to get comfortable... As my readers know, I have tried all sort of prescriptions to help alleviate the painful symptoms without too much avail. How do people cope? I wonder what the ratio of those that just stop and accept, and can't continue as usual, to those that don't stop and carry on pretending that this is normal. Well, I guess it is my normal. I guess I feel if I stop I will get ravaged... and become the person my neighbours talk about... that don't 'seem to be fighting' this thing (don't get me wrong I know you are...), but in comparison my neighbours incredulous gasp at the fact that I actually have Fibro and she's lived beside me for so long and didn't know!! She wondered why I don't have canes, or assisted walking devise? Why I don't go on to social media and tell everyone all the time how bad my pain is, how bad life is with Fibro, how come I don't say 'feel for me I'm suffering'...!!! I don't know. I guess I feel like if I admit it, outwardly, it will be true. I guess I don't want it to be true. Maybe that is why I keep searching for answers, and a different diagnoses, that has 'tests to confirm', or medication assigned to the disorder, that helps!
Fibro people... all sorts... those bedridden, those housebound, those who have lots of flares, those who don't have many flares, those who admit it, those who don't... the only people who will ever understand it, are those that suffer from it! It's a huge challenge but just know that no matter what, you will get through it day by day! Just knowing there are people thinking about you, sending positive energy, even those who don't know you... should help us see this thing through.
Go well!
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
There are two things on my mind about fibromyalgia: Melatonin and Genetics. So I've been investigating and looking. Why?
Well I'll start with Melatonin... recently I was collecting a prescription and had a chat with the pharmacist about natural remedies for sleep. As we all know sleeplessness, or restless sleep, or disturbed sleep is a common symptom of fibro, and I haven't had the greatest experience with solutions for this. I don't particularly like to take sleeping pills or muscle relaxants - the result is usually me taking half the day to come out of a funk, and not being 'all there', and quite often I can't be in that mode as I do a lot of driving in my work... and parenting... oh how our daughters LOVE to take advantage of that... ha ha! Conducive to them getting all they want, and me ending up with empty pockets, rides to school, lunches with chocolate and so on and so forth. I'm beginning to think they like having a fibro mum!! Sometimes they do forget and punch buggy (the car spotting game) turns into a bit of a nightmare! Poor me gets the double whammy, tears, and then "oh my mum, oh my God, I forgot"... you know how it goes. They seriously do feel bad, and later we might laugh, but at the time - OUCH!! Anyway, I digress, sorry!!
So... I came home from the chemist and did a serious Google session on Melatonin, and this naturally occurring hormone is available, and it's all about the sleep, which is what I need. Have a look, if you are in the same predicament as me... today I pick up my prescription, but the thing that gets me going is, HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN SUFFERING??? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I SAID I NEED SLEEP??? HOW MANY TIMES HAS MY DOCTOR NOT GIVEN THIS AS AN OPTION?!!! He knows that I really don't want to take anything, and I would prefer the natural option... you'd think Melatonin would pop in to your head as a doctor dealing with a fibro patient! It is seriously all over the chronic pain sites and fibro sites as an option. Oh, by the way, thanks for letting me bleat! I love having this outlet, but I also hope it helps before any of you get to this position, maybe it will help you before you have tried everything else under the sun like me!
I look forward to great nights of sleep over the next few days, and I will keep you posted. It might be the answer for you! This is just one of the sites I came across which links to other studies etc.:
http://nationalpainreport.com/fibromyalgia-does-melatonin-help-8827220.html
Next up: Genetics. Wow. Some seriously interesting reading here. As you know from my previous blogs my sister has fibro (semi-diagnosed from her Doctor, she hasn't been able to get a referral to a Rheumotologist YET). We think our mum may have had it too but it wasn't seen as a disorder in 'those days' and unfortunately she is no longer with us, so we can't quiz her about it... speaking of disorders, did you know that fibro is officially known as a medical disorder now due to the fact that they have found genetic factors in DNA!! I read that during my search on info regarding genetics and fibro.
As taken from an excerpt from a link in the link below:
But now science proves them right. And it is that medical geneticists have discovered that fibromyalgia is a disease of neurological origin, the result of neurochemical imbalances in the central nervous system.
fibromyalgia + genetics
Here is an excerpt from one of the links in the link above:
Fibromyalgia & Genetic Research
So... what I gathered from it all is that there could be a genetic factor in family clusters, but here's the thing, it seems it can be passed on but there are other factors as well, like environmental etc, and you can pass it on but it may never be triggered. So it may not turn into FMS. Check the link above out, read it for yourself, it is very interesting and what I got from the studies is that it is more common in familial clusters ie. 41% chance of sisters (in one study) having it for example. I gathered there was 26% passed to children (same study), but again it is all very complicated and I would take the time to read the studies in the links above to gather your opinion on it. It makes a lot of sense to me in particular - there is a strong correlation to neck/spinal injury, PTSD, IBS as factors as well.
No matter what, it seems fibro is being taken a lot more seriously as time goes on. It seems that scientists are really trying to find the answers and connecting the dots. Who would have ever thought... before I was diagnosed I had never heard of it!!! Imagine 2% of America's population are diagnosed by 20, and another 8% by 70. I feel more optimistic than ever now, reading the studies that are being done, and knowing that people are serious about this condition, now disorder, and that in time there will be more knowledge on how to make it easier, and possibly even have a test for it (which I have also read is a possibility now!)... so stay positive, stay enlightened, stay mindful, and remember we as chronic pain sufferers are all in this together!!
Well I'll start with Melatonin... recently I was collecting a prescription and had a chat with the pharmacist about natural remedies for sleep. As we all know sleeplessness, or restless sleep, or disturbed sleep is a common symptom of fibro, and I haven't had the greatest experience with solutions for this. I don't particularly like to take sleeping pills or muscle relaxants - the result is usually me taking half the day to come out of a funk, and not being 'all there', and quite often I can't be in that mode as I do a lot of driving in my work... and parenting... oh how our daughters LOVE to take advantage of that... ha ha! Conducive to them getting all they want, and me ending up with empty pockets, rides to school, lunches with chocolate and so on and so forth. I'm beginning to think they like having a fibro mum!! Sometimes they do forget and punch buggy (the car spotting game) turns into a bit of a nightmare! Poor me gets the double whammy, tears, and then "oh my mum, oh my God, I forgot"... you know how it goes. They seriously do feel bad, and later we might laugh, but at the time - OUCH!! Anyway, I digress, sorry!!
So... I came home from the chemist and did a serious Google session on Melatonin, and this naturally occurring hormone is available, and it's all about the sleep, which is what I need. Have a look, if you are in the same predicament as me... today I pick up my prescription, but the thing that gets me going is, HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN SUFFERING??? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I SAID I NEED SLEEP??? HOW MANY TIMES HAS MY DOCTOR NOT GIVEN THIS AS AN OPTION?!!! He knows that I really don't want to take anything, and I would prefer the natural option... you'd think Melatonin would pop in to your head as a doctor dealing with a fibro patient! It is seriously all over the chronic pain sites and fibro sites as an option. Oh, by the way, thanks for letting me bleat! I love having this outlet, but I also hope it helps before any of you get to this position, maybe it will help you before you have tried everything else under the sun like me!
I look forward to great nights of sleep over the next few days, and I will keep you posted. It might be the answer for you! This is just one of the sites I came across which links to other studies etc.:
http://nationalpainreport.com/fibromyalgia-does-melatonin-help-8827220.html
Next up: Genetics. Wow. Some seriously interesting reading here. As you know from my previous blogs my sister has fibro (semi-diagnosed from her Doctor, she hasn't been able to get a referral to a Rheumotologist YET). We think our mum may have had it too but it wasn't seen as a disorder in 'those days' and unfortunately she is no longer with us, so we can't quiz her about it... speaking of disorders, did you know that fibro is officially known as a medical disorder now due to the fact that they have found genetic factors in DNA!! I read that during my search on info regarding genetics and fibro.
As taken from an excerpt from a link in the link below:
But now science proves them right. And it is that medical geneticists have discovered that fibromyalgia is a disease of neurological origin, the result of neurochemical imbalances in the central nervous system.
fibromyalgia + genetics
Here is an excerpt from one of the links in the link above:
Fibromyalgia & Genetic Research
In June 2015, a study was published (Inanir) that suggested a variant (called a polymorphism) of a particular gene may be related to the development of FMS.
It's called the ACE I/C polymorphism.
Multiple studies report that certain genetic abnormalities are linked with the condition. They'll often be linked to a symptom or cluster of symptoms, but we don't know whether the variants actually cause FMS.
So... what I gathered from it all is that there could be a genetic factor in family clusters, but here's the thing, it seems it can be passed on but there are other factors as well, like environmental etc, and you can pass it on but it may never be triggered. So it may not turn into FMS. Check the link above out, read it for yourself, it is very interesting and what I got from the studies is that it is more common in familial clusters ie. 41% chance of sisters (in one study) having it for example. I gathered there was 26% passed to children (same study), but again it is all very complicated and I would take the time to read the studies in the links above to gather your opinion on it. It makes a lot of sense to me in particular - there is a strong correlation to neck/spinal injury, PTSD, IBS as factors as well.
No matter what, it seems fibro is being taken a lot more seriously as time goes on. It seems that scientists are really trying to find the answers and connecting the dots. Who would have ever thought... before I was diagnosed I had never heard of it!!! Imagine 2% of America's population are diagnosed by 20, and another 8% by 70. I feel more optimistic than ever now, reading the studies that are being done, and knowing that people are serious about this condition, now disorder, and that in time there will be more knowledge on how to make it easier, and possibly even have a test for it (which I have also read is a possibility now!)... so stay positive, stay enlightened, stay mindful, and remember we as chronic pain sufferers are all in this together!!
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