11 Responses

1. martinamagrace

   May 31st, 2009 at 2:13 am

   1

   Firbromyalgia does not exist. WHY do you need an "official" diagnosis by a doctor?? I have to say you have some symptoms I have not heard of before.

   You don’t need that diagnosis for a disability claim, do you?

2. healthiacynthia

   May 31st, 2009 at 4:41 am

   2

   Initially was called "yuppy flu" as it seemed to be a sort of modern and varied set of ailments, and I agree with the notion that many doctors seem to think that it is all in your head…

   I’m a big aromatherapy/essential oil buff and will tell you that many, many folks get relief from using essential oils. Sometimes we think of essential oils just as sweet smelling fluids, but the fact is that they are actually the ‘life blood of the plant’ and like our blood, carry oxygen and fight dis-ease of all kinds. But don’t use cheaply distilled essential oils because likely chemicals and high temperatures have been used to produce them and those same chemical solvents will make their way right to your brain. Instead, choose a pure, unadulterated essential oil and really experience the effects!! Follow the instructions for proper use… and don’t use on small children for sure (without doing your research first, and diluting with a virgin vegetable oil, like coconut oil). You won’t need as much as you might think…these are powerful little molecules! I like to introduce people to something called "The Essential 7"– a kit that contains Peppermint, Lemon, Lavender, and four essential oil blends: Purification, Panaway, Peace & Calming and Joy. The Essential 7 is like the Tool or First Aid Kit that you don’t want to be without after you have tried it out for a week. I’ll just give you a brief idea of what you can do with it if you are suffering from the sort of symptoms that you describe (AND NO SIDE EFFECTS):

   ~for Tremors in your leg and arm: Inhale PEPPERMINT 3-4 times a day directly; Diffuse Peace & Calming for 30 minutes 2-3 X daily (put a timer on your diffuser– use a cold air diffuser to avoid heat destruction of the oils); Go to http://tinyurl.com/ykxyuk

   For Pain: As mentioned elsewhere, old fashioned hydrotherapy is useful: freeze water in a styrofoam cup and peel back the styrofoam. Make small circles with the ice in the area of pain for 7 minutes. Then spend 7 minutes warming the area with a 1/4 tsp. of olive oil and a warm, moist cloth; repeat these two steps. Do the icing quickly (in quick small circles) so that you are not so aware of the cold. The reddening of the skin will indicate an increase in circulation = healing.

   -if you are still experiencing pain, apply 2-4 drops of Panaway to the points of pain and rub in gently. Go to http://tinyurl.com/ykxyuk

   -talk to a health care provider who understands about the role of fasting and nutrition in preventing and offsetting dis-ease. It’s unlikely that you will find more than a prescription for temporary symptom-relieving pharmaceuticals from most ‘doctors’ of the allopathic (orthodox/conventional medicine) sort, if and when they hear your self-diagnosis and agree with it. You want real long-term pain cessation? You want quality of life without drugs? Then maybe check out what has worked for others in the alternative/complementary areas of health and wellness.

   -Our family doesn’t take a bunch of pill supplements. We drink 1-4 oz. of a whole food drink called NingXia Red made from high antioxidant NingXia wolfberries, apricots, blueberries, pomegranite, and blue grapes. It also contains orange and lemon essential oils and is sweetened with blue agave (some of the other health drinks really spike your insulin). Good nutrition and actually rebuilding the cell membranes will go a long way to keeping the nasty parts of fibromyalgia under control. Go to http://tinyurl.com/ykxyuk

   ~And do all the stuff that other people will suggest around stress release and management: get massages (aromamassages are like being in heaven); get the rest you need; don’t hang out with super negative people and situations; exercise every day; and eat lots of ripe, organic, raw, fresh fruits and veggies. Put a drop of PEPPERMINT or LEMON essential oil in your glass of water (or put a few drops in a glass bottle and fill with water and put in the fridge) and sip throughout the day. You will be amazed at how helpful this is.

   Check out EFT, tapping for fibromyalgia is often very successful. Go to http://tinyurl.com/yadaou

   Just a few ideas! Hope they help!

   God bless,
   HealthiaCynthia
   Certified Comprehensive Coach
   and
   Moderator of My Monday Miracles
   at http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/My_Monday_Miracles/

3. Jessica_W

   May 31st, 2009 at 7:21 am

   3

   Don’t listen to the folks that say fibro. isn’t real. It is. Medical journals continue to have studies that find more evidence of fibro.

   I’ve been diagnosed for 9 years. I’ve had several different rheumatologists confirm the diagnosis- something that I’d recommend anyone who thinks they have fibro do—

   See a rheumatologist to find out if you have it for sure.

   I answered your question in the other identical thread (don’t know why yahoo made two threads), but wanted to respond to the people saying fibro. isn’t real or is a catch all. I wish it wasn’t real, then I might have a condition that has a cure and not have to cope with constant pain.

4. mario_salman

   May 31st, 2009 at 8:25 am

   4

   Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS) is a chronic syndrome (constellation of signs and symptoms) characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms. It is not contagious, and recent studies suggest that people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed. It affects more females than males, with a ratio of 9:1 by ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria. Fibromyalgia is seen in 3% to 6% of the general population, and is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50. The nature of fibromyalgia is not well understood, with many frustrated physicians driven to accusing their patients of feigning illness. There are few, if any, treatments available. Although there is no cure, the disease itself is not life-threatening nor progressive, though the degree of symptoms may vary greatly from day to day with periods of flares (severe worsening of symptoms) or remission.

5. Tojo

   May 31st, 2009 at 12:11 pm

   5

   I experienced muscle spasms with my fibromyalgia for months. I took magnesium & manessium tissue salts as a supplement to help it. Also visited a good naturopath who made me up a 3 month herbal tonic which really helped.

6. TechnoMom

   May 31st, 2009 at 12:14 pm

   6

   If you haven’t been officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FMS), why do you think you have it? Did a previous doctor give you a diagnosis of FMS? If so, you still have it - the diagnosis isn’t gone. It’s in your medical records. But a diagnosis of FMS needs to come from a qualified physician, just like a diagnosis of cancer or diabetes or anything else.

   FMS does exist, contrary to what one misinformed person said, and it hasn’t ever been called "yuppie flu" (that’s chronic fatigue syndrome, a completely different thing). In fact, there’s increasing evidence for a genetic connection, and multiple studies have proven that people with fibromyalgia have different levels of brain activity when exposed to stimuli than people without fibromyalgia. In short - there’s proof that it exists just like there’s proof that cancer exists.

   Fibromyalgia is a neurological disorder of hypersensitivity. Patients react more strongly to pain, changes in temperature, smells, tastes, textures, lights - everything - that people whose nervous systems are normal. The degree of symptomology can change from day to day and person to person. When the symptoms are really bad, we call it being in a "flare."

   There are many other problems that are often seen in patients who have FMS - it’s called "co-morbidity" - but they aren’t necessarily caused by or part of FMS. For instance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is pretty common in people with FMS.

   If your doctor doesn’t know what causes your various problems, they should be doing tests to find out, or referring you to specialists to do so. They may want to take one thing at a time - say, the tremors. It would be reasonable to request a referral to a neurologist about that.

   If the tremors are a serious problem, but your doctor doesn’t take your complaints about them seriously, fire him and find a better doctor.

7. sassydontpm

   May 31st, 2009 at 1:40 pm

   7

   I was diagnosed with fibro but I also have a thyroid condition that caused the tremors. Ask for a referral from your family doctor to go to an endocrinologist and have a complete blood work up.
   The tremors were the first symptom I had of the thyroid problems and had been dealing with the fibro for at least a year prior to it.
   Good luck and I hope they can figure it out soon.

8. judy_r8

   May 31st, 2009 at 7:24 pm

   8

   fibromyalgia is a catchall for symptoms that have no general disease. I’d ber more worried about ms or parkinsons if it was me. Go ask for a refurral to a specialist.

9. browneyedgal070498

   May 31st, 2009 at 8:41 pm

   9

   I also get tremors and think its related to the fibromyalgia….And the person who posted right before me that states Fibromyalgia doesn’t exist, has a lot to learn………

10. Pepe

    May 31st, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    10

    Please forgive me if my answer is irrelvant, I’m just trying to help & I’m not advertising for anything but the one thing I know helps with any ailment is healing. I have had it & it really helps. If you are interested to see a healer, please go to this website to find your nearest centre (they work on donations only):

    http://www.nfsh.org.uk/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,70/

    Incidentally, if it is fibromyalgia, it can be cured with a diet of protein only for one month (no friuts, vegetables etc). It’s worth giving it a try. It might help.

11. mariejessie

    May 31st, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    11

    I’ve had fibro now for for 4 years. I was first diagnosed by my GP at age 39. I have, at times, had tremors. I’ve also had times where I couldn’t walk, and when the pain was really bad (mostly in my hips) I need to use a cane. As my neurologist has explained it to me, when the pain is really bad, the muscles fatigue, and are unable to work, and even shake.

    I also have IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which causes all sorts of bowel disorders, from constipation to diarrhea to cramps and anything else you can think of. It is very common for a fibromyalgic to have IBS, and you may well have it too, which could be the cause of your bowel problems. You may want to see a gastro-intestinal doctor. He/she will help give you a diagnosis and recommend a diet.

    I also can not bear extreme temperatures, and my husband teases me unmercifully for it! In the Summer, I have the A/C set; in the Winter the heat is always on. I may also have a heated blanket on my lap, or a heating pad. Most fibromyalgics I know have this problem.

    I have constant pain. Many fibromyalgics experience periodic remission, or conversely periodic symptoms. In four years, I’ve had no more than a day off here or there. The pain moves from time to time, but is most often in my hips. Many days I have it from head to toe with varying severity.

    I don’t feel vertigo often, but I do feel just about any wacky symptom can come up with this freaky disease.

    There are some great resources on the net, and you can find local support groups through the arthritis foundation. To find a local support group go to ‘events and programs’ (tab at top), then ‘programs and services’ on the left menu. Next you will see a prompt for you zip code. That will bring up all services in your area, including support groups.

    Don’t let the doctors get you down. They don’t know as much about this disease as they would like, and it seems to me that sometimes they would rather not see you, the patient with the complicated disease, than deal with something they don’t feel comfortable with.

    Remember, you are the consumer in the doctor/patient relationship; you can go find another doctor. The arthritis foundation also has a list of rheumatologists, who specialize in arthritis and fibromyalgia. If you decide to try another doctor, give the doctors on the list a call and see which ones have a large number of patients with fibro. If you don’t like the first one you see, move on to another.

    Good Luck. Have patience. Build up your support network, and use it as much as you need.