Have Patience...

 "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew."

 Saint Francis de Sales

World Me & FM Prayer & Meditation Days

Is June 1st, 2009.

The World M.E. & F.M. Prayer and Meditation Day was launched in September 2007, in England. The purpose being, to create a multi-faith, global link, supporting those around the world living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome,  Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome and related conditions such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or Chemical Injury and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. To bring to them comfort, aid, healing, peace, joy and love; in whatever form is right for their Highest Good at the time.

Please click here for more details:

How to Participate

I will continue to post reminders each month for upcoming prayer days.

Arthritis, Fibromyalgia Linked to Computer Problems

MONDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- People with arthritis or fibromyalgia often have discomfort or problems using computers, which could contribute to limitations at work, according to research published in the May 15 Arthritis Care & Research.

Nancy A. Baker, O.T.R./L., of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and colleagues analyzed data from 359 participants with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia who completed a survey about their computer use and discomfort and specific problems while using computer equipment.

Most -- 76.5 percent -- reported discomfort using at least one item of computer equipment, the researchers report. The largest number of respondents reported discomfort during chair use (54.9 percent). Other items likely to be associated with problems and discomfort were the keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Patients with fibromyalgia were more likely to report more severe discomfort, more problems, and more significant limitations related to computer use than people with the other conditions, the investigators discovered.

"The ability to use a computer appears to be one method to prevent work limitations and eventual work disability, as well as a vital tool for both work and home activities. Therefore, health professionals must work with people with arthritis to identify problems experienced during computer use and implement computer workstation modifications to ensure safe, effective, and comfortable use of all computer equipment," the authors conclude.

The Arthritis Foundation of Western Pennsylvania provided support for the study.

Source

Alternatives Abound in Fibromyalgia Treatment

Odds are if you have fibromyalgia, you have heard about alternative treatments that may help you feel better. In fact, 90 percent of fibromyalgia patients have reported trying such alternative therapies as massage, acupuncture, dietary supplements or chiropractic treatment to ease their symptoms.

While research has yet to prove that all alternative therapies work in treating fibromyalgia, there is a lot of evidence that supports acupuncture as a successful treatment. Using super-thin needles, acupuncturists stimulate various pressure points to provide pain relief. Some studies show that electroacupuncture, in which an electric current is pulsed through a needle, is more effective than the traditional method.

Many people with fibromyalgia find different alternative methods effective. And like mainstream fibromyalgia treatments, what works for one person might have no effect on another. Bottom line: You have to shop around to see what is best for you.

Here are some other options:

Massage: Massage therapists work on the muscles and soft tissue of the body to alleviate pain, muscle spasms and stress. However, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reviewed research about the effectiveness of treating fibromyalgia with massage and found that the benefits are only short-term.

Cognitive behavioral therapy: Often called CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be among the most effective non-medication treatments for fibromyalgia. CBT helps change the way you think about pain with the goal of changing the way your body responds to pain, thus making the pain less severe. It may also help improve sleep.

Though studies on the following methods have been deemed insufficient by some medical experts, they are still widely used by people with fibromyalgia, with varying degrees of success.

Myofascial release therapy works to stretch, soften, lengthen and realign connective tissue to ease pain.

Chiropractic treatment manipulates the spine into proper alignment, helping to boost immune system function and reduce pain.

Dietary supplements magnesium and SAM-e are often used to treat fibromyalgia. SAM-e is a naturally occurring compound in our bodies that helps in the production of dopamine and serotonin, which regulate mood and control the pain response. Preliminary research has shown evidence that SAM-e supplements may work to keep symptoms in check, but further study is needed. Magnesium is helpful in hundreds of ways, like converting food into energy, strengthening the immune system, and maintaining normal nerve and muscle function. Some researchers believe that a deficiency of this mineral contributes to fibromyalgia symptoms, though research into its efficacy has been inconclusive.

Finding the alternative treatment that works for you will require some experimentation. Ask your doctor for recommendations and be sure to tell him or her which treatments you already are using. This is especially important with dietary and herbal supplements since they can interact with other medications and possibly cause side effects.

YTH

 

Moisturizing Body Exfoliant

Mix sugar, table salt, sea salt and coffee, and pour in enough oil to make the mixture feel soft and squishy.

Take a hot shower, and rub the exfoliant all over your skin. Rinse it off thoroughly.

Pat your skin dry with a soft towel.

For the best results, apply exfoliant in the evening, because your skin will be more absorbent and supple than it is in the morning. The exfoliant will not only be more effective, but it will be very relaxing after a long day.

Invisible Illness Fact 12

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #12 More plp need pain treatment than those w/ cancer, heart disease, stroke & diabetes combined. http://ow.ly/6Otw

Photo Friday

Fibro Girls

Invisible Illness Fact 11

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #11 Invisible illness includes #autism, #bulimia, #migraine pain, #arthritis, #bi-polar disorder #depression. http://ow.ly/6Otw

Put Together Your Fibromyalgia Treatment Plan

If you have the flu, spend a few days in bed, and you’ll likely feel better. Fibromyalgia is different. Symptoms are eased, never cured, and there is no one “remedy” that works for everyone. For these reasons, fibromyalgia patients should develop a personalized treatment plan to minimize flare-ups and the severity of symptoms.

Identify your symptoms
Widespread, chronic pain is a hallmark of fibromyalgia. It’s diagnosed by the presence of tenderness in 18 specific points of the body, with at least 11 of those 18 spots being abnormally tender, even when mildly touched. Fatigue, sleep, and memory and concentration problems (often called “fibro fog”) also are common symptoms of fibromyalgia. You might also experience restless legs syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, painful menstruation, depression, dry eyes, anxiety or headaches. Make sure you work with your doctor to treat all of your ailments.

Find the right medications
To date, pregabalin (Lyrica), duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella) are the only medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat fibromyalgia pain. Tricyclic antidepressants often have been found to be the most efficacious medications for fibromyalgia, especially since sleep and fatigue problems respond well to some antidepressants. But other painkillers, from over-the-counter ibuprofen to prescription-only narcotics, also are prescribed.

Talk to your doctor about what will give you the greatest relief with the fewest side effects. Because there are so many medications to choose from, you may need to use trial and error to help determine which is best for you. If antidepressants don’t work, you may need to incorporate sleep aids or muscle relaxants into your treatment plan.

Explore alternative treatments
For many people, massage and acupuncture, as well as Pilates, tai chi, chiropractic treatment, and various dietary supplements, can provide relief. You also may find it helpful to work with a physician who incorporates complementary medicine into his or her practice.

Make healthy changes
Stress reduction, a healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce fibromyalgia flare-ups, so lifestyle changes should be a part of your treatment plan. Sleep also is crucial for managing symptoms. Devising a treatment plan will require coordinating with your primary care doctor and/or a rheumatologist, physical therapist, naturopathic physician (if you use one) and other health professionals. Make sure everyone on your health care team is aware of your plan, and consult your doctor before making adjustments.

Your Total Health

Urinary Cortisol Levels in FM

A study recently published in BMC Research Notes looked at levels of urinary cortisol in women with fibromyalgia, hoping to prove that the lack of strength or vigor in people with fibromyalgia is associated with below-normal levels of urinary cortisol, expressing a deficit of the  hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Comparing urinary cortisol levels of 47 women with FM, aged 29 to 64 years, with levels in 58 women of comparable age who do not have FM, the researchers confirmed that women with FM have significantly lower urinary cortisol levels than women who do not have fibromyalgia. 

NFA

Invisible Illness Fact 10

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #10 About one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. http://ow.ly/6Otw

Traveling Tips

Try these tricks on your next trip to make traveling with a medical condition less stressful, easier, and more fun. These travel tips save time and energy...... When traveling with any medical condition, it is important to take steps to make the journey as smoooth and enjoyable as possible. Follow some or all of these steps on your next trip to save time and energy. The list is not exhaustive, but it pinpoints basic tricks that can help those with medical conditions get the most out of traveling.

Pre-Trip

• Leave your destination phone number and address with a friend or family member
• Get doctors' notes for any injectable or questionable medications you bring on a train or airplane
• Carry a small, portable sharps container for injectables
• Keep all meds and prescriptions in your carry-on case in the event that your luggage is lost
• Bring extra prescriptions in case you lose your medications enroute
• Give yourself extra time to avoid unnecessary stress and fatigue
• Use luggage with wheels/ long handles to avoid carrying it from place to place
• Use the bathroom right before boarding the plane or train (airlines make you sit with the seatbelt on for a while after take-off)
• Avoid excess drinking of any liquids before boarding or going on a road trip and also just before landing
• Make use of assistive devices such as canes and wheel chairs to avoid fatigue
• Ask for seats near an exit if you are physically handicapped

During Trip

• Use assistive devices to avoid fatigue on such journeys as nature walks, amusement parks, and all-day excursions
• Keep hydrated to avoid fatigue
• Avoid prolonged sun exposure
• Keep medications with you in a convenient place such as a purse or backpack
• Know where local hospitals are
• Ask theme parks if there are special services for those with disabilities
• Wear ID bracelets that indicate medical conditions (example: epilepsy) in case of emergency
• Be prepared and patient enough to make pit-stops--- Hey, at least you're out there!

Post-Trip

• Repack early for less stress
• Do the same things that are listed for "pre-trip"
• Have your taxi or ride pull right up to the curb of the airport or train station for luggage transport
• Have your ride come nice and early
• If there are baggage porters, utilize them (remember to tip well!)

Keep an open mind when traveling and you can have a fantastic time. Just because you have a medical condition, you don't have to miss out on the fun and adventures of traveling. Give yourself extra time, know the information about your destination, and utilize any assistive devices to make your journey easier. Don't be hard on yourself and expect perfection because even those who are in "perfect health" sometimes need assistance. Lastly, enjoy!

Read more: "Traveling with a Medical Condition: Helpful Tricks for Healthy Travel | Suite101.com" -http://neurologicalillness.suite101.com/article.cfm/traveling_with_a_medical_condition#ixzz0G0IecwS5&A

It's a Guy Thing

Here is a great article I came across for men.

Click here for Men with Fibromyalgia

Invisible Illness Fact 9

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #9 Sadly, physical illness or uncontrollable physical pain are major factors in up to 70% of suicides. http://ow.ly/6Otw

I Exfoliated My Face & Body

I laid a towel in the bottom of the bath and used this recipe and rubbed it all over my face & body. I scrubbed a little more on the bottoms of my feet. I sat on the towel for about 10 minutes, read a magazine and then rinsed with luke warm water. Wow, I have

baby fresh smoooth skin!

Exfoliate "YOUR" face or whole body, try a combination of olive oil and white sugar. Add 2 to 3 tbsp. of virgin olive oil to 1/2 cup of white sugar and use as a face or body scrub. This method is good for dry skin, since the oil helps the skin retain moisture as its being exfoliated. Olive oil is safe for use on the whole body and will not clog pores. 

*Don't use if you have a sensitivity to any of these ingredients.

Pacing Ones Self

I'm sure this applies to a lot of us. I notice how hard it is for me to pace myself throughout the day. Everyone says "don't over do it". I personally still haven't been able to learn what my limits are. Very few days have been good for me.  So when I have a good day, I want to do everything and anything while I feel good. Then I wonder is that what put me back in bed for the next three days? What a vicious cycle this is. 

Invisible Illness Fact 8

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #8 Depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically ill than for the average person. http://ow.ly/6Otw

Living With Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

Lifestyle changes and the right medications can help ease fatigue and restless sleep from fibromyalgia.

Jackie Yencha is somebody who gets things done -- as much as possible. She has been coping with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue most of her life. But she pushed through college, got married, is raising two kids, and holds a top-level volunteer position with a fibromyalgia advocacy agency. She and her family even organize a charity golf tournament every year to honor her mother, who died of a rare cancer.

She'd like to do more than that -- but that's just not going to happen. Yencha is always fighting sleep problems. "I literally get sick if I don't get sleep," she says. Even on good days, her energy level may fizzle early. "Fatigue is my biggest problem," Yencha tells WebMD. "I've had to give up a lot of things because of the fatigue."

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are considered separate but related disorders. They share a common symptom -- severe fatigue that greatly interferes with people's lives.

Insomnia -- and the lack of deep, restorative sleep -- is a big part of the problem, explains Mary Rose, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and behavioral sleep specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Sleep and Fibromyalgia Fatigue

When Rose first sees a patient with fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue, she makes sure that other causes of fatigue, like anemia (low blood count) and thyroid problems, have been addressed.

Improving a patient's sleep is an important part of easing fibromyalgia fatigue, Rose tells WebMD. "We know from research that sleep improves mood, pain, and in general how people feel during the day. Regardless of the reasons for the chronic fatigue, if we can get some control over quality of sleep, we're likely to see positive benefits to mood, fatigue, concentration."

The chronic lack of sleep affects a patient's overall health as well as their pain, Rose adds. "They feel lousy, exhausted, and their immune system can be damaged."

Steven Berney, MD, chief of rheumatology at Temple University Health System in Philadelphia, agrees. "In fibromyalgia, all treatments are geared toward helping people sleep better," he tells WebMD. "If we can improve their sleep, patients will get better."

Living With Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

Sleeping pills aren't the answer, says Rose. They are intended for chronic long-term use.  

Indeed, living with fibromyalgia is more than just popping a pill, says Martin Grabois, MD, chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "A good deal is self-treatment. Patients have to be active, not passive."

First step: Patients may need to be checked for symptoms of snoring and sleep-related breathing problems. Sleep apnea, respiratory problems, allergies, and big tonsils or tongue are among the possibilities, Rose tells WebMD. "A lot of those things can be corrected."

What you can do. Lifestyle changes -- cutting back on caffeine, alcohol, and smoking -- may be necessary to improve sleep. Sleep habits may need to change. To make your bedroom more sleep-friendly, it's important to:

Limit noise, light, and other stimuli (like pets).

Keep the room temperature and bedding comfortable.

Do something relaxing before bed, like listening to music or reading.

Turn the alarm clock so it's not facing you.

By Jeanie Lerche Davis

WebMD Feature Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Invisible Illness Fact 7

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #7 90% of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77% have two or more chronic diseases. http://ow.ly/6Otw

Exfoliate Your Face

Exfoliate your face or whole body, try a combination of olive oil and white sugar. Add 2 to 3 tbsp. of virgin olive oil to 1/2 cup of white sugar and use as a face or body scrub. This method is good for dry skin, since the oil helps the skin retain moisture as its being exfoliated. Olive oil is safe for use on the whole body and will not clog pores. 

*Don't use if you have a sensitivity to any of these ingredients.

What Is The Prognosis For Fibromyalgia?

While there is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, better ways to diagnose and treat the chronic pain disorder continue to be developed. Since June 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved three medications for the treatment of fibromyalgia and other FM medications are currently in development. Research efforts have expanded as well. In 1990 there were approximately 200 published research papers on fibromyalgia studies. Today there are more than 4,000 published reports.

 

While many strides have been made in the last decade, fibromyalgia remains a challenging condition. However, clinical studies have demonstrated that fibromyalgia patients can reduce their symptoms through a variety of treatment options. Working in conjunction with knowledgeable healthcare professions, motivated and informed patients can experience significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life. Developing an individualize self-management plan, from identifying effective treatments approaches to making necessary lifestyle changes, will further improve one’s health.

NFA

Pumice Stone

For rough or calloused feet and heels, try a pumice stone while in the bath or shower. Pumice is a foamy rock naturally produced by volcanoes, and it's usually a cream or light gray color. Pumice stones the right size for using in the bath can be purchased in the health and beauty aisle of most department stores. Use them on the rough skin of your heels when your feet are wet and soapy.

Annual Family Camp Out

I'm not ready to throw in the towel as far as not participating in this family event. However, I am searching and thinking of ways to help make my trip a little easier.

Meditation Techniques

Easy ways to help you relax and ease your pain

Meditation has been proven to not only relax the mind, but also easearthritis pain.

There is no magic formula for meditating. Unlike running a race, there is no finish line or world record to break. Getting the hang of it requires an investment of time and patience. Don’t have much of either? You can still meditate.

Try these four meditation techniques to get started:

Keep it brief: You might not have an hour a day to set aside for meditation, so take five- or 10-minute meditation breaks throughout the day.

“Aim to meditate for a total of one hour per day,” says Mark Thornton, a New York City-based meditation teacher and author of Meditation in a New York Minute: Super Calm for the Super Busy (Sounds True, Inc., 2006). “Meditating for a few minutes throughout the day to add up to one hour is just as effective as meditating for a full hour.”

Be consistent: Meditating is a lot like working out at the gym: You need to keep doing it to get results. According to Thornton, a daily practice is best. If the idea of meditating daily feels too overwhelming, aim to meditate every other day. The goal is to set a schedule that you can maintain long-term.

Try active meditation: Meditation doesn’t have to be done in a dark room while seated in the lotus position. You can meditate in the shower, standing in line at the supermarket or even washing the dishes.

To begin an active meditation, take slow, deep breaths and tune into your surroundings – feel the warmth of the dishwater as it covers your hands, watch the bubbles fill the sink, smell the fresh lemon scent of the dish detergent and hear the sound of the dishes clanking together – and continue that mindfulness throughout the meditation.

Adjust your focus. In order to reap the rewards of meditation, it’s important to follow one simple guideline for doing it right: Focus your attention. It’s meditating and not just a series of thoughts when you’re controlling your focus on something specific – a flickering candle flame, a simple mantra – and not your to-do list.

“You’ll know you’re doing it right if you continually notice when your attention has wandered and gently guide your focus back,” Hanley says. “It doesn’t matter how many times you have to redirect yourself, only that you do. It’s learning to steer your attention away from the endless stream of thoughts that quiets the mind and promotes relaxation.”

By Jodi Helmer

http://www.arthritistoday.org/

Photo Friday

Invisible Illness Fact 6

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #6 By 2020, about 157 million Americans will be afflicted by chronic illnesses. http://ow.ly/6Otw

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

 

While the underlying cause or causes of FM still remain a mystery, new research findings continue to bring us closer to understanding the basic mechanisms of fibromyalgia. Most researchers agree that FM is a disorder of central processing with neuroendocrine/neurotransmitter dysregulation. The FM patient experiences pain amplification due to abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system. An increasing number of scientific studies now show multiple physiological abnormalities in the FM patient, including: increased levels of substance P in the spinal cord, low levels of blood flow to the thalamus region of the brain, HPA axis hypofunction, low levels of serotonin and tryptophan and abnormalities in cytokine function.

 

Recent studies show that genetic factors may predispose individuals to a genetic susceptibility to FM. For some, the onset of FM is slow; however, in a large percentage of patients the onset is triggered by an illness or injury that causes trauma to the body. These events may act to incite an undetected physiological problem already present.

 

Exciting new research has also begun in the areas of brain imaging and neurosurgery. Ongoing research will test the hypothesis that FM is caused by an interpretative defect in the central nervous system that brings about abnormal pain perception. Medical researchers have just begun to untangle the truths about this life-altering disease.

www.fmaware.org

Invisible Illness Fact 5

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #5 Plp with illness are young! 60% are between the ages of 18 and 64 http://ow.ly/6Otw

Who Is Effected By Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain conditions. The disorder affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. and an estimated 3-6% of the world population. While it is most prevalent in women —75-90 percent of the people who have FM are women —it also occurs in men and children of all ethnic groups. The disorder is often seen in families, among siblings or mothers and their children. The diagnosis is usually made between the ages of 20 to 50 years, but the incidence rises with age so that by age 80, approximately 8% of adults meet the American College of Rheumatology classification of fibromyalgia.

www.fmaware.org

A Man With FMS?

Here is a story about a man who struggles before during and after his diagnosis of FMS & CFS. Great read!

http://www.myfibrosite.com/users/dwaynebright/aboutus_1.html

All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia Riders

Here is a link to all the riders involved in the All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia.

Riders

Feel Good Facial

For facial skin, soak a washcloth in whole milk and drape it over your face. The lactic acid in the milk will exfoliate as the milk fat keeps the skin moisturized. After five minutes, rinse out the washcloth and gently remove any remaining milk with the cloth.

*Do not use these ingredients if you have a sensitivity to them.

Invisible Illness Fact 4

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #4 Sadly, the divorce rate among the chronically ill is over 75 percent http://ow.ly/6Otw

How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?

Currently there are no laboratory tests available for diagnosing fibromyalgia. Doctors must rely on patient histories, self-reported symptoms, a physical examination and an accurate manual tender point examination. This exam is based on the standardized American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Proper implementation of the exam determines the presence of multiple tender points at characteristic locations.

 

It is estimated that it takes an average of five years for an FM patient to get an accurate diagnosis. Many doctors are still not adequately informed or educated about FM. Laboratory tests often prove negative and many FM symptoms overlap with those of other conditions, thus leading to extensive investigative costs and frustration for both the doctor and patient. Another essential point that must be considered is that the presence of other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, does not rule out an FM diagnosis. Fibromyalgia is not a diagnosis of exclusion and must be diagnosed by its own characteristic features.

 

To receive a diagnosis of FM, the patient must meet the following diagnostic criteria:

• Widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months
• Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied

All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia

This looks so exciting and for such a great cause!

I will try to provide a link to a live cam or post it here of the event.

A cycling team of four cyclists and 12 crew members will race nonstop for 3,000 miles across the United States in the world’s toughest bicycle race the Race Across America (RAAM). The race begins on June 20, 2009 in Oceanside, Calif. and ends in Annapolis, Maryland. The objective is to complete this coast-to-coast race in the fastest time the goal is 7 days!

 

The team’s endeavor, however, goes beyond completing this rigorous race. All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia is partnering with the National Fibromyalgia Association, and select sponsors in a shared ambition to raise awareness of fibromyalgia, a complex pain disorder that affects an estimated 10 million women, men and children in the U.S.

 

All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia will be raising funds to support fibromyalgia research and community-based education programs for individuals affected by the disorder. The team’s goal is to raise $50,000 by June 20. You can help them in their quest by making a tax-deductible donation in any amount to the National Fibromyalgia Association.

National Fibromyalgia Association

Invisible Illness Fact 3

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09Fact #3 The significance of one's faith has shown to help one handle a stressful medical event betterhttp://ow.ly/6Ov7

Invisible Illness Facts 1 & 2

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #1 Nearly 1 in 2 Americans (133 million)has a chronic condition.Not U? It’s some1 U luv!http://ow.ly/6Otw

RT @invisibleillwk #iiwk09 Fact #2About 96% of illnesses are invisible. No visible signs and no assistive device used.http://ow.ly/6Otw

Tweeting Invisible Illness facts

Fibro And I are tweeting on Twitter.com for Invisible Illness Week.  

May 16-June 19, 2009.

I will be posting re-tweets here and on Twitter.com

under FibroAndI

This is the list of 25 illness facts I'm tweeting to raise awareness:

http://invisibleillnessweektweets.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/illness-facts/

Chronic Babe

This is one of my favorite websites that I wanted to share, for those of us who want to live well despite our illness.

http://www.chronicbabe.com/

What Are The Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia?

 

Chronic widespread body pain is the primary symptom of fibromyalgia. Most people with fibromyalgia also experience moderate to extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, sensitivity to touch, light, and sound, and cognitive difficulties. Many individuals also experience a number of other symptoms and overlapping conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, lupus and arthritis.

• Pain
  The pain of fibromyalgia is profound, chronic and widespread. It can migrate to all parts of the body and vary in intensity. FM pain has been described as stabbing and shooting pain and deep muscular aching, throbbing, and twitching. Neurological complaints such as numbness, tingling, and burning are often present and add to the discomfort of the patient. The severity of the pain and stiffness is often worse in the morning. Aggravating factors that affect pain include cold/humid weather, non-restorative sleep, physical and mental fatigue, excessive physical activity, physical inactivity, anxiety and stress.
  
  
• Fatigue
  In today's world many people complain of fatigue; however, the fatigue of FM is much more than being tired after a particularly busy day or after a sleepless night. The fatigue of FM is an all-encompassing exhaustion that can interfere with occupational, personal, social or educational activities. Symptoms include profound exhaustion and poor stamina
  
  
• Sleep problems
  Many fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder that prevents them from getting deep, restful, restorative sleep. Medical researchers have documented specific and distinctive abnormalities in the Stage 4 deep sleep of FM patients. During sleep, individuals with FM are constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity, limiting the amount of time they spend in deep sleep.
  
  
• Other symptoms/overlapping conditions
  Additional symptoms may include: irritable bowel and bladder, headaches and migraines, restless legs syndrome (periodic limb movement disorder), impaired memory and concentration, skin sensitivities and rashes, dry eyes and mouth, anxiety, depression, ringing in the ears, dizziness, vision problems, Raynaud's Syndrome, neurological symptoms, and impaired coordination.

About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (pronounced fy-bro-my-AL-ja) is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, mentally and socially. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease, which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause.

 

Fibromyalgia, which has also been referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome, fibromyositis andfibrositis, is characterized by chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, fatigue and often psychological distress. For those with severe symptoms, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating and interfere with basic daily activities.

 

Whether you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or suffer from its symptoms, or have a family member or friend with the disorder, this section is designed to provide you with a better understanding of this chronic pain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide.