Keep a Daily Journal

Writing in a journal every day can become a great tool for self inquiry. Some people are able to identify a series of events that are associated with the beginning of fibromyalgia symptoms. That can help them understand how and when symptoms start. Keeping a journal can also assist you in tracking your muscle pain and fatigue and in identifying what may cause them. For example, you may write in your journal that you are having great pain and feeling exhausted after doing yard work with fibro for several days. Months later, you might look back on this entry and perhaps recognize a pattern that identifies a relationship between your increased fibromyalgia symptoms and certain lifestyle triggers. Or perhaps you haven't slept well in days. Looking back over your journal may enable you to see any emotional or physical problems that have contributed to your sleep problem.

Spice It Up

Swelling, redness, heat, and pain are the four key signs of inflammation. A natural way to combat inflammation is by taking ginger. Ginger’s most active and aromatic chemical compounds are called gingerols. Ginger offers significant improvement in cases of arthritic inflammation and pain by inhibiting the body’s pro-inflammatory responses. 

Remove Yourself Emotionally From Stressful Situations

Sometimes, people magnify problems, making them seem far greater than they are. The stress reaction is triggered by perception. When you imagine something to be a "life or death situation," even though in reality it isn't, your body reacts as if you are in danger. Work at tempering your emotions as problems come up throughout the day. Instead of seeing every crisis as "horrible," learn to view life's interruptions as "inconvenient, but tolerable." You will find that when you see life as something that you can easily handle, you will not feel overpowered when trouble comes.

4 Treatments for Fibromyalgia

From O, the Oprah Magazine:

By Mehmet Oz, MD

Dr. Oz will see you now! In his first Ocolumn, he analyzes the different treatments for fibromyalgia.

Defining Fibromyalgia: Though classified as a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, the condition is now seen as a central nervous system problem. Symptoms include increased sensitivity to pain, achy and stiff joints, fatigue, and specific tender points on the back, chest, arms, and legs. Migraines, sleep disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome are also common complaints. Up to 3 percent of the population may suffer from fibromyalgia, but with no clear cause, the condition is difficult to diagnose.

Western Medicine Approach: A formal diagnosis for fibromyalgia didn't exist until 1990, but now there are three FDA-approved meds to combat the pain. Still, says Nancy Klimas, MD, director of the Allergy and Immunology Clinic at the University of Miami, "there is much more to treatment than a pill." Strategies are needed to improve sleep, stretch and restore symmetry to muscles that have been shortened by spasm, and raise overall conditioning through exercise. 

Energy-Based Approach: Practitioners believe the root of fibromyalgia is a disturbance in nerves that blocks energy. The disturbance, says Devi S. Nambudripad, MD, PhD, and a licensed acupuncturist, is caused by sensitivities to substances ranging from pollen to vaccines to chemical agents in fabrics. Anxiety and depression may also play a part. Practitioners use acupuncture to release energy and allergy testing to identify problem substances. 

Psychological Approach: "The pain of fibromyalgia is not caused by depression," says Leonard Jason, PhD, professor of psychology at DePaul University, "but depression can deepen a patient's experience of pain." Mental health professionals may play a complementary role in treatment, but it's a vital one. Cognitive behavioral therapy can relieve depression and help patients identify sources of stress that magnify their symptoms. 

Nutrition-Based Approach: Fibromyalgia is a systemwide breakdown, says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the nationwide Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers. After suffering from the disease in the 1970s, he developed his own protocol; in studies, patients improved by as much as 91 percent. He recommends supplements to help sufferers sleep, balance hormones, boost immunity, and improve nutrition. He also prescribes regular exercise. (Try Dr. Oz's 20-minute workout plan) 

My Recommendation: Because Western medicine was slow to accept fibromyalgia, it is behind in its work; this is an area where patients will want to take a serious look at alternative approaches. Energy-based medicine could offer some important advances in treatment over the next decade, but since it has yet to be tested by independent research, I think it's premature to base your therapy solely on this approach. I'm more impressed by Teitelbaum's supplement regimen, and not only because he has tested his theories: I've put patients on this program with very good results. I would add counseling, as it should always be a part of fibromyalgia treatment. If after a couple of months you don't see improvement, talk to your doctor about drug therapy.

Source

Help, I Need My Meds!!!

Guest blogger "Living with Diabetes, Neuropathy, and Fibromyalgia".

So I was laying in bed (yes, again, this is where these things start, when I am left alone with my thoughts, scary, I know!) with my hands and feet hurting and burning. The burning feels like I am holding my hands over a lit candle. Anyways, I digress already.....
I was thinking of our health insurance. First of all, I realize healthcare is a hot topic right now with Obama. And, of course I haven't been paying any attention so I am not up to speed therefore this is not what I am talking about here. What I do want to talk about is what do you do, how do you pay for, your medication when you have no insurance, or prescription plan.

First of all, most pharmacies now have their own prescription plan. I know our local Sweetbay has one that was, I believe,  $7 for the year. There are 400 medications on the list that cost only $4 for a 30 day supply and only $10 for a 90 day supply, and they even have some free antibiotics. This plan covers 2 of my most important medications, the generic for synthroid (as I have no thyroid) and metformin (for my diabetes), so it's a start. However, I am still without gabapentin and cymbalta, probably my next 2 most important prescriptions. 
My next step was to go directly to the drug companies. A good share of drug companies have programs for the less fortunate folks who fall below the poverty line. Cymbalta is made by a company called Lilly USA. You can apply with them at http://www.lillycares.com/. Print out the application and take it to your Doctor. This is the stage I am at now. Pfizer has several different programs. You can find a list at http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Find/findall.aspx
I found both my gabapentin (neurontin) and xanax there. The program I am eligible for is Connection to Care. Again it is the same as the Lilly program. Print the application and have your doctor fill it out. Most of these programs also require proof of income, like a copy of last year's taxes. Right now I am at the stage of waiting for my doctor to fill out the paperwork. Hopefully it will be ready tomorrow. I will keep you informed of my status. 
I did receive a coupon for 15 free cymbalta from the Lilly cares website, and some samples from my doctor. 
Next will be to see if there is any help for my pain meds, tramadol and vicodin. But, they are the least important right now. There may still be some reform with this weird "limited" health insurance plan from my husband's new company. It just seems wrong to pay $85 a week for a "limited" plan that doesn't cover prescriptions. 
More to come on this topic!

Meditation Monday

Foods That Could Trigger a Nasty Headache

My friend Charlene pinged me. She had a miserable headache over the weekend. It wasn't just any miserable headache -- it was a miserable headache caused by citrus.

After retracing her day, Charlene realized that the three delicious tangerines were the culprit. She thought she was just enjoying a very tasty, healthy snack, but she was also triggering pain. 

Some experts say that citrus and other foods may trigger headaches because the people consuming them may have an enzyme deficiency. The enzyme they are lacking is necessary for neutralizing amines in foods. Some foods have large quantities of amines, and without the enzyme, headaches (and even migraines) can be stimulated.

Still, gobbling up an orange (or three) might seem harmless. If you are one of the 28 million Americans who suffer from migraines, taking note of how foods affect your body could be critical in preventing future headaches. One new theory is that craving certain foods could also signal a coming migraine. These kinds of migraines are also made more unpredictable because eating the food may not trigger pain every single time, and because food could team up with other triggers (like bright lights or stress) to induce a migraine.

Some other foods and beverages thought to trigger headaches include:

• Aged cheese and those cheeses containing tyramine, a natural substance that builds up as food ages. Tyramine in high levels has been shown to cause hypertension, which is a particular concern for people who take MAO inhibitor medication to treat migraines. Blue cheese, brie, cheddar, Stilton, feta, gorgonzola, mozzarella, muenster, Parmesan, Swiss, and processed cheeses often contain high levels of tyramine.

• Other salted, cured, processed, and canned foods that are high in tyramine. Take note of how your body reacts when you eat pickles, olives, and canned soups. Beans can also contain headache-triggering tyramine, especially fava, pinto, garbanzo, and lima beans.

• Alcohol, which could prompt headaches as it is metabolized in the body. Pay particular attention when you drink red wine, beer, whiskey, and champagne, which have been identified as triggers.

There is a long list of foods that headache and migraine sufferers say cause their pain. Some of them might surprise you, including:

• Peanuts and peanut butter
• Potato chips
• Pizza
• Fresh fruits like kiwi, plums, and raspberries
• Bread and crackers

Make Job Site Modifications

To keep working part-time or full-time, you must stay mentally and physically able to handle your job responsibilities. But to avoid stress and anxiety, you may need to allow more time during the day to get your responsibilities done. Talk to your employer and work out a flexible schedule that allows you to come in later and leave later. Or ask your employer if you can work at home two mornings a week so you can get more rest or take a nap at lunch time to boost your energy. Whatever modifications you make, avoid procrastination. Budget your time, follow your daily "To Do" lists, and limit your outside commitments on work days.

Osteoporosis May Raise Risk for Vertigo

People with osteoporosis are much more likely to have vertigo than people with normal bone density, Korean researchers say.

Vertigo is an inner ear disorder that's a common cause of dizziness. It's believed to be caused by loose calcium carbonate crystals in the sensing tubes of the inner ear.

The researchers compared 209 people with benign positional vertigo with no known causes -- such as ear surgery or head trauma -- with 202 people with no history of dizziness. Compared to participants with normal bone density, those with osteoporosis (low bone density) were three times more likely to have vertigo and those with osteopenia (the stage before osteoporosis) were two times more likely to have vertigo.

Among women, 25 percent of those with vertigo had osteoporosis, compared to 9 percent of those without vertigo, and 47 percent of those with vertigo had osteopenia, compared to 33 percent of those without vertigo. Among men, 12 percent of those with vertigo had osteoporosis, compared to 6 percent of those without vertigo, and 40 percent with vertigo had osteopenia, compared to 27 percent of those without vertigo.

The study will be published in the March 24 issue of Neurology.

"These findings suggest a problem with calcium metabolism in people with vertigo," Dr. Ji Soo Kim, of the Seoul National University College of Medicine, said in a journal news release.

"Women most often have their first case of vertigo in their 50s, when they are also having a drop in bone mass due to loss of estrogen. Estrogen is one of the main hormones that influence calcium and bone metabolism," Kim said.

The role that estrogen plays in vertigo hasn't been determined. Since this study also found an association between osteoporosis and vertigo in men, other factors must also play a role, Kim noted.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology, news release, March 23, 2009