Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is Tuesday, May 12, 2009

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day aims to increase awareness of FM and provide support to those coping with the illness. To view more information about the event, go to Bloggers Unite.

Sensitivity to More than Pain

Do loud noises bug you? I mean REALLY bug you, a lot more than they did before you had fibromyalgia (FMS)? According to a new FMS study published in the February issue of the Journal of Pain, the more sensitive you are to pressure on your body, the more sensitive you likely are to sound.

Why is that important? It supports the theory of central sensitization, which is believed to be present in both FMS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This means that we have major differences in how our central nervous systems processes not just pain, but all kinds of things. That helps us understand the condition better and may help broaden the view of our doctors. Of course, a huge part of our treatment has to be pain management - if we can't get on top of that, it's hard to make any progress at all - but doctors need to look beyond pain to the other array of symptoms we have so they can help us manage this more effectively. Also, if we're more aware of it, we can use that information to make better choices about our environment.

If you look at our symptoms, central sensitivity explains a lot. We tend to be sensitive to medications, changes in diet, temperature fluctuations, chemicals... just about everything to which the human body can be sensitive.

Personally, this study doesn't surprise me one bit. When I was still able to work full-time, I had to drop my kids off at the babysitters a few days a week. Some mornings, especially during flare-ups, I'd open that door and the noise would hit me in the face like a physical blow. My pain would instantly escalate, and sometimes I'd just about panic and want to run away. By the time the kids were both settled in and I was back in the car, I'd be shaking, aching. and sick to my stomach.


Fibro Pain All Over Your Body? Treat Your Nose!

Did you know that more than 80% of people with fibromyalgia (FMS) have chronic sinus problems? When your body's wracked with pain, you're tired and lost in brain fog, a stuffy nose might seem like the least of your problems.

Research shows, however, that treating your sinus problems can help alleviate a lot of your FMS symptoms, and can even help you lose weight.

Sound strange? Here's why researchers say it works: yeast problems are common for us, and chronic sinusitis just happens to be one of the main symptoms of yeast overgrowth. The other is spastic colon, which causes gas, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation. Does that sound familiar? If so, you'll probably want to ask your doctor about yeast overgrowth.

According to Mayo Clinic researchers, your immune system tries to fight the yeast, and that constant immune response may be a cause (or partial cause) of central sensitization, which is the mechanism believed to cause fibromyalgia symptoms (and many chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms as well.)

If you are participating in National Fibromyalgia Day by writing a post, please sign Mr. Linky below.



Adapted from Adrienne Dellwo, http://chronicfatigue.about.com.

In honor of National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, I will be sharing several articles, stories, and resources throughout the week.