Signs of Fibromyalgia and The Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness characterized by ongoing pain in the body coupled with an unreasonable amount of fatigue. Fibromyalgia takes on many forms, and the pain often changes or moves around to different body parts. Some estimates say there are up to 6 million fibromyalgia sufferers in the U.S. alone.

The pain of fibromyalgia can affect your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Sufferers may feel achy, stiff, or even feel as if their muscles are burning. The pain is often intense, and it is often accompanied by other symptoms, like sleep disorders and irritable bowel syndrome.

ANYONE CAN HAVE IT

Fibromyalgia can affect everyone, from children to the aged, although it mostly is diagnosed in women—especially women of childbearing age. Often people who have it don’t tell anyone about their pain. Even if they do, it can be difficult to diagnose.

If you think you have fibromyalgia, your doctor will check to see if you have center tender spots on your body. These are called trigger points. The presence of them is not a certain diagnosis, but if you have at least 11 of the 18 points, you most likely have fibromyalgia.

Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies for fibromyalgia

If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you may have been placed on anti-depressants and/or sleep medications. Since these can leave you feeling tired and listless, a lot of people search for alternatives. Natural remedies are often considered for victims of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are two of the most popular natural, or alternative remedies for fibromyalgia. These are believed to increase joint strength while at the same time reducing pain. Glucosamine is actually something found in our bodies; it is important for the production of cartilage. Chondroitin is an amino acid that helps keep your joints lubricated; that’s why when you take it as a supplement your pain is reduced.

When taken together, glucosamine and chondroitin are thought to prevent the production of lysosome, which causes the breakdown of tissue in the body—especially in the joint areas. People who take them report a better physical range of motion. They also feel that the inflammation subsides.

These supplements are not without side effects. They may cause gas or diarrhea. So if you are thinking of taking supplements for your fibromyalgia, be sure to check with your doctor.

Sleep disorders of fibromyalgia

If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you may also have some sort of sleep disorder. Some estimates say that 80% of people with fibromyalgia have sleep problems. In fact, one theory says that the sleep disorder is actually the cause of the fibromyalgia syndrome. Sufferers aren’t able to get into a deep sleep, so they awake feeling tired and drained.

Some of the people who have fibromyalgia have sleep apnea. That’s a disorder in which the person stops breathing for a short time. Often they actually cause themselves to wake up. This happens over and over through the night. Usually the person who has it doesn’t know; it’s their partner who tells them that they stop breathing.

Gaps in breathing patterns can be caused by other things, like being overweight or snoring. But with fibromyalgia coupled with sleep apnea, it seems to be a pattern in the brain waves. It’s almost like the brain forgets to tell the lungs to breathe.

Sleep apnea can cause fibromyalgia sufferers to awaken hundreds of times in a night. They may or may not remember waking up. They do know that they feel incredibly tired. The body never gets the “right kind” of sleep, so it is not able to restore itself.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue is a “syndrome” rather than a disease. It is characterized by long-term fatigue. It’s different from the usual sort of fatigue you get from having a busy week or doing extra-hard chores. It’s not the same as when you don’t get a good night’s sleep. Chronic fatigue can keep you from living your life the way you used to.

People who suffer from chronic fatigue may have impaired memory function, joint pain, and muscle pain. These are the same symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome, which can make a diagnosis difficult. Chronic fatigue sufferers often have a persistent sore throat. They also become incredibly tired after exercise, and feel as if they are not going to recover from it.

In addition to the above symptoms, chronic fatigue sufferers might also have a cough, chest pain, blurry or dry eyes, and many allergies. They may be sensitive to foods, chemicals, or noise. They may suffer from depression or irritability. They may alternate between having symptoms and not having them, making it difficult to diagnose.

Chronic fatigue usually limits the ability to work or attend school. Some people are able to continue with normal lives, but most have to make adjustments. Usually if people start managing the illness early they have a fairly good chance of recovering, at least somewhat. Often antidepressants, anti-inflammatories, and antihistamines are part of the treatment.

NOW is the time to share this information with every neighbor and form a neighborhood group that can help each other. Anarchy and riots could break out and law enforcement agencies may be operating sporadically if at all as we have witnessed in New Orleans.