| Stress tends to set off major physical reactions | | | | Staying energized means paying close attention to |
| that create chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. | | | | everything that goes into your mouth, |
| Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome that involves | | | | medications included. Antihistamines, high blood |
| chronic fatigue, generalized muscle aching, and | | | | pressure drugs, and cough suppressants can all |
| stiffness. According to the 2000 American College | | | | make you tired. But plenty of other common |
| of Rheumatology Fact Sheet, two percent of the | | | | medicines can also leave you feeling lethargic. |
| United States population, primarily women of | | | | Many people assume that their fatigue is coming |
| childbearing age, are affected by this syndrome. | | | | from headache, arthritis, or whatever and do not |
| Although criteria for the classification of | | | | realize that it is really coming from the |
| fibromyalgia have been established, controversy | | | | medications. If you are taking medicine and often |
| exists as to whether this diagnosis represents a | | | | find yourself feeling groggy or low on energy, it is |
| unique syndrome. The cause is unknown and no | | | | highly recommended that you should talk to your |
| pathologic characteristics have been identified that | | | | doctor about the side effects of medications and |
| are specific for the condition. | | | | asking for alternatives to drugs that may be |
| Treatment consists of attention to the specific | | | | sapping your energy. |
| symptoms reported by the patient. Some nursing | | | | 3. Break out boredom |
| aids may be used to treat the diffuse muscle | | | | It is all about exercise that is refreshing versus |
| aching and stiffness. | | | | exercise that is not. That is why it is important to |
| Tricycles antidepressants are used to improve or | | | | find some exercise that is enjoyable or challenging. |
| restore normal sleep patterns and individualized | | | | Taking regular breaks throughout the week to |
| programs of exercise are used to decrease | | | | engage in some exercise or other physically |
| muscle weakness and discomfort and to improve | | | | demanding, but interesting, activities should help |
| the general deconditioning that occurs in these | | | | prevent chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. |
| individuals. | | | | 4. Feed the machine |
| Managing Treatment | | | | Often, even the modest calorie restriction can |
| Typically, patients with chronic fatigue fibromyalgia | | | | lead to marginal vitamin levels. And if you are |
| have endured their symptoms for a long period. | | | | short on vitamins, you may feel tired as a result. |
| They may if feel their symptoms have not been | | | | Consuming fewer than 1,800 calories per day is a |
| taken seriously. Nurses need to pay special | | | | risk factor for low-nutrient intake simply because |
| attention to supporting these individuals and | | | | nutrient intake is tied to calorie intake. Most health |
| providing encouragement as they begin their | | | | experts advices dieters who eat fewer than |
| program of therapy. | | | | 1,800 calories per day must learn to take |
| Patients support groups may be helpful. Careful | | | | multivitamin or mineral supplement. |
| listening to patient's descriptions of their concerns | | | | Fibromyalgia is a medical emergency necessitating |
| and symptoms is essential to helping them make | | | | early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to |
| changes necessary to improve their quality of life. | | | | eliminate the causative factor; otherwise, the joint |
| The first step to minimizing fibromyalgia, is to | | | | may be destroyed relatively quickly. |
| develop an awareness of when and how the | | | | So the next time you feel stressed out, never |
| condition affects you. Then, take time to learn a | | | | hesitate to ask for a rest. The treatment of |
| few relaxation techniques and deep breathing. To | | | | fibromyalgia is focused on the physiologic |
| facilitate healing, take time to perform these | | | | mechanisms that must be understood in the |
| simple treatments. | | | | context of the body as a whole. The person, as a |
| 1. Catch an afternoon nap | | | | living system, has both an internal and an external |
| Experts say that people who get the afternoon | | | | environment, between which information and |
| swoon to put the phone on voice mail, turn the | | | | matter are continuously exchanged. |
| ringer off, and steal a 20 to 30-minute snooze. | | | | Hence, the goal of treating and managing chronic |
| The later in the day you nap, the more likely you | | | | fatigue or fibromyalgia is best achieved within the |
| will enter deep sleep, so it is better you nap in the | | | | interaction of the body's subsystem to produce a |
| early or midafternoon. The longer you sleep, the | | | | dynamic balance or steady state. In this way, all |
| greater the chance you will enter deep sleep and | | | | subsystems are in harmony with each other and |
| wake up groggy and worse than before. | | | | the probabilities of developing fibromyalgia are |
| 2. Watch your meds | | | | lessened. |