| Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Treatment - Learn | | | | In addition to alpha EEG anomaly, many FMS |
| more about Fibromyalgia Symptoms and | | | | sufferers also have sleep apnea, upper airway |
| Treatment | | | | resistance syndrome, bruxism (teeth grinding |
| Fibromyalgia is a syndrome (fibromyalgia | | | | during sleep), limb movement and jerking and |
| syndrome, or FMS), or a cluster of problems. | | | | restless leg syndrome. All of these contribute to |
| People who have fibromyalgia suffer with pain, | | | | the fatigue of fibromyalgia. |
| either all over or in particular places, have sleeping | | | | Again, this is how fibromyalgia sufferers describe |
| problems, are overwhelmingly tired and may have | | | | their fatigue. |
| many other symptoms. | | | | "The fatigue is worse than the pain." |
| Five to ten per cent of the population has | | | | "Some days going to the bathroom feels like a |
| fibromyalgia. Most of them are women, but men | | | | ten-mile hike." |
| and children do experience the symptoms, too. | | | | "On bad days, all I can do is turn on the TV for |
| Pain is the most distinguishing characteristic of | | | | the kiddies and veg with them." |
| fibromyalgia. Medically, it's described as | | | | Pain and fatigue are the most disabling features of |
| generalized musculoskeletal aches, pain and | | | | fibromyalgia, but there are other distressing |
| stiffness. For the pain to be diagnosed as | | | | symptoms, too. 40-70 per cent of fibromyalgia |
| fibromyalgia, it has to be present in all four body | | | | sufferers experience irritable bowel syndrome or |
| quadrants (arms and legs) for at least 3 months, | | | | other gastrointestinal problems. Constipation and |
| and there has to be pain when pressure is applied | | | | diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive gassiness, |
| to at least 11 of the 18 identified trigger points. | | | | nausea and gastroesophageal reflux are common. |
| That's the medical description. Here is how | | | | Many fibromyalgia sufferers are distressed by |
| people with fibromyalgia describe it. | | | | associated mental and emotional problems that |
| "I can hardly move because of the pain I'm in. | | | | manifest themselves alongside the physical |
| I'm fighting to stay mobile." | | | | ailments. Anxiety and depression are common. |
| "There is no way to describe the pain. You live | | | | It's not known whether they are independent |
| with it on a daily basis." | | | | factors, or if they are related to living in constant |
| "What people don't realize is that I am in pain all | | | | pain and fatigue and the social stigma of |
| the time, every day." | | | | fibromyalgia. People also complain of confusion, |
| "Sometimes you think, no big deal, it's just pain. | | | | experiencing difficulty thinking clearly and a |
| It's not life threatening. Sometimes you wish it | | | | reduction in ability to perform mental tasks. This |
| was. At least there'd be an end in sight." | | | | overall mental fogginess has been termed "fibro |
| The pain waxes and wanes, varying in intensity. | | | | fog." |
| People have good days and bad days. Some | | | | Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include |
| days it's not too bad; some days it's pretty much | | | | headaches, restless leg syndrome, skin sensitivity |
| disabling. The pain of fibromyalgia often gets | | | | and rashes, dry eyes and mouth, Reynaud's |
| worse on cold or humid days, when you haven't | | | | syndrome, and various neurological problems. |
| slept well, when you are too inactive or too | | | | Fibromyalgia is an invisible disease. Sufferers look |
| active, when you are stressed or when your | | | | fine on the surface. However, under their |
| hormones change. | | | | outward appearance they are often exhausted |
| The second most disabling characteristic of | | | | and in excruciating pain. Fibromyalgia is a chronic |
| fibromyalgia is fatigue. Recent findings suggest | | | | illness that is, at its worst, incredibly disabling. The |
| that the fatigue is due to a stage four sleep | | | | symptoms have to be managed, and even then |
| disorder called alpha EEG anomaly. During deep | | | | the pain and fatigue wax and wane. It's a |
| stage four sleep, the brain has bursts of | | | | difficult disease to live with, but it's not hopeless. |
| awake-like activity, so there is not enough | | | | Medical care and lifestyle management can make |
| undisturbed deep sleep for the body to get | | | | a big difference in how you feel if you are |
| sufficient rest. | | | | suffering from fibromyalgia. |