| For anyone who has suffered with Fibromyalgia, | | | | others do. It is in this stage that we are |
| or knows anyone who does, you realize that it is | | | | rejuvenated and our body repairs itself from the |
| an often debilitating and very misunderstood | | | | previous day's activities. Failure to spend the |
| illness. | | | | necessary time in Stage 4 sleep results in waking |
| Once thought to be a collection of psychosomatic | | | | up feeling as though you had not slept at all. It is |
| complaints, many sufferers spent years being | | | | often thought that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and |
| ashamed and often depressed due lack of real | | | | Fibromyalgia are just two faces of the same |
| medical help and understanding. It was not | | | | disease, with CFS patients experiencing more of |
| uncommon for those afflicted to begin to isolate | | | | symptoms associated with fatigue than with pain. |
| themselves because it was easier than trying to | | | | Other Studies have determined that Fibromyalgia |
| explain their illness. It is often appropriately called | | | | patients, when compared to those who do not |
| "the invisible disease" due to the largely unseen | | | | have the condition, have up to three times more |
| nature of Fibromyalgia's symptoms. These include: | | | | of the chemical, substance P, found in the cerebral |
| * Chronic, widespread pain, meaning pain in all four | | | | spinal fluid. This chemical transmits pain impulses to |
| quadrants of the body | | | | the brain and likely causes FMS patients to |
| * Tenderness in at least 11 of the 18 specific | | | | process pain differently. |
| tender-points used in diagnosis. | | | | Fibromyalgia is now becoming more widely |
| * Fatigue upon waking even after having 'slept' | | | | understood and studied, which goes a long way |
| through the night | | | | toward helping sufferers accept and manage their |
| * Sleep disorder, non-restorative sleep | | | | illness. A positive mental attitude and a good |
| * Memory Impairment; difficulty concentrating | | | | understanding of the nature of the symptoms |
| (known as 'fibro fog') | | | | associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) are |
| * Morning Stiffness and muscle pain exacerbated | | | | very important to overall wellness. In time, the |
| by mild exercise | | | | patient learns to 'read' her/his body and be able to |
| On top of the above primary symptoms there is | | | | discern certain patterns, enabling them to |
| a host of additional ailments which can be | | | | effectively manage the symptoms. |
| experienced, waxing and waning, either individually | | | | Treatment options are also no longer limited to |
| or in combination. These can include, but are not | | | | anti-depressants and muscle relaxants. While there |
| limited to: | | | | are many pharmaceuticals being experimented |
| * Irritable Bowel syndrome | | | | with in combination with the above, such as |
| * Frequent Headaches, both tension type and | | | | anti-seizure medications the benefits, more often |
| migraine | | | | than not, do not outweigh the negative side |
| * Environmental sensitivities (smells, sounds, light, | | | | effects. |
| toxins) | | | | Learning to balance lifestyle, with the right |
| * Sensitivity to medication | | | | combination of diet, exercise, natural |
| * Anxiety and Depression | | | | supplementation and alternative therapies is much |
| * Restless Leg Syndrome | | | | more preferable. Education is a key factor in |
| * Reynaud's Syndrome | | | | managing the illness and to find the treatment plan |
| * Dry Eyes and Mouth | | | | that works well for the individual. In the long run |
| Studies have shown that Fibromyalgia patients do | | | | this will enable a person with Fibromyalgia to live a |
| not enter into the restorative Stage 4 sleep as | | | | richer, fuller life. |