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Like millions of others, I have Fibromyalgia (FMS) and as well as other health problems.

As the saying goes,
"Pain let's you know you're alive."
Man!  Am I *A L I V E*!!

Let's start with a simple definition and over time I'll be providing many links to information about FMS, related and unrelated health problems in my attempt to help others as I've been helped:

DEFINITION - Fibromyalgia is a syndrome thus the "S" in FMS.  It is a chronic condition causing widespread pain and stiffness in the muscles and connective tissues throughout the body.  It's not progressive but can feel that way.

Often fatigue is present and can be severe - it's really more a total loss of energy.  Most people have non-restorative sleep, awakening in the morning feeling unrefreshed, unrested.

Other conditions occurring with more frequency in FMS include:
headaches, irritable bowel and bladder syndromes, feelings of numbness and tingling, chest pain (usually costochondritis - IMO) that is non-cardiac related, cognitive and memory problems (fibrofog), difficulty with anxiety or depression.

It's is estimated that as many as 5 million Americans alone have FMS and many have not been diagnosed or not diagnosed correctly.  It can affect anyone.

The cause and cure of fibromyalgia remain unknown.
It's all a gigantic crapshoot & FMers rolled

 Snake eyes

 FMS - Medicine Net
 FMS - Devin Starnyl's site

DIAGNOSIS -  There are no blood tests or xrays.  There is a tender point test.  It is generally considered that a person must have 11 of the 18 determined tender points to be diagnosed with FMS.

Refer to the still chart below or
for an even better representation
please see the animation
(both provided to me by Alex)

Wait for it to load, it's worth it!!

In 2 of 3 such exams it was determined that I had all 18 tender points; however, I have learned that on any given day FMers can have less than the required 11.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ever have severe influenza?  Did you think you'd die?
 Less than 14 days later though you're back to your old self.
FMers have a life sentence of influenza symptoms
along with the conditions mentioned above & below.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

TREATMENT - There is no one treatment plan or medication that helps all who
have FMS and too many in the medical profession continue to be clueless in recommending ways to relieve pain and in prescribing appropriate pain medications.

Some benefit from one degree to another from a variety of medications, exercise is important and must be done correctly such as in warm water (aqua therapy); stretching and walking are also recommended, that is if the pain and loss of energy allow you to move at all.

So, the docs say to walk. Cure this damn  Plantar Fasciitis  so my previously

   happy feet can walk at least 1/4 mile and I will.  Walking miles was never a problem and I so enjoyed it.

Reading was my passion for information and escape yet I have not been able to concentrate to read a book

   for over two years.  Even cancelled four magazine subscriptions and don't read the one I still get!!
 
 

  ~ ~ Listen to Lula ~ ~

Most important is receiving the love and support of family and friends.

HERE ARE 2  "LETTERS TO NORMALS"

 PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE FMS/CFS/MPS

Letter #1

Letter #2

The lack of support by a spouse or significant other can be devastating

 making a rough road so much rockier than need be.

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME - is a common condition. It is a physical problem, NOT A RESULT OF EMOTIONAL OR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER.

        In some people the nerves in the bowel are like stereo playing at full volume at all times. The everyday wear and tear gets amplified and can lead to terrible cramps, diarrhea, constipation or a mixture of all three. Almost a third of sufferers get IBS after having the flu or food poisoning. In these cases, the symptoms are milder and disappear after 3 to 5 years.

IBS can be caused by poor diet, use of drugs such as laxatives, codeine and aspirin preparations, food allergies/intolerances, stress, anxiety ,depression and is one of many symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndromes.

        The functioning of the intestine usually is smooth and unnoticed. However, in people with IBS the muscles of the intestine can go into spasm, causing discomfort and pain.

Read more on
 IBS
buy stock in and don't run out of toilet paper!!

Physician specialties that might help with fibromyalgia symptoms range from one's primary care physician to , psychiatrists, physiatrists, chiropractors, rheumatologists (who I put last because I've seen 3 and they all sucked!)

Patients must educate themselves.  Ask their doctor(s) questions, demand answers and move on if the doctor is disinterested, uncooperative or tells you
it's just your imagination.  We've all had our share of incompetent doctors just know there are good ones out there...keep looking.

When you tire of the search, just consult with my alternative sources:

  What's this ouija board spelling out?  Oh.  "Go to bed or take a pill?"

Better yet, have your tarot read.

While my hospital chart as far back as late 1979 indicates fibrositis (the prior name for fibromyalgia) and costochondritis, the burning muscle pain I was living with was not diagnosed as FMS until 1995.

How many times did I hear "It's All In Your Head" (IAIYH)?  Dunno.  Too many.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome is a neuromuscular condition.  It happens because of mechanical failure. Repetitive motion injury, trauma, and illness cause trigger points and these points are all over the body.  It affects as many men as women. The pain is in specific spots rather than generalized as with Fibromyalgia.

There are significant similarities between
Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome
including TMJ = Temporomandibula Joint - Pain

 FMS/MPS & TMJ

Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia seems to trigger MPS.  Others say that MPS (specific, local) triggers FMS (general, overall).  Some say that people suffering from Fibromyalgia have18 trigger points.  They are actually called tender points because they hurt when pressure is applied.  However, MPS has trigger points.  It hurts someplace else when pressure is applied to a trigger point.  This is called referred pain.  It's also called this:

Life in a flaming cauldron

FMS/MPS Complex
MPS

Controversial as it may be, I was also diagnosed with CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome) having met the CDC criteria for it.  I usually shorten it to CFS.

 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - CDC
 CFS - FAQ

Restless Leg Syndrome/Periodic Limb Movement can show up just to ensure that you never get any sleep.  Check it out:   Restless Leg Syndrome

Adding to the fun is being hearing impaired which if properly applied can be a tremendous advantage.  I have bilateral otosclerosis.  See:   Otosclerosis   In 1976 I had the standard
surgery - a stapedectomy - on my left ear which failed leaving me deaf in my left ear and the diseased stapes in my right ear worsened leaving me profoundly deaf but the good news is thus far a hearing aid has helped.  Two joys in my life are Sue and Don Fogarty who make *SURE* I get the best hearing aids available and provide the *BEST* customer service.

I feel as though this HORROR

this face of FMS attacked me & took over what was my life replacing it with constant burning, searing pain, little energy, diminished cognitive
ability and a lack of independence that frightens me.  I'm against the death penalty,
but if I could kill this THING, I would proudly.

If not FMS/MPS/CFS then I have the joy
of occasionally developing sciatica ACK my back!!

 Sciatica Information - 1
 Sciatica Information - 2

If not for a healthy and twisted (some would say) sense of HUMOR
*most* of the time and the company of my 5 indoor and 2 outdoor
felines, I truly do not know what I would do.

They think I'm playing and jump on my back and ride when it's
necessary for me to literally crawl    from room to room and
up the stairs.  When I've worked in my flower garden, my neighbors
are even used to watching me crawl into my house and no longer
think I'm drunk!  Urp <g>

So many syndromes and BTW that "tingling" feeling can manifest in
different ways.  Some people experience it as formication, the sensation that ants/bugs are crawling all over them.

So far I've been spared this experience.  It is also

common in multiple sclerosis and during menopause.

   Formication and MS
 Formication and Menopause

Headaches  ... 
Uh huh - got it nailed <groan, sorry - LOL>

 National Headache Foundation
 American Headache Society
 Michigan Head Pain Neurological Institute

People with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (PWFMS) feel like they've been hit by a truck.

ONLINE SUPPORT NEWSGROUPS:
I know of two.  One Unmoderated, One Moderated.

This will download the unmoderated newsgroup AMF alt.med.fibromyalgia
that I found in July 1999.  FMily as we call it  Lots & lots of support.  Many of
the people there I consider dear friends.  We share information, ideas, argue
as most families will, and the laughter!!  Oh, how I welcome their laughter.

When I'm enjoying myself with this FMily if
my computer acts up I look
something like this:

and when I don't know what to do I ask
Alex  My Teacher

How like my sweet teacher to so quickly tell me how to link newsgroups for downloading *and* give me others.  What would I do without him?!

This is the moderated fibromyalgia group
 alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info

More choices
 alt.med.fibromyalgia.guaifenisin

 alt.med.cfs

Support & information for FMS, CFIDS/MS & MPS can also be found at:
 alt.support.arthritis

SO!  Coping is what FMers do.  As for me my goal is to distract myself in any way possible
and by any means necessary to get through each day by trying to keep a positive attitude, meditating, nurturing my cats and friends, maintaining a sense of humor, enjoying what Mother Nature gives me, my home - even when I cannot keep up with housework - and my flowers (which you can see starting at:  Our Haven  I'm fixing the broken music links).

I don't always succeed but I always know I'm doing the best I can.

I LOVE to cook and I'm pretty damn good too!  As with reading I've had to shelve that most
of the time too since the burning pain is not worth it.  Common sense tells us to

"Let pain be your guide to activity".

So, when I can't take the HEAT -- what do I do?  Yup.  Stay outta the damn kitchen.

Physical and Emotional Stress increase pain as other negative energy will do.  Stay in tune with your body.  Avoid specific physical stressors. Sometimes you just cannot keep up with housework - so DON'T DO IT.

Emotional stressors can be worse so you have to find what will work for you to stay serene and joyful.

Don't give a rat's ass what anybody else thinks, says or does.

Find and follow your own personal pain meter 

    The world will keep spinning whether we're ruffling our feathers or not.  Stress is unavoidable, managing it is our goal.

Find something, anything to make you smile or laugh every day.  I hope some of the images with my writing will give you a grin.   Did you buy
toilet paper stock?  Did you get the ants out of your pants?

Above I wrote "Don't do it" regarding physical stressors.  An example of when I ignore my advice is:  I'm safely tucked under my heated cuddle blanket with footrest supporting my legs surrounded by kitties. Then I get a bladder call.

I know the last damn thing my body wants to do is move and I don't wear depends.  That's an example of when I will MOVE.  Sometimes I don't quite make it.  Helpful hint:  Leave extra dry clothes nearby.

Massage can elp to temporarily

soothe the savage beast  in me.

States vary as to whether insurance will provide any coverage
- not in my state of course - and if I had enough unlimited cash,

I would have one every single day.
I have a wonderful massage therapist.
The $$ are reasonable.   If you live near here call:

I've overstayed my welcome and with the fire of MPS knots breathing down my neck,

  Hard to say when I'll be back -- eventually.

Till then  It's Time To Say Goodbye
Con Te Partiro, folks.
Listen to this 1 minute audio clip.  The link to the longer version
given to me by Mrs. Magoo a/k/a Deirdre is no longer working.
You'll need Real Player.

More links and FMily web sites to come

Hope you enjoyed your visit
and found something of value to help you cope.

~~~~ REMEMBER ~~~~

It's not phantom   pain

and it's  NOT  All In Your Head

Click  THUMPER's WEBSITE  RIGHT NOW!

You better click it!!  Yes, Thump, I stole that image.

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