Wednesday January 25, 2012
This is the third out of 4 Januaries that I've been trying to figure out what food is bothering me this time. Three years ago, it was gluten. Last year, it was dairy and soy, with more to follow by the time my problem gall bladder was diagnosed and removed. Now, I'm once again having a problem with dairy or soy, or possibly both. This time, I suspect I've developed some new food sensitivities. Those are among the many joys of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
This is one of the areas of our illness that we don't know a lot about, other than that it's really common for us to have food sensitivities. I think the most convincing theory I've seen comes from Ginevra Liptan, MD, and is outlined in her book Figuring Out Fibromyalgia. Here's her theory in a nutshell:
- Our autonomic nervous system has 2 modes - sympathetic, which is known as fight-or-flight; and parasympathetic, which is known as rest-and-digest.
- In us, it's stuck in fight-or-flight, meaning blood is diverted away from the digestive system.
- That causes the spaces between cells to widen, which allows tiny food particles to slip between them and escape into the blood stream, which leads to sensitivities.
Doctors can test for food sensitivities, but there's disagreement between mainstream and holistic medicine as to which tests are most accurate. You can check for food sensitivities on your own as well:
I first did the elimination diet a few months after my fibromyalgia diagnosis. It's a huge pain, but it doesn't last long and is worth doing, since food sensitivities can cause horrible digestive symptoms and exacerbate your other symptoms as well. It involves cutting back to very few foods and then reintroducing one category at a time. I was frustrated the first time because I didn't find anything, but at least I knew it wasn't a food problem.
Later, when the gluten issue was becoming apparent, I had a pretty good indication it was gluten and tried eliminating just that. It helped within just a few days, and when I tried to re-introduce gluten, I was back to square one. (Then I needed to be tested for Celiac disease, which is an autoimmune condition, and fortunately I don't have it.)
Both with my gluten problem and last year with my bad gall bladder, I waited to long to go to the doctor. Because of that, I suffered longer than I needed to and let the problem impact my life too much. This time, I'm going in sooner. If it is food sensitivities, I need to find out quickly so I can get rid of the symptoms that are disrupting my life - I don't need more fatigue, sleep problems, muscle pain and puffiness, thank you very much! If it's not, at least we'll have eliminated that so we can look for other issues.
And that reminds me - don't let your doctor blow off digestive problems as "just" fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. Yes, we're prone to food sensitivities and also to irritable bowel syndrome, but those are problems that need to be diagnosed and treated separately. Additionally, our existing illnesses don't prevent us from developing other problems, like my gall bladder infection or other serious digestive problems. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Do you have food sensitivities? What bothers you, and what symptoms does it cause? Did you find sensitivities through testing or the elimination diet? Leave your comments below!
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Monday January 23, 2012
Research Brief
People with fibromyalgia are known to be prone to falls, and new research may provide insight into why.
The small study compared strength and other measures of muscle function in 16 women with fibromyalgia and 16 healthy women, focusing on the hips, knees and ankles.
Researchers say they found low muscle strength in the legs, low function in the knees and hips, and poor balance and agility in the fibromyalgia group.
Furthermore, they say the greater the hip problems, knee pain, overall pain and severity of fibromyalgia symptoms, the more likely the person was to have a history of falling.
Take-Aways
I think the main take-away from this study, for those of us who are living with fibromyalgia, is that we may be able to strengthen these areas and help prevent falls. If light exercise, within your personal limits, can keep you from falling and possibly hurting yourself, it'd be well worth the effort.
Some experts believe fibromyalgia puts you at risk for osteoporosis, which makes falls even more hazardous. Between our pain amplification (hyperalgesia) and generally slow healing rate, a broken bone can be a huge setback for us.
This is just a small preliminary study, but if the results are replicated on a larger scale, they could lead to recommendations of physical therapy to help with strength in our legs. I didn't used to equate balance to leg strength, but after having physical therapy for a knee injury a year ago, I really saw how they were connected.
Do you fall or stumble a lot? Do you have a lot of hip or knee pain? Have your falls lead to serious injuries? Leave your comments below!
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Saturday January 21, 2012
I got an eReader for Christmas, and not only do I love it, I've discovered several benefits for someone with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Convenience. If you've got insomnia, like me, it's great to be able to download a book at 2 a.m. It also saves you a trip to the store, which can be taxing for us.
- Light weight. My hands often get achy from holding onto a book, especially a heavy one. My eReader is easier to hold, and when my hands get tired, I can lay it on a lap desk or prop it up on a pillow - something that doesn't work with a book.
- Search feature. How often does brain fog strike while you're reading? I frequently find myself coming across a name and not being able to remember who that character is. Now, I can do a quick search and refresh my memory.
- Less clutter. We certainly don't need more stuff laying around, gathering dust (which many of us are allergic to.)
Of course, there are some possible drawbacks to consider. eReaders are expensive to buy, but if you read a lot you'll eventually save money because books are cheaper. You do have to learn the technical aspects, which can be difficult for the foggy headed. If you aren't tech savvy, you might want to have someone show you how to navigate. I haven't had any eye strain from the screen, but I know some people do better with paper. For me, since it's not lit up like a computer screen, it's a nice relief from my laptop or the TV.
If you're interested in getting an eReader, here's information to help you decide which one's best for you, from About.com's Guide to Portables Jason Hidalgo: eReader Reviews.
Do you have an eReader? What do you like about it? What health-related benefits or drawbacks have you found? Leave your comments below!
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Friday January 20, 2012
Research Brief
Cognitive dysfunction, often called fibro fog, is a major and debilitating symptom of fibromyalgia. However, it's been difficult to measure clinically because the specific dysfunctions common to fibro fog are different from those of established learning disabilities.
However, new research puts forth something called the mental-clutter scale that's was designed specifically to quantify fibro fog. Researchers say it's consistent and reliable at providing doctors with information about our cognitive function. They also say it can help distinguish fibromyalgia from other illnesses involving memory problems.
The study breaks cognitive problems into 2 categories - cognitive skills and mental clarity - with 8 features in each category:
Cognitive Skills
- Concentration
- Memory
- Staying focused
- Multitasking
- Expressing yourself
- Thinking clearly
- Perceptual clarity
- Mental speed
Mental Clarity
- Spaciness
- Looking at life through a haze
- Confusion
- Cluttered thinking
- Fogginess
- Rushing thoughts
- Fuzzy headedness
- Information overlook
You can see the full scale and learn more about it here:
To me, this looks like a good list of common fibro fog symptoms. I think this scale can help bring credibility to our cognitive dysfunction as well as being used to measure changes over time and possibly even to aid diagnosis.
For more information about fibro fog, including possible causes and how to manage this disabling symptom, see:
I've had every symptom on the list, to some degree. How many have you experienced? How bad is your fibro fog? Leave your comments below!
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