Friday September 3, 2010
Unrefreshing sleep is one of the common features of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome -- no matter how much we sleep, we don't feel rested.
However, each of us has our own set of sleep problems, and the amount of hours we spend asleep varies greatly. Some of us (me included) are insomniacs and lay awake most of the night, while others can do little besides sleep.
How much, on average, do you sleep each day? What symptoms and sleep disorders complicate sleep for you? Take the poll, and leave your comments below!
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Thursday September 2, 2010
When you have fibromyalgia, it's fairly common for new symptoms to crop up and convince you that something else is wrong. Sometimes it's "just fibro," but other times, it really is something else.
One of the diseases I've suspected at times is multiple sclerosis. It's hard not to -- our symptom lists are nearly identical, both conditions are highly variable and hard to diagnose, and both can have flares and remissions.
My About.com colleague Julie Stachowiak, Guide to Multiple Sclerosis, recently posted a great answer to the question: Can people have fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis at the same time? While the short answer is "yes," there's a lot more to say on the subject. Read Julie's interesting and thorough article here:
Have you ever suspected multiple sclerosis? What symptoms had you wondering? Have you been tested for it? Leave your comments below!
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Wednesday September 1, 2010
Most, if not all, of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have to live with symptoms of dysautonomia, which is dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. I recently took a poll on which dysautonomia symptoms are the most bothersome, and it got an unprecedented response. The poll is still open, but here are the results as of Aug. 31, 2010, with 4,300 responses:
- (Tie) Aches & pains/Fatigue - 14%
- Poor exercise tolerance - 11%
- Digestive problems - 10%
- (Tie) Sweating/Numbness & tingling - 9%
- Depression - 8%
- (Tie) Anxiety attacks/Dizziness & fainting - 7%
- Rapid heart rate - 6%
While this isn't a scientific poll, I do find it interesting that depression and anxiety attacks came in so low, when they get so much focus from the medical community. Perhaps doctors and researchers need to look more at some of the issues in the middle, which many of them don't even acknowledge.
You can still take the poll! It's here: Dysautonomia Symptoms Poll.
Do any of the results surprise you? Leave your comments below!
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Tuesday August 31, 2010
Do you find yourself dripping with sweat at odd times, for no apparent reason? This is one of those bizarre, confusing symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome that you don't see on those inadequate little symptoms lists. Doctors and researchers don't really bother themselves with it because we have so many bigger problems, but when you have to deal with this every day it can have a big impact on your life. Here are some of the comments I've seen:
"What exactly causes the excessive sweating? Is it hormonal, side effect of all my meds? or a combo of both? I don't bother to wear makeup in the summer because there is no point - it just melts off."
"I have a problem that I have not seen yet..unexplained excessive sweating...like just stepping out of the shower...hair dripping wet..clothes...soaked! ... It has put a big damper on my lifestyle."
"My limbs get so cold and painful during that time, and yet my face will be sweating from the heat inside."
"I can't stand too much heat either, my heart starts beating too fast, and I sweat profusely. I can be sweaty and my skin too cold at the same time!"
"I sweat heavily - especially from my head and neck - from the least exertion."
What Causes Excessive Sweating?
Several things could be responsible for our sweating, either on their own or in combination. They include:
The only cause that's "curable" is the medication side effect, and that may not be an attractive option to you if the drug is doing more good than harm. This is one of those symptoms we have to either live with or find ways to manage. One of the important things is to stay hydrated -- replace both the water and the electrolytes you sweat out, because dehydration is really no fun. And it can be hard for us to tell when we're dehydrated because the symptoms can be similar to some we already have. (You can find them here: Symptoms of Dehydration.)
My biggest sweat issue is on my forehead. It's generally worst right after I get out of the tub or shower, and it can get ridiculous if I blow my hair dry right away. Sometimes it stops with a thorough wipe-down, but other times it just keeps coming. On those days, I have to wear a hat because the front of my hair will look horrible. I often carry a hat with me in the summer, in case the sweating starts again. I've tried antiperspirant on my forehead and in my hairline, but it does nothing to help.
I think mine comes from both heat sensitivity and autonomic dysfunction. My body seems to "hold on" to heat too much, and then my system can't regulate itself properly to turn off the flow once it starts.
What triggers your sweating? Do you have an idea what causes it? Does anything help? Leave your comments below!
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