16 Things Fibromyalgia Sufferers Need to Stop Doing
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – If you have any sort of chronic debilitating condition, you need to put your own needs first. Even if you are the healthiest person on the planet, you shouldn’t let your needs go to the back of the line. Since Fibro is most common among women, this is especially true as women seem to be trained that their needs should come last after their husband, children, church, jobs, volunteer effort and anything else that could possible come before them. It’s any wonder we give ourselves any time at all; sadly, too many of us don’t.
You can’t help others until you’ve first taken care of your own needs.
Stop spending time with the wrong people.- If someone is adding stress to your life, that stress is making you sick. Remove the stress by removing that person. You may not be able to completely remove them, but you can choose to avoid them when possible.
Stop holding grudges. – Holding a grudge is an unnecessary stress. It causes us to create negative thoughts about a person when we do think of them and to only focus on those negative thoughts, when we should be trying to find ways to focus on more positive things. Let go of the grudge. You’ll still think of the person on occasion, but when you do just shrug it off and replace the thought with a thought of someone you care about that makes you smile.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – The ability to say “No” is a highly under-rated one. Too often those of us with Fibromyalgia are likely to be unable to say “No”, feeling guilty when we can’t or won’t say “yes”. We can’t be everything to everyone, we can’t even be everything to ourselves and we don’t have to be.
Stop lying to yourself. – You are sick, admit it. You don’t feel great. Someone else asks and you answer with “I’m OK” but it’s not the truth. It’s not the truth when you say it to them and it’s certainly not the truth when you say it to yourself.
Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Most people don’t care enough about you to care about your disease or disorder or why you can’t do what you can’t do. Keep it simple, just say “no” and move on. Don’t try to explain why you can’t do it, because they probably aren’t listening anyway.
Stop trying to hold on to the past. – While you may be able to find ways to improve your symptoms, you’ll likely never be 100% again. There will always be limits. Stop trying to re-attain the levels of life you had before your illness and realize that was then and this is now. Focus on what you CAN do instead of what you used to be able to do.
Focus on what you CAN do instead of what you used to be able to do.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – Guilt and blame are our constant friends. Stop beating yourself up over things you’ve done in the past (or things you wish you had done but didn’t). It’s in the past, let it go and move on. Again, focus on what you can do in the future.
Stop being jealous of others. – It’s so easy to be jealous of what others have or what others can do. Little do we realize that they have limitations, too. No one sees the true life of another, their abilities or disabilities, their limits. Don’t judge your life based on the “Jones”, real or imagined. Focus on what you have that is wonderful.
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Seriously! It’s ok to throw a pity party once in a while, but it should never last for more than 5 minutes and you should never invite friends. Focus on the positives in life, there are many.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – How many times have we heard that we should “stop and smell the roses”. You don’t really appreciate those small things until you can’t do them anymore. So, take a few moments each day and really think about the small things you were able to enjoy. Write them down so you can look back on them later when you are contemplating that pity party.
You don’t really appreciate the small things until you can’t do them anymore.
Stop trying to make things perfect. – They already are. Ok, maybe they aren’t perfect, maybe they can even be better than they are now. But the point is that you need to focus on reality instead of perfection. Take small steps to improve things and get closer to the idea of what you want your life to be like, and not constantly worrying about how far from perfect you still are.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – Everything is NOT OK, and it’s ok to tell the truth. When a real friend or someone who really cares about you asks how you are, be honest. Stop answering with “I’m fine” because you aren’t.
It’s ok to admit that everything is not ok.
Stop worrying so much. – You feel like life is out of control, and it is so don’t worry about it. Let life be what it’s going to be. Control the things you can control and let the rest go. Constant worrying will only make you feel worse.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – You don’t want to wake up tomorrow in a flare, so it’s all you think about and you end up keeping yourself from sleeping, which results in waking up in a flare. Sound familiar? Well, stop it. Instead of thinking “I don’t want…” think “I want….”. Focus on the good nights rest you know you WILL get and how great you know you will feel tomorrow because you made the right choices about the things that ARE in your control.
Stop being ungrateful. – Be grateful, every minute of every day. There is something wonderful to be grateful for. Say “Thank You” for the small things and mean it. Instead of getting upset that someone did something that you intended to do because it made you feel “useless” or like they thought you weren’t doing your part, be thankful that they just freed you up to do something else you wanted to do.
Theysay the key to happiness, sustaining our lifestyle and managing pain is to simply pace ourselves. We have all been in a place in our lives where pacing our actions would benefit us. Whether it be because we had the flu, were pregnant, broke a leg or we were just too stressed and we needed a break!
I have heard this advice from the first day I left the doctor’s office with my diagnosis. “You have to learn to pace yourself.” My immediate thoughts were “Yeah, I can do that, that’s easy, what else you got for me?” You can tell by my response that this concept was completely foreign to me.
I had never once been told to pace myself in any of the activities that I did. The American way is full throttle, competitive, balls to the wall, aggressive, take what is yours, work hard play hard, multitask, be a champion at everything. If you aren’t first you’re last. Hell, even my generation isn’t pacing themselves with tailgating parties. We are bingers. We need instant satisfaction. And more importantly we are creatures of total independence.
So there I was: 34 years old. Successful. Miss Independence who put herself through college and grad school by nothing less than hard work and suddenly, I was told to slow down.
My attitude: Turn down for what?
So I didn’t. Clearly the doctors, physical therapists and even those who had the same illness did not know what this fierce redhead could achieve. It’s easy… mind over matter… push push push. Those chores and grocery shopping weren’t going to do themselves. Money had to be made, traveling for work must be done, presentations had to be delivered and people had to be counseled. It was as simple as that. My life did not have any room to slow down… I didn’t even know how to pump the brakes.
And I crashed.
My body began to rebel. My pain began to soar and my energy was non-existent. I was going through the motions because I truly believed there was no other way to live my life. It took numerous people and my persistent instincts to literally stop me in my tracks. When I crashed, I fell hard, knocking the wind out of my lungs and my legs no longer able to carry me to all of these “important” responsibilities that I had.
It was then that I realized… I was important. My health was important. Those responsibilities would fade and someone else was capable of doing those tasks. My body needed to heal. For the past 22 months I have been trying to figure out what that four-letter word means… Pace yourself. In the last six weeks during a battle between “how to heal” and “being a workhorse” I have determined thatI am the worstwhen it comes to pacing myself. Since I am not an expert, I thought it would be fun to de-bunk those really unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves.
1. When you feel good, take advantage of the moment and get stuff done!
Terrible advice. I still do this. Every time I have a few moments of feeling good I dive headfirst into a project that is way too big. I usually end up sitting in the middle of a mess (literally) that now I cannot even clean up because I have pushed my body to the max. Projects this month have included organizing receipts (why!?), de-cluttering my bedroom, clipping coupons (seriously?) and trying to find plans and materials to build my chicken a coop. Who am I kidding? Sometimes, it is worth paying someone a few extra bucks. Teenagers in your neighborhood are always looking for side jobs, and think of it as helping today’s youth learn responsibility!
2. Volunteer to take on extra work, because honestly you could use the distraction.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Nobody is going to think less of you because you didn’t jump in and take on running the PTA, hosting a book club, working on the weekend! Usually after volunteering I am set way back from where I was when I started. This certainly only works as a distraction in theory. You can enjoy all of these things but you don’t have to be the ringleader! In fact, I guarantee you will enjoy them more if you aren’t in charge!
3. Nobody wants to hear you complain, so lie about how you really feel.
Not a smart move.Being honest is not complaining, you are simply expressing the truth and your reality. “I feel really great” will result in people being excited and then they start to suggest all sorts of plans that you might not be up for. Let’s go shopping! How about a three-hour movie! Or if you have the flu, you could end up sharing your germs. I recommend being honest and sincere and those around you will do their best to understand. Sure, those with who are healthy do not know what it means to be inchronic painbut they also don’t want you to lie about something that may affect your well-being. The same with being overwhelmed or stressed out — be honest and let others know how you are feeling.
4. If someone offers you help, turn down his or her offer politely. Nobody likes a mooch.
I just learned how to ask for help at 35 years old. I laugh when I hear toddlers say “I do it myself.” You my friend, are not a toddler anymore, declaring your independence. We all know you can do it… but… that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. I believe people want to help you, so let them! You know that realistically you can’t do it all, so why not share some of the load? And get this… we all know people feel pretty helpless when it comes to our illness. When they are able to pick up a prescription, push your wheelchair or grab some groceries for you, it makes them feel good as well. One of my very good friends told me years ago, “Kelly, let others help you! It is a gift they are trying to give you.” Nobody wants to have their gift turned down. And if it wasn’t a sincere offering on their part, then guess what? They won’t ask you again and you can move on!
5. You feel guilty for not doing “your share” of the household chores, so even though you are feeling pretty icky, you splurge all of your week’s energy on the doing the dishes.
Another one that always gets me! If we don’t already feel bad enough, we have toaddguilt in there? Why do we do this to ourselves? If your loved one really loves and understands your condition/illness, then they probably don’t expect you to mop the floors every week. They live with you and see how life affects you everyday. Would you want your significant other to feel guilty about not washing dishes? I would never! And guess what, they are just dishes. It is just cleaning. You may even create more work for the person now that you have used up your energy stash for the week. If you are having trouble with this, try heading to couples counseling where a trained professional can help you and your partner to communicate to figure out what is realistic for you. If there is extra cash, hire a housecleaner twice a month. If cash is low, check out aid services through social services, which may be free to eligible community members, or perhaps a church would be eager to help.
The bottom line is that this isn’t a competition, although sometimes it may feel like it. This is unlike any other race you have run before, so it takes some time to figure out where you may struggle and how your body responds to the environment. Be kind to yourself and know you are doing the best you can. Our bodies are amazing and even throughout all of our chronic pain and illness… we are still here.
Be patient with yourself. Listen to your body and your instincts and don’t let the false beliefs become your strategy of pacing.
1. “I feel like [I’m] constantly wading through mud. Like my brain is clogged up. My limbs are heavy and every little action requires a great deal of effort. My muscles are tired and shaky. It’s just like pushing through a bog all the time.”
2. “It’s like having the flu all the time combined with feeling like someone physically beat you up. All the while being expected to function normally.”
3. “The brain fog is like the episodes of Charlie Brown when the adults talk. All you hear is the muffled megaphone when people talk. It gets all mixed up and makes no sense in your brain. When you talk to people on the phone you can’t think of the right words, you get your sentences all mixed up and you don’t make sense. People stare at you and you know they have no idea of what you are talking about.”
4. “It’s like every part of your body is bruised but [the bruises] are invisible, and sometimes you wish they were visible because then people might take your pain seriously.”
5. “It’s always wondering if anyone got the tag of that truck that keeps running you over and over and over. Day in and day out.”
6. “You’re a kite being tossed about by unseen forces floating far from reality on a tether that can break at any moment.”
7. “My muscles are so weak they feel as though I’m trying to walk while waist deep in tar with several cinderblocks tied to my legs and arms.”
8. “Stay awake for three days then fill your rain boots with broken glass. While wearing your broken glass rain boots, run laps while being shot with paintballs.”
9. “It’s like someone has a voodoo doll of you they just can’t leave alone.”
10. “Imagine your iPhone is broken. Every time you recharge it, it may show a full battery but in reality it’s always sitting at 30 percent. Your phone has many functions, each requiring a different amount of power. It’s up to you how you use your battery. If you stick to small activities like texting your battery will last longer. If you watch a video or play a game then you will run out quicker. If you run out of battery your phone will switch off completely and take longer to charge. Fibro is the same. Your body has a very limited supply of energy. You have to think carefully about what you do every day so you don’t run out of battery and shut down.”
If You Think Autistic People Are Not Paying Attention... We Are
11. “[Fibromyalgia is] like wearing a lead apron after pulling an all-nighter a few days after being rear-ended.”
12. “[It’s] like my skeleton is two sizes too big for the rest of me, and each bone has been twisted in place.”
13. “It’s that feeling you get when you’ve worked out too hard at the gym, but it’s all the time and all you have to do is move to get it.”
14. “Imagine the worst pain you have ever felt. Now make it 10 times more intense and across your whole body. Now imagine that feeling never goes away because there is no cure.”
15. “[It’s] like an elephant is sitting on you – you feel like you spend the whole day trying to push it off. It’s exhausting and doesn’t work!”
16. “It’s like I am a ship anchored down and all I can feel is the weight of the anchor while also feeling severe burns, stabbing, electric shocks and like I’ve been beaten and run over [by] a bus throughout my body.”
17. “It’s like you are always on spring break – you’re tired, you’re hungover, you haven’t drunk enough water, your body hurts everywhere and you’re nauseated all the time; and you keep getting older and less able to deal with the symptoms.”
18. “It is like being on a merry-go-round. You spin around and around, dizzy, aching from holding onto the horse for so long, gut clenched painfully, headache looming, and you can’t remember the word for stop!”
19. “It’s like wearing an X-ray lead apron all the time while having the flu and a sunburn all over. Every once in a while, someone comes up and pours hot water over you, or sticks you with pins. You’re tired all the time, but when you lay down to sleep you cannot get comfortable, and you don’t sleep well (or for long). And this repeats like ‘Groundhog Day’ every day.”
20. “It’s like riding the world’s best, scariest, loopy, full of all kinds of twist and turns rollercoaster over and over again without having to actually get on it.”
21. “Having fibromyalgia is like a balance beam. If you have too much rest for your left hand, you will fall off from lack of activity. If you have too much activity in your right hand, you will fall off the other side. You have to find the balance or you will fall off, and it’s really difficult to get back up.”
22. “[It’s] like waking up with the flu every day, but it never runs its course. And you have to live with it forever, and pretend it’s not there.”
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Psalm 143:7-8 ESV
Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 23:4 ESV
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Romans 8:28 ESV
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Depression in the Bible
Proverbs 12:25 ESV
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
Romans 12:2 ESV
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Psalm 9:9 ESV
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Revelation 21:4 ESV
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Bible Verses For When You're Depressed.
Psalm 34:17-18 ESV
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Matthew 6:33 ESV
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Romans 15:13 ESV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
John 16:33 ESV
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Joshua 1:9 ESV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
At times you feel like you have a craving for exploring through a minefield, when you are having fibromyalgia. Your symptoms are, sometimes, aggravated because of apparently interminable number of “mines” that causes your fibromyalgia to flare-up. Your one slip can affect you badly for days, as you try to recoup from your pain or the harm that has caused, so better proceed with caution.
As you try to explore the fibromyalgia minefield, these threats, when understood and when you got to know how to deal with them will give you help. There are a modest bunch of dangers that all fibromyalgia sufferers ought to know about, while everybody has different response to the numerous threats and triggers. 15 different are mentioned below that can cause your fibromyalgia symptoms to flare-up.
#1: MSG (Monosodium glutamate)
In many processed foods available at grocery stores as well as in some fruits and vegetables, MSG — a flavor enhancer is found. The sensitivity to pain is increased in fibromyalgia sufferers by the activation of neurons due to MSG and other food additives. Researchers at the Malcolm Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Florida, while studying about fibromyalgia patients found that, “After the elimination of monosodium glutamate (MSG) or MSG plus aspartame from diet, all had complete, or almost complete, resolution of their symptoms within months.”[1]
The study inferred that, “Eliminating MSG and other excitotoxins from the diets of fibromyalgia patients offers a benign treatment option that has the potential for sensational outcomes in a subset of patients.”
Frozen dinners, Chinese food, canned vegetables or soups, tomatoes, potatoes, mushrooms, parmesan cheeses and more are included in common foods containing MSG. Check the label for MSG or Monosodium glutamate when you are doing shopping. Other names are also given to it or other ingredients that have a high MSG content yet aren’t required to say so much. Following are the ingredients on food labels:
Glutamic Acid (E 620)2
Glutamate (E 620)
Yeast Extract
Anything hydrolyzed
Caseinate
Gelatin
#2: Weather
Almost 92% of fibromyalgia sufferers have a saying that their symptoms are affected by weather. Extremes in temperature (too hot or too cold), barometric pressure changes and rapid changes in weather are the most well-known weather phenomena related with flare-ups of fibromyalgia symptoms. It is clear by the overwhelming reports from real sufferers that weather can assume a part, while research on the actual effects of weather is restricted.
Fibromyalgia can be less affected by the weather by taking extra precautions to battle with the effects of weather (i.e. staying hydrated in extreme warm). And moving to different climates may help in case of extreme issues. In fact, Lyne Matalana, President of the National Fibromyalgia Association once remarked, “I know people who have packed up and moved their families because they felt another piece of the nation would be more agreeable for them. It can be that serious.”
We know above all that we urge to pace ourselves, as people are coping daily with the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Even so, for people having fibromyalgia has still having this biggest trap. May be it’s because we think we are having a fine day and still our body can afford more exertion. Or maybe we can’t think that our body’s limit is about to end for exertion but for whatever reason we keep doing all the things.
Over-exertion can have an enduring negative effect on your symptoms, whatever the situation is. Gradually, the pain will make up for long time and it may take a lot of time to recover than when you have had not pushed your limits. It can literally take a ton of training to actually perceive your limits and pace yourself, so it is really important to be aware of your body and its limits. Of course, there are so many days when your body can’t allow you to move in any way, so it isn’t a problem to “pace yourself”.
#4: Sugar (Simple Carbs)
Carbohydrates that are made up of one or two sugars are simple carbs. They seem like fast source of energy, but this is just a temporary boost and typically trailed by a crash in vitality levels. Simple carbs should be limited or eliminated from our diet, since fibromyalgia patients are very sensitive to changes in blood sugar.
Other negative health results like nerve damage can occur due to the over-consumption of sugar. Our nerve cells are swelled as water is drawn into them because of the over-consumption of sugar. At the same time, the outer layer of the nerve cells gets less flexible, causing them to crack and tear because of sugar. And the ultimate result is that we can lead to nerve damage, often resulting in pain, numbness or tingling in the extremities.
Here are some of the most common simple carbs you’ll want to avoid:
#5: Caffeine
There’s a decent possibility you battle every day with fatigue and exhaustion, if you suffer from fibromyalgia. These are the common symptoms for many fibromyalgia patients. You feel like the things such as coffee or energy drinks to be the blessings, as they get you through the day. Yes, these things do give an appreciated lift in energy, your fibromyalgia can be worsen by the drinks having caffeine and in many cases have an opposite effect on your energy levels.
#6: Diary
A lot of fibromyalgia sufferers are lactose intolerant, which can prompt to symptoms like bloating, gas, pain and cramping. Try going without dairy for a few weeks to check whether you see any improvements, if you speculate you might be lactose intolerant. If you are in a habit of taking dairy and can’t eliminate dairy completely, try to avoid pasteurized dairy products and devour only raw, organic dairy foods.thi is more tolerable for some fibromyalgia patients.
#7: Lack of Sleep
Fibromyalgia sufferers find hard to sleep. On one side, it is so difficult to sleep because of the symptoms of fibromyalgia– and often sleep problems like insomnia occurs. On other side, sensitivity to pain increases due to lack of pain and aggravate a portion of symptoms of fibromyalgia. It is an endless loop that can be hard to break.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in patients with chronic give better (and all the more enduring) alleviation from a sleeping disorder than some prescription medications, according to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.[2] Regardless of whatever approach you take, if you are suffering from fibromyalgia, it is really essential to get the best night’s sleep possible (under the circumstances).
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#8: Long Naps
Fibromyalgia is often linked with the difficulties arising in sleep and the resulting fatigue, so it is necessary for the sufferers to take naps during the day. While it is necessary to take a nap, but it is best to abstain from taking long, frequent nap. Researchers found a correlation between longer daytime naps and an increase in the severity of symptoms in a study of over one thousand adults suffering from fibromyalgia.[3]
Keeping in mind, shorter naps throughout the day is the best approach that may help for your body rest and revive without increasing your symptoms.
#9: Depression
Depression is also raised by fibromyalgia, same like the sleep problems discussed earlier. In return, depression can worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia. This harmful cycle can pull us down unhealthy mental, physical and emotional paths. Depression is real and it has a strong affect in everyone’s walk of like, as it is a bit taboo in our society. This cycle can be unbroken and you can lead to a happier, healthier life in every aspects, if you seek professional help from a certified counselor or therapist.
#10: Stress/Anxiety
Let’s be honest – there’s no keeping away from stress, especially in case of having a chronic illness like fibromyalgia. While stress all by itself isn’t generally a bad thing – the consistent life stress with a chronic illness can actually lead to chronic stress. Not only the symptoms of fibromyalgia are aggravated due to chronic stress, but other negative health outcomes are also occurred like high blood pressure, diabetes and more.
There can be a huge difference in your health if you find ways to constructively manage your stress. Look for the ways to maintain and release your stress, either it is through mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing and meditation or doing some relaxing hobbies to relax your mind.
#11: Sensory Overload
From some things, fibromyalgia patients are often really sensitive such as loud noises, odors, bright lights and more. Excess of these senses can lead to headaches or migraines, among other things. Your unwanted flare-up of symptoms can be stopped if you avoid the situations where sensory overload may occur.
#12: Cold or Illness
Even the people with perfect health can be affected by the common cold – so it can be out and out dreadful for the people having fibromyalgia. Our immune system can be more susceptible to common illness such as cold or flu, because our immune system has already being so overworked. If you have fibromyalgia, and some common illness has stroked you, it will take longer to recover and will impact your work, family as well as social life. Your immune system need to be very strong to protect you from the germs, so eat healthy nutrients.
#13: Smoking
It is very clear that you ought to avoid smoking. There are seemingly endless negative health results due to smoking. If you have fibromyalgia, you have strong reasons to kick this habit. Fibromyalgia patients who smoked reported that, “Significantly more pain, numbness, patient global severity, and functional difficulties than non-smokers”[4], according to a study by the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
#14: Sitting For Too Long & Poor Posture
You’re not the only one, whether you sit at a work area throughout the day for work or you end up sitting the day away elsewhere. In fact, according to estimation by JustStand.org, the average person sits for 7-9 hours a day (and some sit for considerably longer – as much as 15 hours a day).[5] In fibromyalgia sufferers, if your sitting is combined with poor posture, it can lead to greater pain, stiffness and tenderness. Your circulation in the body cuts off by sitting and poor posture, thereby the fresh supply of essential oxygen and nutrients to different systems in the body are cut off.
You should sit with a good posture at least and should take frequent breaks to stand and stretch your body, if you can’t escape sitting for most of the day.
#15: Lack of support from family or friends
We put this point on last, as there’s not necessarily proof or hard facts that show that a lack of support can actually affect you negatively on your fibromyalgia – but it is an experienced fact that how much support we receive from our family or friends does (whether for good or for bad). For anybody battling with family or companions who think their indications are in their mind or are generally unsupportive, the absence of support can take a troublesome circumstance and make it harder.
Our high-anxiety life can be added up by another layer of anxiety due to the lack of support. Our symptoms can become worse and leads to more pain and suffering – both physically and emotionally. Just seek support through other means if you ever find yourself in this situation. Join (either online or in your hometown) a fibromyalgia or chronic pain networking/support group, if needed. You can likewise coordinate with other fibromyalgia and imperceptible disease sufferers via web-based networking media and through websites.
If you find any opportunity, try to educate interested friends and family (without becoming defensive or argumentative), it can help change the tide of support and open their eyes to the truth of your condition.
Gluten is often referred to as the “big masquerader” as it has been associated with over 55 diseases. Its symptoms are rarely manifested as digestive issues, but rather as neurological issues like sleep disturbances, fatigue, depression, behavioral issues, cognitive impairment, and pain.
2. Candida Overgrowth
Candida is a genus of yeasts, a small amount of which thrives in the intestines. The problem arises when it overgrows and breaks down the wall of the intestines. Consequently, it penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic mater within the system and causes symptoms like pain, fatigue, and brain fog. General, most patients with fibromyalgia has had Candida overgrowth.
3. Thyroid
Most people with thyroid-related issue are not aware they have one, and up to 90 percent of them suffer from hypothyroidism. In order to measure the function of the thyroid gland, the doctor has to check 6 different blood markers. When assessing and diagnosing thyroid disorders, the physician needs to focus on the optimal range instead of the standard reference range. Getting the thyroid levels in the optimal range typically relieves fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and brain fog.
4. Nutrient Deficiencies
Fibromyalgia patients are often deficient in magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. Interestingly, many doctors claim that boosting magnesium levels has helped them reverse the patient`s condition. The best way to measure your magnesium level is measuring the red blood cell magnesium level that can be tested in any lab.
5. Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Leaky Gut
Did you know that bacteria outnumber the human cells in the body? When they get out of balance, typically as a result of antibiotics and sugar-rich diet, one can lose their ability to both digest and absorb nutrients, especially vitamin B12. Anyone diagnosed with fibromyalgia or any similar chronic disease needs to fix the gut first, as this is a vicious cycle in which everything is closely related.
6. Adrenal Fatigue
Chronic stress, whether real or not, is the major cause of adrenal fatigue. Chronic pain stresses out the adrenal glands, although in most cases it`s not the initial adrenal stressor. Vitamin deficiencies, Candida, food intolerances, and mercury toxicity are the most common adrenal stressors and it is recommended to support the adrenals with adaptogenic herbs until science comes up with the root cause and the way in which it can be fixed.
7. Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by toxic mold. It is estimated that about 25 percent of the population carries the gene that makes one susceptible to the detrimental effects of mycotoxins. Unfortunately, conventional environmental mold testing doesn’t test for mycotoxins but for levels of mold spores only.
8. Mercury Toxicity
Mercury is highly toxic to our bodies and it is considered as potential cause of fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases like neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even cancer. This is the reason why many doctors advise their patients to look for a biological dentist and get their mercury amalgam fillings removed.
9. Glutathione Deficiency
Glutathione is an important antioxidant which plays a critical role in body`s detoxification process. It gets recycled in the body, unless the toxic matter exceeds the normal amounts or the body lacks the enzymes required to produce and recycle glutathione. It has been found that taking glutathione or the precursors like mill thistle and NAC helps treat fatigue.
10. MTHFR Mutations
MTHFR is an enzyme required for methylation, an important metabolic process. During this process both folate and folic acid are converted into active forms so that the body can utilize them. Any MTHFR mutation makes the body less able to methylate and detoxify toxins like lead and mercury. The more mutations one has at this gene, the higher the requirements for folinic acic, methyl-B6 and methyl-B12 in order to maintain the detoxification process running normally.
