Welcome!
I hope to fill this site with information.
for now, it is in progress. Thank you
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International Awareness Day May 12
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome & Gulf War Syndrome
Ribbon- crimson on one side and pink on the other
First described in 1816 by W.Balford, U of Edinburgh and recognized by the AMA in 1987 as a unique disease FM and related or over lapping diseases are "very" real and disabling to many who suffer. It effects 6% of the worlds population (presumed as high as 10%), over 3.7 million in the
FM is often accompanied by or associated with CFIDS, MPS, MCSS, TP, ADD, MS and Lupus. Science shows a 3x increase in Substance P, a neurotransmitter associated with pain. Low blood oxygen in the brain, changes in serotonin, dopamine and other brain chemistry, decrease in NK, low growth hormones, decrease in cortisol, changes in hormones associated with the hypothalamus, limbic system, thalamus and pituitary glands, elevated prolactin, low vasopressin, low or irregulars levels of T3 & T4 are some of the more relevant things found over the last ten years.
FM is usually diagnosed after eliminating other possibilities and testing for the presence of 11 of 18 specific tender points on the four quadrants of the body. Children and teens can have as low as 5 of the 18 points along with other symptoms to be classified as having FM.
Each person seems to respond differently to medication and treatment so not one protocol is valid for most people with FM. Stretching is important, so is mental relaxation for controlling minor pains. Exercise should be paced, as too much can deplete the blood oxygen rather than increase it, leading to dizziness, a rebound effect or flair.
In my search over the last few years I have collected links to info that might be helpful to you and your doctor to work together on a plan of treatment that might work for you. Keep and open mind when reading some of the sites, there is something to be learned from each site, but use common sense and work "with" our doctor (educate him/her if necessary) in deciding what might be helpful for you. For many a combination of things works best.
Some discretions of FM pain-
The movement of the muscles feels like pumice stone between two pieces of silk, ripping and shredding.
"Migraine of the body"
Very heavy, rusty suit of armor - can't even lift and arm to scratch my nose
Tin man syndrome
Some ideas for bumper stickers -
Fog happens..........
Fibromyalgia survivor
If you think PMS is bad, you haven't seen FMS
Fibromyalgia......pain in the neck.....the shoulders.....the back FM another word for pain
FM LINKS
SHN-Sapient Health Network * Immune Support * Fibromyalgia-Ability * Fibromyalgia Network * MARRC * Roache-fm * FM / Dr.Devlin Starlanyl * Resource FIBROMYALGIA Survivors * FM / Pain Journal * CFS / about.com * TransformBreathing * WellNow Project * CFIDS CFS FMS ME GWS Directory * Merck Manual * FM & CF Dr.Goldstein * CFIDS CFS FM ME * Chronic Fatigue unmasked * NIH /NIAMS * Wilson's Syndrome * Arthritis Foundation * Am.College of Rheumatology * DoctorPage.com * Oregon fibro foundation * Cold Body Page * CDC * Guided tour: Visible Human * Feng-shui * Visible Human Project * Marilyn's Recovery Page * Pat McClendons * Search health - General * Kombucha home page * Kombucha * Cannibus buyers club * Essential Nutrition * Co-Cure * FM Survey * Dealing with FM - alternative Med. * Anatomy of a pain summit * Reiki Communities * Counterstrain therapy * Stretch and Flexibility * FM assoc. Gr.Washington * Visible Human at NPAC * Calypte Biomed. * Lifematters * Qigong Webpage * Worldwide wellness * Stretching * SleepNet * alternative Medicine * Invisible Woman * Guide to med & disability res. * SSI law office * French-Assoc.de la Fibromyalgie du Quebec * SH&P Message forum - Fibromyalg... * Dr.John C. Lowe * U of Cinn., dept of family * Chronic Pain Relief Coalition * FatFree * Chelation *
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