Fibromyalgia

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2007

Once apon a time, PMS was all in the mind...
Never judge another until you have walked in their shoes.

And now they are advertising PMDD on TV

Miss Chybil RN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2007

My point in my original post was that I have seen a trend. In my small microcosm of the universe, I have seen the same thing over and over again. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but that's what research is for. I have MVP and hypoglycemia (DM runs rampant in my family). However, I feel that the FM diagnosis is inadequately studied, which is a disservice to the patient. A lot of FM symptoms are chicken or the egg issues, and we need to study more. It's the only way to make progress and help our patients. So, I stand by my position on demographic similarites. When diagnosing a patient, we must look at the whole picture and maybe we can perform a root cause analysis and maybe even find a cure! Let's hope!

I've had fibromyalgia for the last 7 years. I have been doing a lot of research on my own trying to find an underlying cause. "We don't know what it is..." just doesn't cut it for me. People have written on this thread they notice a correlation between FM and depression. I have depression, but I don't know if it's because I hurt all the time, or if the depression actually causes the pain.

My doctor has been treating me with Lunesta for the last couple of years and that has reduced my pain level from about a 7 to, on most days, to a 3. I can handle it, but I do get exhausted quite easily. I have a level 7 pain about two to three back-to-back days a month. It seems to follow a pattern, but then the pattern changes. (The pain will come at the middle of the month for a few months, then it will change to the end of the month for another few months, then it will change again.) I have earned a Bachelor's degree in this time and am working on my BSN at the moment, so I am not incapacitated and am certainly not looking for disability - as some of the earlier posters have suggested they think other women with FM are doing. Pain medications do not work, so there is no use to drug seek. (Maybe, if one were zombied out that would relieve the pain, but what's the point in living like that? I guess one would have to be a drug addict to answer that question.)

I'm thinking the cause may be hormonal. I think it may have a lot to do with a lack of Growth Hormone. GH is manufactured mainly in deep sleep. If you don't get there, it won't be made. High carbohydrate diets inhibit GH and high protein diets stimulate GH. Lack of GH causes general body aches and fatigue.

A couple years ago, before I knew about GH, I tried the Adkins diet and I was amazed at how great I felt. I had absolutely no pain and I was my old energetic self again! I couldn't stay on the diet, though, and when the pain came back I convinced myself the pain relief was a fluke. Since learning about GH in A & P II, I have decided to do an expirement. I am going to start limiting my carb intake to see what effect it has. If there is no effect, I may try the "no-carb" thing again and see if I get the same results as before.

All of this begs the question as to why I could eat whatever I wanted for 39 years and then this happen to me out of the blue. This makes me wonder if there is no dietary correlation. I did make one big change seven years ago, just prior to the onset of these symptoms - I quit smoking and gained 30 pounds. I am now 172 lbs., 5'7". Maybe, I eat more carbs than I used to? I don't know, but then what caused my sleeping problems? Eating carbs? It doesn't make sense. I'll let you know how my expirement goes.

I'm also wondering if there is a correlation between fibromyalgia and PPI use. If anyone notices this, please, please, post your observations. I started using Prevacid 7 years ago, as well due to a hiatal hernia. This could be a likely suspect in that a recent study suggests PPIs inhibit calcium absorbtion. Low calcium does weird things to muscle tissue. I have tried to quit taking these, but I can't. I get stomach acid in my esophagus, nose and ears if I don't. Believe me, that is NOT fun. Another thing I would like to know, is if you notice a correlation between an elevated BMI and FM.

For the doubters of fibromyalgia pain, let me tell you, it is very real and it is very disheartening not to know where it is coming from. Imagine having the flu, sans nasea and vomitting, everyday. That's what it feels like and it is even more disheartening to tell someone - especially a health professional - you have this disease and to have them look at you like your making it up, or to dismiss it outright because of their own ignorance of the disease and their own prejudices.

gr8rnpjt, RN · Jul 25, 2007

OK, this is an old thread, but I feel a need to clarify, so please indulge me.
I understand where you are coming from more clearly and I thank you for clarifying your previous post.

gr8rnpjt, RN · Jul 25, 2007

I've had fibromyalgia for the last 7 years. I have been doing a lot of research on my own trying to find an underlying cause. Pain medications do not work, so there is no use to drug seek.
You made some very good points. I am tempted to try the Adkins diet to see if it helps!

gr8rnpjt, RN · Jul 25, 2007

No I will just know Im really living, and I just now woke up a little while ago. Boy am I really alive.

I was going to comment, but clearly nothing would get through.

AndiERRN · Jul 25, 2007

omg!!!! i so agree!!!! i'm sitting here reading these and thinking... my feet, calves and the back of my thighs still hurt from yesterday! and i was so tired last night i slept wrong on my right arm! do i have fm? no but i bet there are plenty of md's out there who would be happy to write me a script and label me!

what i need to do is get off the computer and off my butt and go for a power walk and work out the kinks! but that's not everyone there are patients who have muscle aches and pains that are real and they don't need a quick label or to be judged.

we see alot of patients in my er that are there for pain medication and when you ask for their history the first thing they list is fm. they also have run through several anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills and "nothing seems to work any more" most of my co-workers just roll their eyes and say "drug seeker". that may be, but i try to have empathy and accept each one at face value. is the medical field feeding in to this by over diagnoising patients and just giving them the magic pill?

i'm off for that walk now!!....

andi errn

48RVRN · Jul 27, 2007

omg!!!! i so agree!!!! i'm sitting here reading these and thinking... my feet, calves and the back of my thighs still hurt from yesterday! and i was so tired last night i slept wrong on my right arm! do i have fm? no but i bet there are plenty of md's out there who would be happy to write me a script and label me!
what i need to do is get off the computer and off my butt and go for a power walk and work out the kinks! but that's not everyone there are patients who have muscle aches and pains that are real and they don't need a quick label or to be judged.
we see alot of patients in my er that are there for pain medication and when you ask for their history the first thing they list is fm. they also have run through several anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills and "nothing seems to work any more" most of my co-workers just roll their eyes and say "drug seeker". that may be, but i try to have empathy and accept each one at face value. is the medical field feeding in to this by over diagnoising patients and just giving them the magic pill?
i'm off for that walk now!!....
andi errn

i agree that there are far to many doctors that will slap a label on people!! thanks for pointing this out!

could we just try a few less pills and a little more exercise with some of the folks that come to us? not all, certainly, but at least some???

Miss Chybil RN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

I agree that there are far to many doctors that will slap a label on people!! Thanks for pointing this out!
Could we just TRY a few less pills and a little more exercise with some of the folks that come to us? Not all, certainly, but at least some???

Exercise definitely helps, but it is not the magic bullet, either. Seeing as we all need exercise, anyway, hey let's go for it! I exercise much more now than I ever did before I started having fibromyalgia symptoms. It does help, but it does not cure.

The labeling is not just done by the doctors. So, how about we stop that first and make a concerted effort in finding out what causes this DISEASE?

mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I · Jul 28, 2007

Speaking of Fibromyalgia,

I was filing a evidence of Insurabilty for my work's life ins policy and there were four obvious options for higher rates, they were

1>Do you skydive

2>Do you scubadive regularly

3>Do you Race cars or boats

and

4>Have you ever been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia

:rolleyes: The last one caught me off guard

33-weeker · Jul 29, 2007

I love these "fashionable" diagnoses
Fibromyalgia
Chronic fatigue (Epstein Roseanne barr)
Hypoglycemia (not diabetes)
Mitral valve prolapse
I knew I was in trouble in the ER when a young woman came in and listed ALL of these as her past history.
Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!

As someone who was diagnosed via an 8-hour GTT with hypoglycemia, I can attest that it is REAL (not to say someone can't claim to have it who doesn't). Shall I come pass out in your unit from a BS in the basement to show you?

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2007

Speaking of Fibromyalgia,
I was filing a evidence of Insurabilty for my work's life ins policy and there were four obvious options for higher rates, they were
1>Do you skydive
2>Do you scubadive regularly
3>Do you Race cars or boats
and
4>Have you ever been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia
The last one caught me off guard

I can say yes to number one, no to the rest. I can understand why on all questions.

Monica RN,BSN · Jul 31, 2007

i have been diagnosed with fm for over 10 years.
a. i am not a hypochondriac b. i am not depressed...i am very happy c. i do not take any pain meds. i have learned to deal with my pain. it is not the same as simple aches and pains...i wish that was all it was...but if one sits and stays in bed, wallows in self-pity...then yes they will feel greater pain and be depressed.
i know this is old, but i am just finding this thread and i can identify with soo much that i see and read here. i have fm and a pretty severe case at that. my pressure points are very sensitive with very minimal pressure applied. the pain is real and not in any way imaginary. i do take antidepressants and i do take narcotic pain meds. the common rx for fm is oxycontin. i have oxycodone 30 mg 4 times a day. that sounds like enough to kill a horse, but it is what works well for me. i am able to manage my day well with no worries of being drowsy, no worry with driving and no worry of any chance for working impaired. my body is very used to my pain regimine and i can function well as managed. i have some very bad days where i can hardly walk and stand up straight for at least 30 min before i can be standing up properly. for those fm doubters out there.. please simply keep in mind that pain is truly subjective and you can not even begin to imagine how dibilitating fm can be.

to those of you that have fm, i say, "get out of bed and off the couch and go to work!" it may hurt like heck, but you will feel worse if you do not move. in addition, "stay off the sleeping meds and narcotics!"
thank you for those kind words.......
i have been out of work for 6 weeks now... i needed that kick in the a$$ to get a job already, i do feel better when i get out and do something..

so silybo...there are some of us with fm that have never visited an er for pain control for fm and do not plan to do so in the future. do not lump all of into the same basket. it is a real shame to read how so many nurses have lost their compassion, because of a few frequent fliers.

well said.. i have never visited an er for pain related concerns. i agree that one cannot lump us all into one basket. each individual is their own person, with different ways of dealing with their pain physically, emotionally, chemically or whatever works for that person.

enough said... have a good day to all :)