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Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The latest articles on Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from About.com
Treating Special Sleep Problems of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A new study of the drug sodium oxybate for the special sleep problems of fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) really caught my attention for several reasons:
1. The 2 conditions were studied together. FMS and ME/CFS are strikingly similar, and so far the medical community is torn as to whether they're completely separate, closely related, or variations of the same condition. Regardless, studies have shown that we have the same problems with sleep. Some of us sleep for 18 hours a day while some might sleep for just 4, but what we all have in common is that we don't sleep well. Our deep sleep stages (3 and 4) are interrupted by bursts of alpha waves, which really shouldn't be there -- alpha waves mean the brain is awake. The end result is, no matter how much we sleep, we can't truly be well rested. Ever. Studying both conditions simultaneously recognizes this strong commonality, which could be a major contributing factor in both conditions. My personal opinion is that FMS and ME/CFS are different points on the same disease spectrum, so I believe pursuing what they have in common gets us closer to the root of the matter. 2. It ties our sleep abnormalities to narcolepsy. The tie to narcolepsy really intrigues me because I've noticed several narcolepsy symptoms in myself, especially when I eat gluten. In narcolepsy, the brain is unable to regulate the sleep-wake cycles. It leaves you struggling to wake up and extremely tired during the day. (The sleep attacks most of us associate with narcolepsy are actually quite rare.) When I first read the full symptoms of narcolepsy, my first thought was, "It sounds like ME/CFS." (Read more: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Narcolepsy?) It's long seemed to me that some people's improvement on sodium oxybate -- a narcolepsy drug -- strengthened the association between these illnesses. 3. It was pretty darned successful. I get really sick of studies showing a drug made 25% of people better, and the drug companies advertise it like it's a cure-all. In this study, though, a majority of people improved:
Those pain numbers are impressive, but the fatigue percentage? That's huge. We have precious little that's proven to fight the kinds of fatigue we get, especially in ME/CFS. However, it's important to note that more than 1/3 of participants (30 out of 85) dropped out because of side effects. About Sodium Oxybate Sodium oxybate is a central nervous system depressant known to improve stage 3 and 4 sleep. It's the active ingredient in Xyrem, which can help reduce daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in narcoleptics. Jazz Pharmaceuticals submitted an application to the FDA to approve this drug for FMS. It's already fairly common off label for both FMS and ME/CFS, but this is the first time it's been studied in ME/CFS. However, sodium oxybate comes with a lot of baggage -- especially a risk of addiction and abuse. It's classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, so you can only get it if you meet strict eligibility requirements and your doctor is required to monitor you closely when you're on it. That's on top of possible side effects, which are a concern with any treatment. Learn more:
Have you taken sodium oxybate? How did it work for you? What do you think of this study? Leave your comments below! Learn more or join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Photo © Andersen Ross/Getty Images Treating Special Sleep Problems of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 06:00:13. Permalink | Comment | Email this Do Fibromyalgia Pain Killers Make You a Likely Crime Victim?
Blog Classic: July 27, 2009 How do you dispose of your pain-med bottles? Just a few weeks ago, my husband mentioned that it probably wasn't a good idea to throw my Vicodin empties in the recycle bin. He's a smart guy, my husband -- a few days ago, I read that local criminals are targeting people who they know take narcotic pain killers. They showed up at one elderly woman's door, threatened her, and told them to hand over her oxycodone. And who's to say they won't be back for more? How can we protect ourselves from crimes like this? Here are a few ideas:
I'm sure there are other precautions we could take, so be sure to let us know about any that occur to you -- just leave a comment below! And, if someone does try to steal your pain killers, LET THEM HAVE 'EM! You don't want to get yourself beat up -- or worse -- because you resisted. Learn more or join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Photo © Jeffrey Hamilton/Getty Images Do Fibromyalgia Pain Killers Make You a Likely Crime Victim? originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 16:30:57. Permalink | Comment | Email this Blueberries for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Food of the Week: Blueberries Blueberries are showing up in all kinds of products these days because of research showing how healthy they are. They offer a lot of benefits that those of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome need. Research shows that blueberries may improve:
Blueberries are also fairly low in calories for such a sweet-tasting fruit. I've seen a few claims online that blueberries are in the nightshade family, which exacerbate pain symptoms in some people, but I can't find any credible sources to back up these claims. (If you believe blueberries are a nightshade, please provide sources for your information.) I like to just munch on blueberries, or put them on ice cream or yogurt, and of course they're good in just about any dessert. Some really good blueberry juices are out, too, but they can have a lot of sweetener, which makes them no longer a low-cal snack. How do you like blueberries? Do you eat them frequently? Leave your comments below! Learn more or join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK Photo © Jamie Grill/Getty Images Blueberries for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 06:00:08. Permalink | Comment | Email this Garlic for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Food of the Week: Garlic OK, so it makes your breath bad -- that's a small price to pay for a food that reduces inflammation, kills nasty bugs in your system, and tastes great on toast. Reducing Inflammation Research shows that garlic inhibits enzymes that can lead to inflammation, and thereby help with illnesses like asthma and arthritis. Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (part of the immune system). For years, experts have doubted that fibromyalgia involved inflammation, but some new evidence has suggested that it does, and many of our common comorbid conditions are inflammatory. Anti-inflammatory drugs can be really hard on your liver and digestive system, so it's important to have alternative ways to fight inflammation. Antibacterial & Antiviral Properties Studies have shown that garlic can kill all kinds of nasty bugs, including:
It's also been shown to lower levels of a chemical that helps make your body a good host for viruses, including HIV, resulting in lower viral loads. Other Benefits Garlic is also good for your heart and can lower your risk of some kinds of cancer. (Onions have some of the same compounds, however, and may be more effective against cancer.) Garlic in Your Diet For the health benefits, you're much better off using fresh garlic than garlic powder. If you're not accustomed to cooking with fresh garlic, here's a great article from About.com Home Cooking Guide Peggy Trowbridge Filippone: Garlic Cooking Tips & Hints. You'll also find links there to a lot more information on using garlic. I love garlic, but I do tend to be lazy and grab the powdered stuff too often. It's not hard to use fresh, so now I've set a goal to use it more often. My kids are begging to put in a vegetable garden next spring, so maybe I'll get really adventuresome and plant a few bulbs. If you don't like the taste of garlic, you can take it in supplement form. However, be sure to look for the odorless kind -- otherwise, you'll taste it (and smell like it) all day. Do you use garlic to improve your health? Have you noticed any results? How do you like to cook with garlic? Leave your comments below! Learn more or join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK Photo © Crystal Cartier Photography Garlic for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 06:00:08. Permalink | Comment | Email this Can a Gluten-Free Diet Eliminate Symptoms of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Q: I've seen claims that people who went on a gluten-free diet have lost all symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Is this possible? What's going on? A: This is definitely a topic that's coming up a lot. So far, we don't have enough research to know for sure what's happening in these cases. I suspect we've got a few things happening:
Since this is still a big gray area, we have no idea which category, if any, we may fit into -- so I think it's important for all of us to go through an elimination diet to see what food issues we may have. Also, as I learned from experience, it's probably smart to repeat the diet every few years. The first time I did it, I found nothing. However, a couple of years later I developed gluten intolerance. For me, cutting out gluten hasn't impacted my fibromyalgia symptoms -- it only cleared up my gluten-related symptoms, which were digestive issues, mouth sores, intense fatigue and narcolepsy symptoms. Do you have food sensitivities? Find out: What's your experience with eliminating gluten or other foods from your diet? What do you think is behind some people's dramatic food-related improvements? Leave your comments below! Learn more or join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Photo © Jodie Coston/Getty Images Can a Gluten-Free Diet Eliminate Symptoms of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Saturday, July 17th, 2010 at 06:00:20. Permalink | Comment | Email this Dehydration & Heatstroke With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Are you staying cool and hydrated during this hot weather? Those of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome should take extra precautions to avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion/heat stroke. Most of us have some form of temperature sensitivity, which can mean that we get overheated easily and our bodies just won't cool down like they should. That's believed to be because of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, or dysautonomia. The autonomic nervous system controls homeostasis -- things like temperature regulation, heart rate, blood pressure, and physical responses to stress. Sure seems to fit, doesn't it? It's important to know the symptoms of dehydration or heat stroke so you can keep it from getting too bad. Some of them may be hard to distinguish from your regular symptoms. They include:
Water is great for preventing dehydration, but once you are dehydrated you need something that includes electrolytes, such as:
Staying hydrated can help you avoid heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke. About.com First Aid Guide Rod Brouhard has articles that include symptoms and treatment of both problems: If you know you're going to be in the heat for a long time, you might want to try a cooling product. Have you had problems with dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke? Do you take preventative steps? Has it been harder to prevent these things since you've been sick? Leave your comments below! Learn more or join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK Photo © Darryl Leniuk/Getty Images Dehydration & Heatstroke With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 06:00:40. Permalink | Comment | Email this 15 Immunological Terms Everyone With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Should Know While researchers have yet to pin down the exact causes and mechanisms involved in chronic fatigue syndrome, most of them are now agree that the condition involves significant problems with the immune system, and that immune dysfunction leads to many of the characteristic symptoms. The immune system is complex, and research can be hard to understand. To help you get a better handle on what some of the terminology means, here are definitions of 15 immunological terms related to chronic fatigue syndrome:
Did you learn some useful information from this? Are there any other terms you'd like see defined? Leave your comments below! Learn more or join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK 15 Immunological Terms Everyone With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Should Know originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 06:00:07. Permalink | Comment | Email this Click HERE for ImmuneSupport.com Immune Support is the best place I know for information on Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. They have the latest research on FMS , products to help you cope, and a chat room where you can swap information with other fibromyalgics
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