I resolved in my “What would I do differently” article to celebrate my little blogging triumphs more. I think that this keeps the focus on writing good, fun content instead of being distracted by money, and it makes blogging fun. It makes it easier to blog when you know someone is reading what you write. Plus it’s fun to make your life a series of mini parties. Today was another mini celebration for me. This article got my first non spam comments on a blog ever. Yes, I’m pathetic I know, but I’m very excited. Thanks to everyone who posted and read, and wrote the great articles from Problogger.

I don’t get many comments on this blog, and by many, I mean any, but if I did, I’m sure at least some of them would say “fibromyalgia isn’t funny”. I know, I live with it, but I still like to laugh and make other people laugh. So I’m attempting to provide useful information along with my own insights. For a more complete list of 63 symptoms click here. Now on with the article.

“The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread, diffused pain, often including heightened sensitivity of the skin (Allodynia), achiness around joints, and nerve pain. Chronic sleep disturbances are also characteristic of fibromyalgia, and some studies suggest that these sleep disturbances are the result of a sleep disorder called alpha wave interrupted sleep pattern, a condition in which deep sleep is frequently interrupted by bursts of brain activity similar to wakefulness. Many patients experience “brain fog”, also known as “fibrofog”, which is objectively proven abnormally slow brain waves and objectively proven cognitive deficits. Many experts suspect that “brain fog” is directly related to the sleep disturbances experienced by sufferers of fibromyalgia.
Interpretation: Apparently going years without deep sleep makes it difficult to think clearly sometimes. Imagine that.
Other symptoms often attributed to fibromyalgia (possibly due to another comorbid disorder) are physical fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, genitourinary symptoms such as those associated with the chronic bladder condition interstitial cystitis, dermatological disorders, headaches, myoclonic twitches, and symptomatic hypoglycemia. Although it is common in people with fibromyalgia for pain to be widespread, it may also be localized in areas such as the shoulders, neck, back, hips, or other areas. Not all patients have all symptoms.

Interpretation: Fibromyalgia messes up your body, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, depending on the person.

Fibromyalgia can start as a result of some trauma (such as a traffic accident) or illness, but there is currently no known strong correlation between any specific type of trigger and the subsequent initiation of fibromyalgia. Symptoms can have a slow onset, and many patients have mild symptoms beginning in childhood, such as growing pains. Symptoms are often aggravated by unrelated illness or changes in the weather. They can become more tolerable or less tolerable throughout daily or yearly cycles; however, many people with fibromyalgia find that, at least some of the time, the condition prevents them from performing normal activities such as driving a car or walking up stairs. The syndrome does not cause inflammation as is presented in arthritis, but anti-inflammatory treatments, such as Ibuprofen and Iontophoresis, are known to temporarily reduce pain symptoms.

Interpretation: We have no idea where the crap it comes from.

The following factors are said to temporarily increase the suffering of patients:

Cold weather, especially when damp
Malnutrition, hunger, or starvation
Physical activity of any kind, including minor tasks such as writing.
Some patients have reported a near-complete remission of their symptoms within several weeks of traveling to a warm, or tropical climate, and the complete renewal of symptoms upon returning.”.

Interpretation: Physical activity of any kind? I’m the queen of sarcasm and pessimism (I really am, I have a crown), but why do the dr.’s always tell us to exercise. You can move, try to move as much as possible, you should move. Although that excuse will come in handy next time I’m supposed to vacuum “Is that physical activity? I’m allergic to that. “Starvation is bad for fibro, because it is just so healthy for everyone else.

This article is licensed under the “GNU Free Documentation Licenserel=”nofollow”“. It uses material from the Wikipedia article “Fibromyalgia .”

Navigating the world of medicine can be confusing and frustrating. I’ve tried to make it easier by adding my own interpretation to this fibromyalgia article in the simplest language possible. Any questions or additions? Please leave a comment and let me know.

“Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS) is an increasingly recognized chronic pain illness characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue and sleep disturbances. The most common sites of pain include the neck, back, shoulders, pelvic girdle and hands, but any body part can be involved. Fibromyalgia patients experience a range of symptoms of varying intensities that wax and wane over time.”

Interpretation: Fibromyalgia hurts

“The pain of FM is profound, widespread and chronic. It knows no boundaries, migrating to all parts of the body and varying in intensity. FM pain has been described as deep muscular aching, throbbing, twitching, stabbing and shooting pain that defines the very existence of the Fibromyalgia patient. Neurological complaints such as numbness, tingling and burning are often present and add to the discomfort of the patient. The severity of the pain and stiffness is often worse in the morning. Aggravating factors that affect pain include cold/humid weather, non-restorative sleep, physical and mental fatigue, excessive physical activity, physical inactivity, anxiety and stress.”

Interpretation: It hurts a lot.

“In today’s world many people complain of fatigue; however, the fatigue of FM is much more than being tired. It is an all-encompassing exhaustion that interferes with even the simplest daily activities. It feels like every drop of energy has been drained from the body, which at times can leave the patient with a limited ability to function both mentally and physically.”

Interpretation: We aren’t just being lazy. Sometimes just putting on shoes is a full day for us.

“Many Fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder that prevents them from getting deep, restful, restorative sleep. Medical researchers have documented specific and distinctive abnormalities in the stage 4 deep sleep of FM patients. During sleep, individuals with FM are constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity, limiting the amount of time they spend in deep sleep.”

Interpretation: We need sleep, but we don’t wake up feeling rested.

“Additional symptoms may include: irritable bowel and bladder, headaches and migraines, restless legs syndrome (periodic limb movement disorder), impaired memory and concentration, skin sensitivities and rashes, dry eyes and mouth, anxiety, depression, ringing in the ears, dizziness, vision problems, Raynaud’s Syndrome, neurological symptoms and impaired coordination.”

Interpretation: Lots of other things go wrong too.

“It is not contagious, and recent studies suggest that people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed. It affects more females than males, with a ratio of 9:1 by ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria. Fibromyalgia is seen in 3% to 6% of the general population, and is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50. The nature of fibromyalgia is not well understood, and there is no cure but there are treatments available.”

Interpretation: Some math stuff that means that fibromyalgia most often occurs in women between 20-50. Other people can’t catch this disease, there is no cure but there is hope.

This article is licensed under the “GNU Free Documentation License“. It uses material from the Wikipedia article “Fibromyalgia Syndrome.”