Archive for the ‘Fibromyalgia’ Category

Why can’t they diagnosis me with Fibromyalgia?

Friday, March 5th, 2010

It has come to my attention, which I have never realized how much feedback I get from my clients and their success with my programs. Some of these are clients that have never known that they had fibromyalgia, due to their doctors never bringing it up as an option related to their illness.

It seems no matter what my clients have told their doctors about a possibility about fibromyalgia; it seems it has been getting harder and harder for their doctors to diagnosis them.

However, it may not just be your doctor being stubborn, about the diagnosis.  Fibromyalgia is very hard to diagnosis, and research done by the National Fibromyalgia Association, shows it can even take up to 5 years to come up with the diagnosis.

(more…)

Fibromyalgia and Infection – Is There a Link?

Friday, January 1st, 2010

It seems that every day more information is coming out about fibromyalgia and its underlying cause(s).  The only constant it seems, is that all of the theories seem to be, at least right now, just that – theories.

This isn’t surprising to me, since fibromyalgia was only coined in the 1980s and even today, many supposed professionals in the medical community still don’t recognize this disorder as anything other than “mental” in origin.
 
This never fails to surprise me.  Surely these doctors hear first-hand what many of my clients relay to me.  They have chronic (lasting longer than two weeks) pain, overwhelming fatigue or a combination of both.

This, in turn, affects not just themselves but their families.  Imagine that even the simplest chores around the house have to be well planned out and all that can be disrupted if the sufferer isn’t having a “good day.”

While the cause of the pain and/or fatigue is still in theory state, most professionals believe that the brain becomes extra sensitive to pain signals.  What most of us may not notice or at worst take as an irritation can cause those with fibromyalgia unbelievable pain.

Why is this?  What could cause this chronic widespread condition?  Infection is now making its way to the forefront of theories.  In a recent study on sinusitis, almost ALL chronic sinusitis sufferers also reported symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Other studies on hepatitis C, chronic Lyme disease and HIV also point to a much greater incidence of fibromyalgia.

Even Fifth’s disease has made its way to the table.  This is linked to mothers in close proximity to their children with full blown symptoms.  With women reporting symptoms more than men, it does make one wonder what other infections could be passed from child to parent and then causing fibromyalgia.

Yet another theory is that vaccinations for certain diseases carry their own inherent risk for contributing to fibromyalgia.

If these theories hold true, it’s yet another example of how the body, in attempting to protect itself from disease, actually becomes the enemy in some other form.  Signals get crossed in the brain and the body actually ends up attacking itself to some degree.

The problem is that even if conclusive evidence emerged tomorrow to show that infection is the source of fibromyalgia, the treatment for the initial infection does not alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Treatments which have shown promise include exercise (they need to be specific though, as some people with fibromyalgia report exercise to be a trigger to the pain), anti inflammatory drugs, anti-depressant drugs and anti-seizure medications.

Many prefer not to take medicine as even over the counter medication has side effects.

I highly recommend my all natural Fibromyalgia program.  It has delivered relief of fibromyalgia symptoms to many of my clients and my hope is that it can help you as well!

EL331002

Fibro Fog – Is This a Form of Dementia?

Monday, November 9th, 2009

I am overjoyed whenever I hear from clients who tell me that my program has helped change their health for the better and in so doing, also made their lives much happier.

This is especially true of my Fibromyalgia program feedback. The same theme is often repeated – my program helped where nothing else did, starting with the fact that I consider fibromyalgia to be a medical condition.

It is no longer surprising to me that many doctors STILL don’t treat fibromyalgia, whose main symptoms include chronic pain and fatigue, as the disease that it is. They often misdiagnose it as depression (this is a symptom of fibromyalgia – not the cause), if they even diagnose it at all. Many still believe that the patient is making it up or it’s some sort of psychosomatic cause.

The daughter of one such client wrote to me, telling me that her mother, who was suffering from some form of dementia and was being tested for

Alzheimer’s was also suffering from fibromyalgia. The pain medication prescribed wasn’t working and seemed to actually contribute to the mental confusion her mother was experiencing.

After trying my program, not only did the painful joint pain and chronic fatigue dissipate but now suddenly, her mother’s short term memory loss and language lapses were a thing of the past.

How could a program intended for one condition treat another? In short, this can happen with many of my programs – many of them are designed to provide the body with the proper amounts of oxygen. It’s understandable that more oxygen to one area will also mean more oxygen to another.

In this instance, however, it’s more than that. This is because another symptom of fibromyalgia, while not as well known, can still be just as exasperating to deal with. This is called fibro fog. Sufferers of fibro fog can experience one or more of the following: short-term memory loss, clouded thinking, intermittent language lapses and difficulty concentrating.

What causes this? Just as there is no defined cause for fibromyalgia, fibro fog remains a bit of a mystery.

Experts do have theories, however.

These include: lack of oxygen to the brain, lack of delta wave sleep (deepest level of sleep) and side effects of certain medications (among them, ironically, medicines to treat fibromyalgia pain).

Lack of sleep is generally contributed to the pain of fibromyalgia. When this deepest level of sleep cannot be achieved, the brain is unable to sort through all of the new things the conscious mind has learned throughout the day and can result in difficulty with memory recall. It’s not actually the memory that’s affected, it’s the brain’s ability to recall the learned info that is affected.

While the above symptoms of fibro fog do seem to mimic Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, one should not that fibro fog is a physical symptom of fibromyalgia and is not a degenerative disease. This means that if one can clear up fibromyalgia symptoms, this one will dissipate as well and “normal” thinking will occur again.

Some ways to do this include: Getting enough sleep. If this is difficult, try using a fan or other form of “white noise.” Also, start taking notes – carry around a small notebook or PDA and take notes often. Not only will you have the information available later but the act of writing helps commit the thought to memory. Repeating words is also quite helpful.

Seeking a professional’s advice is also recommended, mainly to rule out Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Avoid distractions as much as possible – find a quiet place to work.

Use your brain! Engage in games like crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and chess in order to help concentration and memory.

Exercise is also highly recommended. Get your blood pumping to get that oxygen to the brain! Keep in mind, however, that moderation is key.

Over exercising can actually make fibromyalgia pain worse.

This is why I highly recommend my Fibromyalgia program. The breathing and relaxation exercises are specifically designed to treat fibromyalgia symptoms. It’s all natural and guaranteed to work! And of course if you suffer from any kind of dementia, my dementia program is just about to be launched.

El331002

Fibromyalgia – What is the Emotional Toll This Disorder Takes?

Monday, October 19th, 2009

It’s no surprise to most of you by now that I take great interest in feedback from my clients and also potential clients. I have received overwhelming feedback from many who have either tried my products, expecting little to no relief (due to the failure of so many other products they’ve tried before mine).

I really take to heart the feedback telling me that not only where my products easy to use with no nasty side effects, but that they also did the one thing so many other products promise but fail to deliver – they brought relief and improved my clients’ health.

Additionally, I have received questions from people curious, but jaded, almost desperately asking why my products can help.

While my products have helped many with high blood pressure, weight loss and headaches to name a few, the overwhelming despair has been with certain conditions which have so afflicted people that over time, that the physical drain has evolved into a major depression.

Fibromyalgia is one such condition. Fibromyalgia is an elusive disease because each of its symptoms alone can be attributed to other conditions. Symptoms include pain in muscles, joints and other soft tissues (including the nerves and face), extreme fatigue, sensitivity to touch, bowel disturbances, chest pain, vision problems, dizziness and difficulty concentrating.

The difference between Fibromyalgia and many of the conditions whose symptoms it can share is that Fibromyalgia officially has no known cause. This is why so many doctors are quick to dismiss the condition as something else and when that eventually fails, they will attribute it to “all in your head.”

Would it surprise you to learn that it takes an average of five years to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia? FIVE YEARS!!! I have difficulty imagining five hours of the chronic symptoms listed above, let alone years.

This is why the emotional toll is so great. Imagine not wanting to leave your house to work or do any other type of social interaction due to the fact that your pain response is so heightened that even shaking hands or the casual pat on the back is unbearable.

We are social animals so that alone can bring about depression. Even if you were to “manage” they symptoms enough to be around others – how long before you’ve alienated yourself from others because they either don’t understand your condition or as so often happens, your misery is contagious and people feel like they need a break from you?

Hopefully, all of you have an excellent support system of people in place but even with that, pain is a negative feeling and quite naturally brings about negative feelings such as frustration, sadness, anger and hopelessness.

Keep in mind this doesn’t happen overnight. Just as fibromyalgia is a chronic condition which oftentimes worsens over time, depression can build and build and before you know it, your depression and your fibromyalgia are so intertwined that you can’t separate the two.

I take you back now to my first comments about feedback from my clients. My programs have helped so many, I am completely confident in recommending them to you. If fibromyalgia is taking both a physical and emotional toll on your health, please give my Fibromyalgia Program a chance to make a change!

EL331002

Fibromyalgia – How Does Diet Contribute?

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Fibromyalgia, a disease whose symptoms include chronic fatigue (regardless of the amount of sleep attained), muscle and joint pain, has no known cause. It affects up to 5% of the population, mostly women.

With so many people afflicted with this disorder, I am amazed at the number of my clients who have told me that they had to see several doctors before one would actually acknowledge that fibromyalgia is even a health condition.

Not only did they often times not have the support of friends and family, they were then subjected to “experts” who, at best, summed the condition up to depression. They were then prescribed various antidepressants, all with serious side effects.

There’s nothing worse than knowing something is wrong with you and being told that it’s “all in your head.”

The correspondence I have received has been heart breaking, with the exception of the gratitude expressed by my clients over the fact that my Fibromyalgia program has helped them significantly.

Many have asked if there is something in their diet or environment that could be causing this condition. Emerging evidence indicates that diet can, in fact play a very large role.

While diet is not thought to cause or even trigger fibromyalgia like say, migraine headaches, the growing belief is that fibromyalgia symptoms are exacerbated by other conditions which can be caused or triggered by certain foods. Once these conditions subside, the result is that fibromyalgia symptoms dissipate.

The thing to keep in mind is that fibromyalgia loves diversity. Just as not everyone is affected to the same extremes, there is no all-inclusive list of foods to avoid. The key is to take note of certain known foods that affect many with fibromyalgia and test to see if your condition is eased over time as you test removing these foods from your diet.

Some foods experts now say to avoid are Aspartame and MSG. They are known to excite certain pain receptors which for fibromyalgia sufferers are already heightened.

Removing caffeine from one’s diet has also proven to be effective. While many are tempted to drink caffeine drinks for the “pep,” it can actually make fatigue worse.

Dairy foods also make the list, although this is controversial. Some believe strengthened bones can actually ease joint pain.

Also included are yeast, mold, gluten and vinegar. This is thought to be because TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and migraines, all known to affect fibromyalgia symptoms, are triggered by these foods.

A macrobiotic diet (whole foods) has shown promise for some fibromyalgia patients, as well as Omega 3 fatty acids (found in fish, flax see, certain nuts and also added to certain foods such as cereal).

I also encourage you to try my Fibromyalgia program. Its results have been amazing!

EL331002

Mind over Matter – Is This Why Buddha Wasn’t Sick?

Friday, September 4th, 2009

A couple of months ago, I had the honor of sitting in on a lecture by his holyness, the Dalai Lama. His amazing joyfulness made my mind wonder about the origin of his path.

Regardless of one’s particular religion (or lack, thereof), one cannot help but be impressed with the life of Buddha. An actual prince who, after seeing the sickness and dying of his people, couldn’t help but take notice and feel it his duty to try to help.

According to various historical documents, he decided that the only way to do this was to achieve enlightenment and pass on his enlightenment to others. He also determined that in order to do this, he would first have to give up all his worldly possessions and live “without.”

Perhaps it wasn’t that difficult to defy his parents, leave his palace and live in a state of fasting and doing without. I can’t say – I’ve never walked in his shoes; however, I can’t say this would be my first choice.

Come on, give up the good life? There’s a reason the lottery is so successful. We are (most of us) looking to better our lives and most think that involves money.

Not to mention the fact that early in 500 BC, health care was likely, at best, little more than guesswork.

So this man chose to deny himself the comforts of palace living. All research points to the fact that he wasn’t concerned about his own health rather that he wanted to ease the suffering of those around him.

Now, anyone who has rubbed the belly on a statue of Buddha knows that he did eventually reach enlightenment and through that enlightenment knows he did eventually pick up a fork (although given his home was in modern day Nepal, he likely picked up chopsticks) and eat something.

Although we of course can’t really say for sure if the Buddha belly was a factual picture or just represents a spiritual abundance, modern day nutritionists would likely look at his statue and recognize that he was just a tad on the overweight side and would not recommend this as a healthy weight. But they can’t deny the smile on his face.

Even when surrounded by the “common man,” no evidence supports his being a sickly sort. Of course, one might argue that this was the reward of enlightenment, but I think the power of positive thinking is the real source.

Buddha lived without anger, without hate, and didn’t seem the type to hold grudges. How many of us can say the same? It doesn’t have to be a big life tragedy to get one down. Sometimes it’s dwelling on the small stuff so much that we are consumed with negativity.

There are too many studies which have shown that a positive outlook can greatly improve or maintain one’s health. Likewise, negativity, depression and the like can just as easily destroy one’s health.

I agree but I also believe that one sometimes needs a starting point in order to focus. If weight loss and/or high blood pressure are your ailments, I recommend my Weight Loss Breeze program or my High Blood Pressure program. If it’s stress that’s led to headaches you should try my Migraine and Headache program. They are all natural and guaranteed to show amazing results!

EL331002

New Discoveries On Fibromyalgia?

Friday, August 28th, 2009

I have spent a considerable amount of time and research related to one’s diet and how it can affect health. In fact, I’ve written several articles on diet as it relates to specific illnesses.

Although research is lacking in the department of diet and fibromyalgia, some does exist. What I have focused on the most though, is actual feedback from my clients.

While my program has shown them the most promise to alleviating their Fibromyalgia symptoms, many, if not most, stated that a change in diet was also key.

Fibromyalgia is a disease which affects both the muscles and connective tissues. Its main symptoms are chronic pain in these areas in addition to extreme pain when touched even gently.

Other symptoms include: extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances including bruxism (tooth grinding), difficulty breathing and difficulty swallowing.

Fibromyalgia has also had a long history of not being accepted as an actual medical condition by many doctors. So many times my clients have written to me telling me their doctor told them, “It’s all in your head.”

While that’s an infuriating thing to read, let alone hear in person from a doctor who is supposed to care, recent studies suggest that could actually be the key. While no known organic cause can be found, many are now starting to believe that fibromyalgia is in fact a psychological condition.

That’s not to say that these are imaginary symptoms of pain. In fact, this same research indicates that those who suffer from fibromyalgia have a heightened sense of pain, meaning, those of us who normally don’t register stimuli as pain, will register it if we suffer from fibromyalgia.

As far as diet goes, it follows a pretty common sense approach. Key foods to avoid are: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, foods high in salt, fried foods, high fat foods, white flour or sugar, carbonated drinks, Nutrasweet or saccharine and tobacco (although not technically a food).

Keep in mind that this is a preventative approach – avoid foods that can further suppress an already suppressed immune system (like alcohol). Avoid high fat foods which are known to cause lethargy. Avoid fried and high salt foods which can cause the body to swell, and lead to further pain.

Breathing and relaxation exercises are also recommended. Be careful though, with exercise. Overdoing it can actually trigger painful symptoms. I highly recommend my Fibromyalgia program. It’s results have been amazing!

EL331002

Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Is there a Link?

Monday, May 25th, 2009

So much of my programs’ successes are directly linked to feedback from my clients. Sometimes it’s the inadvertent question or comment but mostly it’s because based on very similar feedback from so many of you, I am able to connect this feedback and form new ideas.

One common theme of distress from many of my clients is that many of them, who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, also suffer from fibromyalgia.

In fact, recent studies have shown that up to 70 % of those who have fibromyalgia also suffer from IBS.

How can two diseases whose symptoms seem so different from each other be related?

Fibromyalgia is a disease which affects both the muscles and connective tissues. It’s main symptoms are chronic pain in these areas in addition to extreme pain when touched even gently.

Other symptoms include: extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances including bruxism (tooth grinding), difficulty breathing and difficulty swallowing.

IBS is actually a term to describe several diseases that affect the gastro-intestinal tract. Also known as “Spastic Colon,” IBS’ symptoms include: diarrhea, constipation, severe abdominal pain, bloating, changes in bowel function and feces color.

While it appears the two illnesses haven nothing in common, they actually do. For starters, there’s no known organic cause (although stress is thought to be the number one contributing factor for both).

Additionally, both diseases have had a long history of not being accepted as actual medical conditions by doctors. Sufferers of both illnesses have had to suffer the indignity of having a health care professional tell them, “It’s all in your head.”

Actually, studies suggest that this may not be that far off. Recent evidence supported by many in the health care profession believe that while an exact cause can’t be traced for either condition, experts believe that the conditions are both psychological in origin.

That’s not to say that these are imaginary symptoms of pain. In fact, this same research indicates that those who suffer from fibromyalgia and IBS also have a heightened sense of pain, meaning, those of us who normally don’t register stimuli as pain, will register it if we suffer from IBS or fibromyalgia.

To make matters worse, those who suffer from both conditions tend to have an over 30% increase in pain symptoms.

While over the counter drugs are available for IBS, the effects are temporary at best and have very serious side effects.

I highly recommend my fibromyalgia program if you suffer from this disease. It’s all natural and easy to get started. Results can be seen immediately. I also welcome your feedback as to how my program has helped with your IBS symptoms, if you suffer from both.

EL331002

Fibromyalgia and Sleep Apnea – a Serious Combination

Monday, March 30th, 2009

Recently, I was fortunate enough to spend quite a bit of time in Hawaii. The beauty is almost impossible to describe. And I don’t mind bragging about just how well I slept every night.

Feeling that well rested though, I couldn’t help but recall a time when slumber was not such a pleasant process. Years ago, I suffered from a mild but very noisy and disturbing case of sleep apnea.

Though I now rest peacefully, I’ll never forget what it was like. And recently, I’ve been researching the link between another condition, fibromyalgia, to sleep apnea.

A large number people afflicted with fibromyalgia also suffer from sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. It is estimated that up to 80% in fact experience some form of sleep disturbance.

Simply put, Fibromyalgia is a condition of pain. It can include muscle pain and spasms, nerve pain, facial pain, sensitivity to touch and may also involve disturbances of the bowels. It has been a somewhat allusive problem, as it tends to be diagnosed after a number of other problems are ruled out.

Those who suffer from fibromyalgia though will attest that it is in fact a very real problem, and very often also suffer from sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.

Sleep apnea occurs when a person repeatedly stops breathing throughout the slumber process. It can happen hundreds of times throughout the night and last for up to a minute. This condition alone is problematic due to the number of long term affects.

Blood oxygen levels drop as a result of breathing interruptions with sleep apnea. That forces the heart to beat faster. Sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular diseases including high blood pressure. It contributes to memory problems, and can lead to weight gain, headaches and even impotency.

Now consider suffering from both painful fibromyalgia as well as sleep apnea.

At this point, the reason why sleep apnea and fibromyalgia are linked is not known. It could be that extended sleep deprivation may increase the likelihood of developing fibromyalgia. Or, perhaps the tissue problems that exist with fibromyalgia obstruct the airways when sleeping.

Either way, it is a serious and painful combination.

One thing to consider though is that because they do seem to have a link, easing one very well may or should ease the other. It reasons that sleeping more soundly and waking well rested would provide one with more endurance especially when struggling with fibromyalgia.

Likewise, less pain should result in better sleep.

Unfortunately, many people with fibromyalgia are not referred for a sleep study, so they may be unaware of any additional sleep disorders. Given the seriousness of sleep apnea and the likelihood that one with fibromyalgia suffers from it, more people should probably be tested.

As I’ve mentioned before, I did not used to recommend my Stop Snoring Program specifically to cure sleep apnea. My fear was that people could end up worse off by eliminating their masks. Sleep apnea is too serious to self diagnose and should always be handled by a doctor.

I would however be remiss in not sharing that The Stop Snoring Program did cure my mild case of sleep apnea and a great number of my clients alerted me to the fact that their mild cases were also eliminated.

Therefore, I strongly recommend the Stop Snoring Program for anyone who snores. But I now also suggest the exercises for apnea especially in conjunction with your other apnea treatments. I also heartily recommend my fibromyalgia program. Both programs are all natural and combined, may just make a world of difference in your life.

EL331001

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Part 2

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

In my previous CFS post, I defined CFS (an extremely complex disorder which has been described as fatigue lasting longer than 24 hours that is not improved from bed rest and which can also be worsened by physical or mental activity) and its symptoms (tender lymph nodes, sore throat, short-term memory loss, lack of concentration, joint pain without swelling or redness, headaches (new or a new pattern), unrefreshing sleep, muscle pain/weakness, and insomnia).

This week’s post will focus on the theory that this is a psychological condition and list some of the treatments available.

CFS affects over one million people of every race, age group and gender; although women are diagnosed about 4 times as much as men and the median age affected seems to be between 40-50 years of age.

Social stigma can also accompany this condition because even physicians have been known to “bully” the patient into thinking it’s all in his/her head or, in fact, another condition. While CFS in children and teens is rare, these groups have reported the most difficulty in gaining acceptance from doctors, parents and peers.

It’s also difficult to diagnose because there is no known cause. Theories have been developed as to what causes CFS with some professionals who see it as either physiological condition (information on this is provided in the previous CFS post) or a psychological condition.

Diagnosing CFS is difficult as its symptoms can be the same for many other conditions. Psychological disorders with similar symptoms include: neurasthenia, drug or alcohol abuse, depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety or other psychological disorders, eating disorders and schizophrenia.

Based on the theory that this is a psychological disorder, treatments include: depression medicines, anti-anxiety medications, cognitive behavior therapy (working with a therapist to overcome a psychological condition by identifying and changing dysfunctional thinking, behavior, and emotional responses) and exercise in moderation (too much could actually exacerbate CFS).

Many people with CFS have also found it beneficial to contact support groups and talk/chat with others going through the same illness. They provide current information on treatments and for many, the relief that others understand what the sufferer is going through.

One very common theme I have noticed while researching CFS studies, support group websites and other related forums on the web exist because of the elusive nature of CFS. Many deep breathing and relaxation programs seem to benefit the sufferer.

If stress or anxiety is thought to exacerbate your CFS condition, I encourage you to try my High Blood Pressure program, which is all natural. The High Blood Pressure Program is designed to ‘normalize’ blood pressure therefore you do not have to be afflicted with hypertension to benefit from it. I encourage feedback to let me know how my program has worked for you!

EL331002


Natural Health Alternative Blog Weight Loss Program Erectile Dysfunction High Blood Pressure Weight Loss cure vertigo and dizziness /insomnia Neck Pain - Whiplash Lower Cholesterol Stop Snoring

All rights reserved The Rising Leo inc - DBA: Blue Heron Health News