Fibromyalgia Symptoms
The official American College of Rheumatology criteria:

-Widespread pain for at least 3 months. Pain should be on both the left side of the body and the right side, and pain both above and below the waist. Cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine or low back pain must also be present.

-Plus, pain in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites.

OTHER SYMPTOMS

  • Muscle, joint pain, stiffness, burning, soreness, spasms, cramps

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome-like pains

  • Painful menstrual periods 

  • Headaches

  • Fatigue, extreme exhaustion

  • Sleep Disturbances

  • Shortness of breath 

  • Sore throat (known as pharyngitis) 

  • Brain fog – general difficulty concentrating 

  • Impaired attention span 

  • Confusion with memory, words, numbers, math, etc. 

  • Mood swings, anxiety, depression, panic attacks

  • Numbness or tingling sensations

  • Sensitivity to temperature changes

  • Chemical sensitivities, allergies

  • Allergies and or sensitivities – to pollen, foods, molds

  • Sensitivity to medicines

  • Sensitivity or intolerance to alcohol

  • Eye/vision problems 

  • Constipation or diarrhea

  • Nausea, indigestion, stomach problems

  • Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, “fibroglycemia”

  • Dizziness

  • Low blood pressure

  • Recurrent low-grade fever 

  • Heart palpitations, skipped heartbeats

  • More frequent infections

  • Weight changes -- gain or loss, not associated with change in eating habits

Fybromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

TIRED?   ACHY?   BRAIN FOG?   TROUBLE SLEEPING?

NOTE: I am not a doctor. I recommend if you are having health issues to please see one. However, please choose wisely. About 31% of adults complain of chronic fatigue. One out of four Americans suffer from chronic pain. One study showed an average of 32.5 pound weight gain. Only 15% of those have been given the correct diagnosis.

EXTREMELY HELPFUL! EFFECTIVE TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE.

This presentation by Dr. Teitelbaum presenting to MDs at the 2013 ABIHM conference is a must watch for healthcare professionals and anyone suffering from Fibromyalgia or CFS.

Dr. Teitelbaum outlines his recommended treatment.

With his recommendations,  29 out of 32 patients felt better with 75% improvement of quality of life at 99 days to 90% in 2 years. 

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that can cause intense pain in over 18 tender points on the body.

This SAMPLE animation explains the symptoms and medical testing to diagnosis fibromyalgia.

Following the recent launch of her book Diagnosing & treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Mitochondria not Hypochondria, Dr Myhill focuses this webinar on the practical application of her successful and comprehensive treatment approach. Having treated over 5000 patients with CFS since 1982, Sarah offers a wealth of clinical experience. Dr Sarah Myhill qualified in medicine in 1981 and has since worked in NHS and private practice. Sarah lectures regularly on organophosphate poisoning and chronic fatigue syndrome. She has made many appearances on TV and radio.

 

CFS Symptoms - Official Criteria

Fatigue that is medically unexplained; of new onset; lasts at least six months; is not the result of ongoing exertion; is not substantially relieved by rest; and causes a substantial reduction in activity levels. Plus, four or more of the following symptoms:

  • substantially impaired memory/concentration

  • sore throat

  • tender neck or armpit lymph nodes

  • muscle pain

  • headaches of a new type, pattern or severity

  • unrefreshing sleep

  • relapse of symptoms after exercise (also known as post-exertional malaise) that lasts more than 24 hours

  • pain in multiple joints without joint swelling or redness.

DIET & NUTRITION IDEAS:

I have a drawer full of vitamins but find I rarely take them because I hate swallowing pills, let alone that many!

So here is a great solution I am going to try (I just placed my order!):

Dr. Teitelbaum (first video) recommends a vitamin powder which is supposed to be helpful for those with Fybromyalgia and CFS- but practically ANYONE should feel better doing this!

This powder, End Fatigue Daily Energy Enfusion contains over 50 vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and from what I read, tastes sort of like Tang.

People with Fybromyalgia may also have food allergies. For some, gluten can be an issue. Consider trying the Elimination Diet to see what foods may trigger your symptoms.