What is Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS or Fibro) is a debilitating chronic syndrome (constellation of signs and symptoms) characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue...
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Theorizing, does fibro have an underlying cause?
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Well, I keep coming up with theories for what is wrong with us. Why some people find relief and others don't. If we all have the same problem or multiple problems with the same resulting symptoms. So much could be true.
One thing I have noticed is that everyone seems to have some bodily trauma, be it physical, an illness, or a deficiency. All can cause the immune system to get confused and attack itself. My doctor has began making statements that she believes my thyroid is playing some role in my health. I started researching thyroid disorders and am amazed at what I've found. Long term hypothyroidism has nearly ALL the same symptoms as FMS. It is caused by and can lead to other deficiencies which can case fatigue, twitches, etc... The hypothyroidism itself can lead to weight gain and extreme difficulty in weight loss. A flucuating thyroid can case periods of higher (in my case, semi-normal) energy followed by extreme fatigue. It can also explain the weight loss without diet/exercise and weight gain with diet/exercise (which happens most often). Even more disturbing, the lab tests that we probably all had before FMS diagnosis can come back normal even if we are abnormal. Non-detection of these problems is very common! It could be that the output of it jumps around and when you glance (with a lab test) the average of all that appears normal. And untreated, long term thyroid conditions can create tons of problems- which will appear to have no source. If these are linked, I don't know which came first- the fibro or the thyroid? But I feel like it makes some sense that they could be one in the same. I just wish there were more accurate tests. Maybe if they discovered this to be our underlying cause for misery, they could help us end it! I'm just being hopeful. Anyone else been theorizing? Posted on 03/20/09, 11:09 am |
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I do ALL the time. Funny you mentioned the thyroid, my dr. was feeling the glands in my neck, yesterday that hurt and are swollen. She said she didnt think it was thyroid related. I do think we ALL need to have Thyroid testing done, and ANA tests as well to rule out Lymes and Arthritus. It could be a combination of things as well. I think our brain signals get crossed somehow.Mine came on after a full Hystorectomy. 
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I think I was poisoned from daily exposure to insecticides and peticides while stationed in S. Korea in the 80s. The quarters I was assigned to reeked of the stuff and I felt sick all of the time. This is when I believe my fibro started, of course, then I didn't know what it was. I just thought I had the flu all of the time.
WHen I left Korea the daily symptoms subsided but I would have these periods of time when the whole body aches would come back and I'd have to go to bed it hurt so much. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me and treated me for depression and basicaly told me the pain was all in my head. I was tested for RA, MS, and Lupus and all the test came back negative. This went on untill 1993 when someone, I don't remember who, at the VA diagnosed Fibromyalgia. I still think it was set off by the chemical exposure in Korea.
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All my Tests have come back well within Normal Ranges...I do Believe there IS an Underlying Cause...I Do Believe Fibromyalgia and ALL the Co Existing Syndromes to be Symptoms of Something...
How can this Feel So Threatening, Take Such Control of Our Very Lives...yet Nothing is Wrong ?? {Physically}...this makes No Sense !! There HAS to bee something...there HAS to be an Underlying Cause...they either Do Not Want to Find it, cause they are making Buku Bucks on the sale of Prescripts...or because they Honestly Believe this is Female Hysteria... I Personally believe this to be Hormonal, Neurologically based, the theory of Sensitization makes such PERFECT sense to me in MY Life...my Personality is in Total Crash Mode with my Ability to handle my Life...I am a No Bullshit, lets Get after it Kinda Woman...but yet I can Handle Not One ounce of Stress, and I am Always the First to sit down...sometimes within Minutes of Standing up...This does NOT work for me !!
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Now, my blood work doesn't show a thyroid problem but my acupuncturist diagnosed me with hypothyroidism and put me on Thyro Forte....a blend of Chinese herbs. It has made a big difference in my life. It has taken care of several problems but not all of them.
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I just found this article:http://thyroid.about.com/cs/fibromyalgiacfs/a/fibrothyroid.htm
It starts with "A significant percentage of the estimated 20 million people with hypothyroidism end up also being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, an important connection discussed in my new book Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Both conditions share symptoms, including fatigue, exhaustion, depression, brain fog, and varying degrees of muscle and joint pain. Some experts believe that like most cases of hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia is also autoimmune in nature. Others believe that fibromyalgia may be one manifestation of an underactive metabolism – hypometabolism – and is therefore one variation on thyroid dysfunction." This is all totally new to me- no one has ever mentioned this possible link. It's funny that my mind already went there. More from article " Dr. Teitelbaum believes that at the core of thyroid dysfunction and fibromyalgia is a problem with the dysfunction or suppression of a master gland in the brain called the hypothalamus. Says Dr. Teitelbaum... This gland controls sleep, your hormonal system, temperature regulation, and the autonomic nervous system (e.g. -- blood pressure, blood flow, and movement of food through your bowel). This is why you can't sleep, you have low temperature, you gain weight, and (because poor sleep causes immune dysfunction) you are prone to multiple and recurrent infections. The hypothalamic dysfunction by itself can therefore, cause most of the symptoms! I suspect that problems with the "energy furnaces" in your cells (called the mitochondria) often cause the hypothalamic suppression." Please read this article, it is really good and answers and seconds a lot of the thoughts I have!!
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I have a job for you all that don't mind. Could you please go through your family medical history and see if there is anyone from the past few generations that has had thyroid problems?
When I brought this up to my aunt I found out that my great-grandmother and all of ther siblings suffered from this badly. Theirs was more obvious and easier to diagnose (since the family relationship was visible). She even had a large goiter. I found out it can skip generations and be hidden in others.
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Another website
http://www.fibromyalgiahope.com/fi... Sorry, I can't stop posting, I just get excited when I think we can find a way to end all of this. With all that have responded. It is possible that each trauma that you have suffered (exposure, stress, accidents, childbirth, etc) could have thrown this stuff out of whack.
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So if that's the cause, what's the cure?
For decades, my doctors have been shaking their heads at me. Every blood test comes back within normal range - except for potassium. My body doesn't make it. That would be an adrenal gland issue but they've looked for tumors and come up empty. I've been looking at the possibility of a viral cause. The theory is that the virus invades our tissue, leaving the bloodstream - which is why it can't be found with a simple blood test. HHPV-6 has been found in the brain tissue of autopsied FM'ers. I'ts a virus in the herpes family. The virus then filters down to glands, starting at the HPA Axis. The Hypothalmus, Pitituary and Adrenal Glands meet at this point. When the trigger happens (mental or physical trama and in some cases illness) the virus attacks one or more glands, depending on the invidual's genetic makeup, perhaps environment, whatever. It's suspected that a virus or group of viruses are responsible for things like lupus, ms, autism, schizophrenia, thyroid disease, pancreatitis and a bunch of other things I can't think of right now. You can check it out using keywords like: stealth virus, off label uses for Valtrex, and any disease/syndrome combined with virus. Also, there's an HHPV-6 foundation with a very informative site. Lilje - insecticides and pesticides are designed to attack the central nervous system. I won't use them at all. I think they were a bad idea in the first place. There are so many other ways to deal with pests without killing ourselves. Thank you for serving and I'm sorry you got dosed. It's very likely that was your trigger.
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I theorize constantly. I think it's impossible not to do so because I keep hoping there is an answer, a key to all this, a missing link. I also tend to blame myself thinking I must be doing something wrong (hell, sometimes I even have crazy thoughts that I am somehow being punished)
I did have a bout with an overactive thyroid when I was about 25, not being very wise I let the Dr proceed with his treatment, which was to give me a radioactive iodine pill which completely dissolved my thyroid gland. So I have been on thyroid medication ever since and I too have read up on the symptoms and have noticed the similarities but don't really know what to do about it. I have had doctors switch me to armour but did notice any significant difference. I do know my mother had thyroid problems and a goiter and I'm pretty sure she had fibro, anixiety, along with depression and all sorts of weird health issues.
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My doc tests my throid every few years along with checking for Lupus and RA. They always come back normal. No one in my family has a history of it either. I do sometimes think that borderline results in any test should be looked at closer with people who have fibro simply because we seem to be hypersensitive to everything.
My big theory is that it's a combo of genetics and stress. That's why I think things like Cymbalta and the new Sarvella (both work on Serotonin and Norepinephrine) work and why I have high hopes for the new triple anti-depressants that work on Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine.
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