Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
Hi everyone, I am new here. My name is Ellen. I am 33 years old and was diagnosed with Fibro in 2002. I am actually asking a question that is part of another post called "Do you have this symptom." There were a lot of posts and I wasn't sure if anyone would be able to read all the posts before they got to mine so I am making it a new topic because I am real concerned about it. The post for those who havn't read it is about overheating and sweating at the slightest exertion.. A lot of people replied and they too have this problem. I too have this problem except it is accompanied with a fever. I have had a low grade fever now for months and months that has nothing to do with exertion. And fevers is something I have never had before with my fibro. And then if I do anything at all expecially just taking a shower (a cold shower) I get overheated really bad, my face flushes, I feel sick and my fever spikes to over 101. I don't know why the fever would have anything to do with overheating. So I was wondering if anyone else has this happening or is something else wrong with me? I know that a lot of people with Fibro have low grade fevers but does your fever go up with the slightest exertion? Does it have anything to do with being overheated? And why do we/I overheat so bad? It's miserable for me! Thank you all for any advise you can give.
Ellen
Ellen
Now I just get occasional low-grade fevers. I think low-grade fevers are a symptom of CFS.
I would definitely have your doctor run some tests. I had a zillion tests when I was having my fevers--even catscans.
Can you e-mail your doctor? I am able to, so that's how I keep her updated.
I understand what you guys are saying about not having doctors that are with it. I think after a few years, my doctor just got frustrated with me. Some of my lab work doesn't make sense, and when she tries to find out what's going on, she runs into dead ends. When she prescribes me medication...I either have a severe reaction or after months of taking it, there's no improvement. It's really frustrating to not get the help you need. I have been fortunate lately. My Dr. went on maternity leave and when she came back, it seemed like she was trying to help me more. Plus...some of the medicine I'm on has been helping a bit. It's tough when the situation seems hopeless...to you and your doctor.
Good Luck!
Sherry
I'm always running low in the high 96s & lower 97s.
So when I get sick, or the fevers fall upon me, I start to feel like crud hitting 99 or 100. When I had a 102 fever with a uterine infection I was delusional and seeing things then became lethargic. Yet, for the average person, this is like having the flu.
I've always joked about spontaneous combustion. I just know it's gonna happen to me someday!
But what sickens me the most is when I'm walking out to my car and you can see the steam pour outta me when it's cold out.
If that doesn't make you feel like a circus freak, I don't know what will!
www.uct.ac.za/depts/mmi/jmoodie/hiv2.html - Cached - Similar - just read this after searching for retrovirus symptoms
years ago i wasin the hospital before i was DX w/ it!
i was spiking fevers about every 20-40 mins & then go very low for only a fw min /then normal then fever then low!
was getting nurse's ? is i was doing some how for attention! ? yes! really finally doc said it was me having anxiety attacks realy!
i have never had a anxiety attack!
Anyway i do it all the time now! cold like i'm frezzin even in summer 80* or 3- i get so hot then it oesaway as fast as it came NO NOT ANYTHING TO DO W? MENOPAUSE! been there do it no problems had all my hormones checked!
no-one can say except my treating doc now!
he says it is "FIBRO" Temp is off wack like our pain level! think it is our body trying to fend off a virus or germs!
or maybe now we know ifthis XMRV comes out to be right! makes sense!
Our body just trying to keep us well! LOL
The nervous system is responsible for communicating vital messages to various parts of your body, helping you to act and react, see, touch, taste, and feel. However, if these messages get interrupted, it can lead to a variety of problems. Troubles with the nervous system could be one of the root causes for fibromyalgia syndrome.
What is the Autonomic Nervous System?
The autonomic nervous system is an important part of your bodys central nervous system (CNS). It works automatically to help your body get on with daily living. The autonomic nervous system works alongside your bodys neurotransmitters and hormones in order to ensure that your body is working correctly. It helps to control a variety of different organs in your body as well as numerous bodily systems. It has a number of responsibilities, including:
* regulation of body temperature
* maintenance of bowel and bladder function
* maintenance of heart rate
The Two Branches
There are two parts to your autonomic nervous system, which are referred to as branches. These two branches work by sending signals, or messages, using special chemicals called neurotransmitters. The branches of the autonomic system are:
* The Sympathetic System: The sympathetic system helps you to respond to conditions of stress, such as emergencies.
* The Parasympathetic System: The parasympathetic system is responsible for regulating sleep and digestion.
Neurotransmitters
In order to communicate with one another, the two branches of the autonomic nervous system use special chemical hormones, called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters act as vehicles, carrying information back and forth between your brain and your body. If something goes wrong with these neurotransmitters, messages from the body to the autonomic nervous system can easily be confused. Specific neurotransmitters that are thought to play a role in fibromyalgia:
* Substance P: Substance P is a neurotransmitter found in your spinal fluid. It helps to communicate sensations of pain to your brain and body. A number of studies have shown that fibromyalgia patients have up to three times more Substance P in their spinal fluid than healthy people. This can cause enhanced perceptions of pain, making a normally mild stimulus excruciatingly painful.
* Endorphins: Endorphins are hormones secreted by the body in reaction to physical stress, such as exercise or fear. Endorphins are considered a natural opioid and help your body to deal with pain and fatigue. Beta-endorphin is highly involved in pain suppression, but fibromyalgia patients appear to have only 50% of the normal levels of this endorphin. This could explain why fibromyalgia patients experience so much pain.
* Serotonin: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your mood. It keeps you from feeling overly depressed or manically excited. A number of studies have reported that fibromyalgia patients appear to have low levels of serotonin in their brains. Low levels of serotonin have been linked with depression, anxiety, and chronic headaches. Antidepressants that manipulate the levels of serotonin in the brain seem to alleviate these fibromyalgia symptoms.
Hormones
Along with neurotransmitters, your autonomic nervous system also relies on hormones in order to stimulate certain bodily functions. Hormones are special chemicals secreted by various glands in your body, helping to trigger growth, fertility, and other functions. Hormones that are important to your autonomic nervous system include:
* Cortisol: The hormone cortisol is secreted by your adrenal glands. It is released when your body is physically threatened or stressed. Commonly referred to as the "stress hormone," cortisol function tends to be abnormal in fibromyalgia patients. If you have fibromyalgia, your body often considers itself to be in a stressed state. As a result, you release more cortisol than most people. This can you leave you feeling persistently tired and drained.
* Growth Hormone: Growth hormone is released during exercise and deep sleep and helps to control muscle and tissue growth as well as metabolism. It helps to heal wounds and injuries incurred by your body throughout the day. People with fibromyalgia appear to have very low levels of growth hormone is their bodies. For some reason, the autonomic nervous system doesnt trigger the release of enough growth hormone to help repair muscles and tissues. To compound this, many fibromyalgia patients dont get enough deep sleep, which limits the release of growth hormone.
* Norepinephrine Norepinephrine is a hormone released by your adrenal gland and controlled by your sympathetic nervous system. It helps to control stress responses, such as sweating, increased heart rate, and muscle contraction. Fibromyalgia suffers appear to have lower levels of epinephrine, contributing to pain and fatigue.
I recently researched this topic because I have found my body reacting very strangely in respect to being hot or cold when the room temperature isn't out of a comfortable range for a person without any illness.
Hope this info sheds some light for you.