Speaking To A Medical Professional About Fibromyalgia Fatigue
When it comes to fibromyalgia fatigue medication be sure that you speak to a medical professional about what supplements and medication will work best for you and your specific symptoms. It can be often that you will go on google and search supplements and treatments, however its recommended that you speak to your doctor about specific fibromyalgia fatigue supplements and medications.
Fibromyalgia symptoms can be tough to diagnosis, and remaining persistent and consistent with speaking to your medical professional about fibromyalgia exhaustion and your specific fibro fog symptoms will hopefully help them direct you to the correct specialist if they are unable to provide care for you or it is out of their scope. You can also speak to your health care professional about pain clinic and fibromyalgia pain options which can also help with reducing fibro fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue And Fibromyalgia: Usual Symptoms
A majority of people with chronic fatigue states and fibromyalgia have low thyroid hormone. Many of these people have normal thyroid blood tests, despite being low on thyroid hormone.
They may have dirty thyroid hormone receptors from heavy metals being attached to them or a genetic malformation of thyroid hormone receptors. This is called Type 2 hypothyroidism, and thyroid blood tests are usually normal in these people. There is a large reference range for the different thyroid hormones, and some people need to be in the upper 75-100 percentile. Also, some people may have low normal T3 , but their T4 is within the normal range.
95% of people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, which some doctors define as fatigue lasting over one year have thick blood.
They also have elevated CRP-HS and fibrinogen. The labs upper reference range is not at optimal levels, so we use a lower upper reference range cut-off.
At the Holistic Bio Spa, we look at signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and afternoon oral temperatures, which should be between 98.2-98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or between 36.7-37 degrees Celsius. One must either buy a digital basal thermometer that reads to the hundredth of a degree or an accurate basal mercury thermometer. Mercury thermometers are now outlawed in the United States. However, Mercury thermometers are available in Mexico.
What Is Fibromyalgia Fatigue
To put it in a very basic form its extreme fatigue, as mentioned above each individuals symptoms can range however, for the most part, its extreme exhaustion. Do you know when you have the flu or a cold and feel like getting up to have a shower is the most exhausting thing ever, or you get winded walking to your kitchen for a glass of water when unwell? This is similar to what most fibromyalgia fatigues feel when a fibromyalgia flare occurs. These symptoms can mimic and feel similar to chronic fatigue syndrome, and overall they drain you of all your energy.
This can also impact sleep quality and folks who live with fibromyalgia syndrome can have difficulty sleeping or feeling rested when they wake. This lack of energy can often then lead to the symptom of fibro fog which is when patients have a difficult time concentrating or remembering things that commonly would not be an issue.
How long can fibro fatigue last? On average it can last anywhere from a couple of days to weeks at a time for most fibromyalgia individuals. However, the severity and duration are unique to each individual, as well as the prescribed treatment plan with a health care professional to help remedy fibro fatigue.
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Fibro Fatigue Is There Another Problem
Fatigue may be associated with more than insomnia. It is possible that anemia is the cause. A low blood count can leave a person feeling drained and void of energy. Usually iron deficiency is the problem when it comes to anemia and it can be addressed with the use of supplementation in most cases. Thyroid problems have a similar affect, leaving a person wondering how it is they become exhausted so quickly. Adrenal fatigue usually develops as a result of periods of intense or lengthy physical or emotional stress. The overstimulation of the adrenal glands leaves them unable to meet the needs of the body. A few of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue mimic fibromyalgia:
· excessive fatigue and exhaustion
Treatment For Fibromyalgia: The Big Picture
Theres not necessarily a straightforward or universal way to treat fibromyalgia, as the condition affects each patient differently and many fibro patients are also managing other co-occurring diseases at the same time, such as different kinds of arthritis. Many treatment options are available to address fibromyalgias various symptoms, so treatment for fibromyalgia should be multifactorial, individualized, and based on what specific issues and symptoms are affecting you most.
Not everyone gets the same fibromyalgia treatment, says Dr. Hackshaw. We figure it out based on the symptoms that are most concerning for that patient. He adds that doctors aim to use medications that treat multiple symptoms instead of prescribing multiple medications. The key is that you need to find your magic combination that works for you, says Stackelhouse.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia
The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are
- Pain and stiffness all over the body
- Fatigue and tiredness
Other symptoms may include:
- Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
- Pain in the face or jaw, including disorders of the jaw known as temporomandibular joint syndrome
- Digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and even irritable bowel syndrome
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How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed
Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and your medical history. There is no lab test for fibromyalgia. Instead, your doctor will make a diagnosis based upon two criteria:
You may have to see several doctors before getting a diagnosis. One reason for this may be that pain and fatigue, the main symptoms of fibromyalgia, also are symptoms of many other conditions, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Doctors try to figure out if fibromyalgia or another health problem is causing your symptoms.
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Dont Be Afraid To Nap
Sometimes the fatigue is just too much and you cant keep your eyes open. Thats okay! Power naps are called power naps for a reason. As long as you make sure to keep it short, a power nap can be a great way to fight fatigue
But seriously, try to keep your nap around 20 minutes, 30 minutes at the absolute most. With great power-naps comes great responsibility. Set a timer to make sure you wake up. If you sleep too long you may wake up feeling even worse than before and might find yourself unable to sleep when bedtime comes.
Be Flexible With Your Career Goals
Highly physical jobs may not be the best for someone with fibromyalgia, but it can be hard to let go of those dreams, especially if your career is a big part of your identity. Giving up a job you love may feel like one more thing your illness has robbed you of and can really bring you down. The key to dealing with these thoughts? Be flexible, Amy says. I got my degree as a chiropractor and I loved working in that field but now I work as a professor teaching health care because its easier on my body, she explains. She still gets to work in the field she loves but without sacrificing her own well-being.
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Other Fatigue Management Remedies To Try
Activity pacing is actually part of cognitive behavioral therapy , which is a way of changing patterns of how you think and act, Dr. Mirgain says. Because the physical and the mental are so closely tied, a pain management psychologist may help you use additional CBT strategies to manage your fatigue.
With your doctors OK, try physical activity that has a mind/body component. Doing yoga for a year has improved my stamina and pain, Robin told us on Facebook. Meditation, deep breathing exercises, stress management, and progressive muscle relaxation may also help.
Getting good sleep is also important in maintaining your energy levels. This is another reason exercise is important, because it helps you sleep better, Dodge says. Daily physical activity leads to improved sleep, which is key to better health, she says.
Is Ibuprofen Or Opioids Effective For Fibromyalgia
Pain relief is a major concern for patients with fibromyalgia. How can you safely address it without use of addicting opioids?
- Common pain relief medications such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen may have a limited effect because their pain relief mechanism does not affect the pain mechanisms that occur centrally with fibromyalgia.
- NSAIDs should be used with extreme caution in older adults because the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal bleeding risks may outweigh the benefits of using these drugs.
- Opioids such as oxycodone or tramadol should be avoided for pain control in fibromyalgia because this class has been shown to worsen pain and mental ability, as well as lead to risks for addiction and overdose.
According to a Cochrane review, there is no randomized trial evidence that oxycodone is of value in treating people with fibromylagia.
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How Can You Manage Fibromyalgia Flare Ups
Although some triggers for fibromyalgia are beyond a persons control, managing modifiable risk factors can help to prevent flare ups.
Reducing the risk of flare ups and practicing self care can improve symptoms and overall quality of life.
Below are several lifestyle changes and tips that may help relieve symptoms and make fibromyalgia easier to live with daily.
The Basics Of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a complicated condition thats not widely understood by most medical professionals. Its tricky to diagnose because its a collection of symptoms rather than a single disease and the symptoms can be warning signs of other medical issues. Thats why its important to see a fibromyalgia specialist like Dr. Lopez who can correctly diagnose your symptoms.
The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia besides chronic, widespread, or localized pain are:
- Chronic and severe fatigue
- Tenderness on certain points on your body
- New or worsening anxiety or depression
Fibromyalgia takes its toll on both your physical and psychological health and can be accompanied by secondary conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, severe headaches and migraines, and neurological disorders.
Nailing down an exact cause of fibromyalgia is a difficult task, but there are a few common sources of your pain.
Fibromyalgia typically stems from a malfunction in the way your brain processes your bodys pain signals. Your brain receives messages all day long from the different chemicals and neurons throughout your body. When your brain misreads those pain signals, you wind up feeling chronic pain and fatigue.
Symptoms usually appear after a significant physical trauma, surgery, infection, or period of psychological stress. Sometimes your fibromyalgia pain is a result of genetics and sometimes theres no known cause at all.
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Fibromyalgia And Social Security
Many people with fibromyalgia find themselves unable to work or resume a normal standard of living.
For such people, Social Security rulings in the United States dictate that so long as a medical or osteopathic doctor can determine that the disease causes medically determinable impairment , the condition will qualify as a disability for Social Security payments.
This means that a doctor should be able to confirm:
- a history of widespread pain
- a minimum of 11 tender points following examination
- repeated instances of at least six fibromyalgia symptoms
- no other conditions are causing the pain
The Social Security Administration requires medical documentation dating back 12 months related to the disease and may conduct interviews with relatives, friends, neighbors, and past employers to confirm the diagnosis.
In some cases, the SSA may fund a consultation to confirm the debilitating nature of the disease.
Is There A Cure For Fibromyalgia
Living with fibromyalgia doesnt just mean dealing with chronic symptoms it means constantly chasing after a cure for your pain and fatigue. If youre one of the 4 million adults struggling under the weight of fibromyalgia pain, you know exactly how frustrating that chase can be. Fortunately, theres an expert pain management specialist ready to help you find relief from your worst symptoms.
Dr. Raul Lopez and his team at West Texas Pain Institute specialize in accurately diagnosing and treating your fibromyalgia. Dr. Lopezs years of experience have equipped him with a wide variety of treatment options he can tailor to exactly fit your needs.
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Make Work Life Better
Is work leaving you exhausted and in pain? Design a flexible plan that works for you and your boss. Ask about working from home part-time, or setting your hours for earlier or later in the day so you can be more productive. At the office, rearrange your workspace for comfort and easy accessibility. A telephone headset, keyboard tray, or other products may help put less stress on your body.
Sprinkle Turmeric On Your Food
My doctor recommended it and now I have to have turmeric every day, Ami says, adding that she puts the pungent yellow spice in sauces and drinks or takes capsules. Its a proven anti-inflammatory and its a way to add flavor to food in a healthy way, she says. Read more about the benefits of turmeric.
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Keep Your Routine Consistent
Interestingly, Dr. Mirgain says energy pacing should not be based on how youre feeling on any given day rather, you should try to keep your routines consistent from day to day in order to develop a steady and predictable level of activity.
Pacing is meant to give you more control over your day-to-day activities, such that how much you do should not vary dramatically according to your pain or energy that day, she says. This strategy allows you to do the same on good and bad days, while also leading to improved tolerance and achievements. It also helps you avoid the long periods of inactivity that can be so much more difficult to recover from.
Does Energy Pacing Mean Limiting Exercise
Activity pacing does not mean not getting exercise instead, it means conserving energy in between bouts of activity. Studies have shown that doing exercise, either aerobic or resistance-based exercise, does improve energy levels, Dr. Sulapas says. It also helps establish a baseline of endurance, so doing daily tasks can be easier.
Rest is important, but you need physical activity throughout your day. If a person lives a sedentary lifestyle and has chronic fatigue, they are usually just running on half a tank of energy. Gentle exercise can help decrease fatigue, Dr. Sulapas says. Dodge says exercise can help reset your body so all systems function optimally.
In addition, not being active can lead to psychological fear of activity, resulting in a vicious cycle, Dr. Mirgain says.
Instead, strive for balance: Think of it as a middle ground between doing nothing and overexerting yourself, she says. Pacing involves spending just enough time and energy in an activity to be productive, without pushing yourself so hard that you end up in more pain and able to do less afterward.
Talk to your doctor or therapist about what exercises are right for you.
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Dont Compare Yourself To Other Patients Either
Its hard enough to look at your high school best friend Instagram and not feel a little jealous of her globe-trotting lifestyle as a software engineer who models in her spare time. But when its someone else with fibromyalgia someone whos going through the same crap as you it can be harder not to compare. But thats all the more reason to resist the impulse, says CaraJean O., 39, of Raleigh, North Carolina. One of the best tips I got from my mother-in-law, who also has fibro, was not to compare myself to other people with it, because theres a whole range of whats normal and how people experience it, she says. There are some people with fibro who can run marathons or start a business. I struggle to hold down a part-time job. It doesnt mean that Im doing something wrong.
What Triggers Fibromyalgia Flare
Numerous factors contribute to a flare-up. What triggers your flare may not be the same as what triggers another persons fibro flare.
Once you can distinguish your triggers, you may be able to avoid them effectively and reduce the flare-ups that you have.
Overextending Yourself
Pushing yourself past your limits may trigger a flare-up. Learning to pace yourself when it comes to physical activity and exercise is vital.
It is easy to push yourself too far and wind up paying for it later. Finding your limits and listening to your body can help to avoid this.
Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Stress can cause much damage to the body, including increasing pain and fatigue in those with fibromyalgia. Anxiety and depression also cause physical symptoms that could lead to a flare-up.
Finding methods to help you cope with stress, as well as finding appropriate treatment for any mental health problems, may help to reduce the number of fibro flares you have.
Hormonal Changes
Fibromyalgia is closely linked to specific hormonal imbalances. This means that a change in your hormones can easily affect your symptoms.
Women with fibromyalgia may find that their menstrual period or the start of menopause can cause a fibro flare.
Dietary Changes
There are some foods that may affect some with fibromyalgia. Some have been affected by dairy, gluten, MSG, refined sugar, or caffeine. Also, any food sensitivities that you have could trigger a fibromyalgia flare.
Inadequate Sleep
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