Many times when fibromyalgia are exhausted not sleeping, and taking pain pills or melatonin they can experience what is know as sleep paralysis. This article is slanted toward every day people, but you might gain some benefit. I have found that by resting during the day, and not relying on pain medication when you are totally exhausted can help stop the frightening dreams that make sleeping harrowing night or day.
Is sleep paralysis a problem for you? If you are wondering whether something can be done about it then the answer is yes. Just go through the following article and get to know the facts.
If you sometimes find that you are paralyzed during sleep and you cannot move then you are suffering from sleep paralysis. Everyone experiences sleep paralysis at some stage in their life. In other people however these episodes happen more often and can be quite scary. Sleep paralysis will manifest itself under varied conditions and it can be dealt with it.
The underlying factor of sleep paralysis is that of partial consciousness. The attacks occur when dreaming you are suddenly woken from your sleep and your brain responds much faster than your body. You then experience the sensation that the dream you were having is real. When you try and respond to this then your body cannot even move a single muscle.
This is because the process of coming out of sleep was never meant to be a sudden event but a gradual one. If something suddenly wakes you up whilst you are having a dream then paralysis is likely to set in. Being paralyzed during sleep is the body’s way of protecting you. The body is trying to prevent you from reacting to something that is not there.
Most people to panic and try to even scream and they find that they cannot even make a single sound. What disturbs me the most though is that these so called hallucinations seem so real at the time they occur. Having experienced one too many times I decided to learn more about it.
I have encountered many suggested solutions and techniques to this problem. Some methods are as simple as avoidance techniques of known causes, to meditation and yoga. If you are experiencing episodes where by you become paralyzed during sleep solutions are always there. It is quite possible to sleep and rest peacefully at night.
When you have a fibromyalgia diagnosis, you are very likely to have neurological problems associated with other fibromyalgia symptoms. Your fibromyalgia symptoms can be wide spread across many body locations, but they do seem to follow a similar pattern in many patients. As you will read below in a study out of Seattle that neurologic symptoms do appear to correlate with the signs and symptoms found in many fibromyalgia patients.
Pain in not the only symptoms of Fibromyalgia, you may find that you suffer from other neurological symptoms such as:
Bladder problems
Blurred vision that glasses don’t help
Clumsiness
Cold hands and feet
Dizziness or Fainting
Facial Numbness
Frequent Headaches
Irritable bowel syndrome
Muscle weakness
Nausea and/or vomiting spells
Numbness and tingling in your hands and feet
Sore Throat or Hoarseness
Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome
Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome is a hypersensitivity to chemicals, odors, loud noise, light, temperature changes, and affects around 2/3rds of fibromyalgia patients. Chemical sensitivity symptoms can include headaches, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, and fainting. Chemical sensitivity symptoms can mimic fibromyalgia symptoms as well. Many fibromyalgia patients have found relief from their neurological symptoms by examining the link between their reaction to certain chemicals and conditions. Keep in mind that fibromyalgia syndrome already impacts your life, narrowing your chemical reactions may make a big impact on your health, but you still need to live. Shutting yourself away from the world is not the answer. If you do find that chemical sensitivity is affecting you in ways that are causing neurological problems it is wise to contact your health care provider to determine an appropriate plan of action, so that you may live your life as fully as possible.
Neurologic Symptoms Associated With Fibromyalgia Syndrome
In a controlled study group of one hundred and sixty-six fibromyalgia patients, and sixty-six pain free control patients conducted by Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson from the University of Washington Medicine Sleep Institute in Harborview Seattle, showed significantly more neurologic symptoms than were seen in the overall control group.
Fibromyalgia Neurologic Symptoms that were studies showed:
70% of fibromyalgia patients displayed photo phobia or light sensitivity 63% of the group showed signs of poor balance 50% displayed some weakness and tingling in their arms or legs.
Upon further research the study found that there were considerable correlations between the neurologic symptoms, and the neurologic signs.
Example: Poor balance correlated in the test study with defined weakness in the arms or legs. These findings lead to the recommendation by Watson who ran the study to advice; “careful neurological examinations in all fibromyalgia patients, particularly those with neurological complaints.”
SOURCE: Arthritis and Rheumatism, September 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58L40T20090922
The usually and often misunderstood symptoms of fibromyalgia have lead to many myths and misconceptions. Fibromyalgia is real condition and the pain and fatigue you are experiencing is very real as well.
Finding proper treatments and learning to cope with fibromyalgia can be difficult, but not being fully informed, and believing untruths, can lead to unnecessary emotional pain as well.
Fibromyalgia Myths
Let’s take a look at seven common myths that surround fibromyalgia syndrome, and dig down deeper to uncover the truths.
#1) Myth: Fibromyalgia is not a real condition, and most doctors believe this to be true.
The Truth: Most doctors do believe that Fibromyalgia syndrome is real. However, can be difficult to assess, and this myth cropped up due to the misunderstanding between doctors who are not familiar with fibromyalgia, patients who are desperate for answers to a very painful condition, and the medical community which is trying to set standards for patient care.
The other complexity involves the disparity of symptoms that each patient can present, which can make a diagnosis more difficult. The American College of Rheumatology helped develop a set of criteria to help doctors diagnose fibromyalgia.
These guidelines are followed by doctors familiar with fibromyalgia syndrome collection of symptoms which include:
Fibromyalgia Syndrome:
Widespread, prevalent body pain that is above and below the waist
Pain For Three months or more
Have at least 11 out of 18 Tender points found in noted locations of the body
Can include: Extreme fatigue, Difficulty sleeping, disturbed sleep, inability to exercise due to exacerbation of symptoms
Your symptoms are real, and many doctors believe your symptoms are real, and will try to provide the best care possible.
#2) Myths: Fibromyalgia can damage your joints.
The Truth: The pain you are associating with fibromyalgia can be an aching discomfort, and it can also be very brutal at times, but it is not doing damaging your bones, joints or muscles. As well, you should understand that the severity of the pain you are experiencing does not reflect a deterioration or progression of the disease, or condition.
#3) Myths: Doctors diagnose patients with Fibromyalgia when they can’t find anything else wrong with them.
Truth: Doctors diagnose Fibromyalgia based on the symptoms you present on exam. They will not pin a fibromyalgia label on you when your symptoms don’t fit a certain criteria for any other disease or conditions.
Getting a fibromyalgia diagnosis can take time, as there is no single blood test, no x-ray or CT scan that will confirm your diagnosis. It becomes a medial puzzle of running tests, and ruling out other symptoms to determine the cause of your symptoms, and it can be frustrating to both you and your doctor as well.
#4) Myths: If there is no cure or treatments for fibromyalgia then going to the doctor is a waste of time and money
The Truth: There is no one size fits all treatment that fits all patients, but the Food and Drug Administration has approved one drug for treating fibromyalgia, and other treatments are the pipeline.
Learning to live with your condition can include: medications, changes to your lifestyle, alternative treatment, complementary treatments, changes to your diet, and staying active with low impact exercise.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease where symptoms can diminish, and become more sever, but it is not life threatening, but it very likely a lifelong chronic condition.
#5) Myths: If Fibromyalgia causes pain, and then there must be something more wrong with me. I have lots of other unexplainable symptoms.
The Truth: No one knows why there is such a wide array of symptoms that can be found Fibromyalgia patient beside pain.
Fatigue, depression, mood disorders, headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, memory problems “fibro fog” , sleep problems, cold fingers and toes, numbness fingers and toes, restless leg syndrome, tingling in fingers and toes. Abdominal problems: Weight gain, abdomen pain, IBS, bladder control problems, and nausea.
#6) Myths: Fibromyalgia is so debilitating that you can’t live a productive life.
The Truth: It is true that learning to live with this chronic disease takes time, and patience. You may find the your pain never completely goes away, but there are millions of people living in chronic pain from other disorders, and they put one foot in front of the other every day.
There are many approaches to living, and strategies that may mean altering your life style, but by setting goals, surrounding yourself with supportive people, and learning to pace your day you can get by, and you will.
#7) Myths: If you look fine, then there’s nothing wrong with you.
The Truth: It can be easy to feel angry with your family, friend, and co-workers who do not understand this condition, and withdraw. However you need to be honest, and explain your symptoms so that they have a clear understanding of the physical and emotional toll you are under.
Joining a support group can be very helpful, and just having an outlet to share your feelings, your frustrations, and to discuss what treatment options that are works for others can be very beneficial. Finding people who really understand what a really bad day is who are suffering and going through similar circumstances can make coping and managing your condition much more tolerable.
Do not underestimate the power of friendship and compassion, it is very powerful medicine, and that is not a myth that is the truth!
Pregnancy for many women is no walk in the park, but when you suffer with fibromyalgia studies show that you can experience considerable pain, fatigue, low energy, and psychological stress along with the other symptoms of pregnancy. Many times women who are pregnant are misdiagnosed, and under treated for their pain and discomfort.
This is according to a pilot study that was done by Karen M. Schaefer, D.N.Sc., R.N., assistant professor of nursing at Temple University’s College of Health Professions, and studied women who were between the ages of 29-31 in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Ms. Schaefer’s research was the first of its kind to breach the subject of women who are pregnant, and suffering from the chronic illness fibromyalgia.
The data up until this study had been anecdotal suggesting that pregnant women with the chronic disease did have a more difficult time during their 9 month gestation. The symptoms that the study participants listed as difficult involved feeling more stiff, tired, and having more areas of pain and tenderness.
The outcome of the Schaefer’s study revealed that the pregnant women suffering with fibromyalgia were more prone to exaggerated pain symptoms than women under normal pregnancy conditions.
Many Doctors Don’t Agree
However, many doctors are in disagreement and feel that pregnancy can be a benefit, and send the chronic disease into remission until after the baby is born.
If this is the case, the thousands of online forums must be wrong. A quick search shows a pattern were many women around 7-8th month start to complain of swelling, pain, and tingling in their hands and feet. Back pain becomes more of an issue around this same time period that can be excruciating for many pregnant women too, make sleeping even more difficult.
Fibromyalgia has no negative effect on carrying a pregnancy to term, or the harming the infant. The main concern will be your ability to handle a pregnancy if your fibromyalgia does become more pronounced due to your pregnant condition.
What You Need To Do:
Resting, proper diet, decreased stress, and adequate sleep are important factors in any pregnancy, but if you suffer from fibromyalgia it become even more so.
Follow proper diet, walk, water exercise, stretching, and rest . Do not take any herbs, supplements, or treatment plans recommended for fibromyalgia without first speaking with your doctor.
Source:
Temple University (2006, July 5). Fibromyalgia Increases Pain and Fatigue For Pregnant
The difficult aspects of fibromyalgia can have you literally looking under a rock for a fibromyalgia treatment that works.
However, you might not be too far off if you are looking for a natural treatment to relieve you of many of your fibromyalgia symptoms of;
Insomnia
Gastrointestinal Problems
Reflux
Anxiety
Inflammation
Headaches
Muscle Pain
Fatigue & Exhaustion
There are many natural treatments that many fibromyalgia suffers turn too, but medicinal mushrooms may be new to many of you. Medicinal mushrooms to treat many conditions have been around for centuries. They have not had as much as exposure as they are not used as frequently as they are in Eastern medicine.
There are said to be over 100,000 different species of mushrooms or fungi as they are know. Many people have great fears over consuming mushrooms because they have been informed that some mushrooms are poisonous. Although mushrooms have great health benefits, there are in fact some that are not edible.
Yes, your grandmother, your 5th grade science teacher, and the kid down the block were right, there are some mushrooms that are poisonous. There are some that can produce hallucinations, but many more hold great medicinal properties.
Medicinal mushrooms basic role in nature in that of turning waste material into highly nutritious material. Easter medicine has a long track record showing that many species of mushrooms can;
Alleviate Allergies
Beneficial For Respiratory Problems; Asthma, Bronchitis,
Treat Digestive Problems
Enhance & Stabilize the Endocrine System
Enhance Circulation
Enhance Energy
Enhance the Immune System
Insomnia
Nervous
Reduce Tumors
Skeletal/muscular systems
Stabilize Blood Cholesterol
Stabilize Blood Sugar – Diabetics
Studied & Used For Fibromyalgia, MS, Cancer
Treat Viral Infections
Used In Detox Diets
Used To Clear Anesthesia Post Op
Used To Treat AIDS
Used To Treat Side Effects of Chemo Therapy
Is There Medical Evidence That Mushrooms Work?
So, are medicinal mushrooms a natural wonder or are the claims over blown?
Studies show that mushrooms do provide many medical properties. With a 4,000 year old Chinese history medicinal mushrooms are still used today in Asian culture. Western medicine may not be far behind, as researchers use modern technology to discover the inner workings that are the core compounds that offer hope in treating a myriad of conditions.
As I have had some comments on posts being too long, I will follow up with another post listing the most important and effective medicinal mushrooms for treating fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue; Reishi mushrooms, Maitake Mushrooms, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Poria cocas Mushrooms.
I highly recommend checking out Kalyx natural on line market. The site is not pretty, but their selection of herbs, teas, oil, spices, foods, vitamins, and so much more has every herb, spice, and vitamin you can imagine. The great thing is the prices are cheap, and many of the natural can be be bought in bulk if you find something that works to treat your fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia How Do You Cope?