HI there everyone,
Well it appears that Sky you may have one of those medical patronizers, as many of the medication helps with weight gain and Fibromyalgia often causes weight gain in individuals due to a number of factors that are both directly and indirectly related to the disease itself. Fibromyalgia leads to hormonal imbalances, affecting levels of cortisol, thyroid, serotonin and insulin, as well as the production of growth hormones. Because of this hormonal imbalance, metabolism slows down and weight gain often follows. It really annoys me when these so called medical professionals say things like this, as it reminds me of this Rhuematologist a Group member saw and myself and basically the Rhuemo said to my member \"Are you a lone parent\" and I needed to loose weight, it doesn't take a so called professional to tell me this, what on earth has a lone parent got to do with a diagnosis, I think many think we are just malingerers that imagine the pain and fatigue........ I think you probably have one of these doctors that do not believe in Fibromyalgia and so as Di says do not give up!!!!!!
As Tess says take a copy of the symptoms to your doctor, my pain started after I had my son and I believe it was due to an epidural I had for my c-section as I have Osteo in my back (not diagnosed until a year ago, my son is three in jan 09) and the Anesthetist couldn't get the incision due to this and as I had an accident on a bus previously it all esculated six months after the birth of my son, and now I have a Pain Specialist Consultant he has been very supportive he said he knows the pain is not in my head and I have 18 out 18 tender points so I have the maximum one can have.......from head to toe!!!!!! :oops: he touched my skin like a slight touch and my mum said I nearly jumped to the ceiling and it was ever so slightly!!! so not a nice illness.
Fatigue associated with fibromyalgia also leads to increased weight. Because fibromyalgia initiates an arousal disturbance in the brain wave pattern during sleep, the individual can’t get enough quality sleep; the individual can also suffer from sleep apnea (pauses during night time breathing and snoring) and restless legs (tingling in the legs), which increase tiredness.
A new study found that a lack of sleep also leads to higher hypocretin production, which is important in sleep and appetite levels. When hypocretin neuron levels are high (due to environmental and mental stressors), they lead to an increased state of arousal, leading not only to fatigue, but also to overeating.
In addition to fatigue, many fibromyalgia patients experience chronic pain, which can also inhibit their ability to exercise.
Drugs taken to treat fibromyalgia-related depression can also cause the individual to gain weight. Antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft increase appetite, fluid retention, and can affect hormone levels and therefore metabolism.
Like Tess and myself an under active thyroid does not help too!!! and if you have Osteo? and as with Di I do hope your pain is not too severe as Osteo in my back is painful, along with the hips, I do hope you get answers soon xxxx
Linda I have problems in my shoulders and wrists and I have cervical rib which can again cause numbness etc I can't lift my hands/arms above my head without the weakness and pain is too much, possibly carpal tunnel syndrome. People who suffer from fibromyalgia are also at increased risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, recent studies performed on fibromyalgia patients show that women with fibromyalgia are much more likely to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome than those women who do not have fibromyalgia. Up to 55% of all fibromyalgia patients have carpal tunnel syndrome. This percentage is more than 5 times greater than the risk for the general population. Hopefully this is not associated with you Linda, I am only speculating with myself as I am no doctor but again it is worth looking in