Hi all, I have been doing some reading and came across this research on a reputable site;
Patients with fibromyalgia show deficiencies in red blood cell (RBC) magnesium and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a small study shows, suggesting potential clues to underpinnings of the condition and avenues for treatment. This paper was presented at the recent
American pain management annual meeting.
It sounds like we should be seeing an endocrinologist. Has anyone any knowledge about this, or first hand experience? Would love to know more! Have a good weekend everyone?☀️
Hi Meg I havnt heard about this it sounds very interesting, I would like to know more about it. Hope you have a lovely weekend hun take care gentle hugs xx
Hi Bee, yes thank you, so far, fingers crossed, having a good weekend. Yes fascinating, if you want to know more there is more information on Medscape. This whole actions of hormones and the roles they play in dealing with chronic pain is obviously a work in progress. As one doctor said "I'm glad they're studying this, however, because [hormone involvement] is the future of chronic pain, there's no question about it."
Red blood cell magnesium levels seem to be tied up in this and a possible indicator of problems with these hormones. The snag is standard tests for magnesium levels are not accurate for testing this, instead a specialised RBC magnesium test is needed. Oh no not more tests, I feel like like a human pin cushion. 😎
Hi Kaz, yes certainly providing food for thought. Please see my reply to Bee above. Sometimes I feel like I am clasping at straws but anything that could help is worth a try. Not sure whether I can get my GP to play ball, sometimes I think she thinks I am a serial nuisance, but hey she doesn't have to go through what we are going through. Sometimes you wish these doctors could just spend one day in our shoes, then they might get where we are coming from. So sorry about the rant.
Byethe way, love your picture you look so lovely sitting there. Many gentle hugsxxx Meg😎
It's funny you said that we should be seeing an endocrinologist for our fibromyalgia because when I lived in the States, an endocrinologist is who told me I had the disease. She was puffing up the blood pressure cuff on my arm and I was wincing. I asked her why that had to hurt so much, and she said, "Oh, that's your fibromyalgia." I was stunned. No one had ever told me I had it. When I asked the doctor what she was talking about, she said hypothyroidism (which she discovered I'd had undiagnosed for over 20 years) goes hand in hand with fibromyalgia. So if you've got one, nine times out of ten, you've got the other.
If you are anaemic it is usually a lack of iron I think, not an expert in this field. That is unless it is pernicious anaemia and then it is a lack of B12. Has your doctor told you how to remedy it ?
Actually, Meg, my fibro got better after a year of acupuncture. Since we've moved to Poland I haven't found a practitioner close enough to my home. It has been a few years, but I'm still better than I was. I also have added a full range of B vitamins and 2000 mg of vitamin D to my low sugar, low meat, lower fat diet. This all seems to help with the "fibro fog".
When I lived in the States, I had access to a gym with a heated pool. There they offered aerobic exercises to those with arthritis or who were otherwise handicapped. It was miraculous how much that helped. Where I am now, there is a pool but I haven't been brave enough to try it yet. I've heard it's not so warm which for someone with fibro wouldn't be too smart.
My rhumatologist in the US stressed exercise as a great reliever of pain for those of us with this problem. I was very reluctant to get in the water because after trying walking, dance, and yoga to no avail, all I envisioned was more pain. But the exact opposite happened, and I really miss it. It boosted my energy levels.
I also miss my chiropractor who really knows how to press on those trigger points to relieve pain rather than cause it, and how to release muscle spasms. I would go into his office limping like an old woman, but come out standing tall and pain free for a few hours at least, lol. I always make a point to see "Magic Mike" when we go back to visit family. There is a massage therapist here that a neighbor raves about, and I'm thinking of trying him out. All of this is how I've learned to live with this because I can't take the usual fibro meds. They knock me out and I can't function. I do take a German anti inflammatory called Olfen Uno which is very helpful, but that's it, and I'm sure having gotten my hypothyroidism under control probably has helped as well.
A long winded answe to a very short question. Sorry about that! 😃
Hi Meg how are you? hows things with you?. are you manageing to sleep. My sleep is variable last night I woke once but managed to get back off. the night before I had no sleep at all Im struggling with walking at the min and pain in my hips back. but plodding on. we have got the paint for our kitchen its called wellbeing by dulux.weve picked new work tops and cupboard doors new handles and sink. will get the cuboards etc in novem if we can or it will be early january.so hubby going to be buisy. hope your not in too much pain hun take good care of yourself gentle hugs coming to you xx hope you have a lovely day and a good weekx
Hi Bee how are you hun? hows things with you. hope you have a good week and work goes ok for you. Hope your manageing to get some sleep and not in too much pain take care hun thinking of you gentle hugs xx
Hi Kaz...still feeling tired. Work is busy at the moment. Makes the day fly by. Hope to get some sleep tonight as I am ever so tired. Hope you are sleeping well and the pains reducing. Gentle hugs to you. Have a pleasant evening. xx
Please don"t apologise for your long answer it made great reading and your methods of coping sound good to me. I also have found water exercise really benefical just wish there was a heated pool nearby. Diet in my case also helps, though I have to be quite strict, adhering to a whole food diet, plus eliminating certain,foods that I am intolerate too.
Good luck finding the right facilities in Poland, it can't be easy switching countries like that.
Hi Meg how are you? hows things with you? are you manageing to sleep ok? my sleep is hit and miss at present. Im struggling to walk legs dont want to work pain wise a 9, since having the flu jab last week Ive had tremendous pressure in my head? hope your not in too much pain hun. we have got the paint for the kitchen, and weve picked the cupboard doors new handles work top sink. we may start kitchen before christmas or it may be january. Hubby isnt feeling great at min hes very achy and tired bless him. take care meg gentle hugs xx
I was on 25hrs a week (5hrs a day) but in August 2015 increased to 30hrs a week (6hrs a day). It's an office based job and mostly data input. I have just got a voice activated keyboard, so I don't have to type, but it is taking time to get used to it. Still waiting to get training on it but I can use it for basics at the moment. I have also been given an ergonomic chair too, which has helped and also a document holder which is great too.
The pains have reduced for me, but still have pains in my hands due to my herbal remedies which I have been taking since Feb 2015. My main issue now is lack of sleep, feeling ever so tired and after work, have the normal household chores as well as helping with homework. It's tough, but I have learnt to deal with one issue at a time and not to stress through my CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy). All I need is some serious sleep and hopefully that will come one day. Staying calm and postive is the way forward.
Isn't modern technology wonderful, we worry about the future of robotics but what a wonderful invention a voice activated key board must be. Good ergonomic practices have certainly helped relieve a lot of damage we have done to our bodies, slaving over computer screens. I used to work in the computer industry, in years gone past, and did lots of damage to back and eyesight etc. What is a document holder?
May I ask what herbal remedies you use? I know what you mean about painful hands, when I am having a flare up it always seems to start in the hands. As for sleep, I am not as strong as you, I found I just could not keep coping without sleep anymore and the pain was getting more intense, so I take 100 mls of Lyrica, which certainly helps with the sleep and dampens down the pain but you do feel a little dopey on it, hey Catch 22, dammed if you do but dammed if you don't.
I love your attitude of staying calm and positive, as I find stress seems to stir up the lurking dragon (pain) beneath. Yes many gentle hugs to you too and hope you get lovely gentle healing sleep this weekend.....xxx
Hi Kaz, sleep not too bad at present, thank you. Sorry to hear you are going through so much pain at present, it really is so exhausting and just plain horrible. Thinking of you and hubby, it sounds like he needs to take things easy for a while, I am sure the kitchen renos can wait. Sounds like you both need a nuturing weekend, Lots of hot chicken soup, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Many gentle hugsxxx