What is Fibromyalgia and what are the Symptoms?

Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disorder whch generates pain and fatigue throughout the body. Although the underlying causes are still unknown, Fibromyalgia is usually the direct result of a malfunctioning immune system and is therefore classed as an auto-immune disease.

What appears to happen is that your cells start sending the wrong signals to your immune system. Your immune system identifies your cells as unwanted and possibly dangerous invaders and attacks them. This causes inflammation, and ultimately organ and joint damage if the condition persists over a long period.

There are several theories for this breakdown in communication between your cells and your immune system.
High levels of free radicals which can damage cells.

Low protein absorption which inhibits your ability to repair cells: It is thought that damage to the myelin sheath that protects your nerves may be the cause of Fibromyalgia pain. Because protein is necessary for the health of this myelin sheath and people with Fibromyalgia have difficulty digesting protein, they cannot repair these damaged cells easily. This would explain why high doses of highly digestible protein can help reduce Fibromyalgia pain for a couple of days.

A high degree of bacterial or viral infections: Herpes is commonly found in Fibromyalgia patients. It is speculated that when your body can no longer properly fight off these infections, Fibromyalgia begins to manifest.

Common Symptoms

Pain: This may affect your whole body or be concentrated in a few muscles or joints, particularly your neck, shoulders and back. The pain and stiffness may be worse in the mornings and may be more intense in muscles that are used repetitively.

Fatigue: This may be mild or severe, but can frequently leave you feeling totally drained of energy. This fatigue is the result of either too little or disturbed sleep, or a breakdown in your body's energy production mechanism. You often don't just feel tired you feel anxious and on edge.

Sleep Problems: You may wake up 3 to 4 times a night - 80% of people with Fibromyalgia do. And even if you don't come fully awake you may be subject to subliminal seizures which shock you out of a deep stage 4 sleep into a shallow stage 1 sleep. No matter how long you sleep, you rarely feel rested.

Short Term Memory Loss or Forgetfulness: This is a result of a lack of oxygen in your brain. If your thyroid gland is underactive - a condition which affects 85% of Fibromyalgia sufferers but only shows up in thyroid tests 10% of the time - or you have heart complications, the flow of blood to your brain is decreased. This deprives your brain cells of the oxygen they need to work properly.

Emotional Instability and Depression: Your hypothalamus gland, which controls your emotions, is affected. You may have a tendency to cry more easily, be more anxious and fearful, or feel depressed. These are all results of the disease, not reactions to it.

Hair Loss and Subnormal Body Temperature: Further indications that your thyroid gland is not working at 100%.

Gastrointestinal Problems: Excessive gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea or constipation, hiatal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease. One or more of these symptoms are experienced by 75% of people with Fibromyalgia.

Heightened Sensitivity: Your body becomes hyper-sensitive. Allergies often develop. Your eyes may become light sensitive. You may develop a sense of vertigo. Or experience swollen glands, a heightened sensitivity to certain chemicals, or more frequent headaches.

Chronic headaches: Recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches are experienced by half the people with Fibromyalgia. A 1997 report suggested that as many as 90% of Fibromyalgia patients may have jaw and facial tenderness thought to be related to the muscles and ligaments surrounding the mandibular joint.

Overactivity: This can cause serious problems. In healthy people your body lets you know when you should take a break - you feel pain or muscle fatigue or both. When you have Fibromyalgia this warning system becomes impaired - There is a tendency to overwork or overexercise when feeling good and then to feel worse for days afterward. Instead of telling you when to stop, your body lets you continue. Lactic acid builds up in your muscles and carbon dioxide is recirculated, depleting your cells of oxygen.

Low Blood Pressure, Fluttering Heart, Panic Attacks, Rapid Heartbeat: Your heart receives the wrong messages from your autonomous nervous system. The body picks up these signals and over-reacts, usually causing your heart to reduce the amount of blood it pumps through your body and stimulating these other symptoms.

Body Acidity and Toxicity: Usually people with Fibromyalgia are highly toxic. This can be the result of a buildup of bacteria, antigens, fungi, viruses, allergins; environmental pollution; mercury tooth fillings or improper diet. Diseases flourish in a toxic environment.

Candida Yeast Infections: These are very common. If your tongue has a white coating, you have a yeast infection.

Other Common Symptoms include: Liver Dysfunction, Low Blood Sugar, Tingling Hands, Ringing Ears, Cold Toes and Fingers, Metallic taste in your mouth, Painful menstrual periods, chest pain, morning stiffness, memory loss, muscle twitching, irritable bladder, the feeling of swollen extremities, skin sensitivity, dry eyes and mouth, frequent changes in eye prescription, dizziness, and impaired coordination can occur.

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