Blood tests for diagnosing FM might be more than a vision

Currently there are no routine blood tests to diagnose fibromyalgia. However, studies are showing promise. Genetic markers have been found, and though still in the research stage, I suspect we will have a blood test for biological markers before long.

As reported in Fibromyalgia Network News, a new study by Dr. Alan Light (Light, et al. 2011) at the University of Utah, shows FM patients have an increased number of certain sensory receptors and three biomarkers are elevated in the FM patient compared to otherwise healthy study participants and those participants with MS and depression. This is a very important finding specific to FM.

Several comorbid conditions to fibromyalgia (meaning they occur more frequent in FM) do have blood or other tests, such as, hypothyroidism, interstitial cystitis and other bladder problems, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and Raynaud’s. Many Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and sjögren’s patients also have FM, and metabolic disorders seem to have a connection to the development of secondary fibromyalgia. There are blood tests that should be done when FM is suspected to make sure these other conditions are not present. They are all treated specifically and the medications used to treat the centralization of FM will not treat these other conditions successfully.

It is important to support the research if you are able. The American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association, AFSA, has contributed to some very important studies that have helped us understand biomarkers and the presence of myofascial trigger points in FM.

www.afsa.org

Harmony and Hope, Celeste

This blog is based on my original answer as fibromyalgia expert at ShareCare, “How are blood tests used to treat fibromyalgia?” View my other answered questions as fibromyalgia expert

http://sharecare.com/user/celeste-Cooper

Citation:
Light, AR, Bateman L, Jo D, Hughen RW, Vanhaitsma TA, White AT, Light KC. Gene expression alterations at baseline and following moderate exercise in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
Fibromyalgia Syndrome. J Intern Med [epub ahead of print], May 26, 2011

All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press

Qi Gong and Biofeedback, tools for helping our bodies deal with FM & ME/CFS

The Energy of Inertia(C) Celeste's Photography

The value of correctly executed deep meditative breathing practice, Qi Gong, and biofeedback has been well documented. There is a biological affect of these practices.


Oxygen is needed in the Krebs cycle for cellular metabolism and without oxygen cellular damage will occur. We know from the research that oxidative stress is prevalent in both FM and ME/CFS, and this is something you can do even if you are physically challenged.


We also know that stress affects vital signs such as a rise in blood pressure, heart rate and even temperature. This is particularly important in the FM and ME/CFS patient because our homeostasis is already metabolically challenged and we need to decrease cellular stress for healing. If we work at regulating exterior forces that we can help control, we in affect help our bodies by eliminating one more thing it is trying to deal with. Biofeedback is a great tool for learning what happens to your body when your mind is in overload, and teaches us ways of helping control this.

(Signature line appended November 2018)

In healing,

Celeste Cooper, RN / Author, Freelancer, Advocate

Think adversity?-See opportunity!

http://www.CelesteCooper.com

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

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Helping your doctor diagnose fibromyalgia

Though there will be a change in the diagnostics for FM, the consensus remains, there are common symptoms that have generally lasted for more than three months. Note and evaluate any measures that help or worsen the following and report them to your doctor:

•Widespread pain, check presence of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs).
•Secondary, anxiety and/or depression
•Sleep disturbance, non restorative or difficulty getting to sleep or maintaining sleep, primary or could be an autoimmune disorder, Hashimoto’s
•Morning stiffness, check presence of MTrPs.
•Fatigue
•Bladder difficulties, pelvic floor dysfunction, now being successfully treated w/ intravaginal trigger point injections by a uro-gyenocologist
•Bowel habits altered (IBS, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, bloating, gas, leaky gut syndrome or small intestine bacterial overgrowth).
•Chemical sensitivity
•Chest wall pain, check presence of MTrPs
•Cognitive disturbances, primary or from comorbid hypothyroidism
•Cold intolerance, primary or result of comorbid hypothyroidism or Raynaud’s
•Dizziness, check MTrPs in muscles close to vital organs or vessels, or comorbid nuerally mediated hypotension (NMH) or postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS)
•Dry eyes and mouth, primary or secondary to a metabolic disturbance or autoimmune such as Sjogrens
•Gynecological disturbances or premenstrual syndrome (PMS), See bladder difficulties.
•Headaches, severe and chronic, including migraine, MTrPs have been related to migraine
•Impaired coordination, could be primary but check presence of MTrPs
•Irritability or mood changes, secondary to chronic pain and primary to centralization in FM
•Jaw pain, most likely secondary to TMJ, bruxism (teeth grinding), which exacerbate MTrPs
•Paresthesias, unexplained numbness, most likely related to MTrPs in muscles close to major nerves
•Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
•Raynaud’s syndrome
•Restless leg syndrome (RLS) and/or periodic limb movement (PLM), has central and peripheral component, it is possible that MTrPs are keeping the brain in wind-up
•Ringing in the ears, could have a myofascial component
•Sensitivity to odors
•Sensitivity to noise
•Skin sensitivities and rashes
•Subjective swelling
•Visual problems, could have a myofascial component or be related to a comorbid condition


There is a checklist at the end of the section, “All about Fibromyalgia,” called Summary Exercise: Fibromyalgia. Our publisher has given permission to copy these helpful sheets found at the end of each section or chapter. Share them with your doctor or other healthcare provider.

Tips for communicating with your healthcare provider at
http://www.thesethree.com/fibromyalgia/communication-tips.php


All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press

This question is based on my original answer at ShareCare, “How can I help my doctor diagnose fibromyalgia?”

View my other answered questions as fibromyalgia expert
http://sharecare.com/user/celeste-Cooper

Fibromyalgia and the Workplace

Telling your boss you have fibromyalgia is a personal choice. If you require specific needs, such as time off for doctors appointments, make special revisions to your work area to accommodate your needs, or apply for FMLA, then you may not have a choice.

Staying productive is important, but if your needs exceed what your employer believes is acceptable, there are certain rules that may protect you and certain rules that may protect your employer.

Chapter Seven, Dealing with the System Systematically, in our book, Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection covers the laws and programs devised to provide you with protection and help you remain in the workforce.

This blog is based on my original answer as fibromyalgia expert at ShareCare to the question. Do I need to tell my boss about my fibromyalgia?”
View other answered questions on my profile at
http://sharecare.com/user/celeste-Cooper

All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press and are not meant to replace medical advice.

In with the New, Out with the Old: Fibromyalgia diagnostics

Times are changing, but we aren't quite there yet. The preliminary diagnostic criterion intends to do away with the tender point model, which has become the hallmark for diagnosing FM.

Fibromyalgia is a central sensitization problem thought to be brought on by a dysfunction of the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) axis and other central nervous system (CNS) disruptions. The criterion considers the effects of FM on CNS sensitization, and comorbid conditions; migraine, IBS, irritable bladder, cognitive deficit, RLS, hypothyroidism, Raynaud’s, disordered sleep etc.

However, it does not address the co morbidity of chronic myofascial pain, a peripheral nerve to muscle disease that causes myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Trigger points are knotted up muscle fibers in a taut (tight) band of muscle. They are EASILY felt unless behind bone or other muscles, or the band of muscle affected is too tight. It is an objective piece of evidence to indicate the presence of chronic myofascial pain (CMP) in FM and research suggests possibly all FM patients have them. This is not new to me, and is why myofascial pain is covered extensively in our book. These MTrPs are peripheral pain generators that bombard the brain with pain messages keeping the central nervous system sensitized. Exercising a muscle riddled with MTrPs, will only make the pain and dysfunction worse, leading both the patient and the physician down a road of misguided confusion.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis may put the patient at greater risk of developing FM. The proposed criteria considers hypothyroidism as a comorbid condition in FM, however, waxing & waning hormones in Hashimoto’s makes it difficult to detect in routine tests. I have had the honor of discussing this with Dr. I Jon Russell, one of the co-authors of the proposed criteria. I believe it prudent that patients with a normal thyroid panel, but symptoms of thyroid disease, (the ups and downs of thyroid hormones, palpitations one minute, and unable to get out of bed the next), should have thyroid antibodies drawn.

For now the tender point model is being used to diagnose fibromyalgia. See a complete account of the tender point model at http://www.thesethree.com/fibromyalgia/tender-points.php

And symptoms at http://www.thesethree.com/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia-symptoms.php

As fibromyalgia expert at ShareCare.com, this question is based on my original answer to, “What criteria must I meet to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia?

View other answered questions on my profile at
http://sharecare.com/user/celeste

All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press

Information here is not meant to replace medical advice.

Direct links at www.TheseThree.com

Bats crowding out your belfry, dizziness in FM and CFS/ME

This blog is based on my original answer to “How do you treat dizziness in fibromyalgia and CFS/ME?” as fibromyalgia expert at ShareCare.com

View other answered questions on my profile at
http://sharecare.com/user/celeste-Cooper


First, you must find out what is causing your dizziness. Dizziness is a symptoms and can be caused by many conditions, but in FM and CFS/ME the major culprits are hypothyroidism, Nuerally Mediated Hypotension (NMH) or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia (POTS). The presence of myofascial trigger points, causing chronic myofascial pain, located in muscles next to vital organs and blood vessels can also cause dizziness.

Therefore, you must first identify the cause of your dizziness to know how it is best treated. The treatment for all of the disorders I just suggested is different. Equally important is to rule out other conditions such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), insulin resistance, impending stroke, etc. Dizziness can be a symptom of many things.

Report this to your doctor and discuss the possibilities of the presence of these conditions, there are tests that can be done. Once any life threatening cause has been ruled out, be sure to check for myofascial trigger points in the area. They can be easily felt by a trained examiner, and treated. Myofascial Pain is present in most if not all FM patients, and many CFS/ME patients have said they suspect them too.

You can read more about all of this in our book, direct links at www.thesethree.com.

Harmony and Hope, Celeste

All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press

How do I manage fibromyalgia on a daily basis?

This question is based on my original answer as fibromyalgia expert at ShareCare.com. View other answered questions on my profile at
http://sharecare.com/user/celeste

Managing fibromyalgia is multidimensional.

Having helpful tools and knowing what to report to your doctor is important. Having a guide to keep us on track is helpful. Also helpful are having terms to describe your pain, understanding what the doctor needs to know about your health history, and knowing how to communicate with your doctor or healthcare provider. Keeping a medication log, a symptoms inventory sheet, evaluation of treatments and medications, etc. are all important to the patient with FM. (All available in our book).


But, there are other aspects to managing fibromyalgia too, such as learning about what fibromyalgia is, developing communication skills with others, and accepting through journaling. It is also important to learn diversion skills to take your mind away from the pain and fatigue. You can learn to do this on your own, develop new hobbies in-line with your new life, or if you need more help like I did, therapy and biofeedback.

There are many therapies and therapists helpful in managing FM. Our book has a complete list with definitions, the types of therapies and treating physicians, and how to find the right therapy and therapist for you.

Managing FM is a 24/7 job. Explaining it in just a few paragraphs is difficult. I started our book as a way of my personal coping. It started with one entry in my journal, “write a book.” Later I was joined by my then therapist and I believe we have a comprehensive guide to managing FM. You are welcome to see the contents at http://www.thesethree.com/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia-book-content.php

All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press