Sorry to be controversial about Fibromyalgia but...

if it was mostly men who got fibromyalgia and other autoimmune conditions do you think we would have a cure yet or at least be taken seriously or have some better medications?
Yes I am angry and I am fed up.

Fibromyalgia affects over 5 million Americans, primarily women. (Let alone the rest of the world)
The research funding money given to fibro in the USA is quite small compared to the amount of the population who suffer from this condition.

Lack of Government Funding for Fibromyalgia Research

US government funding figures for 2011 for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia research in comparison with other conditions:

Multiple Sclerosis – $144 million funding – 500,000 Americans

Lupus – $121 million funding – 1.5 million Americans

West Nile Virus – $63 million – 3,630 Americans (in 2007)

Lyme Disease – $26 million – 150,000 Americans (since 2002)

Fibromyalgia – $12 million – 3 – 6 million Americans

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – $5 million – 1 – 4 million Americans 

You can read more about the lack of funding at fighting fatigue.org

Medications used for Fibromyalgia

There is no best or safest treatment for fibromyalgia.

It is hard to predict what will be helpful for each person.

In some people, a combination of medicines, may be more effective.

Here is a list of the types of medications most often used to treat fibromyalgia:

1. Analgesics: commonly called pain killers. They include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), corticosteroid anti-inflammatories like prednisone and dexamethasone, opioids such as codeine, oxycodone, morphine and fentanyl and tramadol, a narcotic-like opiate agonist.
2. Anti-anxiety Medications
3. Antidepressants including including amitriptyline, fluoxetine and duloxetine.
4. Anti-convulsants including gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica)
5. Sleep Modifiers
6. Muscle Relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine.

In some people, a combination of medicines, may be more effective.

Medication is just one of options to treat fibromyalgia and many people find some relief from alternative treatments like massage, Ayurvedic Treatment, movement therapies (such as Pilates, the Feldenkrais method and yoga) homeopathy and acupuncture.

You may be interested in More indepth information on medications.

Starting hydrotherapy for Fibromyalgia

Last week I started hydrotherapy at the local hospital pool. Every doctor I have spoken to and many studies always say it will help reduce Fibromylagia symptoms. It is one of the Top Ten Tips for fibromyalgia. 

I also have other conditions that can benefit from doing water based therapy in warm water - arthritis and polymyositis. 

Hydrotherapy involves the use of water for pain relief and exercise. It takes advantage of the physical properties of water, such as the temperature and the pressure, for therapeutic purposes, to stimulate blood circulation and treat the symptoms of certain diseases, injuries and conditions. 

The hydrotherapy class I attend is a combination of walking in warm water and gentle movements in water such as squats which are much easier to do in water than out of the water and balance exercises. The program is run by a physiotherapist and many of the participants in the class have rheumatoid arthritis.

Studies done at the Universities in Spain and Portugal showed participants doing hydro experienced improvement in their fibromyalgia symptoms including:
(1) mobility
(2) self-care
(3) daily activities
(4) pain and discomfort
(5) anxiety or depression.

So far I have only done 2 sessions, and I know these improvements need to be felt over the long term, but mostly it has all been the opposite to improvement (whatever that word is?)
I have felt less improvement in (1) (2) and (3) and more of (4). The only thing that may have improved is (5) because on one day a week I get out of the house to do something for myself and when in the water I actually feel good and positive. But the night time is when the problems start and the next day and night and then the next day and night too! The pain is so bad that it wakes me at night and I am taking extra painkillers. This is extra pain that I don't usually have. This is not good!

Do you think it will slowly settle down over the weeks and I will get these improvements mentioned in the study? Stay tuned for the next hydrotherapy update.

Water Exercises for Fibromyalgia: The Gentle Way to Relax And Reduce Pain

Should you take Vitamin D?

I thought I was getting enough of this important vitamin from the sun but have a look at what I found out when I investigated a little more. 

                                                       

When I went to my new Rheumatologist the first thing she suggested was vitamin D tablets, even the brand.  I live in sunny Sydney, Australia so I was a bit shocked.  I thought I would be getting enough of this vitamin from incidental sun exposure. You see, she said, Vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle pain.

After checking with some reliable sources such as Cleveland Clinic I found that symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include muscle weakness, pain, fatigue and depression. It is interesting that these are some of the main symptoms of fibromyalgia too. 

Dr. Ramakrishnan of Our Lady's Hospital in Ireland currently gives all his fibromyalgia patients vitamin D. He recently conducted a small study which showed only 15% of fibromyalgia patients had adequate levels of the vitamin.

This was a relatively small study, of only 36 people, and more studies are needed to see if early detection and replacement of vitamin D may help in the overall management of fibromyalgia.

But in the meantime is there any harm in taking the recommended dose of Vitamin D? No I don't think so especially if it may help reduce muscle pain. We all know any reduction in pain is a blessing when we live with chronic pain.

According to Health Direct, an Australian government site, "Vitamin D is important for general health and especially for bones. It is needed to make muscles move, for nerves to work properly, and for the immune system."

Here is what else I discovered about the sun vitamin:

• we don't absorb vitamin D easily as we get older
• people with darker skin need more sun exposure to get the same benefits of the vitamin
• vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from the intestines
• deficiencies can cause soft bone conditions such as rickets or osteoporosis.
• it is recommended that people with fat absorption issues, lactose intolerance, milk allergies, take it as a supplement.
• Buy supplements that offer the daily recommended allowance (RDA) you need for your age - For most people, it’s 600 IU per day, but for people over age 70 who need a little more—it’s about 800 IU.

Do you take this vitamin? Let me know if you think it is helping you or why you take it in the comments below.

VISIT MY FIBROMYALGIA STORE to see the types of vitamin D recommended to me.

VITAMIN D QUESTIONS

What foods contain vitamin D? Not many foods contain vitamin D especially if you are a vegetarian or vegan. The foods that have the highest amounts are salmon, herring and mackerel, and egg yolks. The highest vegetable is shitake mushroom. 

How much sun exposure do I need to get adequate vitamin D? Exposure of arms and legs or face, arms, and hands to direct sunlight for 5–15 minutes at least three-times a week is recommended for the synthesis of a sufficient amount of vitamin D in the skin.

How do I know if I'm getting enough vitamin D? The best way is to have a blood test to check as due to a variety of factors including skin color, sunscreen, obesity, smoking, air pollution, health conditions and food quality, you may not be getting enough even if you are sitting in the sun and eating fatty fish. 

Why is vitamin D called a vitamin? It is actually a hormone. Vitamin D is also called  known as calciferol, a group of fat-soluble steroids. 

What stops the absorption of vitamin D? Some chronic health conditions are known to lower the absorption of vitamin D including Celiac disease, Crohn's disease and Cystic Fibrosis. This is because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is absorbed in the intestines and these are affected in these conditions. 

What is Hypovitaminosis D? It is a deficiency of vitamin D which is quite common and especially seen in the elderly. People with either dark skin or over 65 years of age should have their levels checked in a blood test. 

RESOURCES: 
Medpage Today
Cleveland Clinic

Yale Medicine

Vitamin D deficiency and chronic widespread pain

READ MY OTHER ARTICLES ON VITAMIN D:

• What is the best supplement for Fibromyalgia?
• Vitamin D and serotonin among Fibromyalgia patients
• Autoimmune Disease: Stop Your Body’s Self-Attack
• Clinical trial to assess omega-3 and vitamin D supplementation on type 1 diabetes
• NPF Dietary Recommendations for Psoriatic Disease