Neon Rose..

03:22 pm: MARCH IS ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH

MARCH IS ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH

Backed by Congressional legislation, the Endometriosis Research Center is again celebrating March as “Endometriosis Awareness Month” in honor of all those affected by the disease.

Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunological disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining (endometrium) migrates outside the womb and implants in other areas of the body. The disorder, for which there is no absolute cure, affects over 5.5 million women and girls in the U.S. alone and more than 70 million globally. Often stigmatized as simply “killer cramps,” symptoms include painful periods, pelvic pain at any point in a woman or girl's cycle, infertility, pain with sexual activity, gastrointestinal and urinary tract difficulties and much more. The disease can even implant in areas like lungs, diaphragm, and in some cases, even the brain.

Moreover, research has shown an elevated risk of certain cancers and autoimmune disorders in those with Endometriosis, as well as malignant changes within the disease itself. Researchers remain unsure as to the definitive cause of Endometriosis, which can only be diagnosed through surgery, though studies indicate that genetics, immune dysfunction and exposure to environmental toxicants may be contributing factors. The economic impact of Endometriosis is staggering: American businesses lose billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and work time because of the disease.

The ERC maintains that Endometriosis is more than just painful periods. “We continue to find that the disease remains misdiagnosed, misunderstood and ineffectively treated, despite being one of the most prevalent causes of hysterectomy, infertility and pelvic pain in women and girls around the globe," said Michelle E. Marvel, ERC Founder & Executive Director. "Despite hallmark symptoms, the average delay in diagnosis remains an astounding 9 years, and a patient will seek the counsel of 5 or more physicians before her pain is adequately addressed," she added. Endometriosis can affect women from all walks of life ranging from adolescence to post-menopause, and be so painful as to render a woman or girl unable to go about her normal routine. “It is not unusual for a patient to undergo repeated surgeries and embark on different medical therapies; many carrying significantly negative side effects and none offering long-term relief,” noted Marvel.

A growing number of younger women are also being diagnosed annually, with studies indicating that as many as 70% of teenagers with chronic pelvic pain ultimately have Endometriosis proven by surgery. Studies have also shown that Endometriosis may have an even bigger impact on younger patients: in those under 22 years of age, the rate of recurrence was double that of older women (35% versus 19%). Studies have also revealed that the disease behaves differently in younger women, leading researchers to believe it may be a different form of Endometriosis altogether. “It is imperative that society begins to recognize the far-reaching impact this illness continues to have on patients of all ages, not just those trying to conceive, in order to ensure that our daughters do not continue to suffer as we have,” noted Heather Guidone, an ERC Executive Board Member and the Program Director of the Center for Endometriosis Care.

The ERC strongly advocates for early intervention, timely diagnosis and efficacy of treatment for the disease. Through their efforts to raise public awareness in the medical and lay communities, the organization hopes to facilitate better support of patients, increase physician understanding of the disease and raise research funding, which will hopefully lead to more effective treatments and ultimately, a cure. The ERC, unique in that it is a free organization, has traditionally celebrated the entire month of March as Awareness Month, coinciding with the organization’s annual anniversary.

The ERC is sponsoring various education and awareness initiatives throughout March across the nation this year, ranging from the annual offering of their Nancy Petersen, RN Nursing Scholarship to their “Adopt a Doctor” program to various fundraising for the cure events. To kick off Awareness Month, renowned Artist Audrey Fisher will be hosting “Art for Endometriosis,” an exciting event to be held at Taxi2 Gallery in Denver, CO. For more information on this and other awareness month endeavors, please visit http://www.endocenter.org/artforendo.htm or contact Denise Childs, ERC Director of Fundraising, at FundraisingDirector@EndoCenter.org.

Tags: charity, chronic pain, disability, doctors, ea, endo, endometriosis, endometriosis association, endometriosis awareness, health, women's health

06:37 am:
Why is it that when we (those of us with chronic pain conditions) have pain, we can't sleep, yet, when we're medicated for the pain & the pain is significantly lessened or gone, we still can't sleep.. Help me out with this one.. I have still yet to sleep, despite being in bed for most of the night, despite being exhausted from doing too much today~ er, yesterday~, despite the prescription sleep aids..

I don't get it.. Anyone got a theory?

Tags: chronic pain, drugs, fatigue, health, insomnia, real, sleep

08:32 am: Marijuana-based Drug Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain

Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study, published in The Journal of Pain.

Newswise — Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study, published in The Journal of Pain .

Fibromyalgia syndrome has no cure, is difficult to diagnose, and effective pain management strategies are a must to help patients cope with the disease. An estimated 12 million Americans have fibromyalgia, which is characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain and myriad other symptoms. The condition is far more prevalent in women and the incidence increases with age, reaching 7 percent among women 65 years and older.

Forty subjects were selected for the nabilone trial, conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba Rehabilitation Hospital. They were divided into nabilone and placebo groups and were treated for four weeks. The authors noted this was the first randomized, controlled-access trial to evaluate nabilone for pain reduction and quality-of-life improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Nabilone is one of two oral marijuana-based compounds, known as cannabinoids, available in Canada and is approved for treatment of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.

Results of the Manitoba study showed the nabilone group had significant reductions in pain and anxiety, measured by comparisons with baseline scores on the visual analogue scale for pain, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the FIQ anxiety score. From the data, the study concluded nabilone has significant benefits for pain relief and functional improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Although the improvement was significant, none of the nabilone-treated subjects had complete relief of their fibromyalgia symptoms.

The drug was well tolerated by treated patients, which the authors characterized as reassuring since fibromyalgia patients are sensitive to most medications and have difficulty tolerating side effects. The downside, however, is cost. In Canada, nabilone would cost about $4,000 for a year's supply.

The authors believe their findings warrant consideration of nabilone as an adjunct to current medical management of fibromyalgia.

Source: http://www.newswise.com:80/articles/view/537783/
They State their source as the American Pain Society

Tags: chronic pain, drugs, fibromyalgia, fms, health

12:34 am: health update..

A real live post that actually means something.. I am currently staying at Rob's cuz I am feeling just WAY too shitty to go anywhere.. I'm tired, hurting, sore, achy, exhausted, weak, lethargic.. just generally really not able to do much.. Been highly drugged up.. Unable to sleep.. massive IBS issues... Specific abdominal pain in the area of my ovary where I typically get Endometriosis pain.. Missed my allergist.. Missed my counselor, twice ~ no, today made thrice..

Tomorrow's the GP.. I can't miss it - I gotta find out what's slowly killing me here.. to say nothing of the negative impact this having on my relationship with Rob..

Tags: allergies, chronic pain, doctors, drugs, endo, endometriosis, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, health, ibs, real, relationships, rob, sleep

08:26 pm: Yes, a pity me post - I'm allowed on every once in a while.


God..

I am tired of being sick...

I am sick of being tired...

Fuck fuck fuck... - Why me?

Tags: chronic pain, endo, endometriosis, fatigue, fibro fog, fibromyalgia, fms, health, ibs, insomnia, real, sadness, vent

07:42 pm: May 12 - Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

May 12 is International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, gulf war and multiple chemical sensitivity syndromes.
More commonly it is referred to as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day. In Canada, we do have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome National Awareness Day

May 12th is the birth date of Florence Nightingale who is believed to have suffered from a paralyzing, CFIDS/ME - FMS like illness in her mid thirties..

I have Fibromyalgia. Please support me & other liek me who deal with this illness daily by wearing a purple ribbon on May 12th. If a ribbon is not available - Just wear purple! :)

( Support for May 12th in Canada )
As an aside, May 12 is also Canada Health Day.

Tags: chronic pain, fatigue, fibro fog, fibromyalgia, fms, health, real, wish, wish list

04:33 pm: Easter w/e

Stephen came for the w/e on Thursday evening & we just hung out & stuff.. On Friday, while Rob went to work, Stephen & I went to the movies.. We saw Premonition, the Sandra Bullock movie.. I liked it, Stephen said I was better than he expected it to be.. & then he comments that the guy who pays the husband is always getting killed off.. cuz in the trailer for Premonition you know the guys dies, but in the action movies that Stephen has seen him in, he dies & he was killed off of Charmed, the tv series he was ion... I wonder if he's gonna get killed off of Nip & Tuck..

Saturday Stephen got to go to the Hockey game - Leafs/Canadiens & Rob & I stayed home cuddled on the couch watching the game.. I am glad we won, but not glad that the Islanders won on Sunday.. Leafs are out of the playoffs.. :(

But.. Yesterday was a good day.. Rob, Stephen & I went out to Oshawa for my family Easter Dinner (Rob's parents were in Detroit).. Mom had bought perogies & cabbage rolls for dinner.. but had ham & potatoes (scalloped tho - uck) & other more traditional Eastery type foods.. (we're British by decent, not Ukrainian).. the girls enjoyed the egg hunt.. Kaden didn't quite get into it.. but he's not even 2, so I can cut him some slack.. Stephen did the hunt for Cassie down in the basement of my parents cuz last year she said it was too easy.. she said it was much better this year..

Paigey came in with a new t-shirt on the from said " I am going to be" & then on the back it said "the best big sister ever" That's was Tim & Crystal way of telling us that she was pregnant - YAY! She's due in October.. the 19th I believe I was told..

So with the good news, everyone was in a great mood :)


However, I am paying for it today.. I'm hurting pretty much all over.. hyped up on T3's.. & tired to all get out

I'm going to wait til Stephen in picked up in the next half hour or so by his grandparents, then go back & lay down.. & Yay - I can take another T3 now, which is good cuz the pain is creeping back up the scale, which is not good :(

btw, any suggestions for left over Easter jelly beans? Besides eating them, or giving them to Stephen??

---

On another note, yesterday was Catherine's birthday.. I sent her an ecard.

Tags: birthday, chronic pain, drugs, ecards, family, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, friends, health, holiday, hunger, montreal, real, rob, stephen, vent

07:17 am: Today's To do list

Now, I realize I'm not gonna get everything done & right now, my back is feeling better, but I used one of those wipes last night, so it could still be from that.. & I'll try & cross out as I get stuff done.. so here we go.. (in general order of importance & subject to change)

Empty Shredder (not important, but gonna be done before I sweep)

Sweep floors

Mop Floors

Call Mom & discuss Easter

Talk to Super about front door He came by with the handy man & the door is fixed!

Go to LCBO fer Boxes

Stop at Shoppers to price wipes Gonna have to call, not there..

Stop at PharmaPlus fer Easter plushies

Reorganize boxes on dresser & put out cars

Put away hang-to-dry laundry

Do taxes

Call Zellers Pharmacy & Walmart Pharmacy fer prices on wipes

Lace Rob's sneakers

Anything else???
But in the meantime, back to bed to finish sleeping (was up to help Rob get to work)

Edit @ 2.42: Now that I got teh first 5 done, I am gonna chill out fer a bit - half hour or so & then head outside. weather eye says it's 9 degrees out (celcius)

Current Mood: tired

Tags: chronic pain, family, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, health, sleep, weather

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10:30 pm: G'nite

Nap is no longer required, but I had it anyways.. Rob just wants to come home & crash.. I'll leave the chain off cuz after this I'm gonna have another quick shower, take a T3 & use a fmO24 wipe on my back & got to bed.. I didn't have the souvlaki - too much pain, just had Chef Boyardee

Tomorrow's to do list (subject to change/addition):

Sweep all floors

Wash all floors

Get boxes from LCBO

Reorganize the boxes on my dresser & get 'em out of the way

Current Mood: Hurtin'

Tags: chronic pain, drugs, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, health

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05:50 pm: Done....

I'm feeling a little bit better, but that's prolly from the meds I took.. so, from my to-do list here's what I've gotten done & what's left:

Dust done!

Vacuum done!

Call about vacuum filters done! There's a dealer that sells the good ones for $30 on Danforth - They last a year, not the 3 month I thought

Call Pharmacy 1 done! Info's getting faxed out tomorrow :)

Move the flowers done!

Get boxes from LCBO

Reorganize the boxes on my dresser & get 'em out of the way

I have been asked to be up when Rob gets home, so a nap is required. :) that's next

Edit: & I gotta wash up the dishes

I don't think I'll get to the LCBO & thus not be able to reorg the boxes on my dresser.. I wanna pull out the collectibles in the one box & put away the collectible snowmen I have out.. guess that goes on tomorrows to do list with the floors :)

I emailed the guys that make those Fibromyalgia O24 wipes & he's gonna send me some free samples :) I have been advised as well that they are sold here in Canada at "all Shoppers Drug Mart, Zellers & Wal-Mart" locations.

So, shower & nap.. I'd like to nap outside but I don't think the delapitated coffee table that's out there would be good for me.. If Stephen comes over this weekend, they might have an opportunity to get it out, then I can sweep it & we can look at getting the outdoor carpet Rob wants to put down :) Then my BBQ & table & maybe some chairs :) If not, I'll have to wait for another weekend, but either way, I'm just glad the warmer weather is here.. :)

For dinner, I'm thinking the last of the souvlaki (1 serving left) - lamb.. yum.. thoughts?

Current Mood: Hurtin'

Tags: chronic pain, drugs, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, health, weather

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02:59 pm: Flaring :(

Day 6 of this flare.. my back really hurts... I have finished the dusting & yet I still need to vacuum.. I'd rate my pain at a 5.5/10 today.. pushing a 6, which isn't good.. It's been usually at a 5.. (in reference to the last few days).. I found some of those Fibromyalgia O24 wipes & altho it's expired, they worked really well the other day.. but the site no longer has the free samples anymore :(

I think I'm gonna grab a bit to eat, have a shower & open some windows ( it's 16 degrees out!) take a T3 & rest fer a bit.. then tackle the vacuuming.. I have to make a few phone calls too.. but those are easy..

Tags: chronic pain, drugs, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, health, hunger, weather

04:15 pm:
I'm in the middle of a flare that I think started Thursday.. My lower back has been really bothering me all that time - no relief.. I'm takin' T3's.. it really sucks.. going on the TTC for um..pretty much 3.2 hours, then another hour or so, didn't help.. those seats are not comphy.. mind you I hurt more when I was standing or walking.. Still pretty much the status.. laying down helps too..

I took a hot bubble bath on Friday night which was nice, but only helped for a few hours.. but I did smell like apples :)

I was on the TTC for so long of Friday cuz I went to Weston to pick something up for Rob.. I am not complaining, as I'd offered and had agreed to do it.. just stating that it was what I did.. Yesterday was a relaxing day.. I'd do a bit, then I chill out.. I'd do a bit more.. then chill out some more..

I started on my music that's I've DLed but not organized or confirmed that it's a song.. I did eliminate a buch of Clinton promotion thingy's that were labeled as songs from the 80's.. I still have close to 800 left to go.. & I've gotten more since then.. so that puts my numbers over 800.. I even have some French stuff for my nieces.. wow that's a big job I have ahead of me..

Tonight Rob & I are going out for dinner.. Which should be really nice.. :)

Music: ABBA, Dancing Queen / Some Big-Hair Metal band from the 80's / Rocky Theme song.. all coming from Rob's Laptop

Tags: chronic pain, drugs, fibromyalgia, fms, health, music, real, rob

04:34 am:
I posted this last March.. but it is again March, Endometriosis Awareness Month - And it's imporant, so, No, I am Not going to cut it.


This article was written by ripleyflutterby, for the Toronto Star Health Section

I know the pain of endometriosis (a.k.a. endo). For nearly twelve years it has been a part of me, and was part of my mother as well. I’ve only known its name for about a year now. I am living with a disease that continues to progress, intrude, and oppress me. It becomes more pervasive all the time. It chains me down and keeps me from living the life I wanted.

This disease is not new though it has only really come to light over the last twenty-five years. Celebrities like Susan Sarandon and Dolly Parton have spoken out about their experiences with endo. It even believed that Queen Victoria herself was victim to it. Marilyn Monroe had it and her subsequent addiction to painkillers because of it played a part in her death. It is not merely a physical disease, but an emotional and mental one as well. It is one of the most under researched diseases out there. There is no agreed upon cause so finding a cure is like fumbling around in the dark.

It is reaching millions of women who aren’t even aware that their debilitating pain is not normal, that it is a sign of something serious. Yet these women suffer in silence. Estimates range from ten to twenty percent of all women of childbearing age and it takes approximately 9 years on average to get diagnosed. Our voices are dismissed by ignorant doctors who have never heard of it, by family and friends who just cannot understand, by partners who are as frustrated as we are. We deal with ignorant doctors or doctors who have nothing to offer us except prescriptions for painkillers. They seem as helpless and we feel as sufferers.

It is a complex disease whereby the endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus and can spread affecting various organs such as the digestive tract, the reproductive system, the bladder and in rare cases it has gone to the lungs or brain. Every month the body tries to shed this tissue which causes internal bleeding leading to lesions of scar tissue penetrating other body parts and causing permanent tissue damage. The body tries to rid itself of this tissue through muscle contractions which cause immeasurable pain for some and for others they have relatively little pain. There is no correlation between the amount of scar tissue and the amount of pain. It is the number one cause of infertility in women of childbearing age.

Pelvic pain is by far the most common symptom which may be chronic or related to menstruation, changed menstrual pattern, heavier, longer and increasingly painful periods, premenstrual spotting, abdominal pain, sometimes related to the menstrual cycle with severe pain or cramps one week before menstruation, pelvic pain accompanied by abdominal bloating, pelvic masses, lower back pain, painful intercourse, noticeably worse before or during menstruation, painful bowel movements, rectal bleeding during menstruation, pain while urinating, and fatigue.

It is an incapacitating disease that eats away at our insides, confining us to bed for days at a time. For some we cannot have sex for the pain it causes. For others we lose our fertility. For some women it is a daily battle with pain and other symptoms. We undergo diagnostic surgeries where there is a chance we could wake up to find an organ removed because it has been so consumed by scar tissue that it is permanently damaged. For now our options are mostly symptom management, which is includes harsh narcotics where the side effects are often worse than the pain and hormonal treatments that leave us at risk for osteoperosis. Some women, at the end of their ropes have no other option but to have a full hysterectomy for the mere chance of pain relief. This leads to further complications such as surgically induced menopause. In many, even despite such drastic actions, the pain returns. It even has the potential to develop into cancer.

The quality of life is severely affected and the public costs are astronomical due to lost productivity, lost wages, the need to be on disability and the costs to the health care system because women are showing up in emergency rooms doubled over in pain and needing drugs just to get through the night, because of the endless operations women must undergo every few years to remove scar tissue.

For students, we are dealing with ignorant faculties, missed classes, compromised concentration and work quality, having to write exams in excruciating pain or in drugged hazes. We have to deal with weird stares as we sit next to outlets so we can plug our heating pads in. We lose our social lives because we are tired, and sick and can’t get out because we can’t walk or can’t pull our heads out of the toilets. Many women lose their relationships and many never get the opportunity to be mothers and if they do, they must worry about passing it on to their own daughters.

Pain is chronic but it is also chronically denied, and more often than not dismissed as “just “ cramps. It is under treated. It is assumed that we simply have a low threshold for pain or that it is normal. For those of us lucky enough to be taken seriously, the waiting list at a pain clinic in Toronto is over a year long.
March is endometriosis awareness month. Please educate yourselves and demand more from your health care providers. If you are having pain, speak up! Make some noise and make them listen. We deserve to live without pain. Let’s empower ourselves to take control of our health and our bodies.

Elizabeth Barry


(& Yes, I am still awake.. *sigh*)

Tags: article, chronic pain, doctors, endo, endometriosis, endometriosis awareness, health

01:23 pm: Sleeeep......

I feel so damn exhausted.. I hate my FMS.. I'm gonna go back to bed fer a bit before I get up to clean.. *sigh* - Guess I'd better set my alarm..

Oddly enough, I'm not in a great deal of pain or anything, just so unbelievably tired..

Tags: chronic pain, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, sleep

09:51 pm: Okay, real entry..

Went to the Women's College Hospital's Women's Health Forum & Expo..

We (yes, Rob went with me) went through the Exhibitor's Hall.. I got info on Camping in Ontario.. Snaffooed some girl guide cookies from the GGC booth.. grabbed a wurthere's candy from another, cuz I didn't need the condoms offered on the other side of the table.. Got info on Thyroid, CFS. FM, scent-free products, Becel Margarine (including recipies), influenza, Women's College Hospital Foundation, .. Got a Chantalaine magazine & the complimentary copy of today's Star, some samples from Pantene & Garnier, a note pad ( God knwos I have enough of them), TWO 10% off gift card for January 07 for Richtree that I'll let Rob have, FOUR $15 gift cards from Fazooli's.. Entered in a few draws fro gift baskets.. 97.3fm was giveing ut decks of cards... Rob said he wanted his & mie.. I laughed & asked him if he wanted to play bridge ( you need two decks for bridge)

We did that in about 20/25 minutes between confrences..

We went to Two confrences.. They were both an hour long..
* The first one, at 1:00 p.m. was called "ENDOMETRIOSIS: TREATMENT OPTIONS 2007".. It was described as "Endometriosis is still an enigmatic disease. There are still many theories but the real cause is still illusive. The treatment should always be individualized depending upon the presenting symptoms and problems. They had three speakers.. Dr. Kay Lie is a Gyn who talked about the disease & showed examples & discussed different possible treatment options.. Jan Silverman discussed support & education for women with Endo.. She runs the Toronto Support group.. Carolyn Bennett was the last speaker & she spoke of her own experinces with Endo.. She's a Comedian, so she was fairly humurs in her descriptions..
* The second one, at 2:30 p.m. was called "HOPE AND HELP FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME & FIBROMYALGIA".. It was described as "Everything you want to know about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia and couldn’t find anyone to ask. This session will educate patients, family and health professionals how to cope better physically, emotionally and legally with these chronic illnesses. " There were two speakers.. Dr. Alison Bested runs a Environmental Health Clinic both privately and at WCH and has extensive knowledge with CFS & FM.. She co-authored the book with the same title as the conference & discussed the contents.. Russ Howe, a lawyer & contributor to the book discussed legal issues liek what to look for in a disability lawyer.. he was a good speaker as well
Rob had bought me the book that Dr Bested wrote & I was able to get it signed..

We then went to meet Stephen for dinner & they went to the Toronto Rock lacrosse game.. The Rock apparently got their Butts whipped.. & Rob & Stephen are on their way home.. :)

So today was interesting & informative.. :) I'm glad Rob & I went :)

Tags: chronic pain, endo, endometriosis, fatigue, fibromyalgia, fms, health, insomnia, real, rob, stephen, treatment

11:10 pm: 10 Myths on Chronic Pain

Aquired from Capricorn Sister capricorn_sistr who wrote in the fibromyalgia community,
but got it from chronic_pain community



Tags: chronic pain, endo, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, fms, health

03:58 pm:

I hate my fibro... I have been in tons of pain since Sunday.. & it got worse over Monday 7 ended up going to the ER on Tuesday afternoon/evening.. 4.5 hours later I get a shot & a script for 10 percs.. *sigh* I wish my GP would clue in.. I've been up fer 2 hours & I am getting sore.. I'm gonna go lay down, take a T3 & read.. Hopefully that'll help..

Anyone got a spare body around, a healthy one that I can have to resplace this shitty one?

Tags: chronic pain, er, fibromyalgia, fms, health

01:32 am:

Fibromyalgia Pain: It's for Real

Researchers Say Chronic Pain Patients Don't Process Body's Natural Pain Relievers

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
on Thursday, November 30, 2006


Nov. 30, 2006 -- There is now "overwhelming" scientific evidence showing that fibromyalgia and related chronic pain conditions are real, but their clinical management leaves much to be desired.

That is the conclusion of two researchers from the University of Michigan who have studied fibromyalgia for several years.

Because there has been no obvious physiological cause for the pain disorder, doctors still routinely dismiss fibromyalgia as being "in a patient's head."

But after reviewing the research, Richard E. Harris, PhD, and Daniel J. Clauw, MD, write that it is increasingly clear that fibromyalgia is a central nervous system disorder and that patients experience hypersensitivity to pain. There also appears to be a fairly strong genetic component to fibromyalgia and related conditions.

"It is time for us to move past the rhetoric about whether these conditions are real, and take these patients seriously as we endeavor to learn more about the causes and most effective treatments for these disorders," Harris and Clauw write in the December issue of the journal Current Pain and Headache Reports.

Brain Imaging Studies

As many as 10 million Americans may have fibromyalgia, according to The National Fibromyalgia Association.

The disorder is characterized by chronic pain throughout the body, but symptoms may also include fatigue, headaches, and problems with memory and concentration.

Brain imaging studies conducted at the University of Michigan and other research centers in recent years show clear differences in responses to pain stimulation among people with and without fibromyalgia.

Compared to people without the disorder, fibromyalgia patients showed increased brain activity in response to pain.

"These studies indicate that fibromyalgia patients have abnormalities within their central brain structures," Clauw says.

Research by Harris, Clauw, and colleagues also suggests that fibromyalgia patients don't process the body's natural pain relievers as efficiently as people without the disorder.

"We think that these may have both a heightened sensitivity to pain and this dysfunction in their analgesic [painkilling] mechanism," Harris tells WebMD. "It is not yet clear how this all fits together."

National Fibromyalgia Association president and founder Lynne Matallana tells WebMD that the doctors who treat fibromyalgia patients face a unique challenge.

"This is a new paradigm for medical professionals to understand," she says. "It isn't a virus, or bacteria or inflammation. It isn't a tumor or something else that you can see. It is a problem within the pain-processing center of the central nervous system."

Treatment Options Still Few

While the recent research has done much to improve the understanding of fibromyalgia and related chronic pain conditions, few advances have been made in the treatment of these disorders, Harris says.

The use of medications such as antidepressants can help some patients with fibromyalgia. And regular exercise seems to help many patients.

Acupuncture has been shown to reduce pain in some studies, but not others, he adds.

Matallana says several drug companies are in the later stages of testing several new drugs designed specifically for the treatment of fibromyalgia, which target the central nervous system.

"We are really excited about this research," she says.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/130/117675.htm
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=77862

Tags: article, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, fms, health, treatment

02:08 am:
The article ripleyflutterby submitted -
THE TORONTO STAR IS CONSIDERING IT TO BE PUBLISHED UNDER THE HEALTH SECTION!!!!!

I know the pain of endometriosis (a.k.a. endo). For nearly twelve years it has been a part of me, and was part of my mother as well. I’ve only known its name for about a year now. I am living with a disease that continues to progress, intrude, and oppress me. It becomes more pervasive all the time. It chains me down and keeps me from living the life I wanted.
This disease is not new though it has only really come to light over the last twenty-five years. Celebrities like Susan Sarandon and Dolly Parton have spoken out about their experiences with endo. It even believed that Queen Victoria herself was victim to it. Marilyn Monroe had it and her subsequent addiction to painkillers because of it played a part in her death. It is not merely a physical disease, but an emotional and mental one as well. It is one of the most under researched diseases out there. There is no agreed upon cause so finding a cure is like fumbling around in the dark.
It is reaching millions of women who aren’t even aware that their debilitating pain is not normal, that it is a sign of something serious. Yet these women suffer in silence. Estimates range from ten to twenty percent of all women of childbearing age and it takes approximately 9 years on average to get diagnosed. Our voices are dismissed by ignorant doctors who have never heard of it, by family and friends who just cannot understand, by partners who are as frustrated as we are. We deal with ignorant doctors or doctors who have nothing to offer us except prescriptions for painkillers. They seem as helpless and we feel as sufferers.
It is a complex disease whereby the endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus and can spread affecting various organs such as the digestive tract, the reproductive system, the bladder and in rare cases it has gone to the lungs or brain. Every month the body tries to shed this tissue which causes internal bleeding leading to lesions of scar tissue penetrating other body parts and causing permanent tissue damage. The body tries to rid itself of this tissue through muscle contractions which cause immeasurable pain for some and for others they have relatively little pain. There is no correlation between the amount of scar tissue and the amount of pain. It is the number one cause of infertility in women of childbearing age.
Pelvic pain is by far the most common symptom which may be chronic or related to menstruation, changed menstrual pattern, heavier, longer and increasingly painful periods, premenstrual spotting, abdominal pain, sometimes related to the menstrual cycle with severe pain or cramps one week before menstruation, pelvic pain accompanied by abdominal bloating, pelvic masses, lower back pain, painful intercourse, noticeably worse before or during menstruation, painful bowel movements, rectal bleeding during menstruation, pain while urinating, and fatigue.
It is an incapacitating disease that eats away at our insides, confining us to bed for days at a time. For some we cannot have sex for the pain it causes. For others we lose our fertility. For some women it is a daily battle with pain and other symptoms. We undergo diagnostic surgeries where there is a chance we could wake up to find an organ removed because it has been so consumed by scar tissue that it is permanently damaged. For now our options are mostly symptom management, which is includes harsh narcotics where the side effects are often worse than the pain and hormonal treatments that leave us at risk for osteoperosis. Some women, at the end of their ropes have no other option but to have a full hysterectomy for the mere chance of pain relief. This leads to further complications such as surgically induced menopause. In many, even despite such drastic actions, the pain returns. It even has the potential to develop into cancer.
The quality of life is severely affected and the public costs are astronomical due to lost productivity, lost wages, the need to be on disability and the costs to the health care system because women are showing up in emergency rooms doubled over in pain and needing drugs just to get through the night, because of the endless operations women must undergo every few years to remove scar tissue.
For students, we are dealing with ignorant faculties, missed classes, compromised concentration and work quality, having to write exams in excruciating pain or in drugged hazes. We have to deal with weird stares as we sit next to outlets so we can plug our heating pads in. We lose our social lives because we are tired, and sick and can’t get out because we can’t walk or can’t pull our heads out of the toilets. Many women lose their relationships and many never get the opportunity to be mothers and if they do, they must worry about passing it on to their own daughters.
Pain is chronic but it is also chronically denied, and more often than not dismissed as “just “ cramps. It is under treated. It is assumed that we simply have a low threshold for pain or that it is normal. For those of us lucky enough to be taken seriously, the waiting list at a pain clinic in Toronto is over a year long.
March is endometriosis awareness month. Please educate yourselves and demand more from your health care providers. If you are having pain, speak up! Make some noise and make them listen. We deserve to live without pain. Let’s empower ourselves to take control of our health and our bodies.

Elizabeth Barry

Tags: article, chronic pain, doctors, endo, endometriosis, endometriosis awareness, health

07:32 am:

Pain Sucks!!



& I've got the muchies too.. Yet nauseated.. it's really sad, actually.



Tags: chronic pain, fibromyalgia, fms, health