Wensday

[ya falaha! 0]

Regarding fibromyalgia...I'm curious about this illness. I don't know too much about it but lots of our clients (Social Security law) have it. My question is, is this kinda like a what came first thing? Like does the depression/anxiety come first or the pain? It's my understanding that many doctors consider it a psychosomatic illness. As do many SS judges, apparently.

[catknit 144]

I tried to respond before but I think the post was eaten by my touchy laptop...

My mom has struggled with Fibromyalgia for over a decade. She has a host of autoimmune disorders but certain symptoms didn't fit certain other diseases. In her case, as with many many people, FMis diagnosed by when all other tests/scans/diagnosis lead to dead ends. Fibromyalgia for many years had no definitive test - still doesn't. Unlike some other disorders, there is no blood test or scan that proves you have it and I think that's where it can get fuzzy with respect to the law. If there isn't a scientifically proven test that has real data behind it, maybe the disease really doesn't exist or even if it does exist how do you know person X has it etc etc etc...

That being said - when living with someone with the disease it's easy to see how absolutely devastating it can be. Simple daily chores become crazy hard. For my mom, she would literally "stiffen" when she'd flare up, unable to move without immense pain.

There may be a connection between depression and anxiety and FM but it may be a chicken/egg - which came first - kind of arguement. Some people respond really well to cymbalta/lyrica or other drugs with SSRI components. A lot of people associate SSRIs with anti-depressive drugs [which they are too] but most people don't realize that the majority of the serotonin in the body is in and around the digestive tract - not in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter but you have nerve endings everywhere...Other people do fabulous with one of the decongestants - I forget the name, it was one of the active ingredients in robitussin for years but then got off the market [probably because the pharm co involved wanted to study it to become a script drug for treating FM and/or similar diseases].

Humpkin - my heart goes out to you - it's a rough road trying to deal with FM but it can be managable. My mom now goes months/years without flare ups and when they do occur she has a method for dealing...

[Muh and me 18]

I tried to respond before but I think the post was eaten by my touchy laptop...

My mom has struggled with Fibromyalgia for over a decade. She has a host of autoimmune disorders but certain symptoms didn't fit certain other diseases. In her case, as with many many people, FMis diagnosed by when all other tests/scans/diagnosis lead to dead ends. Fibromyalgia for many years had no definitive test - still doesn't. Unlike some other disorders, there is no blood test or scan that proves you have it and I think that's where it can get fuzzy with respect to the law. If there isn't a scientifically proven test that has real data behind it, maybe the disease really doesn't exist or even if it does exist how do you know person X has it etc etc etc...

That being said - when living with someone with the disease it's easy to see how absolutely devastating it can be. Simple daily chores become crazy hard. For my mom, she would literally "stiffen" when she'd flare up, unable to move without immense pain.

There may be a connection between depression and anxiety and FM but it may be a chicken/egg - which came first - kind of arguement. Some people respond really well to cymbalta/lyrica or other drugs with SSRI components. A lot of people associate SSRIs with anti-depressive drugs [which they are too] but most people don't realize that the majority of the serotonin in the body is in and around the digestive tract - not in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter but you have nerve endings everywhere...Other people do fabulous with one of the decongestants - I forget the name, it was one of the active ingredients in robitussin for years but then got off the market [probably because the pharm co involved wanted to study it to become a script drug for treating FM and/or similar diseases].

I too have struggled for years (over a decade now) with Fibrolyalgia. Its not a fun illness. In fact, its something that u can't see. Only feel. So many people and doctors will tell you it all in your head. I haven't been able to find anything that helps. I am scared to try the newer drugs that have come out because of side effects. And i really feel bad for anyone who is living with this delibiltating disease.

Humpkin - my heart goes out to you - it's a rough road trying to deal with FM but it can be managable. My mom now goes months/years without flare ups and when they do occur she has a method for dealing...