"All disease is the same. The host is what's different."
While giving a talk on fibromyalgia, I asked the group to name the typical symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. We had quite a growing list:
- Lack of energy
- Multiple tender points on the muscles
- Pain
- Stiffness, pain with movement
- Foggy thinking
- Poor memory
- IBS, irritable bowel
- Food allergies
- Weight gain
- Poor sleep
- Pain with exercise
- Low functioning thyroid
- Depression
- History of physical trauma to the body, car accident, fall, major injury
- No positive tests for any joint or auto-immune disorder
Fibromyalgia is considered a syndrome because of the number of health problems associated with it. Since other major diseases are ruled out, the doctor has no choice but to describe it as fibromyalgia. Most people I have talked to have had to treat fibromyalgia on their own. Some have the support of their doctors who understand their patients are pursuing modalities that are not drug based.
For those who have had success ridding their lives of fibromyalgia, they will tell you it took a major lifestyle change, time committment, and financial discipline. Fibromyalgia, like other health conditions, is the body's stress response. The mystery to solve is what stresses need to be managed, controlled or alleviated.
Here's another interesting tidbit. Most people with fibromyalgia are women and developed the syndrome in their mid thirties or later. This is at an age when women's hormones are changing during pre-menopause. I asked the group to give me some of the symptoms of pre-menopause and menopause. After a few minutes of calling out various examples, we realized we had reproduced the fibromyalgia list with the only the exception of change in mentrual cycle.
Becasue of the similarities, I asked the group if this made it harder to treat fibromyalgia? After all, most doctors would just blame it on aging or hormonal changes. Could women with fibromyalgia syndrome have early signs of pre-menopause? Are we inadequately addressing pre-menopause? What is a woman to do? We already are ignored when we have any kind of concern or question.
Rather than dissect the disease and look for a magic bullet, we can rebuild the body. Many people have pain, low energy, lack of concentration and poor sleep but don't wonder it they have a major disease or diagnosis. This is not to discount those who are already suffering, but to be a warning to those who don't see the longterm implications of stress. We live in a very stressful world. I like to remind folks that stress never takes a day off. This is where we should put our energy
Rebuild the body and it will take care of you.
Dr. John Demartini has a great quote:
"Your bodies' signs and symptoms are a feedback mechanism to help you be true to yourself."
Visit http://www.demartiniquotes.com/ .
So what about genes, I just want to feel better.
Vital Aging is how you act out your growing wisdom.
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