Although there has been a
great deal of recent interest and writing on the subject of
Fibromyalgia and how to mange the painful Fibromyalgia symptoms, it is
almost never suggested that avoidance of certain environmental triggers
may be an important management practice. I learned slowly and
painstakingly that this is indeed the case for me.
My Fibromyalgia was diagnosed after I was diagnosed with Chronic
Fatigue Immune Dysregulation and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
Many of the symptoms of these conditions overlap, but the
characteristic painful tender points and extreme diffuse pain were a
signal that my condition included something distinctly different from
what other MCS and CFIDS patients typically experience.
Because medical practitioners did not tell me that environmental and
chemical exposures could trigger or aggravate my Fibromyalgia pain, I
did not assume that this would be the case. I only discovered
this to be true because of being diagnosed with MCS and I had learned
to pay very close attention to my body’s messages and to any possible
environmental triggers of my symptoms. It was through this
process that I discovered that my Fibromyalgia symptoms were aggravated
by chemical exposures, certain foods, and hormonal fluctuations and I
came to believe that all three diagnoses were actually one in the same
with a different subset of symptoms for each syndrome. I
unfortunately had all three syndromes symptoms.
The first thing I noticed was that at different times in my menstrual
cycle, particularly at ovulation, menstruation, and right after
menstruation my Fibromyalgia symptoms would flare. There was a
definite and repeated patter. The tender points on my head,
shoulders, legs and buttocks would become extremely painful. I
would have accompanying headaches, diffuse body pain, and sleep
difficulties. My neuro-cognitive difficulties, often referred to
as “brain fog” would also worsen at these times in my menstrual cycle.
If I had been out in the world a great deal being exposed to common
everyday chemicals in the days and weeks before my menstrual period, I
would invariable notice that all these symptoms would be worse. I
also began to see that my Fibromyalgia symptoms would be worse if I had
been eating high levels of refined carbohydrates during my cycle. High levels
of carbohydrates exacerbate
Candida overgrowth.
I discovered that if I washed my clothes in water that was chlorine
free and eat organic foods then that made an enormous difference in my
Fibromyalgia pain. If I wash my clothes in chlorinated water then
the pain is so bad I can’t function and I must take my clothes
off. If I shower in chlorinated water I will feel
comatose. When I have an exposure to pesticides or
herbicides such as a neighbor spraying their yard or mosquito control
then my all my symptoms flare severely.
If I would sit in a room full of people with someone wearing cologne or
an air freshener present then trigger points and widespread pain are
excruciating and cognitive functioning is impaired severely. If I
leave this room and take a shower in filtered water then my symptoms
improve. If I stay in that same room for an extended amount of
time then the next day I will be bedridden and barely able to walk or
function because of pain and brain fog.
If I don’t have chemical exposures and if I limit refined carbohydrates
in my diet then my Fibromyalgia symptoms as well as my MCS and CFIDS
will improve dramatically. The more exposures I have or the more
refined carbohydrates I eat then the more severe my symptoms will be in
each category.
Why this happens, we can only speculate, but I believe that the
chemicals are upsetting my body’s natural hormonal and endocrine
balance. Scientists are now aware that many of the air-borne and
food-borne chemicals we are constantly ingesting are
endocrine disrupters. These chemicals mimic estrogen in the body
and may contribute to many problems. There is also evidence that
refined carbohydrates may interfere with proper endocrine functioning.
Some Fibromyalgia patients may feel that following a strict regimen of
avoiding certain chemicals or following a strict diet may not give
enough improvement in Fibromyalgia symptoms to justify the
effort. However, there is recent evidence to suggest that
chemical sensitivity can be the result of a liver dysfunction that is a
component of a medical condition known as porphyria. Porphyria
has been studied for decades, and it has long been accepted that it is
often degenerative in certain types of porphyria, the disability can
permanently worsen over time if the patient does not avoid the triggers
of their episodes.
If you live with Fibromyalgia and need to talk to someone who
understands you may find Cynthia's
holistic
health counseling to be
helpful or you can find many other life management tips and techniques
in her book
Finding Life Fulfillment when
Living with Chronic Illness.
Other factors involved in FMS include, hormone imbalances, neurotransmitter
deficiencies or imbalances and adrenal fatigue. You can learn more about these
issues as well as many others in the
Fibromyalgia treatment section.
Although this research is not yet conclusive, it creates cause for
concern. If in fact Fibromyalgia, CFIDS, MCS and GWS are all
related in some way or in fact really just one in the same and if all
involve this typed of liver dysfunction, then avoidance of chemicals
may be an important therapy for these patient groups. I would
urge all Fibromyalgia patients to carefully evaluate the possibility
that they are reacting to environmental triggers to prevent the
possibility of a permanent worsening of their condition or at the very
least to reduce Fibromyalgia symptoms.
