Hi Annie.
Things you may want to consider doing :
1. Get a tissue analysis for magnesium (re:tachycardia) and other minerals
Hair analysis is great.
2. Pricolec. A PPI medication. Have you verified high stomach acid ?
You may want to do a "Betaine HCL Challenge Test for Stomach Acid" on your own. Just look it up. The confusing issue might be that you're getting temporary relief, while your problem might be getting worse over time, if low stomach acid.
3. It's good that you limit gluten. Gluten sensitivity may involve parts of the body, that people never connect them to gluten, specially if the effects are delayed. However, in a case of A/I association, a little gluten is like a little pregnant! Can you go totally gluten free as a test, let's say for 3 months?
Gluten is the #1 molecule linked to A/I disease and most sufferers don't even know that they have an intolerance, sensitivity or even celiacs!
Hard to diagnose sometimes.
4. Your suspected Fibromyalgia may have underlying causes or it mimics another condition
a. Hypothyroid. (Blood tests do not rule it out. Thyroid hormones in the blood is one thing, but getting into the cells is another)
Please consider doing "Dr. Barnes Basal Temperature Test" to rule it out.
Just do a search for it, but keep in mind that if you have an infection, the test will be inaccurate. Also the test is rather simple, but it must be done precisely as per instructions! Hypothyroid has been implicated in Lupus, MS, Bi-polar and other serious conditions, as it can affect any part, any organ of the body.
Let me know the results and if positive, since treatment for hypo can be very complex, I will give you some tips, to save you from a lot of trouble.
b. Underlying pathogenic infections, like pathogenic mycoplasma and co-infections. Search here in medhelp under Dr. Garth Nicolson, part time expert on medhelp and the world's top expert in this field, for details.
The majority of FMS patients have an underlying pathogenic infection.
c. Neurotransmitter dysregulation is also linked to FMS.
You can ask your doctor to get you a neurotransmitter assessment.
If he doesn't, let me know, may be I can find mine and send them to you.
Actual testing for neurotransmitters is not available for patients, only for pharmaceutical research for the development of new psych drugs and antidepressants.
Sleep irregularities, excessive pain perception, depression, cold/hot intolerance and many other symptoms have to do with Neurotransmitters.
There's more, but I don't want to overwhelm you with information.
Feel free to message me any time. Some things may sound complicated at first, but just ask me for clarification.
I hope the above suggestions will help you.
Love & Light
Niko
Hi Niko, thank you so much for your response and further questions.
1. I haven't had tissue checked for Magnesium levels, just in my annual blood tests. I typically do not have trouble falling asleep but do have trouble about once every week or two where I just am not sleepy and stay up until 3 or 4 a.m. before I can get to sleep. I take the muscle relaxer and Benadryl to help me sleep deeper and longer. If not, I wake up every time someone goes to the bathroom.
2. I would get terrible heartburn at night or after eating certain foods. I would get sick at night if I layed on my side. I took Prilosec and it was an immediate relief. I take 20mg capsule at night of the generic med..
3. The muscle relaxer was prescribed for the fibromyalgia and I was told it is part of the normal control of symptoms. I just take 20mg at night to help me sleep better.
4. I have my primary care doctor who said he has reached his limit to treat me. I've seen a rheumatologist that spent 20 mins with me. Asked my physical history and as soon a s I said one doctor thinks I have fibromyalgia the rheumatologist quickly backed away. She had said she wanted some MRIs and X-rays and blood work but at the end she said she couldn't help me. I have an Orthopaedic that I think the world of. He repaired a torn shoulder and removed bone spurs. He's now treating me for the pain in my hips.
5. I have my thyroid checked every year with my annual blood work. No one in my family has thyroid issues but don't know if that mattes. I am in my late 40's and am a little overweight but am working on that now that I don't take the antidepressants anymore. I had a hysterectomy a couple months ago and feel so much better. I've lost 15 pounds since then and am excited now that I've passed the 10 pound mark. I'm shooting for another 15 and will back down into some of my clothes that haven't fit for a couple years. I would say my weight gain was more grief related than medication related but it could have played a part too.
I eat relatively healthy with a lot of while foods. We try to minimize the processed foods in our home. I have a son with high level ADHD and processed foods seem to heighten some of his challenges.
My activity level is picking back up since my surgery. For about 5 months leading up to surgery I was feeling worse and worse each week and ended up in bed whenever I wasn't working or at church.
Recently my pinky finger hurts at the nail bed. It hurts/ stings so bad sometimes that I feel if I pulled out the nail, it would feel better. This sensation comes and goes all the time. I don't know if it is related to the ridges in my nails or what but it is only the pinky that hurts this way.
Thank you for your help.
Annie
Hi anniestark. Welcome to the forum.
A few notes.
1 Tachycardia. Have you had your tissue magnesium checked?
When you lack magnesium-even with a low deficiency- the heart cannot control the electrical signals and the heart starts to beat faster.
Other associated symptoms that caused me to suspect low magnesium
are: difficulty going to sleep, confusion, muscle spasms.
2. Acid Reflux. Are you on a Acid Blocker or Proton Pump Inhibitor?
If on these types of meds with low acid, you have a serious issue with your meds. Chances may be that you will never improve. far too many health consequences.
Do you know that low acid and high acid levels may produce the same symptoms? Have you actually been tested? Low acid is more prevalent.
3. Muscle relaxant.Muscle relaxants are not recommended for use by people who have depression and NOT approved by FDA for prolonged use.
What exactly are you taking them for?
4. What type of doctor have you been seeing?
5. Please give us more details about yourself. Diet, fitness level, age,etc.
any traumatic events, other than your loss of your loved ones and I'm very sorry for this, and have you ever been tested for thyroid function?
Unfortunately thyroid dysfunction goes un-diagnosed in MOST cases, and ineffectively treated in most cases when it is diagnosed.
There's a maternal (only) inherited connection to thyroid dysfunction.
This would explain a lot!
I apologize for asking all these questions, but I think I may be able to help.
You could be the end of the Auto-immune sequence in your family.
Nonetheless, applied UNBIASED knowledge is power and it should help displace your Autoimmune fears. Looking forward to your reply.
Please note that this is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
Love and light.
Niko
Thank you for your kind thoughts. I have learned to find moments of "Time well spent" with those in my life. Life is so precious to me and so are the people who share life with me.
I have actually stopped some of the meds I used to be on. The old anti-depressant for fibromyalgia and such - gained weight and felt in a fog. I just take generic Benadryl to help me sleep deeper which helps ward off other related issues.
I take only 3 RX's now. One for tachycardia, one muscle relaxer and one for acid reflux. Then the Benadryl. Everything else I try the holistic approach unless something flares up. I do take some pain meds just prior to physical therapy to help with after effects of that.
Be blessed.
Thanks for info on Vitamins. I do take vitamin D supplement and also B12 (dissolves under the tongue) but had not heard much of B3 I will read up on that.
No celiac in my family that I've ever heard of. I do limit my gluten and night plants, etc because I do feel better when I do. I think everyone would. :)
I'm so very sorry for all the incredible loss you've experienced.
I can see why you are extremely concerned about your own condition.
Are you on any medications?
I have a host of things wrong with me and some of the meds I've been on in the past had that kind of affect on me.
Neurontin (Gabapentin) was one of the worst.
(They don't call it 'morontin' for nothing!!!)
That affected me so badly, I had to stop taking it.
One time, I was driving my daughter somewhere and when I asked her about directions, I said, 'Which way do I turn up here? 11:00 or 12:00?'
Obviously, I meant 'left or right'.
I hope that whatever is causing your problem is something innocuous and can be helped.
If you do take any meds -- even ones that you have been on for a long time with no problem -- I would at least check into their side effects.
And I would look it up myself, rather than just asking your doctors or druggist, although druggists are a better bet than docs.
Good luck!!!
You've been through more than enough. I hope life starts treating you a little easier!!
Welcome:
Hope you get some ideas and suggestion from the forum. Have you had your vitamin levels tested? Low D3 could be a problem as well as other deficiencies could cause issues too. Low magnesium and B12 also have far reaching problems. It is good to get a copy of medical records from your PCP so you know what they say. If you haven't had a complete vitamin blood work up, it can be very worth while.
The vitamin d council has lots of good and free info about D3 deficiency at their web-site at www.vitamindcouncil.org
Vitamin D3 is cheap and easy to find at Costco, walmart, ect. Dr. Christine Northrup and Dr. Oz both suggest taking 5,000 IU of D3 a day. It takes time to build up in your system. Improvements can be slow but make a huge difference. My whole family was tested and we were all deficient in D3. We now enjoy much improved health, less illnesses and easier ones to get rid of. D3 also helps with many many health issues. Your nerves, muscles, bones, organs and skin all need good levels of D3. The "optimal level" according to my doc. is between 50 and 70 ml. We get tested 2 times a year to make sure we are in the "sweet" spot.
They say over half of the population is deficient in D3.
You can add the D3 while trying other ideas as well.
Good luck
Elbamom
Does Celiac disease run in your family? Untreated Celiac can lead to other autoimmune diseases, so you could get treated. If positive, stopping gluten might turn things around for you.