|
MEN SURVIVING FMS
 DROP DOWN MENU BELOW        
   
   |
 FMS(FIBROMYALGIA) has been largely misunderstood in the medical profession for years. Some Doctors do not believe that it exist and often think that patients have a phsycological problem, or are looking for pain medications.  Fibromyalgia is a condition that effects about 2 to 4 % of the poulation and is found more often in women than in men. Even though this is a large percentage, the diagnosis in these patients are often missed. Many patients see numerous Doctors prior to reaching this diagnosis. Many afflicted patients experience trouble sleeping, whole body pain, severe headaches, morning stiffness, memory loss (fibro-fog), dizzines, numbness, tingling, concentration problems,itching, fluid retention, and other painful symptoms. There are symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome to include; abdominal bloating, pain, cramps, diarrhea, constipation and other symptoms. Patients may experience sensations such as burning, stabbing pains, cutting pains, and dull aches. There are no abnormalities in x-rays or in blood work. The patient may feel that they have an immense amount of swelling, yet, there will be no clinical signs of swelling in the body. This disorder is commonly refered to as a hidden illness, because the patients will often appear to be completely normal. This often leads to a patient being told they are crazy, seeking attenton, or pain medications. Fibromyalgia often runs in families, suggesting an inherrited predisposition for the disorder. FMS seems to lie dormant until a triggering event. Many patients describe becoming ill after a life changing event, stress, or having a viral infection. There are, however, reported cases of juvenile onset FMS with seemingly no "trigger" at onset.  How does your Doctor reach a diagnosis of FMS? The process is one of elimination and consideration of patient history and family background. There are many other disorders that may mimick the symptms of FMS. This means that a competent physicain will consider the possibilities and ensure he/she eliminates all other illnesses. The FM patient will have normal x-rays, normal blood work, and no signs of inflamation. The diagnosis must contain a tender point evaluation. There are 18 different tenderpoints in various locations on the body. An FMS patient will have a positive, or painful reaction to pressure applied to a minimum of 11 out of 18 points. An FMS patient will have a history of wide spread pain. With some patients, this pain may begin in a localized area and then seemingly spread to involve the remainder of the body. A physician should strongly consider any family history of Fibromyalgia as well. 
 My Doctor told me that I have FMS. What do I do now? As most of the Doctors out there will tell you, educating yourself is of the utmost importance. Read everything you can get your hands on! Knowledge of your condition is power. You will learn to understand your body. Learn and remember what makes your condition become worse, or get better. Stay away from stressors in your life and learn how to relax. It has been my experience that most FMS sufferers are high energy and high stress, overachieving type personalities. Most of the people that I know are very succesful then all of a sudden, their bodies just crash on them. Learn what your limitations are. Tell your family to help you if and when you need it. This is VERY difficult for most of us men! We are used to being the ones to hold things together, fix everything, do the yard work and so on. Beginning to establish, accept and adhere to your personal limitations will serve you well. Remember that you must communicate these limitations to the people around you. Keep your thoughts positive. Join a sopport group and get involved. On the Links page, you will find a link to a Men's support group. Track your symptoms on paper. This will assist you in finding your triggers, and help you in ensuring you can show your Doctor your progress. If you have a Doctor that believes in pain management, great! If not, find one that is willing to assist you in staying as comfortable as possible. Watch out for miracle cure claims! There are several options that you and your Doctor can pursue. Be leary of any claims that a treatment can cure FMS. Most of the cures will only help to make your wallet thinner! Try to find something that works for you. Massage therapy, stretching and accupressure are all excellent ways to begin. People react very differently to the same treatments. What may work well for others may not work well for you. Most Doctors will prescribe low doses of certain anti-depresents such as Trazadone, or Elavil. This is not due to depression, but to assist in pain management and proper sleep patterns. They may also prescribe pain relievers such as; Darvocet, Vicodin, Oxicontin, and others. There may be many other meds prescribed depending on your symptom list. Keep your Doctor informed of any changes and whether or not your pain and other symptoms are being managed appropriately.  |
