Fibromyalgia Diagnosis after Dental Appointments

July 31, 2010 by Lisa

This is an email conversation that I had with a woman who was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia. She does not have the classic ‘fatigue’ and tiredness symptoms. I suggest that may be because she has been diagnosed early, and I think she would benefit greatly from self-trigger-point massage.

Wow. Lisa, I realize everybody is different. A oral surgeon suggested a week ago that I had fibro. To say the least, I am still in shock. About 6 months ago, following 3 dental appts (they were not traumatic) I got pains in my left jaw. Then everything cascaded after that: primary pains in my ears, stuffiness, roaring tinnitus, then headaches, pains in my neck and shoulders. I’ve a spent very dear $5k trying to figure out what is wrong w/ me. I can’t spend anymore $, so I have to go outside of Western medicine and their (poison, band-aid) pills for alternative therapies/do-it-yourself healing. I also want to be empowered, not a slave to Big Pharma. Speaking of drugs, did you buy that guf….son drug at a drugstore? It obviously worked for you- at least one of the things that possibly helped, early on. I’m so glad you started this site, even though I know it is also a business for you. I wish we had a photo of all of us running in a field, jumping for joy as a avatar photo….

guaifenesin is actually mucinex – and yes, it’s over the counter and easy to get. You should read the book if you are going to try it. I would also suggest the self-trigger point massage. Have you read anything I say about that? VERY helpful. You an treat all your own issues.

My guess is that, rather than fibro, you have some extreme trigger points in your neck and jaw muscles, and the dental appointments exacerbated them. Of course, some experts think that everyone that is diagnosed with fibro actually has trigger points. I had thousands of them – dozens in every muscle.

guai would still help but it’s not as direct as learning self-trigger point massage.

Thanks for responding. What scares me honestly, is that I feel a (analogy) computer stealth Trojan virus- has taken over my spinal column. I do not feel normal, even after a massage. This scares me. This is why I suspect the doc may be correct. But I don’t have the fatigue (in fact, just the opposite) or pains in my legs, feet, arms, hands. I do have headaches and as you wrote, a feeling that my neck/shoulder muscles are VERY TIGHT. Thanks so much for your advice. How much is your book?

You don’t feel normal how? And did it start slow or come on all at once? My book is $12, but you might just want to start with this one: I think it would help you a lot.

Dear Lisa, I think pain like this is unresolved emotions. I got some Trazodone sleeping pills this morning from this really cool doctor (who I can relate to) I know for sleeping. He said, after we talked that I should go to a couselor to possibly unearth feelings I didn’t know I had. I HATE using crutches (especially Western ones, as you know). Also got some guai, hoping that will work. Started yoga…What did you do about emotional issues? I have to admit, I want to deny Fibro as a life-long sentence. I truly believe it can be cured w/the right kind of support….

well, the emotional component is the big one – I’m totally with you on that. My first book that helped me a lot was this one
http://www.releasefibromyalgia.com/go/youcanfeelgood.php
I’ve read it 3 times.

Then, anything by Byron Katie

and anything by abraham-hicks

and now I am starting to read pema chodron

… I’m not perfect, but I make strides every day, and my emotional balance improves every day – and it really does make a HUGE difference, painwise. Even my menstrual pain is lessened (and my fibro pain is gone).

Lisa, I cannot tell you how much a sweetheart you are. 6 months ago, I was going thru an intense (extremely traumatic situation) having to do w/my in-laws- father’s death, his promises (perceived as love ’cause my dad died) having to do w/the estate, self-absorbed/selfish children, my husband’s passiveness w/his siblings and $ for my daughter’s (she works her behind off in school) university education. Even though I had some routine dental work then, I truly think this is the cause of the fibro. As you can see, I have major issues that were, and remain unresolved, I’m sorry to say. Did u go to a counselor? I’m going to have to do it by myself w/books.

Starting to get stomach aches from that guai- yikes.

Thank you form the bottom of my heart for writing back.

you are very welcome. I am finding that this for sure is one of my callings – to try to spread the word as much as possible that fibro CAN be helped, and what TRULY helps it.

I think you are probably right that all those ‘issues’ have played a big part in what’s going on.

I did go to a counselor at one point years ago, but it didn’t help. He got a taste of the depth of my pain and immediately asked me to take drugs. I didn’t go back and instead dealt with it myself. I have spent hours, and hours crying and ‘feeling’ it and it does lessen eventually.

I remember when the crocodile hunter died, I spent 2 hours on the floor in my living room screaming at the TV about how now his babys were left all alone. (my dad died when I was two).

Oh, that reminds me of two more books that helped me. Emotional clearing by ruskin, and Waking the Tiger; Healing Trauma by Peter Levine – good if you ever had any major trauma in your life.

I never had any issues with the guai but if I remember correctly, Dr. St Amand’s book says the stomach pain goes away.

I had two incidents besides the crocodile hunter one when I expressed RAGE at my step-father (he wasn’t there) – both times I was in the car driving around at night. I couldn’t have stayed in the house or in one place because I was so loud and crazed that my neighbors would have called the police. It worked though. I was able to sick it all up and get it out and now it doesn’t hurt me anymore.

Yes, Lisa! I have thought of screaming at the top of my lungs and crying while driving on the freeway- that could happen once every 2 weeks or so when I go to the acupuncture appt ($14- it doesn’t seem to help, but they are lovely people!). I’ve had major trauma in my life, too. Whew, having fibro is forcing me to release those feelings, somehow and learn how to deal w/ongoing issues. I’ll have to read those books you suggested if I can get them out of the library.

I can’t spend anymore big money on this problem for the next 5 years! Thank you Lisa, you are a godsend. Yes, helping people out of this is your calling- you are in inspiration. The gaui is definitely giving me a bad stomach ache. I may have to take it every couple of days- or do something else.

thank you I did acupuncture 3 times – it didn’t help me either. Self-trigger-point massage was much more effective. So, you’ve had an urge already? That’s good — those feelings are right there … just wanting to come out. Yes, I hope you can find them at the library. good stuff. If you’ve had trauma I definetely recommend waking the tiger – it talks about a kind of physical expression of emotions that I think unlocks them from the tissues.

Sorry about the guai … here’s the official guai board and claudia marek is on it – she wrote the book with dr. st. amand. they can tell you what to do I’m sure.

Lisa, Just one (well, for now) more question: Did you have the fatigue everyone complains about? I do not.

as for fatigue – well, I didn’t have it to the extreme that some people do, although sometimes I felt like that – looking back I triggered it with emotional episodes. I have always slept a lot though, and when I was in the worst of it I did feel fatigue.

You not having the fatigue really makes me think you aren’t very far gone yet. You’ve caught it early. Self trigger point massage would help you a lot and quickly I think.

Thanks Lisa, I understand the trigger point concept, and know where the knots are (they are the most painful!)….

At this point, I wonder if I should ask my brother and sister in laws if they want a honest discussion by email- embarking on tricky waters. If they don’t, I’ll just have to figure out what I’m going to do w/the emotions. I actually stood in the bathroom screaming ‘at them’ this afternoon- letting go of anger I’ve held for SO LONG. no one was at home.

Yes, I feel like a computer-like virus changed something in my brain. I’ve been telling docs I felt like an alien has changed something in my brain- yes, you could pass me off as a nut job. But please do not laugh- something has changed chemically (or in whatever Chinese medicine terms) to create these symptoms! My job now is to reverse “it” so I won’t have the fibro pain, hard time staying asleep, ibs, etc….

… honestly, I was able to do all the emotional work without involving anyone who was ‘the problem’. It’s especially helpful if you don’t think they are going to ‘admit’ their part in it.

I won’t laugh. I understand completely. But it can get better, I promise. … have you ever tried valerian root? worked for me to stay asleep. I don’t need it anymore.