Why People with Fibromyalgia often Have Many Other Diseases Also

February 13, 2009 by Lisa

Summary: I believe Fibromyalgia sufferers can have many other diseases because many of the diseases are caused by the exact same thing that causes the fibromyalgia! 

What Causes Fibro

So, in order to understand completely what I am theorizing here, you’ll need to understand what I believe fibromyalgia is caused by. 

Read my short version below or check out my long version here. 

My short version is stress chemicals that are created when negative emotion is present aren’t always cleared from the body and so are deposited in cells.  Muscle cells, nerve cells, tendon cells, organ cells, every cell.  When enough of them are built up in enough cells this creates pain and fatigue as the body is constantly trying to clear the cells but never able to.  The cells are overworked, overstressed, and nerve cells especially are constantly irritated.

What other diseases and is it common

So, go to any fibromyalgia forum and people tend to list all their “diagnoses” in their signatures. 

Almost anyone who does this lists more than one diagnosis, and many list more than five.  Things like

  • fibromyalgia
  • chronic fatigue syndrome
  • restless leg syndrome
  • gastritis
  • repetitive stress injury
  • carpal tunnel syndrome
  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • gerd
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • Chrohn’s Disease
  • diabetes
  • osteoporosis
  • arthritis
  • allergies
  • sinusitis
  • tmj
  • panic disorder
  • migraine headaches

  • sciatica

What About Anxiety and Depression

People list Anxiety and Depression as a diagnosis, and doctors seem to believe that these are diseases that just ‘happen’ to people.

Based on my experience, I believe  anxiety and depression are not diseases, but emotional states that are responsible for each and every one of these other diseases in many cases.  

When the state goes on long enough or is intense enough, it generates enough stress chemicals to incapacitate the body.  If the most stress chemicals are in the bowels then irritable bowel syndrome or gastritis or GERD is the disease.  If stress chemicals are overflowing everywhere, then fibro is the manifestation, or fibro plus irritable bowel plus sciatica, or fibro plus anything.

I believe Anxiety and Depression (and fear and guilt and resentment, and unworthiness) are SIGNALS – signals from our brain and body and higher selves that we are out of balance – that we are believing thoughts that aren’t true for us – that we are engaging in behaviors that are bad for our total selves.

The Label is Different Depending on Where in the Body the Disease is

I believe that most of these other diseases are actually manifestations of the same kind of disease process that caused the fibromyalgia, so in essence, I believe doctors are just putting different labels on the same disease depending on where it occurs in the body.

The Good, no GREAT News

The good news about this, is if you can effectively treat your fibromyalgia, all this other stuff has a good chance of lessening or going away also.

My personal experience was that I had irritable bowel syndrome first (for years), then sciatica for years till my activities changed to remove the trigger, candida and fibromyalgia at the same time, and thought at one point I had carpal tunnel syndrome. 

I am Well – I believe anyone can find wellness

My current experience is that I have no illness.  I am 100% well, although if I overexert myself on a regular basis, either on the computer or in sports or playing video games and don’t do my stretches or sleep enough, or if I overindulge on sugar I can get muscle pain and candida symptoms. 

Once I revert to my regular, balanced schedule, these symptoms again disappear.  So I guess I am actually managing my diseases to the extent that I am symptom free as long as I am doing what I know I need to do.

Kind of like a diabetic who can control their disease through diet and exercise.

I am a fibromyalgic who can control my disease through stretching, balance in my life, and deliberate thoughts.

You won’t hear me say that very often though.  If I have to refer to symptoms of fibromyalgia at all I say “I am cured” or “I am recovered” or “I am recovering” depending on context.

Now, I totally understand if your experience is different.  I totally understand if you disagree with me.  I am sharing this because I am all better and I so wish that for everyone who has ever experienced fibromyalgia.  It is not a fun experience.  And life is supposed to be fun.  :)



Highly Recommended: 30 Days to Feel Better From Fibromyalgia

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Comments

4 Comments on Why People with Fibromyalgia often Have Many Other Diseases Also

  1. Charlie on Mon, 28th Dec 2009 7:22 pm

    2. Help! Nothing doctors suggesting working! I’m a 63 male with fibro – having bad flare as I write this. On Elavil & Ambien for sleep (not working) Tramadol/Neurontin for pain. Will your information help me (male)?

  2. admin on Tue, 29th Dec 2009 1:12 pm

    3. Hi Charlie, I believe my information can help anyone. I’ll give you the essence of my information right here: most drugs can’t help fibro, all they do is mask symptoms for a period of time. What is needed most is a relaxation of the mind and body. What bothers you? what angers, frustrates, irritates, and saddens you? Let it go. Do your best to let it go. Want to let it go. Strive each day to let it go. As you do this, deliberately do things that will relax your individual muscles and your body. Try to find some peaceful places in your mind and your muscles. Nurture this peace. Cultivate it. Grow it. Believe your body can heal itself if you can get your mind out of the way. Allow time each day for this healing. Do supported child’s pose for as long as possible every day and train your mind to keep quiet while you do it.

    This is a wonderful beginning. Once you have a foundation of peace in your life somewhere, start looking into things like probiotics, low carb diets, and the guaifenesin protocol. Maybe take up yoga. Yoga is lovely once your body has some practice stretching, and in my experience it can make just about anything better.

    I wish you the very best health in the world. It may come gradually, but it can come.

  3. Linda Dowdy on Sun, 9th Dec 2012 11:11 am

    4. I have been in pain for many years. At first it was slight and not very often. The past 6 years it has been constant and the past 6 to 9 or 10 months it has been continually getting worse. I now have pain and burning and tingling in many places. I have acid reflux, IBS, hiatal hernia, periodontitis ( pain in my teeth and gums that the dentist does not know where it comes from)–when I eat or inhale air, I have tingling pain . I also have heart arrythymia. Because of this, lots of supplements make my heart race. I also think I have candida yeast for which I am taking probiotics and watching my diet. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I talked to a doctor in Alabama, Dr. Rodger Murphree who specializes in fibromyalgia. But I cannot afford $900 to do his program. I did buy his supplements-vitamins, malic acid, cortex, magnesium, etc. But they were making my stomach bloated, etc. So I stopped them and am treating candida yeast first. Then I will start the vitamins again which they say will help with the pain. I also bought his book which says a lot of the things you say.

  4. admin on Mon, 10th Dec 2012 2:07 pm

    5. thank you for sharing your story. I wonder if probiotics and enzymes would help you first.

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