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FMS Community FMS Support Forums Medicine & Treatments Fibro----An Autoimmune Disease???
 

Fibro----An Autoimmune Disease???


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03/30/2008 11:27
Bkwrm398
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 I have seen some information which points toward Fibro being an autoimmune disease.

So, if we alter diet/supplement/exercise regimines in an attempt to build up our immune systems are we potentially setting ourselves up for increased fibro flares???

What do all of you think?

I'm confused
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03/30/2008 11:43
jgamble409
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 My doctor told me that was what it is also. He really didn't go into alot of details but said that I needed to exercise to keep limber and feel better. Sure this is a man who runs for fun, who does that no one in my household. :laugh He told me that the good news was I would not die from it but it was chronic and will never go away. Since each case was different I needed to try the trial and error way. So far I have kept of most medicines and try to pretend nothing is wrong when I am in public but it's getting harder and people are starting to wonder if I am on something or drunk I really do not like to go out yesterday when I went shopping by myself I was totally a spacehead couldn't remember my pin number or anything. Bright lights bother me also. Guess I will stay home and order alot more off the internet that ought to make Terry happy. Also read a great book The Everything Health Guide to Fibromyalgia am going to reread it again nothing sinks in the first time. Jean
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03/30/2008 12:50
ladycrowe
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 A doctor told me that there was an autoimmune component to the Fibro, and he said that would explain why my son has Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, since autoimmune disorders can be passed down.

The key to autoimmunity issues is to try to stay healthy because when our bodies fight something such as an illness, stress, etc, our bodies react on its own tissues, instead of just fighting off whatever is attacking our immune system. That would help explain why we feel worse when we are stressed or ill, or when we over do it.

The autoimmune theory is just one of many... There are studies that point to hormone imbalances as well.... I feel like it is a combination of many things............... who knows for sure???

We are all soldiers in this battle to reclaim our lives from the beast within!
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03/30/2008 13:03
Bkwrm398
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 When my mom was first diagnosed with fibro (15+ yrs ago)the possibility of it being autoimmune related wasn't recognized.

Now she also has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (within the past 3-4 yrs)...which has long been recognized as been autoimmune related.

Until recently I hadn't thought much about there been a connection between the two illnesses. I was recently diagnosed with "probable Fibro" based on symptoms and family history and I'm beginning to wonder if I have the rheumatoid arthritis to look forward to as well.

It just seems like there has to be a way to get the immune system to work FOR us instead of AGAINST us!
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03/30/2008 13:17
ladycrowe
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 You would sure think that there would be, but just like with the RA, there is not a lot that they can do about that.... It is very interesting that your mom has RA and fibro. And now you have it....I have 2 great aunts that have it... I have recently about a genetic connection......

I want to say again, welcome to the group bkwrm!

We are all soldiers in this battle to reclaim our lives from the beast within!
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03/30/2008 20:44
takeitaway
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 Now my doc says it is a neurological illness. He says the pain centers of the brain go crazy and result in an over-firing of neurons.....this is why many of the anti-seizure drugs seem to help fibromyalgia symptoms. The cause of the central nervous system dysfn could be different for different people but may include a viral illness, a hormonal imbalance,a sleep disorder, or an injury. There also is evidence that some people are predisposed to having fibromyalgia because it does seem to run in families. That is the explanation that I got. The good news is that the drug companies want to make lots of $$ on all these folks diagnosed with fibromyalgia so the research is starting to sky rocket. Becca
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04/25/2008 08:51
JBertz
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 My Dr. states that it is a neurological disorder in which the brain receives a signal of soft tissue injury from the body. The brain then sends the injury response ie - muscle soreness and stiffness. I've heard that fibro is considered to be autoimmune, though it seems that no one is able to identify what my immune system is attacking that causes fibro. I've been tested for RA numerous times and I don't have it. I'm wondering if it's being considered AI as a catch-all term.

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04/25/2008 09:00
takeitaway
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 I find it interesting that most doctors are now saying that fibromyalgia is a disorder of the central nervous system (cause-unknown) yet no neurologists that I know of are assuming any responsibility to treat patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In fact once given the diagnosis many poor souls will find their doctors heading for the hills to go into hiding. Nobody really seems to want to treat fibromyalgia and it is only a matter of time before rheumatologists stand up and complain about the fibro cases all being sent to them when this is likely to be a neurological disorder. Neurologists certainly are not going out of their way to help any of these patients..............Becca
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04/25/2008 09:02
takeitaway
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 Regarding the autoimmune link, I think there is some interest in studying this possibility because fibro tends to be diagnosed primarily in women and autoimmune diseases are more likely found in women..........
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