Stress tends to set off major physical reactions that create chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome that involves chronic fatigue, generalized muscle aching, and stiffness. According to the 2000 American College of Rheumatology Fact Sheet, two percent of the United States population, primarily women of childbearing age, are affected by this syndrome.
Although criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia have been established, controversy exists as to whether this diagnosis represents a unique syndrome. The cause is unknown and no pathologic characteristics have been identified that are specific for the condition.
Treatment consists of attention to the specific symptoms reported by the patient. Some nursing aids may be used to treat the diffuse muscle aching and stiffness.
Tricycles antidepressants are used to improve or restore normal sleep patterns and individualized programs of exercise are used to decrease muscle weakness and discomfort and to improve the general deconditioning that occurs in these individuals.
Managing Treatment
Typically, patients with chronic fatigue fibromyalgia have endured their symptoms for a long period. They may if feel their symptoms have not been taken seriously. Nurses need to pay special attention to supporting these individuals and providing encouragement as they begin their program of therapy.
Patients support groups may be helpful. Careful listening to patient’s descriptions of their concerns and symptoms is essential to helping them make changes necessary to improve their quality of life.
The first step to minimizing fibromyalgia, is to develop an awareness of when and how the condition affects you. Then, take time to learn a few relaxation techniques and deep breathing. To facilitate healing, take time to perform these simple treatments.
1. Catch an afternoon nap
Experts say that people who get the afternoon swoon to put the phone on voice mail, turn the ringer off, and steal a 20 to 30-minute snooze.
The later in the day you nap, the more likely you will enter deep sleep, so it is better you nap in the early or midafternoon. The longer you sleep, the greater the chance you will enter deep sleep and wake up groggy and worse than before.
2. Watch your meds
Staying energized means paying close attention to everything that goes into your mouth, medications included. Antihistamines, high blood pressure drugs, and cough suppressants can all make you tired. But plenty of other common medicines can also leave you feeling lethargic.
Many people assume that their fatigue is coming from headache, arthritis, or whatever and do not realize that it is really coming from the medications. If you are taking medicine and often find yourself feeling groggy or low on energy, it is highly recommended that you should talk to your doctor about the side effects of medications and asking for alternatives to drugs that may be sapping your energy.
3. Break out boredom
It is all about exercise that is refreshing versus exercise that is not. That is why it is important to find some exercise that is enjoyable or challenging. Taking regular breaks throughout the week to engage in some exercise or other physically demanding, but interesting, activities should help prevent chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.
4. Feed the machine
Often, even the modest calorie restriction can lead to marginal vitamin levels. And if you are short on vitamins, you may feel tired as a result.
Consuming fewer than 1,800 calories per day is a risk factor for low-nutrient intake simply because nutrient intake is tied to calorie intake. Most health experts advices dieters who eat fewer than 1,800 calories per day must learn to take multivitamin or mineral supplement.
Fibromyalgia is a medical emergency necessitating early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to eliminate the causative factor; otherwise, the joint may be destroyed relatively quickly.
So the next time you feel stressed out, never hesitate to ask for a rest. The treatment of fibromyalgia is focused on the physiologic mechanisms that must be understood in the context of the body as a whole. The person, as a living system, has both an internal and an external environment, between which information and matter are continuously exchanged.
Hence, the goal of treating and managing chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia is best achieved within the interaction of the body’s subsystem to produce a dynamic balance or steady state. In this way, all subsystems are in harmony with each other and the probabilities of developing fibromyalgia are lessened.
Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/4-ways-to-treat-chronic-fatigue-and-fibromyalgia-84880.html
October 24th, 2009 at 7:48 am
How can I get my doctor to prescribe me a 6 month regimen of Valganciclovir? (For chronic fatigue).?
I’ve suffered from debilitating fatigue for 5 years now, and severe chemical sensitivity for the last 2.5 years. Valganciclovir (an antiviral that targets herpes) has so far been used in clinical trials to treat chronic fatigue patients. Treatment lasted 6 months. I have no chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia diagnosis, although several doctors have suggested that I have CFS. I’m wondering if there’s a way to just tell my doctor to let me try Valganciclovir for 6 months to see if it helps me. I hesitate to get tests for HHV-6A or for Epstein-Barr done because the usual test isn’t sensitive enough to show that the infection is active, even if it is. I’m worried my doc will just turn me down, saying that giving me Valganciclovir for 6 months is just too ‘experimental’ (or something like that). Any suggestions?
October 24th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
What have you got to lose? Make an appointment and talk with your doctor about this. Also, you might search for some clinical trials that occur in teaching hospitals/universities that might be beneficial to you.
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Health care provider
October 24th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
The way I would address the situation is just go in set down and tell the doctor whats going on. He may want to do some test or he may want to refer you to a pshycologist I’m not calling you crazy but ive heard that sometimes depression medicines can help with fatigue. I think that a couple of test that the outcome would be enjoying life more would be worth it . I know how you feel I’ve had test I didn’t want to have and really was scared of the outcomes . But things will be okay.. Just get some help and trust your doctor to do the right thing.
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October 24th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Clinical phase means that it isn’t well proven whether valganciclovir is effective for treatment of chronic fatigue. Of course a doctor would not perscribe a regiment of antiviral drugs for fatigue if it isn’t officially recognized as an effective treatment, and your doctor isn’t the one running the clinical trials.
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October 24th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
there are many experiemtnal treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome–can you get tio a specialist—can you afford to pay out of pocket for teh meds
Viagra is a possibiility–it is being studied for CFIDS–the theroy is that viagra increases blood flow throough the body (extremities and brain) and this blood flow with decrease fatigue
Dr house is wrong—
doctors do prescribe meds offlabel–approved for otehr uses (such as viagra, xyren) but not yet a proven treatment for another condition such as CFIDS—thats many of the treatmetns they prescribe are–approved for otehr conditions-unproven in CFIDS–but showing some promise in trials..
also–Ampligen is a treatment taht has been highly studied for CFIDS–i don’t think it is available outside trials in the US yet–but you can get it if you travel to other countries
try telling your doc you need to try something–and Valganciclovir is a viable option due to your circumsatnces
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October 24th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I agree with J B. Talk to your doctor, and try to find some clinical trials in your area.
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