Can anyone tell me whether cirrhosis predisposes you to fibromyalgia? For months now I've been suffering with aching bones, ligaments and muscles - basically all over. I also have a hacking cough, poor sleep patterns and chronic fatigue.
I'm told magnesium is beneficial for this condition, but I worry that it may adversely affect my poor old liver. Please don't tell me to consult my GP - if something's not treatable with a drug they haven't a clue what to do. My gastroenterologist doesn't seem to be any more clued up as regards nutrition, supplements, etc.
Any help you can shed on this would be so welcome.
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i have fibro diagnosed 3yr ago pbc 8yrs not sure that predisposes u but think its poss classed as auto immune and once u have one of hese i was told u could get a few i only take paracetamol and occ codeine for mine fibro coz of the liver and side effects mainly i was told magnesium and vit d epsom salts baths these are all supposed to help plus amyltryptaline meds but im coping after u learn to accept it and pace yourself and listen to your body good luck x
Thank you so much for that Pattie. I've got an appointment with GP on 14 Nov and will raise the fibromyalgia with him. Hopefully he'll be able to give me a diagnosis and put me on amitriptyline. The magnesium I'll get for myself cos he prob won't have a clue about it! All the best to you Pattie.
I've heard amitryptilene is good for Fibro, and it's not addictive. Plus, you can break it down into tiny doses, whatever helps you cope. I had it for ages to help me sleep through the worst hot flushes that were causing severe insomnia and then migraines. I had 10mg tablets prescribed, but only ever took about a third, until I had a bad bout of costochondritis, when I took a whole one a day, for a week or so, to ease the pain.
However, I really think you should also get someone to do a thorough check on your major vitamin and mineral levels. Liver issues (particularly PBC) can cause a drop in vitamin D (it's fat soluble and doesn't get absorbed, 'cos the liver is no longer releasing the right stuff). Then without the Vit D your body cannot absorb calcium. I think this is one of the main reasons people with PBC (and other liver issues) can end up with dreadful muscle and joint pain (another cause can be the stress, but the amitryp could help that) .
Plus, there may be other things being affected, so you need to get all vit and mins checked.
That's most interesting, thank you GrittyReads (great pseudonym by the way!). I already take vit D and K2 to aid absorption but will add calcium and magnesium - the latter apparently needs CoQ10 also.
I'll ask my GP to swap my citalopram for amitriptylene, which has been suggested to me before for stress, aches and pains. Then I guess I need a holistic practitioner to test for vit and min deficiencies. I can't envisage the GP doing that for me.
Can I ask you whether your hot flushes were menopausal or somehow alcohol related? Most nights I sweat buckets and that, coupled with pain and coughing, does nothing for restful sleep! I should add that I'm well past the menopause at 70!
Thanks once again Gritty - I'm most grateful for your advice.
How are you feeling now? I was diagnosed with Nash last November and then very fatty liver with fibrosis in the summer. They now think I've got sphincter of Oddi or lesions from when I had my gall bladder out 32 years ago or from an op nearly 4 years ago. Anyway during the summer I too was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, she seemed to think I'd had it for quite some time, I've got it everywhere and is very painful! Along with my ruq pain I only get an hour or so sleep every night!! Sorry for waffling on, just needed to get it off my chest as it's been going on for over 2 years!! I know there are plenty of people worse off than me. Please take care. Lots if love Lynne xxxx
Mine is the other way round. I was diagnosed with fibro for many years before they found the NASH. All my liver bloods kept coming back OK so it was missed for maybe around 20-30 years. Luckily I have tried to look after myself because of the fibro, and that will have helped my liver somewhat, as my mum died at my age with PBC, so I have done better so far. They are looking into auto immune now as I have had psoriasis for 46 years.
So sorry to hear about your pain Lynne. Have you tried magnesium? I haven't yet but, having heard from another fibromyalgia sufferer, I'm just about to order some from Healthspan. Apparently it's a good sleep aid if you take a dose just before bedtime.
I do find exercise helps if you don't overdo it. I do Tai Chi Qigong, which is a very gentle exercise that seems to ease my muscle pain.
But pain seems to be part of life now, doesn't it? So we just soldier on as best we can!
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