I read an article suggesting Fibromyalgia has now been classed as a Autoimmune disease. Anyone know anything about this.

[grandmama6]

[dizzyduck]

Which periodical did you find this in, I would be very interested.

[jillylin in reply to dizzyduck]

Me too. It would be great if it had a classification that made the medical bods take it more seriously. I know it won't kill us but it certainly affects life extremely.

Hugs

Jillyxx

[munchkin62]

I also would be very intrested in this.xx

[ladymoth]

There are many learned articles for and against the hypothesis that fibromyalgia is an autoimmune condition.

It certainly shares many of the symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases, though the usual inflammatory markers are rarely present.

Interestingly there seems to be a correlation between proven autoimmune conditions, such as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, RA, Lupus, etc., and the subsequent development of fibro symptoms.

The truth is that no one knows for sure - yet!

Moffy x

[ellie172825 in reply to ladymoth]

Interesting !!!!!

[Jjudith]

I think there are lots of theories, but the one that seems to ring true to me is the theory that it is a form of dysautonomia, ie., the autonomic system doesn't work properly. One reason is compression of the cervical cord (called PC3), I couldn't get the test done in UK but I got it done in Dubai and I have PC3. The tests in Seattle USA and also Toledo Spain show that about 71% of people with fibromyalgia have PC3, compared with 0% of people with other connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms of fibromyalgia can be bought on by waking people when they are about to enter Stage 4 sleep, after a few days they have the signs of the disease. If it was an autoimmune disease then it is extremely unlikely that you could replicate it by preventing people from having Stage 4 sleep. The thing about PC3 is that is doesn't need expensive medicines to improve or cure the condition, so it is very difficult to get the message out when drug companies are spending a lot of money on research to find a 'wonder drug' for fibromyalgia. In Seattle they do (1) surgery if the condition is very advanced (2) manipulation or (3) a form of therapy which Prof Andrew Holman calls Alexander Technique plus. It also responds to cheap drugs in the benzodiazepines group, ie., Diazepam, Clonazepam, which I knew always made me feel much better.

[grandmama6]

Many thanks for replies. Sorry I cant remember were I saw the article. Was ill at time. Was just hoping someone else may have seen it