Is it true that fibromyalgia is connected to a problem with the stomach lining?

[Kerry29]

I was also told not to eat meat or cheese because we have no good bacteria in our gut. This causes the food to seep back into the blood stream

[Fibrofoggiest]

Hi Kerry, this sounds a bit odd to me, I know people get IBS related to Fibro, but haven't heard about anything to do with the stomach lining. I eat lots of live yoghurt so all the good bacteria are maintained. Can I ask where you heard this from please ?

Foggy x

[TheAuthor]

Hi Kerry29

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? There are a few stomach disorders that can be present with Fibro, such as Gastritis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease. I am presuming this is the sort of thing that you are referring too? However, none of these are the cause of Fibro just one of the many implications of Fibro.

I have pasted you a few links below which pertain to the problems that our stomachs can suffer from as a result of having Fibro:

healthcentral.com/chronic-p...

nhs.uk/Conditions/Fibromyal...

fibroaction.org/Pages/What-...

Many of us appear to have lactose and / or gluten intolerance, so if you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should really discuss the issue with your GP.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

[sammyj1985]

Hiya Kerry

I have had a few "Tummy Issues". Two weeks ago I had a colonoscopy and biopsies and it has come back that I have a few intolerances to certain foods.

Such as Garlic, Onions, Broccoli and Black Eyed Peas (which I thought was a music group!! Haha)

I've not been told by my GP or consultant anything about bacteria in the stomach lining though.

Hope your ok

Sam xxx

[Jjudith]

Some people think that fibromyalgia (maybe in some people, maybe all) is caused by overgrowth of yeasts and candidas. The theory is that if you change your diet, the candidas will die. There is a book called From Fibromyalgia to Fantastic that outlines it. But there are a lot of other research leads going on - for example, there is a lot of research in US that links fibromyalgia with a problem with the autonomic nervous system, and that research shows that in some fibromites the problem originates in the cervical cord. Google PC3 and Dr. Andrew Holman, Seattle. I guess nothing is proved, there may be many causes, and causes such as changes in diet and physio to improve your neck posture are not going to be high on the medical agenda because pharmaceutical companies don't benefit - but maybe I am something of a cynic??

Lots of hope but no certain cure. But try everything to see if it works for you x

[sherrisix in reply to Jjudith]

Wow! I know that this is a very old threat but its fab! Had never heard of PC3, but as I have bad arthritis in my neck, pinched nerves as well as MF, will definitely look into this! Thanks! Have a good day!

[Jjudith]

Also another different idea of food change to improve fibromyalgia - there was a lecture at the Fibromyalgia Conference 2 weeks ago from Natasha Campbell-McSomething and she has a theory called GAPS and she advocates eating masses of fermented food including cheese and high cholesterol and lots of fatty meat. So there you go. Lots of ideas. Confusing hey???

[Mdaisy]

Hello Kerry29,

As Jjudith says many reserach studies are around and things have been mentioned, however to my knowledge nothing has been confirmed by any collective studies. I personally have previously read that the lack of Serotonin can affect our stomach, see article below;

gut.bmj.com/content/early/2...

Much research is still happening so this may not be occurring in Fibro (just something I read & passing on with no FibroAction hat on) but it is interesting. Our information team are working hard to produce new factsheets that are updated with evidence information inline with the Information Standard once again, so watch this space!! For now heere's some information about IBS & diet;

fibroaction.org/Articles/Be...

Here is a poll we did about nutrition, if that's any help;

healthunlocked.com/fibroact...

If you are not taking anything to help your Serotonin maybe it may be worth seeing your Doctor about this treatment and/or change your diet, you may wish to eliminate things one by one or you might not know what is helping your symptoms ?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are a more modern type of antidepressant. They include citalopram, fluoxetine and paroxetine. They are used less often in treating Fibro because they work almost entirely on the levels of serotonin, but they can be better tolerated than TCAs in some people

Serotonin-Norephinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are an even more modern class of antidepressants and they work on both Serotonin and Norephinephine levels, like the TCAs do. They include venlafaxine (which can also have a slight effect on dopamine levels), duloxetine and milnacipran Lindsey Middlemiss Founder & Chair of FibroAction (2009)

fibroaction.org/Pages/Neuro...

Please let us know how you get on

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[Kerry29]

hi

i spoke to one of my gastro team doctors at the local hospital and she told me, yes fibromyalgia is connected to the stomach lining.

[Mdaisy in reply to Kerry29]

Interesting Kerry29,

Did she mention serotonin levels and motility problems at all?

Thank You for your reply

Emma

[Kerry29 in reply to Mdaisy]

hi she just said it is connected to the stomach lining. sorry but whats motility?

i was put on nortriptline for my head tho and have since been took off that and i am now on 20mg citalopram once a night.

[Mdaisy in reply to Kerry29]

Hello Kerry29,

Sorry ex nurse sometimes forget and go into medical jargon ! Motility is ; medical-dictionary.thefreed...

Basically it's part of the digestive process, interesting point you've mentioned. Thank You for posting

Emma

[sherrisix in reply to Kerry29]

That would make sense to me at least. I also have Celiac Disease, so my stomach lining is very damaged...

[Lottieonline]

Hello Kerry,

I suffer from fibromyalgia 18/18 points and also Ulcerative Colitis so there could be a connection?

It is just a case of getting on with it. Both conditions do not have a cure but it could always be worse. I also suffer quite severely with depression and anxiety which leads to OCD.

[Naturegirl]

Hi Kerry,

The nurse might have meant leaky gut syndrome which is getting to be quite common partly because of wheat allergy/sensitivity - google it. For "not so serious" depression you could increase your vitamin B6 which improves your serotonin levels. I have had fibro for 29 years and the two things that work for me best is low dose lithium orotate and low dose Naltraxone LDN. LDN works on your "feel good" receptors at night - blocks them for a while and then your brain kickstarts in building new ones. Since taking LDN I am sleeping like a baby. Both products need to be compounded by a compounding pharmacy and require scripts. I hope this help