Fibromyalgia

[Gillybabe48]

My Granddaughter has had fibro since about 14. It seemed to come on after a virus. She is now gluten free. She recently saw a doctor who basically said it was psychological. Not sure I agree. She is a very well balanced girl. He said it was her childhood but she had a normal childhood. Her parents divorced as she was a teenager but so do many peoples. What do you think. She does have low blood pressure too 88/54.

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I read recently that doctors now think that fibro can be caused by some kind of trauma that has happened in a persons life, so the doctor that she saw might just be right.

"Her parents divorced as she was a teenager but so do many peoples"..

You shouldn't compare your granddaughters experience to anyone elses as everyone is different, it might have effected her in a different way to other people.

If you listen and except what the doctor has said then maybe it will be possible for your granddaughter to get good appropriate treatment that will help her.

I wish you both well.. take care.

[Echoblue]

A psychological trigger doesn’t mean she is making it up. When they talk like that it always feels very personal and can cause offence, but please don’t take it that way.

The symptoms are very real and management of those symptoms she has are the key. I hope she finds ways to manage it.

It was suggested to me that I had a sensitivity to gluten and that wasn’t helping my Fibromyalgia symptoms and since cutting gluten out I have found my symptoms improved, as has taking regular turmeric...... but we are all different with varying symptoms and severity so I am afraid it is trial and error to find what works.

I wish you and your daughter well.

[M0AL61 Moderator Volunteer]

There is much speculation about what causes fibromyalgia, but it is thought that trauma of some kind can be a trigger. That could be physical, mental or emotional trauma. It could be that the divorce of her parents has impacted on her mentally and emotionally and this is being manifested physically through her having fibromyalgia.

There is also another theory which says it can be brought on after a virus, illness or surgery.

[Country-gal in reply to M0AL61]

I agree with the trauma thing and Fibro. As that's how I got it. I had surgery that went all wrong and put my life on the line. Yes being on deaths door isn't fun but neither is fibro. I developed fibro a few months after my surgery. The other thing is when people say fibro does not get worse. Well that's wrong to. It does get worse. If you don't get help for what's going on it will get worse.I hope and pray she gets all the help she needs. She will really need your support especially on her bad days. Don't just brush it off please. She could be crying out in pain and suffering in silence as some do. But you'll notice her attitude will change when she's hurting.love and petience is the best support you can give her. Hope this helps you. From Country Gal.

[Gillybabe48]

Thank you for your help. She is seeking counselling so hopefully on the right track.

[Marz in reply to Gillybabe48]

Hi - I normally see you on Thyroid UK As your grand-daughter has low blood pressure I was wondering if there could be a connection to her thyroid. Ensure testing includes the Thyroid Anti-bodies TPO & Tg as well as the all important FT3. It could be worth ruling it out and at least if she doesn't have a problem you have a baseline of results for the future. Teenage years can be challenging for the thyroid - as can pregnancy and then menopause ... Sigh !

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Mine started after I was the victim of a terrible crime, I am still being treated for PTSD 11 years later, before then I used to climb mountains, hike, camping and backpacking, now I have almost no mobility, can't walk as far as the end of my street and always in pain somewhere, so yes I do think there is a link with trauma.

[YASMINTINA FMA UK Volunteer]

Morning I agree with other replies, trauma,viruses,upset, could be the starting of fibro, I ha ve read so many people being diagnosed after car accident , loss of a loved one, like you say many many parents split mine did when I was 7, and although she had a good childhood the psychological side of things could be why, but who knows for sure again you said she had a virus so proberly you will never really know if it was that or not. healthunlocked.com/fibromya.... Do you have fibro also ? My daughter has mild and again not sure why has she has as no bad illnesses or any real trauma, I have also read here that some families have 2 or 3 people in the family with it . Take care, if you would like to lock your posts I’ve put a link as then only our community can see.

[Vivalaviv]

Its neurological not psychological. GP sounds like he's from 1950s You can get a fibro info pack sent to your surgery Its from one of the Fibro charities thats on facebook. My 19 yr old has just done it. Got sick of the 'growing pains "excuse so saw a rheumotologist & got a fibro diagnosis after tests to rule out other things like maybe lyme disease or arthritis

[Rai_Iwa]

Dear Gilly & Viv,

I suggest you go to the FMA website fmauk.org there you will find the information mentioned by Viv.

The have an excellent GP pack which should give him more insight into FM.

Personally I believe that my FM severity is governed 50/50 by both my emotional state and my physical health.

As for causative agents, no research has ever pointed at a definitive source but recent research shows physiological events such as viral infections are the ‘most likely’ agent.

The actual processes of FM are also elusive, but a massive increase in Substance P seems to be present in some FM patients, myself included. The action of this is that where mild pain might be felt by a non-FM person, the same pain neuro-signal is amplified.

in exemplis, for a non-FM person one molecule may be transmitting pain information, the same pain information in an FM patient may use three molecules. This causes a threefold (possibly pain the power of three) increase in pain perception.

This is why I describe FM as a magnifying disease for normal pain, something ordinary is suddenly magnified into an agonising pain.

Try the information pack, if your GP fails to see this as also a physical disease, change GP. Also antidepressants are an excellent treatment for FM, not because of depression (Though I am sure we would all agree FM is in itself very depressing to suffer from) but because they help combat some of the neurological imbalances caused by FM.

I know this as very long post, even for me, but pass all our love onto your grandchild your support will mean all the world. If any of the family need new information or just an ear to listen both this forum and the FMA one will always be there for them.

FM is not the end, just a different life,

Rai xxx