Fibromyalgia For Dummies
Author: Christine Adamec
The pain you suffer from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is not in your imagination. FMS is a real medical problem that can be as debilitating and demoralizing as it is mysterious. Fibromyalgia For Dummies, Second Edition, brings you the latest scientific findings on the symptoms and causes of this disease and guides you toward proven, practical steps you can take reduce or eliminate FMS-related pain.
This plain-English guide is fully updated with the latest fibromyalgia treatment options, and evaluations of new medications that have shown great promise in reducing pain. You'll discover how to spot an array of symptoms and their possible causes, work with your physician to develop a treatment plan, and manage your pain at home and in the office. You'll learn how to:
• Identify your FMS trigger points
• Cope with chronic pain and sleep problems
• Find medications that work for you
• Locate a physician who can really help you
• Make healing lifestyle changes
• Use hands-on therapies to alleviate pain
• Find effective over-the-counter and prescription medications
• Choose among alternative therapies and treatments
• Reduce the emotional distress caused by FMS
• Help a child with FMS
Featuring moving and inspiring stories from fellow FMS sufferers who share their stories and offer invaluable tips on working your way back to wellness, Fibromyalgia for Dummies, Second Edition offers serious and sensitive guidance to help you overcome FMS and start being yourself again.
Table of Contents:
Introduction | 1 | |
About This Book | 2 | |
Conventions Used in This Book | 2 | |
Foolish Assumptions | 3 | |
How This Book Is Organized | 3 | |
Icons Used in This Book | 5 | |
Where to Go from Here | 6 | |
Part I | Fibromyalgia Is the Real Deal: What It Is and Is Not | 7 |
Chapter 1 | Yes, Fibromyalgia Is Real | 9 |
Dumping Your Doubts about the Validity of FMS | 9 | |
Examining the Symptoms, Causes, and Pain Problems Associated with FMS | 10 | |
Considering Who Gets FMS | 12 | |
Looking at Related Medical Problems | 12 | |
Finding a Doctor Who's a "True Believer" in Fibromyalgia | 13 | |
Treating the Problem | 14 | |
Making Lifestyle Changes: Pulling Yourself into a Non-Fibro World | 14 | |
Coping with Fibromyalgia at Home and on the Job | 15 | |
Do You Have Fibromyalgia? A Self-test | 17 | |
Chapter 2 | Recognizing Key Symptoms of Fibromyalgia | 21 |
Describing Where It Hurts: Everywhere! | 22 | |
Feeling Extremely Fatigued | 24 | |
Facing Fibro Fog: Mental Malaise | 26 | |
Weathering Your Reactions to Weather | 27 | |
Dealing with Common Sleep Disorders | 28 | |
Experiencing Related Medical Problems | 28 | |
Chapter 3 | Understanding Possible Causes of Fibromyalgia | 37 |
What is for Certain About Fibromyalgia | 38 | |
Down But Not Out: Physical Trauma | 38 | |
Catching FMS | 42 | |
Regarding Gulf War Syndrome | 45 | |
Studying Chemical Imbalances | 47 | |
Examining Environmental Causes | 49 | |
Exploring Other Theories | 50 | |
Looking to the Future | 54 | |
Chapter 4 | Understanding Fibromyalgia Pain | 55 |
Grasping Pain and Why People Have to Have It | 56 | |
Regarding the Different Kind of Pain That's Fibromyalgia | 58 | |
Working with Your Doctor to Manage FMS Pain | 59 | |
Part II | Finding Out If You Have Fibromyalgia | 65 |
Chapter 5 | Who Gets Picked to Have Fibromyalgia? | 67 |
Looking at the Numbers: Who Has FMS? | 68 | |
Wondering Why Women Suffer More from FMS than Men | 68 | |
Considering How FMS Relates to Women's Ages | 69 | |
FMS and Men: It Isn't Just a Woman Thing | 71 | |
Chapter 6 | Identifying Diseases Often Confused with Fibromyalgia | 73 |
Understanding the Uncertainty | 74 | |
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | 75 | |
Myofascial Pain Syndrome | 78 | |
Arthritis | 81 | |
Thyroid Disease | 84 | |
The Other Suspects | 86 | |
Chapter 7 | Working with a Good Fibromyalgia Doc: You Need a True Believer | 91 |
Working with Your Primary Care Doctor | 92 | |
Looking Elsewhere for a Doctor: How to Know if It's Time | 94 | |
Considering Types of Specialists | 95 | |
Finding a Good Specialist (Or New Primary Care Doctor) | 97 | |
Interviewing Your Physician Candidate: What's Up, Doc? | 100 | |
Chapter 8 | Getting Physical: Your Initial Exam and Diagnosis | 103 |
Diving into Your Medical History: What the Doctor Should Ask You | 104 | |
Volunteering Info if the Doc Doesn't Ask You | 105 | |
Getting All Your Questions Out in the Open | 108 | |
Identifying the Tender Points of Fibromyalgia | 109 | |
Test-ifying About FMS | 111 | |
Part III | Getting to Wellness: How Fibromyalgia is Treated | 117 |
Chapter 9 | Medicating the Problem: Over-the-Counter Drugs May Help | 119 |
Examining the Nuts and Bolts of Guaifenesin | 120 | |
Relieving Pain with Painkillers | 126 | |
Warming up to Cold Remedies for FMS | 128 | |
Talking About Topical Remedies | 129 | |
Chapter 10 | Prescribing Health with Medications | 133 |
Relaxing Your FMS: Muscle Relaxants | 134 | |
Easing Pain with Painkillers | 135 | |
Reducing Inflammation: NSAIDs | 140 | |
Fighting FMS with Antidepressants | 141 | |
Other Prescribed Medicines for FMS | 143 | |
Opening Your Eyes to Info on Sleep Remedies | 146 | |
Thinking About Future Remedies | 147 | |
Chapter 11 | Using Hands-On Therapies | 149 |
Chilling Out! Icing the Pain | 149 | |
Heating Up the Problem: Heat Therapy | 151 | |
Massaging the Problem: Massage Therapy | 153 | |
An Electrifying Solution: TENS | 159 | |
Considering Chiropractors | 161 | |
Chapter 12 | Considering Alternative Remedies and Treatments | 163 |
Thinking Through Alternative Remedies | 164 | |
Fighting FMS Naturally with Herbs and Supplements | 165 | |
Pinning Down a Solution: Acupuncture | 168 | |
Beating FMS with Botox Injections | 171 | |
Taking On T'ai Chi | 174 | |
Repelling Magnet Therapy | 175 | |
Smelling Your Way to Health with Aromatherapy | 176 | |
Part IV | Lifestyle Changes: What You Can Do on Your Own | 177 |
Chapter 13 | Depressurizing Yourself: Controlling the Stress-Eyed Monster | 179 |
Knowing When You're Too Stressed | 180 | |
Chilling Out with Relaxation Therapy | 182 | |
Stress-busting with Biofeedback Therapy | 184 | |
Mesmerizing the Pain: Hypnotherapy | 186 | |
Meditating, Doing Yoga, and Praying | 189 | |
Chapter 14 | Sweet Dreams! Combating Sleep Disorders | 191 |
What is Sleep? | 192 | |
Understanding the Importance of Sleep Stages | 193 | |
Identifying Key Sleep Problems | 195 | |
Analyzing Your Sleep: A Self-test | 197 | |
Adjusting Your Lifestyle to Cope with the Problem | 199 | |
Slipping Into Slumber Using Medications and Other Remedies | 201 | |
Chapter 15 | Exercising, Losing Weight, and Avoiding Trigger Foods/Drinks | 205 |
Exercising to Relieve FMS Pain | 206 | |
Exploring Pain-Relieving Exercises | 207 | |
Losing Weight to Decrease Pain and Fatigue | 214 | |
Discovering Dietary Effects: Good Foods/Bad Foods | 218 | |
Chapter 16 | Coping with Emotions: Your Own | 221 |
Dealing with Depression | 222 | |
Determining If Your Problem Is Anxiety | 223 | |
Taking Your Emotional Temperature | 224 | |
Finding a Therapist | 226 | |
Treating Emotional Problems with Medication | 228 | |
Part V | Living and Working with Fibromyalgia | 231 |
Chapter 17 | Working with Fibromyalgia--Or Going on Disability | 233 |
Explaining Fibromyalgia to Your Boss and Coworkers: Should You? | 234 | |
Deciding Whether You Should Stay at Your Job | 236 | |
Getting Your Insurance Company to Pay for Treatment | 238 | |
Taking the Next Step If FMS Is Disabling | 241 | |
Finding an Attorney to Help You | 245 | |
Chapter 18 | Helping Loved Ones Deal with Your Fibromyalgia | 247 |
Understanding How Fibromyalgia Can Affect Your Relationships | 248 | |
Putting Yourself in the Right Frame of Mind | 249 | |
Opening Up for Some Honest Dialogue | 250 | |
Anticipating Difficulties | 251 | |
Knowing How to Respond to "Helpful" Comments | 252 | |
Helping Your Significant Other Cope | 253 | |
Explaining FMS to Your Kids | 255 | |
Joining a Support Group | 257 | |
Chapter 19 | Helping Someone You Care About Who's Hurting | 261 |
Understanding Without Feeling Their Pain | 262 | |
Coping with Your Own Emotions | 267 | |
Going to Support Meetings | 270 | |
Chapter 20 | Parenting a Child with Fibromyalgia | 271 |
Looking at Fibromyalgia Symptoms in Children | 272 | |
Accurately Diagnosing the Problem | 274 | |
Getting Help for Your Child with Fibromyalgia | 275 | |
Treating a Child with Fibromyalgia | 275 | |
Including Your Children Who Don't Have Fibromyalgia | 277 | |
Working with Your Child's Teacher | 277 | |
Dealing with Jeers from Peers | 280 | |
Part VI | The Part of Tens | 283 |
Chapter 21 | Ten Ways to Explain Fibromyalgia to Everyone (Even Your Doctor!) | 285 |
Chapter 22 | Ten Must-Dos for Everyone with Fibromyalgia | 289 |
Chapter 23 | Ten Ways to Beat the Effects of Brain Fog | 295 |
Chapter 24 | Ten Myths about Fibromyalgia | 299 |
Part VII | Appendixes | 303 |
Appendix A | Glossary | 305 |
Appendix B | Fibromyalgia Medications | 309 |
Appendix C | Resources and Support | 315 |
Index | 321 |
Books about: Quick Easy Dim Sum Appetizers and Light Meals or 30 Secrets of the Worlds Healthiest Cuisines
RAWvolution: Gourmet Living Cuisine
Author: Matt Amsden
Following a vegan, raw foods diet does not mean you have to give up your favorite delicacies or condemn yourself to a life of celery and carrot sticks. As renowned raw foods chef Matt Amsden reveals in this vibrant, inspiring book, raw cuisine represents the discovery and innovative use of luscious natural ingredients. From imaginative new dishes such as cactus salad, onion bread, and spirulina pie, to tantalizing variations on everything from pizza, tacos, and cookies, to the signature "Big Matt with Cheese," Amsden's mouthwatering recipes feature soups, sauces, salads, appetizers, entrees, and even desserts.
More than a cookbook, RAWvolution is the indispensable, all-inclusive guide to the many powerful benefits of raw food. Beginning with his personal account of "How I Went Raw," Amsden shares essential advice, information, and encouragement for adopting a raw foods lifestyle. His delectable recipes are organized by type, level of difficulty, and what equipment, if any, is necessary in their creation. Accessible to both beginners and experienced cooks, RAWvolution addresses everyone from vegetarians who want to take the next step in natural cuisine, to those who simply want to diversify and improve their everyday diet.
There has never been a more important time to incorporate raw foods into your lifestyle. Raw, vegan cuisine is making news daily, providing healthy and nutritious alternatives that are changing lives. Best of all, raw food can be delicious. There is no need to sacrifice flavor for bland and boring "health" food. Enliven your senses and taste buds instead with rich, living cuisine.
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