Neurotoxins-A cause of CFIDS/FM?

There is evidence that a subset of CFIDS and FM patients are suffering from chronic neurotoxin exposure. Research by K. Hudnell and R. Shomaker has shown that different infections can produce neurotoxins, resulting in symptoms that can not be differentiated from CFIDS/FM or be the cause of these syndromes. Symptoms include poor memory, fatigue, headache, rash, burning skin, eye irritation cough, light sensitivity, muscle aches, diarrhea, poor concentration, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and/or dizziness. Neurotoxin production has been clearly demonstrated to be the result of Estuary-Associated Syndrome as discussed in the attached article, but numerous bacteria, viruses and yeast can also produce neurotoxins. These include Epstein bar virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), HHV6, Borrelia burgdorferi (lyme's disease), mycoplasma, enteroviruses, Chlamydia pneumonia, Candida and other molds. Read more...

Duloxetine May Be Effective for Treatment of Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Duloxetine, a drug being studied for treatment of depression, appears to be an effective and safe treatment for symptoms of fibromyalgia in patients with or without major depressive disorder (MDD), especially women, researchers said here on March 4th at the American Academy of Pain Medicine 20th Annual Meeting.
"We found that duloxetine has a direct effect on pain, which is not merely associated with treatment for depression," said Madelaine Wohlreich, MD, Clinical Research Physician, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States. "Depression is very frequently accompanied by painful symptoms and by showing that we can affect painful symptoms with or without depression. It adds credibility to the fact that this drug might in fact offer something to depressed patients in particular." Read more...

Preparation is the key to helping the physician help you

First and foremost, you have a complex condition that requires the expertise of a specialist that focuses on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia treatments and therapies. The doctor you choose should be up to date on the latest research, testing and treatment methodologies. The "experts" are not necessarily a particular subspecialty; it is more important that they actively focus their practices on these two complex conditions. Additionally, don't expect your FMS/CFS doctor to be your family doctor. It is important that you consult your primary care physician at all times for your immediate medical care. Many symptoms of CFS and/or FM are very similar or the same as very serious conditions. Your primary care physician is the best qualified to diagnose and order the appropriate testing to be sure you are not suffering from a life-threatening condition.
That being said, there are activities that you can do that will make your relationship with your FM/CFS doctor more productive: read more...

Fatigued? Depressed? Trouble losing weight? .It may be your hormones.

The endocrine system is devised of glands that produce and send hormones to all areas of our body to regulate the essential functions of our body like temperature, reproduction, growth, immunity, and aging. It stands to reason that this should be the hub of vitality, longevity and well-being. Many individuals are getting remarkable results from having their hormones optimized by medical doctors specializing in the newest medial specialty, anti-aging medicine. These doctors specialize in doing thorough hormonal testing in order to bring the hormones into optimal ranges.

Many people are finding that common problems of fatigue, depression and difficulty losing weight can be completely reversed by these hormone specialists. Individuals often suffer for years being told that there thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and adrenals are fine, but these doctors are finding that these levels are actually low and need to be supplemented, often with remarkable results. Standard blood tests only pick up the sickest 2.5% of the population. Read more...

Every FMS/CFS patient should know both their NKC number and activity.

I have found that over half of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients have low natural killer cell numbers or activity. The function of the natural killer cells (NKC) is to kill viruses, intracellular bacteria and cancer. They roam throughout the body in search of infected or cancerous cells to destroy. If the natural killer cells are low in number (NKC number) or poorly functioning (NKC activity), there is a diminished ability to kill cancer cells in the body, resulting in an increased risk for all types of cancer.

Just as every heart patient should know their cholesterol numbers, every fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patient should know both their NKC number and activity. There are a number of specific treatments that can be done to dramatically improve natural killer cell number and activity, with resultant increased ability to rid the body of the infectious components and to reverse the increased risk for cancer.
~Kent Holtorf MD, Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, Inc

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and CFIDS/Fibromyalgia  

Recent studies demonstrate the majority of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia patients suffer from bowel dysfunction, with the majority being irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS can be significantly debilitating problem in its own right with CFIDS and Fibromyalgia. It is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation and the absence of any identifiable physical, laboratory or radiological abnormalities indicative of organic disease. Read more...