I’m a 23-year-old student from central Illinois. I grew up in a small town and led a perfectly ordinary life. But shortly after I turned 17, I was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It changed my life forever. I went from being a normal, healthy teenager to being in the hospital for 37 days and nights straight. It’s been seven years — and 16 surgeries — since my diagnosis. And since last November, I’ve lived with a permanent ostomy bag on my stomach. It’s been an adjustment over the…
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16 Conditions Commonly Mistaken for Multiple Sclerosis
Many disorders share symptoms with MS, sometimes complicating its, or their, diagnosis. By Becky Upham Medically Reviewed Getting a correct diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a challenge. In fact, a study published in May 2019 in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders suggested that nearly 1 in 5 people with other neurologic conditions are mistakenly diagnosed with MS. These errors in diagnosis likely result from the fact that there is no single test that can determine an MS diagnosis conclusively. Also, not everyone has all of the common symptoms of MS, such as numbness, tingling, pain, fatigue,…
Read MoreThe do’s and don’ts of wearing a bra for lactating mothers
Breastfeeding can change the size and texture of your breasts, so you need to change your bra as well. But do you really need to wear a bra? To wear a bra or not wear a bra during breastfeeding? Well, breastfeeding is an integral part of a baby’s development and the mother as well. It can change the size and texture of a woman’s breasts, and your old bra might not fit you anymore! You might want to go for a bra that is more comfortable to help you breastfeed…
Read More4 Conditions Linked to Migraine (and What to Do About Them)
By Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD Medically Reviewed by Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD According to the American Migraine Foundation, many illnesses are more likely to occur in people with migraine — including depression, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep disorders, and others — than can be explained by chance, suggesting these conditions are interrelated in some way. When it comes to chronic migraine, a report from the Headache & Migraine Policy Forum states that nearly 90 percent of people with chronic migraine have another chronic health condition. When you have more than one chronic condition, each must be…
Read MoreDo’s and Don’ts for Living With Fibromyalgia Pain
By Gina Roberts-Grey With fibromyalgia syndrome, just getting by each day often requires difficult choices. Read on for expert advice on managing fibromyalgia pain and fatigue while living life to the fullest… Life with fibromyalgia is full of ups and downs. One day you’re fine, able to handle everything on that mile-long to-do list. The next, you’re so tired you can’t get out of bed to feed the kids.But even with such uncertainty, you can take steps to avoid fibromyalgia pain. “If a woman with fibromyalgia spends too much time stressing about…
Read MoreFibromyalgia and Understanding Oxalate-Related Health Risks /How to MakeInformed Dietary Choices
You’ve probably heard of oxalates. Maybe you dismissed this as a possible contributor of symptoms because so many healthy foods contain oxalates, and it may be daunting to think of eliminating them. Oxalates are compounds that can cause havoc in the body because they can bind to minerals and cause depletion and many other problems. Oxalates are not just possible culprits in the formation of stones in the body, but they can also contribute to other health problems or pain if a person is sensitive to them. More on that in…
Read MoreHow Common is Clavicleor Shoulder Pain in Fibromyalgia?
Clavicle or shoulder pain in fibromyalgia is like any other symptom in that it can easily wax and wane, but might be more common than you think. With a recent shoulder injury (and labral tear) myself, I have seen even more clearly the process of shoulder injuries, stiffness, and how fibromyalgia symptoms can “interplay” with common shoulder/ clavicle injuries or tears. One thing I do in working with fibromyalgia, is to convey the importance of the “process”The shoulder is a great example. I know how great the pain can be,…
Read MoreFibromyalgia Symptoms List
This list reveals PRIMARY symptoms >>>>>> with secondary symptoms within each direct link…. The fibromyalgia symptoms list that we present on this page is an addition to the main Fibromyalgia Symptoms page (our unique perspective on dealing with various fibromyalgia symptoms using our protocol) Why do you NEED an accurate SYMPTOMS LIST? Well, because there are too many generic inaccurate fibromyalgia symptoms list out there that just state a lot of symptoms, without regard to PRIMARY and SECONDARY, and without regard to the possibility of missing other conditions. Please know that it is IMPERATIVE…
Read MoreWhat is Fibromyalgia?(and What It Is Not)
First, it is important to know that fibromyalgia is characterized by wide-spread muscle pain and specific tender areas of the body. However, it doesn’t stop there, because fibromyalgia affects multiple systems of the body, including the nervous system, endocrine system, and the immune system. The brain and GI tract are often involved as well. One of the hallmarks of fibromyalgia is a dysfunction in the Central Nervous System. This dysfunction can cause a fibro body to react to things like lights, sounds, toxins, odors, and more. This can cause a…
Read MoreFibromyalgia Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain and fibromyalgia Being the most mobile joint in the body, the shoulder can sure do a lot of things for us, like lifting, reaching, and supporting our good posture. The problem is that with all of that mobility, and wear over time, we can end up having fibromyalgia shoulder pain that can radiate, burn, extend up and down the arm, and cause resulting weakness. Have you noticed that when your fibromyalgia shoulder pain is flaring, you might have problems with reaching, writing, typing, texting, using your mouse, or…
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