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Living with Fibromyalgia

by Julie Wendell

“Mommy, open this, please?” my 3-year-old son asked as he handed me a cereal bar early one morning.

I tried to tear off the top of the wrapper, but my fingers would not move or grasp the wrapper!

Terrified, I tried opening it again, but to no avail.  I had lost all strength in both of my hands!   As calmly as I could, I asked my 7-year-old son to open the cereal bar for his brother.  But inside, I was panicking because the weakness in my hands persisted for about an hour.

What was happening to me?

Little did I know that the morning of February 10th, 2008 marked the beginning of a myriad of severely painful symptoms.  My life was about to drastically change.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I started to experience alarming new symptoms. In addition to the weakness in my hands, I noticed that the joints in my hands were very swollen and stiff. I even took pictures of my hands from all angles to make sure that their odd shape was not just my imagination. I would often feel sharp zinging pains in my extremities, especially in my hands, wrists, knees, and ankles. My muscles and joints ached like I had the flu. There were times when I would be convinced I had a temperature of at least 101, just to find out it was completely normal every time I checked.

My level of fatigue went from being a “full time single working mother” to feeling like a “full time single working mother who also ran 100 miles a day.” I was physically exhausted from dealing with so much pain every day.

To make matters worse, I started noticing that when I woke up each morning, I would not feel refreshed, even after a full straight 6-8 hours of sleep.  Instead, it felt like I only slept for one hour each night.  So not only was I physically exhausted, I was emotionally drained as well.  The overall level of exhaustion was indescribable, the worst I have ever experienced in my life!  But I was hoping that whatever was plaguing me would just stop on its own.

One afternoon in April 2008, after I got off work and picked up my kids, I couldn’t get home fast enough.  My body was overwhelmed with pain like I never felt before.  As soon as we walked through the door, I immediately headed for the couch, where I spent the next four days. I had to call my mom to help me take care of the kids.  In addition to my existing symptoms, I also suffered from oppressive chest pain, muscles/joints that felt bruised, extreme coldness in my arms and face, and TMJ-like jaw pain.   I also had the sensation that my aching spine and pelvis were going to slide out of my body.

I cried often, because I had no idea how to cope with these bizarre symptoms.

I tried heating packs, ice packs, Tylenol/Advil, but nothing even remotely helped me.

My temperature was still normal at 98.6.

My mom, who is a nurse, thought maybe I had a virus, but most of the symptoms did not even resemble any virus I had ever had in the past, plus I was not running a fever.  Even after the four worst days of feeling severely “sick,” most of my symptoms never fully disappeared.

At this point, I was at my wits’ end, so I finally decided to get some help.  So even though I was terrified of the possible outcomes, I made an appointment to see my primary care physician.

After reviewing my list of symptoms and seeing the pictures of my hands, he thought it was very likely that I had rheumatoid arthritis. He immediately referred me to a rheumatologist, who wanted to test me for not only rheumatoid arthritis, but also lupus, mononucleosis, and multiple sclerosis.

He ordered some x-rays of my hands and a lot of bloodwork.   He also prescribed a week’s worth of steroids to see if that would help.

My daily life started becoming a real chore for me.  Everything and anything I usually did without a problem was now unbearable or overwhelming.  The mornings and evenings were the worst times of day for my pain, fatigue, and weakness.  I tried to stay strong, especially for my children, but there were days where I felt like giving up on everything.

I tried talking to a few friends and family members about how I was feeling, but they would just say that I was complaining too much and/or accuse me of being a hypochondriac. I had never felt so alone in my life.

The results of the blood tests and x-rays came back the following week and were completely normal.  Also, the steroids ended up not helping me at all.  Based on these findings, the rheumotologist suggested that I may have fibromyalgia.  He prescribed an NSAID called mobic to help with my muscle/joint pain and an anti-convulsant/anti-neuropathy medication called gabapentin to help with my nerve pain.

The doctor said that diagnosing fibromyalgia was very tricky because there are no actual diagnostic tools. Instead, the diagnosis is made after everything else has been ruled out.  He also wanted to wait and see how the next few months went with the new medications before confirming the suspected diagnosis.

During the following months, both of the medications had made a difference to where my daily activities became more tolerable.  I still felt very fatigued, but my quality of sleep seemed to be more restorative (due to the gabapentin).  My muscle and joint pain were definitely persistent but they were on more manageable levels (due to the mobic).

When I went back to the doctor in August 2008, he reviewed all of my test results and evaluated me again, then officially diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints (definition by MedicineNet.com).

The treatment for fibromyalgia includes pain medication and exercise.  The doctor advised me to continue with the medications I was currently taking and to try doing light exercise when possible.  He also warned me that my medication combination was not always going to be perfect.  He said it may take a few tries with various medications before reaching optimal pain management, and what works for me now may not work for me in a few years.

I was completely devastated, knowing that I was going to live with unrelenting complicated pain and severe fatigue for the rest of my life.

Sometimes, in addition to medication and exercise, doctors recommend a gluten-free diet to help alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms.  Coincidentally, I had already been on a gluten-free diet for 4 years already, due to having an auto-immune digestive disorder called Celiac Disease.  Unfortunately, being on this diet did not stop me from having fibromyalgia nor had it eased its symptoms.  My doctor said that I’m one of the unlucky fibromyalgia patients who was not positively affected by a gluten free diet.  Sometimes I like to think that being gluten free has stopped my fibromyalgia symptoms from becoming uncontrollable.

A diagnosis of fibromyalgia carries a negative stigma in society because the symptoms are very vague and are not so clear-cut as other diseases/conditions.  I have actually heard people say that there is no such thing as fibromyalgia, or that the symptoms are fake and they are all in the person’s head.

It is also widely believed that people who have fibromyalgia just want attention and/or medication.  There are many doctors do not recognize fibromyalgia as an actual medical condition.  Therefore, people who do have fibromyalgia usually have to see numerous doctors before receiving a diagnosis.  Luckily for me, reaching a diagnosis for my symptoms only took 6 months and involved seeing only 2 doctors.  Some people suffer for years before finding an answer.

Since my diagnosis, additional symptoms have added themselves onto the original list, such as hypersensitivity to stimuli.  For example, if there is too much light or sound, I start feeling very overwhelmed and need to remove myself from the situation.

There are times where I cannot be touched, when even my clothes feel like too much overload on my skin and receiving a hug actually HURTS.

I also started becoming sensitive to the weather patterns, especially low pressure systems.  I jokingly call myself the “human barometer” because I seem to predict rain better than the weatherman!  During periods of damp or cold weather, my muscles and joints heavily protest, and in turn, the pain increases substantially.

I found that I have a low tolerance for any kind of exercise, it makes me feel worse rather than making me feel energetic and refreshed.

I have also developed difficulty with my short term memory and concentration (ie-”fibro-fog”), which has affected all aspects of my life, especially work.

Today, it remains difficult for me to deal with the pain and fatigue that I experience every day with fibromyalgia.  My doctor has changed my pain reliever from mobic to tramadol, which is a bit stronger, so my pain is at a tolerable level most of the time.  But I definitely have my share of bad days.

On a positive note, I have learned a few things from my experience with fibromyalgia.

I’ve learned not push myself to do more than I can handle, but I’m still learning that it’s okay to ask for help.

I have also learned to prioritize what is actually important and to just take things one day at a time.

Having fibromyalgia has made me realize it is so important not to take anything for granted.

After my diagnosis, my rheumatologist had pointed out to me that fibromyalgia is not a deadly or destructive disease, which is very fortunate.  However, living with chronic pain and fatigue is still a difficult challenge, no matter what the cause.

Yes, fibromyalgia is REAL.

My Fibromyalgia Story: Living with Fibromyalgia by Julie Wendell is a post from: Chronic Illness.org

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Making Your Bed May Be Bad for Your Health

If you are like so many who cope with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, you also cope with allergies. If you must also work to keep your allergies under control, chances are you’ve already taken precautions and other steps in your attempt to allergy-proof your bedroom. That might involve switching to organic cotton sheets, a germ-free humidifier, or an air purifier. According to a recent study, that may not be enough. It appears that something as simple as making your bed every day may be creating a bedroom environment that will worsen your allergy symptoms.

Dust mites love it when you crawl into your nice, warm bed. When you’re snuggled under the covers, you create the perfect humid environment under which those dust mites can thrive.

While you’re sleeping, the dust mites get down to work, hungrily munching on those tiny flecks of skin you shed. The dust mites then show their appreciation for your hospitality by producing allergens for you to inhale while you sleep. The perfect symbiotic relationship — at least from the dust mites’ perspectives. (Actually, a symbiotic relationship doesn’t have to be mutually beneficial, and this one would probably more accurately be described as “parasitism,” but dust mites that get all caught up in politically correct speech are often offended by that term.)

The dust mites love it even more when you hop out of bed in the morning and immediately make the bed. When you pull the sheets and covers up and around the mattress all nice and tight, you maintain that nice damp, dark environment they love so well. While you’re off doing whatever you do while you’re awake, the dust mites remain behind and continue to feast on any teeny tiny little skins chunks you’ve left for them.

On the other hand, dust mites don’t do well in what for them is a dry, desert-like surroundings. Dust mites curse the human-healthy state of an unmade bed. That’s right: Dust mites hate a slob!

An unmade bed with the sheets thrown back willy nilly exposes the bed to air, which in turn removes any moisture your body may have left behind. This causes entire herds of dust mites to dehydrate and die. In fact, that may not be your mother’s or drill instructor’s voice you hear in your ear, threatening you with day-long feelings of guilt if you don’t make your bed; it may be as many as one and a half million frantic voices of allergen-producing parasites. (Okay, although the number can be correct, that part about them each having a voice may be stretching it, but the rest of this article is based on a scientific study.)

Dust mite allergens can trigger asthma and cause other allergy-related problems. Millions are spent every year dealing with dust mite-induced medical problems. Therefore, reducing the number of those pesky critters in a bed is a healthful objective. A recent UK study monitored homes in the hope of determining how to do just that. This Kingston University study discovered that dust mites simply cannot survive in the dryer conditions of an unmade bed.

Sure, you could change and wash the sheets and blankets daily. You could even iron the sheets to get rid of any of the critters that didn’t give up the ghost in the dryer. But why bother? Now you can rise and shine without guilt — and without overexerting yourself by making the bed, secure in the knowledge that by leaving those sheets thrown back you’ll be depriving lots and lots of dust mites of their ability to use the little glands on the outside of their little bodies to extract the moisture they need to survive.

Finally! Some scientific “evidence” that lets us enjoy the benefits!

More information:

Untidy beds may keep us healthy

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Do Your Allergies a Favor: Do NOT Make Your Bed is a post from: Chronic Illness.org

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What causes CFS?

The exact cause of CFS is unknown. A distinct or direct cause has not been positively identified.

Some studies have shown that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may be caused by inflamed nervous system pathways, Mycoplasma bacterial infection, or viral illness (such as Epstein-Barr) complicated by an inadequate or dysfunctional immune response. For some, the condition can occur following an injury, infection preceding or following surgery (e.g., peritonitis), or other traumatic body events that weakens or adversely affects the immune system. Age, environment, genetic disposition, prior illness, or stress may also be factors. Like most autoimmune illnesses, CFS most commonly occurs in women, usually ages 30 to 50.

Symptoms of CFS

What are the symptoms of CFS?

Many of the symptoms of CFS are similar to those associated with the flu (muscle aches, headache, and fatigue).

However, unlike the flu, while with CFS these symptoms may ebb and flow, they never go away.

(Imagine dealing with flu symptoms on a daily basis and you know how someone with CFS feels on a good day.)

What are the primary symptoms of CFS?

Primary symptoms include:

• New onset fatigue or tiredness that lasts for at least 6 months and is not relieved by normal rest
• Full-body fatigue serious enough to restrict normal activity that develops from far less exertion than was possible before the illness

What other symptoms are sometimes present?

Additional symptoms include:

• Constant headaches, different those previous in pattern, quality, or severity
• Feeling unrefreshed after normally adequate sleep
• Forgetfulness, cognitive impairment including confusion or difficulty concentrating, or irritability
• Joint pain, often moving from joint to joint (migratory arthralgias), without joint swelling or redness
• Low-grade fever (101F or less)
• Lymph node tenderness and swelling in the neck or armpit
• Muscle aches (myalgias)
• Exercise intolerance: Muscle fatigue that lasts more than 24 hours after an amount of exercise that would normally be easily tolerated

• Muscle weakness, all over or multiple locations, not explained by any known disorder

• Sore throat, red but without drainage or pus

What is the difference between CFS and “chronic fatigue”?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ICD10-CM or WHO ICD-10 G93.3) has a different medical diagnostic code than idiopathic Chronic Fatigue (WHO F48.O).

There are different symptom requirements used to diagnose these different entities.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and chronic fatigue are sometimes incorrectly used as synonymous, when in actuality they are two entirely different diagnoses. Chronic fatigue is often a symptom of other conditions, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression, and so forth.

Patients can sometimes get relief from the chronic fatigue that accompanies other conditions. As the condition causing the chronic fatigue improves, the chronic fatigue lessens.

At present, there is no cure for (or complete relief from) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

CFS Tests

Everybody gets tired! How is the fatigue of CFS different?

The fatigue of CFS is all-encompassing. It involves not only the feeling of having gone without rest (even after getting a full night’s sleep, for those that fortunate; disrupted or irregular sleep patterns is often another side effect of CFS), the fatigue includes muscle weakness, cognitive impairment, and ongoing headaches of varying degrees.

Tests have shown that many CFS victims already start off with a lower-than-normal oxygen level in the brain, and exercise, instead of increasing it, actually makes it go lower. In addition, studies such as those noted in a 2004 article Muscle Metabolism with blood flow restriction in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the Journal of Applied Physiology have shown that blood flow to the muscles is also altered.

Melissa Kaplan describes this by saying that “the body reacts to even mild exercise, like a short walk, as if it has run a marathon on top of working an 80-hour week: extreme pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction…and it lasts for 36-48 hours.”

What are some of the tests for CFS?

Physical examination is usually conducted to confirm the fever, lymph node tenderness, lymph node swelling, or other symptoms, but often examination alone is not considered conclusive.

A health care provider can deduce a diagnosis of CFS only after ruling out all other known possible causes of fatigue, such as:

• Drug dependence
• Endocrine diseases (such as hypothyroidism)
• Infections
• Muscle or nerve diseases (such as multiple sclerosis)
• Other illnesses (such as heart, kidney, liver diseases)
• Other immune or autoimmune disorders
• Psychiatric or psychological illnesses, particularly depression (because the severe fatigue of CFS itself may bring about depression, a diagnosis of depression does not rule out CFS; however, fatigue related to depression alone must be ruled out in order for CFS to be diagnosed)
• Tumors

What symptoms must be present for a CFS diagnosis?

A diagnosis of CFS must include:

• Absence of other causes of chronic fatigue (excluding depression when other symptoms are present)
• At least 4 of the other symptoms listed
• Extreme, prolonged fatigue

There are no specific tests to confirm the diagnosis of CFS; however, a variety of tests are usually conducted in order to exclude other possible causes of the symptoms.

Note: In order to rule out muscle or nerve diseases and/or psychiatric or psychological illnesses, a complete neuro-psych exam may be a part of the diagnosis process.

Some typical findings on tests that, while not specific enough to diagnose CFS, are seen consistently in people who are eventually diagnosed with the disorder. These include:

• Brain MRI that shows evidence of swelling in the brain or destruction of some of the nerve cells (demyelination)
• Higher levels of specific CD4 T white blood cells compared to other types of white blood cells (e.g., CD8 T cells)
• Specific white blood cells (lymphocytes) containing active forms of EBV or HHV-6

What treatment is available for CFS?

At present, no treatment has been proven to be effective as a way to cure CFS. Rather than hope for a cure, the symptoms are treated instead. Many people with CFS experience depression and other psychological problems that may improve with treatment.

Some of the proposed treatments include:

• Antianxiety drugs to treat anxiety
• Antidepressant drugs to treat depression
• Antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir
• Drugs to fight “hidden” yeast infections, such as nystatin
• Medications to reduce pain, discomfort, and fever

Unfortunately, for many with CFS, medications can cause adverse reactions or side effects that are worse than the original symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

While patients with CFS are encouraged to maintain active social lives, and mild physical exercise may also be helpful, for many this isn’t possible.

What long-term effects should somebody with CFS expect? (In other words: What is the prognosis?)

The long-term outlook for patients with CFS is difficult to predict at the initial onset. Some patients have been reported to completely recover after six months to a year. Others may take longer for a complete recovery. Some never recover or return to pre-illness energy and wellness levels.

What are the complications of CFS?

CFS causes what might be considered lifestyle restrictions. For people for whom the fatigue is so severe or unpredictable that they are essentially disabled and homebound during much of the course of the illness, this leads to social isolation and an inability to maintain steady employment.

What should I do if I suspect I have CFS?

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you experience persistent, severe fatigue, with or without other symptoms of CFS. Remember: There are other serious disorders that can cause similar symptoms; those need to be excluded.

Note:

Canadian CFS Diagnostic Code

Because of the efforts of The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario, Dr. Alison Bested, and others, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) now has an official diagnostic code (OHIP Diagnostic Code 795) by the Ontario Medical Association as a Neurological Illness. According to information on the The National ME/FM Action Network, the association had hoped to get “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)” included in the diagnostic code definition, but they’re celebrating the success all the same.

Exercise While Sitting Down (with the help of the Bounce Back Chair)

Because the bounce back exercise chair increases the flow of lymphatic fluids throughout the body by as much as 10 times their normal rate, it helps the body remove toxins, strengthens the immune system, increases muscular strength, and improves blood circulation. Also sometimes referred to as the Bounce Back Fitness Chair, Bounce Back Exercise Chair, and Bounce-Back Chair.

Pictures of the Bounce Back Exercise Chair

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Putting Fatigue in Perspective: What Fatigue Really Is is a post from: Chronic Illness.org

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Insomnia Tips for Those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

by Ouida Stephens, RN

A good night’s sleep eludes many people and is a major problem for many Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and other chronic illness patients.

Lack of sleep severely depresses the immune system and leaves one impaired in daily functioning. The reasons for this inability to sleep well are varied and the same answer does not apply to everyone. There are some cautions that do apply to everyone and include combining too many products at the same time or getting up after a short nap and taking additional medications. In a groggy state, this can lead to a serious accidental overdose.

The following suggestions may be helpful for improving sleep. Use them if they seem reasonable or check with your doctor for additional help.

Set a time that you would like to go to sleep. Two hours before this set time do not listen to or read any news or engage in any conversations, phone calls or any other activity that might upset you. Listen to soft music, practice deep breathing, and prepare for sleep by taking a warm bath or sponging off. Some form of meditation, reading or having someone read aloud soothing poetry or other non stimulating material can help to calm one in preparation for sleep. Engage in NOTHING that is stimulating or controversial. One hour before your anticipated sleep time (guess at it, do not watch the clock) one of the following supplements might be helpful.

Inositol (one of the B-complex vitamins) is a good aid to sleep. Start with one capsule and increase if needed. Large doses of Inositol may be taken with no known side effects.

Magnesium Glycinate, a form of magnesium chelated to glycine, the smallest amino acid. This is a muscle relaxant and conducive to sleep. Take one or two capsules.

Valerian root is an herb with a long history of aiding sleep. Long term usage of valerian may lead to withdrawal symptoms if discontinued suddenly. If this herb is used, be sure to take periodic “time off” to lessen the likelihood of addiction.

Kava-Kava is another herb that has a calming effect and has been used successfully as an aid to sleep. Take periodic “time off” if this herb is used.

Melatonin is the primary hormone of the pineal gland and plays a major role in setting our internal clock in a sleep-wake cycle. It can help in addressing the sleep problem and is one of the simpler remedies to try. Assess whether you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep and decide if a fast-acting melatonin, a time released one or a combination is appropriate. Start with the lowest dose and increase one or both of them only after giving them a fair trial. Melatonin or any other sleep medication should be taken about thirty minutes after any of the above mentioned supplements.

Other suggestions that may be conducive to sleep:

• No lights, radios, clocks or appliances near you. Electro-magnetic fields can interfere with sleep.
• We do not fall asleep easily if our feet are cold. A warm hot water bottle or Cherry Pit Pak can be helpful. The Cherry Pit Pak can be heated in the Microwave and is available on-line. Try to wean yourself from the use of electric blankets.
• Cover your eyes with a dark soft eye cover. They are available in satin or other material at specialty stores. If you cannot find this item, make one from any soft dark material or even an old sock. Our bodies make natural melatonin in response to darkness and stop the manufacture of it in the presence of light.

Sweet Dreams!

Copyright © 2004-2010 Ouida Stephens, RN
All Rights Reserved
Used by permission

Ouida Stephens, RN has been working with CFIDS patients for 11 years (and her company Sun-Ray Supply is a source of supplements and equipment recommended by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Expert, Dr. Paul Cheney).

Interview of Dr. Paul Cheney on Co-Cure.org

Dr. Cheney’s Basic Treatment Plan

A Good Night’s Sleep is a post from: Chronic Illness.org

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Coping with back pain and getting a good night’s sleep is never easy. The difficulty is often compounded when you must deal with the migrating pains associated with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Arden Gifford, M.D. has found an inexpensive solution for easing his back pain and improving his sleeping habits: a LoungAir — a multipurpose twin mattress that can convert to a chair or lounger.

Dr. Gifford likes the convenience of the LoungAir. “It is excellent for travel purposes,” he says, in part because of its convenient carrying case with an easy-to-use drawstring and heavy-duty strap. In a way similar to how he uses his LoungAir at home, Dr. Gifford enjoys that comfort of home when he stays in a hotel room because he simply places the LoungAir on the floor “in a portion of the bedroom away from the bed.”

When asked why he places his LoungAir on the floor, Dr. Gifford said, “I use the floor [as a] back brace.” He said it’s a continuation of the self-therapy he recommends for patients with back pain in which he suggests that they “lean against a wall or lie on the floor with knees bent to remove the curve in the small of the back.” Dr. Gifford further insists that “there is nothing at all wrong with the floor. People before the 20th century slept on the floor all the time; many still do. The bed is a 17th century wealth concoction, [that resulted] from the same thinking as McDonald’s Hamburgers and other convenience and luxury items in life: They are nice to show, and may taste or feel good, but they are not good for you.”

Dr. M. J. Gimeno (The Stress and Phobia Center, Clearwater, FL) treats “a variety of patients — some with panic attacks, anxiety, chronic pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, depression, and other conditions.” He “recommends the Loungair … for patients who need to be in a comfortable position for meditation, musical meditation, and directed imagery.” He likes the LoungAir because “for patients with chronic pain, it relieves a lot of pressure.”

For his patients with Fibromyalgia, Dr. Gimeno recommends a program that includes a “Fibromyalgia diet and supplements such as Co-Q10, Alpha Lipoic, [and] Benfothiamine as well as daily relaxation [and] meditation.”

As for himself, Dr. Gimeno says, “I own a LoungAir that I use to practice my own meditation to the sound of Mozart, and as an extra bed/chair for visiting friends and relatives. I like the flexibility that this unique item provides. It is not an inflatable bed! It can be adjusted to different positions and is easily transported from one room to another. It provides relief by decreasing ‘weight pressure’ on those sensitive trigger points.”

Dr. Arden Gifford also says he recommends the LoungAir because it is “small, portable, convenient, flexible, and medically and orthopedically sound in helping people sleep well and combat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.”

Dr. Gifford also recommends the LoungAir for GERD reflux patients, in part because it is something they can take with them when they travel.

Overall, Dr. Gifford likes the LoungAir because it’s “simple to put away” and is comparable to alternative options that can “cost two the three times as much.”

When I mentioned my frustration that putting the LoungAir on my bed made it too high for me comfortably climb onto it, he said, “The use I put to the [LoungAir] bed it not to put it on the bed. I place it on the floor [for the] firm underlying support; the sagging of the support of the bed is one of the features of a bed that contributes to back pain.” He also said that “the conformity of the air support is better than water because it does not roll and make waves, but simply supports with no pressure, unlike all other forms of mattress products that I have used.”

According to Dr. Gifford, “about 80% of back pain can be resolved by bed rest, but you have to have the right type of bed; placing the [LoungAir] bed on the floor provides the support. He said that putting the LoungAir “on another mattress is self defeating,” adding that for those with Fibromyalgia and muscle spasms, placing the LoungAir on the floor “provides support for the spinal column with the needed bracing to reduce spasms.”

Both doctors enthusiastically recommend the LoungAir. When asked if he had anything more he’d like to say about the LoungAir, Dr. Gifford said, “I use this Loungair everyday, and everywhere I go. It is excellent for travel purposes. … This is not a temporary toy, or something to stow in the closet until guests come; this is a real and effective medical prosthesis for me in that I spend 1/3 of my life in it and it makes me quite comfortable.”

Dr. Gifford added that he chose the LoungAir because “other products were either too large, or only flat, or had various other cumbersome features. The easy of use is that you don’t have a big bulky product that you have to struggle with to get inflated. It is small, convenient, and easy to use.” As his final endorsement, Dr. Gifford said, “The fabric is soft and does not have the swimming pool air mattress feel that sticks to your skin and is hot and uncomfortable.”

Pictures of the LoungAir

In Search of a Better Sleep and Relief from Fibromyalgia and Back Pain: A Review of the LoungAir

Other related information:

Things to Help You Keep Better Sleep

Two Doctors Recommend the LoungAir for CFS, Fibromyalgia, and Back Pain Relief is a post from: Chronic Illness.org

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A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that disrupted circadian rhythms (sleep/wake cycles) probably also contributes to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

The study available at the Science Express website, which concluded that mice with a mutation in a gene called “Clock” eat significantly more and gain more weight, shows that disruptions to the circadian rhythms can result in the onset of metabolic syndrome.

The study done by Fred W. Turek, Ph.D., and Joseph Bass, M.D., Ph.D., of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois was also supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) — all components of the NIH at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of conditions shown to increase a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke. Metabolic syndrome is considered to exist in people who have at least 3 of the following risk factors: high blood pressure, high glucose (sugar) levels which can indicate risk for diabetes, high triglyceride levels, low levels of good cholesterol, and a large waist.

Additional information on metabolic syndrome and the study cited here can be found at:

Study Finds Possible Mechanism For Link Between Sleep Disturbances And Metabolic Syndrome

Original press release about the study from the NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome — Mayo Clinic

Metabolic Syndrome — Cleveland Clinic

Metabolic Syndrome Weight Loss Matters – Diabetes.org

NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Metabolic Syndrome: The Consequences of Disrupted Sleep is a post from: Chronic Illness.org

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