Fibromyalgia.Today

Fibromyalgia is to be recognised by health professionals in Northern Ireland as a long-term condition. People who suffer from it complain of aches all over the body, as well as profound fatigue. Other symptoms include headaches, sleep deprivation and difficulty concentrating. Despite the severity of symptoms, people living with the condition in NI have said their voices have gone unheard and their symptoms ignored. Chronic aches After being inundated with complaints, the Patient and Client Council in Northern Ireland three years ago pressed the case for fibromyalgia to be recognised as a long-term condition. Having interviewed sufferers and lobbied politicians and health professionals, dedicated services are to be established across the health trusts. Image caption Martina Marks said she has had to live with pain for the last 10 years Martina Marks, who lives in County Down, said it was a relief to be taken seriously. "I have lived with the pain since 19...

Lady Gaga's  announcement on Twitter that she suffers  from fibromyalgia was met with an abundance of well wishes, but more moving were the empathetic responses from others coping with the condition. Not only did fans feel for the "Born This Way" star, they could relate — many gushed with gratitude that Lady Gaga stepped up to raise awareness for a disease that is all too often misunderstood, misdiagnosed or just missed altogether. "Very often fibromyalgia patients go from doctor to doctor searching for an answer," says  Dr.  Elizabeth Volkmann, assistant professor of medicine in the division of Rheumatology at UCLA . "Doctors will look for lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and when they don't find either, they'll stop there." Fibromyalgia doesn't lend itself to a strict definition or diagnosis. Essentially, “it’s a disorder characterized by widespread muscular pain, often accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue,” ...

"Me vs. Fibromyalgia" is an in-depth, one-of-a-kind series designed to give readers and warriors affected by Fibromyalgia a comprehensive look into the facts of the disease and the story of a woman who wouldn't take no for an answer. I've chronicled eight years of experience with Fibro including chronic pain, low energy, doctors, relationships and more, and hope to offer answers and support to those who seek them. It is because of my incredible support system that I am able to live life with Fibromyalgia and still have all of my goals met and dreams come true. I'm able to share my journey and therefore, the burdens of Fibro. One of my most beloved supporters, my sister, Priya, has created a compassionate list of tips that I hope will make it easier for my fellow Warriors to ask for what you need from your support system, or give you ideas for how you can support your Fibro Warrior. 4 Relationship Saving Tips for Loved Ones of Chronic Pain Sufferers M...

What most people don't know about my "normal life" is that every second of every day is spent managing and coping with my chronic pain that will never go away. "Me vs. Fibromyalgia" is an in-depth, one-of-a-kind series designed to give readers and warriors affected by Fibromyalgia a comprehensive look into the facts of the disease and the story of a woman who wouldn't take no for an answer. I've chronicled eight years of experience with Fibro including chronic pain, low energy, doctors, relationships and more, and hope to offer answers and support to those who seek them. Over 5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Five million! That's about 1 in 50 Americans, and between 80 and 90 percent of those are  women . This is my story of living with this crazy and complicated condition and the purpose of my series is to educate and assist those who suffer every minute of every day and are still expected to live a ...

Lady Gaga has revealed she has fibromyalgia, a long-term condition which can cause pain all over the body. The singer made the announcement on Twitter where she also said the illness features in her latest documentary. "I wish to help raise awareness and connect people who have it. We can all share what helps/hurts," she tweeted. Lady Gaga first spoke about living with chronic pain in 2013 but this is the first time she's revealed the cause. The 31-year-old musician appeared at Toronto Film Festival showcasing the documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two. The film, already out in the US, is due for release in the UK on Netflix on 22 September and will also give fans a behind-the-scenes look at her music career. Gaga's tweet has led to others sharing their stories. According to the NHS, those with fibromyalgia may also experience muscle stiffness and difficulty sleeping. They may also have problems with their memory and concentration. Image ca Alt...

With the recent approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a human clinical trial is set to begin on BCG, a vaccine typically used to prevent tuberculosis, to treat  fibromyalgia . BCG, or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, has been used since 1921 as a TB vaccine in countries with a high prevalence of TB. One particular type, or “species,” of BCG is also used to treat  bladder cancer . Some studies have shown promise in BCG’s ability to potentially  treat type 1  diabetes and  multiple sclerosis  by  enhancing the immune system’s  ability to fight its own diseased cells — a process known as immunotherapy. The trial is funded by EpicGenetics, a biomedical company that also manufactures a blood test for fibromyalgia called the FM/a Test.  Research by  physician and EpicGenetics CEO Bruce Gillis suggests that fibromyalgia is an immune system disorder that causes patients to have abnormal white blood cells that p...