My name is Patricia J. (Boshears) Goleach, I prefer Patsy and I am the founder of Friends with Fibro as well as the treatment center. I have Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and an Anxiety and Panic Disorder. I am also Obsessive Compulsive and have Raynaud's Phenomenon. My mother has Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Together She and I fought our way to diagnosis and treatments.

Years later, I became a Physical Therapist Assistant and in the course of my duties I began to realize that I had skill and aptitude for understanding/ treating Fibromyalgia. I began doing things I knew to do because I had at one time done this for myself or my Mother. I have been sucessfully assisting in educating people for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue as well as Myofascial Syndrome since May of 2000.

Blessed that my skills and occupation allow me to provide Workshops held Monthly and Support Groups to raise Awareness and Education. There is always ongoing support meetings and we encourage you to involve a family member if possible. You are not alone. My personal mission is to provide hope so there is no helplessness and to change the perceptions labeled on us by those that do not believe or understand.

If you or someone you know would like a free consultation just to talk call 865-548-1086 and set up a visit to come into our office.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor. I am a fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome survivor. The purpose of this newsletter is not to diagnose or cure any disease or malady, but is presented as food for thought. This information cannot take the place of professional medical advice. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should come under the direction of a physician. No guarantees are made regarding any of the information in this newsletter.

CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, also called Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome) is a long-term disorder in which debilitating fatigue is usually the most prominent symptom. Fatigue is experienced as a deep exhaustion that can be brought on by low levels of activity or for no apparent reason. Other common symptoms include poor sleep, body pain and mental confusion (“brain fog”). Sleep is often experienced as unrefreshing. Patients often feel as tired when they get up as before going to bed. Body pain is often described as the feeling of being run over by a truck. Emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, irritability and grief, are common. The severity of CFIDS varies greatly. While many patients have moderate cases, some continue to lead relatively normal lives and others are housebound or even bedridden.

CFIDS often appears together with fibromyalgia. Something like two-thirds of people diagnosed with one illness also have the other. The two illnesses are alike in many ways. Their symptoms are very similar and both are hidden illnesses, meaning patients often appear normal to others. There is no physical marker for either illness. Although both are now widely acknowledged to be real, physical illnesses, neither has a known cause or cure.

Basic Facts about Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia, also known as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a common condition in which pain is usually the major symptom. The pain is generally felt all over the body, though it can start in one region and spread or move from one area to another. The disease does not damage tissue and is not progressive. Probably the second-most common symptom is poor sleep. Patients may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. In most cases, sleep is not experienced as restorative or refreshing. Another frequent symptom, reported by about three-quarters of patients, is fatigue of the type felt by people with CFIDS. Other common symptoms among fibromyalgia patients include headaches, strong emotions such as depression and anxiety, and cognitive difficulties (“fibro fog”). The latter include confusion, difficulty concentrating and poor memory. People with fibromyalgia often have one or more other medical conditions, including CFIDS, irritable bowel syndrome, thyroid problems, arthritis and myofascial pain.

As with CFIDS, the severity of fibromyalgia varies. Many patients continue to work, though a significant minority are disabled. Like CFIDS, fibromyalgia is a common illness. Estimates vary, but there are probably at least four to five million people in the United States with fibromyalgia, possibly many more. Perhaps as many as 90% are women. This can and does also happen to men.

Treatments

Like treatment of CFIDS, treatment for fibromyalgia focuses on controlling symptoms rather than cure. Approaches include medications, alternative treatments, self-help measures, and physical therapy. Medications are often used for improving sleep and controlling pain, though their effectiveness varies greatly from patient to patient. Medication regimes are usually developed through experimentation with different medications and dosages. Overall, medications are only “modestly helpful” according to medical caregivers and M.D.'s.

Exercise/stretching is commonly recommended, both for reducing pain and stiffness and for reversing deconditioning. And the lifestyle adjustment strategies mentioned for use with CFIDS are also appropriate for fibromyalgia patients. In the words of Dr. Daniel Wallace: “Patients can initiate numerous changes and make adjustments that improve their sense of well-being. Simply stated, there are things patients can do without spending money or seeing a health care provider.”

At Total Rehab Physical Therapy, we can guide you to self care, control, and management of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. We offer treatment for Insomnia, Migraines and many other symptoms that are absolutely drug free.

For a free consultation call 865-548-1086.