A Book about Fibro!

PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 13, 2009 – The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle

“Perhaps the most sensible book on fibromyalgia ever written” according to Frederick Wolfe, M.D., Master, American College of Rheumatology and lead author of The American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia.

This is the book that changes everything for patients, healthcare providers, and everyone with an interest in truly understanding the cause of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain.

In The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle, author Jeff Sarkozi, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.C.R. provides the revolutionary insight and understanding that redefines the landscape of fibromyalgia knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment by exposing the fallacy of pain from nowhere, revealing the failure of the fibromyalgia diagnosis, elucidating the true cause of fibromyalgia pain, and offering real treatment for what’s really going on.

The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle is the most ground-breaking and transformational book ever written on fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain. It does what no other book or publication has ever been capable of doing. Through original, cutting edge clinical research results and evidence-based analysis, it actually identifies the cause of pain in fibromyalgia, the mechanism by which it evolves, how it is modulated, and how to effectively treat it.

This compelling, scholarly, yet immensely accessible new knowledge demystifies fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and makes everything that is unknown about the relationships between pain, tenderness, disability, sleep, weight related issues, psychological and psychosocial disturbances, and sexual difficulties clear and understandable.

Written for patients and healthcare providers, The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle will transform the lives of individuals afflicted with fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain. Its enlightening blend of traditional and complementary therapies guides and empowers patients and their healthcare providers with the most unique, integrated, and thoroughly effective self-managed wellness recovery program ever published. It provides the substrate of truly justified hope and faith in the ability of individuals to transcend the suffering of fibromyalgia to make positive changes in their health and overall well-being.

Jeff Sarkozi, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.C.R., is a rheumatologist expert specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain for thousands of patients over more than two decades. Dr. Sarkozi has researched, developed, and patented numerous unique orthotic devices and created original, innovative treatment programs to relieve symptoms and improve function in patients with fibromyalgia, chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, and other arthritic conditions. He currently directs the Fibromyalgia Polypain Arthritis Center in Orange County, California.

Ordering Information: Web Store: http://www.missingpiecesfibromyalgia.com. Telephone: 714-973-0106. Fax: 714-973-0129. Mail: Sagecoast Publishing, 801 North Tustin Avenue, Suite 503, Santa Ana, California, 92705. Softcover ISBN: 978-0-9819223-3-1, $29.95. To contact Jeff Sarkozi, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.C.R. for interviews, speaking, or lectures use contact information accompanying this press release or visit http://www.fmpolypain.com.

Western Medicine is Behind!

Dr. Oz and Oprah have joined the conversation on fibromyalgia! Dr. Oz's concluding remarks in the article are here:

"Because Western medicine was slow to accept fibromyalgia, it is behind in its work; this is an area where patients will want to take a serious look at alternative approaches. Energy-based medicine could offer some important advances in treatment over the next decade, but since it has yet to be tested by independent research, I think it's premature to base your therapy solely on this approach. I'm more impressed by Teitelbaum's supplement regimen, and not only because he has tested his theories: I've put patients on this program with very good results. I would add counseling, as it should always be a part of fibromyalgia treatment. If after a couple of months you don't see improvement, talk to your doctor about drug therapy."

We are not alone in this fight!

Thank you to Oprah and Dr. Oz!

Tired

I am tired of the reality of fibro, and I don't even have it.

I am tired of the added burden and strain to what is already a stressful, difficult life.

I am tired of the lack of understanding and acceptance by those who haven't taken the time to do their homework and learn about this real disease.

I am tired of people looking at me when I talk about my teenage daughter's fibro as if I am making excuses for someone who is simply experiencing the trials of the teenage years.

I am tired of their condescending nods while their minds are somewhere else.

I am tired of worrying that doctors are not treating fibro as they should, because even they don't get it.

I am tired of it all. And that is why I am blogging. And that is why I am reaching out. And that is why we need your help to get TeenFibro off the ground.

And my tired is nothing at all compared to the "tired" felt by someone with fibromyalgia. I can rant and feel a bit better. They can rant all they want and the fatigue and pain will still be there.

Thank you for all you do to help bring fibro to the forefront of research and treatment efforts.

Together we can beat this. No matter how tired you are or I am.

Laughing, when it's No Laughing Matter

Once again Adrienne Dellwo has a timely fibro article at About.com, this particular article is about the importance of keeping your sense of humor through it all.

And you thought nothing could be harder than fibro. Now we expect you to laugh too? Uhmm, yep, we do. We hope you will laugh.

Laughter is known to have wonderful health benefits, and more than physical health it can help your mental and emotional health as well. Even with illness and pain pounding down our door and moving in, the importance of being able to see humor in life can't be underestimated.

I can't pretend to know what you are experiencing when that overwhelming feeling of fatigue and pain and fog descends, but I know without a doubt that finding something to chuckle about - even if it's yourself - will help to lift the weight of your reality.

Laugh and laugh hard. Look for humor in the hardest moments. Remember that you are human and imperfect and that's OK, laugh at yourself when you can.

Life isn't all comedy, that's for certain, tragedy is definitely part of it. But the way we can get through tragedy is with humor, light-hearted, respectful, brain-clearing humor.

So, although the popular song is "I Hope You Dance"....I would change it a bit.

I hope you laugh. And laugh more. And laugh again. And keep laughing, even when it hurts.

Laugh, even when it's no laughing matter.

Things That Go Bump In The Night

We have all heard the phrase..."things that go bump in the night." Weird things, strange things, spooky things...things that make you scream and moan. Frightening, but imagined things.

Fibromyalgia has its own weird and sometimes frightening things that make patients of the disease moan, but these things are not imagined. These are painful and real things.

Fibromyalgia can be caused and aggravated by a lot of "things that go bump in the night (and day)." Anything that startles you, sudden jolts to your body, loud noises, and bright or flashing lights are just a few strange things that can "bump" you from a relative comfort into instant pain.

For me, I can only equate this kind of cause and reaction to when I was in labor. Every ounce of my focus and concentration and energy was zeroed in on the labor pains I was enduring. For a fibro patient, it isn't too far from reality to say that every bit of their energy, focus and concentration is often zeroed in on the aches and pains they are experiencing as a result of their fibromyalgia.

In both of these cases, in labor and with fibro, a sudden ANYthing is a jolt of some type, and not a welcome diversion. Loud noises, jostling of your bed or chair or car, bright lights, flashing signals, startling sounds - all of these things can actually be fibromyalgia-pain triggers; one reason could be because they take the person's focus away from the conscious and subconscious onging effort to manage their existing pain.

Research indicates that a likely cause of fibromyalgia is some type of trauma to the patient which can typically be traced to the onset of their fibro symptoms. Likewise, aggravated symptoms can be linked to aggravating occurrences - loud noise/abdominal pain, etc.

Things that go bump in the night: imagined for most, but very real for fibro patients.

So watch those corners, dim the lights and turn the music down a bit; and maybe even say a little prayer:

For goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night (and things that cause pain in our friends)
Good Lord, deliver us! (The Cornish and West Country Litany, 1926)

Yes, I can do that.

Giving yourself permission is a key factor in living a full, non-guilty stress free life with fibromyalgia. Once again Adrian Dellwo shares timely insights in her column on About.com through comments made by others who also have fibro.

I have watched my daughter struggle to keep up, not because she doesn't have the will, or the energy, or the capacity, but because she has the limitations of fibromyalgia. We recently discussed the need for her to think ahead and manage her time and energy wisely. She can do anything she wants, she just can't do it all at once like some others can.

Giving yourself permission is not just about say yes, it's also about saying no. YES, I would love to do that, but NO, I can't do it today. No, I can't walk for three hours, but yes I would love to meet you 1/2 way and walk back. Yes, I can help with the fundraiser, but no I won't be able to stay all day.

You get the idea.

Life with fibromyalgia is about your choices, your decisions, your self-imposed parameters. Don't ever hesitate to take charge and tell yourself no, or even better, yes!

Not Too Tired to Write a Letter

I was watching the commercials on TV this evening and became rather irritated by the insinuation that anyone who is feeling a tired should ask their doctor if they have fibromyalgia. Really?!??

The commercial I watched is not the kind of publicity we need, in fact, it's the opposite of what we need. The commentary used is exactly what makes people doubt the reality of fibro. This misleading information encourages an awareness that we don't want, one that is not based on the reality of fibromyalgia.

I get tired every darn day, but I don't have fibromyalgia nor should I ask my doctor if I do. And my "tired" does not even begin to compare to my daughter's tired.

We have to be real about this. Tired does not equal fibro. Tired people probably don't need fibro meds. Correct diagnosis and best practices are critical, and appropriate prescriptive medicines are key.

Let's hope that the pharmaceutical companies who are profiting from the new medications being marketed for fibromyalgia patients will be more responsible in the future with their advertising campaigns. I appreciate what they are doing in their R&D departments, just as I appreciate that they need to make a profit, but they still need to keep their advertising honest because when they don't it hurts our efforts to increase awareness of the reality of fibromyalgia.

In the meantime, while we're hoping for truth in advertising, I am going to write a letter to the maker of Lyrica, maybe you should too (oh yeah, it was their ad). They are making a huge contribution to the relief and control of symptoms and pain related to fibro, but we still need to demand forthrightness and honesty in promotion of their product because that is what will help our cause globally and for years to come.