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Fibro research thoughts
Feb. 13th, 2008 08:45 pmBecause of recent events I have spent part of this evening researching fibro. Finding new things and having some ah ha! moments. Some of what I'm reading makes me wonder how long I've lived with this. I remember being taken to lots of doctors, being given lots of tests as a kid. Tests for thyroid function and RA. I was on anti-depressives for a while until they decided that wasn't my problem. (I think I told them that) I've had horrible headaches for as long as I can remember, I was even tested for migraines(I have a big brain). Sleep patterns have always been wonky.
One of the new things I have found is research suggesting that the sympathetic nervous system function is off. or rather, on too often. If that is true then I could easily see how the nutrition is such a huge aspect. If the sympathetic system is engaged the digestive system is suppressed. Lots of other things are suppressed too. Sleep would obviously be thrown off. TV actually stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Blech.
"In addition, many patients experience cognitive dysfunction (known as "brain fog" or "fibrofog"), which may be characterized by impaired concentration and short-term memory consolidation, impaired speed of performance, inability to multi-task, and cognitive overload." Wiki article on fibro.
I went to a workshop on stretching yesterday. It greatly improved my ROM and general body feeling. Today the muscles we stretched are really sore. They are still longer than they were b4 but they are clearly unhappy. Made me realize that I haven't yet come to a knowledge of self that I can push things. I was thinking, stretching, good for me! I should be able to see where I need to stop. Numb makes that hard apparently. Or the small amount of damage done to stretching muscles is enough to set off an over-reaction.
Touch is one sure-fire way to suppress the sympathetic nervous system. I think that is part of why I'm a touch whore. I know how much better I feel when I can be petted. Not just a, gosh that is nice, but actually *feel* better. And it lasts.
One of the new things I have found is research suggesting that the sympathetic nervous system function is off. or rather, on too often. If that is true then I could easily see how the nutrition is such a huge aspect. If the sympathetic system is engaged the digestive system is suppressed. Lots of other things are suppressed too. Sleep would obviously be thrown off. TV actually stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Blech.
"In addition, many patients experience cognitive dysfunction (known as "brain fog" or "fibrofog"), which may be characterized by impaired concentration and short-term memory consolidation, impaired speed of performance, inability to multi-task, and cognitive overload." Wiki article on fibro.
I went to a workshop on stretching yesterday. It greatly improved my ROM and general body feeling. Today the muscles we stretched are really sore. They are still longer than they were b4 but they are clearly unhappy. Made me realize that I haven't yet come to a knowledge of self that I can push things. I was thinking, stretching, good for me! I should be able to see where I need to stop. Numb makes that hard apparently. Or the small amount of damage done to stretching muscles is enough to set off an over-reaction.
Touch is one sure-fire way to suppress the sympathetic nervous system. I think that is part of why I'm a touch whore. I know how much better I feel when I can be petted. Not just a, gosh that is nice, but actually *feel* better. And it lasts.