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Fibromyalgia Monthly Newsletter
Fibromyalgia Newsletter – January 2005
Brought to you by Jane Oelke, N.D.,Ph.D.
DoctorOelke@aol.com
Resolve now to have a healthier 2005!
I have read many Fibromyalgia books and talked to many Fibromyalgia sufferers who do not believe that the pain of Fibromyalgia can be reduced. I hope you DO NOT believe that. It is time to take action to change your pattern of pain so that you body can heal.
On Web MD in November it was reported from study at Northwestern University that “chronic back pain actually shrinks the brain by as much as 11%. Specifically, it shrinks the gray matter, which makes up the part of the brain responsible for memory and information processing.”
Fibromyalgia painful points are commonly found in the lower and especially upper back. This constant chronic back pain affects the nervous system, which then affects communication in the neurotransmitters of the brain. We will be looking at a specific neurotransmitter in this newsletter that affects the pain response. Overtime people with Fibromyalgia talk to me about symptoms of memory loss and difficulty thinking. This can be due to the affect the pain has on the central nervous system.
Are you deficient in GABA? You may be if you have chronic pain.
The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter is called GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid). It is used throughout the nervous system to reduce stress, anxiety, panic and pain. GABA helps you feel more calm focused and in control when you do not have a deficiency. When GABA is out of a balance your brain will not receive messages as regularly as it should this often causes the anxiety and feelings of dread that are common in people with a GABA deficiency.
Listed below are many symptoms that are related to a lack GABA in the nervous system. See how many symptoms you have to rate your potential level of GABA deficiency.
Some of the common GABA neurotransmitter physical deficiency symptoms are:
Abnormal sense of smell
Tremors
Allergies
Backache
Blurred vision
Carbohydrate cravings
Chest pain or discomfort
Chronic pain
Cold or clammy hands
Constipation
Dry mouth
Flushing
Headache
Insomnia
Lump in throat
Muscle loss
Muscle tension
Night sweats
Shortness of breath
Trembling, twitching, feeling shaky
The common mental / emotional symptoms related to a GABA deficiency are:
Anxiety
Depression
Feeling of guilt or hopelessness
Memory problems
Difficulty concentrating
Manic depression
Mood disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Phobias or fears
Rage
Restlessness
Short temper
Chronic Pain:
Quite of few people with fibromyalgia have a GABA deficiency. GABA deficiencies cause a surge of anxiety in the nervous system, which results in hypersensitivity to pain. Often the pain is chronic, and the immune system becomes so stressed that it becomes difficult to recover from any illness.
Supplements that restore GABA are 5-HTP, DL-phenylaline, Methionine, and fish oils. This is another reason why taking essential fatty acids from fish regularly is so important. It helps with chronic pain and also will help with brain function. I still recommend EPA-DHA Complex as my favorite Fish Oil Blend. By taking three softgels per day you get 3000mg of Fish Oil in a pharmaceutical grade quality, avoiding all of the toxins found in fish today. This helps with inflammation in the body, eventually helping to reduce pain, reduce cholesterol levels, improve your memory and thinking ability, and in this season improve dry skin.
When there are excessive stress problems then vitamin B6, zinc, and manganese are also required. This is why Fibroplex works so well for people with Fibromyalgia. It contains Magnesium and Malic Acid that help get more oxygen to the muscles but it also contains Vitamin B6 and manganese to help reduce the stress. Both the EPA-DHA Complex and the Fibroplex are available by registering as a “patient” at Dr. Jane's Meta E-Health Link
Certain foods help to restore GABA. They are:
Almonds
Banana
Broccoli
Brown rice
Halibut
Lentils
Oats, whole grain
Oranges
Potato
Spinach
Walnuts
Whole wheat, whole grain
To test to see if you have a GABA deficiency you can take 50mg of 5-HTP twice per day, away from any other protein rich foods, and see if your mood changes within a few days. It may make you sleepy, because it calms your nervous system, so be cautious not to take it just before driving.
Back Issues of Fibromyalgia Monthly Newsletters
Remember to read back issues of the monthly Fibromyalgia newsletters if you have more questions about Fibromyalgia. In the past issues I cover many topics including the Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Fibromyalgia, how to use homeopathic remedies for pain, and adrenal and thyroid involvement with fibromyalgia. Look in the Fibromyalgia Newsletter section of my website Natural Choices for Fibromyalgia to read back issues.
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