The Relationship Between Fibromyalgia And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Although fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are two completely unrelated diseases, you will often see them mentioned together, because they both have the same symptom of making the patient so fatigued all the time that a normal lifestyle is all but impossible. People with either condition complain of being so tired all day every day that they aren't able to participate in all of the activities they would like to be a part of. Insomnia can make the pain of fibromyalgia even greater while compromising a person's immune system. No matter what the reason for the lack of restful sleep, patients feel exhausted and unable to perform as they'd like.
If you've ever experienced a sleepless night, you already know how lousy you feel the next day. You will probably be listless, unable to concentrate, and struggle with both mental and physical tasks. Most people can make up for the lost sleep in only a few nights of sound, restorative sleep. However, for those with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it isn't as simple as one night of lost sleep. It can mean weeks and months of sleepless nights that take their toll on the bodies of those with the sleep deficiencies. These patients have to find ways to get the restful sleep they need, and that's where the treatment for both conditions merges into one.
You can't just assume you have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue because you feel tired and lack energy. First, your doctor will need to rule out some other possibilities, such as thyroid problems, sleep apnea, and anemia, because these also result in the same symptoms and are treated different ways. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose either chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia except by the elimination of other conditions that could be causing the problems, and this is an approach most doctors will take. Once you've been tested, and no other disease has been found, only then will your doctor entertain the idea of FM or CFS.
Even when one or both of these illnesses have been diagnosed, there are no magical cures. Another aspect of the conditions which is similar is that both need to be treated by making changes in your lifestyle. You may find that you have to give up alcohol, caffeine, and smoking completely in order to start seeing any results. You will need to limit outside stimuli that can keep you awake which means getting rid of noise and light as well as distractions like pets. You need to buy a bed or a bed topper that will provide you with the ultimate comfort and keep your bedroom temperature at a comfortable level. You also need to eat a healthful diet of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Other lifestyle changes that can help include some time to wind down peacefully prior to going to bed, such as time spent in reading or listening to soothing music. If you find that after you go to bed you are just lying there worrying instead of sleeping, get back up and take the time to relax before trying to sleep again. Relaxation exercises are ideal. Visualization, meditation, and other techniques to relax mind and body will be helpful. In addition, no matter how tired you may feel during the day, don't allow yourself to get into the habit of napping. Naps can throw off your body rhythm and make it much more difficult to sleep soundly at night.
As you can see, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia can both be debilitating conditions unless you're willing to take the necessary steps in order to alleviate the insomnia. Stress is one of the biggest culprits in a condition like this, so striving to eliminate as much stress from your life as possible will have a great impact on the way you feel.
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