My latest book review column is available! Understanding Women with AD/HD was a fascinating read, and I had a very specific reason for choosing it. I like browsing books on Amazon, because many of them allow you to preview the table of contents and some of the other stuff; and when I previewed this one I noticed a chapter on fibromyalgia included in the section on associated disorders.
Since I’ve struggled with fibromyalgia for the past 15 years or so, that really caught my attention, especially since the reading I’ve been doing on AD/HD makes me suspect that my bipolar diagnosis may not be accurate . . . My symptoms (and history) seem to fit much better with an AD/HD diagnosis, so I’ve been trying some of the strategies in the books to see if they help. (I figure whether or not I have it, if the strategies help me, it’s a good thing.)
So anyway, back to the connection between AD/HD and fibromyalgia. The chapter on fibro provides an excellent explanation of how stress and fibromyalgia are interconnected; including explanations of how the limbic system and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis work, how they’re affected by stress, and how that ties into fibromyalgia (dysfunction of the HPA axis is suspected to play a large part in fibromyalgia.)
Once this background material has been covered, the authors move on to various stressors specific to women, followed by a section on stressors specific to AD/HD, and concluding with an explanation of the path from stress (via AD/HD) to FMS. The chapter ends with:
“While we still have much to learn about both AD/HD and FMS, it’s becoming increasingly clear that these disorders are related and that effective treatment of either requires aggressive treatment of both.”
Although this “feels” right to me, I think it’s going to take more research before it’s generally accepted by the medical community. Just because something makes sense or feels right to individual patients doesn’t necessarily mean that the science will support it in the long term.
Get the book:
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If I had the $ to buy a book, I’d probably buy this just for that one chapter! I did research into the endocrine system and the effects of stress AND toxins/bio-accumulative toxins on it, 6 or 7 years ago.
What I learned convinced me to go organic as much as possible, and to make stress reduction techniques a part of my daily life.
This is where I also first learned of the adrenals and the symptoms of adrenal exhaustion, which had been downplayed and dismissed by my doctor, at the time, as ‘probably’ being part of my fibro.
I do believe, strongly, that there is a connection between the above. I’ve never been diagnosed with ADHD but I’ve wondered…
Cynthia – I’ve been working on the same stuff, and would LOVE to be able to go all organic, but like you, I can only manage the “as much as possible.” If you do a Google search on “fibromyalgia + adhd” there seems to be a good bit of info available, but the book has the best, most thorough explanation I’ve found. I never really thought about the ADD thing in connection to my own life until hubby decided to start seeing a therapist, then started reading books about it. I started reading them too, so I could help him without doing anything to make things harder for him, and found myself in there . . . It was weird, they kept saying “this” is something that people with ADD have problems with, and it would be something I’ve fought with all my life, or one of the case studies would say something, and it would be me . . . My whole family always said I’d lose my head if it wasn’t fastened on, and damn if I didn’t find that exact phrase in the book. (Another thing I’ve always been told is that I’ll be late for my own funeral. I don’t think I’ve ever been on time for anything in my life. I can be ready to leave an hour ahead of time, and STILL manage to be late because I get distracted and lose track of the time.) That first book (Delivered from Distraction, by Hallowell and Ratey) is the reason I bought this one.
Yep I’ve always suspected I have AD/HD or at least ADD..one day this week it took my three tries before I retrieved something from one of the bedrooms; the first two times I got distracted..shiny object anyone? And I have Fibro.
LOL – I do that constantly, always have . . . I’ll be doing something, and all of a sudden… SQUIRREL!!! Hubby and I have a running joke about it, and every time either of us gets “lost” like that, the other one yells “squirrel” (sometimes both of us at the same time.) Life is interesting, sometimes too much so . . .
The problem with the theory of stress and fibromyalgia is that many patients are not depressed, anxious or stressed yet they still have cognitive issues.
A more likely answer, and one supported by research, is that many fibromyalgia patients have abnormal qEEGs – quite similar to some ADD patients – where there is an increase in theta and a decrease in beta waves.
KAL – Thank you for leaving a comment that made me think more deeply about these issues. . .
I’m sorry, but EVERY patient with a chronic illness is stressed . . . constant pain causes physical and emotional stress; constant doctor appointments cause physical, emotional and financial stress; being disbelieved by doctors, family members and friends causes emotional stress; the costs of medication copays, doctor copays, and non-traditional treatments not covered by insurance cause financial stress; the inability to find treatments that actually work causes physical, emotional and financial stress; the need to work to maintain insurance when you’re not really able to causes physical and emotional stress (and more pain;) and if you’re on disability, your income is so pitifully tiny that the financial stressors are HUGE . . .
I know hundreds of chronic illness patients, and not one of them has not had episodes of depression and/or anxiety; and every one of them has stressful situations happening on a daily basis . . . In addition, modern life is very stressful in and of itself, even if you don’t add in all these additional stressors.
The link between abnormal qEEGs and fibromyalgia is indeed supported by research, but so is the link between stress and chronic illness. It’s not yet known whether the illness comes first, and the high levels associated with it then worsen the illness; or whether high levels of stress come first, triggering the illnesses; but there IS a link. In addition, there are many studies of HPA axis dysfunction showing that the symptoms of fibromyalgia are extremely similar (if not identical) to the symptoms of HPA axis dysfunction. The theory presented in the book is that the stresses of having ADD/ADHD are what triggers the fibromyalgia. If this theory is accurate, it would make perfect sense that fibromyalgia patients would have the same abnormalities in their qEEGs as ADD/ADHD patients, since they would be ADD/ADHD patients as well.
Now add in the fact that many of the medications used to treat fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses frequently cause cognitive issues themselves . . .
There are many theories about what causes fibromyalgia, and no solid answers as yet. We may discover in the future that there are multiple causes, and/or that all of these factors play a role . . .
Hey Wendy,
Finally got a few extra minutes to read your last 2 posts – both great (as usual). CONGRATS on your new work with psyweb! William and I keep you all in our thoughts and prayers every week. Visualizing and giving thanks that you find the perfect home and all continues to go well.
My foot has finally healed and after 9 weeks in this house (argh!!!) I’m going to venture out into the world this weekend…wonder if I’ll need a special space suit after all this time – nawh.
I am working again on my posts at lifebeyondillness.blogspot.com and plan to have 2 or 3 finalized and published by mid-week at latest. Hope you’ll check it out later in the week or when you get a few free minutes (somewhere over the rainbow…;-)
I keep trying to “subscribe” to this blog site but it doesn’t seem to go through — your oh-so-not-techno friend LWOL! Anyway, I hope we can connect again soon so I can hear of all the great things that are transpiring for you & hubby.
Healing Hugs,
Jamey
Jamey –
I don’t know why it doesn’t seem to let you subscribe, you showed up in the email subscription list. Things have been even more nutz than usual around here lately, but we’ve finally managed to get moved, thank goodness. It’s gonna be a while before everything is unpacked and properly sorted out, but it’s getting there.
I’m glad the foot has finally healed . . . I know how aggravating it is to have something like that keeping you from doing stuff. I about went nuts last year when I sprained my shoulder.
After being totally disabled with fibromyalgia for many years, I have gotten well and have been able to get off medications for over 13 years. I have no pain, good energy, the anxiety went away, and my sleep is good without medications. My brain fog also lifted to the point that I retrained as a nutritional consultant. Prayer and research paved the way for me to reclaim my health. I have a passion to help FMS patients get well!
Patricia Stephens, Certified Nutritional Consultant
reversingchronicdisease.com
Contact me for more information!
addfibro3@gmail.com