The other day a friend asked me, "Isn't fibromyalgia just muscle pain."

I wish it were that simple. And yes, fibromyalgia does mean muscle pain. However, it is a whole syndrome of stuff. Thus, the moniker Fibromyalgia Syndrome or FMS. Often times fibromyalgia overlaps other chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. I have osteoarthritis and though I test positive for lupus the doctor is still waiting for more symptoms to diagnose me.

What is fibromyalgia?

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary, depending on the weather, stress, physical activity or even the time of day.

Common signs and symptoms include:

• Widespread pain.
• Fatigue and sleep disturbances.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Over active bladder.
• Headaches and facial pain.
• Heightened sensitivity.

Other common signs and symptoms include:

• Depression
• Numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet (paresthesia)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood changes
• Chest pain
• Dry eyes, skin and mouth
• Painful menstrual periods
• Dizziness
• Anxiety

There are ways to alleviate some of the symptoms of FMS. Avoiding stressful situations has helped me tremendously. Changing your diet and exercise, medication to treat the symptoms and most of all stop worrying about it. The last has helped tremendously with the way I feel.

When I first noticed the symptoms of FMS, I was having a biopsy. I was worried about having cancer and the stress caused the fibromyalgia to sky rocket. Fortunately, the cells weren't pre-cancerous, but I was diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis (LS). That diagnosis caused a whole new worry, because there was not much information about the condition out there. I found a group of others online with LS which has evolved to a Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LichenSclerosis/

When I tested positive for Lupus and the specialist would not diagnose me until I had more symptoms, I decided to stop researching my symptoms. I do stay informed about my known diagnoses, but I no longer research other things. I do make notes of changes to let my doctor know so that he can better treat me.

Some Fibromyalgia Links:

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079
• http://www.fmnetnews.com/basics-symptoms.php
• http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia_ff.asp
• http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer

Lichen Sclerosis Links:

• http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Lichen_Sclerosus/lichen_sclerosus_ff.asp
• http://members.tripod.com/~shanmd/lichen.html
• http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/linchensclerosis/a/lichensclerosus.htm

Meniere's Disease Links:

• http://www.aolhealth.com/conditions/menieres-disease?flv=1
• http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp
• http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/menieres/menieres.html

Osteoarthritis Links:

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoarthritis/DS00019
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteoarthritis.html
• http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=32

Lupus Links:

• http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115
• http://www.uklupus.co.uk/

The other day a friend asked me, "Isn't fibromyalgia just muscle pain."

I wish it were that simple. And yes, fibromyalgia does mean muscle pain. However, it is a whole syndrome of stuff. Thus, the moniker Fibromyalgia Syndrome or FMS. Often times fibromyalgia overlaps other chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. I have osteoarthritis and though I test positive for lupus the doctor is still waiting for more symptoms to diagnose me.

What is fibromyalgia?

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary, depending on the weather, stress, physical activity or even the time of day.

Common signs and symptoms include:

• Widespread pain.
• Fatigue and sleep disturbances.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Over active bladder.
• Headaches and facial pain.
• Heightened sensitivity.

Other common signs and symptoms include:

• Depression
• Numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet (paresthesia)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood changes
• Chest pain
• Dry eyes, skin and mouth
• Painful menstrual periods
• Dizziness
• Anxiety

There are ways to alleviate some of the symptoms of FMS. Avoiding stressful situations has helped me tremendously. Changing your diet and exercise, medication to treat the symptoms and most of all stop worrying about it. The last has helped tremendously with the way I feel.

When I first noticed the symptoms of FMS, I was having a biopsy. I was worried about having cancer and the stress caused the fibromyalgia to sky rocket. Fortunately, the cells weren't pre-cancerous, but I was diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis (LS). That diagnosis caused a whole new worry, because there was not much information about the condition out there. I found a group of others online with LS which has evolved to a Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LichenSclerosis/

When I tested positive for Lupus and the specialist would not diagnose me until I had more symptoms, I decided to stop researching my symptoms. I do stay informed about my known diagnoses, but I no longer research other things. I do make notes of changes to let my doctor know so that he can better treat me.

Some Fibromyalgia Links:

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079
• http://www.fmnetnews.com/basics-symptoms.php
• http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia_ff.asp
• http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer

Lichen Sclerosis Links:

• http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Lichen_Sclerosus/lichen_sclerosus_ff.asp
• http://members.tripod.com/~shanmd/lichen.html
• http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/linchensclerosis/a/lichensclerosus.htm

Meniere's Disease Links:

• http://www.aolhealth.com/conditions/menieres-disease?flv=1
• http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp
• http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/menieres/menieres.html

Osteoarthritis Links:

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoarthritis/DS00019
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteoarthritis.html
• http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=32

Lupus Links:

• http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115
• http://www.uklupus.co.uk/

I was just reading the posts on the Lichen Sclerosis Yahoo Group and I am amazed by the amount of people who speak of this terrible disease. I know I do, but I can talk about anything, anywhere, anytime.

I just want others to be aware that there are many kinds of hidden diseases out there and that if they are suffering then they don't have to be alone.

I have Meniere's Disease, which is an inner ear disorder. I hear a constant ringing in my ears. I remember when I first realized that the crickets I heard couldn't be outside because it was winter. That was an eye opener. I was having trouble with bouts of dizziness and tilting. I have to say the tilting is more prevalent for me. Also, I would be slammed backwards. The nasea I had was credited to the fibromyalgia.

Getting diagnosed was helpful. I was sent for physical therapy, where I learned to control the panic that is generated. Yes, I still get dizzy, but I learned to control the part of my brain that tells me that I need to be concerned when a ceiling fan is turning or a car is coming at me. This was a tremendous help.

I learned to limit my salt intake so that the ringing isn't so intense. No, I haven't gotten rid of it, yet. I am not always aware of it now.

Another thing I learned was not to worry about what is going to happen next. My doctor said that we'll just take one symptom at a time and treat it. This was the best advice I got. I have quit trying to match up my symptoms with diseases. There are so many out similar things out there that it is best to leave the diagnosing up to the doctor.

That being said... Once you have a diagnosis it is best to learn all you can about your disease/illness so that you can be prepared. Also, joining groups that deal with your particular disease is helpful since people who have the diseases are the most up to date on treatments. Doctors have so many things to remember, they are not always up to date on everything. They do research when their patients are diagnosed, just like the patients.

I was just reading the posts on the Lichen Sclerosis Yahoo Group and I am amazed by the amount of people who speak of this terrible disease. I know I do, but I can talk about anything, anywhere, anytime.

I just want others to be aware that there are many kinds of hidden diseases out there and that if they are suffering then they don't have to be alone.

I have Meniere's Disease, which is an inner ear disorder. I hear a constant ringing in my ears. I remember when I first realized that the crickets I heard couldn't be outside because it was winter. That was an eye opener. I was having trouble with bouts of dizziness and tilting. I have to say the tilting is more prevalent for me. Also, I would be slammed backwards. The nasea I had was credited to the fibromyalgia.

Getting diagnosed was helpful. I was sent for physical therapy, where I learned to control the panic that is generated. Yes, I still get dizzy, but I learned to control the part of my brain that tells me that I need to be concerned when a ceiling fan is turning or a car is coming at me. This was a tremendous help.

I learned to limit my salt intake so that the ringing isn't so intense. No, I haven't gotten rid of it, yet. I am not always aware of it now.

Another thing I learned was not to worry about what is going to happen next. My doctor said that we'll just take one symptom at a time and treat it. This was the best advice I got. I have quit trying to match up my symptoms with diseases. There are so many out similar things out there that it is best to leave the diagnosing up to the doctor.

That being said... Once you have a diagnosis it is best to learn all you can about your disease/illness so that you can be prepared. Also, joining groups that deal with your particular disease is helpful since people who have the diseases are the most up to date on treatments. Doctors have so many things to remember, they are not always up to date on everything. They do research when their patients are diagnosed, just like the patients.

I have an autoimmune disease called Lichen Sclerosis. This is a disorder involving white thinning or red thickening mainly in the vulvar area. I thought I had it in remission, but it is back.

This time though it is giving me grief in the anul region. I asked about this on the Lichen Sclerosis yahoo group. It would seem that this is part of the figure 8 of LS. Around the vulva, across the perineum and around the anus.

One of the treatments suggested is emu oil. I am not entirely sure that I am at ease with using an animal by product, but if it fixes the problem then maybe I will try it. I am looking into alternatives for this.

I am airing this in public to help educate people to this horrid autoimmune disease. When I first noticed it and believe me notice is a mild word, when faced with the burning, itching and pain. I had trouble urinating because it was so bad, not to mention sitting or moving.

I may have been able to avoid some of the pain if I had recognized the changes in my body. I recommend that girls be taught to know what they feel and look like in the vulvar region. I was pretty naive, even in my thirties. Now I recognize changes by feel, when the skin starts thickening or thinning and by sight, (this is harder) when the skin begins to whiten or redden. I use a mirror for the latter.

There are some great sights explaining LS as well as other vulvar conditions. Web MD is one. The best thing you can do though is to check with you OB/GYN who will do a bipsy.

Best wishes to all of you out there. -Rita

I have an autoimmune disease called Lichen Sclerosis. This is a disorder involving white thinning or red thickening mainly in the vulvar area. I thought I had it in remission, but it is back.

This time though it is giving me grief in the anul region. I asked about this on the Lichen Sclerosis yahoo group. It would seem that this is part of the figure 8 of LS. Around the vulva, across the perineum and around the anus.

One of the treatments suggested is emu oil. I am not entirely sure that I am at ease with using an animal by product, but if it fixes the problem then maybe I will try it. I am looking into alternatives for this.

I am airing this in public to help educate people to this horrid autoimmune disease. When I first noticed it and believe me notice is a mild word, when faced with the burning, itching and pain. I had trouble urinating because it was so bad, not to mention sitting or moving.

I may have been able to avoid some of the pain if I had recognized the changes in my body. I recommend that girls be taught to know what they feel and look like in the vulvar region. I was pretty naive, even in my thirties. Now I recognize changes by feel, when the skin starts thickening or thinning and by sight, (this is harder) when the skin begins to whiten or redden. I use a mirror for the latter.

There are some great sights explaining LS as well as other vulvar conditions. Web MD is one. The best thing you can do though is to check with you OB/GYN who will do a bipsy.

Best wishes to all of you out there. -Rita