The way that fibromyalgia is experienced is unique to the individual. As with other autoimmune diseases, treatment options are anything but “one size fits all.” Mymee has helped clients like Cora experience significant relief of fibromyalgia symptoms by creating tailored plans to identify and eliminate triggers.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body, which can present as sharp or dull aches. People with FM are believed to have a heightened sensitivity to pain. Often, other fibromyalgia symptoms include chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, issues with memory (or “brain fog”), and irregularities in mood.
Many people with fibromyalgia also have anxiety, depression disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tensions and migraine headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), interstitial cystitis (IC), or other pain conditions.
FM is complex and often missed by doctors as a diagnosis. There are no readily available lab tests for diagnosis, and the criteria to provide a fibromyalgia diagnosis are frequently evolving.
Fibromyalgia impacts an estimated 2% of the US adult population, or roughly four million people. Women are two times more likely than men to have fibromyalgia. People are more likely to get fibromyalgia as they get older and it is most often diagnosed in middle age. However, fibromyalgia can occur at any age in either men or women.
There are multiple risk factors believed to trigger fibromyalgia. Firstly, it’s thought to be a stress and trauma-induced condition wherein the structural and chemical maintenance of pain signals are changed. A death in the family, surgery, a car accident, or other sudden or prolonged events alike can trigger fibromyalgia.
Genetics and epigenetics (how behaviors and environments affect how genes work) play a role in vulnerability to diagnosis. History of family trauma or a family history of fibromyalgia each influences the likelihood of someone having fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia-like symptoms.
Incidents of infections like Epstein Barr, SARS-CoV-1, and chronic hepatitis have promoted fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia flares. Plus, diagnosis of certain autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus increases a person’s likelihood of developing FM.
If you’re struggling with fibromyalgia symptoms, Mymee can help. The Mymee Care Team is made up of dedicated individuals – from rheumatologists to naturopaths, RNs, nutritionists, and certified health coaches – with expertise in autoimmunity and autoimmunity-like conditions. Plus, we understand autoimmune diseases and chronic illnesses through personal experience.
Our approach to alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms is tailored, personalized care focused around identifying an individual’s unique triggers. While there are some commonalities across many fibromyalgia patients, what’s good for one person’s symptoms may worsen symptoms for another. That’s where Mymee comes in.
Mymee fibromyalgia clients track data from their day-to-day life (like what they eat and how they sleep) alongside their FM symptoms. From there, a Mymee health coach reviews the data and begins to make connections. Things like diet, nutrient deficiencies, sleep hygiene, hydration levels, and toxin exposure are reviewed as potential triggers for fibromyalgia flare-ups.
Health coaches meet regularly with fibromyalgia clients in one-on-one virtual sessions to provide support and dive deeper into health history and goals, determine and rule out triggers, and more. Each person’s story is unique, and our coaches’ approach to helping them is too.
Determining a person’s specific triggers takes time – and expertise. After all, we’ve found fibromyalgia flares to be attributed to a wide range of factors, including fibromyalgia medications, strenuous exercises, weight, and deficiencies in particular vitamins. Dietary triggers have included things as specific as mangos and categories as large as foods containing sugar.
Fibromyalgia symptoms are already overwhelming. With Mymee, managing them doesn’t have to be.
Cora, a stay-at-home mom, came to Mymee with a substantial list of chronic symptoms beginning in childhood, including muscle and joint pain. Mainly, she was looking for relief from fibromyalgia which had been diagnosed in 2015. Cora struggled with digestive issues, anxiety and depression, and fatigue, among other symptoms.
After working directly with a Mymee health coach, Cora was able to identify twelve specific triggers of her fibromyalgia symptoms and other chronic illness symptoms. By the end of her health coaching sessions and tracking, Cora had reduced her need for medication, saw improvement in fatigue and other symptoms and experienced weight loss. Plus, for the first time, she was able to join her kids in the pool.
Read more about Cora’s success with Mymee.