A Domino Effect

[Buckle]

I am new here. Just joined today. I am hoping to discover some answers to some questions I have, by reading what you have to say. I have had 30 years of FMS. Plus the 6 years of misdiagnosis before that. Since I am an older person, I have also had many other health issues that have had to be dealt with. Uterine Cancer, Hypothyroidism, Severe Osteoarthritis with 2 knee replacements from deformed knees, and then all of the disorders, that accompany FMS (palpitations, IBS, etc). There is one issue that I have noticed that has always remained. That is why I am here. One of the key components of FM is connected to sensory issues. SPD is often written about in regards to children. Rarely adults. But there are some. I am sitting here again, with many tabs open on my laptop, following one lead to another to another.. What I am seeing is that SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) can cause the body stress, causing tension, causing fight or flight state of being for a long period of time. The physical reaction to these states can cause, muscle fatigue, muscle spasms, cramps, headaches, confusion, difficulty thinking, aches from being in the fight or flight mode too long, depression, stomach issues of course, due to the stress, and poor sleep, due to the tension in the body, and thus the organs start becoming affected, etc. It's a domino effect. Sensory Overload or Fibromyalgia. All of these states would cause the same symptoms of fibromyalgia. I have always known the Fibro can mimic so many other disorders. Within the past, maybe 5 years, I have been able regarding myself, to make a connection to a sensory processing disorder. So my next step was to learn, which I still am learning, how to manage your life, environment, body.... to keep sensory overload at bay! That is what I am working on. If I am constantly stressed from overloading, then naturally, my body will physically manifest symptoms, such as muscle pain and fatigue, resulting.
Obviously this is not for everyone with an FM diagnosis. Just something that I am working out for myself. Thought I would share. Take heed or ignore!

 

[Radmun]

Hi Buckle, can you give me a few examples that cause your SPD? I definitely have noise and light sensitivity issues.

 

[Buckle]

Absolutely. I live with two adult men (Husband and son), we have one bathroom. Know where I am going with this? lol.... There are times I literally gag. That of course be the sense of smell. We used to live in a little house, out in the country, and we heated by propane. I could not physically tolerate the smell. I swore there was a leak. No one else could smell it. We finally had it disconnected and went to a wood burner, stove. When the company came out to get their tank. As they disconnected it, they noted to my husband, that it was a good thing, because it had a very small leak.
I can only wear certain fabrics. Fortunately cotton is one. I laugh and claim that cashmere is another. Before purchasing any new piece of clothing, I need to rub it across my forearm to see if it creates a burning or itching sensation. If it does, I will not wear it because I will get tired of fighting it. Sense of touch. Even my own sweat makes my face and neck sting and itch. I used a cold rag every now and then, when working on something, to wipe my face.
Then there is noise. Many times I must cover my ears. Like in the car, when people cough, or when someone is playing music with a very deep base (woofers I think the speakers are called), it literally hurts my ears to a painful sensation. Sense of hearing. Yet my husband and myself do a lot of wood working, and have a shop (not business). The sound of power tools, I have always found comforting. My father was a woodworker, as well. So I often woke up to the sound.
An overhead ceiling light is not painful, but far from pleasant. I will turn on a dozen table lamps before I turn on the ceiling light! Probably the sense of light is the least of my worries. I do not suffer from migraines. Thank heavens. I do avoid the sun, for many reasons. I use sun hats and umbrellas. I do keep a more subdued lighting in my home, focusing light on the tasks.
Finally, if you give me something to eat, I can pretty much tell you what ingredients are in that dish. I can also tell before anyone else if something is starting to "go off." If it gets past my sense of smell, then I will taste it. People have gotten upset with me before, but I would rather them be upset than sick.
It's not all bad. In fact usually very manageable. These are just a few examples, of my triggers.

For me, it is also about spacial awareness. Probably one of my most stressful sense. Not one of the 5 senses usually mentioned. Perhaps that has to do with the sense of touch? If I feel crowded, I become anxious. Which triggers fight of flight. There is actually three "F's": Fight, Flight, and Freeze. There is a lot of Freeze in the animal kingdom. I guess I have a lot of animal in me...lol. After being in freeze mode for so long, your muscles react. Causing difficulty with walking. After my knee surgeries, I had a fear of falling down and what would happen to my knees, if I did? Unless a really horrible fall...nothing. But it caused me to tense up, in preparation for the possible fall, which over time had an impact on my gait. Now I am teaching myself how to walk properly and relaxed.

I have two other adult children that do not live at home. When they were babies, before buying their new clothes, I would rub the fabric on their forearm. One would react to it. She just recently received a diagnosis of FM after years of searching. I suspected she would, but never brought it up. I prayed it would be something else, curable. Take a pill for a few days and poof, it's gone. Her's is a milder version, as is mine. For that, we are blessed. I hope this helps you.

 

[Radmun]

Thanks for sharing. Sometimes there is comfort hearing from others and knowing you are not the only one with these types of issues.

 

[SBee]

My rheumatologist in the UK ( I have fibromyalgia and inflammatory arthritis ) diagnosed me also with Central Sensitization Syndrome. Seems like many names for similar conditions, and of course many conditions have cross over symptoms
Again, sensitivity to bright lights, noise, wearing tight clothing, certain fabrics, etc extra sensitive to touch, list goes on... but nice to actually have a consultant give this as a diagnosis rather than feeling I'm going mad.... Kind of need to feel validated when Even fibromyalgia can be dismissed by some.

Oh - and welcome @Buckle!

 

[Buckle]

Indeed!

 

[Buckle]

Central Sensitization Syndrome

Very interesting...doing some reading on this! Thanks for sharing this with me.

 

[Day at a time]

Hi Everyone...I am a new member with a long history of fibromyalgia. I'm learning to navigate the site, so hope this is the correct place to reply.
It is so true that along with the many symptoms that come with fibro, hypersensitivity is definitely at play.
And when we understand that this disorder originates from the top down, that is, the brain, it makes it clearer to see. These are neural pathways that create all the "real" symptoms that we feel such as irritable bladder, IBS, migraine, neck and back pain, hypersensitivity to touch, sound and the like.
So working at the level of the brain might alleviate or help to manage some of the symptoms. Using meditation, CBT, relaxation, gentle exercise like thai chi are all ways to "redirect" these pathways. We know that the brain has plasticity and although there is no cure for fibro, management in small ways is a good place to start.

 

[SBee]

Hello @Day at a time welcome - and Im sure you can jump in on any thread you want to.

I agree that finding practices that work for us as individuals is a key way to try to live with fibromyalgia and its varying symptoms. I find it very reassuring when others say they too understand some of what can seem a random symptom ( or ten ). Management is as you say crucial. And for me, it helps me listen to my mind and body and sometimes that ensures I avoid the boom and bust.

 

[BlueBells]

@Day at a time

And when we understand that this disorder originates from the top down, that is, the brain, it makes it clearer to see. These are neural pathways that create all the "real" symptoms that we feel such as irritable bladder, IBS, migraine, neck and back pain, hypersensitivity to touch, sound and the like.
So working at the level of the brain might alleviate or help to manage some of the symptoms.

I really cotton to this. When I have time, (a bit under the pump at the moment) I will start a thread and we can all discuss this "something in the brain" thing. I've a theory that resonates with your thinking indeed !

At the moment I've got so much to do, the fibro gremlins are having a party, and I just don't have the time for their nonsense !!

Welcome to the site