Susan feels exhausted all the time. She experiences musculoskeletal pain, non-restorative sleep, stiffness, and multiple tender points throughout her entire body. A woman who loves swimming and playing with her children, Susan struggles to get out of bed every morning. A doctor’s visit reveals nothing out of the ordinary. She is prescribed a pain reliever for comfort and instructed to return in a few weeks. Susan returns to her doctor after those few weeks pass, feeling the same. The medication is almost out, so the doctor prescribes something stronger- antibiotics. The doctor hopes that Susan has something like a virus or the flu. Susan visits other doctors who prescribe anti-depressants such as Prozac, which give her insomnia. Some doctors give her stronger pain medications like Ultram and Celebrex, which leave her head cloudy. Months pass and Susan is still in pain. What is causing her undiagnosed pain?
1. Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is one of the most common rheumatic conditions. The pain tends to occur in the ligaments, tendons and muscles of the body. Pain often radiates from places on the body where the sufferer is touched. Imagine feeling pain at the touch of a loved one! Other symptoms are unrestful sleep and general stiffness.
2. Food Allergies, Trauma and Fibromyalgia
Food allergies and food intolerances are often implicated in cases of fibromyalgia either as direct causes or factors that “turn up” the pain volume. Other factors include physical, mental or emotional traumas. If you are experiencing the above symptoms, the best course of action is an ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) panel and blood test.
3. Susan Improves her Health- And So Can You!
After reading about the correlation between food allergies and fibromyalgia, Susan completes the ELISA food allergy panel and blood test. She discovers extreme food allergies to gluten, and also speaks to her new health practitioner about the untimely death of her father in a car accident. Susan removes gluten from her diet, and begins regular visits with a grief counselor. In a matter of weeks, Susan’s pain disappears. She is back to swimming daily and can finally enjoy her children’s hugs again.
