Many people I know who have autoimmune diseases like fibromyalgia, as I do, have a common background. They have either had a major trauma, or they had child abuse throughout early childhood. Without getting too technical, here, it will be explained later – it is all about the development of the various glands which control hormones, cortisol, etc. (the HPA axis) When you are traumatized as a child, by abuse, normal development is hindered. Later on in life, you start the cycle of life, and things go down hill pretty gradually for some, and not so gradually for others.
By the time I was married, I was experiencing daily monster headaches, monthly migraines, horrible pain upon menstruation, which was very irregular, irritable bowel syndrome, restless leg syndrome,(from early childhood) joint pain, tmj, I could go on, but you get he point. I thought I was falling apart, thinking all these were separate things. It took years of being seen by so many different doctors, I was not diagnosed until a friend from church had one of the same reactions I had, which was my skin and muscles were in so much pain, nobody could touch me. I went to hug her, and she said Stop! I hurt all over! I asked her about it because it was what i had, and she gave me a book, and told me who to see. Fibromyalgia and syndromes and diseases like it are much more common than ever. One has to wonder what it is, is it that we were brought up by the keep up with the Jones’s generation who couldn’t be bothered with the kids they had, and abused them after the nonstop cocktail parties? Or is it the wonder bread and banquet dinners and pot pies, twinkies and canned spagetti-o’s that we were fed that broke our little bodies so they completely gave up later in life? Whatever it is, both are toxic, and both can be remedied.
Choices can be made for yourself, and for your children. Eat properly, feed your children well, and they will be better off for it. Be sure they get some treats though, balance is key.
If you have any or all of the symptoms I have mentioned, and you have not seen a doctor for them, check out the following links: http://www.rheumatology.org/
http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer
There is no cure for this, I have been living with it for years, but with proper diet, exercise, and a good support system in place, you can get back in full swing for sure! As I write in my other travel blog about Hawaii, http://two2travel.blogspot.com/ warm climates are usually easier on fibro patients, I always do so much better when I go to he Islands, I loosen up, get in the water allot, which by the way is very good exercise for those of us with joint and muscle pain. If you have a gym with a pool , you may consider it an option.
This is a wonderfully helpful book for anyone who wants to know more about the disease itself. Available through Amazon.com
So how do I tie all of this in? what is all of this to say about the broken cycle? It is fascinating really, I look at how the HPA axis works, and what the broken cycle that happened there to cause the body to go through the struggles it does, is directly related to the cycle we WANT to break from the past that brought it all on in the first place. So here it is explained:
The hypothalamus is the control center for most of body’s hormonal systems.
Follow figure 1 as I explain this. Cells in hypothalamus produce hormone corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in humans in response to most any type of stress physical or psychological.
The hypothalamus secretes CRF, which in turn binds to specific receptors on pituitary cells, which produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
ACTH is then transported to its target the adrenal gland stimulates the production of adrenal hormones.
The adrenal glands that are located on top of the kidneys then increase the secretion of cortisol.
The release of cortisol initiates a series of metabolic effects aimed at alleviating the harmful effects of stress through negative feedback to both the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary, which decreases the concentration of ATH and cortisol in the blood once the state of stress subsides.
Follow figure 1 as I explain this. Cells in hypothalamus produce hormone corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in humans in response to most any type of stress physical or psychological.
www.rheumatoidarthritissupport.blogspot.com
The above link is some extra help from a great friend of mine , who’s blog is indispensible for those who want to get help with diet, and tips for healthy living with autoimmune disease.
I can’t leave off without giving some encouragement from God’s word…Hebrews 4:15 “for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with he feeling of our infirmities, but as with all points tempted like as are we yet without sin.” Be assured He feels your pain, and knows your sorrows, and is more than able to heal your brokenness.
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