What is Fibromyalgia, Cause and Effect?

Hi and welcome back to our regular Health Bunker articles and it’s been a while.

In today’s article I want to address the modern phenomenon that is Fibromyalgia. 

Fibromyalgia isn’t classed as an autoimmune disease, but there are links between them, like for instance, lots of people with Fibromyalgia do have multiple autoimmune diseases and Lyme Disease too.  

So, is there a connection? 

Many people who contact us have this terrible disorder, where the slightest touch sends excruciating pain shooting through every inch of their body. Some people suffer worse than others, I had mild symptoms at times. My fibromyalgia symptoms were more in random areas, appearing from nowhere then migrating to different areas, like bush fires flaring up. 

But an increased sensitivity to pain is only part of the problem. Many other life changing issues come into play when you have fibromyalgia. 

The areas I’m going to cover in this article are; 

What is Fibromyalgia? 

What are Fibromyalgia symptoms? 

How is Fibromyalgia treated?

What are the ingredients & side effects of the drugs used?

How many suffer from fibromyalgia in the UK & globally? 

What may be causing fibromyalgia?

The Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia Connection 

Lyme is a debilitating disease on its own, but if you throw into the mix, Lupus, CFS, Guillain-Barre syndrome, fibromyalgia and many more.

Then for good measure add in multiple Co-infections like Babesia, EBV and parasites, as well as the neurological issues, it’s really a wonder a Lyme sufferer can be remotely functional at all. Some sadly cannot, they are bed bound or confined to wheelchairs. 

The only treatments available from the NHS are drugs like opioids and antidepressants, which they take for the rest of their lives. There are about 80 autoimmune diseases and rising, Lyme and fibromyalgia sufferers seem to have a collection of these too.

Most of these diseases didn’t exist at the turn of the 1900s, and if they did, they weren’t as wide spread, today there’s no signs that these disease are abating. In fact, they are increasing with every generation exponentially. But why is this? If we are at the forefront of modern medicine as we’re told, why are new diseases appearing then growing year on year with no successful treatment let alone cure insight?

NHS and Fibromyalgia 

According to the NHS Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a long-term condition that will cause pain over the entire body.  

The NHS say that symptoms include: 

• An increased sensitivity to pain 
• Extreme tiredness and fatigue 
• Muscle stiffness 
• Sleeping Difficulties 
• Fibro-fog which is a mental condition that makes concentration and memory difficult 
• Headaches 
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which is a digestive issue that causes bloating, and stomach pains 

Like Lyme disease Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose. Sufferers often have symptoms for years before diagnosis. They are treated with drugs like Painkillers and Antidepressants, this is a double-edged sword as these drugs come with even more problems like severe side effects. Fibromyalgia sufferers are often told those magic words given by Drs;

‘it might be all in your head’.

This is what Lyme patients are told when the Drs cannot find the cause of the problems or give successful treatments, they blame you the patient for their inadequacies. 

Then they write another prescription. 

How is Fibromyalgia treated? 

Conventional allopathic medication (NHS/Pharma) only ever treat the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. There is currently no known cure, but there are drugs that attempt to numb the pain, or deaden the feelings of anxiety. The problem is that these drugs bring with them another layer of debilitating symptoms that then make living with Fibromyalgia even more difficult.

The Prescription Drugs

Anti-Depressants Given to Fibromyalgia Sufferers

Amitriptyline is marketed as a tricyclic antidepressant. Tricyclic is its chemical compound which contains 3 atoms.  

According to EMC which publishes every UK pharmaceutical drug, Amitriptyline contains; 

Ingredients; 

Amitriptyline Hydrochloride, Lactose Monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose (E460), maize starch, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, Hypromellose (E464), titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol, indigo carmine (E132). 

Some of these ingredients are harmful and some are produced using toxic carcinogenic materials, that if not removed can cause life threatening side effects. The list of known accepted side effects is huge, this could be an article all of its own, please read the link here. Most of these ingredients are derivatives from the Petrochemical Industry.

Venlafaxine & Duloxetine are both serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This means they directly affect the balance of these two brain chemicals. 

Ingredients (Venlafaxine); 

Talc, Dibutyl sebacate, Povidone K 30, Hydroxypropyl cellulose, Ethyl cellulose, Sugar spheres (sucrose, maize starch), Red iron oxide (E172), Gelatine, Titanium dioxide (E171), Yellow iron oxide (E172). 

Talc may contain Asbestos, Dibutyl Sebacate is called an ‘organic compound’ which really means it’s made from Petroleum. Here is a full list of all ingredients and side effects which are numerous. 

Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Paroxetine which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) these drugs directly affect serotonin levels. 

Fluoxetine (Prozac) ingredients; 

Dimeticone, Pregelatinised Starch, Titanium Dioxide (E171), Erythrosine (E127), Patent Blue V (E131), Gelatin, Titanium Dioxide (E171), Shellac, Black iron oxide, Propylene Glycol 

A lot of these ingredients are from the petrochemical industry, Shellac (Plastics) and Propylene Glycol are 2 examples. See this link for all ingredients and accepted side effects. 

Pramipexole which is not an antidepressant but also affects the levels of neurotransmitters. Pramipexole, sold under the brand Mirapex among others, and is medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome. 

Painkillers & Opioids 

In January I wrote an article about opioids and painkillers please see link here. Here’s an overview

UK

• 50 million prescriptions written by Drs for opioids
• 35% increase over 10 year
• 12,000 overdoses each year
• 2000 deaths up 41%

US

• Between the ages of 15-64 about 50m people use opioids or Opiates in the US alone
• 27m Americans have opioid abuse disorders. 
• In the USA alone it is now estimated that from 2001-2017 the opioid epidemic has cost over $1 trillion. 
• The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that opioids are killing nearly 50,000 Americans per year, or the entire death toll of the entire Vietnam war. 

Globally

• In 2018 the global Opioid market was worth around $25bn. The companies who make these opioid pain killers, are facilitating the rise in diseases like, cancer, fibromyalgia, and arthritis and any other illness that requires pain relief. 

Painkillers Advised for Fibromyalgia 

• Paracetamol 
• Codeine 
• Tramadol 

Prescription Insomnia Drugs (examples)  

• Zopiclone       
• Promethazine 
• Temazepam 
• Nitrazepam 

Nonbenzodiazepine drugs are a class of ‘psychoactive drugs’ that are used to aid sleep. We will pick just one of these drugs to highlight ingredients and known side effects. 

Zopiclone ingredients; 

Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (mental/mood changes), Lactose monohydrate (stomach pain and cramps), Maize Starch or Maltodextrin (asthma), Sodium starch glycollate type A (Celiac Disease), Magnesium stearate (can irritate the bowels linings), Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (can cause blurred vision), Propylene glycol (could cause seizures), Titanium dioxide (possible carcinogen for humans), Talc (may contain asbestos). 

From EMC Adverse Events

Side effects include; CNS Disorders, Eye disorders, Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders, Psychiatric disorders, Gastrointestinal disorders, Immune System Disorders 

Common (>1/100 to >1/10) dysgeusia (Bitter taste), somnolence (residual) 

Uncommon (>1/1000 to >1/100) dizziness, headache and drowsiness 

Rare (>1/10,000 to 1/1000) anterograde amnesia 

Not Known ataxia, paraesthesia, cognitive disorders such as memory impairment, disturbance in attention, speech disorder 

I could continue with the drugs but I feel I’ve shown evidence that, the drugs really make more problems in the long term. In the short term they may reduce some symptoms but long term come back to bite with serious side effects.

Here’s some of the other drugs used to treat fibromyalgia. 

Muscle Relaxants 

• Diazepam 

Anticonvulsants 

• Pregabalin 
• Gabapentin  

Antipsychotics & Neuroleptics 

• Aripiprazole 
• Clozapine  

Information Sources Used:

EMC https://www.medicines.org.uk – NHS https://www.nhs.uk

https://www.priorygroup.com – https://www.ons.gov.uk

What is the Cause of Fibromyalgia? 

Fibromyalgia is another one of those modern-day diseases that has grown and grown out of proportion just like Lyme Disease, Autism or Cancer. Here in the UK there’s around 2 million suffering with fibromyalgia, in the US it’s close to 10 million people. Globally it is estimated that 3-6% of the world’s population may have Fibromyalgia. 

The vast proportion of sufferers are women up to 90% of them. What are the causes of this phenomenon? According to the NHS there is no known cure and the cause as always is unknown.  

NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/

‘The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it’s thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body’. 

It’s also suggested that some people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia because of genes inherited from their parents. In many cases, the condition appears to be triggered by a physically or emotionally stressful event’. 

If you look closely at what the NHS say here, “abnormal levels of certain chemicals” 

Ok what chemicals? I think this is quite important, because these heavy metals (industrial chemicals) are picked up by humans from everywhere. They’re in our food and water even the air, toxic chemicals are also in medicines, they’re even found in the umbilical cords of babies. 

Surely the NHS can be a little more specific here? 

I can only speak from my personal experiences with Lyme disease, but chemicals also known as heavy metals play a huge part in our illness and elimination play a similar part in our recovery too and seeing other people’s health improve after detoxing from chemical overloads to me is evidence of them being the whole cause or at least part of it. 

Environmental Working Group (EWG)

Here is a quick example of how chemicals can be causing illnesses like Fibromyalgia. In 2005 the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in the US published the results from a small study of newly born kids. It was the first time this had been done. Before this study science thought that the placenta and umbilical cord were the barrier to all chemical entry. What they found was pretty eye opening to say the least. 

The tests showed that up to 287 industrial chemicals had broken through into the unborn babies. Please keep in mind that this study only tested for a few of the 75,000 industrial chemicals used and imported into the US. Imagine if they’d tested for all 75,000. 

EWG;

“In a study spearheaded by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood in babies born in August and September of 2004 in U.S. hospitals. 

Of the 287 chemicals we detected in umbilical cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development ” 

Below is a picture of what they found.

Is Ozone Therapy a Possible Treatment for Fibromyalgia Sufferers? 

I am not saying it is the answer or the only way to treat fibromyalgia. But, I was looking to see if there were any Ozone therapy studies for Fibromyalgia. I came across this small research study in Italy, they were using different ozone therapies, IVs and rectal insufflations on 65 people. 70% of the patients felt a 50% improvement and not one person had any side effects. I would say this is a potential breakthrough. 

Full study here (link) 

Copied from the study 

RESULTS: We found a significative improvement (>50% of symptoms) in 45 patients (70%). No patient reported important side effects. In conclusion, at our knowledge, this is the largest study of patients with fibromyalgia treated with ozone therapy reported in the literature and it demonstrates that the ozone therapy is an effective treatment for fibromyalgia patients without significant side effects. 

CONCLUSIONS: At the moment, ozone therapy seems a treatment that, also because without any side effect, is possible to be proposed to patients with fibromyalgia that are not obtaining adequate results from other available treatments and it can be considered as complementary/integrative medicine.

Health Bunker  

The cause of disease today is from modern day items. Industrial chemicals have to be high on that list. Isn’t it obvious? We are all loaded up with these toxins before we’re born, is it any wonder that we are getting weird and wonderful diseases. Isn’t it strange that these modern-day diseases can never be cured and Drs only drugs that cause terrible side effects are used as treatments? Must be a coincidence. Trillions of dollars’ worth of drugs are sold to treat these diseases that no-one seems to have a clue about. Yet they can hand out potent pharmaceuticals like confetti and not one person is ever held to account.

Why is this? 

Iatrogenesis is when a Doctor gives a treatment via a drug or medical procedure that has a direct negative impact on the patients’ health. In a doctor’s Hippocratic oath, they cannot knowingly do harm to a patient. Think about it, they break this every time they write a prescription. That’s why they will never, ever admit that a drug causes a single side effect of any kind. Because it goes against this sacred oath. 

A Dr will say it is all in your head before admit it is their fault or the drugs to blame.

Iatrogenesis in the UK kills up to 22,000 people a year, that not from overdoses. Those figures are from people taking the correctly prescribed amounts but having an adverse reaction. Those reactions also injure many thousands more in the process too. In the US the same Iatrogenesis kills up to 160,000 a year. 

In the UK there are around 7m medical procedures every year, from open heart surgery to putting a few stitches in a head wound. Here’s a figure that will or should scare you all. 

One third of ALL deaths in the UK occur within 90 days of medical procedures, that’s around 170,000 deaths a year. 

Eat Well. Be Well.

Health Bunker
It’s Your Life. Own it!

*Disclaimer – Please note, we are not Doctors or trained medical professionals. We are not giving medical advice. Check with your Doctor or health practitioner before trying anything.

References and Sources of Information;

https://www.ons.gov.uk

https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/opioids-understanding-the-current-state-in-the-uk

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5894/smpc#gref

https://academic.oup.com/bja/article/119/2/249/4049141

https://www.ewg.org/research/body-burden-pollution-newborns 

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5698#gref 

http://www.fibroawarenessuk.org/about-us-2/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/venlafaxine/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paroxetine/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ssri-antidepressants/ 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/antipsychotic-medicines-licensed-products-uses-and-side-effects/antipsychotic-medicines 

https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/Documents/Miscellaneous/Medicines%20for%20Insomnia.pdf 

https://www.healthline.com/health/fibromyalgia 

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/more-about/treatments-worth-trying-for-fibromyalgia 

http://www.fmauk.org/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/ 

https://www.nrshealthcare.co.uk/articles/condition/fibromyalgia 

https://fmaware.net/ 

https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Article/2020/02/19/European-Commission-publishes-titanium-dioxide-classification 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dibutyl_sebacate 

https://www.asbestos.com/products/talcum-powder/ 

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2167/smpc 

https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/serotonin-norepinephrine-reuptake-inhibitors-snris 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ssri-antidepressants/ 

https://www.asbestos.com/products/talcum-powder/ 

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/10625/smpc 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/782074/tramadol-hydrochloride-prescriptions-number-in-the-us/ 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322426#:~:text=Side%20effects%20may%20include%20allergic,manufacturers%20may%20sometimes%20use%20wheat.