Women Living With Fibromyalgia

by Skelly, Mari; Starlanyl, Devin J.; Blewster, Kelley

• ISBN13: 9780897933438
• ISBN10: 0897933435
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: Hunter House

Summary

The author highlights the experiences of twenty women to shed light on this common and often untreated chronic pain syndrome, which has no known cause or cure.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Devin J. Starlanyl	ix
Introduction	1	(5)
A New Kind of Life	2	(3)
Share Your Story	5	(1)
Chapter 1: What Is Fibromyalgia?	6	(14)
How Does It Feel?	6	(1)
Diagnosis	7	(1)
Other Symptoms	7	(2)
What Causes FM?	9	(1)
What Is FM Like? Some Perspectives	10	(10)
Chapter 2: A Community of Women	20	(16)
The Women	21	(11)
The Survey	32	(4)
Chapter 3: The Relief of a Diagnosis	36	(21)
Reaching a Diagnosis	36	(11)
The Relief of a Diagnosis	47	(4)
What to Do after Your Diagnosis	51	(6)
Chapter 4: The Unique Concerns of Women with FM	57	(19)
Why More Women?	57	(7)
Menstruation, Menopause, and FM	64	(2)
Sexual Relationships	66	(1)
Sexual Intimacy and Pain	67	(3)
Thyroid Problems	70	(1)
Hormone Replacement Therapy	71	(3)
Gaining New Perspectives	74	(2)
Chapter 5: Taking Care of Ourselves: Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia	76	(27)
Self-Care Starts with Ourselves	77	(2)
Exercise	79	(7)
Movement Therapies: Somatics and Feldenkrais	86	(5)
Medications	91	(4)
Complementary Treatments	95	(8)
Chapter 6: Our Mental and Emotional Health	103	(27)
Depression	104	(4)
Low Self-Esteem	108	(3)
Stress	111	(3)
Anger and Resentment	114	(5)
Grief and Loss	119	(3)
Abuse and Trauma	122	(8)
Chapter 7: Everyday Solutions and Things That Really Work	130	(23)
Getting Enough Rest	131	(2)
Setting Limits	133	(2)
Adjusting at Home and at Work	135	(3)
Planning Your Day, Your Week, Your Life	138	(1)
Creative Responses to Living with the Symptoms	139	(4)
Diet	143	(4)
Diversions	147	(2)
Summary: Helpful Hints for Living with FM	149	(4)
Chapter 8: Dealing with the People Closest to Us	153	(23)
Seeking Understanding and Acceptance	154	(1)
Hearing from Family Members of FM Patients	155	(4)
Spouses and Partners	159	(2)
Family	161	(5)
Reaching Acceptance	166	(2)
Friends	168	(3)
Dating	171	(2)
A Support Network	173	(3)
Chapter 9: Dealing with Doctors and Other Health-Care Providers	176	(16)
Finding a Doctor	177	(2)
Be Informed: Preparing for Your Doctor Appointment	179	(4)
Financial Concerns: Is It Worth Paying Out-of-Pocket?	183	(1)
Expectations in Care	184	(4)
Establishing Trust	188	(1)
You and Your Physician: A Partnership	189	(3)
Chapter 10: Dealing with the Rest of the World	192	(17)
Societal Expectations	192	(3)
Adapting at Work	195	(3)
Facing the Loss of Your Work	198	(8)
Letting Go of Guilt and Pressure	206	(3)
Chapter 11: Money Matters: Paying the Bills and Getting the Benefits We're Entitled To	209	(16)
Meeting Basic Needs	210	(3)
Applying for Social Security Benefits	213	(9)
Private Insurance	222	(3)
Chapter 12: What's New? What's Coming?	225	(29)
A Pharmacological Approach	225	(9)
Taking Part in a Study	234	(3)
Ongoing Research	237	(3)
A Look at More FM Studies	240	(5)
A Naturopathic Approach: Treatment with Enzymes	245	(4)
Energy Therapy	249	(5)
Chapter 13: Life Goes On	254	(21)
Beyond Fibromyalgia	254	(2)
What Keeps Us Going?	256	(5)
Goals	261	(2)
Spiritual Change	263	(4)
Other Ways We've Changed	267	(4)
In Closing	271	(4)
Resources	275	(7)
Fibromyalgia Organizations	275	(1)
Other Useful Organizations	276	(2)
Websites	278	(1)
Newsletters	278	(1)
Practitioners and Products	279	(1)
Further Reading	280	(2)
Glossary	282	(11)
Index	293