Fibromyalgia likely the result of autoimmune problems

New research has shown that many of the symptoms in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are caused by antibodies that increase the activity of pain-sensing nerves throughout the body.

The results show that fibromyalgia is a disease of the immune system, rather than the currently held view that it originates in the brain.

The study demonstrates that the increased pain sensitivity, muscle weakness, reduced movement, and reduced number of small nerve-fibres in the skin that are typical of FMS, are all a consequence of patient antibodies.

The researchers injected mice with antibodies from people living with FMS and observed that the mice rapidly developed an increased sensitivity to pressure and cold, as well as displaying reduced movement grip strength. In contrast, mice that were injected with antibodies from healthy people were unaffected, demonstrating that patient antibodies cause, or at least are a major contributor to the disease.

Furthermore, the mice injected with fibromyalgia antibodies recovered after a few weeks, when antibodies had been cleared from their system. This finding strongly suggests that therapies which reduce antibody levels in patients are likely to be effective treatments. Such therapies are already available and are used to treat other disorders that are caused by autoantibodies.

Current estimates suggest that at least 1 in 40 people are affected by FMS worldwide (80% of which are women) and is commonly characterised by widespread pain throughout the body, as well as fatigue (often referred to as 'fibro fog') and emotional distress. It most commonly develops between the ages of 25 and 55, although children can also get it.

Dr Andreas Goebel said, "I expected that some fibromyalgia cases may be autoimmune. But David's team have discovered pain-causing antibodies in each recruited patient. The results offer amazing hope that the invisible, devastating symptoms of fibromyalgia will become treatable."

About 20 years ago, I was suffering from debilitating back pain that led me to believe that I would never walk again very shortly. That and chronic bronchitis had plagued me all my life. Either one condition or the other had compromised me.

Then one day, I saw an article proclaiming that Guaifenesin was a cure for Fibromyalgia (FMS), and the pioneer in this discovery Dr. Raymond Paul St. Amand, was going to present a free presentation on his (guaifenesin) protocol in a Waikiki hotel. I was not familiar with FMS but was intimately familiar with guaifenesin because that’s what I took for chronic bronchitis — with the caveat not to overconsume it as the bottles warned.

Most of the people attending the presentation seemed to be FMS patients familiar with the doctor’s guaifenesin protocol — to which I noted that despite their reporting crippling pain, they actually seemed younger and healthier than the average population for their ages. That convinced me of something.

But even before hearing the presentation, I went out and got myself a few bottles of guaifenesin (cough syrup), so by the time the presentation came around, I reported that I suspected that guaifenesin cured not only FMS — but all the autoimmune conditions, as well as all illnesses — because the one characteristic effect — is to thin the mucus in the body, which most people are familiar with from taking it when they have a respiratory congestion due to the thickening of the mucus in the lungs.

However, it is logical to believe that guaifenesin has that effect not only for the mucus in the respiratory tract — but throughout the body, and thinning it as much as possible, has a favorable health effect no matter what the diagnosis. But my main takeaway from that presentation, was that despite the dire warning, guaifenesin could be taken in liberal quantities indefinitely — with beneficial effects for anybody suffering from any condition thickening the mucus — which are white blood cells attacking pathogens.

But Dr. St. Amand and associates, were adamant that they had the cure for FMS only, and to cure any other autoimmune condition, one had to see that specific specialist — and they might have a cure specifically for that disease.

So it is a lot like the thinking that requires a specific cure or vaccination for each thing that could go wrong in a body rather than a much more enlightened and less profitable model of treating each symptom as a universe all its own, rather than the belief that whatever improves the general health (immunity) of the body, is protective even against the latest unknown disease the specialists can claim as uniquely their own turf and expertise.

many consider fibromyalgia to be a SYMPTOM of some other underlying disorder, usually an autoimmune disorder, and often a treatable disorder that isn’t being treated or is undertreated, such an hypothyroidism from Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis ...

btw, it’s difficult to get enough magnesium in your diet ... mag supplement should be magnesium compound that is fully reacted chelated with an amino acid because they’ll absorb better and not cause diarrhea, which actually causes even more mag to be lost (many laxatives are nothing more than inorganic mag compounds) ... a good chelated mag is magnesium taurate because taurine is good for the heart ... cheap mag compounds actually cause ... another thing is if someone really is seriously deficient in mag, it’s very difficult to build up mag levels even with supplements, and knowledgeable docs will actually start the buildup with IV mag ...

If you want to follow a more formal diet that attempts to minimize autoimmune issues, there is one from a Paleo perspective, and others from a vegan perspective. Information on the Paleo one is here:

https://draxe.com/nutrition/aip-diet/
https://drjockers.com/autoimmune-diet/

However, if one knows they are truly not allergic to certain foods other might be, the approach is simpler. Simple sugars and Omega-6 fats are pro-inflammatory. Don’t use them, and stay away from breads and pasta, too. Increase your intake of high antioxidant foods. Look into supplements to further tweak your body’s immune system.

A few links:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/263431-the-best-vitamins-for-autoimmune-problems/
https://www.liverdoctor.com/the-importance-of-glutathione-for-autoimmune-disease/

Hope these help direct you and your wife!

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