You might want to check out the research of Dr. Daniel Clauw at the University of Michigan, if you have not already. He is a leading researcher in fibromyalgia. In some of his articles, he talks about how overemphasized trigger points are in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and how he feels they should be eliminated from the diagnosis criteria all together.

I myself do not have all of the "required" trigger points shown on the diagram of the human body with trigger point references that you often see with an article explaining fibromyalgia. For some time, I also questioned whether I had the disorder because of the trigger point issue. I would let that point go in your mind as to the diagnosis. If your symptoms fit fibromyalgia, then, unfortunately, you most likely have it. It is a diagnosis of exclusion (excluding disorders or diseases it is not) and I assume you have had tests for those other illnesses that share some fibro symptoms (under active thyroid, lupus, etc.). But, in all my research, I have yet to come up with another condition that fully duplicates the sometimes strange, wavering, debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Good luck to you--and continue with your research. Knowledge, afterall, is power. Just be sure to check out the more "legitimate" sites on the internet, not ones that tout money-making "cures" or yet unproven remedies.

I am sorrry to hear of this. Do any algae take up less fluoride than others?

What about the seaweeds used by the Japenese and macrobiotics?

Thank you.

Were you taking fluroquinolones prior to the onset of your fibro? Cipro, Levaquin, etc???

This is an extremely old thread, I doubt any of the people are still around, except MrsD

Thank you so much...

I am totally interested in the relationship between these antibiotics and CFS and fibromyalgia.
I remember the first time I first felt the symptoms of fibromyalgia and I had just finished taking a series of successive antibiotics of these type in an attempt to rid myself of of a sinus infection.
The most apparent locations being between both shoulder blades on either side of my spine.
Previous to this I had been poisioned by one of my chemo therapy drugs, Vincristine. I was told that I was 1 in a 100 that had an alergic reaction to Vincristine. This happened in January of 1992.
The sinus infection occurred in 1994.
Ever since the sinus infection the fibromyalgia and then the diagnosis of CFS along with Neuro mediated hypotension has progressively gotten worse year by year.
If there is anway to rid my aching body of these types of antibiotics or is it to late ???

I am of the belief that trauma, either physical and/or emotional is the cause of Fibromyalgia. I think that said trauma settles into one's cellular structure. Just as an amputee feels pain in their missing limb, so do Fibro sufferers feel the pain of the trauma the have suffered prior to the onslaught of Fibromyalgia.

Here's what I can tell you:

My symptoms, which fit rather well into the cluster associated with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, appeared immediately after taking only 7 days of Ciprofloxacin, one of the more commonly prescribed flouroquinolone antibiotics. Although "a statistical correlation does not prove a causal correlation," it is rather hard to ignore the timing here. After nearly two years, my symptoms have improved, although they do seem to change and almost evolve over time. My neck and legs used to be the worst

To add insult, my PC treated me with steroids and nsaids immediately after, both of which are known to exacerbate "Flouroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome." Also, I was taking Clonopin 2mg daily, which is a benzodiazapine similar to Xanax. All benzos are contraindicated with flouroquinolones because FQs can immediately turn off (flip, actually,) the benzo (and opioid) receptors in the brain, sending you into an immediate benzo withdrawal, which is horrific by itself. I was also taking 300 mg Wellbutrin, which is also contra-indicated. My life has been quite thoroughly dessimated.

There is a ton of info and support on the web about the adverse effects of flouroquinolones, but that's about the only place you will find it. Much like FM, FTS is a "syndrome" (basically a collection of symptoms yet to be explained,) not a "disease" or "illness," and there are no tests or treatments that are scientifically significant. I have lost my career (and therefore my insurance,) my ability to participate in physical activities, some memory and cognitive function, and I deal with pain every day that even those close to me seem to doubt. Even my doc, who I used to like very much, now gives me that doubting "I think you are making this up or it is psychosomatic" look. He also seems to think that I am just looking to score some Lortab or other narcotics.

My "treatment-resistant major depression with coexisting anxiety and add" preceded any of the above by about twenty years, but the pain and severely limited lifestyle have not helped my depression...

I worked with an empathic nurse-practitioner for a while, who tried me on samples of Lyrica. It seemed to help the pain quite a bit one I got up to a pretty high dosage, but they ran out of samples and I cannot afford the almost $400 a month prescription, so I had to ramp down. Other than the Lyrica, only Lortab (hydrocodone) seems to help, and it takes about 30 mg to do the trick, which is three times the 10 mg max dosage docs can prescribe before the DEA whisks them off. This being said, please note that the high dosage I require is very unusual. Most people do not require such high doses, and indeed it can be quite dangerous. I have just ALWAYS had a high resistance to all types of pain meds and anesthetics. My dentist and oral surgeon's anesthesiologist has had to resort to adding Ketamine (not an altogether unpleasant experience..) to the normal weight-dependent dosages of typical meds that knock normal people out cold. But I digress.

I have not been diagnosed with FM because I have not seen a rheumetologist. First, I don't have the cash, and second, none of the rheumetologists around here seem to treat FM. I can only assume that this is because they doubt it's existence due to lack of definitive tests. So for now I simply endure life.

The fact that little is known and little is known to help FTS is, I believe, because A. the drug companies don't want to know, and it's such a difficult thing to pin down it's not profitable to do the research.
B. Although there are squeeky wheels on the web, the Docs don't see any significant backlash because there is no follow-up any more, and even if there was, they are too scared of malpractice claims to report the incidents, which is the only way the DEH or FDA could get data on it.
C. FQs like Ciprofloxacin are very powerful and effective broad-spectrum antibiotics that have saved countless lives. My nemesis Cipro, for instance, is the only drug known to kill Anthrax. Until something better comes long, they aren't going anywhere.

I took Cipro for two days. Had incredible stomach pain which ended up into a full blown seizure in which I fell head first into the cement. I developed Fibromyalgia after this and am disabled. I have read some articles stating there is a connection between fluorideand Fibro. Turns out Cipro has a very high content of flouride. Hmmmm ????? Could it be??? the cause

[I think fibromyalgia is a combination of three things:
1. Shortage of digestive adenosine
2. Shortage of choline
3. Inflammation

Inflammation can be triggered by any number of things. Its most prominent trigger is ingested antigen-like proteins. The damage from these proteins starts in the digestive tract as an immune reaction. The reaction releases interluken 15, an inflammatory cytokine. The reaction also releases zonulin. Zonulin cuts digestion short by making the intestine walls porous. The porosity passes the intestinal lumen into the bloodstream before DPPIV, a digestive enzyme, can digest carb proteins into adenosine. The result is a shortage of adenosine.

Adenosine fulfills two major functions. 1. Adenosine is the body primary queller of inflammation. 2. Adenosine is the base molecule of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the energy currency of all human cells. Without adenosine, we have no energy.

So what happens when ingestion of antigenic carb proteins deprives us of adenosine? The liver produces two chemicals important to digestion 1) bile acid, and 2) choline (including cholinesterase).

When we eat the liver releases bile acid. In the stomach bile acid dissolves fat, and triggers the enzymes which digest meat proteins. Cholinesterase is the substance responsible for absorbing and neutralizing bile acid. W hen digestion is complete the liver is supposed to stop producing bile and start producing cholinesterase. How does the liver tell when digestion is complete? It monitors its own metabolic rate. As I said, adenosine is the base molecule of ATP, and ATP is responsible for metabolism. So the liver monitors when to stop releasing bile acid and start releasing cholinesterase by monitoring the concentration of digestion-produced adenosine.

When we digest antigenic carb proteins, and cut digestion short, the shortage of adenosine makes the liver fill the digestive tract with excess bile acid. It also creates a shortage of choline and cholinesterase. The digestive results would be bad enough, except for one thing. Choline is a squelch-er of nerve impulses. Choline and acetylcholine sit at the junctures of all nerve neurons. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter. It facilitates impulse transmission. After transmission choline squelches the transmission. When antigenic carb proteins suppress choline production, they cause pain nerves to continue firing long past when they should stop.

This condition is exacerbated by inflammation. The inflammation exists because there is not enough adenosine present to quell the inflammation.