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connection with childhood abuse and fibro myalgia

fibrofighter45
fibrofighter45 Community member Posts: 2 Listener
Hiya, does anyone know if there is a connection between fibro myalgia sufferer's and being abused as a child. 
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Comments

  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,793 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @fibrofighter45, it might be more beneficial to contact a more specialist organisation with your question, as I'm not an expert in Fibromyalgia research. Have you considered contacting FMA UK? You can find their contact information here.

    Alternatively, you might like to have a go at searching through past research studies yourself using Google Scholar. If you type in some key words as if you're doing a typical Google search, you'll be able to view academic papers that could be relevant. Good luck! 
  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    Hi @fibrofighter45

    from my own observations traumas have been known to trigger this condition inc Lady Gaga who has shared her story - she also suffers from it and mentioned it was related to sex related abuse when she was 19 - if these are facts then the answer to your question is 'yes' it is possible 

    hope this helps and wish you well 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 118 Listener
    Hi yes there is a link. Fibromyalgia is linked to my anxiety depression and panic. These were linked by my rhumatologist to my diagnosis of Fibro. I also have heard from NAPAC who are a organisation who support sufferers of childhood sexual abuse that many of their callers have been diagnosed as having ME/FIBROMYALGIA.
    best wishes to you 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 142 Listener
    Wow, I’d never even considered this! I suffered sexual and physical abuse as I child, suffered many traumatic losses in adulthood and I have Fibro among other illnesses!! 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 118 Listener
    i know because all we get told is that fibromyalgia is a mystery and not fully understood. I also worked out that many people who have suffered severe abuse as children suffer from Complex Post traumatic stress disorder as i also do ....something that was discovered in 1992 as seperate to PTSD and has only just been put in the ICD11...its a disgrace how sufferers are not being supported! Even today its not easy to get the diagnosis and getting support is virtually impossible
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 142 Listener
    @vickyanne I’ve just been diagnosed with complex ptsd and emoitional. dysregulation disorder (new word for BPD) all caused by childhood and adult traumatic events. It’s horrible and everyday is a struggle for me. 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 118 Listener
    interesting do you know lots of people have the wrong diagnosis for BPD when actually its CPTSD how do they diagnose with both ?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 118 Listener
    just out of interest you mention other conditions i wonder if any are the same as mine as i feel mine all stem from trauma...pernicious anaemia. suffered all my life with anaemia which led to hysterectomy aged 30! asthma. diverticular disease. high blood pressure. non alcoholic liver disease. vertigo. Gerd. I am really struggling too with fibro/ME and the anxiety. depression and panic attacks no help whatsoever
  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    edited July 2018
    Hi 
    BPD & C/PTSD symptoms are very similar hence misdiagnosis 

    I dont know where to start writing additional comments apart from I've been told I'm lucky to be alive 

    I am tired of ppl who dont know me saying I look n sound ok when in fact being a tall slim blonde doesnt mean I escaped suffering which I have been told I hide well but nobody sees what set backs are like whilst at home 

    Unpredictable daily challenges both mentally and physically for victims of abuse of any kind are hard 

    I hope more research helps those who suffer but cuts cuts cuts may mean delays 
    I wish you all well
  • Waylay
    Waylay Community member, Scope Member Posts: 973 Pioneering
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 142 Listener
    He explained to me that BPD is often interwoven with CPTSD & unfortunately the result of childhood abuse. The BPD is a defense mechanism I’ve accquired without even knowing it. My moods can be very unstable. I can be happy one minute and crying the next, or happy to severe anger if someone upsets me. 
    I create barriers between myself and people as I worry they’ll hurt me or I’ll let them in and they’ll leave (not always their fault!) I have the worst panic attacks you can ever imagine. I always feel like sometime bad is going to happen and worry about the smallest thing. 
    I don’t have any of the other conditions you’ve mentioned other than the GERD. 
    The rest of my illnesses are unfortunately genetic. Which has been hard to deal with as a child and as a adult. xxx
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 118 Listener
    As someone with CPTSD it is very healthy response to develop the "disorder" dont you think ? I for one feel we have been let down badly in our childhood and i also feel badly let down not recieving any help to recover or even manage my mental or interlinked physical problems connected with trauma ie having to use a scooter. Therefore I find it means i isolate myself to cope with my anxiety levels and limit the panic. To have to beg the DWP for PIP keeps me in a state of fear and i feel it triggers every symptom of neglect and abuse that i struggle with daily
  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    @vickyanne
    Yes I agree 
    So many people have been neglected and still dismissed and constantly feeling insecure 

    I am chronically fatigued atm yet at the weekend felt so different 

    It’s yet another challenge dealing with ignorant judgemental people living with invisible illnesses 

    Keep on keeping on...living in the now is the way fwds
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 142 Listener
    vickyanne said:
    As someone with CPTSD it is very healthy response to develop the "disorder" dont you think ? I for one feel we have been let down badly in our childhood and i also feel badly let down not recieving any help to recover or even manage my mental or interlinked physical problems connected with trauma ie having to use a scooter. Therefore I find it means i isolate myself to cope with my anxiety levels and limit the panic. To have to beg the DWP for PIP keeps me in a state of fear and i feel it triggers every symptom of neglect and abuse that i struggle with daily
    I agree with you wholeheartedly, I’ve been massively let down. I’m only just starting the get the help I should’ve had 25yrs ago. Xxx
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    I believe so from personal experience and looking online fibro can be triggered by trauma. I think it’s the bodies way of saying enough is enough!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 118 Listener
    I was told that my local mental health provider were not equipped to help me with CPTSD. I was.refered by my GP for support out of my area. unfortunetly whilst on the waiting list i foolishly accepted local mental health services for my panic attacks which had become unmanageable. i saw a psychologist for 5 sessions which most of the sessions were taken up by questionaires to acess my anxiety depression and ptsd symptoms . all showing my downward spiral of disfunction. This led to me being denied support for my Cptsd out of area as the clinical finance commisioner was told by local services that i had relevant therapy in my area! total BS and I feel appauled that yet again those in positions of power can do these underhanded dirty tricks
  • feir
    feir Community member Posts: 397 Pioneering
    I'm in a couple of CPTSD groups and they discuss this stuff, i don't have fibro but do have mild arthritis & type 2 diabetes, and it seems these conditions can be linked to the immune system and abuse affects that.
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    I've never heard of Cptsd. If you take the ace test what do you do with results please?
  • feir
    feir Community member Posts: 397 Pioneering
    I've never heard of Cptsd. If you take the ace test what do you do with results please?
    CPTSD diagnosis is fairly new so not many people understand it yet. You could take it to your GP or therapist if you have one.
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger

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