Question

Mrs. Joy Vinton has just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia . You will be composing a professional educational piece for Mrs. Joy Vinton and her family to understand about the disease. You need to write an explanation of that disease including the signs and symptoms, diagnostics and/or labs that were performed, treatment for the disease from this point forward, and the prognosis.

As a health care professional, you need to be able to answer all of the questions a patient may have about a disease or condition as well as what they may experience on a daily basis. For instance, our activities of daily living (ADLs) include some of the following: taking a bath, eating, walking, driving, grocery shopping, toileting, etc. It is our responsibility to help patients and their family cope with the disease and its effects. This is the reason why it is important to be prepared for any questions, listen attentively, identify problems the family may be experiencing with the news, and be able to take appropriate action related to assisting the physician or nurse practitioner with problem solving for the family.

Initial Discussion responses should be around 150 words

Answer 1

Fibromyalgia syndrome affects the muscles and soft tissue. Symptoms include chronic muscle pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and painful tender points or trigger points, which can be relieved through medications, lifestyle changes and stress management.

Pain is a given for nearly everyone with fibromyalgia. So are fatigue and brain fog. While those symptoms can be challenging, you don't have to put your life on hold because of them.

Living with fibromyalgia means making adjustments, from work to parenting responsibilities to household chores to having fun. By taking a more active role in managing your condition, you may feel a sense of control and boost your self-esteem along with your quality of life.

There are a number of ways you can help control your pain and live better. Not all methods may work for you. Using more than one approach may work best. It’s vital
for you to take an active role in your care. Taking an active role helps you best manage your condition. Among the steps you can take are:

Medical Care
Stay on your meds. Sounds obvious, but this can be why you don't get enough symptom relief. Nearly half the people in one study didn't take their medication as directed because of forgetfulness, carelessness, or out of frustration. In some cases, your healthcare provider may suggest medication to treat the pain. Medication may also help relieve other symptoms. Medication is one of the tools to help you better manage your symptoms of fibromyalgia. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best plan for you. Keep a journal and bring it to doctor visits so you can zero in on what's bothering you, and see what helps. Make sure the doctor in charge of your care has experience with fibromyalgia. Consider complementary therapies, like acupuncture and massage, for pain relief. Sign up for a self-management education class, in person or online, to better understand fibromyalgia.

Exercise
Staying active is key to maintaining health. This may be tough at first. Try taking small steps. Build up to a program that you can do. Walk, bike or swim to help feel better. These activities don’t have to be hard. Any movement will help. Becoming more flexible and maintaining flexibility may help reduce pain. You may want to work with a physical therapist. He or she can design a plan that will work for you. Check with your healthcare provider at the start of any exercise program. Be as active as you can. Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to deal with fibromyalgia. It eases both fatigue and pain. Walking and swimming are especially good. Aim for 20-30 minutes, 2 or 3 days per week. It's OK to do that in 10-minute chunks. Balance exercises will help you feel steadier. Resistance training can boost your strength and overall fitness. A trainer can teach you the right way to lift.

Exergaming -- video games that include exercise -- may be a good option if you're worried about falling. These fitness games track your body movements or reactions and combine that with virtual reality. This style of exercise targets your ability to move easily and balance. If you're uneasy on your feet or if even low-impact activity is hard, ask your doctor about an exercise program for people with fibromyalgia or another type of supervised rehab to improve your strength, flexibility, and stamina.

Sleep
You need sleep to feel better, but your symptoms can get in the way. Practice good sleep habits, like going to bed and getting up at the same time. Regular exercise will also help you sleep. Taking naps during the day may interfere with your ability to sleep a full eight hours at night. If you are having difficulty sleeping at night, try not taking naps during the day. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep. You might try a simple nightly soak in the tub to help you relax and temporarily ease pain. During the day, pace yourself. Plan your work, household chores, and social events so you don't overdo it. Break down big tasks into manageable bites. Build in short rest periods between activities. Your healthcare provider can give you other sleep tips. He or she may also talk to you about medications that may help.

Stress Relief
Worry, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed will drain your energy, too. Try to adopt a more "go with the flow" rather than "crisis" approach to life, set priorities, and remember it's OK to say "no" so you can focus on what's important. With guided imagery, you replace negative or stressful feelings with pleasant images. Once you learn how, you can do it on your own. Mindfulness meditation teaches you to focus your thoughts in a positive way. The more you practice it, the more pain relief it can bring. Other helpful approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy and biofeedback. Massage may help as well. Mind-body practices like tai chi, qi gong, acupuncture, chiropractic and yoga may ease many fibromyalgia issues and also may help relieve symptoms, from sleep problems and fatigue to mood. Because they include movement, they work the way exercise does, with the bonus of stress relief from focused breathing.

Diet / Nutrition
Focus on nutrient-rich foods to have more energy and to avoid other health problems. Use your diary to see if any foods make you feel better. Eating well is central to good health. Drinking lots of fluids also helps. Having a balanced diet means eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins. Don’t skip breakfast or other meals. Try to avoid snacks with lots of sugar. Instead, eat healthy snacks such as raw fruits, vegetables and high-protein snacks. People with fibromyalgia tend to have low levels of vitamin D. That could worsen pain and other symptoms. A blood test can tell if you're short on D. Ask your doctor if you should take a supplement. Avoid caffeine. While it may make you feel more alert, it can also put you on edge and make it harder to sleep. Drinking 4 or more cups of a caffeinated beverage a day has been linked with more fibro pain.

Relationships
Sit down with your partner on a regular basis to talk about what's going on with you. Listen to each other and problem-solve together. If that's difficult, counseling with a therapist may help bridge the gap. Find out what really matters to the people you care about, like your kids' soccer games or the school play. Then plan your activities and save your energy to be there for them during those times.

Join a fibromyalgia support group. You'll discover tips for your own care as well as ideas about how to get family, friends, and co-workers on the same page with you.