COULD PAST LIFESTYLE BE CAUSE OF MY FIBRO?

I don't know what would have caused your fibro, sometimes it just happens. I don't think that they actually know what causes it. But I had surgery on my cervix twice. Once for displasia and once for hpv. I have had irregular cells a lot. Had my share of infections. Maybe we are just more prone to infections. I had my tubes tied when I was in my 30's, early. I didn't have any children. I got pelvic inflamatory disease when I got my tubes tied. But I have found stress causes a lot of problems. We are more prone to things when we are under stress. Before I got fibro I was under a lot of stress. My first husband died, I had a floral business that failed because of fibro, but I think that the stress made the fibro much worse, I could barely walk back then. I know that taking care of yourself helps no matter what is going on. Make that top priority.

I give you credit for admitting things. It isn't easy. But don't thnk of yourself as a bad person or anything. You aren't. We all do things that maybe we wish we wouldn't have in life, it is a part of learning. Know you are a good person stuck with a disorder that they don't know a lot about. But they keep trying to learn what is going to help us. Don't give up. Keep trying to find what will work for you.

There is a thread called "fibro 101". It is the second thread on the forum. Take a look at it and read a few posts. There is a wealth of information there.

I was in a health food store years ago. I looked in a book on the causes of fibromyalgia, there was pages of them. Many things to consider. Even child abuse is thought of as a cause. I think our bodies get to a point where they can't handle anymore physical or emotional stress and fibromyalgia is what you get. Some people get in car accidents and get it. Or have previous injuries. Mine was from all the mental stress I think. I spent close to two years in bed before I got better. I still have a lot of pain and some fatigue, but I am doing much better than I was. I went the medication route, but others do different things that work for them. I hope that you find what works for you.

Hugs, Karen

I was married at 19, had surgery for cervical dysplasia when I was 20. I don't have a promiscuous history at all. Only 1 sexual partner. I never smoked, never used drugs, very light drinking (when I used to drink). Not saying all this to say how great I am, but to say I don't have anything of what you think could be causes. I agree with the other posters, you are brave & everyone makes mistakes. Try not to let it haunt you now.

I hsve also read that studies thst show that many fibromites were sexually abused or raped. I wasn't, unless there's a repressed memory, but I don't think so.

Thank you for your honest answers. I know it's a VERY difficult subject to talk about. I just wonder if GYN issues play a major part in this disease. Especially when the issue is chronic (yeast and bacterial) infections, or an STD that is with us forever because there is no cure. These are questions my rheumy never asked me. Maybe these things havent been researched more because people tend to keep these issues private and dont inform their dr's due to embarrassment. It's just a thought.
I'm sure it could be the stress we go through trying to deal with these issues that play a part in getting Fibro. I wish they had answers because I miss my old, vibrant, strong, outgoing self!

Thanks again...:)

Interesting. And it is certainly possible, but at this point in the diagnoses of the syndrome it is not clear. My sister had really long and painful periods, and has fibro. I have very short, low bleeding, and little pain periods, and I have it.

However, I get infections really easily, everywhere. Mouth, gut, skin, vagina... You name it. Sis is a little sturdier than I, but when her body goes haywire, it goes quite bad.

The past was, and the present is. You should not feel bad about this. people learn, and they change, and they grow. They adapt. So do our bodies. denying the past is a lie, acknowledging it and moving on to deal with the repercussions is the only way to go. brava!!

It IS interesting that it seems like a lot of women in the perimenopause & menopause years are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

Interesting thread, coco71. Thanks for it. I thought my fibro started when I had a nervous collapse 10 years ago. The man I was married to for over 20 years had another one of his rages. I went upstairs to bathe and I collapsed in tears to the floor. I believe I was overloaded with stress. Interesting concept about the hysterectomy. I had a partial one the year after. Maybe that's when my fibro really kicked in. I had to have one due to fibroid tumors that were removed.

What may help you is the proper supplements. I use to get a lot of yeast infections 15 years ago and before. When I started on my regiment of supplements I never got another one. I was so glad, having fibro is enough to deal with much less having to deal with infections. I heard proper supplements helps to strengthen your immune system then you're not prone to getting so many infections and colds and such.

Take care.

COCO71,
I like you have been trying to find a relationship between this disorder and my past medical diagnoses (ruptured C-4/C-5 ACDR and fusion, chronic complicated migraines, 5 GYN surgeries win a hysterectomy in early 2008, febrile seizure disorder, sleep apnea etc) , my lifestyle (military brat and wife...constant moving and stress), my mental health issues (anxiety, depression, PTSD). Anyway, after a ton of research on medical sites both for myself and previously for clients with this diagnosis and numerous reading on this and other similar sites, I have concluded...{no, I am not a medical researcher - but, this does seem to sum up what everyone here has said}. Whatever the traumatic event was - accident, surgical procedures of any kind, injury, abuse issues, grief issues, mental health issues (PTSD, anxiety, depression, etc), any other chronic health issue (CFS, migraines, MS, etc.) - our bodies can react to these events by creating the environments (medical authorities do not yet know what this is - perhaps chemical) that lend themselves to diseases such as Fibromyalgia. Again....I am not a medical researcher just an observant sufferer wishing researchers would look at some of these variables. Irregardless, as a former counselor, I can tell you this, STOP beating yourself up! You were young and like all of us made mistakes however you choose to classify them. So whether it was those decisions that led to the "trigger" of this disease or something as seemingly innocuous as a very stressful situation at work I'm not sure researchers will figure it out anytime soon! Therefore, you and I both need to focus on taking care of ourselves today and each day we are given without dwelling on those issues in the past that lead us to question our abilities to make good decisions -- that causes more stress -- in turn leading to the possibility of more flare-ups. Thanks for your honesty, reading your post was the perfect reminder for me to focus forward on those things I can Treat, Learn, Cope, and Survive! Take care! TLCS

My Mantra
T - Treating
L - Learning
C - Coping
S - Surviving

I always thought that my daughter's birth played into my FM. I had an emergency c-section , had a fever of 106.9 and coded twice on the table..Katie came out perfect!!! but Iwas never the same..Let me add that I had her when I was 43-high risk prenancy back then.

Men get fibro too. The current theory is fibro is brought on by some traumatic event, car wreck, serious ill ness, crime, natural disasters etc, so I guess all these GYN incidents were cetainly traumatic for each of us. BUT fibro must have other root causes than GYN, I think

Interesting
Maggie