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This is Part 5 in the Supplements For Fibromyalgia series. We’ve previously discussed the fact that fibromyalgia is caused by any combination of several underlying conditions and although a “shotgun” approach to a fibromyalgia diet works in most cases, it is important to try to determine the underlying causes of the individual’s fibromyalgia symptoms as much as possible in order to choose the most appropriate supplements for each individual case. In Part 1 of this series, I explained how where you tend to gain weight gives clues as to where problems are occurring in the body that may be participating in fibromyalgia symptoms. In Part 2 and Part 3, I discussed the different types of chronic fatigue and associated symptoms that give further clues of what exactly is going wrong. In Part 4, I discussed the common sleep disturbances that occur in fibromyalgia cases. In this part, I’m going to discuss the digestive tract problems that are a common part of fibromyalgia symptoms and what they usually indicate.Some of the gastrointestinal symptoms have been discussed previously as a part of additional symptoms seen with weight deposition and fatigue patterns, and there will be some review of that information here.The first type of digestive problem is indigestion, abdominal bloating, and gastric reflux/heartburn following eating most of the time, even with small meals/snacks. This is usually a result of inadequate digestive enzyme and/or acid production in the stomach. The more common problem is inadequate digestive enzymes, usually due to poor diet over a long period of time. In older individuals, or in those people who frequently take antacids or acid blocking medications, the problem may in fact be insufficient acid for normal digestion.
Yes, I said INSUFFICIENT acid production! You see, the stomach is supposed to be acidic. In fact, you need a highly acidic environment in the stomach to properly digest your food, but it has to be the right kind of acid. The stomach produces hydrochloric acid, which is what the digestive enzymes are designed to work the best with. When you don’t have adequate levels of hydrochloric acid and/or enzymes, you cannot properly digest your food, and it begins to putrefy (rot) in the stomach, resulting in the production of gas and other types of acid. It is this gas and abnormal acid production that often produces the symptoms of indigestion and acid reflux. While it is true that antacids and acid blocking medications do ease the symptoms of reflux in most cases early on, many people experience a gradual return of symptoms and require higher and higher doses to get relief. This is because the medications further hinder normal digestion, and create an even larger problem over time. Usually by supplementing with digestive enzymes (the first step) and sometimes supplements to increase hydrochloric acid (if enzymes alone do not entirely correct the problem), digestion can be normalized. In a few cases of acid reflux, there may be mechanical interference with the valve between the stomach and esophagus (as in cases of hiatal hernia), and this can usually be addressed through visceral manipulation techniques and other methods.
The next category of GI tract problems is that in which there is any kind of bloating, indigestion, or cramping when any significant amount of fat is ingested. This symptom is indicative of liver and/or gallbladder problems, as these organs are responsible for releasing bile to break up fat and make it easier to digest and abosorb. In addition to the digestion problem, there may be discomfort in the front of the upper abdomen, under the rib cage and/or pain and tightness in the right shoulder blade area, particularly after eating a high-fat meal or when under stress.
Bloating and flatulence after eating a high-carbohydrate meal usually indicates an overgrowth of yeast in the lower GI tract. Besides going to a relatively low-carbohydrate diet, there are supplements that can be used to eliminate the “bad” yeasts and replace them with healthy bacteria and yeasts that actually aid in digestion and also produce Vitamin K.
Digestive problems following the use of antibiotics are usually due to overgrowth of either pathogenic yeasts (as just discussed) and/or infectious bacteria (sometimes called dysbiosis). Antibiotics kill off the body’s healthy bacteria just as much as the unhealthy bacteria, and often the unhealthy ones are at least partially antibiotic resistant. Following a course of antibiotics, it is not unusual for the gastrointestinal tract to become overpopulated with unhealthy bacteria. Obviously, if this situation was created by taking antibiotics in the first place, antibiotics are probably not the best choice for handling the problem. There are natural remedies available to help restore the balance of bacteria in the GI tract back in favor of the healthy bacteria.
As discussed in the part of this series on chronic fatigue, in some cases parasites are to blame for gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly when combined with constant fatigue and constant hunger for food of any kind. This is more than just a craving for a certain food, this is a gnawing hunger that almost never goes away, no matter how much your eat. Parasites are often difficult to diagnose with certainty with most lab tests, but the symptom pattern is pretty consistent.
Intermittent bouts of bloating, diarrhea, flatulence, and other gastrointestinal symptoms are usually due to either food allergies/sensitivities and/or various autoimmune conditions. Food allergies may be revealed by formal testing, or may be determined by elimination diets of common allergic foods. The most common allergic foods are wheat/gluten, dairy, corn, soy, tomatoes, peanuts, and chocolate. By eliminating each of these foods from the diet for one to two weeks and being alert for changes in symptoms, it is often possible to figure out what the triggering foods are. Then you can simply avoid those foods, or you may try various allergy elimination methods. One natural remedy for allergies that is a bit strange, but quite effective in most cases is NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique). Critics dismiss it as being totally ridiculous, and I used to think the same thing, but I have learned that NAET and similar methods are effective for most people and I have used a variation of this method in my office with great success for the past 8 years or so.
Many people diagnosed with autoimmune disorders may actually have undiagnosed food allergies, and instead get diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Colitis. These conditions may also be related to chronic infection and/or an abnormally sensitive inflamatory response. Because a definitive cause can be difficult to find, I usually recommend beginning with digestive enzymes (which improve digestion and also help reduce inflammation), and then gradually introduce things like NAG (N-acetyl glucosmine) to help heal the gastrointestinal lining and then omega-3 fatty acids to help control inflammation.
In the final part of this series, I’m going to review what we’ve covered and then put all the parts together, to help you figure out what your specific problems are and what supplements and remedies will give you the greatest benefits.
Stay tuned for the final part of the Supplements For Fibromyalgia series here on my natural remedies blog.
****To View The Other Parts Of This Series, Click On The Links Below****
Part 1    Part2    Part 3    Part 4    Part 6
Tags: Fibromyalgia, bloating, digestive problems, dysbiosis, fibromyalgia supplements, gallbladder, gas, gastrointestinal, intestinal yeast, irritable bowel syndrome, liver, natural fibromyalgia remedies
