May 12th is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

January 4, 2001

The National Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign (NFAC) has designated Saturday May 12th as National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.

Fibromyalgia patients who wish to be involved in obtaining local or state proclamations of the day, or who wish to otherwise help publicize the disorder, should contact NFAC as soon as possible. T-shirts promoting the day are available for purchase, and an Awareness Day 2001 Survivor Kit is also available to help publicize the event. There is a charge for the Survivor Kit.

In an article on the NFAC website, Dr. David Nye explains that "Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is an underdiagnosed disorder of unknown etiology affecting an estimated 2-4% of the general population, women more often than men. Patients complain that they ache all over. A large number of other symptoms are often present, particularly fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep disturbance, paresthesias, and headaches. On examination, areas of focal tenderness called tender points can be demonstrated in characteristic locations. Most patients can be helped substantially with treatment."

Of particular interest to TalkAboutSleep readers is the relationship of sleep and FMS, which is also discussed by Dr. Nye, who points out that "getting adequate sleep is essential. FMS symptoms often appear during times of sleep disruption such as may be brought on by an injury or other pain, stress, shift work, or having to get up to attend to young children. At times just re-establishing a regular sleep schedule may be enough to relieve symptoms. I have not been able to get patients who swing shifts to improve substantially unless they can get onto shifts that allow them to sleep nights and keep a consistent bedtime."

"Other coexisting sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and periodic limb movements of sleep must be identified and treated. Not infrequently a spouse's snoring will exacerbate the patient's symptoms, in which case treating the spouse's snoring or having the patient wear ear plugs will help. Almost half (44%) of men with FMS have been found to also have OSA, a potentially life-threatening disorder which is important to treat in its own right. It is important to take a sleep history in all patients with FMS, including asking the spouse about snoring, apneas, and movements at night. In resistant FMS cases, referral to a sleep disorders center for polysomnography may be helpful."

Additional information about NFAC and National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is available on the NFAC website www.fmaware.com.