By: Lynne Matallana with Laurence A. Bradley, PhD., Stuart L. Silverman, M.D.,
and Muhammad B. Yunus, M.D.
You don’t actually have to be an idiot to read this book. A collaborative effort
between one of the co-founders of the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA)
and some of the foremost medical experts on the disease, this book was published
only a few months ago and addresses readers both knowledgeable and otherwise.

As
a subscriber to the NFA’s "Fibromyalgia Aware" magazine, I read Matallana’s
column regularly and had followed the development of the "central sensitization"
theory of fibromyalgia by Dr. Yunus, so I’m no novice, but even I found
information in this book that was news to me.

Even if you’ve had fibromyalgia for a long time, it never hurts to learn the
latest research and treatment. For instance, did you know that fibromyalgia can
now be classified as a disease? I didn’t. As of 2004, fibromyalgia is now
defined as disordered sensory processing at a central level. In other words,
physiological abnormalities in the brain. Fibromyalgia is just one of several
central sensitivity syndromes, and many of these syndromes will overlap in the
same person. For instance, someone with fibromyalgia may also have chronic
myofascial pain, chronic fatigue, periodic limb movement disorder, TMJ pain, and
migraines. This is an important reason why fibromyalgia is so difficult to
treat; there are usually several medical problems to address at once.

Also new to me was the data on cognitive impairment, more commonly known as
fibro fog. I’ve been complaining of cognitive dysfunction for years, and most of
my doctors either ignored my complaints or told me I must be exaggerating. But
now research studies show that fibromyalgia patients have cognitive performance
equivalent to someone 20 years their senior. Both working memory (such as doing
math in your head) and episodic memory (memory for specific events) are affected
in fibromyalgia. Contrary to popular belief, these deficits are generally NOT
caused by depression in a person with fibromyalgia.

The "Idiot’s Guide" has an entire chapter devoted to the future of research and
treatments for fibromyalgia, including studies on Milnacipran, Pregabalin and
Duloxtetine. The hope is that there will soon be medications targeted
specifically for fibromyalgia rather devising off-label uses for medications
originally created to treat other ailments.

Fibromyalgia is a systemic illness, meaning it affects most sufferers from head
to toe. There is a lot of variation from patient to patient, so the best
approach to treatment usually requires a great deal of trial and error.
Therefore a book like this one devoting chapters to conventional, alternative
and integrative therapies can be quite valuable. The authors have also chosen to
address lifestyle changes, behavioral therapy, and self-management skills that
are equally necessary tools in taming the fibromyalgia monster.

This book is most ideally suited for the newly diagnosed or family
members/friends of those with fibromyalgia. It is written in short, easy to read
segments that even those with fibro fog can follow. It helps the newly diagnosed
figure out where to start on the complicated path to management and acceptance
of the disease. It then assists the reader in seeking help from the medical
community and family and friends. It outlines a wide variety of treatment
options as well as what the reader can do on their own to feel better. Finally,
it offers a short guide to the disability process for those who find they need
to go that route.

All in all, I found the "Idiot’s Guide" to be a smart buy.