Over Half of People With Lupus Have Disordered Sleep — and Possible Fibromyalgia
This recent study shows that 55-85% of people with lupus have disordered sleep, and that the degree of pain and fatigue relates to how bad the sleep is. Sadly, the researchers, looking for why this is so, don't even consider a key cause, which is secondary fibromyalgia, in their abstract discussion. The treatment for the secondary fibromyalgia is much different than the lupus treatment, and is much safer and more effective. Yet it appears that many people with lupus are inappropriately given escalating doses of quite toxic treatments for the "lupus" symptoms — which actually are FMS. With the new 2010 ACR diagnostic criteria (modified 2011) being able to be done by a simple patient questionnaire, it is reasonable that the questionnaire be filled out by all people with Lupus, RA or Sjogren's who have disordered sleep. If fibromyalgia is present, our earlier RCT showed that 91% of FMS patients improve with an average 90% improvement in quality of life and about 50% drop in pain by treating with S.H.I.N.E. (Sleep, Hormonal support, Infections, Nutritional support, and Exercise as able; p<.0001 vs placebo).
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. His newest book (June 10, 2024) is You Can Heal From Long COVID. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
