Kirsty Young’s battle to get the right treatment for her fibromyalgia
Kirsty Young is the previous Desert Island Discs host and she has finally disclosed her battle that lasted four years to get the right treatment for her fibromyalgia. Kirsty is 53 and during an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine she confessed that her fibromyalgia left her “struggling to drive and cook, which was made a lot worse by the wrong medics sending her down blind alleys regarding her treatment”. This is an all too common occurrence where fibromyalgia is concerned. It is often misdiagnosed and at times, patients are prescribed certain medications and treatments, which can result in the pain and symptoms becoming worse, or even adding additional symptoms to those already prominent due to fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia symptoms
Kirsty described her extreme tiredness – a major symptom of fibromyalgia – as feeling like “somebody had drugged me like you’d taken a sleeping tablet at the wrong time in the day and you were completely losing it.” This is just one of the debilitating symptoms of this chronic pain disease. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
* Pain all over the body – the pain can feel like a dull ache, a stabbing pain or a burning pain.
* Hyperalgesia – sensitivity to touch that causes pain when it shouldn’t do so.
* Stiffness and muscle spasms.
* Problems with concentration and memory.
* Headaches, dizziness and clumsiness.
* Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
* Tingling and numbness.
* The inability to regulate body temperature.
* Depression and anxiety.
Kirsty also said that she felt depressed during her four-year battle to get the correct treatment. She stated, “I’m not a medic, I don’t know the difference between low mood and depression, but I remember talking to my specialist about that.” Eventually, her symptoms became so bad and the medications she was prescribed made her feel so ill that she resigned from hosting Desert Island Discs.
Why do doctors sometimes misdiagnose fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be very similar to other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome and celiac disease. There is also no specific diagnostic test for fibromyalgia which makes a diagnosis difficult. Some controversy still exists among doctors who do not believe the condition is an actual condition in its own right because they are of the assumption the symptoms are an accumulation of other conditions.
Why is the traditional treatment for fibromyalgia not always the best solution?
Fibromyalgia is traditionally treated through medication that works on the central nervous system to make pain sensations less. This can include sedatives, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and very strong nerve painkillers such as Gabapentin. These drugs can have a lot of side effects which toppled with the symptoms of fibromyalgia can make life unbearable for the sufferer.
What treatment is the best for fibromyalgia?
The best kind of treatment for fibromyalgia is a treatment that is safe, medication-free and non-invasive. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation also known as RTMS,is one such option. It works by stimulating the brain to alter the activity levels. This treatment is pioneering for the symptomatic relief of fibromyalgia and has a proven track record for reducing pain and improving life for patients that suffer from it. You do not have to endure years of pain and brain fog while taking medication, as Kirsty Young did. To find out more contact RTMS London to discover how they might be able to help you live a pain-free and medication-free life.
Posted on 14th June 2022