Fibromyalgia and Natural Disaster Preparedness

The stress of natural disasters is hard on anyone's health. People with fibromyalgia, however, have to take extra precautions to avoid serious flare-ups of the disease during ongoing emergencies.

Some aspects of emergency planning are obvious. If you run a risk of having to leave your home suddenly, carry an emergency bag. It should contain:

· Any medications you need for at least a week, but preferably a month.

· Identification and medical information. You need your name, address, phone, and emergency contact numbers, but also basic medical information, including a list of your prescriptions.

· Cash! ATM's don't work when the power is out.

· At least one bottle of water, preferably several. You don't want to wind up taking care of your thirst with canned sodas sweetened with NutraSweet.

· Snacks to last you at least 24 hours. This is especially important if you need to avoid certain "trigger foods." Try to avoid salty foods, since they are especially likely to interfere with your body's metabolism of stress hormones.

· Any clothing or blankets appropriate to the season. If you are able to use your own car, try to carry any "eggshell" mattress linings or pillows you use to sleep more comfortably at night. Don't be hesitant to use them.

· A small, battery-operated, crank, or solar radio, and

· Your cell phone. Remember, your best reception may be in open places at the edges of towns or cities.

Of course, you'll need to start your preparations as early as possible.

If you have fibromyalgia, you need to stick to your regular routines as much as you can. It's fine to keep informed and to let family and friends know where you are. But don't follow any disaster 24/7.

It's also important to be wise in your conversations. Be selective of who you talk to. Some people enjoy dwelling on horrors and treat disasters like some kind of reality show. Don't let people around you indulge in gratuitous tales of blood, tears, and suffering, even if they are true.

When the disaster has passed:

· See your doctor if you experience any new or worsened symptoms, and

· Expect post-traumatic stress reactions, especially increased difficulty with sleep.

Stress during a natural disaster typically does not increase fibromyalgia pain. Difficulties show up in other parts of the nervous system, particularly the organs regulated by the vagus nerve. Those are the heart and digestive tract. General symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea, constipation, gas, or alternating problems with all three) and tachycardia (racing heart) are more likely to be the problem than increase fibromyalgia pain.

Unless your water supply is questionable, chances are any gastric disturbances you experience are related to fibromyalgia. Fever, however, is a sure sign the new symptoms are food- or water-related.

Stress after a natural disaster, on the other hand, typically does worsen fibromyalgia symptoms. There may not be a great deal more pain, but pain may be bad enough to reduce sleep even more than usual.

Remember, one of the best therapies for fibromyalgia is regular, gentle, low-impact exercise. Don't be embarrassed to do your yoga or Pilates in public places. You might be an inspiration to someone else to use these proven and effective means of relieving both traumatic stress and the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia.