Fibromyalgia–Facts and Treatments

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Dr Gracer and his guests Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, and David Edelberg, MD, founder of WholeHealth, Chicago,  discuss a new survey that has provided new statistics about fibromyalgia. They review key findings from this study, Women Expressing Fibromyalgia’s Effects on their Everyday Lives (WE FEEL) regarding how long it takes an affected individual to get properly diagnosed and then treated effectively, as well as some possible treatments that are usually overlooked by physicians.

Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill is the executive director of HealthyWomen.org, a non-profit organization providing women with in-depth, objective, medically-approved information on a broad range of women’s health issues. HealthyWomen was behind a 2010 online survey among hundreds of fibromyalgia sufferers.

Results from the project, named Women Expressing Fibromyalgia’s Effects on their Everyday Lives (WE FEEL), document not only the physical and emotional toll on respondents, but also constructive, concrete ways to help ease suffering, including an earlier diagnosis.  Some of the key findings (for statistical details on each topic, please see link above) are:

• Fibromyalgia is a significant burden on patients
• Many patients face skepticism
• Most patients suffer undiagnosed for years
• Earlier diagnosis can lessen the impact of fibromyalgia
• Fibromyalgia negatively impacts career and housework
• Fibromyalgia challenges relationships and limits intimacy
• Patients often lack adequate support and resources
• Both treatment and support from loved ones were helpful in improving fibromyalgia symptoms and day-to-day life

More about Elizabeth Cahill
In addition to her nursing degree, Beth holds degrees in political science, business and public administration.

She has worked in the health care industry for nearly 20 years, helping to define and drive public education programs on a broad range of women’s health issues. These programs have run the gamut from heart health and cancers to migraines and oral hygiene. Her management and marketing expertise is particularly critical as HealthyWomen moves to expand its outreach to millions of women across the country through updated technology, wider program distribution and new public education and awareness efforts.

Beth is responsible for setting the strategic direction of HealthyWomen and building alliances with corporations, health care professionals and consumer groups. She also serves as the organization’s chief spokesperson, regularly speaking at corporate, non-profit, community and media events.
More about Dr. David Edelberg
David Edelberg, MD, is the founder of WholeHealth Chicago, the Midwest’s oldest andmost respected center for integrative care, known for successfully blending the latest advances in conventional medicine with a wide range of clinically proven alternative therapies. Dr. Edelberg, board certified in Internal Medicine in 1974, began incorporating alternative therapies into his practice during the 1980’s. Since founding the parent company of WholeHealth Chicago in 1993, he has become nationally recognized as one of the pioneers of integrative medicine, a new specialty combining conventional medicine with alternative therapies. Author of numerous articles and editor of five books on integrative medicine; look for his latest book, The Triple Whammy Cure.