Survey

[kit]

I was wondering if a few of you wouldn't mind answering some possibly related questions about your health with regard to BFS. I am curious to see if there might be a common thread.

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching?
2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event?
3. Had you had any recent surgery?
4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching?
5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease?
6. If so, do you take any medication for the above?
7. Females - are you on or have you been on any hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives for an extended period of time.
8. Females - do you notice if your symptoms become worse or more pronounced prior to your period/menses?
9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc)
10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder?

As a physician, I am curious to see if there is any correlation. There is no pressure on answering this but I would appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks,
Best wishes,
Kit

[WitchyTwitchy]

1. yes
2. no
3. no
4. yes
5. no
6. no
7. no
8. yes
9. no
10. yes- seasonal sinus problems- fall/spring

[Capital H]

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching?

Not that I can recall

2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event?

No


3. Had you had any recent surgery?

No

4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching?

Possibly, this was back in the days when I used to cycle and walk a lot.

5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease?

IBS, reflux, heartburn

6. If so, do you take any medication for the above?

Only antacids

7. Females - are you on or have you been on any hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives for an extended period of time.

N/A

8. Females - do you notice if your symptoms become worse or more pronounced prior to your period/menses?

N/A

9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc)

Mother had rheumatoid arthritis and asthma

10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder?

Asthma, Hay Fever, extremely sensitive to solvents

[Cardu]

Mine started out with Joint pain

I had a hepatitus immunization followed by a viral infection

No surgery

No over use of muscles prior to this

Hiatial hernia, reflux, IBS, being checked for Celiac this month

Prevacid only

No hormones for me, however my symptoms are way worse around my period and ovulation.

My mother got Mysthenia Gravis following an asian flu shot 30 some years ago. Been in remission for years.

Seasonal allergies/chronic sinus problems

Amy

[shannonem]

Thanks for asking these! I'm an RN, and am equally interested in most of this stuff (albeit afraid to ask). Here goes:

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching?
Yes, but I always have this, as I work on my feet all day.

2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event?
Nope.

3. Had you had any recent surgery?
Nope.

4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching?
Nope.

5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease?
Reflux--New Dx. Was hoarse for quite some time.

6. If so, do you take any medication for the above?
Will start 40mg Protonix BID

7. Females - are you on or have you been on any hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives for an extended period of time.
Had an IUD placed in October '06. Started twitching December '06.

8. Females - do you notice if your symptoms become worse or more pronounced prior to your period/menses?
No longer menstruate.

9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc)
Adopted. Don't know family Hx. I have really severe allergies & asthma. Had a slightly elevated rheumatoid factor on one check. Etiology unclear. MD says it may turn into RA (let's all say a little prayer that it doesn't).

10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder?
See above
Thanks!

[Mark S]

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching?
no
2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event?
yes
3. Had you had any recent surgery?
no
4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching?
yes
5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease?
no
6. If so, do you take any medication for the above? no

7. Females - are you on or have you been on any hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives for an extended period of time.
8. Females - do you notice if your symptoms become worse or more pronounced prior to your period/menses?
9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc)
yes

10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder?
yes

[wjjw]

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching? No.
2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event? Major ear infection.
3. Had you had any recent surgery? No.
4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching? No.
5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease? Abnormally high tTG but no celiac.
6. If so, do you take any medication for the above? No.
7. N/A
8. N/A
9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc) Yes.
10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder? Yes.

[stevepaul]

None of the above.

[Christina]

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching? no
2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event? not sure
3. Had you had any recent surgery? no
4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching? no
5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease? reflux occasionally
6. If so, do you take any medication for the above? pepcid if needed
7. Females - are you on or have you been on any hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives for an extended period of time. no
8. Females - do you notice if your symptoms become worse or more pronounced prior to your period/menses? no
9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc) no
10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder? Have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

[Floater]

1.no
2.no
3.no
4.no
5.no
6.no
7.no
8.no
9. yes rynauds syndrome
10. no

[Phunny Phil]

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching?
no

2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event?
no

3. Had you had any recent surgery?
no

4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching?
no

5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease?
none diagnosed, but have occasional reflux

6. If so, do you take any medication for the above?
no

7. Females - are you on or have you been on any hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives for an extended period of time.

8. Females - do you notice if your symptoms become worse or more pronounced prior to your period/menses?

9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc)
no

10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder?
no

[metta]

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching? Spinal injury preceded my first major episode.

2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event? A major episode of shingles, triggered by the spinal injury, preceded the onset of chronic BFS.

3. Had you had any recent surgery? No

4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching? No

5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease? NO

6. If so, do you take any medication for the above? NA

7. Females - are you on or have you been on any hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives for an extended period of time. Bioidentical hormones for a brief period of time, but only after the BFS began.

8. Females - do you notice if your symptoms become worse or more pronounced prior to your period/menses? Post-menopausal

9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc) Father: Rheumatoid Arthritis -- Sister: Secondary Raynaud's

10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder? I have asthma and chemical sensitivies as a result of a toxic mold and chemical exposure 3 years ago.

FWIW, there are a few other surveys posted here:
` http://nextination.com/aboutbfs/forums/ ... c.php?t=79
` http://nextination.com/aboutbfs/forums/ ... php?t=8252
` http://nextination.com/aboutbfs/forums/ ... php?t=7564

...and I've informally identified several potential common factors based on my initial review of the forum posts several months ago: http://nextination.com/aboutbfs/forums/ ... ght=#58573

Hope this helps, Kit!

[out of my mind]

1. No, but I have muscular aching and muscle fatigue in the areas that I twitch. This, however, did not preceed the onset of twitching.
2. no
3.no
4. no...however, since I have been twitching, I notice a significant increase in my twitching immediately after exercising
5. no
6. no
7. no
8. no
9.no
10. no

[Ginlyn]

1. YES - have always suffered from fatigue (CFS?)
2. NO
3. NO
4. Yes, began a weight lifting program
5. Diagnosed with GERD
6. Yes
7. Oral contraceptives - yes at least 10 years
8. Not really
9. Not that I'm aware of
10. Diagnosed with endometriosis (recently heard that they believe this is autoimmune - also psoriasis on elbows) Seasonal allergies, too.

Ginny

[Thumpandbabe]

1. Did you notice "muscular" pain or fatigue prior to the twitching?
Was walking up my basement steps one day and thought I pulled a muscle in my calf. What a horrible pain. A week later, the twitching began.
2. Did you have an illness prior to the first event?
No
3. Had you had any recent surgery? No
4. Had you over used the muscles in the affected area prior to the twitching? No
5. Do any of you suffer from: IBS, reflux, esophagitis, heartburn, crohns disease/celiac disease? Reflux
6. If so, do you take any medication for the above? No, control it with diet.
7. Females - are you on or have you been on any hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives for an extended period of time. No
8. Females - do you notice if your symptoms become worse or more pronounced prior to your period/menses? No
9. Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from an autoimmune disorder? (severe allergies/asthma, MS, Lupes, Myasthenia Gravas, Rheumatoid arthritis etc) No, thank god.
10. Do you suffer from allergies or any other minor autoimmune disorder? No