canadjineh wrote: »

Apologies all if I sounded a little huffy in my previous posts... It's just that I've heard so much crap from people who don't think FM is real and just an excuse for 'slackers' who want disability pensions (including some stooopid docs), that I tend toward the defensive . I will shut up now. But I have found that more research is showing that it is all autoimmune and often tied to food sensitivities/allergies.

I'm waiting for an OK to get a full transcript of this metastudy and will pass it on, as it relates to differences around the world in menopausal symptoms: https://researchgate.net/publication/6343105_Prevalence_of_hot_flushes_and_night_sweats_around_the_world_A_systematic_review
Just looking at the 'highlights' shows a huge difference in ethnic or cultural or geographic results. Why is it over 80% of menopausal women in the Western world suffer vasomotor (hot flashes) difficulties but only 30-40% of menopausal women in other geographic regions/ethnicities/cultures suffer?

Also your 'sciencey' Keto-joke for the day:
Have you heard about the gene researcher who went Keto?.... she liked the idea of CRISPR bacon for breakfast.

No worries Sorry I didnt make it clear in my first post. I have several friends with FM who I have encouraged to look into possible food related causes only because I see them suffer and hate the thought that it could be so easily "treated" if that were the real cause. It absolutely cannot hurt to look into that, and at least eliminate it along with all other causes before accepting a FM diagnosis completely. It will be awesome if there is ever an accepted, widespread, affordable test for FM. At least you wouldnt lose a year or more of your life if that was not it.

As for why western women are more impacted... I dont really have any clue, but wondering about soy in the diet, decreased calcium intake etc. I am sure the balance of nutrients in a typical American diet is sorely lacking compared to other countries. Fluctuating hormones in the face of missing other components may exacerbate the effect? I also wonder about possibly under-reporting in other countries? Or overreporting in US? Sample size and all. But my guess is diet differences, government intervention, hormones in beef and chicken, etc.