10.Gastrointestinal issues
The gastrointestinal system is deeply linked with nerve function, and there’s a brain-gut axis that we should consider in these patients. What happens in the gut affects the brain, and what happens in the brain affects the gastrointestinal system. As a result, fibromyalgia patients often suffer from inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, especially irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. They may also have gastrointestinal symptoms more frequently than the average without being diagnosed with these conditions.
In inflammatory bowel conditions, there is sustained inflammation in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal system, leading to the formation of ulcers in the long run. Usual symptoms in these cases include diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or an upset stomach. The symptoms are worsened during menstrual periods and in patients with a food sensitivity or food intolerance.