I have been treated for depression for two and a half years but suspect I may have fibromyalgia because of trawling the internet looking for solutions to my 'ailments'. Doctors are rightly sceptical when patients self diagnose so I haven't yet found the courage to broach this topic. I haven't got AS (I have diagnosed my husband, and my younger daughter has just had a diagnosis) though there is and has been (I now realise, having done some family detective work) a lot of depression and anxiety in my family, maternal and paternal lines - I suspect there is some interrelatedness of conditions going on. I have only questions myself, not clinically sound answers I'm afraid.

Hey Bouncee,

I think you have just brought up a topic that a lot of people are wondering. Lots of people have asked this before and wondered this so it's great that you could bring it up though.

First though, I want to point out that my heart goes out to you with regards to trauma you've been through. Regardless of ASD, I have a strong belief that this is a big factor in itself. I'm wondering if to treat this this aspect of it, would it be worth if you went for therapy try address the issues as it seems that lots of woman find this helpful and reduces their symptoms, even though it doesn't cure them. You may benefit from counselling regarding the emotional aspects of being diagnosed with the new conditions, and so late in life. But I understand every one is different and what works for one person may not work for another. It's personal preference and individual differences. I, personally, did have some counselling and it did help to me deal with a few of the hurtful issues in my past. I was going through a terrible flare up which has finally lifted. The ASD, evidently, is going to have a large impact on your emotions anyway and having to live with the personal challenges of ASD, especially without a diagnosis or support, will have had an influence on your emotions and consequently, your Fibro. Even if only indirect. The way in which different factors link together and influence one another is complicated.

The more pressing issue is whether there is a biological link. There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest this. For example, a lot of mothers with Fibromyalgia have children with autism. I suspect a lot of mothers on this site will be in this situation - or new users may find this familiar.

Of course, situation is also supportive of this theory - as is mine. I have both the conditions too. I was diagnosed with autism as a young girl but when I was teen I began to realise something else wasn't right either, I was certain something was very wrong come my sixthteenth birthday, and I was eventually diagnosed with Fibro after a trigger point test.(There is a brief discussion in some of my blogs.)

It's definitely an issue that needs discussing. As the ASD site is still fairly new I would advise you posting the blog on the Fibroaction community fibroaction.healthunlocked....

I am sure many users will so to speak - jump at the chance in responding to you and sharing their story.

I hope this helps.

Take Care and Kindest Regards,

wanderingwallflower xx

I just want to say sorry for any confusion in my words. Or any poor word choices, of course a lot of that can be put down to fog. xx

Hi I have AS but I don't have Fibro, I do have alongside my AS a confirmed case of EDSH/HMS & a yet to be confirmed case of secondary Raynauds.

Having a daughter with Autism also I am noticing a trend in that she & many of the other children we meet with at our specialist 'tots group' all seem to have 'auto-immune' illnesses running alongside their ASDs & am growing intrigued as to the relationships between the two. At present the common ones are HMS/Fibro/Hypotonia & I would love to hear more from people on their views/observations of this.

Hi and thank you to each of you who've taken the time to reply on my blog.

Oenone:

One thing I'd like to say in reply to what you've said, is that if you do ask to be assessed for possible fibromyalgia, make sure you're asking a GP or consultant that accepts it is a known medical condition. It is recognised my the BMA, NHS, DWP etc so don't accept any nonsense from a practitioner who doesn't; they'll waste your time and possibly make you feel worse.

Funkyfairy:

I have had a lot of help with the trauma and with my AS now, though I agree with you that late diagnosis mixed up a lot of emotional responses and created problems in itself. I did however pretty much always have to find my own help, so that's an unfortunate obstacle in itself. I have a friend now who has a GP willing to work with his sensitivities as an AS and also with abuse he has suffered. I recently finally had enough of a consultant at a Pain Clinic that never considered my AS when prescribing medicine and gave me too high a dose each time. Lastly, I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with both conditions but pleased to hear your livliness on your blogs. No mean feat! I'll try add this blog to Fibroaction Community as you suggest too.

Springsong:

Thank you for your observations too. Could you let me know what EDSH, HMS and Hyptonia are? I haven't come across these abbreviations before.

I'm making notes from all your comments and using them to further work out ME!!

xx

I'm a late diagnosed adult with ASD. I have four children, two of whom are diagnosed with ASD. I've been doing some research into my own family history and have discovered a considerable history of Autism. Some older members of the family actually being institutionalized in mental hospitals in the 1940/50's with the condition, clearly before the nature of Autism was better understood.

After concerns over the possibility of my having Parkinsons Disease; which my father had, (because of a tremor I experienced along with difficulty with swallowing) and being treated for some years for Arthritic type pain, because of the high rheumatoid factor blood results; but with none of the characteristic red joints, i've now been referred to a rheumatologist who has diagnosed Fybromyalgia.

Previously, pain was often worse in winter, but in more recent years has been Chronic all year round. For me, the pain has been ongoing for many years, but my description of a 'flair up' is when the pain becomes so intense that the meds don't help and the depressive, episodes that accompany such relentless agony, become more severe. The fatigue secondary to the pain, making life extremely difficult to manage. I've suffered frequent falls throughout the years and am now extremely unsteady. My sensitivity to loud noise and crowded environments, I put down to my ASD and has been present since childhood, but their is no doubt that my sensitivity has become even worse in my aging years.

As you mentioned in your post, women seem to be more prone if they have experienced abuse and i was the victim of abuse as a child and sadly, I did also endure a number of abusive relationships in my adult life, so I guess I fit the typical pathology. Trauma; mainly emotional for me, has had a significant effect on my condition throughout my life. Eg. The sudden death of my Brother last year, the sudden death of a former partner, the premature death of my mother and the suicide of my older brother, all taking a significant toll. However, in my aging years even small upsets or increased stress levels can push me into a phase of uncontrollable pain. As an Aspie, I find stress extremely difficult to manage and the smallest concerns can leave me highly anxious. I'm also Dyslexic, so struggle greatly with daily living.

As mother, it's clear to me that my genetic history has significantly contributed to my children's ASD condition, however, my own diagnosis of FM has also brought me to realize that my sons (although un-diagnosed with FM) are also suffering FM symptoms. One quite markedly and he is only a teen at present. This leaves me deeply saddened as I wouldn't wish my level of pain on anyone, least of all a child.

In talking with other adults I know who are on the spectrum, it seems some of them too have an FM diagnosis. I'm not an academic or particularly well educated, but anecdotal evidence seems to point to these two conditions being co-morbid.

I was well prepared for my ASD dignosis, but quite ill prepared for the FM. I'm an owner of a small business, which I run part-time in order to facilitate the care of my ASD sons, but also to hopefully afford them some form of employment in their future, but I'm scrambling for strategies right now, to make my life more bearable in both my care commitments and work life and would welcome any advice, so that my latter years are more productive and that the pain is more manageable.

Actually, I discovered it is the higher amount of oxalic acid heavy metals that the Autistic face. Search oxalic acid and autism. I take vitamin D to reach a blood level of 50-80 ng/ml (blood level is important and sometimes the I found the autistic like myself have poor vitamin D absorption) , carrots (6 baby carrots) , chromium (from liver or raw kale, but if choosing supplement do not overdo it), and calcium citrate tabs, N-acetyl cysteine and mercury free omega fats. Got rid of the oxalates and heavy metals by glutathione and oxalic acid reductase. Ask your Dr. before starting any dietary changes. I want you to ask yourself when you sun yourself does the fibromyalgia seem to be better???? I am a biochemist I know some things thanks to God.

Please respond to me if you are still suffering from fibromyalgia.

Hi! I was diagnosed with Asperger's aged 28 and fibromyalgia four years later. I've often believed the two conditions are interlinked. Had no major childhood traumas except for constant bullying. I actually believe the trauma of discovering I was Aspergic triggered the fibromyalgia. Also have depression and anxiety. And possible dyspraxia.

Life is not at all easy and it's hard to keep going sometimes with all this to deal with.

Anyone else got both conditions too?

Call me an idiot ,but what's fibromyalgia?

I believe that fibromyalgia is at its core a physically related malady. I think that if one is born a certain way physically, then fibromyalgia or constant or chronic pain will necessarily follow. I have an autism diagnosis and a fibromyalgia diagnosis. I have suffered my whole life with constant pain.

I once heard a boy with autism say ‘now my head is hurting even more’ after a fellow classmate had been shouting. That implies that his head was already hurting