Confused and Tired all the time.

[LouisTurfrey]

Hi to everyone here. I have recently been suffering from Fibromyalgia and suffer chronic pain and central sensitisation. However, the one thing all the doctors seem to be ignoring is the fact that I am always tired.

I sleep odd hours at night, (3-5 hours if lucky), when I do sleep, and then all of a sudden I can fall asleep in a chair or at my desk during the afternoon. It never happens when I drive, but I do feel sudden tiredness sometimes which leads to me having to use energy drinks to stay awake. I do get confused and sometimes I can't pull my thoughts together. My short term memory is not badly affected, but I have trouble keeping things in my head.

Could this be ME or CFS? I have been on the same drugs for years and although some of the side effects can cause similar symptoms, they aren't all covered.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

[ME65]

Hi Louis,

I have ME and my daughter has Fibro. The symptoms are very similar but the fatigue levels in ME seem to be more significant. On a good days she can go for a good walk but struggles with repetitive arm and hand movements. Some days she is wiped out and has to stay in bed. I feel constantly fatigued ,as if I have been drinking and doped up on drugs. I think it's hard to tell the difference and depends on who you get referred to for a diagnosis, and it is possible to have both . The only treatments for either illness are pain relief drugs and learning how to pace yourself. Everybody seems to have slightly differing levels of the different symptoms which adds to the confusion.

I don't think this has helped much! But it shows the problems that doctor's have with making a diagnosis too.

Best wishes x

[LouisTurfrey in reply to ME65]

If it helps, on good days I can walk 20-30 metres. On bad days I can't get out a chair. Everything I touch is painful so I suspect that also wears me out.

I think I will pursue this further with the doctors. I always feel doped up.