Information

[skoploss]

I am trying to get a diagnosis  confirmed  but having difficulties. I want to know where I can find info on all the symptoms 

[Greenpeace]

Hi there,

If you go to fmauk.org that is our official web address.  You will find not only the symptoms of Fibro, but lots of other informative stuff.

Good luck on getting a diagnosis, it can sometimes take a while, and it is only given after eliminating other illnesses with the same symptoms.

GP. 😊😊

[rosewine]

Yes I can understand the frustration of trying to get a diagnosis as it sometimes has taken some of years to get the correct one. If you go to our mother site Fibromyalgia Action Uk and click on Information and then Patients Booklet it will give you all the main symptoms. You can also get an information pack on Fibromyalgia sent direct to your GP if this is something you would like to do.  It can be sent anonymously if you wish.  Many have found that doctors who are under the age of 40 seem more conversant with the symptoms and treatment of fibro. The NHS Choices site also goes into more depth about the various symptoms and there are links you can click on to get even more info.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.x

[Aishah50]

If you are talking about a diagnosis of Fibro, then this is diagnosed after a process of elimination, which in itself can be a long process.  There are lots of Fibro symptom lists online. Just google " Fibro symptom list" and loads will come up. You do have to be a little cautious in thinking all your symptoms are Fibro related as they could be symptoms of another underlying illness. For example the symptoms for Fibro are similar to chronic fatigue. Often these two go hand in hand. What I would recommend is list the symptoms you are experiencing now and mention new ones to your doctor as they arise as they could be due to something else.  Good luck and stay positive, don't let your symptoms define who you are.🙂

[skoploss]

Thank you

[peck]

You got the website info.I think sometimes we may have one we don't even realize is FM symptom.Just my thought.Good luck.Peck☺

[Sorebones]

You need to see a rheumatologist for a diagnosis. As well as our mother site ask Mr Google 🐸

[skoploss in reply to Sorebones]

Thank you its just been confirmed. I am devastated 

[ukmsmi4 in reply to skoploss]

Hi skoploss

When you say it's just been confirmed, do you mean you have seen a doctor.  Only a doctor can diagnose any illness, particularly with one like Fibro because it is a diagnosis of elimination.  

It may look likely from the information on the internet but for a confirmation and diagnosis you need to first of all speak to your doctor who will go through all your symptoms.  They will then do blood tests and any other necessary investigative tests to rule out any other possible illnesses.  If they are unsure then they will likely refer you to a rheumatologist for further investigation. Then and only then can you get a diagnosis of Fibro.

Good luck in your search for your diagnosis, hope your GP can help.x

[skoploss in reply to ukmsmi4]

I saw him on Friday and had a bad weekend  so phoned him for advice and he said you have all the symptoms of fm.I was devastated I thought it was just anxiety and depression 

[ukmsmi4 in reply to skoploss]

But has he actually done any tests or the pain point test to see how many areas of your body you have pain in. Yes you may have all the symptoms, yes you may well have fibro but until he does those things even he can't be certain.  It can often take over a year to go through the whole process before it is confirmed and unless the tests are done there are still any number of things it could possibly be.

Also depression is not necessarily a part of fibro.  It can be something that develops further down the line as a secondary symptom but it isn't necessary for a diagnosis of fibro.  Plus depression can mimic many of the symptoms of fibro and ME with the fatigue and brain fog etc, though I'm not so sure about the pain side of it.

[skoploss in reply to ukmsmi4]

No pain  test done, my shoulders ache  and my legs go hot and cold pins and needles and are very tired possibly because I can't sleep.  

[ukmsmi4 in reply to skoploss]

Yes they do sound like some of the symptoms of fibro, but they also sound like some of the symptoms of depression and potentially several other things.

I'm not a medical person but I do have ME and fibro.  I do know that your GP can't just say you have some of the symptoms and therefore you have it and leave it at that.  

You need to go back to him (or another GP in the practice if you would feel more comfortable doing that) and get them to do blood tests and any referrals for other tests to rule out other possibilities first.

In my case before my ME diagnosis confirmation I had a year of loads of blood tests, various scans, a few endoscopies, ultrasound and biopsies before I finally got my diagnosis because my GP was by then fairly certain that there was nothing else that my symptoms could be.  And by the way I didn't have depression at that time, I developed that a few years later after a particularly bad ME crash.

With my tests I was tested for aneamia, rheumatic fever, gallstones, vit D, B12 and iron deficiency, glandular fever, stomach and breast cancer, stomach ulcers, liver disease, kidney disease and loads of other conditions.  All ruled out first before confirmation.

Even knowing I had ME, when I later developed fibro (which isn't uncommon as they are related) even then my GP did the pain point test before confirming.  She didn't refer me to a rheumatologist because she had at that stage been treating me for five years for ME and is fairly up on both conditions, but she still did the pain point test for confirmation.

I'm not saying you don't have fibro, you may, but no doctor can tell that from one consultation and listening to a list of symptoms.  You need to go back for further tests if you haven't had any done yet to rule out other things first.  But meantime I would look up the condition and try and look after yourself as if you do have it because if so then it is best to start pacing and resting etc as early as possible.  

Good luck.xx

[skoploss in reply to ukmsmi4]

Thank you for your kind words its reassuring to know that there are caring people out there.I wish I could help you.Thank  you and have  a good nights rest

[TheAuthor]

Hi skoploss

I can see that you have been given some wonderful advice from your other respondents, so I will simply genuinely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken