I am currently going through the process of trying to determine if I have Fibro or Hypothyroid. My symptoms are:
Sleep disturbances (but generally get 6 hours sleep). Sometimes restless legs
Body aches and pains - thighs/calves/hips/hand. No pain in back or neck.
Heightened sensitivity to touch - e.g. leaning on a door hurts or resting my arms on a table hurts.
Lightheadedness /general feeling of being unwell
Pressing sensation in temple/head
Jaw pain.
An element of fatigue - this is an interesting one as this is not chronic and some days I don't really have any fatigue.
Questions:
I find that my symptoms come and go to the extent that some days they are barely noticeable. Part of me thinks that this is not true Fibro?
The lack of severe fatigue - again this does not seem to be true fibro?
A rheumatologist did a quick tender point test but he only did two tender points -my gut feel is that I would have very low tender points (and maybe zero).
I feel like my symptoms are lighter than many people (although they certainly have a significant impact).
All comments gratefully received and Happy Easter!
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tresco12
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Welcome tresco12 , has your GP tested your thyroid levels and perhaps also your Vitamin D? If you are low in both this could contribute to some of your symptoms and that would give you a definitive answer about hypothyroidism. However as lynn17 explains we are all different and affected in different ways by fibro, I feel your frustration I had variable, but persistent symptoms for a long time before my diagnosis. Perhaps when you see your GP you could ask whether there are any GPS with special interests in pain (GPSi) in your area and ask if they could refer onwards? Wishing you a peaceful easter weekend and good luck on your journey x
The Rheumo was a bit non committal - he said that the areas where I get pain are not traditional fibro pain areas. He did a bit of a halfhearted tender point test but only touched 2 areas. He touched it so lightly that I struggled to imagine it causing anybody pain!!! - but he said that the tender point test was light touch. Does this tie in with your understanding.
He wanted to refer me to a fibro clinic to see where they would bracket me.
Hell tresco12 and a warm welcome to our friendly fibro forum where you can get help, advice, support and understanding, along with a giggle or two to lighten the day.
Have you seen our Mother Site fmauk.org ? Here you will find a wealth of information, including guides and links.
It is very difficult to diagnose just based on symptoms alone. I think your GP would need to run a few blood tests to eliminate other conditions like lupus, Lyme Disease and others, including hypothyroidism, before you could say for definite what you are suffering from.
The NHS site has also a guide to symptoms of fibro which may be helpful to you too. Also look at the Pinned Posts on the right at the bottom of the page, "Symptoms and Treatments" as this would give you an idea based on members experiences.
I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I am so genuinely sorry to read of your symptoms, and although I am not a doctor some of them sound a great deal like Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)? I have pasted you a link to the NHS Choices cache on this below:
As for your other pains they could be quite a few things? I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.
Hi Ken - how firm do you think the tender point test should be? It seemed very light touch and my Rheumo gave up after testing 2 areas. He touched my shoulder and thigh - seemed very light touch and it certainly didn't cause me any pain.
Also my pain areas of jaw/ hips/ shins/ calves / triceps are maybe not typical of fibro - do you have any comments?
The tender point tests can be very light touch but with the nature of Fibro many people feel them a great deal. If the pain in your jaw is related to TMD, then this is not Fibro related.
Pain in the hips, shins and calves can be related to the Sciatic nerve. However, the only way to know for sure is to have the area scanned.
Pain in your triceps is quit difficult as it could be related to anything from Polymyalgia rheumatica to Tendonitis. However, hip pain can also be related to Polymyalgia rheumatica.
It is really vital to get a good doctor to listen to you when you present with these sorts of issues to get the right diagnosis. I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck, and please take care of yourself.
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