Hi everyone. I’m 63 years old, 64 on Saturday. I have a question. My doctor diagnosed me with fybromyalgia recently and after doing blood test I was also diagnosed with an under active thyroid in November last year. The symptoms of both are almost identical, so how can he be sure it’s fybromyalgia if there’s no testing they can do to confirm this. I’m not in chronic pain like a lot of people are and it isn’t stopping me being active and the pain I get is mostly neck shoulders and back. I don’t have constant pain and some days none at all. I have always been fit and healthy and still try to be. What I’m trying to say is where did the label fybromyalgia originate.
I hope this makes sense. I’m just very confused at the minute.
Written by
Gillianmarie
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Yea I agree , it’s a hard one to answer as you say your thyroid diagnosis has very similar symtoms to your Fibro, did you ask your doctor how he came about the Fibro ? My fibro days can be fairly good and other days neck/back/shoulder blades are my most achy /painful areas, I have Fibro and Cfs so getting them diagnosed separately was hard as very similar, Happy birthday for Sunday, I’ve a special one end of July will be saying goodbye to my fifties, hope you find the forum helpful x
Hi, thanks for replying. I first started having aches and pains after having shingles which I contracted end of August and couldn't do any physical activity until January. Those pains went so I assumed they were because of the virus. In December 2018, I lost my husband to prostate cancer and then in January 2020 I had a hip replacement. Recovery was good and no problems with it other than the rest of my body ached. One day it was my legs, then my shoulders, neck, then my back and I thought this was with having the new hip but when I contacted the hospital to ask if it was normal to experience aches and pains in other parts of my body and she said no and that I should contact the doctor. I left it a few more months and then went to the doctor who diagnosed fybromyalgia. He then said he would check my thyroid and the results came back as underactive. I was put on thyroxine straight away and I did initially feel better, not a tired and very few aches and pains so I assumed this was the medication working and was pleased as you can imagine. Now the aches and pains are back, especially in my neck back and shoulders. It's just very frustrating to not really know what it is. I had a thyroid check at 6 weeks and my result came back as normal. So do I accept that I have fybromyalgia as well? Obviously I don't expect you to answer these questions but just wondered if this sounds familiar? Thanks for reading, sorry it's long!
Hi and to some extent no Dr diagnosed me for Fibromyalgia. I had tests for arthritis which were negative. My chiropractor suggested it could be and I confirmed it very quickly as I had gone from going to gym at age 70 to not being able to stand properly as my thighs had given way and feeling ill and immobile within a few weeks.
I went to my Dr and told him what I thought was wrong. His comment was "I can only give you pain killers or anti depressants. You no doubt know more about it than I do, there is nothing else I can do".
So I went to a homeopath and had a detox, plus supplements like Vitamin D and Omega, read a lot about it, did all I could to cope and still do. There is no doubt with the fatigue, extreme pain in certain areas, knots around my neck and lower back, brain fog, can't find words, sensitivity to loud noise, smell, and light, dizziness and severe balance issues, plus frequent IBS or abdominal pain, weight gain, dry eyes, loathing of tight clothes (incl bra), itchy skin, and last but not least waking up unrefreshed as without sleeping pills I don't get good sleep.
If you are functioning reasonably well you may be lucky and not have the full symptoms but fatigue is a major part of it like Chronic Fatigue, and the disorientation, brain fog on top of weird and not so wonderful stabbing pains in places you never thought possible. I suggest you make a list of the symptoms as and if they happen and read up about it. Everyone is different but the underlying symptoms are always there. Then make your own decision.mif it is thyroid then there are meds to deal with that.
Good luck and we will hear how you get on in the future. Thanks for listening, it's good to share. 🖐😉
Hi. Thanks for taking the time out to reply. Did you find the detox and supplements helped at all? I have been offered anti depressants (duloxetine) but I already take sertraline for depression and I don't really want to take more.
The detox happened right at the beginning and it certainly kick started my feeling less sick and gave me the impetus to stick with 'the food stuff', i.e. Supplements to suit any deficiencies which showed up after blood tests (including a check on 'homocycstein' which if high levels are shown shows a need for B12 or folate which Drs do not ask to be checked in normal blood tests.
I have only in the last 6 months started on Duloxetine but more for nerve pain than depression and am now also on Pregabalin which I am told works in a different pathway also for the nerve pain.
Basically, I believe a nutritious diet free of preservatives and flavourants, with plenty of fruit, veg and protein but low on carbs and fast foods is the best grounding for trying to take control of Fibro. Stress is another damaging factor plus overdoing things on a 'good' day so pacing is a winner.
You don't need another anti depressant I wouldn't think but the Duloxetine definitely helps with nerve pain, so it depends what other symptoms you have.
I believe my thighs gave way as a result of my hip replacements which I had a couple of years or so before Fibro hit me around age 70 and I had also lost my hubby 6 years' before, plus a car accident in my mid 20s which set my back and neck off and gradually over the years the pain in those areas gradually made me have to give up my various sporting activities.
Hope this gives you a little more insight. Physical and mental trauma is I believe a very big factor in developing Fibro and I was so lucky mine only manifested itself after retirement and not during my working years like many people.
Good luck in your search for the best way to treat your current condition. Whatever it is it certainly is debilitating I am sure. Hope those around you are able to empathise not like some folk who, because you look good and don't have a famous name like Cancer or Angina, think you are making your symptoms up.💐🌹🌻
Thank for your reply. It’s all so daunting and I hope I don’t have the full symptoms. The pain I have in my neck and the aches in my back and shoulders are the worst it feels like a weight is pressing down on me from the top of my head. Physio has advised me to get an X-ray for my neck as it could be osteoarthritis, which I think I will be doing. I do have an healthy diet in general although I admit to having a sweet tooth. I have to watch what I eat As I have IBS, diverticulosis and a hiatus hernia. It depresses me writing this down and reading it back... I’ve had very little if any illness apart from the hiatus hernia which I’ve had for 40 years. I just seem to have been bombarded with one thing after another😞sorry I’m not usually a moaner, I guess I’m just feeling sorry for myself at the minute. Thank you again, it has helped chatting to you. Take care stay safe.
Hi it was very interesting reading your reply I too have severe neck and shoulder pain also tingling in my hands also hip pain is and abdominal pain I am having a pain relief infusion on Friday for 2 hours at the pain clinic so hopefully a new woman on Saturday here's hoping 🙂 xx
Thank you for that, not something I've heard of or been offered , may look into it, let me know how you get on with it and if it makes you feel good. Fingers crossed x
Know where you are coming from. The same doctor that first diagnosed my Fibro back in 1993, also diagnosed underactive Thyroid. Have been on Synthroid ever since and all my blood test are good showing this is under control. Without the Synthroid I become very well aware that I need to take it. The reason for Doctor's diagnose in 1993 for Fibro was because of unspecified pain that was very painful. X-rays other test could find noting. Finally in 2004 my Primary doctor sent me to a Rheumatologist who did all the test for everything else which came back negative. So here we are again diagnosed with Fibro. A couple years later she diagnosed osteoarthritis in my knees, shoulders, hips, fingers and just about every other joint. Doctor and I both agree when the OA acts up the Fibro likes to move in and make everything in the area more painful. Because I am unable to take any anti inflammatory meds (anemia) or any pain meds (allergic) I am between a rock and a hard place. I use a lot of topical analgesic in all these places. Some day I wish I could shower in the stuff. I am able to take some Tylenol when pain gets too bad and it does help manage. By the way HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎂🎈 My 74th was Jan. 2. Looking forward to a wonderful year. Stay as positive as possible and always remember to laugh a lot🎊🎉🎀🤣😂
Thank you for your reply. Everyone sounds like they have much worse issues than mine and you all have my sympathy, the way you’re all coping with this and staying positive is just amazing. I will see how I get on with the duloxetine and take it from there. Today hasn’t been a bad day. Thank you for my birthday wishes, take care and stay safe.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
My diagnosis fibromyalgia
Relief for Fybromyalgia 
