Fibromyalgua?

[Lypsie56]

I have had ME/CFS for years but recently I have had a lot more pain. The gp mentioned Fibro to me a few years ago and said they often occur together. I have all the symptoms for Fibro but as they are the same as for ME/CFS, how do I know I've got Fibro as well as MÈ?

[Badbessie]

If you have an increase in pain then there could be other reasons other than fibromyalgia. As a general rule other causes should be ruled out first. I was first diagnosed with osteoarthritis then complex regional pain syndrome, followed by chronic pain syndrome and finally fibromyalgia. Basically it was not the increase in pain that was the problem but increasing neurological symptoms that led to a diagnosis after ruling out other causes. However we are all different and fibro can cause differing presenting problems. Speak with your GP about your concerns.

[Lypsie56 in reply to Badbessie]

Thanks for your quick reply. Yes, I will have a word with my gp.

[Rai_Iwa]

Their (in my experience) is a subtle difference between FM & CFS. The symptoms are almost exactly the same but it is the sequence of suffering that differs.

With FM you feel pain which leads to fatigue.

With CFS you feel fatigue which leads to pain.

When I have a flare-up of either disease (as I have both) I can always tell which disease is the root cause of my problems.

I hope this helps all those other dual FM & CFS sufferers out their.

James