Issues only on right side

[Auntbessy]

Hi everyone, my GP is suggesting I might have fibromyalgia. However I only seem to have issues on the right side of my body. Headaches, tinnitus, back spasms and pain, spasms in my hip,. I also suffer with brain fog and fatigue as well as tingling in both hands. Is this unusual? Should be properly tested? Btw I also have Hashimotos. I'm trialling amitriptyline but can only manage 5mg per day without it badly affected my brain. I just get so muddled and tired on it.

[Badbessie]

Fibromyalgia can effect us all in different ways. Both my wife and I have been diagnosed with fibro and different symptoms are predominant in both. Like you my wife's problems are mainly on the right where has my own are more bilateral. Tingling sensations are fairly common I get them in my face my wife gets them in her hands. The important thing is that other causes are ruled out before fibro is blamed. In my case no neurological cause could be found however my wife had bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome but she did have other symptoms besides tingling. Best advice would be speak with your GP/consultant about your concerns.

[Cat00]

With the Amitriptyline I presume they've told you to take it early evening so the grogginess wears off by morning? I get up between 6.30 and 7.30 so I take my Amitriptyline at 8 or 8.30pm, plus if I don't take it then it doesn't give me a sleep window which is why I take it. It amazes me how many doctors don't tell people this, including my doctor. The grogginess usually wears off after 3 to 6 weeks anyway. I'm on 90mg but obviously it effects everyone differently but when I first went on it I was all over the place in the morning.

[Welshcatlady in reply to Cat00]

I wasn't told to take it early evening, however I was taking 10mg to start with and gradually increased to 50mg, which my GP said was the maximum she could prescribe for Fibromyalgia. I take it about an hour before I go to bed and it helps me sleep, and I have no grogginess in the morning. But we are all different, I suppose I'm lucky that I don't get any side effects with it. x

[caico]

Hello, my fibro for about 15 years concentrated itself on my left but the last six months it has been affecting my right hip/thigh. I was on amitriptylene 5-10mg for about eight years but came off due to worsening side affects- I would take my dosage around 6-7pm so I didn't feel too groggy the next morning. Take care

[Auntbessy in reply to caico]

Do you take anything else instead?

[caico in reply to Auntbessy]

No I didn't- taking nightly paracetamol and a piriton to help me sleep with the pain. Have radically changed my diet too. I'll not be taking any other medication due to the horrendous side affects- my decision

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hi there, I think if and when your doctor can confirm the diagnosis would be helpful, has he done any blood tests yet xx

[Auntbessy]

That's interesting but annoying for you. I didn't think fibro could be on one side?

[Cookiemonster42]

Hi Bessy - recently diagnosed too. Do not have a great deal of pain (yet) thankfully but when it does flare it’s 90% on left. Just right shoulder (but may have physically pulled that lifting box into attic. Sleeping a lot as haven’t managed work out ‘pacing’ as yet. God knows what going back to work will cause. Let’s muddle through together eh

[Maud-ie]

I take 10mg at night to help me sleep and not wake up in pain. Not convinced it really works as I still sleep very badly. I have Fibro and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

From the diagnostic criteria you cannot only have symptoms on one side.

Only is different from mainly, solely, or predominantly.

[lynn_lunn]

I think you probably need a second opinion, your thyroid can cause lots of issues so I think your doctor needs to look at that foremost before trying to treat you for anything else.

[Kishi]

Hi there! I most often have worse symptoms on my left side as the spasms in my pecs and scalenes have great thoracic outlet like syndrome over the years. Often to the point where I feel it all left sided. However when I have massage or see my pain specialists, they often say the right side is also in spasm (and when they touch certain areas - yes, yes it is!) just not as tightly as some problems areas on the left. I think FM and the massive variences it has on how people experience it cannot be expected to follow any diagnostic rules!

Hopefully you and your GP have ruled out any other issues that may be occuring/co-occuring.

[klr31]

You need to check your thyroid blood tests and also B12, D, folate and ferritin. It could be down to under medication.

[klr31]

Tingling can be due to low B12.