what is Fibro and what's the difference with ME

[MEguy]

I had PVFS (ME) which cleared up after 16 years. WHat is fibro like and is it similar to ME? I have heard there are similarities. What symptoms do people with Fibro get? I never got much pain when I was sick with ME. I did have some neuralgia pain but I could cope with it. Most of my symptoms were extreme fatigue and bad neurological symptoms. Does anyone get those with Fibro? Thanks

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

It can be and there will be people who are wrongly diagnosed with one rather than the other and people will have both. ME is characterised with the PEM element where the intolerance to exercise and the malaise that follows is present. People with fibro will also get fatigue, and people with ME will also get pain. Which is the more predominant will often guide the diagnosis i.e. those with pain being the predominant symptom will drift to a fibro diagnoisis. But existence of PEM should always flag up as ME.

Edited for clarity.

[Alltheflowers in reply to desquinn]

Hi des, should that not be the other way around - people with fibro get pain and people with ME get fatigue? Not sure if it's you or me having a foggy morning!

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Alltheflowers]

I re read it and understand the confusion. It could be clearer, but it is correct. Will edit for clarity.

[Alltheflowers in reply to desquinn]

Thanks des 👍

[Midori in reply to desquinn]

Hi Des, Can you please explain PEM? It's an acronym I haven't come across. I often wonder whether mine is ME or Fibro, as the exhaustion seems more prevalent than the pain.

Thanks, Midori

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Midori]

Post Exertional Malaise

[Midori in reply to desquinn]

Many thanks for the explanation!

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Midori]

no problem at all. most if not all of the terms I will use will be in fmauk.org/glossary

[Midori in reply to desquinn]

Never thought of that!

Cheers, Midori

[Painny]

As I understand fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome whereas ME is a chronic fatigue syndrome. I have both and it’s easy to blur the line. This does not mean the sufferers do not get either.

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer in reply to Painny]

Me too 🥴treated sleep apnea as well , Some days it’s like “whay hey that day wasn’t too bad , then the next can be really🙁fell like run over by a truck day

[Painny in reply to Yassytina]

tell me about…it’s hell when it’s really bad xx