Possible Fibromyalgia?

[LJB98]

Hi everyone,

I was hoping I would be able to get some advice on whether I should see the GP regarding possible fibromyalgia.

my symptoms include:

Aching in my lower back (very difficult to find a comfortable position and stretching does not seem to help)

Aching in my neck which more often than not leads to intense headaches

Fatigue - I seem to be able to get to sleep fine but sometimes find it difficult to stay asleep and when I do wake in the morning (even if I have slept the whole night through) I feel very tired still and as if I could have another 8 hours. If I do wake up feeling refreshed I usually slump around midday. I do not have caffeine so know it is not due to this.

I really enjoy going for hikes however, I cannot go on a walk any longer than 3 hours because the pain I experience in my hips is unbearable, it feels like my bones are grinding on each other. I should point out that I am 24 year old female so feel like this is not normal!

I also suffer with swelling in my hands and feet (not 24/7) but if there is a change in temperature or I have been exercising my hands will swell to the point I cannot take off my rings and they can become very itchy.

I also feel as though I am more sensitive to pain than others. If for example, someone pokes me lightly it can really hurt and an almost burning sensation spreads from the point of contact.

In the cold particularly, my lower legs become painful and it feels as though my shin bones are aching.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Hi and a warm welcome to the forums. You can find general information on fibromyalgia at our website fmauk.org and our patient information booklets at fmauk.org/publications

While your symptoms could be fibromyalgia, your doctor should test for other potential conditions prior to making a diagnosis

[LJB98 in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Based on your knowledge would you recommend a trip to the GP?

[Camille1 in reply to LJB98]

Definitely see your GP. I had similar symptoms for a few years, then at the age of 34, my GP did bloods test that came back fine. They shrugged their shoulders and sent me away.

I never even considered I might have fibromyalgia when I went to a new GP around the age of 39 with pains around my ribs. The blood tests came back as deficient in vitamin D and he suggested fibromyalgia too.

Amitriptyline helps me get restorative sleep and with an overactive bladder. (The first GP dismissed I had bladder issues as I was "too young" !).

Understanding the condition definitely helps with your daily life.

[LJB98 in reply to Camille1]

Thank you for your advice! I think that's what I'm worried about being fobbed off by the GP or worried I'm silly for thinking I might have fibromyalgia!

[Cat00 in reply to LJB98]

You may still be fobbed off bc fibro patients often don't see the best out of GP's but it doesn't mean your are silly. I was diagnosed at 21 but had been fobbed off for years previously sometimes you need to go armed with a printout about fibromyalgia, this is what I did, that seemed to do the trick.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Yes - only way you will get a diagnosis (whether it's fibro or something else)

You might find it useful to keep a symptom /pain diary for a couple of weeks, which will give you a starting point

[Nipper11]

Check your shoes are supporting your structure of your body and take hiking sticks to support pressure points which sound to be sensitive .

You should talk to your doctor about the inflammatory sensations. You are a having perhaps he could request some tests . Write down all your symptoms and talk them through with the GP. Good luck.

big hugs

[Alanna012]

In my opinion your first port of call is to do a comprehensive thyroid test and rule out possible hashimotos (called autoimmune thyroid disease in the UK or just hypothyroidism) first. Not intending to overwhelm you, but the NHS test only checks two markers, has a "normal range" unaccepted by almost any other country in the world, and does not check full antibodies so is unreliable and it is perfectly possible to get a false negative (in fact it happens too often). I recommend private testing. Symptoms of a slowly winding down thyroid are fatigue, lack of stamina, dry eyes and skin, painful joints, poor frequently interrupted sleep, feeling listless, afternoon slump, inflammation, swelling extremities, stiff muscles and cramps.

If you do have hashimotos, it does not mean you do not also have Fibromyalgia, not all. You could have lupus, or arthritis or some other autoimmune disease and still have Fibromyalgia it tends to come in clusters, but I have found it us virtually impossible to improve Fibromyalgia without also treating the other illness(es)

If you do have Fibromyalgia then hugs, it is a very difficult illness, but at least you will have a diagnosis. I suggest you don't go in to the doctors and say you think it is fibro as that gets their backs up sometimes, but say you would like to exclude the possibility as you are having lots of joint and muscle pain and fatigue, plus sleep is difficult. (fibromyalgia is an illness of exclusion).

[LJB98]

that is really helpful advice thank you so much!!