Does anyone know what are the symptoms which involve being diagnosed with both Fibromyalgia AND ME/CFS.

I'm interested as Consultant says FM and GP says CFS. If I have both I need to know. Thank you for this.

[Hidden]

it was thought I had cfs, but was dx with fibro last week I still dont know if I have both, have a look at the tag for symptoms

[gizzmo]

I have F.M. and symptoms for me being diagnosed where neck stiffness, pain in abdoman, extreme tiredness, brain fog ,muscle aches, restless legs skin sensitivity,the list goes on,I ended up with specialist in london stating I had 11 out of 14 symptoms that relate to F.m., I don't quite know how they specifically pick which one you have but it's a case of process of ellimination, and all my pressure points were sore when touched. I hope this helps but I did found out a lot on google and an aunt who has had F.M. for 40yrs.I'm sure there will be lots on here and lots of people who will offer help.I wish you good luck and just knowing there are loads of us out there going through the same helps,all the best ,x

[Hidden in reply to gizzmo]

Thanks for this.

[nuttytartuk2003]

Hi Reflections,

I was diagnosed with both fibro and me/cfs in 2010 by a Rheumatologist but my Doctor believes they are the same thing so maybe your doctor is thinking along the same lines as my Doctor, he refers to my illness as cfs but when I correct him and say "and fibromyalgia" he doesnt like it and says its the same thing but they arn't the same thing, make sure you correct your Doctor when he/she says cfs, point out that it was fibro you was diagnosed with, its important you get the correct treatment for fibro not cfs unless you do have both.

As for symptoms of both they are very similar, I think I was diagnosed with both because of how long I sleep (14-16 hours) plus having quite severe pain, from what I've read about both conditions you have to have 11 of the 18 tender points for fibro and a lack of sleep that prevents you from feeling refreshed, I know fibro make you fatigued as well but cfs/me is sleeping for very long periods.

Hope this helps

Irene x

[Hidden in reply to nuttytartuk2003]

Thanks Irene.

[KLR22]

I have ME but not Fibromylgia. I always understood Fibromylgia to be an all-over pain condition with tender points, plus insomnia/not sleeping well. Others on here may know better than me on that though. ME often occurs after a viral infection and is sleeping a lot at the beginning, plus extreme fatigue, muscle/joint pain, cognitive problems due to brain fog, headaches, post-exertional malaise, etc. I'm sure the powers-that-be are trying to lump the two conditions together so that they become diluted and aren't taken seriously. They can co-exist but not always.

Hope this helps you.

Good luck.

Karen

[Hidden in reply to KLR22]

Hello Karen, I know some who have pain and tender points who have been diagnosed with ME/CFS - I agree that they are lump in the two conditions together or not giving an accurate diagnosis as to which condition a patient has - all depending on who you go to. Thank you.

[soulsusie]

I have severe Fibromyalgia and M.E. as stated by my GP, the rheumatologist diagnosed me in March 2010 and my GP diagnosed me with M.E. in Nov2011.

HUgs

Sue x x x

[Hidden in reply to soulsusie]

Your doctor seems to have a more balanced approach. Takes takes time to sort out doesn't it. Thank you.

[fairycazzie]

It will go on what you say to them and the tests that are done to confirm things.

Mri's and scans blood tests and medical history!

I have had a lot of 24yrs and at 43yrs old now adds up over time but in the past never thought for one second would resort to the suffering of daily life now xx

[Hidden in reply to fairycazzie]

I think they have both interpreted the same tests etc., in different ways. I am sorry for your long-term suffering. x

[Hidden]

Hi Chris, thanks for this I know about the symptoms for both ME and Fibromyalgia, I suppose what I'm asking for is that there is a huge overlap between both conditions - I believe I have a combination of both conditions - and it is complex for them to both say different conditions. What actually is it that makes the two conditions become a combined diagnosis? Hope this makes sense.

[Lindz]

I was diagnosed with ME in 1991, and showed all the classic symptoms. Last year I was sent by my GP to see the rheumotologist (who specialised in fibro) as my condition had changed over the years. He diagnosed me with CFS/Fibromyalgia.

Guess the 2 conditions do co-exist!!

Angel Hugs

Lindz xx

[thenewmrsmills]

I have both fibro and ME. I have the pain and fog of fibro and the waves of unexplainable exhaustion from the ME. The ME also causes my arthritis to act up and then fibro causes tiredness.

It's pretty rubbish! But yes I have both but as a newbie, I am yet to establish which pain/symptom is which.

[Hidden in reply to thenewmrsmills]

Complex isn't it...... Thank you.

[spikey9222]

I had all the usual simptoms as everybody has said above but i went to a pain clinic at my local hospital , she pocked me all over ( which was bloody painful ) and then she said you have fibro hear take this tenns machine home with you and use it for 20 mins a day. Well that all sounds great except the sticky pads dont stick to my skin therefore it never worked. what a waist of time. My pain killers dont work either.

[Hidden in reply to spikey9222]

Hope you get sorted out soon - how ridiculous to give you a machine where the sticky pads don't stick - what next..... Thank you.

[Kirby]

A lot of people with ME do not want it lumped together with CFS, which is always happening. I was reading a long research paper this week and ME doesn't even require fatigue to be one of the symptoms. ME is to do with changes in the brain as a result of a virus. It is said CFS was an invention buy UD health insurers to play down the seriousness of ME

[Kirby]

Sorry that should read US health insurers

[Hidden in reply to Kirby]

Thanks Kirby and everyone...

[Hidden]

Thanks very much Chris thoughts make sense..

[Angelicscripts6]

Diagnosed with ME/CFS by ME specialist prior to having a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia which came yrs later....

Difference is, no matter what you do M.E wipes you out, could sleep for Britain at times plus muscles brain whole body fatigued.... its a tiredness that comes on quickly & you have to sleep.....an unnatural tiredness it is..

Fibromyalgia my word Pain ..

.its a pain literally from a slightest touch from clothes to light/sound sensitivity Wow....somedays I can Hear See & Smell to well & others days I would swear I was deaf dumb & blind ....ha ha ha

Plus having cervical spondylosis with stenosis Raynards & riddled with osteoarthritis...hip replacement was cancelled.... lumbar displacement list endless

Now just waffling up since 3am & thats the combination of Fibromyalgia & M.E.....

You don't know whether your coming or going but once you work out whats doing what to your body, you'll get the hang of which condition causes what....

They are separate conditions however they can overlap each.....