I think I have just clicked as to why FM is often described as 'syndrome'.

[tulips123]

Reading so many blogs, it really strikes home just how many and varied symptoms go along with this horrible illness. We all seem to struggle to understand how these symptoms can all link together. I have excellent gp but when I mention some of my problems which worry me, I just get a blank look with an impression of "I'd love to help but I have no idea". Rheumatologist no better! Anyway, hope you all have better day than yesterday, no matter how bad or good it was!

[Hidden]

I call it a rainbow spectrum, we all have either the same symptoms but to a varying degree, some of us cope with working and the impact on their lives varies, some like me, it doesnt change one day is pretty much like the rest, Im beginning to think we can have it a long time, and get treated by gps not realising its fibro, Ive had probs for 30yrs but never thought in my wildest dreams it would hit me like this to my thinking now its a loads of illness under the name fibro

[tulips123 in reply to Hidden]

"loads of illnesses under fibro" that's it in a nutshell! My case is pretty similar to yours. @ 50 it feels like my 'useful' live is over, and has been for many years. Sometimes though it's my family/friends I feel more sorry for.

[LindseyMid]

For any condition to be called a disease, it is usually considered that it needs to have a specific set of symptoms and a known disease cause & mechanism. While we now know quite a lot about Fibro, there is still a lack of clarity as to its mechanism and what symptoms are caused by Fibro, and which may be caused by something else even if they are common among people with Fibro.

In medicine, a syndrome is the association of several clinically recognisable features, signs and symptoms that often occur together. Calling something a syndrome doesn't mean it is less severe - for example, AIDS is called a syndrome but is often fatal.

[tulips123]

My problems started @ age 12 with alopecia (age 50 - no change), and throughout my life the list of diagnoses grows longer and longer. Also have long history of mental health issues, and problems associated with the endocrine system. I am convinced my mental state has direct effect on my physical health. Do you have any information on auto-immune, which I believe is the root cause of physical illnesses kick-started by mental trauma/emotional disorder? I am desperate to get a handle on what is happening to me!