Fibromyalgia and Menstruation.

[Anyaz]

Hello

My GP is really pressing towards a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia , after numerous tests etc.. I just dont know what to believe or whats going on with me.

I would really appreciate hearing from any of you that are definately diagnosed with FM if any of the following symptoms occur like this with you:

My symptoms are 2-3 weeks out of every month they peak the week before my period and stay that way untill it is almost over.

I feel like i have bursitis in both shoulders and hips and the pain is terrible it shoots down my hips into my knees. I feel like a broken action man doll! I feel like my joints are inflammed and swollen.

Then shortly after my period is over it ebbs away and im fine for a week and a half or so then it all starts all over again!

Am i going mad? Does Fibro follow patterns and can it be triggered by menstruation repetedly?

I also dont understand how taking a painkiller works if its all in my head???

Dazed and confused!

Anyaz

[Extremelygrumpy]

Okkkk let me think that far back...... I had a hysterectomy at 35 due to endometriosis.... Yup my body was put together by bit by and bought online by my mother.... I am convinced of it.. I think she got a reject....... Anyway.. Periods... Mine were horrendous not regular but I totally knew when one was imminent as I felt awful for days before and then felt great for a short while after... They also triggered my ibs at the same time.... and I did read that people with fibro well females obviously had bad times with their periods.... Mine could have been down to the endometriosis and ibs but I felt so low and run down and then great after it could well have been fibro related... I know certainly after I had my hysterectomy i did get great relief from all 3 symptoms .... Fibro only got to be the big problem it is now 4years ago when I got arthritis and I was ibs free for 12 years... It's only recently reared its head again....

If you can understand through all the rambling I personally think yes fibro can have an effect on periods... Or periods affect fibro... I am sure someone will be along soon with a simpler answer

Hugs

VG x

[chambers in reply to Extremelygrumpy]

hi vg i also had a hysterectomy with endometriosis when i was 33 and have had fibro for over 2 years now i have seem on here and people who i talk to with fibro alot of them have had a hysterectomy do you think its whats caused this shit disease i wonder who else has thought this

deborah chambers is my last name xxxxx

[XHelp]

Hi, I can only speak for myself but befor during and shortly after my period everything gets worse.RA, OA, ME, FM I am trying for a complete set.....I personally cant wait for the menopause wont be long now. I suspect it is triggered by hormonal imbalances perhaps but which one and how I dfont know perhaps some clever bod would like to carry out some research into it, unfortunately Im too tired, period due Friday plus ATOS medical so no doubt I will be as fit as a fiddle according to them lol. Good luck xxxx XH

[SharonD]

yes I do beleive it can follow that pattern - although now I am in my menopause my fibro is still just as bad but it just chooses to give me a few good days and then the really bad days - horrible but when I was younger I use to get really bad migraines as well each month together with the awful flare ups of fibro - some many years on I now only occassionally get the migraines that is one good point!

[babebatista]

Hi firstly, It's not all in your head. Not at all. I have had problems now with my periods for what seems like an eternity. I've just had more tests done actually to see if I've hit the menopause. I'm 31 and for the last year my periods have been non existent really. If I do have one it only lasts a day. I'm generally in pain and have difficulties every day with my fibro and CFS. When I first started becoming ill, I thought the doctors though it was all in my head and a couple of them actually said it was! (So unsupportive!) Anyway I luckily got referred to some good docs that understand my illness and I'm pleased to say they believe me and don't think it's all in my head! Hope that we've all answered your question hun. The roller-coaster your on, will sometimes slow down only to go up and down all over again, but your not alone here. Gentle fibro hugs xxxx

[Hidden]

I too link my problems with my cycle and would say my pain is worse the week before, during and after for a week or so...I have had tests to see if I am in menopause and I'm not not even perry....Have gone from a week to just a 2 day bleed, if you can call it that when I actually used to flood...I don't even have any warning of when anymore either as there is no pain, no breast soreness or anything. I also go anything from 22 to 35 days. I would go so far as to say that at least when my pain in joints/bones gets bad then its almost time for my period...Rhuematologist has suggested HRT to GP but I need to get my breathing issues, sleep study and allergy testing done first.

[Bacaloca]

Hi yes

me too flooding then next time nothing, pain is really bad either way, my cycle rules so many things that my fibro goes bananas, my partner calls it my psycho time he always knows when to run the baths and put in the oils...

[Sthandra]

Mine got so bad and so painful I had to have a partial hysterectomy although my fibro is still bad I have one less problem to cope with and one less sorse of pain to cope with. Sithy

[SuzySparkle]

Hi, I definitely noticed a cycle to my symptoms too. I even had a nipple discharge for a few months, which really frightened me. It can be due to hormone changes - but the blood tests came back normal. I have had really bad tenderness in one breast this month and it is quite swollen too. I am just waiting to see if it settles as my period has just finished. But the cycle is definitely more unpredictable since the fibro started.

I hesitate to say it is fibro, but your GP is right to exclude other possibilities that could be treatable before concluding that.

Hope things don't drag out for too long for you.

Best wishes

S