Symptoms of Fibromalgia

[debz0705]

I have recently been told by my McTimoney Chiropractor

That she thinks I have Fibromalgia. I felt it was a

relief to hear that after suffering with all sorts of wierd

symptoms for 20 years . following the birth of my 2nd child

I ended up with a Miis-aligned pelvis which over

the years has escalated to other symptoms. My pelvis ceased up

6 years ago & I couldn't walk properly for 6 months. Slowly got better but

I have never been same since. The symptoms I have are severe pelvic pain, leg ache & pain all the time. My ankles ache & stiffen as do my wrists. Severe neck, shoulder &

back pain, headaches. Stiff arms & legs. My body feels bruised especially when

I scratch myself, it can be agony. I feel very alone with this & i get upset a lot, my family think i make it up & tell me to stop moaning. My husband is the only one

Who understands.

So does anyone else get all this?

[tinkerfae]

im with u, i had years of weird stuff and visits to pain clinics etc, wen i was diagnosed things started to make sense and finding this site was great it has helped me so much and taught me how to manage. i hate that feeling that everyyone must think we are hypocondriacs and sometimes i really cant cope, ur lucky ur hubby understands, mine is very fit and hardworking and he thinks i have become lazy and moany!!!! he does not register how i feel at all but i have this site and friends who help me. i hope u get some relief/ meds etc to help u manage, im now at a level of meds that are working well, i still get some pain but i can cope. knowledge about fibro is a big help, knowing what im up against makes me able to copebetter.

big huggles

sorri to hear u in pain but at least u found this site,xxxx

love n lite Tink xx

[Hidden]

Hello Debz, I am sorry to read all of your symptoms and to hear how isolated you feel. I am so pleased, however, that you have a lovely hubby who understands. It's such a help to have the support from our spouses and partners, it can make all the difference.

Your symptoms are common with Fibromyalgia. To read more about symptoms etc., please click on the link below which will take you to our main site -

fibroaction.org/Pages/What-...

There is also info about Fibroymalgia there -

fibroaction.org/Pages/About...

The best thing for you to do at this stage in my opinion would be to have a chat with your GP about what your Chiropractor has suggested. You could ask for a referral to see a Rheumatologist who would examine you using the tender point test (see below for more info) and who could tell you whether or not you have Fibromyalgia or a similar condition maybe.

Try not to worry too much, take one step at a time. We are here for you and we all understand how you feel. We will try to help and support you in any way we can.

fibroaction.org/Pages/How-I...

I hope this helps Debz, take care and please let us know how you get on.

(((hug))) xxx

[Susan20067389]

Hi debz,

You are not alone it has taken 10 years for me to be diagnosed and I'm only 24, this website is brilliant, I have was diagnosed, in June and its has been a right struggle for me, I have had to deal with it all on my own, I have had support from a few of my friends. But my dad thinks I'm a Hypochondria, even though I've been diagnosed.

Your specialist might sent you to a physio, I am waiting for my hydrotherapy pool sessions, as I've been told its the best way to exercise, as people with fibro find it hard to just go to the gym as from experience (I didn't go to the gym) I started to walk more and I was in alot of pain because I pushed myself to much I was then house bound for the rest of the week.

So when you go out take your time, use aids if you have to use them if they help reduce the pain. I used crutches before I got diagnosed.

What I did was research, or ask on here I'm not sure how many people are on here but you are not alone on here we all have the same condition, just at different stages and different symptoms that go with it.

We are a community on here we help each other

Susan

[debz0705 in reply to Susan20067389]

Hi Susan, poor you having Fibromalgia at such s young age, it must be really

hard for you to deal with. Like your Dad, my Mum isn't

interested, you can see her glaze over if I mention

how I feel, which I don't bother anymore. The only excercise i do

is walking & can't do anymore than 20 mins, then I have to rest for

An hour before I can continue my day.

I need to find the courage to talk to my doctor, I did mention it to him

a few weeks ago & he just said if I have it, it's hard to prove! So I need

to go back & hopefully he will listen.

What medication do you take & what treatment go you get?

Thank you for listening :0)

Debs xx

[Ozzygirl64]

You have come to a great site by coming to this one. We are all as mad as a pan full of frogs on a hotplate lol. You can rant about your fibro and we will listen. If we can offer advice we will. I would be lost without this site. Fibro has more symptoms than you can shake a stick at, take a look:-

*******************

1. PAIN- in the muscle: often described as aching, burning, throbbing, gnawing, shooting, tingling. Almost always exacerbated by exercise and may or may not be present at rest. Can be migratory and differing from day to day.

2. FATIGUE- From feeling tired to exhausted and requiring rest periods during the day.

3. SLEEP DISTURBANCE- not being able to fall asleep and or able to stay asleep. Unrefreshing sleep patterns " feels like I haven't slept."

4. PARESTHESIA- numbness or tingling. ( non dermatomal)

5. DEPRESSION- most often reactive as with chronic pain condition.

6. ANXIETY- may include panic attacks.

7. PERSONALITY CHANGES- usually a worsening of a previous tendency.

8. MOOD SWINGS

9. SUBJECTIVE SWELLING OF EXTREMITIES- i.e. feels swollen but no-one can find anything.

10. HEADACHES- tension and or migraine.

11. COGNITIVE FUNCTION PROBLEMS: calculation difficulties, memory disturbances, spatial disorientation, difficulty with concentration, short

term memory loss.

12. FREQUENT UNUSUAL NIGHTMARES- or being unable to dream.

13. DYSTONIA- stiff muscles due to involuntary contracture. Difficulty in moving tongue to speak.

14. FREQUENTLY SAYING WRONG WORDS

15. BURNING SENSATIONS

16. LIGHT HEADEDNESS- "Fibro Fog", spaced out, cloudy.

17. MORNING STIFFNESS

18. EASY BRUISING

19. MILD BUTTERFLY RASH- (LUPUS TYPE) May be photo sensitive.

20. NEUROGENIC INFLAMMATION- rashes, may be severe itching. NI causes the symptoms and signs of Dermatographia.

21. DISEQUILIBRIUM- Vertigo

22. MUSCLE WEAKNESS- variable with no "objective" abnormality to formal testing.

23. SCIATICA- like pain

24. PHOTOPHOBIA- Intolerance of bright lights.

25. ALTERATION OF TASTE, SMELL and HEARING.

26. LOW FREQUENCY, SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS.

27. DECRESED PAINFUL SOUND THRESHOLD.

28. TINNITUS- ringing in the ears.

29. OCCASIONAL EXAGGERATED NYSTAGMUS- involuntary rapid movementof the eye ball.

30. CHANGES IN VISUAL ACUITY- impaired function of the smooth muscle used for focus as well as skeletal muscles for tracking.

31. INTOLERANCE OF ALCOHOL

32. ENHANCEMENT OF MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS

33. INTOLERANCE OF PREVIOUSLY TOLERATED MEDICATIONS

34. WEIGHT CHANGES- usually gained due to the lack of exercise through pain and or tricyclic antidepressants

35. RESTLESS LEGS

36. HEIGHTENED AWARENESS- of symptoms of HYPOGLYCEMIA 9 when blood sugar falls)

37. POSSIBLE CARBOHYDRATE INTOLERANCE

38. SYMPTOMS OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (I.B.S.)

39. HEARTBURN- secondary to I.B.S.

40. SUB-NORMAL TEMPERATURE

41. NIGHT SWEATS.

42. SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE EXTREMES

43. HEART PALPITATIONS

44. BREATHING DIFFICULTIES

45. HEART MURMUR-Mitral Valve Prolapse appears to be more symptomatic in FM than normal.

46. IMPOTENCE- reactive and occasionally.

47. SEVERE PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME

48. FREQUENT VAGINAL YEAST INFECTIONS.

49. MUSCLE SPASM- twitching.

50. NON-CARDIAC CHEST PAIN- which may simulate cardiac disorder.

51. PELVIC PAIN.

52. ABDOMINAL WALL PAIN.

53. DRY EYES AND MOUTH.

54. TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER- usually due to abnormal muscle tone.

55. RAYNAUD'S- like symptoms.

56. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME-possible related condition.

57. HAIR LOSS-secondary to psychological stress from FM.

58. VULVODYNIA- Vulvar discomfort or pain, burning, stinging and irritation.

59. PLANTAR ARCH-or heel pain. Exacerbated in FM.

This list of symptoms has been correlated by the Arthritis Foundation S.A

[bbstport in reply to Ozzygirl64]

that is a list and a half but i can say i suffer with about 70% of the list and also osteoarthritis, bursitis early stage C O P D golfers elbow and the list goes on

and so does the list of medication

[Ozzygirl64 in reply to bbstport]

Oh tell me about lists of stuff lol xxxxx

[Amanda39]

Hi, I to have suffered the awful pregnancy problems with my pelvis and problems with multiple joints. I was diagnosed 6 months after the birth of my second child. Can I ask you are your joints flexiable ?

[debz0705 in reply to Amanda39]

Hi, pregnancy has a lot to answer for! It was 20 yrs ago I had my daughter,

my joints are now quite stiff. The stiffness started

About 6 yrs ago & is slowly getting worse, this weekend

I could hardly use my arm, today it's my left leg & can

hardly bend over, sit on the loo & get up stairs! I hate

thw way it's taken my life. I'm only 47. How does it effect you?

Xx

[debz0705]

What medication do you take? X

[Doing4me]

Yep sounds about right!

The only thing that gets me through is warmth, movement, walking positive stubborn mindset