IBS and Fibromyalgia

[Edgar77]

Anyone else have IBS and fibromyalgia? I'm not sure which came first and which is the cause of all my gut issues, especially the tight belt feeling.

[MiRiderGirl]

Hi, yes I have both. Diagnosed with IBS in my 20s and Fibromyalgia in 2010 (I was 39). Had both since childhood.

[E3178]

Yes I have had both for years.

[camas7788]

Yes, I have both. I was finally diagnosed with fibro in 2009 and then started having IBS shortly afterwards. My fibro doc said it is very, very common to see this happening.

[Iesgobdafydd]

Not exactly, but I had an IBS diagnosis and several years later my GP thought I had fibromyalgia but wasn't completely sure and offered a referral to a rheumatologist if I preferred (which I did, and they didn't uphold the fibromyalgia diagnosis). In my case I'm convinced the root cause is something along the lines of TMJD, which instead of being confined to the temporomandibular joint has affected my whole body, possibly due to joint hypermobility, which the rheumatologist did diagnose. I haven't had the TMJD confirmed by a doctor - my GP thought I should have inflammation with it which would have showed up in my blood tests so disagreed with me - my dentist seemed happy to just take my word I had it and give me a sheet on the exercises they recommend for it.

I had a dental injury in childhood, and a second injury in the same place in adulthood, and surgery on the tooth after both, and had minor symptoms after the childhood incident which with hindsight I ascribe to TMJD - occasional throbbing near the root of the injured tooth long after the injury would have healed, pain and eventually numbness at one edge of one big toe nail which at the time I thought was an ingrown toenail but never saw a doctor about, and (possibly) bad sore throats early in the day which went away later on, which I used to get in high school.

I've cleared up my IBS now, still working on the TMJD.

Might not be what's behind your issues, just a possibility to consider, so I'll leave it at that.

[Luisa22 in reply to Iesgobdafydd]

I do feel, from studies I have done, that trigeminal nerve injury can affect the brainstem and the vagus nerve sometimes. And of course, the vagus nerve runs right down to the gut!

[LunaBess]

hi, I suffer with both and I’m pretty sure Fibromyalgia came first, plus I also have hypothyroidism and more recently diagnosed with Ménière’s disease. All are linked together. I think the best way I handle things is to just be as positive as I can otherwise I would just give up the battle. Take care