Do I have fibro?

[Petitchat]

Waiting for gp appointment after 4 weeks now of unexplained pain which started in hands and feet, now knees, elbows, back of head, outer thighs, ankles and soles of feet. Very sensitive skin everywhere, particularly at the end of the day. Previously fit and healthy, managing anxiety well on citalopram.

[Dinkie]

Hi Petitchat

Sorry to hear of your unexplained pain. Unfortunately the road to a fibro diagnosis is not a quick one. Fibro is only diagnosed when all other tests have proved negative. For many this journey takes years.

You will probably be given xrays scans and blood tests first. Some of us are told that we have low vitamin D and are given supplements followed by further tests to monitor levels as too much vitamin D is not advisable.

It would be helpful to the medics if you kept a diary noting pain when it is, type of pain, where in the body etc. What you were doing, diet etc.

Good luck with your appointment.

Dinks

[Petitchat in reply to Dinkie]

Many thanks Dinks. I live in France so I don't know what the prevailing view amongst medics is here. I will keep you updated. Good tip on the diary.

[bookish]

Hi, your anxiety comment has me wondering whether you possibly have high neurotransmitters. A genetic variant in COMT (which encodes an enzyme which controls levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and also catechol oestrogens) has been linked by some to Fibro. Slow COMT function can mean too much of those hanging around in your body. One other possibility if you have been on citalopram for a while is that it may deplete magnesium, B2, B6 and particularly B12 and folate. Might be worth getting some good vitamin checks. (I have COMT variant, Fibro and was on citalopram for years). Best wishes

[Petitchat in reply to bookish]

Thanks Bookish, I'll bear this in mind. I've been on citalopram for around 4 years now. All the best to you too

[YASMINTINA FMA UK Volunteer]

Hope the appointment goes okay, agree with dinkie keep some notes , I do find that helpful , also I feel like I’ve asked all my questions by having a piece of paper with me and not walking out of the surgery and forgetting something . Take care .

[Midori]

Could be, but too early to tell. A Fibro diagnosis is given when all other possibilities have been tried and discounted; in my case it took 20 years! Covid is also getting in the way of diagnosing many conditions, so patient persistence is the way to go.

Cheers, Midori

[Petitchat in reply to Midori]

Thanks Midori. So far, no inflammatory markers in my blood, thyroid normal, everything else normal. Following a day of high activity I am woken in the night by what I can only describe as a pain bomb. Codiene eases it. I can't take anti-inflammatory drugs because I had a bleeding gastric ulcer last year. Back to the GP on Monday for review of results and what to do next