Have I really got fibromyalgia?

[Goldendoodle1972]

Hi I had a virus 6 years ago. I had wide spread muscle pain for six months and was told I had post viral infection. Since then I have improved but do get times when I ache like flu all over. Some days I can walk along way and play tennis then other days I just feel so achy and in pain. I really wish I knew what triggers it. I keep a food and activity diary but nothing seems to set it off. I believe when I get stressed it definitely flares up. I was told I had ME from a lazy Dr. I went to a rheumatologist in Dec and I’m waiting for MRI scan results but he thought it was fibromyalgia. Thank you x

[Gavlar1980]

Hiya can totally relate to what you are saying. I used to work in drainage and become really ill and got a viral infection. Working within that industry input it down to that . But ever since that time I have really struggled gradually going from full time to part time then to unemployment. Some days I won’t be able to walk as if I have sprained my ankle. The next day it will be fine. I struggle with shortness of breath. Constantly needing to clear my throat. Extreme fatigue. Bad muscle pain after any task. I feel for you I really do.

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Morning, glad you have seen the rheumatologist, I have both Fibro /cfs , both diagnosed separately and both conditions have very similar symptoms, I have read here many times that people have been diagnosed with fibro after a bad virus, car accident, childbirth , stress, something that has triggered off the condition. It differently helps to seek out the right doctor , I personally didn’t get the right help but eventually saw a different doc at my surgery and I felt totally confident with his understanding of the condition. I hope you hear about the results very soon .xx

[JayCeon]

Hi there, my Big Ache may have slowly started after I had swine flu 10 years ago. I'm realizing now (sun's out, but wind - owwwww!) that windy weather (e.g. island/coast holidays) used to be the main trigger in the first years. Low D3 and B12 were the first ideas - didn't help, but I take them since then.Since my full flare I still have energy bursts, but usually short. Good days only when cryotherapy and/or acupressure have worked particularly well, better in warm weather. I've discovered when I get fluey-feverish that means I am tired altho faking it, and sh'd go sleep immediately. I can cold shower some of the feverishness and Ache away, but pacing is more important.

Food only triggers my IBSD, but/so I've always had to very healthily anyway. Most activities trigger, it's also the amount and whether I allow for rest in between 2 or 3 activities per day, or during the activity. Up to 1h/d of table tennis - sometimes very snappy, usually winning -, up to 1h/d cycling, 1-2h/wk grandchild, 30 mins/2d shopping. Everything else, like exercising best under 3 mins, but very regularly throughout the day, working best in home office lying down, best in 1h stints. Some kinds of stress flare it too, but it's not the main reason.

MRIs, X-rays and scintigrams didn't show enough to explain the amount of pain/s. Only found a probably harmless spinal tumour. So I'm 'satisfied' with fibro as main explanation for the pain after having double checked everything else with every type of doc there is, bar lungs. Of 30 diagnoses I'd had a lot for ages already and long got them under control, got most of the other symptoms sorted out myself, using occasional suggestions from docs. Plus a whole load of cardiovascular issues were found which I hadn't expected, but also a lot of confirmation that parts of me are OK, and I'm really totally fit ;-P.

[LoneEra]

It’s a difficult thing to diagnose. Some people spend years trying to get a fibro diagnosis. Others get the diagnosis and feel it doesn’t quite fit them.

If you’re not happy once you’re diagnosed, you could seek a second opinion. Realistically, the easiest way to do this is to see a specialist privately.

For now, I would say - be patient, wait for the MRI results, and take it from there. Once you have your diagnosis, let us know and then we can hopefully offer some words of wisdom 😀 xx