Could those be symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Trellum

Legendary member
Joined
Jul 17, 2013
Messages
1,788
Reason
DX FIBRO
Diagnosis
04/2011
Country
NL
State
NL
Hi all! I've been suspecting that I might actually have fibromyalgia, but my doctor think I'm just being dramatic. Some of the symptoms I've been having for a couple of years now are:

  • Chronic back pain
  • Fatigue
  • Joints pain when it's too cold
  • I feel super tired after lunch
  • I get headaches quite often
  • I'm very prone to all sorts of muscular pain

What do you think? Could this be fibromyalgia?
 
Trellum,
While we can not say for sure you have fibro, your best thing to do would be to go see a rheumatologist. This type of doctor can do testing to make sure what if any type of arthritis you may have and prescribe medication plans to help you. All the symptoms you mentioned are like fibro, but could be caused by many other illnesses like plain depression. Go get checked out and then you can begin learning the best treatments and coping skills.

In the mean time read through all the topic posts and learn different ways of helping yourself, as well as, helping deal with unbelieving family and friends. We are glad you found this forum and very happy you are here. :)
 
Hi! Thanks a lot for the great advice, I'm planning to see a rheumatologist very soon. Once I get enough time to do it! I've been very sick the last 2 years, and I've so much in my mind right now. I'm glad i found this place, it seems to be full of very useful information :)
 
Yes it is and we are very glad that you found us. Hope you continue to post and answer questions as well. Have a good day! :)
 
Regardless of what is causing the pain in your case, I am thinking that you will find some good ideas for dealing with the pain and the frustration that it causes in your life. Whether it is actually fibro , CFS, or some form of arthritis, or even lupus, many of the symptoms will be similar, and maybe can be helped with some of the same natural remedies, which we have all shared in the different forums, depending on what specific issue we each are dealing with.
Some foods, like coconut and pineapple , are anti-inflammatory, and can usually help with pain, regardless which illness is causing it.
 
The only true way a doctor can tell if you have Fibromyaglia is to test if you have many of the trigger points in your body. Unfortunately there are no blood tests that can diagnose this disease. Your symptoms do resemble this disease but they could also resemble a few other illnesses such as arthritis, which they can test for. Also I would think about changing doctors. If my doctor ever told me I was being dramatic I'd give him the boot!
 
Regardless of what is causing the pain in your case, I am thinking that you will find some good ideas for dealing with the pain and the frustration that it causes in your life. Whether it is actually fibro , CFS, or some form of arthritis, or even lupus, many of the symptoms will be similar, and maybe can be helped with some of the same natural remedies, which we have all shared in the different forums, depending on what specific issue we each are dealing with.
Some foods, like coconut and pineapple , are anti-inflammatory, and can usually help with pain, regardless which illness is causing it.


Thanks a lot, I had no idea that coconuts and pineapples were anti-inflammatory. Living with pain is hard, some days are better than others. I must say I'm very glad I found this amazing place :) I'm trying to fight this without any kind of meds. Right now I'm struggling, but I think in the end it'll be worth it!
 
Trellum -
I would also do an elimination diet to see if you have any food sensitivities. When I was in a gluten intolerance group, I met a woman with severe joint pain in her hands. She had had this pain for years. When she went off of gluten, then her pain cleared up. I figure that diet changes are always worth a try.
I have IBS and it is almost completely controlled by diet AND I avoided colitis, which my dad got at 38 years old.
Best,
Jennifer
 
The only true way a doctor can tell if you have Fibromyaglia is to test if you have many of the trigger points in your body. Unfortunately there are no blood tests that can diagnose this disease. Your symptoms do resemble this disease but they could also resemble a few other illnesses such as arthritis, which they can test for. Also I would think about changing doctors. If my doctor ever told me I was being dramatic I'd give him the boot!

Thanks for the pointers, fibromama! I was actually diagnosed recently... but to be honest I wasn't surprised at all. I've been struggling with pain for a very long time, and ever since I knew something was really wrong with me! Specially because I've experienced really serious joint issues since I was a teen. I felt a bit relief when I got the diagnosis, because I could finally prove I wasn't being a drama queen!
 
Trellum -
I would also do an elimination diet to see if you have any food sensitivities. When I was in a gluten intolerance group, I met a woman with severe joint pain in her hands. She had had this pain for years. When she went off of gluten, then her pain cleared up. I figure that diet changes are always worth a try.
I have IBS and it is almost completely controlled by diet AND I avoided colitis, which my dad got at 38 years old.
Best,
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer! Sadly I already suffer from colitis and IBS... been struggling with colitis since I was a teen as well... it runs in the family :cry: That and a lot hormonal issues. I've never tried a gluten free diet yet tho, I think that kind of diets are really restrictive and I'm already having troubles eating enough every day.
 
Trellum, your symptoms do sound to possibly be Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is sometimes hard to diagnose or is often missed diagnosed. Many people diagnosed as having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have Fibromyalgia as chronic fatigue is often a symptom of it. I would advise you to see a specialist and have test run. Knowing your condition and proper diagnosis can only set you on the path to help and hopefully treatments that will help you to feel better.
 
1st of all---the symtpoms of fibro match a lot of thinsg
despite what some websites say dry mouth/eyes andskin irritations are not really symtposm of fms--its a slight possibility...!
 
I posted this when I was in denial, Jabeen. Thanks for taking the time to reply tho. Sadly I was diagnosed a while ago, but I wanted to believe so hard this was nothing but just an ilusion. Just some months ago reality hit me hard. It didn't hit me hard not only concerning to fibro, but also other health issues. Soemtimes being in denial makes things easier, but a moment comes in which you have to wake up and smell the coffee. Reality hits like iron :(
 
Trellum, your symptoms do sound to possibly be Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is sometimes hard to diagnose or is often missed diagnosed. Many people diagnosed as having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have Fibromyalgia as chronic fatigue is often a symptom of it. I would advise you to see a specialist and have test run. Knowing your condition and proper diagnosis can only set you on the path to help and hopefully treatments that will help you to feel better.

Hi Isis, thanks for answering this. I just wanted to tell you I was diagnosed a while ago, but I never really took it that seriously. Not because I didn't think fibro wasn't a serious thing, but just because being in denial makes things MUCH easier. Some weeks or months can go great, but then a flare-up comes... and lately it's been happening very often.

Seeing all that it was hard to keep the denial going on :( Which might sound ridiculous, because it's been a while since I haven't been able to have a physical job :sad:
 
Fibromyalgia, as I've learned, is one of those diseases that can be different from person to person. Mine, for example, only first manifesting as a powerful muscle weakness, and has only revealed itself a little more clearly over the course of a decade, adding more and more symptoms to my ever-growing laundry list of complaints, not unlike the ones you described. And although you wont necessarily see it on any symptom list, I've noticed several Fibo sufferers specifically describe joint-sensitivity to cold. That's certainly a big problem for me these days.

Also, I just wanted to say that I understand your denial, Trellum. It's a disease with many faces, none of which are very "glamorous." I think because of its somewhat vague nature, when we are first faced with the possible diagnosis, we think it's a "weak-person's" disease, or that we can somehow overcome it if we just "try harder."

You'll get through this!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top