Could this really be Fibromyalgia??
913860
I've been diagnosed with fibro. for about 10 years. My primary dr. was pretty sure I had it, but he made sure to rule out other conditions via blood tests. He then sent me to a rheumatologist who used criteria to diagnose me.  When I participated in clinical trials, the rheumis. there confirmed my diagnosis as well.\n\nMy fibro. started after a car accident. My pain started in my limbs, then it quickly showed up in muscles throughout my body. Besides the pain, I mostly have memory problems, occassional muscle spasms, and fatigue. The pain is worse in muscles around certain points in my body. I've talked to many people on the 'net, and the symptoms and severity of fibro. varies depending on who you talk to. \n\nI would suggest seeing a rheumatologist familiar with fibromyalgia, post-traumatic, and arthritis conditions. If you have trouble finding a good doctor, try asking in fibrohugs.com for recommendations or looking at a local bone & joint hospital.
2768
I very much doubt it- sounds like you have flu or the like.  It would be best to get checked out by your doctor.
907273
Hi, \nFirstly, you really should not expect people on here to be able to  diagnose for you. I think you know yourself that if it's still going it's serious and you should DEFINITELY get round to that doctor straight away. Our health is precious and we should look after it. I think you will get other answers advising likewise. PLEASE see your doc.
258173
Well a big indicator is feeling like you've been run over by a Mack truck. There are like 18 points that a doctor can test to see if you have fibro. If you have 12 or more then you probably do. It feels like you've got the flu but in your muscles, not your bones. You wake up as tired or more tired than when you went to sleep and your sleep is NOT restful. You get really sensitive to anything touching you.\nAlthough it is classified as an autoimmune disorder- it actually is a liver disorder. Fortunately, if you do a liver cleanse it will help you feel better. After the cleanse take a calcium and magnesium supplement. It helps.
81944
i found some fibromyalgia wipes at rite aid ,they really help with the pain,out of them at the moment so not sure of the name .was in the bengay isle.
122578
Have you been checked for Fibromyalgia? PTSD is usually caused by a traumatic (physical or mental) event and so is Fibro. However, Fibro could be what is causing your pain. If so, pain medications will not be of assistance and you may then want to look at muscle relaxers instead. I have had Fibro for twenty years and have tried every pain reliever possible. Most worked initially and then I built up a tolerance causing me to move to heavier medications.\n\nHere are a few exerpts that I found linking Fibro and PTSD and are sourced below.\n\nThe mysterious chronic pain condition fibromyalgia is widely thought of as a woman's disease, but new research suggests it is also common among men with posttraumatic stress disorder. \n\nPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or chronic stress may play a strong role in the development of fibromyalgia in some patients. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that is a reaction to a specific traumatic event. Symptoms of this condition, which can occur for years after the traumatic event, include emotional withdrawal, hopelessness, irritability, mood swings, sleep problems, inability to concentrate, and an excessive startle response to noise. There is some evidence that PTSD actually results in changes in the brain, possibly from long-term overexposure to stress hormones.\n\nThis is a list of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia http://www.fibrohugs.com/article.php?story=20040301122908997
1094937
The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread, diffuse pain, often including heightened sensitivity of the skin (Allodynia), achiness around joints, and nerve pain. Chronic sleep disturbances are also characteristic of fibromyalgia, and some studies suggest that these sleep disturbances are the result of a sleep disorder called alpha wave interrupted sleep pattern, a condition in which deep sleep is frequently interrupted by bursts of brain activity similar to wakefulness. Many patients experience "brain fog," which is objectively proven abnormally slow brain waves and objectively proven cognitive deficits. Many experts feel that "brain fog" is directly related to the sleep disturbances experienced by sufferers of fibromyalgia. Other symptoms often attributed to fibromyalgia (possibly due to another comorbid disorder) are physical fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, genitourinary symptoms such as those associated with the chronic bladder condition interstitial cystitis, dermatological disorders, headaches, myoclonic twitches, and symptomatic hypoglycemia. Although it is common in people with fibromyalgia for pain to be widespread, it may also be localized in areas such as the shoulders, neck, back, hips, or other areas. Not all patients have all symptoms.\n\nFibromyalgia can start as a result of some trauma (such as a traffic accident) or illness, but there is no strong correlation between any specific type of trigger and the subsequent initiation of fibromyalgia. Symptoms can have a slow onset, and many patients have mild symptoms beginning in childhood, such as growing pains. Symptoms are often aggravated by unrelated illness or changes in the weather. They can become more tolerable or less tolerable throughout daily or yearly cycles; however, many people with fibromyalgia find that, at least some of the time, the condition prevents them from performing normal activities such as driving a car or walking up stairs. The syndrome does not cause inflammation as is presented in arthritis; nor are there any diagnostically abnormal laboratory findings. Symptoms may be present periodically or may be continual.
578859
Althought many doctors are still skeptical and there is no definitive test, the symptoms and the fact that your doctor says its post viral indicate he may think it is Chronic Fatigue Syndrom, also known as ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), PVFS (Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome) or CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Imune Dysfunction Syndrome).  Go back to your doctor, get clarification, if this is what you have, you are lucky you got diagnosed early.  You will need to mainly do your own research and find a doctor who is sympathetic rather than skeptical.  You will have to learn to pace yourself and limit yourself to what you can do before you get tired.  There is still so much unknown about this.  Ihave had it at least 12 years, the last 8 so severely I am often bedbound, but was only diagnosed last year.  I have a friend who had it mild to moderately and has made a full recovery, though it took her four years.  If your doctor says rest, he aint kidding.  Ask him to refer you to a specialist in this condition, not just a neurologist.
145097
Here is a study that explains why people with Fibromyalgia are always in pain.\nFibromyalgia pain, isn't all in patients' heads new brain study finds.\nJune 7, 2002 fMRI scans give first objective measure of mysterious ailment, provide road map for future study\n\n\n\nANN ARBOR, MI - A new brain-scan study confirms scientifically what fibromyalgia patients have been telling a skeptical medical community for years: They're really in pain.\n\nIn fact, the study finds, people with fibromyalgia say they feel severe pain, and have measurable pain signals in their brains, from a gentle finger squeeze that barely feels unpleasant to people without the disease. The squeeze's force must be doubled to cause healthy people to feel the same level of pain - and their pain signals show up in different brain areas.\n\nThe results, published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology, may offer the proof of fibromyalgia's physical roots that many doubtful physicians have sought. It may also open doors for further research on the still-unknown causes of the disease, which affects more than 2 percent of Americans, mainly women.\n\nLead authors Richard Gracely, Ph.D., and Daniel Clauw, M.D., did the study at Georgetown University Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health, but are now continuing the work at the University of Michigan Health System. In an editorial in the same issue, Clauw and U-M rheumatologist Leslie Crofford, M.D., stress the importance of fibromyalgia research and care.\n\nTo correlate subjective pain sensation with objective views of brain signals, the researchers used a super-fast form of MRI brain imaging, called functional MRI or fMRI, on 16 fibromyalgia patients and 16 people without the disease. As a result, they say, the study offers the first objective method for corroborating what fibromyalgia patients report they feel, and what's going on in their brains at the precise moment they feel it. And, it gives researchers a road map of the areas of the brain that are most - and least - active when patients feel pain.\n\n"The fMRI technology gave us a unique opportunity to look at the neurobiology underlying tenderness, which is a hallmark of fibromyalgia," says Clauw. "These results, combined with other work done by our group and others, have convinced us that some pathologic process is making these patients more sensitive. For some reason, still unknown, there's a neurobiological amplification of their pain signals."\n\nFurther results from the study were presented last year at the ACR annual meeting. The project will continue later this year at UMHS, joining other fMRI fibromyalgia research now under way.\n\nFor decades, patients and physicians have built a case that fibromyalgia is a specific, diagnosable chronic disease, characterized by tenderness and stiffness all over the body as well as fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal problems and depression. Many patients with the disease find it interferes with their work, family and personal life. Statistics show that far more women than men are affected, and that it occurs mostly during the childbearing years.\n\nThe ACR released classification criteria for fibromyalgia in 1990, to help doctors diagnose it and rule out other chronic pain conditions. Clauw and Crofford's editorial looks at the current state of research, and calls for rheumatologists to take the lead in fibromyalgia care and science.\n\nBut many skeptics have debated the very existence of fibromyalgia as a clearly distinct disorder, saying it seemed to be rooted more in psychological and social factors than in physical, biological causes. Their argument has been bolstered by the failure of research to find a clear cause, an effective treatment, or a non-subjective way of assessing patients.\n\nWhile the debate has raged, neuroscientists have begun to use brain scan technology to identify the are
1025569
Yes   go back and see your Dr and let him know you are having these problems.   They should be able to provide you some relief.
422361
What is fibromyalgia?\n\nFibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness in the muscles and soft tissue (including tender points) as well as sleep problems, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms. These problems can be severe enough to disrupt a person's work and daily activities. Fortunately, the condition does not permanently damage the muscles, joints, or internal organs.\n\nFibromyalgia is a syndrome of chronic pain, not a disease or a psychological disorder.\n\nWhat causes fibromyalgia?\n\nThere are theories as to what may cause fibromyalgia, but at this point there is not enough evidence to support any single cause. Some theories suggest that fibromyalgia may be related to oversensitive nerve cells, an imbalance of chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters), or an inability of the brain or spinal cord to dampen pain signals.\n\nWhat are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?\n\nMost people with fibromyalgia endure cycles of muscle, soft tissue, and back or neck pain, sleep problems, and often debilitating fatigue. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by the presence of up to 18 specific tender points on the body—these are painful only when you press directly on them.\n\nAlthough less common than pain, fatigue, and sleep problems, a variety of other symptoms may occur as well. These include headaches, morning stiffness, difficulty concentrating, a circulatory problem that affects the small blood vessels of the skin (Raynaud's phenomenon), and irritable bowel syndrome. As with many conditions that cause chronic pain, anxiety and depression are common in people with fibromyalgia and may make symptoms worse.\n\nSymptoms tend to come and go. Periods when they are constant (flares) may be followed by periods when they are absent (remissions). Some people find that cold, damp weather, emotional stress, overexertion, and other factors make their symptoms worse.\n\nHow is fibromyalgia diagnosed?\n\nFibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose because there is a lot of variation in the combination of symptoms it causes and how different people experience the symptoms. Also, its symptoms are similar to those of many other disorders and diseases.\n\nFibromyalgia is often diagnosed after other conditions have been ruled out; there are no tests that can confirm the diagnosis. The presence of specific tender points as well as chronic, widespread pain on both sides of the body above and below the waist can help confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.\n\nHow is fibromyalgia treated?\n\nWhile there is no specific cure for fibromyalgia, symptoms of this syndrome can be treated and controlled. If you have fibromyalgia, taking an active role in your treatment is very important to managing your condition.\n\nTreatment may be different for each individual. It can include:\n\nRegular exercise to help with muscle aches and stiffness. \nChanges in your routine, schedule, and surroundings to improve your sleep habits and reduce stress. \nTaking medications to help you sleep better and to relieve pain. \nGetting counseling to help you manage chronic pain and find better ways to handle stress. \nSome people with fibromyalgia also find complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage, behavioral therapy, and relaxation techniques helpful.
367211
Hi, my mother has has the same problem and she was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia....A lot of Doctors will tell you that you might be suffering from depression or stress but in reality there really could be another diagnosis. You should try to find a doctor that actually specializes in Pressure Point Exams and Fibromyalgia.\n\nAlso, I have been living with undiagnosed pain for the past 4 years. I have alot of the signs/symptoms so I am going to see a specialist soon that deals with fibro and maybe I can get my pain under control. I hope this helps!
1009355
I do and it is quite debilitating.\n\n“Fibroid myalgia” or fibromyalgia as it is better known is a common condition characterized by generalized pain and fatigue. This condition has nothing to do with fibroids, but is more a form of rheumatoid athritis.\n\nI regularly see a Chiropractor, Accupuncturist and a Massage Therapist and I take Naproxen and Norflex because the pain is so intense sometimes.   It affects my lower back and my shoulder blades are constantly aggravated.  I am usually in constant pain and stressed out about my back because it affects my daily living. My muscles are always sore and makes me tired and irritable.\n\nI am looking to see a rheumatologist.\n\nOh yeah -- symptoms include migraine headache, decrease in short term memory, cognitive dysfunction, blurred or double vision, hypersensitivity to sound and smells, shortness of breath, chest pains, palpitations, irritable bowel, irritable bladder, painful menses, painful urination, multiple drug allergies, multiple sensitivities to chemicals.
247953
What a terrible situtation for you! As if having Fibro isn't enough. The two answerers above seem to have forgotten that there's a little law called the Americans with Disabilities Act.  \n\nDoes your employer know for a fact that you have been diagnosed with having Fibro? If not, speak to your doctor about the situtation and have him/her send your employer's Human Resources Department and your Nursing Supervisor a letter explaining that you have Fibro and provide recommendations, be sure to get copied in on the letter for your records. Next, create a paper trail by keeping a journal of what happens each day at work and how you feel at the end of the day. Next share with Human Resources your situtation and see what they have to say. This gives them notice that the hostility needs to be addressed immediately.\n\nA study explains why we feel so much pain and you may want to share it with Human Resources also.\n\nFibromyalgia pain, isn't all in patients' heads new brain study finds. \nJune 7, 2002 \nfMRI scans give first objective measure of mysterious ailment, provide road map for future study\n\nANN ARBOR, MI - A new brain-scan study confirms scientifically what fibromyalgia patients have been telling a skeptical medical community for years: They're really in pain.\n\nIn fact, the study finds, people with fibromyalgia say they feel severe pain, and have measurable pain signals in their brains, from a gentle finger squeeze that barely feels unpleasant to people without the disease. The squeeze's force must be doubled to cause healthy people to feel the same level of pain - and their pain signals show up in different brain areas.\n\nThe results, published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology, may offer the proof of fibromyalgia's physical roots that many doubtful physicians have sought. It may also open doors for further research on the still-unknown causes of the disease, which affects more than 2 percent of Americans, mainly women.\n\nLead authors Richard Gracely, Ph.D., and Daniel Clauw, M.D., did the study at Georgetown University Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health, but are now continuing the work at the University of Michigan Health System. In an editorial in the same issue, Clauw and U-M rheumatologist Leslie Crofford, M.D., stress the importance of fibromyalgia research and care.\n\nTo correlate subjective pain sensation with objective views of brain signals, the researchers used a super-fast form of MRI brain imaging, called functional MRI or fMRI, on 16 fibromyalgia patients and 16 people without the disease. As a result, they say, the study offers the first objective method for corroborating what fibromyalgia patients report they feel, and what's going on in their brains at the precise moment they feel it. And, it gives researchers a road map of the areas of the brain that are most - and least - active when patients feel pain.\n\n"The fMRI technology gave us a unique opportunity to look at the neurobiology underlying tenderness, which is a hallmark of fibromyalgia," says Clauw. "These results, combined with other work done by our group and others, have convinced us that some pathologic process is making these patients more sensitive. For some reason, still unknown, there's a neurobiological amplification of their pain signals."\n\nFurther results from the study were presented last year at the ACR annual meeting. The project will continue later this year at UMHS, joining other fMRI fibromyalgia research now under way.\n\nFor decades, patients and physicians have built a case that fibromyalgia is a specific, diagnosable chronic disease, characterized by tenderness and stiffness all over the body as well as fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal problems and depression. Many patients with the disease find it interferes with their work, family and personal life. Statistics show that far more
212163
Hello again there!  Sorry to hear about how you feel.  I also have CFS or abstein bar.  I'm a bit of a pro at it, the difference with me is that I am a new person after my treatment. CFS starts out as Mononucleosis (MONO) the virus which if untreated turns to CFS, so that's why my doctor treats it with Valtrex.  Depression and anxiety come with CFS which also causes joint and muscle soreness, that's where the antidepressants come in.  As far as the fybromyalgia the only thing I know for it is pain management and that is something I don't dare explain because I have no personal experience but from my mother having it I know it's not easy to treat. Listen, if your doctor disagrees with the treatment that I just described to you as far as the CFS then you need to find someone who is more open to your health solutions. I love my doctor, he's so wonderful that my trust in him is unmentionable. I know it's scary to try someone new, but you need to feel better.  Wouldn't you like to feel normal again?  Be able to get up when you wake up and go.  Not fall asleep at the wheel.  You get my point.  I'm a new person and I have a new baby.  Believe me it feels good to be awake and the weight of the world is now a lot more manageable.  By the way drinking makes it worse, a lot worse!  So if you do, you need to take a break until you're all better.  Believe me it didn't help me any, I thank GOD for today. Chat with you later   I hope this info helps u a little bit. By the way if you're having trouble with a day at a time, try an hour at a  time.  Sounds like you're under a lot of stress and that makes the CFS worse all of the time.  Help is on the way,  you'll be alright. My doctor always reassured me that I'd be o.k., he is very involved with his patients and that's why everyone loves and trusts him so much
219827
Have you been checked for Diabetes, Hypothyroid, Iron Defiency, Metabolism irregularities?\n\nSome of what you describes fits Hypothyroid perfectly.. eyes puffy, maybe bulging a bit?  Dry skin and constipation?  Alligator pattern of dry skin on your shins?  Numbness/tingling in your forearms/hands?  \n\nIt is also possible that you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia, neither of which can be proven with a medical test, but those other options need to be ruled out first.  Please see your physician...and best wishes!
932465
HI Angela are you under alot of stress/pressure at the moment and feeling tired or overcome even with simple things. Has your weight changed recently and did you get you blood sugar levels checked recently in case of diabetics.\n\nHave either your mother or your young sister ever presented similar symptoms as to the dizziness, blackouts foggyness forgetfulness and feelings of unreality.\n\nYou don't mention having pain or feeling fatigue or sickness. I have the symptoms you explain except the blackouts and other smyptoms. I have also pain that migrates fatigue sickness and mood swings and numbness. I am diagnosed with Fibromyalgia/ME since 2000. I know other Fibro/ME suffers who have regular blackouts with the symptoms you present plus pains fatigue mood swings and numbness. \n\nThis is difficult to diagnose and nothing shows up on scans etc which can seem to the un trained lay person or doctor in some cases (all in the head and the patient is depressed or lazy)\n\nTry to relax a bit and not dwell on this until you get the results of the brain scan back I know it not easy for you but worring can't do any good.\n\nTake care around machinery and do not drive and take it easy hubby's can some times make you feel worse at times like this if they don't support you or have compassion. \n\nAsk him to help out more and not hurt it doesn't work explain to your young children that mummy is feeling poorly and loves them very much but just needs to go slowly and cant rush about like a bat.\n\nHope you get the help and answers you require to take charge of a very frightening situtation. \n\nTake LOL.