Here are my symptoms that match Fibromyalgia, along with a description of what I actually feel. My words are in plain type, the bold is the description of Fibro symptoms from HealingWell.com, a great site I've just found. The forum for Fibromyalgia is very helpful! You'll notice some items are missing. They didn't apply to me, so I didn't list them here.
1. PAIN- in the muscle: often described as aching, burning, throbbing, gnawing, shooting, tingling. Almost always exacerbated by exercise and may or may not be present at rest. Can be migratory and differing from day to day.
Mine is aching and burning. Pings in the joints like when I have a bad flu.
2. FATIGUE- From feeling tired to exhausted and requiring rest periods during the day.
I just completely run out of steam from doing nothing, and have to put my head down for a little bit until it passes. Total exhaustion feeling.
3. SLEEP DISTURBANCE- not being able to fall asleep and or able to stay asleep. Unrefreshing sleep patterns " feels like I haven't slept."
I can fall asleep okay, but when I wake up I do feel like a Mack truck ran over me. Sometimes I feel worse and less refreshed than I was when I went to bed
4. PARESTHESIA- numbness or tingling. ( non dermatomal)
This started with my hands and arms falling asleep. At first when it was just one arm, I thought that maybe I had been sleeping on it and cut off the circulation. Then it started being both arms, then I would wake up on my back and have arms asleep, and I knew I hadn't been sleeping on them. Sometimes the numbness is all the way up to my elbows.
5. DEPRESSION- most often reactive as with chronic pain condition.
Only due to frustration at not being able to get things done....I feel a lack of support - like family members are thinking this is just another one of my weird phases and they just need to play along until it passes. That makes me mad! But can't blame them either.
6. ANXIETY- may include panic attacks.
The illness causes me anxiety because I get stressed out about my weird symptoms happening when I'm out and about. But not quite to a panic attack level.
8. MOOD SWINGS
I think the pain and feeling like crap make me moody. Who wouldn't be?
9. SUBJECTIVE SWELLING OF EXTREMITIES- i.e. feels swollen but no-one can find anything.
My ankles are the usual site of this problem, but sometimes my wrists. I'm surprised that my ankles aren't swelled beyond recognition, but they feel normal when I touch them.
10. HEADACHES- tension and or migraine.
Occasional migraines, but mainly I think I get headaches from being exhausted. Luckily I don't get these much.
11. COGNITIVE FUNCTION PROBLEMS: calculation difficulties, memory disturbances, spatial disorientation, difficulty with concentration, short term memory loss.
Recently I was driving to meet a friend for lunch. I was driving down the road and couldn't remember where the place was we were meeting. Then, when I remembered where we were to meet, I couldn't remember where that was. I felt very spacey and it was kind of a scary feeling.
12. FREQUENT UNUSUAL NIGHTMARES- or being unable to dream.
I haven't had weird nightmares, but until I saw this on the list, I didn't realize it's been a very long time since I've remembered having any dream at all.
14. FREQUENTLY SAYING WRONG WORDS
This can get very embarrassing to me, when I say "my husband" when I meant to say "my daughter." But sometimes the word isn't even THAT related to the subject. Might say "clock" instead of "shoe." This really flusters me and how do you make an excuse for that?
15. BURNING SENSATIONS
Sometimes the burning feeling is like my muscles are searing. Sometimes the burning sensation is on the surface of my skin.
16. LIGHT HEADEDNESS- "Fibro Fog", spaced out, cloudy.
Not so much light headed as I feel spacey, can't focus on what I need to accomplish, etc.
17. MORNING STIFFNESS
Most of the time, but it's been worse than it is now.
20. NEUROGENIC INFLAMMATION- rashes, may be severe itching. NI causes the symptoms and signs of Dermatographia.
I one time had a strange 3" rash on my arm that nobody could explain. I was pregnant at the time. All they could recommend was that I drink more water to lower my internal body temperature. Maybe it was Fibromyalgia...?
22. MUSCLE WEAKNESS- variable with no "objective" abnormality to formal testing.
I'm starting to pick out which drinking glass I'll use by how heavy it is.
24. PHOTOPHOBIA- Intolerance of bright lights.
Not sure, maybe. Not sure what is normal and what is me...you know?
25. ALTERATION OF TASTE, SMELL and HEARING.
26. LOW FREQUENCY, SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS.
I'm being told I "don't listen," or that my "hearing sucks."
27. DECREASED PAINFUL SOUND THRESHOLD.
Seems like anything that sounds tinny or has raspy noises in it is uncomfortable nowadays.
28. TINNITUS- ringing in the ears.
I have this at night when I'm going to bed. Maybe I have it more often, and this is just the time everything's quiet so I can notice it best, I'm not sure.
30. CHANGES IN VISUAL ACUITY- impaired function of the smooth muscle used for focus as well as skeletal muscles for tracking.
I wear glasses and sometimes I feel like my glasses have a film on them, like they need to be cleaned.
31. INTOLERANCE OF ALCOHOL
I had a tiny bit of white wine at an art gallery opening. I didn't have more than 1/2 cup, but I remember sitting there feeling woozy and hoping nobody noticed. I would have thought I was being drugged (other than wine) except I saw the bottle being opened. Felt really really strange.
34. WEIGHT CHANGES- usually gained due to the lack of exercise through pain and or tricyclic antidepressants
I was doing taekwon do when my aches and pains got really bad. I was also walking every day for about 20-30 minutes. I had lost 18 lbs and then this problem really hit me. Before losing the weight, I gained stomach fat extremely fast but when I mentioned it as a concern to my doctor (at the time), they kind of "poo-poo'd" it as anything important. I thought it was strange how quickly it happened.
35. RESTLESS LEGS
Occasionally
36. HEIGHTENED AWARENESS- of symptoms of HYPOGLYCEMIA 9 when blood sugar falls)
I always remember being this way. I was tested a few years ago - I think it was a 6-hour test- and there was a spot during the test that my blood sugar went low, but then according to the doc my "body kicked in" and brought it back up.
38. SYMPTOMS OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (I.B.S.)
39. HEARTBURN- secondary to I.B.S.
I have this at any time. Sometimes the stomach cramps are so bad I can't stand up straight. I can have stomach cramps without diarrhea. I get nausea too.
40. SUB-NORMAL TEMPERATURE
My body temperature is always lower than what's considered "normal." Yet, sometimes I am very hot...like hot flashes. I am nearing menopause age, so I can't quite pin everything on Fibro.
41. NIGHT SWEATS.
I have hot flashes...with or without sweat, and not at night. Never had sweats wake me up.
42. SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE EXTREMES
Yes, get very achy.
44. BREATHING DIFFICULTIES
Thought I was having asthma, went to allergist and had breathing analyzed and they said it was normal.
45. HEART MURMUR-Mitral Valve Prolapse appears to be more symptomatic in FM than normal.
49. MUSCLE SPASM- twitching.
Happens on my back. A better bra helped for awhile. Not sure if fibro related or not.
50. NON-CARDIAC CHEST PAIN- which may simulate cardiac disorder.
I had this and reported it to my doctor some time ago. Seemed to occur most when my feelings got hurt. Happens very seldom now.
51. PELVIC PAIN.
I have had pains in my lower gut that gynecologist said could be from ovulation. Apparently as we get older, our fallopian tubes aren't as flexible, so when the egg passes, it can hurt. So, not sure if my pain is fibro in nature or not. It hardly ever happens.
55. RAYNAUD'S- like symptoms.
I have had my feet sting and watched them turn pink to purple and then back to normal. Very painful tingling. Worse than the standard foot falling asleep affect.
57. HAIR LOSS-secondary to psychological stress from FM.
Some hair loss, but it could just be my age!
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