Posted 3/28/2014 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
they are so similar its hard to tell and i still struggle...I am in UK and got diagnosed through GP but you are supposed to see a board certified rheumatologist to diagnose fibromyalgia...also everything else should be ruled out also
I think general rule of thumb seems to be - fibro is more about the pain and then fatigue and CFS is more about fatigue and then the pain??? Also with fibro, you need to have had pain in all four quadrants of body, it can travel around, but fibro can cause a myriad of other symptoms also...it is also possible to have both
CFS is more about post exterional malaise, so a worsening of symptoms like sore throat / aches / nausea / shaking / feeling like you are coming down with flu after exertion...for some this can be minimal exertion
Fibromyalgia - can gradually get better with exercise and people find it best when they move around, whereas CFS seems to be better after resting...
These are just some of the things I have learned along the way :O)