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CFS or Fibromyalgia?

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Posted 12/19/2014 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I am searching for a rheumatologist because of all my symptoms such as muscle pain, fatigue, memory and concentration problems, irritable bowel syndrome, and much more.

In the meantime, I have a question for those of you who have already been diagnoses. I am not sure if it is fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome but from my understanding fibro sufferers list pain as their worst symptom while CFS sufferers list fatigue as their biggest problem.

Does anyone have any input on this?

My pain is a burning, stabbing pain and sometimes achy. It's in my legs, back, and randomly flares up in my arms and hands.
Posted 12/21/2014 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
From what I researched, the thing symptom that puts you in CFS or ME as it is called in Europe, is "post exercise malaise". If you have that, you have CFS. Problem is , it is not uncommon to have both CFS and FM.

If your pain is equal in both legs, both arms or both hands, you may be suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Posted 12/21/2014 5:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the help! I dont stay really tired after I exercise. Usually my legs will burn but I'm not super tired for the rest of the day unless I take it too far. My pain happens in symmetrical body parts but not necessarily at the same time.

I read on one site that some doctors consider CFS and FM to be the same. It does sound similar.

Thank you again for the reply :) that helps a lot.
Posted 12/21/2014 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
It is hard to get the Dr.'s over here to really research these diseases. Mine, for instance has done extensive research on FM, but when I was trying to tell him about my post exercise malaise, he pretty much dismissed it and told me to exercise - in front of my husband - uhg...

Post exercise malaise is where you not only don't recover from exercise but 24 - 48 hours after you get really sick. For me, I am couch bound with awful flu symptoms and fatigue anywhere from 24 hours - 2 weeks recovery. The flu symptoms are the worst, I get REALLY sick.

You might want to see an RA, sounds like that would be a good start.
Posted 12/22/2014 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds to me like you might have Lyme disease. I was diagnosed with lupus but had all the symptoms of FMS and CFS. Turns out is was all Lyme disease and after 3 years of treatment I am feeling about 95% better. The neuro stuff you have makes me think you have Lyme with bartonella. I am not a doctor but I know your story too well.
I would have believed my doctor at a big university hospital if it hadn't been for my son's diagnosis of Lyme disease when he became so sick at age 14. I tested CDC positive which is a hard thing to do with a then 30 year old infection.
Sorry that you are so sick. I hope you find the answers.
K
Posted 1/12/2015 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
It does sound like you have more going on. I have FMS and CFS, plus TMJ, four spinal issues and osteoarthritis. Pain is my primary complaint, but probably because I have so many issues that cause pain.

The fatigue is debilitating though - I don't even have to exercise hard to cause the malaise mentioned previously. Yesterday my husband and I did a day of cooking to stock the freezer with lunch and dinner entrees, by the end of the day I could barely walk because of my feet and back, and today (after sleeping poorly) I woke up crying from pain and could barely move. That's all despite the fact that I paced myself, taking frequent breaks in the recliner, and used a barstool as much as possible if I was going to be in one place for more than a couple minutes.

Even with all of those issues that I have, my PMD still thinks that I have something not yet labeled, because I have bouts of symmetrical pain in my hands and feet. I need to go to a specialist to see if I have another form of arthritis. I've tested negative twice for RA, but that doesn't necessarily rule it out.
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