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Fibromyalgia
Do you share any of these fibromyalgia symptoms?
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Some of them. - 0.0% - 0 votes
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Posted 12/14/2012 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Fellow FM Sufferers, Fibromites and Friends Alike! Firstly, how are you all? I have not been brilliant lately, yet, as I was first diagnosed with FM 8 years ago, I'm starting to realise that there's no getting off this ride anytime soon!!

I was just interested in common symptomology between people with fibromyalgia, and so I thought I'd write a list of my various symptoms, so that you can cut and paste it below and add or delete what applies to you. I guess I'm trying to put more of the puzzle pieces together and also feel a sense of solidarity with fellow sufferers! Sometimes this can feel like the loneliest illness in the world, can't it?

Anyway, here are my frequent symptoms, please feel free to do what I suggested above:

-Chronic wide-spread pain
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Skull/head pain
- Headaches
- TMJ pain
- Locked jaw
- Forehead and sinus pain
- Chest pain- feels like I'm having a heart attack and have been told that it's most likely Costochondritis (which is a benign inflammation of the costal cartilage).
- Arm/ hand/ finger pain
-Abdominal/GI problems (gas, bloating, IBS, fissures, alternating frequent and infrequent bowel movements, etc).
- Thigh pain
- Leg pain
- Foot/toe pain
- Numbness and tingling (pins and needles) in feet, legs, arms and hands.
- Very sensitive scalp (sometimes agonising to even brush my hair).
- Fibro fog
-Non-restorative sleep
- Nightmares
- Restless Leg
- Chronic and unrelenting fatigue
- Sore glands
- Insomnia
- Abnormal sleep patterns
- Reduced concentration
- Heavy periods with bad abdominal cramps
- A sensation like my brain is swelling and pressing against my skull.
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness/faintness
- Super senses (everything is heightened 10-fold: brighter light, stronger smells, louder sounds etc).
- Poor balance
- Weight gain
- Hypothyroidism (I also have Hashimtos disease).
- Abnormal temperature regulation

AND, as a result of 8 long years of doctors, specialists & naturopaths thinking I'm crazy and putting me in a ridiculous amount of debt........

PLUS, the doubt and hypochondriacal inferences of some so-called 'friends', one can add to the above list:

- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Low self-worth



If you share in any or all of these symptoms, please respond! I didn't write them to throw myself a pitty party or indulge in the misery of it all, I would just like to know I'm not alone and would love to know of any treatment, medication or dietary suggestions that may have helped you (messages of hope would also be wonderful)!!

I will be thinking and praying for you all this Holiday Season and when I make a Christmas wish on the 25th, I'll be wishing for a cure for you all (or at the very least some answers)!!

Love, Light and A Merry Christmas

Gigi xx

Post Edited By Moderator (Sherrine) : 12/14/2012 12:23:55 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/14/2012 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Gigi,

I can SOOO relate to this thread, particularly about this seeming like the loneliest illness in the world - at least one of my brothers thinks it's all in my head - if only it were! So, here are my symptoms:

-Chronic wide-spread pain
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Skull/head pain
- Headaches
- Forehead and sinus pain
- Chest pain- feels like I'm having a heart attack
- Arm/ hand/ finger pain - BIG time
-Abdominal/GI problems (gas, bloating, IBS, alternating frequent and infrequent bowel movements, etc).
- Thigh pain
- Leg pain
- RLS
- Foot/toe pain - BIG time
- Numbness and tingling (pins and needles) in feet, legs, arms and hands.
- Fibro fog - I'd know what this is if I could see through the haze!
-Non-restorative sleep
- Nightmares
- Chronic and unrelenting fatigue
- Insomnia
- Abnormal sleep patterns
- Reduced concentration
- Shortness of breath - occasionally
- Dizziness/faintness
- Poor balance
- Abnormal temperature regulation
- severe joint pain
- high sensitivity to external temperature changes

And I also suffer from Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Tourette's Syndrome, Anxiety and the self-doubt that comes from 'loved ones' who simply don't believe what I'm going through.

I often wish my brother could walk just one day in my shoes and feel this way. No one realises that I could have gone on permanent disability with all this but opted to set an example for my kids by staying employed - after being off work for 14 months!

All that said Gigi, we have this community here, where everyone can relate to everyone else's situation. I take percocet for the pain but try to limit that by substituting hot baths or showers and wearing the most comfortable clothing I can. Staying active - at least walking a bit every day - also helps. Diet also plays a big role - not eating well aggravates just about all my conditions.

Gigi, keep coming back here and posting - this community has helped me immeasurably and I am sure it can do the same for you.

Take Care and Ease,

Brian
Posted 12/14/2012 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Out of your entire list, I think their are only two symptoms I haven't experienced. > Locked jaw, and heavy mentrual cycles..... although, while in a bad mood, I have been questioned about the latter ;)

Fish

Posted 12/14/2012 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
-Chronic wide-spread pain --yes
- Lower back pain---yes
- Neck pain---yes
- Shoulder pain---yes
- Skull/head pain---yes
- Headaches---yes
- TMJ pain---no
-=- Locked jaw--no
- Forehead and sinus pain ---yes
- Chest pain- yes
- Arm/ hand/ finger pain--yes
-Abdominal/GI problems--yes
- Thigh pain--yes
- Leg pain--yes
- Foot/toe pain--oh, yes!
- Numbness and tingling (pins and needles) in feet, legs, arms and hands.----yes
- Very sensitive scalp---yes.
- Fibro fog---yes
-Non-restorative sleep---yes
- Nightmares---yes
- Restless Leg---yes
- Chronic and unrelenting fatigue----yes
- Sore glands---yes
- Insomnia---yes
- Abnormal sleep patterns---have I ever!!!
- Reduced concentration ---yes
- Heavy periods with bad abdominal cramps--no
- A sensation like my brain is swelling and pressing against my skull--no
- Shortness of breath--yes
- Dizziness/faintness--yes
- Super senses --yes
- Poor balance ---yes
- Weight gain---yes
- Hypothyroidism (I also have Hashimtos disease)--- yes.
- Abnormal temperature regulation---yes

ridiculous amount of debt........ yes!

PLUS, the doubt and hypochondriacal inferences of some so-called 'friends'--yes

- Depression---yes
- Anxiety---yes
- Stress---yes
- Low self-worth---yes
- and the occasional contemplation of suicide, just to end the suffering and find peace. ---no
Posted 12/14/2012 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Yes to:

-Chronic wide-spread pain
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Skull/head pain
- Headaches
- Forehead and sinus pain
- Chest pain

- Arm/ hand/ finger pain
-Abdominal/GI problems

- Thigh pain
- Leg pain
- Foot/toe pain
- Numbness and tingling (pins and needles) in feet, legs, arms and hands.
- Very sensitive scalp (sometimes agonising to even brush my hair).
- Fibro fog
-Non-restorative sleep
- Nightmares
- Restless Leg
- Chronic and unrelenting fatigue
- Insomnia
- Abnormal sleep patterns
- Reduced concentration
- Heavy periods with bad abdominal cramps
- Shortness of breath(I have asthma though)
- Dizziness/faintness
- Super senses (everything is heightened 10-fold: brighter light, stronger smells, louder sounds etc).
- Poor balance
- Weight gain
- Abnormal temperature regulation

- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Low self-worth

I also have recently been feeling like the skin on the back of my neck and between my shoulders is on fire. I also get the feeling of electricity running up my spine and it can sometimes make me tense up and spasm a little. I'm not sure if this is normal sad

Also some of my joints have started to hurt, my left wrist especially. It also started swelling last night so I decided to ice it which only made the pain worse and did not bring down the swelling at all.

Posted 12/14/2012 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Gigi, and welcome. Well, unfortunately these symptoms go with the fibro territory but there are ways to help so you can be in control of the pain and have a full and enjoyable life in spite of this crazy illness. I've had fibro for 25 years but have had a good life so far. For me, it's what I focus on. I used to do a "body check" to see what hurt and what I could and couldn't do. This really gave me a lot of anxiety and sadness. I wasn't getting anything done in my life mainly because I thought I couldn't do things.

I didn't want to live my life like that so I needed to change my thinking. I started setting small goals each day to accomplish and that made me happier and feel better. I started looking at all I could do and I started counting those blessings. My goals got a little larger, I learned to pace myself when doing things, and my thinking became more positive because my outlook on life was becoming more positive. Now, I don't think about how I feel. Fibro is a part of my life but it doesn't rule my life. It's there and I work around it to do what I want to do.

I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements, vitamin D3 supplements, and a muscle relaxer called Robaxin that has made a significant difference with me. I also do daily stretching exercises, daily gentle exercises like walking or swimming, and I pace myself when doing things. It all gets done but in a different time frame. I also get gentle massages once a month that help me.

Also, positive thinking has helped me nearly as much as the things I take for pain and fatigue. It has become second-nature with me so I'm usually happy and content. That sure makes life easier, helps with stress which, by the way, causes more pain, and keeps a smile on my face. I now totally enjoy life and look forward to each new day with anticipation. If its a bad day, I can deal with that and look forward to the next day. All of the above has helped me live a successful life in spite of this illness.

Be sure to read Fibro 101 ....the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there. Check out the link called Symptoms and you will see much of what you listed. Also there are links about the supplements I mentioned and how thy work in your body and there are links to gentle stretching exercises and great link about maintaining a positive attitude. All of these things have helped me and hopefully they will help you too!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. Don't hesitate to sk questions because we are here to help you. Hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine
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