Is fibro hereditary?

I was told it was, but no one in my family has been dx with it nor have I heard any of them with the symptoms. My mom is 71 still works 2 jobs, as a nurse weekends, and a grade school teacher week days lololol sad at 71 she can be more active than me @ 36

I think it's debatable if it's heredity or not. I've read things saying both yes and no.On my mom's side of my family: my great grandmother, grandmother, mother, 2 aunts and myself all have FMS. So in my opinion, yes it is inherited. But not all of my aunts have it, only 2 of the 5 on that side.

Since diagnosis is difficult, and doctors started to assign this group of symptoms to this condition relatively recently, it would be hard to prove, except anecdotally.

Some people may be more genetically susceptible to this group of symptoms. Others not.

My sis was diagnosed in the mid-nineties. I was diagnosed early 2005. My brother is also symptomatic butnot diagnosed. It would explain a bit about my father.

In another fiftyyears, we might have stronger evidence.

Hmmmm ! Good info!

MegNZ said...
Maybe a reason for more than one person in a family having fibro is what family members can share - dietary similarities, abuse, depression, learned behaviors like not coping with stress well etc?

Meg

Here's my family's example

Non-fibro aunts,

Aunt #1 is a smoker, morbidly obese (5'3" 350 pounds if not more), didn't finish high school, does drugs, has 7 kids none of which live with her (the state took them away) Doesn't work, lives off my grandparents charity. Not to pass judgement, but #1 is kind of a loser. LOL

Aunt #2 is a Jazzercise instructor, eats healthy, has 3 teenage sons

Aunt #3 smokes, is relatively fit and healthy (not overweight but not buff like #2), 2 kids, very stressful job (attorney), divorced twice is single now

Those are the non-fibros.

The fibros are fraternal twins.
#4 is naturally thin-can eat whatever she wants and doesn't gain a pound, stay home mom of 1 daughter, married to a preacher

#5 is naturally thin, though not as thin as her twin, drinks those Shakeology drinks 24/7, works at WalMart as a cashier, has 3 kids

Then there's sister #6, my mother. She's a fibro. Doesn't work out but maintains a healthy weight, I'm her only child, is an administrator at a long term care facility (not too much stress), divorced, eats healthy (is vegan)

Besides having the same parents and the fact that they have all given birth to children, they all really have nothing in common. LOL They are all as different as can be. I have heard that the instances of fibro in women has been linked to childbirth. I'll have to hunt around for the article, I read it recently somewhere online.

Gotcha.... being genetic and worries me my kids take after me so much in sooooo many ways I never want them to have this. Already have one severely allergic to wheat !

Mommakiki I would love to read that if you find it.

Thank you!