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How to know if it's a bad flare up or something else...

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 2/24/2016 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Just looking for some advice or peace of mind from those of you who may have similar experiences.

As all of you do I'm sure I deal with the all over body pain and fatigue of FM on a daily basis and it is something that I deal with and manage.

But when I get a bad flare up it tends to manifest itself in unique ways every time. For example, one summer I had severe GI/diarrhea issues for 3 months. Then it just stopped.

Now, for the past few weeks I am having abdominal pain, gassiness, nausea, some diarrhea and constipation along with dizzy spells, facial flushing, and constantly tingling feet. These are symptoms that I do not typically experience on a daily basis. I just struggle with having anxiety over something else being wrong with me (and then making the symptoms worse) versus reassuring myself it is a bad flare up and nothing to worry about. But then I am afraid I am missing something that should be addressed.

Thanks for listening!
Posted 2/24/2016 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
It is sometimes difficult to know between fibro and other things going on....

I think all you can do is go with your instinct..maybe have a conversation with your drs office..

With my fibro, i do not have tons of stomach issues, so that would concern me..

Please take care and call if you need to
Posted 2/25/2016 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your response. It's tough to know. My hesitance in contacting the doctor is knowing it will take me down that long road of tests that I've been down before. Having to miss work, the stress in waiting to hear the results...it all sucks. 😞👎 I just wish I could know it was the FM and deal with it. But I know I'll have to make the appt if I keep feeling this way.
Posted 2/25/2016 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
There is no real way to know if something is caused by Fibro without being checked out first. When I started getting heart palpatations I knew this was a symptom of Fibro but I was not going to self-diagnose so I did go through the tests and got a clean bill of health for my heart so now, when I occasionally get palpatations, I can chalk them up to Fibro. But, if I ever were to start getting them much more frequently, I'd head back to the doctor.

My back was causing me a lot of pain and was getting worse and worse. Fibro is not considered a progressive illness so I headed to the doctor, went through tests and was found to have ankylosing spondylitis too. I am being treated for that and my back is so much better. So it's really important to know what is going on.

Since your main complaint is digestive issues. Why don't you keep a diary of what you eat and how your body reacts. It could be a food sensitivity causing your problems. And some of your symptoms can be caused by anxiety. Being checked out does give peace of mind and then you can kick anxiety to the curb.

Sherrine
Posted 2/29/2016 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to say that I I too have had symptoms that made me wonder if it was something else. Last September I had a flare
Which ultimately sent me to a pain specialist in December. He did additional testing and I found out that I have rheumatoid arthritis which explained why this pain was " different and worsd".

My PCP had never done the other test. So my suggestion is get a second opinion. Never hurts to have somebody else taking a look. Not happy to have RA but glad to be getting the proper treatment. Sure wish I could've traded in the fibromyalgia, but it doesn't work that way
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