Hey, Peg....I get what you're saying. It is weird that we all have such a wide range of symptoms and degrees of pain. I was diagnosed by a rheumy who did all the usual x-rays and blood tests. He gave me a diagnosis of fibro that day, then called later to say the blood tests didn't show any other illnesses, except very low B-12.

I feel like I don't have it nearly as bad as some others on here. I'm retired, but I seriously don't think I could be working with this. I guess if I had to, I'd do it, but I just know it would be awful. I remember what the last year or two were like for me....much pain and discomfort that I had to press through because I had no choice.

I decided I had fibro based on symptoms I was experiencing, and framed what I told the rheumy to lead him in that direction. I now believe I have adrenal fatigue and myofascial pain rather than fibro. One reason the rheumy was so willing to diagnose me with fibro is that I wasn't sleeping at all, and have bipolar 2 which is very common in fibro.

I don't have morning stiffness, and ALL my pain can be accounted for with myofascial trigger points. Adrenal fatigue symptoms are virtually the same as fibro symptoms as far as IBS, etc., etc., all of which I had.

I was told my adrenal numbers were very low. If the symptoms are the same what is the treatment plan?

I Recently went thru a Huge range of Testing, with some more to come for other reasons.

I was Negative for AI diseases, and Thyroid. My Adrenal Function was "Optimal" according to the Numbers, they did 3 Tests on my Adrenals, Urine (Cortisol), Blood, and Saliva.

The Only thing I did Find out which had been Previously unknown to me is that I also have Severe Arthritis thru my C & T Spine...this Can account for Both the Nerve Pain & the Myofascial Pain I Experience almost Body Wide. At least thats what the Neuro I Spoke Via the telephone stated. I have yet to get Confirmation on that tho. It does Not Explain the Flu Like Pain I have(Which I have gotten to a Minimal Level now)..or the Low BP, Off Center Feelings, which have all been Helped quite a bit by Increasing my Salt intake, and Fluids, even tho I WAS Drinking ALOT of Water daily, I guess I was Effectively Flushing the Electrolytes..so have backed off the Plain water.

Still searching. . .

So far nothing. . .

Will Keep Searching. . .

I Know I am ALOT better then I was 3 Years ago..with Alot of Therapies !!

Fibro like most other illnesses can vary greatly in how debilitating it is from one person to another. Look at arthritis or MS for example.

Many of us here suffer numerous other conditions along with the fibro. I was already sick before fibro and I seem to be just getting a collection of incurable/learn to live with ailments.

If you're not satisfied with your diagnosis then I'd suggest that you get another opinion and make sure that they have run all the appropriate tests to rule out other things as well as matching the criteria for a fibro diagnosis. Good luck.

Hugs, Susan

I was diagnosed with Arthritis about 25 years ago, suffered with IBs symptoms for 20, then I became severely ill 6 1/2 years ago to the point I thought I would die. My labs were so out of whack but all negative for Lupus, RA but with 3 times the norm of SED rate indicating wide spread inflammation. I also broke out in lesions on my inner hands, lost hair, muscle spasms, lumps under both arms and elsewhere, wide spread body pain. I could not get out of bed hardly at all.

I saw a Rheumy. He said myositis. I saw an internist. He did xrays, other tests and said probably RA variant with possible sarcoidosis. I saw an infectious diseases specialist who Dx Fibromyalgia. The biopsy proved that I have an autoimmune.
They just don't know which one.


Long answer to say this, that some of the symptoms are FM and some are autoimmune. Many of us have underlying illnesses that are never diagnosed and it makes the whole process harder.
Plus we develop other disorders from having the FM/CFS and/or autoimmune. You will always see a wide variety of problems and will see everyone dealing with it differently as we learn what works and what does not.

It is so hard to lock in a concrete answer but I know that it helps me to hear what others are experiencing and how they are coping. Hugs to all, Kimmee

The thing is that fibro basic just means nerve pain. There is a reason why each of us have it so that probably explains why we each have different capabilities and symptoms.

Unless you can get the doctor to be willing to treat you for the low adrenal function which they seldom do as they only recognize Addison's Disease on the low end, i.e., total adrenal failure, or Cushings on the high end, your best bet is to treat yourself.

Here are a couple of links to get you started. The first is to a matrix showing the signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue as well as low thyroid function. The second is Dr. James Wilson's site--he's the one who termed the phrase 'adrenal fatigue.'

http://www.drrind.com/therapies/adrenal-support-recommendation-sheet

http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/about-adrenal-fatigue.html

Here's my treatment regimen:

--eat as much salt as possible--supports adrenal glands

--amino acid 5-htp--supports adrenal glands--before taking this I always felt like I had excess adrenaline coursing through my vein and had this freaky internal jitteriness--went away as soon as I started taking the 5-htp

--adrenal cortex supplement to support adrenal glands--since taking this, I'm starting to perspire again and the curl in my hair is coming back

--Indian herb ashwagandha to lower cortisol level to help with sleep--very common with adrenal fatigue to not be able to sleep at night due to high cortisol levels. Been actually having several nights a week where I'm sleeping through the night overall.

--vitamin C supports the adrenals

--B vitamin panathetic acid supports the adrenals

I've also learned to listen to my body, and when I don't feel like doing something, it's usually because I'm overly tired so I don't do it--I'm referring to things like exercise, not things that absolutely have to be done. I also try to sleep in if at all possible as the adrenal glands are at their lowest from 7 to 9 a.m. so it's best to sleep then if at all possible.

I can only speak for my own experiences but it seems like the diagnosis Fibromyalgia was given to me because the doctors were lazy. When I was diagnosed I had CRP, ANA and Complete Blood Count done. My ANA was positive, but I was still given Fibromyalgia as a diagnosis and no further tests were done.

I know other people on here have had every test in the book and still have found nothing. I can't imagine how frustrating that it.

I'm seeing a rheumatologist tomorrow to get a second opinion. However I know that this isn't Fibromyalgia that I have. I have hot, red, swollen, stiff knees and fingers. My doctors have said it's definitely not Fibromyalgia.

Did I ever have Fibromyalgia? Well I don't know. I don't think so. I did have a fair amount of wide spread pain, but I was going through a severe depressive episode which I believe probably caused the pain.

One thing I've noticed is that most people that have fibromyalgia, also have other things. I actually can't think of a person that solely had fibromyalgia. I think a lot of the people that are so severe, also have other problems, tho i'm sure that there are people with just fibro that are just as severe!
Everyone is just so different. Everyone has a different pain tolerance, immune system, family history. Severity really depends on the person.

I have Fibro, IBS, myofascial Pain, Anxiety disorder, allergies, sinus & Disfunctional Utrus (which I had removed because of the problems)
I still work But barely get through the day.
I find on here I have similar symptoms with a lot of people. If you don't, u might want to get re-evaluated!

I have had every test under the sun and they ALL came back normal. I also look fine since I am in the gym 3 times a week working out and I work out everyday cleaning a barn. I have muscles and I am slim. I have always eaten fairly well too. My doctor told me I was the healthiest sick person she had ever seen.

The only obvious physical thing wrong with me is a fairly bad "S" scoliosis. Most people don't notice it until I tell them about it however.

I truly believe I have fibro as well as CFS. I fit all the symptoms perfectly. The morning stiffness I have everyday clinches the diagnosis for me. Whenever anyone asks me if their pain might be fibro, the first thing I ask them is if they have the stiffness. That seems to be the one commonality we all have.

Keep pushing your doctors until you are satisfied with the diagnosis. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut.

Actually Fibromyalgia means muscle pain, not nerve pain, although many HAVE nerve pain with the dx of FM.

a lot of what you'll get on forum like this is anecdotal info and personal experience. Of course, even with personal experience sharing, it could turn out that the ones sharing don't have FM at all, either...

Best bet is to really read up on the medical criteria, and do all the research you can to get familiar with what is known as Fibromyalgia, as well as other disorders/diseases, so that you can compare what YOU experience.

I highly recommend the Fibrmyalgia Network. http://www.fmnetnews.com/

Not only do they NOT take any advertising, they are funding some small clinical studies as well. They always have up to date info on latest trends in research and a lot of good practical tips. Also, I am in a group (message me for info if you want) which discusses some dietary changes that really do help for many different automimmune problems.

Good luck on this frustrating journey!!