Fibromyalgia Support Group

You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

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re- fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue

4everyoung1
4everyoung1
Help - I am so confused !

I was told by my rheumatologist that I definitely have fibromyalgia and I know I have soooo many of the symptoms but I don't always have a lot of pain , just sometimes.

I guess I'm wondering if I might have Chronic fatigue symptoms more than fibromyalgia but then................. is there a big difference between the two. It seems there is so much similarity !! I'm just confused !!!!

Anyone understand this confusion or have some words of clarity?

TY - :)
Athenapks
Athenapks
What I discovered when I was diagnosed with Fibro, is that chronic fatigue was part of the Fibro problems.
I view Fibro diagnosis as if it was the center of a "Wheel," & the spokes coming off the "Fibro Wheel" are the other things seemingly involved with Fibro, like fatigue.
4everyoung1
4everyoung1
Thank you Athenapks, that makes sense ! I appreciate your input. Hope you're having a good day in the life with fibro. Blessings.
scootermom
scootermom
My doctor said that Chronic Fatigue( aka ME) and Fibromyalgia are overlapping conditions. For me, the fatigue is the biggest handicap, along with sleep problems. But my diagnosis with FM and ME took many years, as I was misdiagnosed with everything from depression to menopause. When I finally was seen by a Rheumatologist, she knew right away it was Fibro, as I had 18 plus tenderpoints.

Many of us here also have Sjogrens, IBS, or Lupus. As these are all auto-immune diseases, it would not surprise me if FM/ME is auto-immune as well. There is an important clinical trial going on in Norway with a drug called Retuximab. This drug has apparently cured some FM/ME patients! Really exciting, keep my fingers crossed!
LeoX3
LeoX3
The fatigue comes and goes for me, andthe pain varies in intensity, and that's speaking out of 20 years of official "diagnosis".

Also, pain is exhausting. I have it from Fibro, then also from a 2011 injury, and to be honest, the fibro at least cycles. that darn injury stuff never stops. No flares, just eveyr second. Ugh.

Working on the fatigue seems to help my fibro. I eat healthy, etc., and try to make sure I sleep 8 hours of every 24, that kind of thing. Small stuff, big results eventually....

BTW, the "cure" label mentioned above is misleading. First you need to know the cause. But you can control symptoms. I mention that b/c my meds don't cure my epilepsy, but they do keep me from having seizures, so I'm fussy that way....

OK, nerding out is over.
Cocoa1
Cocoa1
As Athenapks and Scootermom have both indiciated; they are overlapping conditions. When I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome as well; however, the fibromyalgia symptoms were much greater than the chronic fatigue. I work with an integrative medical doctor and was able to get control of both conditions, but it was no easy task.

There are many other conditions that can overlap or coexist with fibromyalgia, as Scootermom has stated. Many autoimmune conditions, coexisting candida infections, leaky gut and vitamin deficiencies can be part of the equation as well. I had a severe vitiamin D deficiency, anemia and candida as well. I am on supplemental vitamin d, iron, and follow an anti-candida/paleo diet. I was also diagnosed with Sicca syndrome as well last Spring. It's important to first identify and then treat all coexisting and overlapping conditions along with the fibromyalgia.