Fibromyalgia Symptoms

*As now known by the best doctors, FMS is a life-long syndrome resulting from permanent damage to the Central Nervous System, which in turn controls virtually *every* other system of the body.  There is no cure and it is not reversible.  Few medications have any effect, save for strong opioid (opitate-derived/synthetic opioid) pain-killers such as Oxycontin, Methadone and Morhpine (synthetic "opiates" working on many of the same principles as the  Opitate Heroin, though in lower doses than drug-abusers use to get "high").  Those of us who take opioids legitimately for pain relief *do not* get any "high", but the medication helps fill-in pain receptors in the brain to lesson the FMS pain signals, which are normally multiplied by an average of 3x, due to an average of 3 times the amount of pain neurotransmitters present in FMS patients' brain/ spinal fluid. 

*These symptoms can occur daily, chronically, or re-occur from the time of onset through the rest of your life, most often in various combinations with one-another, compounding the pain and discomfort*  It may seem "unreal" when you read the symptom list.  All FMS sufferers wish this were true, but the truth is this is very real and virtually untreatable. 

Be sure to check with your doctor if you experience *any* of these symptoms chronically.  Do NOT self-diagnose.  If you're doc doesn't "believe" in FMS, *resist* the temptation to slap him/her, and check other doctors.  Rheumatologists are the most common to properly diagnose FMS (get a referral if needed).  For other symptoms, like depression, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel, and anxiety, check with your medical professional (though they can all be tied together).  This site is not related to any official medical organization or practice.  All concerns should be addressed by your physician ASAP.

It is important to remember that despite the number of associated/ chronic symptoms, each of these symptoms can be experienced chronically, every day for days, weeks or months in a row.  They usually occur in different combinations, but are always compounded with each other.  Most FMS sufferers deal with 10-30+ of the listed symptoms every day of their life in different combinations.  No day is a "great day".  Every day presents its own group of challenges, which seem to come and go at will (for the most part), with no personal control over what you will feel or when, or what other pains/ discomforts will accompany other symptoms.  It is probably the most painful long-term, non-terminal disease/ condition that a person can face.  Scientists are working towards better treatments, but as it stands, people with FMS are just plain stuck with it.  A *small* number of treatment regimens have helped *some* people to alleviate (not defeat) their symptoms.  We're all waiting for a real cure or treatment, but FMS is on the "back-burner" of the medical world and is still a mystery to most of the population.  Here's hoping that I can spread awareness as well as help point people facing these symptoms in the right direction (i.e. their physician or a rheumatologist). 

We may look normal and healthy on the outside, but we are all facing debilitating chronic pain and fatigue on the inside.  We aren't lazy, we aren't "copping out", we're just trying to deal with an invisible syndrome that is just beginning to be studied by modern medical science.  If you know someone with FMS, please be compassionate to them.  Trust me, they're doing the best that they can under their circumstances.  What we *may* be able to do one day we may *not* be able to do an hour or day or week later.  There is little "rhyme or reason" to FMS, we're all doing the best we can and live our lives despite it all!

PHYSIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
__ recurrent flu-like illness (flu-like aches/ pains, feverish feelings, nausea, stomach trouble, etc.)
__ recurrent sore throats, red and injected (swollen, sore throat with no known trigger or absence of infection/ virus)
__ painful lymph nodes under the arms and neck (extra tenderness in these areas, especially  when pressure is applied)
__ muscle and joint aches with tender and trigger points - up to 18 of them (head to toe.  Everything just plain hurts).
__ night sweats and fever (often alternating from hot to cold; "blanket on, blanket off, blanket on, blanket off, repeat")
__ severe nasal and other allergies
__ irritable bowel syndrome (IBS- constipation or spasms/ cramping/ pain/ bloating/ nausea able to cause 5-20+ episodes of diarrhea per-day as well as loss of appetite or inability to eat despite hunger)
__ weight change - usually gain, though loss can occur during time of extreme IBS and/ or stress
__ heart palpitations ("flutters" or brief skips in beats- check with your doctor if this is a problem)
__ mitral valve prolapse (a heart condition that effects healthy, steady heart-beats.  Check w/ your doctor if you suspect this!)
__ severe PMS
__ yeast infections
__ rashes and itching (random patches of rash or itchy areas anywhere on the body)
__ uncomfortable or frequent urination (difficulty or discomfort)
__ interstitial bladder cystitis
__ chest pains (non-cardiac, though can feel like cardiac arrest/ heart-attack onset)
__ temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ Syndrome- tightness/ clenching and popping in jaw, can cause severe headaches and/or dislocation)
__ hair loss
__ carpal tunnel syndrome (and associated pain/ fatigue in wrists)
__ cold hands and feet (the whole body can feel too warm or too cold in relation to actual temperatures)
__ dry eyes and mouth
__ severe and debilitating fatigue (inability to get out of bed, feel more tired in morning than before sleeping at night, excessive sleeping/ naps)
__ widespread pain (sharp, localized, dull, aching, stabbing pains, often in different combinations and body parts simultaneously, head to toe)
__ other chronic illness(es) usually present (like diabetes, hypoglycemia, asthma, lupus, ms, etc.)
__ numbness in the limbs, not painful like pins & needles
__ painful swelling in the hands, legs, feet, neck (often in previously injured areas- broken bones/joints, etc, but not restricted to injuries)
__ GERDs (gastro-esophageal reflux disorder- burning in the esophagus/ throat and upper stomach valve-muscles, pain can reduce eating)
__ “growing pains” start in childhood and teens, continue into adulthood (many FMS sufferers were diagnosed with these in youth)
__ widespread body pain during/after physical exertion (typical  loss of mobility for days and/ or weeks due to extreme weakness/ pain/ fatigue)

COGNITIVE FUNCTION PROBLEMS:
__ attention deficit disorder (inability to firmly concentrate on many occasions- ask your doctor)
__ spatial disorientation (mental confusion/ fog/ dizziness/ difficulty moving in relation to your environment, i.e.- bumping into tables/ walls, etc.)
__ calculation difficulties (mental "static" makes logical thinking and calculations very difficult - "simple math" becomes troublesome)
__ memory disturbance (inaccuracies in proper chronology, recent and/ or past events and details)
__ communication difficulties (problems speaking, confusing words, knowing what you *want* to say but unable to verbalize it)

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
__ depression (very common-  result of chronic severe symptoms with little hope of relief.  Chronic waves of dread/ emptiness/ worthlessness)
__ anxiety and panic attacks ( "Fight or Flight" easily triggered, uneasy in social settings with or without reason, chronic worrying, etc.)
__ personality changes, usually for the worse (often related to depression brought on by chronic pain/ fatigue/ sleep disturbance  symptoms)
__ emotional lability (mood swings- usually when pain/ discomfort/ depression/ anxiety factors are increased)

OTHER NERVOUS SYSTEM PROBLEMS:
__ sleep disturbances (chronic fatigue, feeling exhausted most days even after enough sleep, nightmares, frequent waking, restlessness)
__ headaches (tension in back/ shoulders can cause severe headaches, migraines are also very common, as are cluster headaches- ouch!)
__ changes in visual acuity (your surroundings look "strange" somehow, especially in bright lights or dark nights/ night driving)
__ numb or tingling feelings (common in any limb or body part)
__ burning sensations (common also in any limb or body part- very uncomfortable and painful; also fever-like burning)
__ light headedness (difficulty in normal perception, dizziness, nausea, spinning, difficulty concentrating, desire to lie down/ nap)
__ feeling 'spaced out' (related to above; change in visual perception, loss of balance, concentration, memory trouble, "surreal" feeling)
__ disequilibrium (loss of balance, bumping into walls/ tables/ furniture, spinning or swirling of mind- vertigo)
__ frequent unusual nightmares and disturbing dreams (range from nightmares to Out of Body Experiences, etc., always dark and extremely tragic)
__ tinnitus (ringing in the ears, can last for moments, hours, days, or longer.  A nuisance.)
__ difficulty in moving your tongue to speak (tongue feels "stuck", heavy, weighted- difficulty speaking and articulating or "making sense")
__ severe muscle weakness (arms/ legs/ neck especially can turn to gelatin for days/ week after only minutes of exertion/ holding/ carrying any weight,  can take 2 hands to turn a light-switch or to squeeze toothpaste onto a brush, etc.)
__ susceptibility to muscle, tendon, ligament injury (these injuries can cause healing of such tissue to take up to 10x as long to heal, if ever)
__ intolerance to bright lights
__ intolerance to alcohol
__ intolerance to sound
__ extreme sensitivity to medications and their side-effects (frequent; meds are *very* trial and error and affect individuals differently)
__ alteration of taste, smell, and hearing (all three come into play chronically)
__ insomnia (can stay up all night, then sleep all day, or stay up for a few days in a row, which can trigger latent depression/ anxiety issues)
__ inability to achieve stage 4 restorative sleep (wake up more tired than when you went to bed.  Chronic, daily trouble.  Leads to sleep deprivation and associated symptoms.  Chronic fatigue <extreme>.  Stage 4 sleep is when the body heals and prepares itself for another day.  Lack of this quality of sleep can cause several cognitive, physical and emotional troubles, especially over long periods of sleep disturbance).
__ morning stiffness in the muscles and joints (can be almost impossible to literally *pull* yourself out of bed.  Everything is "locked-up" or "gelled")
__ restless leg syndrome ( irresistible urge to keep moving your legs <also arms>, usually at night.  Disturbs sleep and is very uncomfortable and frustrating, can lead to sleepless nights and additional fatigue)
__ muscle spasms (can happen anytime, anywhere, with or without reason.  Twitches in arms, legs, neck, back, or altogether.  Day, night or both)
__ muscle quaking and shivering during/after activity or exercise (total loss of strength or ability to hold/ carry/ lift.  Limbs feel like lead weights)
__ sleep paralysis (related to stage 4 sleep deprivation, can cause nightmarish experiences, total inability to move or speak)

Thanks for reading the symptom list.  I personally deal with over 90%+ of the listed symptoms at different times, different combinations, and different intensities, but it is always there.  Not to say I don't have any fun or enjoy life, but FMS certainly makes things much more difficult and I have to (along with others with FMS) realize my own limitations and act accordingly.  This is no plea for sympathy, but hopefully a resource for others like me, and to educate those who are new to FMS and/ or have friends or family suffering with this all-encompassing condition. 
-Bryan Stradley/ Animus Pugna