CFS or/and Fibromyalgia

It was interesting to read you new discussion.  Over the last few weeks I have experienced the opposite.  There have been times, especially at night, when my whole body is in pain.  At the beginning of 2012, I had some pain but it was mostly exhaustion.  This followed a bout of flu and was taken to be post viral.  As the difficulty with this continued, the doctor starting referring to it as ME, and any pain that I experienced was just taken to be associated fibromyalgia.   Apart from the usual blood tests for anaemia, thyroid, etc.  There has never been any in depth testing or diagnosis.  It is all based on assumption.   I have had a consultation with rheumatologist who said there was a degree of psoriatic enthesopathy, causing pain where the tendons joined the bones.  His only suggestion was to start on painkillers.  As the pain was intermittent, I was reluctant to do this and kept the pain in reasonable control with ginger and turmeric.  But in the last few weeks the pain has been more severe and more often.  I don't see much point in going to the dr as his attitude is to attribute any new pain to fibromyalgia without really listening to what I am saying. 

Hi Anne

My doc told me I had fibromyalgia and CFS but I have never really had much pain. My symptoms have mostly been chronic exhaustion and lately, light headedness especially when I am very tired. I've heard that CFS can run alongside fibromyalgia. Good that your pain as eased but not so good to feel so exhausted! It's a horrible condition.  

Hello Anne,  I have been officially diagnosed with both Fibro & ME/CFS.  I was initially diagnosed with Fibro by an rheumatologist and then I was diagnosed by an M.E./CFS specialist as actually having both.  Although many symptoms over cross between the 2 conditions I can definately separate them at thei most extremes.  I have never had a day of no pain since I was about 14 (maybe younger), I am now 37.  That has been largely due to the Fibro.  It attacks particularly from the base of my skull down to the tail of my spine and also attacks my wrists and knees.  It can be agreviated by what I do physically up to 24-48hrs afterwards.  This can be in terms or what I have done and what I have not done!  If I over do it and if I don't do enough.  It hates me sitting around not doing anything - it loves to ''jam me up'' and make me walk around like a robot or not walk around at all and have to crawl.

However, my ME/CFS has attacked my stamina, my memory, my concentration and my heart along with some of the pain.  when I rest to ease the M.E., my Fibro stiffness kicks in.  If I move to ease the Fibro stiffness the M.E. stamina and heart problems kick in. 

I know that both conditions have over-crossing syptoms but I would also argue that the have definate differences.  In my personal experience the differences are made obvious by which symptoms are the most profound.  I would say my Fibro is stronger on the pain elements, whilst my M.E. is stronger on the memory and stamina issues.

There are drugs which are more specific for Fibro and other ones which are specific for M.E. conditions.  For me they are helping,  they don't make them go away but without them I would be worse.  I have meds for anti-depresants, muscle relaxants, and pain killers.  We are constantly adjusting them every 3 weeks.  I have a fantastic doctor who believes and fights for us suffers. 

Thanks everyone for your replies

Hard to say without more information. Do you have postexertional fatigue? Not just a little tired after doing stuff, but extreme exhaustion after doing things like taking a shower or even after very minor tasks.