Fibromyalgia or something else?

Lauren: Have you seen a CFS specialist? What about a rheumatologist? I believe that with fibromyalgia, there are "tender spots" that are used to diagnose the condition. Rather than trying to diagnose yourself and maybe stressing out over it, you need to see a specialist.

Hi Lauren, Jackie is correct in there are 18 'trigger point' for fibromyalgia pain. You don't need all of these to be detected but a rheumatologist would be able to diagnose it for you. There are however many similarities whereby symptoms for CFS will cross over with fibro so you will need testing for a diagnosis. Are there other symptoms you have which make you feel you could have this condition? Unfortunately for me I suffer with Fibro, CFS ans severe osteoarthritis so it has taken years to get my fibro/CFS diagnosises and although the fibro had been there for some time, I contracted campylobacter food poisoning which eventually led to me being hospitalises and catching the hospital superbug Colostrum Difficile. I worked full time up until March this year and have been signed off sick since. I sympathise with you as the worst part is knowing there is something further you feel is wrong but you are not certain what. I hope you will get a referral to a rheumy through your GP but meanwhile if you have any questions, please just ask. Take care, Paula

Trying to get my surgery to do tests for anything is like getting blood out of a stone.  But I persisted and finally got a rheumatology appointment.  He picked up that I had psoriatic enthesopathy, and I knew he was correct because everywhere he touched to confirm his suspicions caused excruciating pain.   Just had a general appointment and queried the increase in brain fog (I've realised it's best to ask about only one thing at a time) and was told it's one of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. When I mentioned that most of my pain was from psoriatic enthesopathy, he said they have similar symptoms and I probably have both.  No doctor has tested me for fibromyalgia but just assumed it because of CFC.  I used to have worse rib pains but that lessened when (after persuading them to test) they found my vit D was low and I started taking supplements.  Might be worth asking about your vit D levels.  It won't put everything right.  But after 2 1/2  years I am glad of anything that brings some improvement.