How can you tell the difference between osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia

Thank you very much for your reply.  I agree with a lot you say.  

Today is a good day so far went to bed early so that probably helped as I knew that I as going out with my daughter and granddaughters this afternoon.  

First of all can you tell me what dose of vitamin D you take.  I ask this because I have been on Vitamin D since around 2012.  In that year I broke my wrist which led to a Dexa scan which showed I had osteopenia but not osteporosis.  Another scan last year showed there was a very slight improvement.  My gp when I lived down south had me on a high dose 2,200 iu per day.  If blood tests showed my levels to be too high she would reduce it but then they would go low again.  So it was decided to stay on this dose.  My new gp here in NW England said the dose was far too high and prescribed a combined chewable tablet of calcium and Vit D  the dose of Vit D is 400iu the recommended dose for osteopenia and apparently subsequent blood tests have shown my levels to be ok.  I wonder what you think.,  Also you mention CBD oil can you tell me what is this?  You mention amytriptyline  and although my gp has mentioned taking this for anxiety in the past I refused as I think it is  contra indicated for glaucoma which I have.  My anxiety is so much better now having had counselling.  

It is interesting you mention giving up dairy.  I have been sort of following low a fodmap diet for IBS and although I do not react to dairy as far as I can see or gluten I do have perential rhinitis and I have often wondered about whether dairy increases the mucus.  I make sure I drink plenty of water as well.  After the wedding in 2 weeks I will think about making some changes.  Looking forward to the wedding although it is marred a bit because my son has fallen out with 2 sisters.  Just hoping that the happy occasion will make them sort it out.  

Hi, I take a combined Calcium and Vitamin D tablet, just from Tescos, nothing fancy, it is 400mg of calcium and 2.5 micro grams of Vit D (apparently this is 50% of the RDA) twice a day, but the bottle says you can take up to 3 a day. I take one 400mg of Turmeric twice a day. I also take 250mg of Magnesium once a day. The CBD oil is an extract from Hemp which is from the same family as cannabis but there is no 'psychoactive' component so is both safe and legal. I get mine from Holland & Barrett, I buy the 5% strength and take two drops, under the tongue, 2 or 3 times a day. As it is now recognised that cannabis is an effective treatment for certain types of epilepsy (and can now be prescribed on the NHS) and has also been taken by people with Multiple Sclerosis to relieve pain for years (although they have to resort to buying it illegally). I have found it extremely effective and I hope it works for you if you give it a try. You will need to persevere with it, I don't think 2 weeks is enough, give it at least 4 to 6 weeks, if you feel the same then give it a miss as its pretty pricey (I always stock up when Holland & Barrett have a sale on.)

Remember that no two people are the same and we can’t compare our illness to how bad we feel, Fibromyalgia is muscular and ligaments this is why we feel the ache in our joints but with our damage, I am 38 years of age and was diagnosed at 26. When I feel a flare I get sore stiff ankles (shuffle rather than walk lol), I get sore stiff joints and fingers that feel like they have a pulse. I get sore lower back and base of my neck and shoulders hurt. I get hit with extreme fatigue that is worse than the pain to be honest as we can take pain meds but rest is the only thing that lifts the fatigue. I get very emotional and confused, I find it hard to deal with sound and need to been away from high pitched sounds, so when my husband snores I just want to scream because it sounds like it’s in my head, sounds feel like they have camped up by 100 so very sensitive that I feel like I’m going crazy. I get so bad with the mix of fatigue, muscle aches and joint stiffness I feel like someone is compressing my chest that my breathing becomes very shallow and my glands swell up. My husband at this point has to put me to bed and I’m usually a crying mess. I use hot water bottles, one on my chest and one on my feet and one in between my legs as the heat soothes and relaxes me, I get very anxious, irritable and depressed also around a flare as it effects your central nervous system, so we are not going mad it’s just part of it. When I take a flare it’s usually around my hormone time as I have endometriosis so I also take an endometriosis flare so they trigger each other, endo flare is when adhesions and endo implants stick to other organs in the body and have a memory of there own, they bleed, cause pain and trigger inflammation throughout the body so the mix of the two can be hell and this is when I end up in hospital. I am very lucky as I have a team of doctors and specialists who look after both conditions over the years. 

So basically we all have our own story, our own journey, our own pain challenges and our own emotions so this is why we can’t compare to each other who has it worst as we are all unique and may have fibromyalgia but we may also have OA, arthritis, ibs, ME and other auto immune conditions also which is very common with Fibro xxxx

Thank you so much for your reply.  I feel sorry for what you are going through and the number of years you have suffered.  From what you say having both conditions you must suffer far worse than me.  I wish I could suggest something to help.

With regard to family whether I have F or just OA or both, pain is pain and stomach problems play a big part as well.  So as well as back, knee pain etc I also worry about whether my stomach will hurt and whether I will have toilet problems, all part of IBS and gastritis,diverticular disease.  The thing that hurts me most is not that they don't understand about being in pain but they brush it off lightly with words like you just need more exercise or relax, how ever well meaning.  My husband has his own health problems mainly breathing problems and arthritis so should be more understanding but seems to think he gets on with it so should I.  However if he feels unwell he just sits down and it waited on but it seems I am not allowed to complain.  Re the forthcoming wedding and other invitations it is bad enough thinking you may be ill and in pain ( I am sure you know what I mean 4 hour car journey, strange bed etc)  whether it is my imagination but my husband especially seems to think that I do it on purpose and this is so hurtful and in some ways worse that the actual pain.  I am glad you have said don't decline invitations and mostly I have not.  I wish you well. Not sure where you live but here in the north of England the heatwave has broken so it is at least cooler but expected to hot up another thing I am worried about re the wedding it is down south so will be hotter than here and as I mentioned I do cope well with heat.  Why do people look at you as if you are mad if you say you don't like the heat.