What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
It can be different for different people, but the main symptom that distinguishes FMS from other things like lupus or MS is the absence of any medical evidence for any other condition, along with widespread muscle pain that can be localized to specific 'trigger points' on the body. I know because I have it, as does my mother, and it's a major factor in my tagline. Other conditions usually associated with FMS are migraine headache, irritable bowel, recurrent cystitis, and fatigue. Most research indicates that it may be caused or aggravated by non-restorative sleep. Your body must enter REM sleep in order for the muscles to repair themselves from daily wear and tear.
I know there are folks out there who agree with the docs who say it's 'all in the patient's head'. Thank the Lord above I found a female doctor who also suffers from FMS. We know it's real, and while it is not life-threatening it can certainly be life-limiting. Most FMS sufferers are female, type A people who get exhausted and just can't recover. I fit that category to a T, working for the past 20 years as a systems analyst, raising 2 kids, trying to stay involved in church. My pastor (male) was diagnosed w/ FMS a few years after I was. His mother also had it, and some research indicates that it may be hereditary.
How much time do you have?
Seriously - the list is THAT LONG and is also DIFFERENT for everybody. It can range from all-over achiness like the flu, to memory problems, to balance problems. If you would like a complete list, contact me. It REALLY is THAT long.
JK