So what is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a condition that predominately causes widespread pain around the body alongside extreme fatigue.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition for which there is no cure. There are different treatments you can try to ease symptoms but these will vary person to person.
Symptoms can include:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Stiffness
- Sensitivity
- Sleep difficulties
- Brain fog sometimes referred to as fibro fog
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- IBS
- Temperature issues
These are a handful of symptoms you can experience with Fibromyalgia, but there are many more. As with any chronic illness it is important you speak to a doctor about any symptoms you may be experiencing in order to receive the correct diagnosis.
Now what about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E)?
Like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a long term condition that is associated with extreme tiredness also known as fatigue.
The most important note with CFS is the tiredness you experience is so much more than a general feeling of tiredness – it is exhaustion both mentally and physically which can leave you unable to do anything.
Symptoms can include:
- Fatigue/extreme tiredness
- Headaches
- Problems with sleep
- Dizziness
- Muscle/joint pain
- Flu like symptoms
- General feeling of being unwell
Whilst symptoms of Fibro and CFS are similar, there are also differences which is why it is so important you speak to a health professional to get a diagnosis and be set on the right path for treatment options.
My experience of Fibro and CFS
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in my late twenties after many years of feeling unbearably unwell. I had a variety of symptoms all which were put down to stress because of the career I was in. Whilst I was stressed most of the time, my symptoms felt more than that and after many (and I mean many) trips to the doctors and various specialists I was diagnosed with Fibro.
It was perhaps two years later I received the diagnosis of CFS alongside Fibro after my extreme exhaustion became worse rather than better regardless of treatment options I tried.
People develop these conditions for many different reasons, for me it is believed my conditions began as a result of a traumatic freak accident I had after sleepwalking from which my body was never the same again.