Fibromyalgia/M.E

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.