For those who have Fibromyalgia what is your symptoms personally?

How old was you when it started? Why do you think you have FMS? Did you fall, did you have a virus, do you have excessive stress, does anyone else have FMS in your family? What are your symptoms? Do you keep a journal? What do you do to help your symptoms?

I have fibromyalgia.

I started getting my symptoms when I was 11. I've had some for as long as I can remember.

I have been in 3 car crashes and also had glandular fever. I was stressed at the time.

I've only just been diagnosed but I don't think anyone else in my family has it.

Nope I don't keep a journal. I try and get lots of rest. Take slow walks. Keep warm. I'm on elavil and panadol.

My symptoms...

鈥hronic muscle pain & aching (constant in neck, back, arms, legs, ankles)
鈥ensitivity to touch
鈥ingling of skin (legs, heels)
鈥uscle spasms (legs)
鈥emporomandibular joint (if pressed)
鈥nsatisfactory sleep (unrefreshed)
鈥nsomnia
鈥tiffness (legs, back, neck, arms)
鈥atigue (general tiredness)
鈥umbness and tingling in the hands and feet (fingers, toes, heals)
鈥eakness (at times, in arms and back)
鈥welling (ankles, mainly left although history of sprains)
鈥emperature sensitivity (muscles feel sorer in high humidity and cold than low humidity and warmth)
鈥ry skin
鈥ooth grinding (dentist diagnosed)
鈥ainful menstruation and premenstrual syndrome
鈥igraine & headache
鈥hest pain
鈥epression
鈥orning stiffness
鈥ognitive or memory impairment
鈥rain 鈥榝og鈥?br> 鈥uscle twitching
鈥urning muscles
鈥izziness and light-headedness
鈥mpaired coordination
鈥12 deficiency
鈥luten sensitivity

...

I have EBV and Firomyalgia, which usually comes hand in hand, I've been told. I also, have Chronic Fatique. I would swear my Mother had it, but was never diagnosed, and when I was, asked her to get tested, but she never would. It's miserable to try to live with this. I was always very active, and now it is so hard to do just little normal daily things. I'm determined to find a way to live with more energy and less pain. I recently got a response on YA from someone who has an AI (Auoto Immune) disease, as well, and she suggeted I go on the website: www.butyoudon'tlooksick.com
Found it helpful, and they have info on Fibromyalgia. You're not alone. Will add you to my contacts in case you find out any information and vice versa, so can email.

I did used to take a product called Sentra am, and one for Sentra pm. They helped some, but then seemed like were'nt working anymore. May want to check that out, though, as did great, at first with them. And, they may have stopped helped due to my body chemistry.

I was 30. I think it was from severe stress for many years. No one else in my family has it, except for one cousin. See my fibromyalgia story at http://www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm - muscle pain, fatigue, depression, insomnia were the main features. I wrote a list of 100 tips for coping at http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm - things I personally use are at http://www.fms-help.com/what.htm - there is no cure, just things that I use (meds, supplements and lifestyle changes) that help me. Everyone is different. Wish there were a magic bullet that helped everyone.

I was diagnosed about a year and a half ago with FMS my pain started a few years ago but it took a while to get an official diagnosis, my main symptoms are muscle and joint pain, muscle spasms/twitches, insomnia, and fatigue. I take ultram and tylenol 3 for pain, cymbalta an anti depressant that helps with pain, a muscle relaxer, and lunesta for insomnia. I also take a few supplements, 5-htp and corvalen (d-ribose) have been the most useful.

Fibro and CFS are still in debate by many many people and doctors on how they attract and how to go about to cure Fibro or CFS, many think a post virus has to do it with, many think you get Fibro or CFS with it due to a environmental exposure (toxic mold, co2,chemicals,lyme disease etc) which you do get Fibro or CFS after a environmental exposure.

My knowledge of Chronic Fatigue comes from experience in the mold illness group and chemical group, people who come into contact with toxic mold exposure somewhat like sick building syndrome or come into contact with toxic chemicals will come down with CFS or Fibro this is due to what mold and chemicals produce which are bio-toxins (neuro-toxins) that get into the body that naturally are not removed and create many health issues one being CFS or Fibro.

If you know someone suffering from CFS or Fibro due to toxic mold or a environment illness contact Dr. Shoemaker at www.chronicneurotoxins.com CFS or Fibro that is caused by mold, co2, chemicals or lyme disease is treatable.

If biotoxins (neurotoxins) are not to be blamed for someones CFS or Fibro than I do not have the answers for these or know any treatment protocol since it's still in debate by many doctors.

I was 12 years old when I was diagnosed with Fibro, I'm 31 now. For me, it's only gotten better. I can honestly say having this for so many years prepared me for more health problems later in life - I can handle pain better than most people I know. It's almost become an afterthought - I feel the pain, address it if I must, but go through a normal day like anyone else. I couldn't imagine developing something like this later in life.

The best advice I can give anyone with fibro is to try to control your sleep patterns. I started taking elavil very young and cannot get real sleep without it - I just lay there in a half awake fog. The side effects can be hard to handle, but the pain and tiredness that comes when I don't take it are by far worse. I would recommend a sleep lab for anybody with Fibro.

My symptoms:
-widespread pain
-sleep disturbances
-muscle spasms (mostly spinal, probably also due to degeneration)
-sensitivity to cold (causes spasms, tension)
-memory impairment (did I say that already?) ;)

Related:
-Migraines
-Irritable Bowel (IBS)

There are several more which could also be related to other conditions or medications for those conditions, but nothing I'd consider major.

To help my symptoms, I've already mentioned the Elavil, I also avoid cold weather, eat right and exercise often (the more fit I am, the less pain I have), allow myself plenty of time for sleep, and occasionally take over the counter or prescription pain killers. I used to regularly take prescription meds to help with the pain, but have since made that a rarity. Usually I can get through the day without anything.

I keep a migraine journal but not a FMS journal. My step father has fibro, one sister has IBS, my mother and one sister get migraines.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at age 36 although I believe my symptoms started way before that. I think that my condition is a result of excessive stress. However, the big flare up at age 36 that resulted in my diagnosis followed two events: a car accident that caused a neck injury AND a major viral infection.

I don't know for sure if anyone else in my family had FMS. Based on some of the stories my mother has told me, I would guess that my father had FMS. I also think my grandmother on my mother's side may have had FMS. Both my father and my grandmother had died by the time I was diagnosed however, so I really couldn't ask them any detailed questions to get more information.

My current symptoms are muscle pain, irritable bowel syndrome and general fatigue. I don't keep a journal. I've tried a couple times to get one going, but I just can't keep it up.

I've found a combination of treatments to be most effective rather than any one single treatment. I have been using a combination of medication, herbal and dietary supplements, myofascial release therapy (a type of massage), regular chiropractic care, light exercise and hot baths (in epsom salts).

Medication-wise I'm not currently taking any medication specifically to help with FMS. I am being treated for hypothyroidism and getting treatment for this has reduced, although it hasn't eliminated, my FMS symptoms. I used to take Elavil at night to help with my sleep. After a while, I felt like I was having to take more and more Elavil for it to be effective, so I switched to using Ambien for sleep which didn't work very well for me. Then when Lunesta came out I switched to that. Now I've gone off the Lunesta and I'm doing OK mostly right now. I also used to take an anti-depressant. I've found that since I've gone off the anti-depressant I have less need for a sleep aid.

I take a lot of supplements. I started out by following the list of supplements in "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by Phyllis A. Balch. I've modified my supplement intake based on additional research. The Fibromyalgia Network's website lists some commonly used supplements (Go to the Resources link and select Consumer Alerts) - link included below. I also found some of the supplement information at www.endfatigue.com to be helpful - link to list included below.

Finally, I have found myofascial release therapy to be very helpful in dealing with my muscle tension and pain. This website has some good basic information about myofascial release: http://www.myofascial-release.com/