Fibromyalgia symptoms?

[Daffyducklet]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago. This was due to constant pain and tiredness mainly. This year has been hard, the pain has increased, despite an increase in my dose of amitriptyline, and the tiredness is terrible. I try to walk every day at least a little, but I'm finding it increasingly hard. Also my balance is shocking - is this a fibromyalgia symptom? If I turn slightly I lost my balance and nearly fall over, and have fallen several times. The brain fog is also getting worse. I've currently had a cold and an eye infection since Christmas and just can't shake it, so I'm feeling very sorry for myself! Is there anything that helps with the tiredness?

Who diagnosed the fibro and what other tests did you have?

Fibro should only be diagnosed once everything else has been ruled out. It's a lazy diagnosis imo.

I'd go to the dr and ask for a ref to rheum to have it investigated, particularly if you're have new symptoms. At a minimum you need further bloods, inc vitamins d and b, ferritin, folate, full thyroid panel, etc.

A rheumatologist diagnosed it. I'd had blood tests for all sorts, took folic acid for a year, I'm already on levothyroxine, have been for about eight years. They ruled out everything else, referred me to a rheumatologist who diagnosed fibromyalgia.

Contact your rheumatologist and get an appointment to discuss your new symptom. Have you had sessions with the pain clinic? Do you take any supplements?

I haven't had sessions with a pain clinic, no. I take a multivitamin, vitamin D, cod liver oil, magnesium gel massaged into one knee and pain patches on the other, as it seems to help a bit. I don't want to take strong painkillers. I take paracetamol or ibuprofen when it's unbearable and try to manage it with the things mentioned above plus heat packs and ibuprofen gel.

A bath with magnesium flakes can really help with relaxation and pain relief.
Curcumin with black pepper
B vitamins, particularly B12
Probiotics

You might find a heated throw helps with the pain.

Mindfulness may also be beneficial. If you can withstand any exercise, Tai Chi is great.

Thanks. I don't have a bath, but if my feet hurt too much I soak them in warm water with magnesium flakes. Is folic acid b12? I know it's a b vit .. I take that sometimes. I take turmeric capsules when I can remember too! I've started my own kefir and have that daily for probiotics. Im not sure I'd like a heated throw, can't cope with heavy things really.

Does anything help with the constant fatigue?

Are you drinking enough? With the exhaustion and brain fog it's easy to forget to drink enough water. Could be something as simple as dehydration causing the new symptoms.

No, folic acid isn't B12, it's B9. Balance issues can certainly be caused by very low B12 .

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/symptoms/

Yes. It sounds very fibro. Try to rest. Talk to your doctor if it get worse.

No I'm probably not drinking enough. I should probably set a reminder on my phone. Thank you.

Thank you, I'll look into that.

You can get a very light throw. Slumberdown do a good one. The heat really helps.

B vitamins should help with the fatigue alongside Omega 3s. You could try Panax ginseng.

Have the symptoms got worse since you increased the dosage of amitriptyline? Because balance/coordination problems together with sleepiness, exhaustion and dizziness are all common or very common side effects of amitriptyline. I had to stop taking it because of the feeling I would fall and dizziness.

Probably best to contact your doctor to get a review.

Did you have brain and spine MRIs? Because the previous poster is correct - fibromyalgia can be a lazy diagnosis if everything else hasn’t been excluded and blood tests don’t exclude everything.

I'm not sure. I don't feel dizzy, just lost my balance if I turn or look up. I'll speak to my gp about it though.

Thanks, I'll order some B vitamins and look at ginseng.

I've had FM for about 40 years. Though only diagnosed about 10 years ago. I managed to get so much better but took some work. I now support people with FM.

Main things that help.

1. Moving. Little and often. I do yoga and stretches every day. Walk at least 5 k a day and play netball 2 a week. It hurts each time but after about 15 mins it reduces. The less I move the more pain I am in but I have to push through it.
2. Food intolerances. For me (and Bout 50% of people I work with) wheat is a major issue. I can't tolerate even a molecule it makes me hugely fatigued and pained. Gluten, sugar, onions, citric acid are all common culprits. A food exclusion diet is highly recommended.
3. Most pain killers are ineffective or actually worsen chronic pain. I didn't get on with ADs. Just take multivitamins.
4. CBD can help some people. I tend to smoke a spliff every months and that helps.
5. Acceptance. Some days are hard. Go to bed. Learn deep relaxation techniques. Do them and gentle stretching. Get off your phone
6. Ignoring it. Don't spend all day thinking about it or talking about it. Like a really annoying kid, the more you ignore them the less they wind you up!

I now work full-time have 3 kids and a busy social life. I hope you find things help. A kultipronged approach is key!

I had 3 months of weekly pain management sessions of 3 hours each week. They give you lots of information about pain, mindfulness, teach you breathing exercises and Tai Chi but it doesn't really help the pain. I found the only thing that touched the pain was a mixture of Codeine which is unfortunately addictive, Nefopam and Nortriptyline. The pain is slightly better in the warmer weather and worse in the cold. An electric hot cushion is good for putting in the small of your back, a heated throw helps keep you warm too. When warm I'm in less pain. Try the heated cushion and heated throw, hot shower and keeping out of the cold. Get them to check you are on a high enough dose of Thyroxine too.

I agree with @lakesiders that fibro can be a lazy diagnosis and stops medical professionals looking for the actual cause. I was diagnosed years ago and turns out it's actually EDS, I had a friend of a friend diagnosed for several years and it turned out to be a blood disorder. I think more investigation needs to be done in a lot of cases.

Depending on your age, peri menopause can also cause many of the symptoms you are getting worsening symptoms of.

It's always worth checking vitamin levels etc as NHS minimums can still make you feel lousy, especially with an autoimmune issue.

I agree with you in the main - but people have varying degrees of fibromyalgia.

Buprenorphine patches have been my life saver and kept me in work.

Im a nurse so know all about keeping mobile, acceptable, stretches, etc etc and I practice all that and more.

But buprenorphine turns the volume down on pain just enough for me to be able to function.

Very true. I should have made it clearer that for some people some types of medication can help.