Do I Have Fibromyalgia? Characteristic Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

I am 84 years old. A retired school teacher. I've suffered with fibro since I was in my early 30s. I can't take pain medication. My doctor and I worked on diet, exercise and positive attitude. I do not suffer from depression. I do work very hard to help others and stay as cheerful as I can be. That has been my lifeline. Turn over the pain to the universe. Be thankful daily. It is not always easy. Diet has been my biggest wins. I also have IBS. Finding the foods I could safely eat was a challenge. I've done a fair job if I do say so.

I am 73 years of age and was diagnosed with FMS at the age of 45, though from the symptoms, I know I had it long before that. I would like to say that the term “psychosomatic” is not a belittling word or a brush off. It literally means “of body and mind.” I noticed the word Stress in this video multiple times, and I believe that stress, be it mental or physical (i.e., sick or otherwise injured) is the root of what triggers the misfiring of our various systems, such as gut, muscle, nerve, etc. I was finally diagnosed after being in acute pain for 7 months with 3 herniated spinal disks. My HMO doctor refused to refer me to a surgeon early on. I was left with chronic pain and paresthesia throughout my body. I just don’t think a human body can go through stresses like that for such a lengthy time and not have lasting repercussions. Currently, I am in a flare, and the only thing that helps me is rest and Norco. But doctors have gone way overboard regarding opioid pain medications for all of us, so I use the few tabs of Norco I’m given very carefully; I only take 1 to 1 1/2 tabs at night so I can get to sleep. I like the idea of having a YouTube support group, since I live in a sparsely populated area where I haven’t found a local support group yet. I’d like to extend my warm wishes for everyone who is suffering with this horrible condition.

My Mother verbalized as far back as I can remember that she didn't feel well. Gradually she physically declined and rarely did anything physically and sat around the majority of the day. She wouldn't really see a doctor to find out what was wrong with her. As I got older I became extremely fatigued and had constant deep muscular pain. My blood chemistries revealed I have RA and then MRI revealed I have ankylosing spondylitis. I have joint degeneration and have had bilateral hip replacements. Nine surgeries on one that caused me irreversible nerve damage with foot drop. My life will never be the same. Fibromyalgia IS REAL and yes it's usually connected with another form of condition. It's like living in your own personal he'll. 😢

I received a fibromyalgia diagnosis approximately 8 years ago. I was experiencing constant muscle and to touch my skin felt like it was on fire. Which could never be explained. I have always had trouble with the sun. I have never enjoyed it only when near water like fishing or using my inflatable boat. I found the sun hurt my eyes and my body. I also never experienced much in the way of headaches and I constantly was getting sever headaches to the point I would have to lie down. Which just made me feel worse and my body pain I couldn't relax or sleep. I am always tired and chalked it up to my bipolar disorder which has similar symptoms in the sleep aspect. But this felt different as when I did get some sleep I never felt awake. The main symptom that really affects me is TMJ disorder it is now so bad that I even grind my teeth not only sleeping but anytime day or nite. Which my face swells and is always sore to eat or drink for that matter. I also suffer from neuropathy pain which totally is excruciating and my IBS is so bad that I have had to get treatment as it is now more of an ulcerative colitis which is a whole thing that has made me have to get colonoscopies more than I ever imagined. No medication has helped me and I have tried many which all you have shown on this video. They didn't work or I had such bad side effects that it made my whole digestive symptoms and colon and bowel issues worse than ever. Since my diagnosis I have had to take medical leaves from employment more than I every imagined also hard to maintain a routine in life. As my life with fibromyalgia has drastically changed as far as my self esteem, relationships with family, friends and co-workers. I have had some judgment and comments from many people who don't understand my pain. I am lazy, very unsociable which has been said to me. If anyone would like to be me for just one day or hour they would take back those comments l. Besides, dealing with being born with bipolar disorder and yes I have been seeing therapists and doctors since I was in my early teens. I tend to be very introverted and than struggle with the fact I live my life sheltered and in pain constantly. The fibro fog is also getting worse for me as I am in my early 50's and I have had trouble focusing and remembering simple things. All of these symptoms of fibromyalgia I have experienced long before my diagnosis as doctors had no idea what it was. It took me not being able to walk literally and my hospital stay of more than 3 weeks for me to get at least some relief knowing what is wrong with me. The diagnosis just help my mental state to know I wasn't losing my mind and finally being treated for my pain when it flare ups with torodol which I only get to ease the inflammation so I can at least take care of myself. I am single and will probably stay this way as relationships never last and I have lost my family, my adult children don't understand this illness at all. So it is easier for people to just not be in my life. Sad but true. Ok, I shared my story as I want others to know they are not alone. I have always been a shy and hard to speak in this type of public forum but this illness has affected my life in a big way and I will do anything to help others who deal with fibromyalgia. Bottom line we need to make society aware of the way individuals suffering from fibromyalgia are everyday people from any walk of life. Educating on this illness and bipolar, Ibs, anxiety, suicide awareness is only to help society not hinder it. Thanks for your time. You are not alone coming from a woman dealing fibromyalgia for almost 10 years that I know of. Take care

I've had fibromyalgia for 17 years now and I've given birth 4 times since I was diagnosed ( our oldest and only daughter was 2 when I was diagnosed) and honestly it's so hard to keep up, thank God my oldest helps out when I have flares. God bless everyone suffering from this and prayers also to the ones affected by seeing their loved ones suffer ♥️

I'm in Australia and we are way behind in the understanding and treatment of fibromyalgia. I'm 61 years young and have had fibromyalgia for years and YEARS. Had my first diagnosis at 28, but I'm sure that I've had it since my teens, untreated. It's caused me to become isolated and depressed, crying alot, feeling "less than". I've never been able to study or hold down a job. My current GP is only able to mess around with pain meds, and I'm in counselling for complex trauma. I don't have a great support network, as people who don't have it, think I'm just getting old,but they don't want to hear about it. And I don't want to burden them

I wish I saw this a long time ago. This is everything for a couple of years. All of it didn’t happen at once but several things did and now I feel like everything is happening at once! It’s taken years to get a referral to a rheumatologist and then 4 months to actually get an appointment. This Thursday!!! Thank you for this. Maybe I can just play this and say, “Here are all my complaints.” Wish me luck.

Was diagnosed after a mystery illness, later went on a keto diet and lost a bunch of weight and really got control of my hormones. Fibro symptoms that had been destroying my life disappeared for about two years, then I started into peri menopause and started having symptoms again, increased my carb intake just a little and worked on gut micro biome and the symptoms have again almost disappeared in a week. I also started using a product from salt wrap that is a magnesium supplement for cramps and it has worked wonders. Thank God for sending it to me, not one cramp since I started taking it.

Marion, my name is Laney and I too suffer from fibromyalgia, was finally diagnosed with it in 2003. To make a long story short, cause my phone service is not too good where I live, I just want to tell you I found that drinking Aloe Vera juice by "fruit of the earth brand" has helped me tremendously!! I get it at Walmart in a gallon jug, the unflavored one but I add about an ounce or two of orange juice to about 6-8 ounces of Aloe, dont drink it by itself, not so good plain😊 I started out drinking it twice a day for months at a time, now I just drink it whenever Ive worked hard outside or whenever I need a boost. It is so good for imflamation in our muscles, joints, everthing in our body thats out of whack with this fibro!!! It has really helped me, Ill be 65yrs. old in Nov. I hope this will help you as it has helped me. Your in my prayers sweetheart, so dont give up, I was just like you in the past. God Bless You!!!!!!😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏

The worst symptom for me to handle is the searing electric shocks that go through my body. prickling stinging feelings that make you suddenly want to scratch an area like youve been stung by an insect...which then happens again in another part of the body...and burning ends of fingers and toes.

Hi I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia last year. I find it amazing that it took years of figuring this out and I didn’t even know that Fibromyalgia was a real thing because I’d always heard that it wasn’t. My symptoms are neck, shoulder, hips, and lower back pain. I also have IBS, RLS, numbing and tingling of the hands, memory issues, depression, and anxiety. My daughter has many of these same symptoms but different symptoms as well. I am taking, flexeril, Gabapentin, and an antidepressant.

Great video. I have ALL of these symptoms and I assure that this horrible condition is REAL. I suffer from costochondritis and Tietze as well. Tinnitus on and off, dry eyes, trouble swallowing at times, palpatations , bee sting pains, as well as deep pains, back aches, sensitive skin, numbness with tingling in my upper thigh, and sometimes it feels like bending tubes of water running in different directions under my skin within the numb area. Stiff when I get up, dizziness on and off, blurry vision at times, pains in my ears on and off, horrible sleep and IBS. TMJ & Headaches some days and horrible deep aching pains in my feet. Sometimes low grade fever and can't warm up, especially my feet and sometimes can feel my body trying to warm up inside . I have had multiple traumas in life, high stress, many surgeries when younger, endometriosis and PTSD at mid age. My legs often feel like I'm wading through deep water and at times breathing deep is next to impossible . I have approx 10 symptoms at once, some remain while others join and other symptoms leave. They are NOT all constant at all times, except for pains everywhere and sore skin on my back, & bad sleep. I have even felt myself fighting off depression , which I feel came only from fibro and not an external reason. This is brutal..I appreciated your educational video. To the guy who feels like he has all symptoms except for worse pain, my pain started milder as well. Please reduce your stressors to try to ward off worsening pain, if that might work..not really sure but worth the try.

What causes Fibromyalgia is still quite a mystery. My 2 cents (which is probably worth only half of that) - I have known a number of people with it over the years and in my untrained unprofessional opinion I think it is ultimately based on stress. Stress that overwhelms and produces adverse physical manifestations in the body - triggering muscle/ligament tension, switching on autoimmune disorders, sensory sensitivities, etc. I knew a woman who was afflicted with severe fibromyalgia for a number of years. An injury eventually caused her to become bed-bound. Once she took to the bed, many stressors where removed from her life and the fibromyalgia pretty much disappeared. To be clear, I don't think it is psychosomatic. For some people, I think it is how the body physically reacts to physical and mental stressors. Even if this guess were accurate to some degree, however, there is still the big question as to why stressors would cause the body to react in this way for a subgroup of people and not for others.

I have all the symptoms and I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Another symptom of fibromyalgia especially what I have is the awful foot pain, my feet hurt so bad and hurt more at night when I’m trying to sleep and when I wake up in the morning. It’s like having constant plantar fasciitis that won’t go away it seems like.

Does Anyone have Problems with Excessive Sweating throughout the Day ? Especially if Stressed or if being in a Hurry? I feel I get New Symptoms as Time goes by. I have had Fibromyalgia since 1985 Love and Hugs to All My Warriors ❤😊

Great video, although diagnosed with fibromyalgia I often wonder if it’s something more. I keep fighting this chronic illness and try not to give up but over the past year I feel I have gone much worse, I struggle with everything whilst maintaining a full time job, I don’t have a choice. Work to survive and live but nothing is easy I have good days yes but mainly terrible. I don’t sleep, I struggle to eat, I have IBS issues, brain fog usually first and last thing, I do weird things at times,I am literally mentally and physically drained 247 but YouTube is one of the things that keep me going. Always here to talk if anyone needs it.

Having had a stressful childhood my mum was not well. Then a sick husband . We had a child born with 3 holes in his heart, I had some skating injuries and two bad falls. I have osteo in spine and one knee where injury was.hubby had cancer 3 times too. My son In and out of handicapped places. I looked after him 15 years. So it all adds up. On amitriptiline at night. My legs give me hell. Never been diagnosed with fibro but symptoms and long term stresses have contributed. I am 71 now. I think stress for life adds up to pain. I also eliminated bell peppers potatoes and tomatoes from diet. Nightshade vegies. Psoriasis has subsided not as inflamed as it was.

Yes I do Dr. Has check my heart 3 times living me at the hospital for 3 days and find nothing wrong with my heart also get all those symptoms plus vomiting , nausea , fever ,pain on ears the electric shock are as bad as the pain, I had this sense I was 17 years old but discovered at 45 years old now I am 59 and it's bad I believe that it get worse with time may God bless us all

I’m currently being treated with medication for fibromyalgia. I’ve had chronic body pain for years. Though this year it has been a mix of chronic body pain & my entire left side hurting for longer than 3 months . I kept going back to doctors until one finally listened to my symptoms. She put me in medication for fibromyalgia & it has helped though my leg is always hurting & sometimes it feels like it’s a burning sensation. Lately I’ve been extremely gassy , I forgot things a lot & fast & I can’t seem to say what I want to . I have trouble getting it out though I know what I want to say.

Been a male I got diagnosed in North York Ontario by a specialist that also diagnosed me with spina bifida at the same time. I was only 23 and had been fighting for years to find out what it was