Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Fatigue: Not all symptoms are attributed to fibromyalgia

Fatigue is a common symptom of fibromyalgia; however, it can be caused by comorbid conditions, disorders that occur more frequently in FM. These might include hypothyroidism, nuerally mediated hypotension, postural orthostatic tachycardia, depression, or sleep disorder (including lack of slow wave progression.) Fibromyalgia can coexist with myalgic encephalomyelitis too.

It is important to know if you have a condition accompanying fibromyalgia that causes fatigue so it can be appropriately treated. For instance, you may have a co-existing condition (one that doesn't necessarily occur at a higher rate in FM) that causes fatigue, such as adrenal disease, anemia, mononucleosis, Lyme’s disease, narcolepsy, infection, heart disease, diabetes, hypoglycemia, insulin resistance or other metabolic/endocrine disease. There are a plethora of disorders that can cause fatigue.

Medications or drug interactions can also be the culprit. All of these should be ruled out or ruled in so appropriate action can be taken.

Be sure to report to your doctor if you also have:
• Anxiousness or feeling blue
• Blood in your stool or urine
• Breathlessness
• Changes in your stool
• Changes in your skin
• Chest Pain
• Dizzyness
• Excessive thirst and urination
• Fall asleep suddenly while doing a task
• Fainting when standing up too quickly
• Fever
• Flu-like symptoms that don’t go away
• Hair loss
• Heart rate changes, such as slow or palpations when you change positions
• Insomnia
• Lightheadedness when you bend over
• Night sweats
• Pale mucous membranes in the nose and mouth or skin
• Shortness of breath
• Started a new medication or supplement
• Swelling of the hands, feet or face
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Weight change

Keep a log of ALL your symptoms, not just those listed here. There are many helpful forms in our book for tracking and reporting symptoms, communication with your doctor, and providing documentation for your medical record. Use the tools to help track the benefits of new medications and treatments. All of these are important for you and your doctor or other healthcare provider.

This question is based on my original answer at ShareCare, “How Do I Know If My Fatigue Is Caused By Fibromyalgia?”

View my other answered questions as fibromyalgia expert
http://sharecare.com/user/celeste-Cooper



All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press and are not meant to replace medical advice. www.thesethree.com

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The doctors are still trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I have joint pain, achiness, headaches almost every day, sleeping problems and severe fatigue. Often times my appetite is off. One year ago I was told I was depressed, so I had to go to a counselor, and still have not improved. I am sixteen and do not want to deal with any of this. Dancing is my passion ever since I was three years old, this past week I decided I could not dance, because the pain is so bad. At first they said a reason for my joint pain was because of joint hypermobility. I was put into physical therapy, and I was not improving at all, so I was told to go back to the doctor. They are running blood and urine tests. Also, I am going to do a sleep study in about a week, maybe they will find something. I wake up feeling more tired than when I went to bed. It has been affecting me so much, I am not doing well in school. I cannot focus and cannot retain information. I have been in and out of the doctors' offices for the past few months. My symptoms sound like chronic fatigue. I have been taking over- the- counter medications for energy, sleeping, and pain. Nothing has been working.

Findrxonline.com

The Pained Ink Slayer said...

My first inclination is to ask, were any of these symptoms preceded by a virus, tick bite, or injury? Your best bet if you do not improve is to see an immunologist. There are many disorders that can cause your symptoms and each should be ruled out one by one. I assume they have checked you for mono, but that doesn't mean they did. Well wishes for finding the answers you need. Harmony and Hope, Celeste

Fatigue care said...

Nice Topic you have shared and i really like your post which is on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Thanks for this wonderful Information.

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