Does it sound like fibromyalgia?

[AlwaysWorried21]

Over the past month or two I have been developing some weird symptoms and am at my wits end! I am a 21yr old female. Here is a list:

-vision problems (floaters, contacts not staying focused)
-fatigue
-muscle/joint/bone pain that seems to move all over my body
-itching/dry skin
-dry mouth/eyes
-generalized aching
-frequent urination (somewhat)

What is bothering my the most is the muscle/bone/joint pain! I am on Cymbalta for anxiety. I am not wanting to go to the doctor because they think I am nuts. I know it is not anxiety though because the meds have really helped. I have been tested for diabetes, and have had a random CBC done in December.

Should I just seek a doctor and ask about fibromyalgia? Sound like that is what it could be? THANKS!

[AlwaysWorried21]

want to add a few important ones-

chronic headaches, tingling/buzzing in fingers

[PlateletGal]

Did the anxiety come first or was it secondary to your symptoms ? If you had the anxiety first, I do know that anxiety can cause some of the unpleasant symptoms you've been having.

So you don't waste your time, money and get frustrated (trust me on this one), I would call around and find a physician who knows how to treat and diagnose fibro/CFS patients'. There are more and more rheumatologists who are finally coming around on this. Your new physician should do labwork on you and rule out possible other conditions, including lyme disease, Sjorgren's Syndrome and other autoimmune diseases.

[LoLoBoBo]

Well I was in your position a couple months ago. What I did is I went to my doctor and we ruled things out together. She did every thing to rule out everything else. Go to your doctor and demand they work up a cbc with inflamtories, rheumtoid levels, thyriod, I don't remember all she did on me. but ask and demand to get these done. From start to finish from when I told my doctor about my pain and sypmtoms to an offical dx was about a month or less.

[hypnot283]

Hurting all over is bad enough and you cant sleep well to boot! Hopefully some of this info will help: "In order to be accurately diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the following must apply:

* Chronic, widespread pain exists in different areas of the body for a minimum duration of three months.
* Tenderness or pain is experienced when pressure is applied to at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points that are shown in the diagram."
http://www.jigsawhealth.com/articles/fibromyalgia-symptoms.html

This site has a few self tests you can try and also some good info on natural sleep alternatives. about your sleep problems, I was on ambien about a year ago while I was going through a depression and I like it all that much. I tried looking into natural alternatives and found out about melatonin and it has worked great. Here is some info about that as well:

" Melatonin is a natural hormone that regulates sleep. During daylight, the pineal gland in the brain produces an important neurotransmitter called serotonin. (A neurotransmitter is a chemical that relays messages between nerve cells.) But at night, the pineal gland stops producing serotonin and instead makes melatonin. This melatonin release helps trigger sleep.

The production of melatonin varies according to the amount of light you're exposed to; for example, your body produces more melatonin in a completely dark room than in a dimly lit one.

Melatonin supplements appear to be helpful for people whose natural sleep cycle has been disturbed, such as travelers suffering from jet lag. Melatonin may also be helpful in various other sleep disorders."

It worked for me. I put a link below if you want to check it out.

http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx?&chunkiid=21811

[hypnot283]

Hurting all over is bad enough and you cant sleep well to boot! Hopefully some of this info will help: "In order to be accurately diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the following must apply:

* Chronic, widespread pain exists in different areas of the body for a minimum duration of three months.
* Tenderness or pain is experienced when pressure is applied to at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points that are shown in the diagram."
http://www.jigsawhealth.com/articles/fibromyalgia-symptoms.html

This site has a few self tests you can try and also some good info on natural sleep alternatives. about your sleep problems, I was on ambien about a year ago while I was going through a depression and I like it all that much. I tried looking into natural alternatives and found out about melatonin and it has worked great. Here is some info about that as well:

" Melatonin is a natural hormone that regulates sleep. During daylight, the pineal gland in the brain produces an important neurotransmitter called serotonin. (A neurotransmitter is a chemical that relays messages between nerve cells.) But at night, the pineal gland stops producing serotonin and instead makes melatonin. This melatonin release helps trigger sleep.

The production of melatonin varies according to the amount of light you're exposed to; for example, your body produces more melatonin in a completely dark room than in a dimly lit one.

Melatonin supplements appear to be helpful for people whose natural sleep cycle has been disturbed, such as travelers suffering from jet lag. Melatonin may also be helpful in various other sleep disorders."

It worked for me. I put a link below if you want to check it out.

http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx?&chunkiid=21811

[gkneez]

If you are dx with FM or CFS one thing to know is Cymbalta is one of the suggested meds. Good luck with your Dr. I hope it's not FM or CFS....