Fibro or something else?

[Shashi11962]

For the past year and a half, I've had some increasing debilitating symptoms that have me and my doctors stumped.  We thought at first that I had MS, but all of my MRIs, LPs, and other tests have been normal.

I've been doing some research on fibromyalgia, and thought that some (though not all) of the symptoms fit.  So, I'd like to ask the forum if any of you with diagnosed FM have these symptoms too and which ones might not be consistent with FM:  

* almost constant extreme fatigue (feels like I've just run a 20K marathon race through neck-deep wet cement)
* visible and non-visible (internal) tremors  
* twitching in my muscles (arms, legs, back, shoulders)
* numbness and tingling in the right side of my chin (2 years duration) and various areas of my face and feet
* burning pain in my right cheek and chin (trigeminal neuralgia)
* TMJ syndrome (since I was 13 years old.)
* sharp, shooting nerve pains in my arms, legs, feet, and head
* overly sensitive skin (just someone holding on to my arm or back is painful)
* buzzing sensations in my muscles (feels like a pager set on vibrate)
* severe muscle spasms/stiffness/weakness in my arms, neck, shoulders, back, and legs to the point of not being able to walk at times  
* constant tinnitus (ringing) in my left ear
* balance problems
* vertigo and nausea
* IBS
* urinary frequency and urgency
* heat intolerance (fatigue, problems walking, and blurrred vision after being exposed to heat)
* visual problems (blurred vision, floaters, light sparks)
* slurred speech
* slow word recall
* short-term memory problems (which are getting really bad recently)
* concentration problems
* substituting the wrong word
* sensory overload (bright lights, loud music, and crowds)

[sfbaygirl]

Hmmmm...I wondered if I have Lyme disease too. I know I have had bites from deer ticks and pick them off my cats all the time.  Probably a good idea to tx for for it just in case. Is there a test for lyme disease?

[Christina1978]

I have all your symtoms too, minus one or two. But I also have very bad pain mostly in my neck and lower back knees and elbows. I have a diagnosis of fibro and cfs. I also am getting testing done for my thyroid because it is enlarged and I have a nodule in it.

[sfbaygirl]

I remember you on the hep forum.  Did you do tx?  I know the tx caused my problems with my now dx'ed fibro.  I have some of the symtoms you describe.  I think the tx for the hep really did me in. I am now on blood thinners for life and have fibro. Hoping that is all.  Wishing you well and glad to see you again!

Linda

[patsy10]

Your story in almost mine to a tee.  Nearly all the same symptoms with all normal tests.  I'm being treated for possible lyme disease.

[PlateletGal]

This is my website and this link will show you some of the diagnostic tests that can help your physicians to diagnose you:

http://groups.msn.com/Neuro-ImmuneSupport/diagnostictests.msnw

Good luck !

[Ria_T]

I have had all the symptoms you describe and was also checked for MS. I was first diagnosed with B12 and Folic deficiency which caused many of the nerve problems and then Coeliac which caused the B12 deficiency and bowel problems. I now also have Diabetes Insipidus. I am to see a neuro again as my balance problems and walking has not improved. My tinnitus is also in my left ear, but no deafness. My last MRI came up clear but I have had another and get the results in January. If it's still shows nothing, I'm hoping for more investigations, possibly a spinal MRI. Occasionally with MS, brain lesions don't show. If your problems continue then don't give up and keep trying for more tests. If I had listened to everyone, I would have been put down as being stressed etc, and would be in a worse place now. Good luck!

Maria

[PlateletGal]

I agree... it sounds like it could very well be CFS with some fibromyalgia symptoms.

[Curls]

Some of these sound like it (or it's close relative CFS.  Some less so.  The fatigue, memory problems, concentration, wrong word, sensory overload, heat intolerance (those specific sytmptoms from it), ibs, balance, vertigo, tinnitus, spasms, tmj, touch sensitive shooting pains are all classic and some of them as you can image by now, are somewhat unique to cfs/fm/mcs.  The burning,  tingling is a common description, but not in a specific location each time, more under the skin and all over.  Numbness can happen mostly in specific locations.  There is nerve abnormality in CFS/Fm (which doesn't show on conductive tests.)  Temors I haven't heard of as much, but there are a few people descripting them here and wondering what illness they are a part of.  If you're going to spasm, I see no reason not to be twitching too.  Could the last two be from a drug?    I haven't heard it described as buzzing in muscles, but that could be what words you use vs. the next person.  I made a list of my symptoms vs ones I'd heard in the support group, sure I didn't have cfs.  Then drew lines to match them up and realized i was just wording them a little differently, but same symptoms.

CFS/FM are so varied that having a couple unusual symptoms wouldn't neccessarily rule it out.  The basic illness is so distinctive, once you get to know it, that it should be able to decide for yourself once you've met a few other people with the fibrofog (as the congnitive stuff is called), muscle fatigue, and general fatigue and hypersenitivity, and pains particular to it.  Even when you meet people it takes a while to pick up on it (we all look so healthy), but when you do - you'll know.  

What does your doctor think now that you've researched it?