I have wondered often over the last few years if I have Fibromyalgia, but have never asked a doctor about it because I don't seem to have the tender points.
I'm wondering how many of these symptoms are "common" for fibromyalgia. Or maybe CFS?
-occasional severe sensitivity to noise. I can be sitting in a room, with people around me and noises I would normally not mind (kids playing, etc) will "hurt". I don't really have a headache, and it's not an actual pain. It's almost impossible to describe. It helps if I plug my ears. I can still hear everything, but not as acutely. This has never been me, and it's becoming more frequent now.
-along the same thing..sometimes a sudden noise (even in an already loud environment) will set off a vibration or buzz in my head, like I FEEL the sound instead of hearing it. Sometimes the vibration will travel through my whole body in a split second. When this happens, I go from feeling fine to feeling very "off" for hours.
-Random dizzy spells, usually followed by just a general "not well" feeling, sometimes nausea
-random shooting, very severe pains in my legs (occasional), or abdomen (more common). Recently they are so bad I can't stand up straight. They go away as fast as they came on.
-concentration problems. I struggle to follow someone's conversation. Even when I'm really trying. Sometimes I just have to ask them to repeat it because I really have no idea what they just said.
-foggy, "full" feeling in my head (behind my eyes), and can't mentally focus easily when that happens. It affects my eye sight too.
-I trip and fall often
-sometimes I stutter now. Or completely forget the word I need, when it's as simple as "water" or "dog".
-memory is failing me, a lot. Both long term & short term. Short term is really getting bad :/
-Fingers fall asleep if I'm lying down, no matter where my hands are.
-Pretty severe stiffness in the morning. Less severe, but exists, if I sit too long. It used to be so bad I couldn't walk when I got out of bed (4-5 years ago it felt like my feet/ankle bones were broken). It's gotten better (not sure why), but instead of just feet/ankles, it's a less severe, but more widespread, feeling of stiffness everywhere...fingers, toes, hips, elbows, back, etc. It will subside within an hour of being up in the morning, or within a few minutes of walking around (if getting up from extended sitting period).
-I wake up exhausted. Every morning. No matter when I went to bed. I usually tank around 2-3pm, even if I haven't done anything deserving of the sudden exhaustion. I tend to live on coffee now, because I can't afford to sleep all day. That worked for awhile, but lately, I honestly don't think it would matter if I didn't drink any..I think I would feel the exact same way.
-flu-like symptoms (minus nausea) 7-10 days prior to menstrual cycle, and 2-3 days into it. Body aches so bad I don't want to get out of bed, feeling hot to the touch, but no fever, more tired then normal, and just general "don't feel good".
-sudden dairy intolerance (within the last 6-9 months)
-growing inability to handle chaotic environments. i have 2 young boys (9 & 10), and their normal boy antics put me over the edge lately, and it makes me sad because they really aren't doing anything wrong. I don't get angry, just very overwhelmed & need everything to just stop for a minute so I can focus & think. It's like if there is noise, I can't hear my brain.
-heart palpitations/irregular heartbeat, sometimes food triggered, sometimes not (this started 2 years ago, doc ordered halter tests, etc, and said it was just my "normal", but it's getting worse) Sometimes it feels like my throat is closing, or an elephant is sitting on my chest. I almost always have a pressure type headache at this point.
I'm 38, BP is the high side of normal, only drink occasionally, no drugs (prescription or otherwise). I do smoke (which I know is not good) and am about 15-20 lbs overweight. I have been through some pretty severe stress this last year and a half, but many of these symptoms existed prior to that, in lesser degree. Life is actually pretty good right now, so I really don't think it's all anxiety. My daughter said that I haven't "felt good" for years now..and I guess she's right. I hardly ever get sick. But most days, I'm either aching, or exhausted, or walking around with this foggy feeling, or I say "I have a headache" because I don't know how to describe how I really feel. People are getting sick of hearing me say I'm tired..lol
I do plan to go to the doctor. I guess I am just looking to see if any of this sounds more familiar then not, while getting up the nerve to go explain all of this to a doctor I don't even like.