Do you think I may have Fibromyalgia?

[tsjpop]

I have muscle problems. Its hard to explain. I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism (2 months ago) and have started synthroid 150 mcgs at the time, and since the 5th day on this med I have had muscle problems. Ive looked up symptoms and it all points to fibro, what kind of testing gets done to find out for sure? What questions should I ask of my doctor to find out? Is there treatment for this condition and if so, what is it? thanks, ~Sharey

[grendslori]

A Rhuematologist is the doctor who should diagnose this illness in you; it's his specialty that this disease falls into. The fact that your problems started with the medication tends to make me lean toward the medicine causing your problems. talk to your doctor about this. People with Fibro do have problems sleeping; however, I know people who are healthy who stay up all hours watching TV or playing games on the computer so I don't think that will help you to find out if you have Fibro. You are probably tired because of your nightly activities. Fibro is diagnosed by having sustained, overkilled, pain in 8 out of 11 pressure points on the body......along with other symptoms that mimick many other disease processes; a Rhuematologist will test for all of those illnesses. The back pain you are having is a type of arthritis. The treatment for fibro includes drugs, some which will make life miserable for you! You are suppose to exercise as best as you can. Some people have massage therepy, some see a pain specialist. It depends on what your doctor orders for you.

[VaBreeze]

We don't know what causes FMS.  No one really knows.  It is thought to be a CNS disorder and more research is leaning toward it being a neuro-immune disease.  

There are different thoughts as to what can set FMS off.  Trauma (such as a car accident or other injury), surgery, pregnancy, viral or bacterial infection and possibly long-term, high stress.  I don't believe that discontinuing smoking would incite FMS, as there are to many who have this and never smoked.

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1440.html

The spondylosis is more of a degenerative/arthritic illness.  The medication wouldn't have caused this.  For now, you don't have all the test results back yet, so you'll know more after your doc. visit.  You could inquire if he feels you may have FMS.  It would benefit you to review the information in our Health Pages and write down any question you have, prior to your visit.  Also, MedHelp offers an FMS/CFS Tracker on which you can record your symptoms.  This can be printed out and taken when you have your appointment.

Best of luck to you.

[tsjpop]

Thanks so much for your resonse.
I have an appointment with an endocrinologist but not until August 20th, (thats the soonest appointment they had) and I will find out more then.

I have lots of symptoms, that did not show up until I started synthroid for my hypothyroid back in February. I will admit. But I did have lower back problems, and my doc did an xray and the results came back LUMBAR SPONDYLOSIS which I am not familiar with, and that was 2 months ago at the same day I started my meds I had the xray done from previous symptoms. I had my first set of bloodwork done last thursday to check my thyroid t4 t3 and tsh level and will follow up with my doctor this coming thursday the 14th, and thats when I will find out more. I was hoping to find the right questions to ask, because it seems that if I dont ask, my doctor definitely doesnt tell me anything.
I have had my doctor prescribe me tramadol (generic for ultram) for my back just last week, but I neglected to pick up the prescription and its still at the pharmacy because I find narcotics in the past did nothing for my teeth pain when it was prescribed to me,  it makes me very loopy in the brain, but doesnt take the pain away at all. I have a 3 and 4  year old that Im a stay at home mom for so I have to stay mentally alert and not sleep whenever I like lol.
I have had issues of insomnia before the thyroid meds. For about a year, Ive been staying up until 2 or 3am and getting up at 7 am everyday with my kids. My hubby would whine about "Your still up, its 1am" as he came out to the living room for a drink and I was here watching tv or playing a game.  
What questions can I tell my doctor, this mental fog Ive been in has made it hard for me to remember to ask the right questions once Im there.
What causes fms? I smoked for 25  years (from age 13 to age 38) and at at the end I was smoking almost 3 packs a day, and I quit cold turkey January 1st (new years resolution) of this  year. Ive not touched or been around any tobacco since. I did alot of praying to accomplish it, but when the day came, I put them down and never picked another one up. I wondered since I quit smoking Ive been more unhealthy then I have in my whole life lol! I wondered if quitting smoking made these illnesses come out? ~Sharey

[VaBreeze]

Many of the symptoms of FMS can mimic those of hypothyroidism.  While your symptoms appear similar, it doesn't mean you have FMS.  Typically, they will test for other illnesses that could be causing like symptoms and if they find nothing (and you have the tenderpoints) they then give the dx.

If you review our Health Pages (under Newly Diagnosed) you will see other conditions that should be approached prior to an FMS dx.  Some doctors are not familiar with this condition so you may want to look for a specialist in your area.  You can google "Co-Cures good Dr. list" to see if one is nearby.  Otherwise, a rheumatologist should be able to tell you if you have this illness.  

Treatment is individualized and is typically multi-faceted.  Some are taking Lyrica, Neurontin, antidepressants or Tramadol for pain.  Some use aids for sleeping.  This would depend upon which symptoms are causing you the most problems.  There is no real treatment for FMS or CFS.  We do have some alternative protocols (also in our Health Pages) which are recommended by physicians who have treated themselves or their family members.

Since you do have hypothyroidsm, it is likely that many of your symptoms can be contributed to that.  It is possible that the medication you are taking can cause muscle problems, so you may want to check into its side-effects.  The best thing to do is bring up your concerns at your next doctors visit so he/she can discuss them with you.  If you feel that you aren't receiving a proper dx, then consult a specialist or rheumatologist for a second opinion.

I hope you can get the answers to your health probs.  Please keep us updated and I pray that you do not have FMS.  Take care.