fibromyalgia vs chronic fatigue syndrome

[GrandmaBeans]

Hi! Was wondering if anyone can tell me how one tells/is diagnosed with fibromyalgia vs. chronic fatigue syndrome. I was diagnosed with FMS 17 years ago when pain was my primary symptom and I do have the trigger point pain along with most of the other FMS symptoms. But the majority of the time for many years now fatigue has been a bigger, or at least more frequent, issue. My doctor started me on Provigil in January, which has helped some but one dose a day doesn't seem to be enough. I'd like to be active for more hours a day and am wondering if anyone on the more addicting stimulants is having a more active life than I'm currently (not) enjoying. Or what the current, most successful treatments are for overwhelming fatigue and lack of energy.
Thanks so much for any help.

[Ash_W91]

I am not expert. I am simply just studying nursing and in my last year of school. You mentioned that she has occasional episodes of edema of her feet and ankles. Has she ever had any heart studies done because edema may be a kidney issue but it could easily be a pulmonary or cardiac issue as well. Just food for thought to get a closer look! Hope this helps!

[Chuckie327]

Thank for the CFS and Fibromyalgia posts!  My 38 yo daughter has been
spending many months in bed for long hours. Her Dr. just told her  Epstein Barr has been present a long time. She has occasional episodes of edema of her feet and ankles. Then the physician gives her a diuretic. No liver abnormalities. I've advised she have some kidney studies done.

Depression seems to be a major symptom. Any ideas other than a second
opinion. I am advising a pain tracker log as suggested here.  Thanks for your help!

[indego83]

I have both CFS and Fibro. They are so intertwined it is hard to pinpoint what is causing what symptom. Honestly most of the time I treat it as one problem, rather than two separate illnesses.

The only time they really stand out as two separate illnesses is when they flare. (Which they rarely do together, thankfully.)

Fibro flares leave me a weird cross between exhausted and restless, and generally in agony. I can push through them, with far too much caffeine, and a few extra pain killers, my body will keep going.

My CFS flares mimic glandular fever (mono). All my lymph nodes swell, my throat closes over, I’ll get a cold, the aches are much deeper in the muscles. I might be able to keep going for a day or two, but eventually I’ll crash so hard it’ll take me out for a few weeks.

I was lucky, I had a fantastic specialist who was able to diagnose me, and all my subsequent doctors have just gone by what she said.
Do you keep a CFS/FMS tracker? That can be great for figuring out what symptoms are the most dominant, and it’ll give you something to take to your doctor.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome share many of the same symptoms, such as: muscle and/or joint pain, debilitating fatigue, headaches, memory loss, difficulty with concentration. Patients with fibromyalgia often have chronic fatigue syndrome as well.
Coginitive behaviour therapy is quite helpful in chronic fatigue syndrome and you can go in for this. There is no medication available that can treat CFS specifically, but different medicines like pain killers and antidepressants are quite useful.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.