100 Tips for Coping with
Fibromyalgia & InsomniaThis is a short version of the
Risk Factors and Symptoms checklist featured in "Living Well With
Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You
Need to Know" by Mary
Shomon. For the full checklist with all details, obtain a copy of
the book at http://www.wellnessbooks.com/cgi-bin/amazon.pl?item_id=0060521252&search_type=AsinSearch&templates=8&locale=us
RISK FACTORS/MARKERS
____ Female gender
____
A family history of CFS or fibromyalgia
____ Having a family or personal
history of other conditions, including:
____ Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
____ Endometriosis
____ Thyroid disease –
hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism
____ Mood disorder
____
Chronic or persistent nasal symptoms/sinusitis/sinus infections
____
Ear infections (particularly with CFS)
____ Hysterectomy (particularly
with CFS)
____ Miscarriage
____ Irregular Menstrual
Cycle
____ Ovarian Cysts
____ Mononucleosis/Glandular
fever
____ Epstein-Barr Virus
____ Having had a recent
infection
____ Family or personal history of autoimmune disease.
____
Physical Injuries/Trauma
____ Hypermobile Joints
____ Toxic Exposures
____ Severe Life Stress
____ Type A Personality
____ Recent
Immunizations/Vaccinations
____ Use of medications/drugs known to have a
link to CFS/Fibromyalgia (full overview provided in Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
Fibromyalgia )
SYMPTOMS
CFS Symptoms -- Official Criteria
The official criteria for CFS
include the following symptoms:
____ Fatigue that is medically
unexplained; of new onset; lasts at least six months; is not the result of
ongoing exertion; is not substantially relieved by rest; and causes a
substantial reduction in activity levels.
Plus, four or more of the
following symptoms:
____ substantially impaired memory/concentration
____ sore throat
____ tender neck or armpit lymph nodes
____ muscle
pain
____ headaches of a new type, pattern or severity
____ unrefreshing
sleep
____ relapse of symptoms after exercise (also known as post-exertional
malaise) that lasts more than 24 hours
____ pain in multiple joints without
joint swelling or redness.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms -- Official Criteria
The
official American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia include:
____ Widespread pain for at least 3 months. Pain should be on both the
left side of the body and the right side, and pain both above and below the
waist. Cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine or low back pain must also
be present.
Plus, pain in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites,
which include:
____ The area where the neck muscles attach to the base of
the skull, left and right sides (Occiput)
____ Midway between neck and
shoulder, left and right sides (Trapezius)
____ Muscles over left and right
upper inner shoulder blade, left and right sides (Supraspinatus)
____ 2
centimeters below side bone at elbow of left and right arms (Lateral epicondyle)
____ Left and right upper outer buttocks (Gluteal)
____ Left and right
hip bones (Greater trochanter)
____ Just above left and right knees on
inside
____ Lower neck in front, left and right sides (Low cervical)
____ Edge of upper breast bone, left and right sides (Second rib)
OTHER
SYMPTOMS
____ Muscle, joint pain, stiffness, burning,
soreness, spasms, cramps
____ Carpal tunnel syndrome-like pains
____
Painful menstrual periods
____ Headaches
____ Fatigue, extreme
exhaustion
____ Sleep Disturbances
____ Shortness of breath
____
Sore throat (known as pharyngitis)
____ Brain fog – general difficulty
concentrating
____ Impaired attention span
____ Confusion with memory,
words, numbers, math, etc.
____ Mood swings, anxiety, depression, panic
attacks
____ Numbness or tingling sensations
____ Sensitivity to
temperature changes
____ Chemical sensitivities, allergies
____
Allergies and or sensitivities – to pollen, foods, molds
____ Sensitivity to
medicines
____ Sensitivity or intolerance to alcohol
____ Eye/vision
problems
____ Constipation or diarrhea
____ Nausea, indigestion, stomach
problems
____ Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, “fibroglycemia”
____
Dizziness
____ Low blood pressure
____ Recurrent low-grade fever
____ Heart palpitations, skipped heartbeats
____ More frequent
infections
____ Weight changes -- gain or loss, not associated with change
in eating habits
100 Tips for Coping with
Fibromyalgia & Insomnia
II Corinthians
1: 4 - "[God] Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort
them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are
comforted of God." Visit Dominie's FMS/CFIDS Homepage at
www.fms-
help.com for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers and their
families.
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor. I am a fibromyalgia / chronic fatigue syndrome survivor. The purpose of this website is not to diagnose or cure any disease or malady, but is presented as food for thought. This information cannot take the place of professional medical advice. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should come under the direction of a physician. No guarantees are made regarding any of the information in this website.
