Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue
Having both Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is common. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Just as Fibromyalgia is more common in women, so is CFS.
According to the NHS it is not known what causes CFS.
The overlapping symptoms in both CFS and Fibromyalgia include sleep problems, muscle pain, headaches, brain fog, dizziness, digestion problems, anxiety or depression.
Both Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have overlapping symptoms that are very similar. But the main difference between Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome is the predominant symptom of Fibromyalgia is chronic pain, whereas fatigue is the main symptom of CFS.
Just like Fibromyalgia there is not a specific test for CFS. Both conditions are diagnosed by symptoms alone.
Some experts believe that Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are in fact the same condition. It is true that many people with Fibromyalgia suffer with extreme fatigue.
My experience of having Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue
Fatigue was one of my main symptoms. It is difficult to describe to people who have not experienced severe and chronic fatigue just how debilitating it can be. It is not just feeling tired. For me day after day large chunks of my day were spent sleeping. When I was awake I felt I was in a zombie state. I had no energy and no motivation to do ordinary daily tasks. There were times when I could not muster the energy to shower. My husband had to take over every domestic chore in the house.
The following is a passage from the 4 page letter I gave to my rheumatologist to describe my symptoms and how they affected my life.
“I just have 2 x two hours of useful, productive time in my day, when I do not feel wracked with pain, completely overwhelmed with fatigue, unmotivated and in a low mood. I have to arrange appointments, shopping and phoning my family within these time slots.
No matter how much I sleep in the night I get, fatigue comes on suddenly and dramatically at least twice a day, normally around 10.00am and then around 4.00pm. I have extreme yawning and I can hardly keep my eyes open.
I need to take a nap every day, despite 7 hours sleep a night. I wake up un-refreshed.
Because of the fatigue my work life, family life and social life have diminished considerably. Apart from appointments and food shopping and the odd lunch out with my husband, I have no social life. I live next door to a WI meeting room but cannot attend because the meetings start at 7.00pm. By 7.00pm I am completely exhausted, in immense pain, (need to use my three TENS machine) and usually blubbering like an idiot.
If I do go to the cinema with my husband it needs to be in the day time. I need to take a blanket to use in the cinema as my legs and feet get too cold.
It is too much of an effort to visit my mother and father, my
siblings, my children and grandchildren. If they come to my house I’m
exhausted, in terrible pain and very emotional and in a low mood for
days afterwards. I could not attend my youngest granddaughters Nativity
play because it meant a half hours drive there, an hour sitting watching
the show and then a half hours drive back – all too much for me.
I like doing arts and crafts but my pain, limited mobility, fatigue and lack of motivation prevent me enjoying any hobby.
I do not work and could not hold a job down.”
More on Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), are two distinct but overlapping conditions that often coexist in individuals. While they have different diagnostic criteria and symptoms, there are several reasons why people can experience both conditions simultaneously:
1. Shared Symptoms: Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome share common symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties (often referred to as "fibro fog" or "brain fog"), and musculoskeletal pain. These overlapping symptoms can make it challenging to differentiate between the two conditions and can lead to a dual diagnosis.
2. Central Sensitization: Both Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome involve abnormal central nervous system processing, which can lead to heightened sensitivity to pain, stimuli, and fatigue. This central sensitization mechanism contributes to the common symptoms experienced in both conditions.
3. Common Triggers: Both conditions can be triggered or exacerbated by similar factors, including physical or emotional stress, infections, hormonal imbalances, and certain environmental factors. These triggers can contribute to the development or worsening of both Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome in susceptible individuals.
4. Coexisting Conditions: Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome often coexist with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraines, depression, anxiety, and autoimmune disorders. The presence of these overlapping conditions can complicate the clinical picture and make it more likely for an individual to receive a dual diagnosis.
5. Overlapping Pathophysiology: Although the exact causes of Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are not fully understood, there is evidence suggesting that both conditions may involve dysregulation of the immune system, abnormalities in neurotransmitter function (such as serotonin and norepinephrine), and disruptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These shared pathophysiological mechanisms can contribute to the co-occurrence of both conditions.