medical
Publications
We've put together a number of information leaflets since FMSUpport started, and have a list of others that we are working on. Many of them are based on material provided by other groups, though some of the information is our own, and we have added local information to them all wherever practical.
We are happy to post any of the following out to people, however given the cost of producing the professional-looking information and also the cost of pastage, we would appreciate any donations - even if it's just a few 2nd class stamps!
My Kingdom for a Good Night's Sleep!
How often have you lain awake at night longing to fall into a restful sleep? Your brain decides that this is the time of day that it wishes to go through all those nagging little problems and simply refuses to switch off. I don't know how many times I've lain there either listening to a cassette trying to lull my brain into drowsiness or wondering who I can phone this time of night to relieve the boredom.
Common Symptoms - Chronic widespread pain
Fibromyalgia is classified as a syndrome. The chief complaint of fibromyalgia is pain. The pain can cause functional limitations varying from mild to incapacitating. This pain is in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursa and sometimes feels as if it is in the joints. This is mostly related to pain at the muscle and tendon insertions into the joint area and is not a reflection of actual joint pathology or inflammation. The pain may be described as a constant ache or throbbing.
Common Symptoms
Our booklet of common symptoms has been hugely popular, and can be viewed here or downloaded as a pdf file.
To view information about each of the common symptoms, follow the links below or to the right.
This isn't an exhaustive list of symptoms, but these are the most common. Other symptoms can include:
Common Symptoms - Morning stiffness
Most people with fibromyalgia report morning stiffness, usually lasting a few hours. They feel somewhat looser and better during the late morning to early evening, and then have more pain again in the evening. Most would say the worst time of the day is in the morning.
Common Symptoms - Fatigue and poor sleep
Fatigue is a major complaint with those who have fibromyalgia. Poor sleep certainly contributes to this problem, but persons with fibromyalgia will often indicate they have no energy whatsoever, cannot get motivated to do various projects, and would rather lie down and go to sleep.
Common Symptoms - Muscle weakness and spasms
Fibromyalgia causes the muscles to be tight, stringy, and to have inconsistent localised spasms. Fibromyalgia muscles do not use oxygen well and have decreased energy compounds, fatigue is a major problem. The muscles, therefore, are painful, tight, and easily fatigued. When we attempt to exercise, muscles often respond by increasing pain.
Common Symptoms - Cognitive dysfunction ('Fibro-Fog')
Many people with fibromyalgia experience episodes of unclear thinking or cognitive dysfunction. They become forgetful, lose their train of thought, forget words or mix them up. This is what is popularly called “brain fog” or “fibro fog.” Fibro-fog is possibly one of the most common yet unrecognised symptoms of fibromyalgia, and can include:
