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"To me, the vicissitudes of fibromyalgia feel like a swim in the turbulent sea - sometimes it seems we have fallen and the waves continue to crash on our heads, as we fight to rise, only to be knocked down yet again. But that same ocean sometimes allows us to find a wave we can ride smoothly to the shore."
(Deborah A. Barrett, PhD, fibromyalgia sufferer)

The most obvious symptom of fibromyalgia is persistent pain, often accompanied by stiffness on awakening or being in one position for a long time. There are tender points on your arms, legs and trunk, to the point that you don't like to be touched. You may also experience joint pain. There may be days when the pain is lessened, or completely absent.

The American College of Rheumatology guidelines direct doctors making a fibromyalgia diagnosis to test 18 points on the body for tenderness by putting light pressure on them. Pain at 11 or more points may indicate fibromyalgia.

The chronic pain is generally accompanied by fatigue. Even if you sleep an adequate length of time, it fails to refresh you, and you drag yourself around all day. You may experience insomnia. Restless leg syndrome is a common co-symptom of fibromyalgia.

Your digestive system may be in constant turmoil, with bloating, constipation alternating with diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome).

You may experience muscle spasms, leg cramps, numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands legs, or feet. You may have a feeling that your feet are swollen, even when they aren't. You may have reduced tolerance for exercise, and feel muscle pain afterwards.

You may become hypersenitive to odors, noise, bright lights, cold, or certain foods and medications. You may experience nausea or dizziness. You may be in a "fibro fog", unable to concentrate or remember. You may have an irritable bladder, requiring frequent trips to the bathroom. Pelvic pain and painful menstrual periods are also common. You may have tension or migraine headaches, facial pain, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), dry eyes or a dry mouth.

Anxiety, mood swings and depression are also party of the clinical picture of fibromyalgia. Dark emotions tend increase the pain, making you feel even worse and creating a vicious cycle.

It may take five years before a positive diagnosis can be made. By that time, frustration has built and peaked several times, especially when others tell you that you don't look sick. Pain, depression and lack of sleep have been interfering with job performance and personal relationships.

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