About Fibromyalgia
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- Category: Useful Information
- Published on Friday, 23 May 2025 08:02
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Diagnosis
Fibromyalgia is challenging to diagnose, as it presents with symptoms that are similar to other conditions. While not a diagnosis of exclusion, other conditions may need to be ruled out.
It can take around 3 years to be diagnosed from first consultation, with many people taking much longer. Awareness has helped improve these timescales.
Often pain is the first symptom, people will discuss with their doctor when it continues for over 3 months for no apparent cause. Your doctor may schedule blood tests or scans to rule out other conditions. They may also refer you to other specialists.
What should I do if I think I have fibromyalgia?
Symptoms and signs
People with fibromyalgia may go to their doctor with different symptoms, but often they will be experiencing some of the following:
- Pain all over the body and not just in one area
- Difficulty with sleeping and feeling tired throughout the day
- issues with remembering words
- Other symptoms like headaches and upset stomach etc
Symptoms can come and go and change over time. They can be mild or severe. We believe they are caused by the brain amplifying how we process information from our senses.
If you are experiencing any of these, then speaking to your GP should be your first step.
Treatments and therapies
These can involve over the counter or stronger painkillers and antidepressants, as well as other types of medications. Recent guidelines promote Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT), increasing activity including stretching and gentle exercises.
Self-management and learning about your fibromyalgia is critical to managing your own condition. Understanding, if there are any triggers such as stress or foods that you eat that you may have an intolerance t, can be significant in improving your symptoms.
Pacing where you perhaps do less to be able to accomplish more can be very helpful as you want to avoid a boom and bust cycle.
Is there a cure for fibromyalgia?
Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are ways to manage the symptoms. Fibromyalgia is among a number of conditions like diabetes and MS which do not have a cure.
Medications, activity including stretching, CBT, and self-management like pacing are all part of the tool set that people may need to manage their condition.
Over the last 20 years, research has improved our knowledge, but we still need more specific and effective treatments for the condition.
Supporting someone with fibro
Most people with fibromyalgia will need support from a friend, family member, or carer at some point. If you are supporting someone with fibromyalgia, then you may be able to get extra support.
Fibromyalgia can put strains on relationships. You may not want to talk about it and have worries about the future. However, talking things through can help you both find a way through it.
When newly diagnosed, sharing the basics of fibromyalgia like the symptoms can help, as well as hearing from other people who have the condition. Support groups in person or online are great for this. They well friends and family of those affected by fibromyalgia.
Being there for your friend is a great start, while understanding that someone with fibromyalgia may need some extra space from time to time.
What's important as a friend
- Let them know that you are there for them, and you will be there when they need you
- Keep in touch through WhatsApp, texts or FaceTime and keep talking about things other than fibromyalgia that made you friends in the first place.
- Try to be where they are. Arrange to have a meal at home and watch a film rather than going out.
More info here or helping someone with fibro.
Support Resources
You can find out more about our helplines and support groups here including any notice due to holidays or closures.