fibro & chronic fatigue & blood tests

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Gott: I'm a woman, 44, diagnosed with fibromyalgia for which I

take ibuprofen. I feel miserable and suffer from more fatigue than a

person my age should experience. What can I do?

Dear Reader: Fibromyalgia is an affliction of unknown cause, marked by

stiff, tender and painful muscles. " Trigger points, " especially

sensitive areas, are usually present. The disorder may be induced (or

worsened) by stress, viral infections (of any kind), exposure to cold,

stress and poor sleep habits. It is associated with chronic fatigue

syndrome, an poorly understood condition, characterized by periodic

exhaustion, malaise and swollen glands.

Both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome must be differentiated

from other, more serious diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus,

polymyalgia, hidden infections, hypothyroidism, anemia and lyme disease.

Blood test are essential in making this differentiation, since they are

normal in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

For unknown reasons, fibromyalgia often disappears spontaneously,

although it my reappear in cycles. Stretching exercises, heat, improved

sleep, massage, pain medication and local injections of Novocaine may

relieve symptoms.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is much more challenging to treat. It may

respond to counseling.

The main problem with these two disorders is that they may represent an

early stage of a treatable disease. To complicate matters further,

blood tests for these diseases may not turn positive during the initial

phase.

Inasmuch as you are still plagued by symptoms, I recommend that you be

examined and tested by a rheumatologist, who will review the

investigation preformed by your physician and offer further advice.