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Annikaz

Updated 1y ago

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia: What If My Tests Are Normal?

If all my tests come back normal, my doctor is gonna rule out everything and diagnose me with Fibromyalgia. Although it’s not the answer I wanted, it makes sense and I’m kinda happy I have a somewhat answer to my problems. My blood tests are coming back normal so far. Does that mean I don’t have it? Or can I have normal tests and still have fibro

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Doc_Eosino_Thrill_Ya

2y

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome (a group of symptoms signifying a diseased state) not a standard disease. It doesn't show in blood tests rly at all
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Annikaz

2y

thank you for your quick response! That was the answer I was looking for. I don’t want yet another doctor saying nothings wrong
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ZappyRacc

2y

Fibro is often used as what they call a "wastebasket disease." It, along with CFS/ME (chronic fatigue syndrome) are generally thought of to have a cause of some sort, but it's as-of-yet poorly understood, and there are no widely-used diagnostic tests. So, what they do is they rule out other causes for your symptoms, then they diagnose you based on self-reported symptom severity. This process is thankfully happening faster now than it used to, in large part because as the disease is better understood, the medical community is coming to realize fibromyalgia is often comorbid with other syndromes and diseases. Much like how someone with Parkinson's is more likely to have depression, someone with an autoimmune disease or many other pain diseases and mental health problems is more likely to have fibro. To my understanding, fibro has to do with your brain's ability to "calm down" your nerves. It's been explained to me by pain therapists as "PTSD of the body." When you're having a fibro flare, your nerves have no chill. This can manifest as a pretty wide number of issues. You've got sensory neurons and motor neurons, so different problems can come up and make it tricky to diagnose. Sensory neurons will cause widespread pain and increased pain sensitivity, as well as loss of sensation and bizarre sensations such as having wet feet when they're dry. Motor neurons can mean muscle spasms, bouts of muscle weakness, and issues like IBS and TMJ dysfunction. The only things that really seem consistent between most folks with fibro are pain in multiple sites, fatigue, and something else which interferes with their life, be it IBS, or something mental like brain fog, depression or anxiety. Honestly, most folks battling chronic illness could meet the diagnostic criteria for fibro. If they don't find one of those, you've got fibro.
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Annikaz

2y

wow thank you for taking the time to write that! Do you happen to know of any treatments for fibro? I know there’s not a lot
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CozyVibez

2y

Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion. No definitive testing is available. The cause of pain is unknown, and besides treating the pain itself, looking at different perspectives, like psych, endocrine, neuro, etc. may yield positive results and lessen the pain.
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Fibrofoggirl

2y

there is a fibromyalgia test. My insurance paid and a nurse came to my house and tested my daughter and me. I got a 94% and my daughter got 91% anything over 50 would be a positive
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royalty

2y

My blood tests showed high inflammation, but it took me having to start a symptom journal to actually get diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
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royalty

2y

It's also thought that fibro is a neirological nervous system disorder.
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ZappyRacc

2y

same, my blood work has consistently shown high IgA levels. My doctor told me that can be a sign simply that the body is under extra stress. It'll pop up sometimes for otherwise healthy people during especially stressful times in their lives. It basically means something in your body THINKS you're sick and is on guard. Almost like if you think of your immune system is an army and your body as a castle, your soldiers are marching around the grounds nonstop because they are staying alert for any threats. An autoimmune disease is when the soldiers start attacking the castle itself in response to perceived threats. High inflammation in general can be a sign of autoimmune disease, but it's more common. Lots of people would have high inflammation if they were tested simply from poor diet/sleep, emotional stress, or environment. Their guards recognize something is "off," and begin to patrol. Chronic high inflammation levels can lead to a lot of different diseases in the future. Heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, among others, seem to be more common in people whose guards are constantly on patrol unchecked. Another issue is lowered immunity. If your guards are always busy on patrol trying to find this non-existent disease that's actually, like, finals week at school or a fight with a friend, they'll sometimes miss the real intruders. It's why people with AI diseases like lupus or RA are susceptible to infection. Their guards are too busy beating up parts of the castle to notice that pesky influenza jerk before it's already inside making you sick.
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Fibrofoggirl

2y

There is a blood test for fibromyalgia. Epic genetics and my insurance paid 100% a nurse came to my house and took blood. Two weeks later I got a letter in the mail saying it was positive.
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EMT623

2y

Check your c reactive protein, and uric acid level .
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SnuggleBear

2y

My rheum has always said that fibromyalgia is more of a symptom than a disease in and of itself. It’s an ultra-sensitivity of the nerves due to an extended period of pain or discomfort. I’d definitely find a second opinion if that’s the answer they come up with.
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olivejane

2y

I went through the same thing. Tested for everything the could think of over 3 years before they finally diagnosed me with fibro.

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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