33 Surprising Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Editor’s note: Any medical information included is based on a personal experience. For questions or concerns regarding health, please consult a doctor or medical professional.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness most commonly known for causing widespread pain, fatigue and brain fog. However, the disease is complex – it can cause a multitude of symptoms and is often accompanied by comorbid conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or chronic fatigue syndrome. Since fibromyalgia was formally recognized only a few decades ago, doctors are still learning about the illness and might not be able to prepare fibro patients for all the different symptoms they may experience.

• What is Fibromyalgia?
• What Are Common Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

To better understand the various ways in which this illness can affect people, we asked our Mighty community to share some of the physical symptoms of fibromyalgia that surprised them. Have you experienced any unexpected fibro symptoms? Let us know in the comments below.

 

Here’s what the community shared with us:

1. “Having a pain flare-up causes me to feel nauseous and so physically ill.”

2. “The relentless itching that pops up randomly, has no rhyme or reason, sometimes comes with hives or red spots. Itching that is insatiable and moves around from place to place.”

3. “The constant feeling of being tired. I sleep between eight and 12 hours a day and I’m still always tired.”

4. “Forgetting common words that I use every day.”

5. “[Having an] overactive bladder.”

6. “All the other medical conditions that come with it… migraine, IBS [irritable bowel syndrome], Raynauds phenomenon, chronic fatigue, insomnia and so many more. It is rarely a diagnosis on its own.”

7. “Skin sensitivity. If someone brushes past me even lightly it feels like I’ve been heavily hit.”

8. “Horrible menstrual cycles that leave [me] in bed with a heat pad on [my] stomach and gasping in the fetal position.”

9. “Feeling ‘loopy.’ I feel like I’m drunk. I even lose my balance while walking.”

10. “The occasional blurry vision even with glasses, like you’re seeing things through water.”

11. “The constant headaches/migraines I deal with on a daily basis.”

12. “Weird skin sensation and lack of temperature control.”

13. “Absolute klutziness. I can trip over my own feet and roll my ankles walking in grass. It is an extreme case of incoordination.”

14. “Blisters after being in the sun. Even with sunscreen use/no sunburn.”

15. “Feeling like I have bugs crawling in me to the point I will itch myself raw.”

 

16. “I was surprised that even my hair can hurt.”

17. “The constant sweating, even when it isn’t hot.”

18. “Breaking out into a rash for no reason.”

19. “The weakness in my hands and arms from the pain. I played the violin for six years and had incredibly strong hands, but when my fibromyalgia symptoms started my hands were the first thing affected and the strength has never returned.”

20. “Smells making me violently ill.”

21. “Surprising symptom? No clue. Most shocking thing is not even knowing what’s a fibromyalgia-related symptom anymore and what’s not. So many symptoms, so many co-existing conditions. I have no clue what’s a fibromyalgia symptom anymore.”

22. “Neurological slowness! Poor instant recall.”

23. “The way that some symptoms can take [me] out for days and then be gone, just to come back the next day.”

24. “Hair falling out! Every time I shampoo I have enough hair that falls out to make a wig. Luckily, I have a lot of hair.”

25. “Vaginal muscle spasms! Yep, it leaves nothing untouched! And no, it’s not pleasant!”

26. “The never being comfortable, ever. You sit down and fidget and squirm and try to get comfortable. You lay down and fidget and squirm and try to get comfortable. You try to stand up and fidget and squirm and try to get comfortable. Nothing is comfortable anymore.”

27. “Sounds. Actually being irritated by different sounds so much that [I] leave the place [I’m] at.”

28. “My skin always feeling like it’s severely sunburnt. I never thought about how much clothing could hurt. I shop now more for the feel of the fabric and its looseness on my body than how it looks.”

29. “I’m either starving no matter how much I eat or the thought of food makes me sick – there is no in between.”

30. “Tingling and weakness at the end of a busy day. It feel like [my] body is desperately trying to heal itself when it’s tired.”

31. “My hands twitch and shake. Never had it before until now. Weirdest thing ever! Doesn’t hurt, but I have lost my grip of things.”

32. “Water hurts. It’s so hard to explain that getting into a pool or lake that is cold is too painful for me. Even showering hurts.”

33. “You know what? Nothing surprises me about fibromyalgia anymore!”

MORE ABOUT FIBROMYALGIA:

Fibromyalgia, a chronic illness with three main symptoms — widespread pain, chronic fatigue and cognitive trouble. Fibromyalgia is a complicated illness that’s not well understood. In the past, it was mischaracterized as a mental health disorder. Even today, some doctors wave off fibro symptoms as being “all in your head.” This isn’t the case. Read The Mighty’s comprehensive guide to fibromyalgia here. Click here to join our fibro community and connect with people who get it.