You’ve probably read about fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and fibro fog, but the list of possible symptoms is far-reaching and body-wide. Those tiny lists don’t even begin to describe our experience! I put together this “monster list” of 60+ symptoms to let you know that you’re not alone! The list is adapted from one put together by fibromyalgia author Devin Starlanyl along with other research. Knowing the full range of symptoms can help you track them, either to help your doctor reach a diagnosis or to help you identify triggers. It also helps to know you’re not the only person experiencing these! Some of the following are noted as overlapping conditions, which means they commonly occur with fibromyalgia but actually are conditions that need to be diagnosed and treated separately.
We can have any combination of the following symptoms to varying degrees of severity.
General Symptoms
- Delayed reactions to physical exertion or stressful events
- Other family members with fibromyalgia (genetic predisposition)
- Sweating
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Cravings for carbohydrates and chocolate
- Headaches & migraines
- Vision changes, including rapidly worsening vision
Muscle & Tissue Symptoms
- Pain that ranges from mild to severe, and may move around the body
- Morning stiffness
- Muscle twitches
- Diffuse swelling
- Fibrocystic (lumpy, tender) breasts (as an overlapping condition)
Sinus & Allergy Symptoms
- Allergies
- Post nasal drip
- Runny nose
- Mold & yeast sensitivity
- Shortness of breath
- Earaches & itchy ears
- Ringing ears (tinnitus)
- Thick secretions
Sleep-Related Symptoms
- Light and/or broken sleep patterns with unrefreshing sleep
- Fatigue
- Sleep starts (falling sensations)
- Twitchy muscles at night
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Reproductive Symptoms
- Menstrual problems
- PMS (as an overlapping condition)
- Loss of libido
- Impotence
Abdominal & Digestive Symptoms
- Bloating & nausea
- Abdominal cramps
- Pelvic pain
- Irritable bowel syndrome (as an overlapping condition)
- Urinary frequency
Cognitive/Neurological Symptoms
- Difficulty speaking known words, other language impairments (dysphasia)
- Directional disorientation
- Poor balance and coordination
- Paresthesias in the upper limbs (tingling or burning sensations)
- Loss of ability to distinguish some shades of colors
- Short-term memory impairment
- Confusion
- Trouble concentrating
- Staring into space before the brain “kicks in”
- Inability to recognize familiar surroundings
Sensory Symptoms
- Sensitivity to odors
- Sensitivity to pressure changes, temperature & humidity
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Night driving difficulty
- Sensory overload
Emotional Symptoms
- Panic attacks
- Depression (as an overlapping condition)
- Tendency to cry easily
- Free-floating anxiety (not associated with situation or object)
- Mood swings
- Unaccountable irritability
Heart-Related Symptoms
- Mitral valve prolapse (as an overlapping condition)
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (as an overlapping condition)
- Pain that mimics a heart attack, frequently from costochondritis (as an overlapping condition)
Skin, Hair & Nail Symptoms
- Pronounced nail ridges
- Nails that curve under
- Mottled skin
- Bruising or scarring easily
- Hair loss (temporary)
- Tissue overgrowth (non-cancerous tumors called lipomas, ingrown hairs, heavy and splitting cuticles, adhesions)