Fatigue and Fibromyalgia: How You Can Live a Normal Life

When you live with fibromyalgia, having chronic or persistent fatigue is one of the most common symptoms.

Other than aches and pains, going throughout your day feeling constantly exhausted is one of the main issues that people suffering from fibromyalgia have to deal with.

In this article, we’re going to discuss how fatigue is for sufferers of fibromyalgia, other symptoms they deal with, and commons practices used for dealing with fatigue and fibromyalgia simultaneously.

Fibromyalgia and Fatigue

Having fatigue with your fibromyalgia can be described as very exhausting, and almost from the symptoms of the flu. The fatigue can be very crippling to a person, and obstruct from their daily activities.

In a recent study, nearly 43 percent of women ages 25 to 79, living with fibromyalgia pain, described their fatigue as overwhelming. Sometimes, fatigue can happen right after waking up for the day, even after you’ve had a full night’s sleep.

Fatigue can happen at any time of the day for those with fibromyalgia, and the symptoms can even appear during their deep and restful sleep. This causes many people to report that their sleep will feel light, unrestful, or unrefreshing.

What Can Cause Fatigue?

People who suffer from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) will suffer these symptoms while also possibly suffering from anxiety, depression, or mood disorders. It is very common for people with FMS to suffer from multiple of these at once.

It certainly doesn’t help any FMS sufferer’s fatigue when they can also suffer from aches in their shoulders, back, legs, chest, joints, neck and hips.

This pain makes it even harder for them to get deep sleep at night and makes it harder for them to function during the day.

Many people with FMS who suffer from fatigue will describe the fatigue as a type of brain fog or fatigue. This fog causes the person to lose the ability to concentrate or focus on a task and makes them lose energy quickly throughout the day.

Some experts state that the cause of this fatigue is the body, physically and mentally, fighting the chronic pain that FMS causes.

Mental Symptoms of Fibromyalgia (FMS)

For those who suffer from Fibromyalgia have the possibility of dealing with a multitude of symptoms and other issues due to their illness.

One set of issues we discussed were mental illness such as anxiety, depression and mood disorders. The chronic pain and fatigue associated with FMS can be a contributing factor to these mental illnesses.

Social isolation is the end result of people who receive no help for these disorders associated with their FMS.

Depression can increase the feelings tiredness and fatigue a person feels and can cause them to become bedridden and unable to participate in their daily activities and tasks.

Physical Symptoms of Fibromyalgia (FMS)

Common physical symptoms of FMS include localized pain in places such as joints, muscles and whole areas of the body.

This pains can feel similar to other diseases and illnesses such as arthritis and/or tendinitis. The pains are similar, but each still has specific pains that are associated with them.

Physical Pain

Other types of pain associated with FMS are chronic headaches, pain in the abdomen or gut, and extremely painful menstrual cramps.

Chronic headaches can contribute to the fatigue that one is feeling, and cause them to lose focus during their daily work and tasks.

Abdominal pain and menstrual cramps can strike at any time of the day or night. The pain can be reportedly crippling, causing the person to have to drop everything they’re doing and sit or lie down. Painful menstrual cramps have been known to be corrected with the correct birth control or medicine that regulates or deters the menstrual cycle.

Symptoms of FMS That Burden Your Everyday Life

Some symptoms of FMS that may not cause physical pain, but may obstruct a person from living their life to the fullest include; extreme dryness of the eyes, mouth or nose, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), numbness and poor circulation of the hands and feet, stiffness, and restless leg syndrome.

Though this symptom may not contribute to any pain or discomfort the person feels during the day, they can certainly add up to make a person feel they’re not normal or remind them of the illness that they are suffering from.

How You Can Fight Fatigue: Daily Napping?

If you were especially tired during the day, your first thought may be to take a short nap or maybe drink some coffee or your favorite caffeinated drink to help you wake up and go through your day.

For someone who suffers from FMS and fatigue, though, a simple nap or sip of espresso won’t help your symptoms and brain fog simply disappear.

For people who suffer from light fatigue, napping for a couple of hours might help keep their tiredness at bay and help them move throughout the day.

Though, for those suffering from severe fatigue, daily napping won’t be able to end their sufferings of fatigue and tiredness.

With FMS, there are good days and bad days when it comes to living with the chronic illness. On bad days, the illness can greatly affect the person and their loved ones as they struggle to deal with the symptoms of fatigue.

How You Can Fight Fatigue: Ask for Help and Understanding

When it comes to living with a chronic illness, it’s better to openly discuss issues the illness causes with your friends, family, and loved ones.

Living with a chronic illness is easier when you have the support of people who fully understand your symptoms and the hardships you have to face because of it.

Getting help from your loved ones can help you deal with any chronic pain or fatigue, and give you less to worry about when your FMS is flaring up.

Hopefully, you can take this information to help yourself and a loved one deal with the symptoms of fatigue that come from fibromyalgia.

Though it cannot be cured, with the proper medication, methods, and support, and person who suffers from it can lead a normal life.


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