How to diagnose fibromyalgia in men
Common Questions and Answers about How to diagnose fibromyalgia in men
fibromyalgia
My doctors have been ignoring my symptoms of autoimmune disorder, and never having tested, have said I have fibromyalgia. I recently changed doctors and had to ask him to please test for autoimmune disorders, especially Sjogren's Syndrome since a famiy member has it. He did an ANA, said it is negative and therefore I have no autoimmune disorder and he refuses to refer me to a rheumatologist because "they won't accept me because my test is negative.
Hello - I was just told I have Fibromyalgia by my rheumatologist but need to wait on my blood work results to confirm this diagnosis.
In the meantime, I have a question regarding a test I had done many years ago on my legs. I was seeing a neurologist regarding tingling to my hands/wrist and feet/ankles. He did a test on me called an EMG (Electromyogram) on my legs to find out how my muscles were working and looking for any nerve disorder.
Some sufferers are more affected by widespread pain, while others find that persistent fatigue is the worst symptom. Symptoms in men vary and tend to be quite different when compared to the symptoms suffered by women. Most researches illustrate that men actually experience milder symptoms than women, and also experience less tender points , less fatigue , less morning stiffnes and milder IBS .
Yes, your feet and ankles can get sore from Fibro. Just about anywhere on your body can get sore and painful. You mentioned you see a Neurologist. Technically, only a Rheumatologist can diagnose Fibromyalgia. Although a Neurologist probably should be able to diagnose Fibro, Rheumatologist have set the standards for diagnosing Fibromyalgia, so it's best that you have a Rheumatologist actually make the diagnosis.
The whole point is that they want to prove that it's all in your head... But when does the proving stop? How long must someone go through pain before they decide it's not in their head? Isn't a couple of YEARS of going through pain an indication that something is truly amiss? Why continue putting someone through something like that, when they take the time going to the doctor in the first place to get help.
One thing that I tell anyone who thinks they may have fibromyalgia is to rule out many other conditions. Stabbing and spasms can and are often seen in fibromyalgia patients, but other conditions can cause these symptoms as well. One thing I would certainly do is ask your physician about taking a magnesium supplement and B12 (via injections or sublingually). Also consider checking out our health care pages.
It is good to do your research on the internet. Just don`t try to diagnose yourself for the doctor. Better to be an informed patient. Try to find out what others with CFS have done "naturally" that has worked for them, and then try it. If it doesn`t work, then MAYBE you don`t have CFS and it is something else, like low testosterone or something.
I think you have done the right thing with asking questions. Nobody cares as much about your health and well being as YOU.
After that, find a way to make an appointment with a Rheumatologist. I am not sure how your health care system works in India, whether or not you need a referral or not, but insist on seeing a Rheumatologist because they are the specialists who diagnose and treat Fibromyalgia and CFS.
Also, I would suggest taking a good multi- vitamin with at least 1000mg of vitamin D3 and potassium. I have had lots of trouble with calf pains, and even atrial fibrillation from being low on potassium.
I would call around and ask questions from the office staff. Make sure the doctor you see knows how to diagnose and treat fibro. Otherwise you are wasting your time. Many doctors don't believe in it so if you go to one of them you will not be taken seriously.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain. Fibromyalgia is more common in women than in men. Previously, fibromyalgia was known by other names such as fibrositis, chronic muscle pain syndrome, psychogenic rheumatism and tension myalgias.
I have constant lower back pain,when walking,standing or bending,hips burn & pain,hurt to touch,have numbness,tingling & electric shock sensations in arms,numbness in legs,immobility of neck,fatigue & tiredness,loose balance at times,headaches,depression,sensitive to heat,have had tunnel or foggy vision at times,stiffness & pain on bending in knees,& numbness & swelling sometimes in one or both feet.
t hold her head up, she is probably in some kind of serious trouble with her muscles and you would see that happening in all of her daily living experiences. Is she able to cope with going out with her friends to the mall shopping? Is she in PE in school? Is she in sports of any kind? Find out if she is having the same muscle weakness issues in school like holding her head up while sitting at her desk.
Only a neurologist can diagnose MS. If you have had symptoms for 7 years it would make sense to have more lesions? Sometimes LPs are negative with MS. You might look at the McDonald Criteria that is how they diagnose MS. You can always be followed by a neurologist and a year from the MRI have another. How do your neurological exams go? If they are normal than it is not MS. The neurological exam is reflexes and such. Any doctor can do a neurological exam.
These are not the same as tender points that are related to fibromyalgia. These trigger points can be extremely painful and can form in almost any muscle. The chronic form is called Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) Many FMS patients have both.
Do you suspect your physical activity may have something to do with your back pain?
Metronidazole would take care of trich which is difficult to diagnose in men, so that is good. Erythromycin is not the preferred medication for chlamydia, but it is an alternative. Neither of them will cure gonorrhea but your symptoms are not likely to be gonorrhea because men almost always get the tell tale dripping discharge.
I can't believe your doctors didn't diagnose you with hypo with a TSH of 6.32. Yikes!!!
Go to an endo for a second opinion. I love how docs slap the fibromyalgia label on patients when they don't know how to properly diagnose them. I've been diagnosed with shingles, fibromyalgia, and a few others.
Here is a good article, which suggests that some people with a TSH of above 1.5 will have hypo. So to be in the six range, and not be diagnosed hypo is absurd!!!
http://www.mercola.
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