72 Symptoms of Fibromyalgia (You Won’t Believe) What are Yours?

By: Liza Hawkin

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’renotalone! 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, and to varying degrees of severity.

General Symptoms
Delayed reactions to physical exertion or stressful events
Other family members with fibromyalgia (genetic predisposition)
Sweats
Unexplained weight gain or loss
Cravings for carbohydrate 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 (See The 7 Types of Fibromyalgia Pain)
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 (tinitis)
Thick secretions
Sleep-Related Symptoms
Light and/or broken sleep pattern 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 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 (arrythmia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (as an overlapping condition)
Pain that mimics 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)

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