Occurance of Symptoms

The Table below shows the average number symptoms that were reported by patients as beginning after the perceived onset of FM as compared to when those symptoms began before onset.

For example, two times as many patients reported "buckling knee" started after the onset of FM as those who reported that it started prior to the onset of FM.

Given that FM is often claimed to be the manifestation of sleep dysfunction, it is astounding to see that sleep dysfunction is 2.81 times more often reported as commencing after the onset of FM. This would suggest that FM is not caused by our sleep dysfunction. But it does significantly coincide with that fact that Pain has almost the same percentage (2.17 times) as an occurrence that began after the onset of Fibromyalgia, suggesting that pain may cause our sleep dysfunction. After years of speaking to hundreds of patients in my support group, pain and sleep dysfunction seem to go hand-in-hand. Relieve the pain and patients have improved sleep.

As you go down the list, you will see that the comparisons are placed from the lowest percentages to the highest. Of most significance is that the results may well exemplify the progressive nature of Fibromyalgia, beginning with complaints of vague physical irritants at the lowest comparisons and progressing in complexity and severity until the patient experiences widespread, debilitating physical, and mental symptoms. And the patients report that mental problems were almost 10 times more likely to have started after the onset of Fibromyalgia.

1.01	menstrual problems
1.11	cramps
1.12	PMS
1.14	Mitral valve prolapse
1.15	inversion sprain of ankle
1.24	sciatica
1.45	mouth sores
1.45	weak ankles
1.47	migraine headache
1.50	sore throat
1.53	chronic cough
1.55	toothache
1.56	conjunctivitis
1.58	bruising
1.60	vasomotor rhinitis
1.64	swollen glands
1.68	anxiety
1.69	mouth lesions
1.71	mood swings
1.77	pelvic pain
1.77	bloating
1.78	carbohydrate craving
1.83	mold and yeast sensitivity
1.85	high or low temperature ^{(most often cited as "low")}
1.86	fungal infections
1.88	high blood pressure
1.93	dermagraphia
1.95	leg cramps
2.00	buckling knee
2.05	tennis elbow
2.16	breast pain
2.17	eye or ear pain or dysfunction
2.17	pain
2.19	irritability
2.21	hypoglycemic-like syndrome
2.28	hypersensitive nipples
2.29	painful intercourse
2.30	sensitivity to cold
2.30	nausea
2.36	itching and/or rashes
2.53	hair loss
2.54	fatigue
2.56	tearing and red eyes
2.56	weight gain
2.57	nail ridges and/or beads
2.60	non-IgE allergy
2.61	tinnitus
2.68	directional disorientation and visual perception problems
2.70	tender lymph nodes
2.79	Reynaud's Syndrome
2.81	sleep dysfunction (alpha-delta sleep anomaly and/or fragmented, non-restorative sleep)
2.85	photophobia
2.96	reflux esophagitis
2.97	sensitivity to odors and foods
3.00	hypothyroidism
3.00	muscle twitching
3.06	immune dysfunction
3.24	stiffness
3.25	mottled skin on inner arms and thighs
3.27	panic attacks
3.32	chest pain
3.33	high cholesterol
3.37	diffuse swelling
3.38	environmental sensitivity
3.50	disrupted fat metabolism
3.50	sleep apnea
3.63	electromagnetic sensitivity
3.67	groin pain
3.87	dysphasia
4.00	shortness of breath
4.15	motor coordination problems
4.17	high HDL
4.19	lack of endurance
4.39	numbness and tingling sensations
4.48	trouble concentrating
5.13	problems climbing stairs
5.50	pseudo-angina
5.67	weakness
5.84	confusional states
5.86	deficits in cognitive thought processes
6.21	speech and language difficulties
6.25	difficulties with sequential problems
9.38	memory impairment