Has anyone been misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia when actually they have hypothyroidism?

Answer 1

How can one answer such a question when you don't believe in Fibromyalgia.

I have Fibromyalgia, and also at this point having symptoms of hypothyroid problems. It is kinda hard to distinguish some of the symptoms, d/t some of the symptoms are the same. There are a few that have nothing to do with the other. It is possible to have both of the problems.

I would be a challenge for you! I have had just about every test that you could think of. Fibromyalgia has really been around for a long time they just called it chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fibro is a mysterious thing, just like MS and other autoimmune disorders. I do believe they all have something to do with the central nervous system. I think they are figuring it out finally.

Good Luck to you

I have Anklosing Spondilitis

Osteorarthritis

Fibromyalgia

Thank you.

Answer

I am not a believer in fibromyalgia. I think that that diagnosis is given when the Dr. cannot find any other reason for a patient's symptoms. So, I think misdiagnosis of fibromyalgia is definitely possible.

It is possible to have fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism simultaneously, in fact they are often related. The main symptoms for fibromyalgia are dull aching pain, which a tender point test reveals, and not getting enough deep sleep (oftentimes you "feel like a truck hit you" when you wake up in the am). If in doubt of diagnosis, see a rheumatologist (they discovered fibromyalgia syndrome, and have quantified it with this testing procedure). I have had fibromyalgia for 10 yrs. so I am a believer in it, but I've used a combination of a rheumatologist and naturopath to manage it successfully.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 6 years ago. I have since then successfully self treated with Armour thyroid for Hypothyroidism. So the answer to your question is definitely yes!

To the person who isn't a believer in fibromyalgia.. it is easy for you to say that because you do not have it. I have been diagnosed for 6 years now. I also have osteoarthritis and a thyriod condition..isn't that crazy. I feel that people think fibromyalgia isn't real because they don't know what causes it...well there are so many other things doctors don't know the cause of..like ms.. some cancers.. anyways.. i haven't been misdiagnosed but It is possible to deal with the both and yes it is hard to sometimes distinguish the symptoms. Keep getting support and going to the doctor, and get many opinions and tests done if need so. Thyroid problems are very hard to diagnose.. a lot of tests come out normal when they are not.

Just because fibromyalgia is an 'invisible' chronic condition and most sufferers look 'fine' it is viewed as quite a controversial subject. As to if it is 'real' or not is entirely based on the definition of 'real'. To the sufferer the pain and horrific fatigue are not in any way a fake symptom. Fibromyalgia is a kind of 'waste basket' diagnosis in a sense because there is no scientific lab test for it. Going to the doctor is INCREDIBLY important, I don't know if I can stress that too much. A rheumatologist is key and perhaps a nuerologist and any specific doctor for other body parts that hurt or are not functioning properly. I also want to stress that a family doctor that gets all of the information together from all the doctors so that she can keep the information together and make connections between all the labs and information. I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which can cause pain similar to that of Fibromyalgia. (so I am told...it is quite rare however)

You and I are very alike. I too have a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, and am still testing for a diagnosis in Ankylosing Spondylitis or other Autoimmune disorder (you already got diagnosed).

NOW, to answer your question...Misdiagnosed is a very meaningful word. All Fibromyalgia, thryoid conditions, and autoimmune conditions are hard to diagnose and when I asked my pain management doctor (very specialized) whether or not the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia would be discounted after I got diagnosed with something else, he told me no it wouldn't. Fibromyalgia can be a precurser diagnosis for something else and sticks around after another diagnosis is made because many of the Fibromyalgia symptoms stick around. It is thought that Fibromyalgia can be caused or have some part of being in other Autoimmune diseases. Although this is all not concrete though people have moved forward in the field of research around Autoimmune diseases it is still a very very iffy field. I wish you luck and support with the pain and I wish you good days ahead.