Background/Purpose: Fibromyalgia patients are somatically sensitive. The frequently complain of symptoms other than the core ones used for the diagnosis- pain, fatigue, poor sleep and cognitive problems. We queried fibromyalgia patients as to which symptoms they commonly experienced.

Methods: We administered a questionnaire to fibromyalgia patients meeting the 2010 ACR criteria. Included was a checklist of symptoms called System Review, from the American College of Rheumatology, copyright 1999.

Results: 82 fibromyalgia patients completed the questionnaire. The most frequent symptoms reported other than pain, fatigue, poor sleep and cognitive changes were headaches 39 patients (47.6%), dry eyes 37 patients (45.1%), dry mouth 37 patients (45.1%), easy bruising 27 patients (32.9%), anxiety 25 patients (30.5%), ringing in the ears 21 patients (25.6%), dizziness 21 patients (25.6%), night sweats 21 patients (25.6%), weight gain 20 patients (24.4%), and constipation 20 patients (24.4%). Aside from these top 10 symptoms, also commonly reported were double or blurred vision 19 patients (23.2%), rash 19 patients (23.2%), color changes in hands/feet 19 patients (23.2%), runny nose 18 patients (22.0%), nausea 18 patients (22.0%), mouth sores 17 patients (20.7%), shortness of breath 17 patients (20.7%), and depression 17 patients (20.7%).

Conclusion: Fibromyalgia patients commonly have symptoms  other than pain and fatigue. Non-rheumatologists, who see patients with fibromyalgia with some of the symptoms listed above,  such as tinnitus, dizziness, blurred vision, mouth sores, shortness of breath, etc., may not think to link them to fibromyalgia, but they are common in this illness.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/system-review-the-most-common-symptoms-of-fibromyalgia-patients-other-than-pain-fatigue-insomnia-and-cognitive-dysfunction/