Fibromylagia is a challenging condition to both diagnose and live with. There are no laboratory tests to confirm its presence. A physician can review the history of symptoms and run tests to rule out other conditions in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Fibromyalgia affects each person differently and can cause a wide range of mild to severe symptoms that can be either physical or mental. Keeping a diary of any symptoms, along with what makes them better and what makes them worse, will help in forming a plan to manage this disease.
Memory Lapses
While the exact mechanisms are not well understood, fibromyalgia can cause problems with memory, states the National Fibromyalgia Association. This can affect long-term memory, short-term memory or both. While some memory loss is normal with age, the memory problems associated with fibromyalgia are more severe than normal. NFA research concluded that individuals with fibromyalgia showed memory loss similar to those who were 20 years older. These tests revealed that while the fibromyalgia patients could process information faster than older individuals, they were not able to recall the information any better.
Difficulty Concentrating
Fibromyalgia affects the body on many levels and there is no way to predict how it will present itself in each person. According to the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association, this disease can make it difficult to concentrate on tasks, which results in a symptom called “fibro fog.” The mind can be easily distracted and problems with concentration can make it challenging to work and perform everyday activities. While more research is still needed to understand why this happens, difficulty concentrating can be exacerbated by the fatigue and sleeplessness that often accompanies fibromyalgia.
Mood Swings
Individuals with fibromyalgia can experience mood swings such as depression and anxiety, reports The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. Mood disturbances seem to occur in about 20 to 40 percent of all fibromyalgia patients. Scientists are still trying to determine if changes in mood are related to the malfunction of the nervous system that appears to coincide with fibromyalgia; from the effects of living with chronic pain, fatigue and a disease with no known cure; or a combination of the two. There is some speculation that individuals with fibromyalgia who develop mood disturbances have an underlying psychological condition that was triggered by the disease.
