Some doctors put children with FM on a very small dose of a tricyclic agent or muscle relaxant. Others prescribe Benadryl at bedtime for sleep. A child who learns good nutritional habits early in life, grows accustomed to going to bed at the same time every night, and is encouraged to take part in a suitable exercise program will be well equipped to avoid FM flareups throughout life. If your child is diagnosed with FM, you will need to do some explaining. What you say and how you say it will have a profound effect on the child's reaction.
Children are particularly vulnerable to thinking that anything that goes wrong is their fault.
You must stress that FM is nobody's fault and that nothing anyone could have done would have prevented it. How much you explain about fibromyalgia will depend, of course, on the child's age and intellectual development. Above all, the child must understand that FM can be controlled. Raising a child who has fibromyalgia is a real challenge. You will need to remember that some days are worse than others, and allow the child to set the pace.