Fibromyalgia patients who wish to be involved in obtaining local or state proclamations of the day, or who wish to otherwise help publicize the disorder, should contact NFAC as soon as possible. T-shirts promoting the day are available for purchase, and an Awareness Day 2001 Survivor Kit is also available to help publicize the event. There is a charge for the Survivor Kit.
Patients complain that they ache all over.
A large number of other symptoms are often present, particularly fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep disturbance, paresthesias, and headaches. On examination, areas of focal tenderness called tender points can be demonstrated in characteristic locations. Most patients can be helped substantially with treatment. FMS symptoms often appear during times of sleep disruption such as may be brought on by an injury or other pain, stress, shift work, or having to get up to attend to young children. At times just re-establishing a regular sleep schedule may be enough to relieve symptoms.