The other major complaint is fatigue, which some patients report as being more debilitating than the pain. Fatigue and sleep disturbances are, in fact, almost universal in patients with fibromyalgia, and if these symptoms are not present, then some experts believe that physicians should seek a diagnosis other than fibromyalgia. Up to a third of patients experience depression, and disturbances in mood and concentration are very common. Fibromyalgia patients are also prone to tension or migraine headaches. Other symptoms include dizziness, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, and gastrointestinal problems, including irritable bowel syndrome with gas and alternating diarrhea and constipation.
Some patients complain of urinary frequency caused by bladder spasms.
Women may have painful menstrual periods. Criteria for Studying Fibromyalgia Criteria for fibromyalgia were developed to enable researchers to study patients with similar symptoms. Although the criteria were not intended for use in diagnosing specific individuals, they are still useful as guidelines. Widespread pain, which is experienced in upper and lower and left and right parts of the body and in the spine, must persist for at least three months. Because the sensitivity of tender points may vary depending on circumstances, a physician may re-check pressure points that do not respond the first time in patients who have other significant symptoms.