Many of my patients have also had vulvodynia, which I consider part of the disease. Symptoms of fibromyalgia Among the many symptoms of fibromyalgia, the most prominent are pain and stiffness in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Other common symptoms include fatigue, irritability, depression, poor memory, and lack of concentration. In short, people with fibromyalgia have a lot of complaints. Fibromyalgia appears to be an inherited biochemical abnormality that primarily affects women.
Symptoms can develop at any age, including childhood, and progress in cycles.
At first, they may be mild, with long gaps or remissions between attacks. Eventually, however, the symptoms worsen, with no more good days in between the bad days. After patients begin taking guaifenesin, the symptoms reverse as they developed, in cycles, but several times faster-like rewinding a videotape of one's illness. Unfortunately, they often are worse than before, since the reversal involves many areas simultaneously. Gradually and progressively, however, more good days appear, cluster together, and the patient is finally restored to normal.