It is common for an FMS patient to have periodic muscle spasms, cramps, and tics. Patients who are NOT allergic may experience symptoms closely akin to allergic reactions. This can happen in reaction to a number of substances, such as medication, food additives, chemicals, etc. They may have unexplained nasal congestion and sinus pain in the absence of allergic reactions. They may feel abnormally hot or cool.
Some patients become hypersensitive to light, noise, odors, and changes in the weather.
This sensitivity is attributed to hyper vigilance in the nervous system. These include difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, memory lapses, and becoming overwhelmed easily. Although there is no way yet to determine which comes first, doctors believe that FMS is contributing factor to depression, not the other way around. Patients are more likely to have chest pain when they engage in activity that requires forward motion, such as sitting at a desk. Many patients experience shallow breathing and upper body discomfort.