If you are suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome, you are probably experiencing a number of uncomfortable side effects. From muscle pain to chronic headaches, fibromyalgia patients often experience a plethora of symptoms, many of which make it difficult to function on a day-to-day basis. You may also be finding that your memory just isn’t what it used to be before you were diagnosed with fibromyalgia. You may be forgetting where you put your keys or your favorite shirt, or you may be having difficulties remembering plans that you made just a few days ago. But are these memory loss symptoms caused by fibromyalgia, and if so, what can you do about it?
Are You Losing Your Mind?
If you are experiencing problems with your memory, you may be wondering if you are losing your mind. These cognitive disruptions can be very distressing, particularly if you are used to being able to remember detailed information at the drop of a hat. But it is important to know that you are not alone. In fact, a large percentage of fibromyalgia patients experience problems with their memory, and this is often referred to as “fibrofog.” Fibrofog can leave you feeling as if you are in walking around in a haze, and can cause a number of worrisome symptoms. Common symptoms include:
- difficulty remembering details
- difficulty remembering new information
- difficulty finding the right words to express yourself
- problems identifying the meanings of similar words
- confusing similarly shaped numbers
Are Fibromyalgia Memory Problems Real?
Those around you may be telling you that your memory problems are just a figment of your imagination. But recent studies now reveal that memory problems and fibromyalgia seem to go hand in hand.
A study performed at the University of Michigan in 2002 examined the cognitive abilities of fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls. Involving 69 patients, this study required participants to perform a variety of cognitive tests. Upon completion of the study, fibromyalgia patients were found to perform more poorly on all of the tests when compared to healthy controls of a similar age. Additionally, fibromyalgia sufferers performed at about the same cognitive levels as people who were more than 20 years older than them. This study suggests that the memory loss is a true symptom of fibromyalgia.