I am a 59-year-old woman who was diagnosed with FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) by a rheumatologist 25 years ago. My symptoms include chronic flu-like pain and nausea, sharp needle-like pain in strange places, spasms that are extreme on occasion, severe migraines, insomnia, chronic listlessness and malaise, anxiety, depression, brain fog, and weakness in my limbs and eyesight. I have a very savvy doctor who collaborates with me in managing my symptoms with natural methods and the latest info -- very crucial. I use baths, massage pads, walking, a gluten-free, dairy-free vegetarian diet, very little over-the-counter muscle relaxants and Gravol every night, herbal teas, and supplements. If it's a bad day, I use ibuprofen.

My fibromyalgia came from having had Ross River fever and Epstein-Barr virus. It didn't happen immediately but after starting to recover from the virus and CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), they seemed to happen at the same time. I still have problems with the fibromyalgia. I get pain and stiffness in my muscles, and at the moment, I have intense pain in my left foot like having had someone put a nail into the bone where I stand on. I get fatigue, memory problems, muscle stiffness in my fingers, and stiffness if I've sat in one position for a while. I have problems with certain beds (like I can't sleep on really hard beds now); they need to be soft mattress beds. I have stiffness in my neck, shoulders, etc. I take Osteo Panadol and Mobic when it's really bad. I haven't found I've had too many problems with the Mobic, but then I don't take it all the time only when I absolutely need it.