CFS

FM

SYMPTOMS

General Symptoms

Activity level reduced to less than 50% of pre-onset level

Allergies (nasal, other; increased or worsening)

Blood pressure, low (below 110/70)

Bruxism (grinding/clenching teeth)

Canker sores (frequent)

Cardiac abnormalities (mitral valve prolapse; tachycardia; palpitations; dysrhythmia)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Cold hands and feet

Cough

Dyspnea (out of breath) or shortness of breath (air hunger) after minimal or no exertion

Flu-like symptoms, on-going or recurrent after initial gradual or acute onset; includes mild fever (99.5-101.5 F / 37.5-38.6 C), chills, extreme fatigue after minimal exertion

Endometriosis

Fatigue, prolonged, disabling, made worse by exertion or stress

Hair loss (alopecia)

Herpes simplex or shingles rash

Hoarseness

Impotence

Low-grade fevers

Lymph nodes painful, swollen (in neck; under arms)

Morning stiffness

Multiple chemical sensitivities (including perfumes, drugs, etc.)

Nightsweats (not related to menopause or fever)

Periodontal disease

Sighing, frequent, not related to mental/emotional state

Sore throat

Symptoms worsened by extremes of temperature (hot, cold), stress, and/or air travel

Temperature irregularities; often feeling hot or cold irrespective of actual ambient temperature and body temperature; low body temperature (below 97.6 F / 36.4 C)

Thirst, increased

Thyroid inflammation (acute thyroiditis; hypothyroidism; Hashimoto's thyroiditis)

Urination (frequent; uncomfortable); painful prostate

Weight changes (usually gain)

Central Nervous System (CNS) Symptoms

Alcohol intolerance

"Brainfog"; inability to think clearly

Difficulty moving tongue to speak

Fainting or blackouts; feeling like you might faint

Headaches (severe, recurring)

Libido (decreased)

Migraine headaches

Muscle twitching

Severe muscle weakness

Nightmares (frequent, extremely vivid)

Numbness and tingling in face and extremities

Paralysis or severe weakness of limb

Photosensitivity

Ringing in ears (tinnitus)

Seizures; seizure-like episodes

Sensory alterations (hyper- or hyposensitivity) - smell, taste, hearing (noise intolerance)

Tremors, trembling

Vision - frequent acuity changes (prescription changes frequently

Equilibrium/Perception

Distances (difficulty judging when driving; when putting things down on surfaces)

Dizziness or vertigo

Dropping things frequently

Dysequilibrium (balance problems)

Impaired coordination

Perception (not quite seeing what you are looking at)

Staggering gait (clumsy walking; bumping into things)

Pain Symptoms

Abdominal pain

Chest pain

Generalized pain

Joint pain, without redness or swelling

Muscle pain, stiffness, weakness

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) or Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS)

Tender or trigger point pain or tenderness ("FM" stipulates 11 out of 18 tender points)

Psychological Symptoms/Mood/Emotions

Abrupt/Unpredictable mood swings

Anxiety or fear for unknown reasons

Appetite increase/decrease

Depression or depressed mood

Personality changes (labile, irritable, anxious, confused, forgetful)

Decreased self-esteem

Frequent crying for no reason

Helpless/Hopeless feelings

Irritability; overaction; rage attacks for no reason

New phobias/irrational fears

Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts

Sleep Symptoms

Abnormal brain activity in stage 4 sleep

Altered sleep/wake patterns

Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)

Myclonus ("restless leg syndrome")

Unrefreshing/Non-restorative sleep

Sources:

Arthritis Foundation
1330 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309


American College of Rheumatology
1800 Century Place, Suite 250
Atlanta, GA 30345 (404) 633-3777

Fibromyalgia Network
P.O. Box 31750
Tucson, AZ 85751
(800) 853-2929

 
Jay Goldstein, MD
(Dr. Goldstein retired in April 2003)

Katrina Berne, Ph.D.
Symptom Checklist
HC 31 Box 1225
Happy Jack, AZ 86024
480-835-7008

Massachusetts CFIDS Association
PO Box 690305
Quincy, MA 02269-0305
617-471- 5559

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention