Children and Fibromyalgia

First of all, if your young one is feeling unwell and this has been going on for a while, don’t go panicking and running around looking for Fibromyalgia!  It could just as well be something completely different and from which they will make a complete recovery.  However, the answer to the question “can children get Fibromyalgia” is YES!  Doctors are now beginning to acknowledge that children do get Fibromyalgia. 

However knowing what to look for if you suspect Fibromyalgia, will help you as you try to answer the questions that you have.  One of the first symptoms you might notice are flu-like symptoms.  The symptoms can occur gradually and just seem to never go away.  When the symptoms linger, this is often misdiagnosed as childhood arthritis, really only your doctor is qualified to distinguish between the two.

Take note if your child is frequently complaining of pain or having trouble sleeping.  Does your child appear sleepy all the time even though you’re sure they made it to bed on time?  It’s definitely worth looking into whether it’s pain causing this insomnia.

Another indicator is if your child is doing poorly in school.  Not only is memory often affected with Fibromyalgia, but it can also be difficult to concentrate when you’re not getting enough sleep.  Add to that the fact that Fibromyalgia sufferers often find it hard to  concentrate anyway and you have three major  reasons why school might not be your child’s favorite place. 

Above all, listen to what your child is telling you.  If they are talking about shooting pains, headaches and a describing a general fatigue these are all causes for concern.  It’s hard to know where the line between worrying too much and not worrying enough is.  You are the best judge of when you need to take your child to the doctor.  Just be extra aware that childhood Fibromyalgia is better treated early.

All of the above is information that you need to gather to present to your doctor when you take your child to see the doctor.  You must get yourself informed and educated, there is information on the site to help you with that education.  Please don’t overlook getting yourself informed because knowing what to ask your doctor is vital, knowing what to say to your child to keep them supported and reassured is vital and knowing the answers yourself will also help you!

Chances are it might not be Fibromyalgia, but if your child does have Fibromyalgia, the sooner you see your doctor the better for all concerned.