In fibromyalgia, cognitive symptoms are worse than in rheumatoid arthritis

I find it very difficult to accept most if not all of these findings of the 150 (FM) subjects.  I was diagnosed in 1999 with FM and later diabetes and other muscular skeletal conditions.  My own doctor specialises in these conditions and obviously my high ranking specialist in RA AND FM and similar conditions. 

In fact the only paragraph I agree with is the last one that summarises how to manage. 

In reading this article I actually thought you'd mixed it up with persons suffering from dementia.

211 people is far to small a collection of people to apply this research of so called symptoms to the millions of people who do actually suffer from FM and RA conditions. 

The cognitive impairment you mention in this research I find very difficult to accept and in my own case so far off the mark. I do suffer from fibrinogen and I can be a little forgetful over unimportant mundane things but my mental capacity is very strong and tests prove that.  

If I did suffer from what is suggested in the paragraphs you write I'd be wanting tests for dementia.

In reply to the above, the difficult thing about fibromyalgia is that we all suffer very different syptoms and to say that 'you'd be wanting tests for dementia' is rather scathing. I suffer from all the symptoms in the article and my cognitive problems are not dementia, from senility or alzheimers or any other such. I have had tests for all plus MS. I suffer greatly and it has caused me a lot of stress but I also have to see the funny side of some of the 'fog' as I contstanly make up new words and can confuse people and myself. I have leanerd to live with this now but never give up on myself. And I hope my friends and family never will too.

I agree... Short term memory loss, mixing words n being unable to recall words or remember and brain fog where you feel in a haze or mixed up state sometimes and even wobble off balance are proven medical symptoms in Fibromyalgia. 

It should be noted that we are all different and we all have very personal and symptoms and experience of this illness.. No two people will feel the same 24/7

Also the tired/exhausted feeling is very individual too and must be considered as such.  Study's do generalise and are probably ment to reassure not force opinion 

Only YOU know how you feel 

Best to all sufferers it ain't easy x 

@raining Ah that's not nice. I have OA that turned into Fibro then full blown ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) my short term memory n mixing up words is shot to hell.

Ask yr family to understand its no good correcting you as your illness causes this its got nothing to do with intelligence. 

Warm hugs xxx 

Reversal of cognitive decline: A novel therapeutic program

Here is an interesting YouTube video by the author of the above paper.
Reversing Alzheimer’s Disease- Dr. Dale Bredesen, MD
Many of his suggestions for dealing with the problems that lead up to Alzheimer's diagnosis begin 20-30 years before diagnosis is possible so congitive decline should be taken seriously and we should be doing as many of the ideas listed in the Table 1 in the above paper and set out in the attached file.
Our ability to resolve inflammation depends on our reserves of natural anti-inflammatory agents Vitamin D3, Omega 3, magnesium, melatonin, Vitamin k2 are the ones commonly deficient in most people.
You will see that Bredesen suggests that Vitamin D3 25(OH)D levels should be kept above 50ng/ml (125nmol/l in UK measurements). This is a because only above that level does cholecalciferol (the basic form of vitamin d3 as made just under the skin surface and as found in Vitamin D3 supplements) remain freely bioavailable in measurable amounts, in this form it's half-life is just 24 hrs so we have to take it(or make it from sun/UVB) daily.
Most of the interventions Bredesen suggests to reverse the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's will also help those with MS, FMS or other condition associated with pain, inflammation, insulin resistance. 

I don't like it when you get surveys like this where they compare two illness like this one (Rheumatoid arthritis to Fibromyalgia).  I am sure that if more illnesses were included they would find many similarities. I think some of these surveys only lead to confusion and also end up frightening those who read then out of context.

I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis since 1973, suffer from Type 2 Diabetes  and also have had trouble with my Thyroid Gland.  In 2007 I started to have very bad forgetfulness, headaches etc. I put this down to the RA etc and the large amount of drugs I was on and didn't think to worry too much about it thinking it was just one more thing to learn to live with. Fortunately a very observant Rheumatology Nurse Practioner spotted the symptons and decided I needed to have tests and arranged for me to see my specialist and have an MRI.  Luckily for me. They found 2 brain tumours (I'm greedy. Couldn't just have one ????). 

What I'm trying to say is everyone is different. Yes we may have similar symptoms and I'm sure that there is Fibrofog. (Not a very pleasant side affect). But there are a lot of other illnesses that can also dull your memory etc. And of course there is the dreaded painkillers, opiates etc.  But don't be like me.  If you start to suffer from new symptoms speak to your GP.  You CAN suffer from something else.  I was lucky my Tumours were spotted in time and after two operations I have been told that for I am OK for the forseeable future.

Of course I think everyone should read as much as they can to educate themself about their illness. There is plenty of good advice out there. But advice and surveys are two different things. Make sure you don't just read and be fooled by surveys like this one which if taken out of context can be frightening. 

Good luck to everyone and hopefully you are all getting the treatment you need.