Expert: Joyce A. McKenzie - 7/31/2004

Question
Is fever a common thing? what is a fibro flare?

Answer
Hi Gala!
No, fever is not a common thing with FMS, but it is with chronic fatigue syndrome, a 1st cousin of FMS.

A fibro flare is when all your symptoms exacerbate.  If you normally have a baseline pain in your shoulders and arms as your major "sore" spot, then that pain will be stepped up.  If you generally suffer from headaches, you may get a very  bad headache.  If you suffer from fatigue all the time, during a flare that fatigue may be so bad that it may put you in bed for a few days.  So, in a flare, all your baseline symptoms are shifted up to HIGH levels, for however long.  Some flares last a short time...a few days...some flares can go on for months.  Gradually, at some point, things calm down and you know your fibro flare is ending, and you go back to "baseline", whatever is "normal" for you when you're not flaring.