Chronic pain and fatigue are hallmark symptoms for conditions such as CFS, ME, SLE and fibromyalgia.  Unfortunately, they are also prominent symptoms for many, many other illnesses.

If you think you have something going on with your health, don’t rely on Dr. Google to make the diagnosis.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss your concerns.  You will need to undergo testing (blood tests, physical assesment, possibly scanning tests such as an MRI, CT or x-ray) and your doctor may refer you to specialists in rheumatology and/or neurology.

It may take a long time to complete the diagnostic process but it is essential that you do so.  If you assume you have fibromyalgia, for example, when you really have something else, you will not get appropriate treatment.  Be smart, be patient and take the right first step.