• Constant pain, ranging from a dull ache to severe and debilitating

• Fatigue frequently resulting from insomnia or sleep disturbances such as apnea

• Lack of concentration or mental malaise (brain fog)

• Frequent need to use restroom caused by irritable bowel syndrome

• Recurrent tension-type headaches and migraines that can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, extreme sensitivity to light and noise

• Depression and mood swings

• Low self-esteem

• Sensitivity to changes in temperature, bright lights, odors, and loud sounds

• Painful period and premenstrual discomfort

• Numbness and tingling sensations in the extremities

• Dizziness

Fibromyalgia sufferers have a low threshold for pain; they feel pain more strongly; and their pain lasts for longer periods of time. Fibromyalgia symptoms vary from day to day and hour to hour. Changes in weather patterns can even have a major effect on the severity of the pain. Sometimes, the symptoms can be almost in remission and other times the symptoms are very active, called flare. Flare is a time of high-intensity pain and grief. One or more activities or stressors trigger flares. It can be a virus, a severe yeast infection, or a traffic accident. It might be caused by a major family crisis or something as simple as participating in an athletic event. It can be triggered by a menstrual period, a draft or sudden temperature change, or the onset of the allergy season.

People who suffer from fibromyalgia are subject to many and varied stimuli that may cause fibromyalgic symptoms, thus making them potentially unreliable employees. They may have high occurrences of absenteeism or have to leave work abruptly and often. Job tasks that require sustained, strenuous physical labor or working in damp or cold conditions may prove problematic. Work that requires them to cope with environmental conditions such as noise or emotional stressors such as production demands may prove difficult. FMS sufferers are at risk for developing repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and they have less strength and endurance than other workers.