The fatigue experienced by fibromyalgia patients is nothing like the fatigue most people experience at the end of a long day or following a strenuous workout. It is a pervasive, all-encompassing exhaustion that can interfere with even the most basic and simple daily activities. For example, FM patients frequently say that by the time they shower and get dressed to go out, they are too tired to go anywhere.
Another defining factor of the fatigue of fibromyalgia is that it is not relieved by sleep. Patients may awaken feeling just as fatigued as they did before they went to sleep. Because getting good, deep, refreshing sleep is essential for the body to replenish itself, healthcare professionals will often address sleep issues first. If sleep problems can be corrected, fatigue symptoms should begin to improve as well.
