10 Most Common Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

#3 Environmental Sensitivity

People with fibromyalgia typically experience sensory abnormalities that go beyond sensitivity to touch. They are often strongly affected by environmental influences – even ones that seem minor to most other people. Such symptoms usually involve the patient’s senses of smell, sound and sight.

For example, a person with fibromyalgia may be extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke, or feel nauseous upon stepping into a freshly painted room. Chemical-based cleaning products also seem to trigger these types of sensitivities, to the point where the patient is unable to use them or be in an area where they were recently used. Sounds in a moderate volume range can seem extremely loud, and can even cause headaches and other extreme reactions. Lighting levels usually affect the patient’s sense of sight; lights may seem unbearably bright, even when they are at normal levels, and even if the patient is in a familiar environment.