FIBROMYALGIA IS ..... 1.    A TERM THAT MEANS PAIN IN THE MUSCLES, LIGAMENTS AND TENDONS, I.E. THE        FIBROUS TISSUES IN THE BODY. 2.    A WIDESPREAD MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN AND - (SOMETIMES PROFOUND) FATIGUE        DISORDER FOR WHICH THE CAUSE IS NOT KNOWN. 3.    A DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION.  ROUTINE LABORATORY TESTS REVEAL NOTHING        ABNORMAL.  DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA CONSISTS OF: (A)   WIDESPREAD PAIN IN ALL 4 BODY QUADRANTS FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS. (B)   HAVING AT LEAST 11 OF 18 TENDER POINTS THAT CLUSTER AROUND THE NECK. (C)   AN INVISIBLE AND VERY INDIVIDUAL CONDITION. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: A)    STIFFNESS THROUGHOUT THE BODY. B)    COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES IN ‘LAYING DOWN’ SHORT - TERM MEMORY, IN        CONCENTRATING, BEING OVERWHELMED EASILY, EXPERIENCING WORD MIX-UPS,         DIFFICULTY IN SPEAKING OR WRITING  WORDS YOU WANT TO USE. C)    NON-RESTORATIVE SLEEP RESULTING IN CHRONIC FATIGUE. D)    PROBLEMS WITH BALANCE, VISION AND CLUMSINESS ( I.E. DROPPING OR BUMPING         INTO THINGS, TRIPPING, ETC. ). E)    DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES ( I.E. RECURRING BOUTS OF DIARRHEA AND / OR        CONSTIPATION PLUS MAJOR DISCOMFORT IN THE STOMACH AND ABDOMEN ). F)    ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO COMMON SUBSTANCES OR ODOURS. G)    HYPERSENSITIVITY TO WEATHER PATTERNS, LIGHT, NOISE, SMOKE AND OTHER         POLLUTANTS.   H)    INABILITY TO TOLERATE REPETITIVE TASKS. I)     ANXIETY DISEASE INCLUDING PANIC DISORDER. J)    SEVERE SINUS PROBLEMS WITH ACCOMPANYING HEADACHES, DIZZINESS AND DRY         MOUTH. K)    IMMUNE SYSTEM DISFUNCTION. L)    THYROID INBALANCE. M)    SKIN ITCH, MOTTLING AND RASHES. N)     SWOLLEN GLANDS. O)    MIGRAINE HEADACHES. P)    HAIR LOSS. Q)    VISION CHANGES AND EYE PAIN. R)    FACIAL PAIN. S)    TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT PAIN - ( T.M.J. ). T)    MUSCLE SPASMS. U)    PROUNCED PRE-MENSTRUAL SYDROME - ( P.M.S. ). V)    NUMBNESS AND TINGLING IN THE HANDS AND FEET. W)   IRRITABLE BOWEL. X)    HIGH OR LOW TEMPERATURE:  HOT FLASHES. Y)    HEARING LOSS. 5% OF THE GENERAL POPULATION IS THOUGHT TO BE AFFECTED WITH F.M.S. ( APPROXIMATELY 1 AND 1/2 MILLION CANADIANS ).  80% OF DIAGNOSED F.M.S. PATIENTS ARE WOMEN.  SYMPTOMS CAN BEGIN IN SCHOOL - AGE CHILDREN.