Serotonin deficiency is associated with many physical and psychological symptoms. Examples of physical symptoms include:

Fatigue in spite of adequate rest
Disturbed sleep
Changes in appetite
Hot flushes and temperature changes
Headaches

Examples of psychological symptoms include:

Changes in libido
Mood disturbances
Depression
Irritability
When serotonin levels are extremely low, additional symptoms may include:

Muscle cramps
Bowel & bladder problems
Rapid, uncontrolled thought processes
Emotional numbness
Emotional or behavioral outbursts
Escape fantasies
Memory torture (dwelling on or reliving your most traumatic experiences)
Thoughts of harming yourself or others

A growing pool of research suggests that people with fibromyalgia (FMS) may have low levels of serotonin or low serotonin activity. Experts are split, however, as to whether serotonin levels are high or low in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS). Some studies show that the problem in ME/CFS may lie in low serotonin-receptor activity, which could mean that the brain isn't using serotonin properly, even if plenty is available. A newer study suggests a possible autoimmune reaction to serotonin.

@A MyFibroTeam Member, i was surprised to learn that serotonin is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter! How the blood brain barrier affects absorption is critical apparently. One of the articles pointed out that some of us with fibromyalgia have a genetic defect that regardless of the amount of serotonin we can't absorb it or utilize it. At that point I felt like I was on a reading rollercoaster as my first thought was that we simply need more serotonin to then realizing that researchers don't think our bodies can possibly handle it without an added aid. So it gets pretty complicated fast. Still, I'd like to think that adding some foods and supplements might still help, knowing the goal?

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A MyFibro...

https://www.healthline.com/health/serotonin-def...

Here is another article on how serotonin can't be accurately measured in the brain at this time but symptoms can reflect observationally a deficiency.

@A MyFibroTeam Member I heard about serotonin and fibro a while back but didn't research it much. Today I found an article from 1998 that linked the two!! If I find it again I will post it. I hope that nutrient malabsorption like you have, will be studied further and with the current emphasis on gut health maybe there will be more insight.

Great job, Andrea! Don't you wish research could just arrive at a solution instead of more conjecture ?

How have you been? 🧚‍♀️💛🙋‍♀️💫🌝