At different times, I've been diagnosed with both.
I haven't asked this question in a long time, so I thought I'd throw it out there again.
What is the current thinking on the similarities and differences between the two syndromes?
Any takers?

Hey, Coyote! I think that fibro causes CFS. When it hurts so often to do the things you need to do, over time it is going to affect your mind by causing it to develop a prejudice against the actions which cause the pain. And it affects your body because your body doesn't want to hurt. I've had fibro for five years now, and it led to CFS for me. It has also led to isolated bouts of MPS when my muscles freeze up to protect an area of damage or pain. So, for as much as my opinion counts, I find that these three systems are very close to each other, and any one can awaken the others. I hope that your fibro has been giving you a break, and you're having some good days, my friend. Good luck and best wishes to you.

Idealist

Hi Coyote, getting a correct diagnosis can be very difficult. You have to find a medical practitioner with the right attitude and knowledge.
you also have to have done a bit of homework beforehand, so you are not fobbed off or misunderstood.
CFS is a syndrome, a collection of symptoms, and is in itself not a diagnosable illness. It is a last resort, when they can't find anything else to call it.
My daughter was originally thought to have CFS, but she never had fatigue. Turns out it is ME.
She had a lot of trouble getting a proper diagnosis and treatment, such as it is.
CFS is a misleading term as it seems to be saying it is all about fatigue, when in fact that is only one possible symptom. The correct name is more likely to be ME.
Here's my daughter's website on ME, designed to help people just like you. http://www.ahummingbirdsguide.com/

Within that is a section on misdiagnosis.
http://www.ahummingbirdsguide.com/misdiagnosis.htm

Hope this helps.

I was dx with cfs in 1986 after being very sick with a respiratory illness like pneumonia. My fibro dx was in 2000 or so. I had the symptoms long before the dxs though.
Wonering if it really matters what you call it....

Interesting question-it does make a big difference if you want to be correctly diagnosed and treated.
Here is a quote from my daughter's article on the name problem:
"M.E. and ‘CFS’ are not the same. The two entities could not be more different. M.E. is a well-defined distinct organic neurological disease which has existed for centuries.
‘CFS’ is a fictional and financially motivated man-made disease category, a scientific fraud, which defines exactly nothing."
Insurance companies have been able to deny clients payments because of this naming problem, saying it is psychological and not a physical illness.
I strongly suggest that you read the article, if you can.

http://www.ahummingbirdsguide.com/