Fibromyalgia myths: The truth about 9 common myths

[PlateletGal]

From the Mayo Clinic's website:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/AR00056

[Corvin]

Part of the paradox also is the majority of chronically ill patients have co-morbid anxiety, depression, manic depression, psychosis, and/or just cognitive difficulties in general, and that effects how doctors (and everyone) perceives us unfortunately, it makes them believe we are exaggerating, inventing symptoms, addicts, alcoholics, attention seekers, etc, etc... Physicians just nod their head, write out a script for anti depressants, pat you on the back, clock out, and call it a day, basically. I remember one time my primary physician a couple years ago he pretended to drop a bunch of blank prescription slips on the floor, and then left the room for about five minutes, and came back again. I know it was staged to see if I would take any of the blank slips, it was obvious (apparently he thought I was a moron as well). At the time I was asking for narcotic pain killers, but when you have chronic headaches from neuro sarc your head does tend to hurt a little bit. I was undiagnosed at the time, but I think it just shows the level of distrust, and games that have taken over the doctors office.

If my headaches ever get more severe again though I think I'll just have a shunt put in, and be done with it. My CSF pressure doesn't seem like it gets as high as it used to, but I can tell it's still more than it should be.

[patsy10]

I have always been a believer that there is an underlying disease process that is being missed.  Your diagnosis proves it in your circumstance.

[Corvin]

That's a positive thing that Mayo is trying to dispel myths about Fibro. It's still a little scary though how clueless they still are, and most docs out there only believe something if they see it on a test result. My only experience with Fibro is a neurologist last year said, "It could be Fibro, but you're a male, so I'm not comfortable giving you that diagnosis, but you can try some Cymbalta if you want". This is after she blew off chronic paraesthesia combined with, proximal muscle weakness, chronic moderate to severe headaches, and a high intracranial opening pressure on a LP, and never tested a single drop of blood. Long story short, I'm pretty sick now, and was dx'd with Sarcoidosis this year by a lung doctor, after it became symptomatic in multiple organs other than just the CNS, not that it wasn't already there it just wasn't enough to raise flags or was missed (eg. not testing blood for 3 years).  ~Corvin

[scarredone]

Hi. I'm new to this board. I was diagnosed in 99 or 00. I don't remember. I use to work with special needs kids so I used to lift them a lot. One time during play time I felt like a red hot poker was going through my shoulder. The pain was debilitating. I could no longer do my job thus I was fired. I went to Dr to Dr only to hear time and time again "there's nothing wrong with you" or "you're imagining it". I was so angry. I finally was referred to see an an amazing oncologist/rheumatologist. He did test after test for all types of arthritis and cancer. To which he found nothing. He believed me when I said that I was not imaging this pain. He finally diagnosed me with Fibro. And gave me a scrip for pain meds. I have no insurance and suffer a lot. Sorry to run on. I just want you to know you are not alone in dealing with this (disease) pain. You are not imagining it. And you are not alone.

[meubanks09]

I agree patsy.... I was diagnosed after they could not find anything else wrong, and I have some tender points

The doctors exact words were " It's just fibromyalgia, because there is nothing wrong with you"  Well isn't the FIBROMYALGIA the problem.. what do u mean there is nothing wrong with me? Obviously fibromyalgia is what is wrong with me. She acted like it wasn't real or somthing.. like I was making it up. So frustrating.... I'm going to try the lyrica starting tomorrow... we'll see how I end up. I am not going back to these inconsiderate doctors that don't care ever again

[patsy10]

Interesting.  There are certainly things I disagree with though.  Particulary the statement  that  states doctors don't diagnose FMS because they can't find anything else wrong.  I think the majority of FMS diagnoses are based on not being able to find "anything wrong".  The Mayo Clinic may practice this way but I don't think the general medical community does.