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No such thing as Fibromyalgia???

My brother-in-law claims that there is no such thing as fibromyalgia and that the "disease" or "syndrome" was created by the drug manufacturers only AFTER they created the drug Lyrica. Do any of you have any credible evidence that this absurd statement is true??? I was recently diagnosed with FMS and am pained by his unwillingness to believe that this horrible syndrome is a valid, medically-accepted diagnosis.
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Avatar universal
Regarding my posting above which I stand by, except that contrary to what i have frequently read, I did find a source that said that pain relievers do help fibromyalgia.
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Avatar universal
Hey there, fibromyalgia is a disease by exclusion of any other diagnosis.  So if someone has Cystic Fibrosis causing their pain, they would NOT be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

And people with it have far more than mild or mediocre complaints as you have or you probably wouldn't be so dismissive of this disease.   It is well established as a disease.  Unless you know what the symptom is of "something much bigger", you are being of no help whatsoever.  

There are FDA approved medications for fibromyalgia that give many sufferers great relief from their pain.  And pain killers do not give relief from fibromyalgia.

I am so sick of people at this date, saying that Fibromyalgia isn't a well established disease.  I just answered another posting that said that.


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Avatar universal
My two cents: Fibromyalgia is not currently linked to any gene. I dont doubt that all the folks who have Fibromyalgia actually HAVE something, but I feel like the term Fibromyalgia was drummed up. My neice was diagnosed at 13 with Fibromyalgia. I had the SAME symptoms when  was a kid. Ive had a lifetime full of mild to mediocre complaints that have no explanation. Then I got tested for Cystic Fibrosis and I am a carrier (I may have it, but it is mild.. still testing to see if I have both copies of the gene)
Now, the two of these have very similar symptoms...and if you look around on the internet, you will find a good sized handful of people who say the same.
As a carrier (at least) of Cystic Fibrosis, I DO have many of the symptoms.. just not as bad as people who have full blown FDelta508 CF from birth.. but none the less...I do have symptoms and they are uncomfortable/ As of yet, the healthcare field says that carriers don't have symptoms.. but again.. look on the net, you see PLENTY of folks who do.

So take it for what it is worth. Im not saying that Fibromyalgia sufferers dont have it.. but rather I think that the 'Fibromyalgia" syndrome is just a symptom of something much bigger. I would be curious to know how many Fibromyalgia folks have the Cystic Fibrosis gene...
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563582 tn?1217742383
I completly understand.  My grandma used to say that same thing to me about I shoudn't feel so bad for my age.  And let me tell you...I dread the evil bottom shelf at a store when I am shopping.  Once I get down...I may never get up again.  I think everything in a store should be at chest height!
Also my aunt is very "concerned" that I take the meds I take.  Her husband is a recovering alcoholic so I just think she assumes that everyone who takes these kind of meds is an addict.  Look,I realize that I have a physical addiction to this medication, that really can't be avoided, but I do not abuse my meds.  It doesn't seem to matter how much I try to explain to her the situation or how my doc and I are completly honest with each other and are on top of the situation she just doesn't get it.
You hang in there though and try to educate your friends and family.  Take your husband to your doc with you and have the doc talk to him.  Can't hurt, might help!
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528396 tn?1217526013
Yes, me too.  I just had my ex husband tell me that if I got off of all of the drugs (pain meds and muscle relaxers) I would feel better and that THEY are what is wrong with me.  I sat up at the hospital all day yesterday while he and his new wife welcomed their new baby girl into the world.  Of course you have to sit on iron chairs, hard chairs, on the floor, etc.  I was sitting on the floor and it doesn't matter where I sit, if I sit too long it takes a lot to get up and it is very painful.  I had been sitting on the floor for about 45 minutes and couldn't get up.  I had to roll myself on my hands and knees and grunt myself up.  I never complained all day but that one grunt caught the attention of my ex mother in law.  Her reaction was, "oh lord, you are too young to be sounding like that, wait until you are my age."  I hadn't expected to stay all day and left my meds at home, I took one extra of each but after that I had nothing.  What I wanted to tell her was, "you @#$$ idiot, my body feels like it is older than yours."  Not only was I in pain but I hadn't slept in over 24 hours because I couldn't sleep the night before. I have been in the bed since I got home yesterday.  I woke up this morning around 3am and went back to sleep at around 10 am  and didn't wake up until 4.  It just goes from one extreme to the other.  Either I can't sleep or I can't wake up.  I think that FM is something I've had all of my life because all of my life I have been like this and have always been told I am lazy.    The hardest part are the people who don't understand, that is so frustrating.  I look normal and healthy and younger than my age (or so I'm told) so people assume that there is nothing wrong with me.  What bothers me most are the people who say that I use this as an excuse to get pills...I don't WANT to take the pills, I never took pills even in my younger years so why would I all of the sudden decide to spend my light bill on pain pills???  It is easier to deal with when it is strangers but your family is a whole other story.  
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563582 tn?1217742383
If I had a penny for everytime I had someone tell me, "just get up and move around, you'll feel better I'd be rich!
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553995 tn?1332018840
Yes, basic lyme but I've learned very recently that there is another  lyme disease that my Dr.'s daughter actually has had recently.  It took 3 months of school from her at age 16.  Doctors in NJ, cannot treat their own family members, and anyway my Dr. did not know of this other lyme illness until she found a specialist in PA.

This tick is soooo small it is the size of the mark a sharpened pencil makes when touched to paper.  It does not make the red circle.  

Just gardening my husband comes in with ticks on him.  Wood ticks so far, not life threatening but gross!

I feel like putting Frontline for animals on him.  It keeps fleas and ticks away.
Thank you Patsy
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Avatar universal
Have you been checked for lyme disease?  I see you live in NJ, a lyme endemic state.  Lyme can cause fibromyalgia.
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553995 tn?1332018840
www.sover.net/-devstar..........not exhisting.  Book was published long enough ago for it to have expired.
Hey Butterscotch,  This is the second edition written about FM/CFS, the first one in the early 90's,  WAY BEFORE LYRICA.  haha

Dear friend told me a phrase that stops idioacy from going further.  Debating keeps it going, heats it up.  Trying to convince someone of something can frustrate and make me look weak.  She told me to say simply " Sorry you feel that way"   You remain strong in your conviction, and they don't get a chance to wittle you down.  We can actually disarm people that way.  One of  husbands best friend is a DR. and he said once to me "Oh you have that Bulls--t disease?  I said to him " Yea, the one that has me run imaginary fevers, headaches, sore throats, swollen glands, elevated imflammation levels, and pain that you could not bear or you would be crying like a baby?  Yea, I have that.

Have a great day people.
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553995 tn?1332018840
I could not address just one of you.  Each and every one of you are a valuable tool for each other and myself.  
Brothers!  I once heard a saying " Opinions are like ___holes, everybody has one".  This saying gets me through many a difficult mouth fart from people.

That goes for my brother also.  
He isn't talking to me now because I wouldn't go on a camping trip with the whole family, that he organized.  All the wood floors were going to be refinished   (moving all the furniture ourselves, need I say more) stayed at a motel for 3 days etc.  etc.
Lack of sleep, physically pushing myself, fumes, cleaning sanding dust afterward. You all know how we pay with exhaustion and pain days after the event.  This would have landed during the camping trip where we all would be sleeping in one room, well no sleep there for me.
His opinion was, "How can she say she is going to not feel good that weekend, she just does not want to go.  She should just be honest with me. The trip is two weeks from now.  How will she know how she will feel?".  

He has not talked to me since, nor would he have any discussion with my Mom during camping on the FM subject and how I suffer.
Mom has come around now that it is 12 plus years  .

My Dad, identified my symptoms with those that his Mom had, my Grandma.  He asked a geneticist friend of his if there is any research being done on FM and genetics and bingo!  Not only is there but his friend and some colleages  are writing a book now on it.  
It is hard to find subjects so it is slow going, yet working.

NIH, CDC, and several other research org.  that I subscribe to claim that there are valid, diagnosed and recorded by doctors cases of Fibromyalgia in 4% of the U.S. population. Let your brother chew on that.

EBV was the start of my FM also.  I contracted it from a dentist in the early 90's.  I now have full antibodies for the virus.  Until I developed that I repeatedly had the fatigue associated with FM.  Something worth looking into, those of you with EBV related FM.

The books I have found most informative are two books written by Starlanyl.  The first was "The Fibromyalgia Advocate"  The second is " Fibromyalgia &Chronic Myofascial Pain - a survival manual".  
I highly recommend both these books.  
I'm looking at the book cover and it says she has a comprehensive website: http://www.sover.net/-devstar    I've got to check that out, to me she totally rocks and she has saved my sanity with her books.  
Bless you all
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542357 tn?1245023682
I know its hard to get people let alone your family to understand your pain. I know myself my husband got so tired of hearing me complain how sick and tired I always felt. I felt betrayed and always wondered is this in my head? am I making myself sick with these symptoms! I also found out I'm extremely anemic from my doctor last week and he was with me for my doctor appt. and she explained to him fibromyalgia exsist and chronic fatigue as I was diagnosed with ebv many yrs ago with my 4th child. She told him with my health issues and being severe anemic I was not being lazy or just complaining about always being so tired and in pain wasn't in my head but very real. I was so glad she talked to him last week. He seems to be alittle more understanding. I know I myself find myself not talking to friends or family members  because if they ask how your feeling or doing its always the same " tired,in pain,can't sleep"etc.

I wish more people understood this disease and the daily battles we go through.

Thank you platelet for the Happy 4th Hope you and your family and everyone here had a great long weekend.

Lord bless
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Avatar universal
You people are AWESOME! You make me feel better each time I read your stories and opinions. It makes suffering easier to tolerate knowing that there are those of us out there who have this pain in common. God bless you all!
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Avatar universal

Having your family members not believe you is the ultimate betrayal. It is very painful when you are suffering and reaching out for help and people don't understand or don't want to understand.

Sometimes I'll forward information that is sent to me by the CFIDS Association of America or Pro Health to my friends & family members. I often don't get responses, but I thank God for the people in my life who do know about my illness and are supportive of me. They know that I am not lazy and they understand what heroes we really are... considering all of the challenges we face on the daily basis.

The best to you. I hope with time and knowledge (for your family).... the healing will come.

~PlateletGal
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528396 tn?1217526013
I wish that for one month these people could walk....or lay...in our shoes,just for a month.  My family doesn't believe that this is an actual condition either.  I have been labeled "lazy" as someone said in one of the posts and also that I just want the pain pills and muscle relaxers.  I would LOVE nothing more than to do the things that I used to do and not shell out thousands of dollars on doctors and medication every year.  Believe me, I could find more things to do with my money and my time.  I no longer speak to my family, not just over their thinking but it has helped with my depression since there is no longer someone in my face saying there is nothing wrong with me and that I just need to get up and move around.  I wouldn't even bother with the bro in law...he is a total idiot.  
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Avatar universal

ME/CFS costs the US economy $25 billion dollars a year in economic losses and yet receives amongst the lowest amounts of research funding of any disease. There are politics involved with these illnesses... just like there were with Gulf War Syndrome (another "syndrome"... LOL!)

btw... I wanted to wish all of you a very HAPPY 4th of JULY !!! Thank you so much for your input. I like this board because we have so many different people, different views and everyone here is respectful of one another.

Thank you all !

~ PlateletGal
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542357 tn?1245023682
I have heard that from many doctors ,and even my own shrink,,,saying "fibro is a big name for so many symptoms that doctors give because they don't know what else to tell their patients"! Well if you suffer from it you have a different opinon...same here was diagnosed with it many yrs before lyrica came out. My aunt who suffers from it in her 60's was diagnosed like 13 yrs ago during a workmans comp case and guess the courts agree it exsist as her doctors agreed it exsisted! she won over 300,00.00 for her lawsuit and her attorney specializes in fibro cases...so it must exsist.
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551683 tn?1220656108
I read a really good 'letter' on the net a long, long time ago that dealt with this issue. It was a letter to your family explaining FMS. Not to say this would help your brother-in-law since he seems to already have his mind made up. Anyway, I do not still have this 'letter', but it was powerful. There are lots of stuff like that out there that you may find if you search. I also was diagnosed long before lyrica was approved for the treatment of FMS by the FDA. I think the reason there are doubters out there is because we do not look like we feel, we have good days and bad days and even worse days, we have no energy (so we are lazy), and there is no test (blood, scan, etc) to diagnose it. Other stuff just has to be ruled out and your symtoms taken into consideration. Even drs. took a long time to come around (and from reading here some have not) to believe that it is real. Hang in there! It is real!!!!
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Avatar universal
Why is it that it only takes one or two negative messages do undo the work of dozens of positive ones? Don't listen to that moron!!! I guarantee you'll feel better.
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172715 tn?1285494490
people often deny what they are afraid of.
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Avatar universal
WOW! Thanks for coming to my rescue! I sincerely appreciate the support that you all give me - and the many others like us sufferering from FMS. Keep up the good work!
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Avatar universal
Tell your brother in law to ask the millions who have this syndrome and have suffered pretty much all there lives with the debilitating pain.  There are so many ppl out there who think Fibro is made up and its all in our heads well I say if its in my head then :be gone: it would be that simple,,but its not.  Chronic pain has been dated back to the 17 and 1800's heres a good article about that,,"show your brother in law",,also it doesnt matter what he says if your feeling pain then your feeling pain,, wether it be in your head,,made up or not.  Good luck :)  
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chronic_pain/detail_chronic_pain.htm
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307897 tn?1242419260
I totally agree with all of these fine people--who suffer and who have suffered with this condition for ages including myself and I especially like Tink70's comment.  Stay away from this 'DOUBTING THOMAS".  I guess that sounds just as good as an IDIOT.  GTaz
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462570 tn?1273632977
Your Brother in Law is an idiot.  I suppose he probably doesn't believe depression or anxiety disorders or alcoholism exists either - yeah - one of THOSE kinds of people.  Oh, well - it takes all kinds.
Stay the heck away from him and take your meds and feel better!
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Avatar universal
Also tell your brother in law to get out of the stone age that he is in & look up FM on the internet. There are plenty of sites about it, if it weren't real why are there so many sites about how to diagnose it. How to treat it and what doctor to see. And there are plenty of sites that also list the symptoms.
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