This is a subject that most sufferers are only to aware of because of their bad experiences.... It is disgusting in this day and age that there are still individuals who stigmatise and discriminate against people with invisible illnesses.
I was disgusted to read the post on here about the Sun Newpaper article ( meassociation.org.uk/?p=10210 ) and have since read that
the sun has sent letters of apology (actionforme.org.uk/get-info... . However sorry they may be who remembers the letters of apology when the article has impressed an opinion on so many ... It should never have been allowed to go to press by the editor . I think the press complaints commission should deal with the reporter under the code of practice and discipline him appropriately.
I have read somewhere that they are making progress in showing evidence of pain response in the brain function that is significantly different from those who are healthy individuals. The fMRI (functional MRI imaging) results are still being researched but the initial findings shows FMS response to pain to be higher and explains are sensitivity to pain.
I hope that in a few years they can prove it with this diagnostic test and the DR's will have to take note and admit the failings over the past years of denial or saying its all psychosomatic. Changing Drs may help at the time but not a long time solution. This fMRI will hopefully provide the awareness and understanding needed for the Drs & general public to change people's perceptions. We live in hope
Needless to say we should not need physical evidence of a test result for clinicians to trust in what a patient says as Margo McCaffery states in 1968: "Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he says it does" and health professionals should remember this.
Until then it is us the sufferers to stick together to promote awareness and keep fighting positively for change.
Fibro hugs