How do I approach the doctor?

[hayleylou83]

Hi. I've suspected that I'm suffering from fibro for a few years. It started with extreme tiredness. My mother got me to write all my symptoms down and she Google them. Every hit came up fibromyalgia. I want to go to the doctors. Find out if there's any help for me. Or whethere's I have to live my lifeet in pain, depressed amd exhausted (along with other things). I'm too scared to go to the gp in case the think I'm a faker or lazy or because I'm fat. My question is, how do I approach the doctor? How do I ask for help without beinh fobbed off x

[Rose54]

Hi

First thing you need to do is make a GP appointment explain your symptoms and GP should send you for blood test .

Once you have had this done make appointment to see GP again for results.

their are lots of things that cause the symptoms you have mentioned and blood tests may rule a lot out .

So don't think the worse but go along and find out .

Would your Mum go with you or a friend

Let us know how you get on

Good Luck

[phlebo123]

Hi Hayley,

You have already said that you have written a list of all your symptoms, then may I suggest that you take this list to your doctor. Also maybe you could ask your mother to attend the doctors with you for support as she is also aware of your symptoms. He may arrange for blood tests. It is often a Rheumatologist that diagnoses fibromyalgia, so if the blood tests show nothing unusual, then your doctor may refer you.

You may also find it useful to look at the mother website for this group fmauk.org which explains lots of fibromyalgia related information.

Please let us know how you get on and feel free to ask questions xxx

[BlueMermaid3]

Hi there

Rose54 has given you some excellent advice.

GP's do not like people diagnosing themselves.

Also it can take years to get a defitive diagnosis of Fibromyalgia due to the fact that there are many other condtions that have the same symptoms.

I would make an appointment to see your GP, take your mum along with you and show your GP your list of symptoms.

Ask your GP what they think it is.

Your GP should start by sending you for some blood tests to rule out other illnesses and take it from there.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Lu x

Administrator

[rosewine]

I think the only way is to bite the bullet and go, as the others have said. I don't know whether you have been to your GP before with any of your symptoms but regardless they are having a big impact on your life and you need help with this. There are several illnesses that have many cross over symptoms with fibeo so expect your GP to want to do so well do some blood tests first to rule these out. Good luck with it all please let us know how you get on.x

[Kjb121]

You should go to Drs and get diagnosed properly FM is a painful and makes you very tired if it is FM there is medication you can take to help the pain I have recently been diagnosed after nearly 3 years and it does get you down it has nothing to do with your weight.Try and not get stressed if you can as this will only make things worse get as much support from friends and family.

[TheAuthor]

Hi hayleylou83

Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I have pasted you a link below to our mother site, FMA UK which hosts loads of useful information:

fmauk.org/

I am so genuinely sorry to reads of how you are suffering and struggling and I am in total agreement with your other respondents as I personally think the best way forward is to just go and talk to your doctor about the possibilities of having Fibro!

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck, and please take care of yourself.

Al my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Nesie237]

I just wanted to add to all these excellent suggestions. One way a doctor worth his salt diagnoses Fibro is to check for pressure points. You may have noticed some yourself, like areas on your upper back, under your arms and ribs. When these areas are pressed, the pain is intensified. Maybe your doctor could refer you to a specialist, such as a rheumatologist. That's how I was diagnosed about 18 years ago. Just a couple of suggestions. I am a nurse. The reason I say that is I know when something is wrong and push until I find out what it is. I'm a bit of a pest. Just persist until you find if Fibro is the problem. Good luck, keep us posted, Nesie 237

[hayleylou83 in reply to Nesie237]

I can't bear bring touched or poked on my arms and ribs. It hurts like mad and lasts for hours afterwards. Everyone laughs and says I'm too sensation. But I've always thought it was more then just being a pansy x

[Nesie237 in reply to hayleylou83]

Believe me, when someone qualified is testing pressure points, they don't need to push hard. Right now, symptoms and pressure points, plus ruling out other problems, is the way it's diagnosed. And you are not a pansy! Of course you're sensitive to touch if you have Fibro. I hate it. We all do.

You may need to educate others if you have it. It's hard for others to understand, I know it is.

But we're here when you need support., Nesie 237

[Steve49]

Hi Haley.

Yes it is a good idea to write down beforehand so that you can discuss them with your GP.

Print off the info that matches your current problems so that you have something to produce for them.

Don't stand for anything, make sure that you get your points across as well.

You don't need to live in pain, have a look at the info on this site.

Please let me know if I can help you further???

Steve.