How do you know?

[Laney33]

Morning,

New here and want to know how do you actually get a diagnosis? I've put my symptoms into google and it comes up fibromyalgia but my doc won't listen.

[Trikki]

I think you should ask your GP for a referral to a Rheumatologist as they are the ones who normally, after many tests to rule out anything else, are the ones who will diagnose. It all takes time though so you have to be patient.....and maybe change your GP if you can to one who will listen!!

[Laney33 in reply to Trikki]

Thanks for your reply. I'm on loosing battle with changing my docs. I have no support what so ever. Do you suffer from it? X

[Trikki in reply to Laney33]

Oh yes for many years like 35years +......first diagnosed with Osteo arthritis from x-rays and scans then when I still have pains in tissue rather than bone and was eventually diagnosed 3/4 years later with Fibro....Hang in there and keep pushing for a referral....xx

[Hippo5410]

Definitely get an appointment with a rheumatologist if your gp will refer you? Depending how desperate you are and your finances you could consider going to see a rheumatologist privately as you don't need a gp's referral. I doubt they would diagnose fibro there and then but would start you on the path to ruling out other conditions and when you are self funding will usually transfer you back to the NHS.

Good luck xx

[Laney33 in reply to Hippo5410]

Thank you, been so good today getting advice x

[bluebell99]

Hello Laney33 and a warm welcome to our friendly fibro forum where you can find help, advice, support and understanding. Have you looked at our mother site fmauk.org ?

Here you will find a wealth of information including guides and links.

Fibromyalgia is a difficult condition to diagnose, it generally comes when blood tests, xrays and the like eliminate other illnesses. Some of our members have waited years for a diagnosis.

You could ask your doctor for a rheumatology appointment although he may be reluctant to do so at first until some testing has been done.

Unfortunately there does seem to be a core of GPs who disbelieve in fibro and will not be swayed by evidence, others are just ignorant of this condition. If you go to the mother site there will be a link to post off a fibro pack to be sent anonymously to your doctor's surgery, and this may help.

If you are making no headway at all then the only alternative would be to change doctors within the practice or change surgeries altogether.

It could be prudent to ring the surgery and ask if there is a gp there whose interest is in rheumatic conditions, which would be of more help to you.

I wish you luck

Kay

[Laney33 in reply to bluebell99]

Thank you, I'll definitely look into to this all. X

[Dinkie]

How to get a diagnosis - umm depends how pro-active your GP is. Mine wasn't took from 1987 to 2014 to get my diagnosis. Either get your GP to refer you to a rheumatologist - really difficult for me so I funded a private appointment and not surprisingly my GP was happy to do a letter for private referral. If you can afford it it's the way forward. I hated doing it but sometimes needs must and I have to look after my own needs. I was then referred to NHS and then discharged back to the GP but at least I got a diagnosis or rather a "label". Can't say having a label for it made that much difference as the GP puts absolutely every condition down to the fact that it must be fibro - so the label is a bit of a double edged sword. You have to just keep on and on and on or alternatively try and phone a few local surgeries and find out if any of their doctors have an interest in fibro which is where I am at now.

[achydunlin]

I'm still waiting 3 years on - after one neurologist, two rheumatologists and various GPs - I've been (deep breath) possible MS, possible Lyme disease, possible lupus, back to Lyme, possible fibro, possible rheumatoid arthritis...the latest is Polymyalgia rheumatism. The problem as well is that around here it takes so long to see a doctor and then to get referred to a consultant takes at least 3 months, add on another 3 months for test results and back around I go. Good luck everyone.

[Laney33 in reply to achydunlin]

Jeezo, that must be a nightmare to go through. Good luck x

[MommaBearSarah]

I know how you feel hun.. I have been riddled with chronic pain for 20+ years, when I heard about fibro , i investigated the illness and all my symptoms where there, i went to my doc and told them and he wouldn't listen. So I went back repeatedly and just kept being told it was all in my head, so , again I went back and told the doc I've had enough I'm riddled in pain and it needs investigating thoroughly , finally he revered me to a fibro/arthritis specialist and was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia and now registered disabled... it's a long drawn out process to get someone to listen and be diagnosed. So all I can really say is DONT give up, just keep nagging your doc and tell them you want answers ... I hope this has been of some kind of help... ? God bless you hun.. x

[Laney33 in reply to MommaBearSarah]

Thank you for replying, I just wish I had a more supportive doctor. Their that short staffed they will hardly listen. They replies I've had today have been great. Xx

[MommaBearSarah in reply to Laney33]

if there's anything I can do to help you in anyway my lovely please don't hesitate to ask away ... Xxx

[Laney33 in reply to MommaBearSarah]

Thank you, I'm such an emotional person that when I talk about things I just fill up, feel all I do is talk about myself and how sore I am constantly. X

[MommaBearSarah in reply to Laney33]

that's understandable my lovely... I go from happy to sad , emotional insane to angry all in one day ... It's a very lonely illness for all of us. The best we can do is just be there for one another ... Xx

[TheAuthor]

Hi Laney33

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I am so truly sorry to read that your GP is simply not listening to you and I was wondering if there was a different GP that you could see at your surgery?

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

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Al10]

Hello Laney33, I expect you told it better than You've been Googling, but even so, I wouldn't be surprised if your GP let out an involuntary groan and held his head in his hands!

We have to tread carefully here else we might sound like we are telling them their job. Certainly we can sound health obsessed, anxious, depressed and so on. Beware of giving them that impression it is hellish hard to change their opinion!

Could you ask to talk about your symptoms and get them fully checked out? Explain their impact on your life, family and work. There are lots of things that need testing and other conditions to rule out. Google does not have access to these tests.

As you get tested, negative results dont mean there is nothing wrong, so keep going until there is an answer for your suffering. My friend thought she maybe had Fibro, her GP thought menopausal, but she kept getting sicker and more fatigued. Google thought alsorts as you might imagine! Though one diagnosis started to seem possible. Thyroid. It was a long haul to diagnosis and the right level of treatment, but now my friend is full of life, working her dream job.

Don't settle for Fibro until you have been fully checked. Some conditions are treatable.

I wish you all the best for getting the answers you need.