Don't let anyone fob you off by saying we all get aches and pains as we get older, or some other trite comment. I eventually persuaded my GP to refer me to a Rheumatologist for assessment, saw her earlier this week and she confirms what I had always thought, and sometimes said to my GP who seemed unconvinced: osteo-arthritis and fibromyalgia. Not only that but the medic made the same links to past trauma, sleep problems and IBS that I had made. It was so therapeutis, not because I was right but because someone understands as I do. Thank you NHS for a therapeutic consultation. So if you are suffering but not diagnosed try writing a brief but accurate history of your condition - parents health problems, your medical history (be brief as they don't have time to read pages), development of your fibro symptoms, what YOU think may be causing them or is related to them. It's also helpful to get confirmation because then when researching the condition online you can feel more confident that you are reading about the right condition!! Knowledge IS power.
Diagnosis as therapy?: Don't let anyone... - Fibromyalgia Acti...
Diagnosis as therapy?
Hi secondhandrose ~ so true Knowledge is Power... so the more armed you are with the correct information the better informed choices you can make... Ahhh my GP diagnosed me with FMS.. but sent me to a Rheumatologist and I underwent so many tests and the one where they put radioactive stuff in you >>> Result along with the other myriad of conditions was FMS... I am lucky that I do have a very understanding and caring GP... but he is limited to what he can do purely because of my allergy to medications and history of my other conditions... Which play havoc... So honey I am sorry for your diagnosis.. this is something i wouldnt wish on my worst enemy.. if I had one.. mmmm do I , I cant remember.. ha ha... Be gentle with you, take some time to adjust to the new you and yes research and seek answers. I am happy that you were supported by your consultant... I was lucky in this instance too.. but hasnt always been the case.. it took many years... And I do feel that sometimes fibro is diagnosed and can mask other conditions.. but thats another story.
Good to hear you so positive.
Hugs xxx
Hi, thanks for your good wishes. I agree knowledge doesn't improve the diagnosis but yes have always found when dealing depression, grief, illness, relationships and the rest of life that having knowledge about what's going on is better than simply scrambling about in the dark. The consultant wasn't especially supportive but I like the face that now I know rather than before when I didn't know for certain. Good luck.
I was relieved to know i wasn't imagining pain when diagnosed at 48! but it was a double edged sword as I lost access to private health care and physio once diagnosed with hyper mobility and fibro as they wouldn't cover 'cronic' illness. I didn't have problem getting diagnosed in that I hadn't heard of fibro until consultant explained that was what was wrong. You sound much more clued up then I was, hope you get help managing pain. X
Yeah I was recently told that the brain fog was a sign of aging too.... It's been there since I was 30 ! A Go once told me that there was no cure but as the rest of the population ages they'll just catch up. Then I'll have the advantage because I'll manage it better ! Obviously I don't accept either comment. It's irritating me though how professionals listen now until they see my age (51) and are starting 6o say it's to be expected with normal aging aggghhh
Hi all my old Dr used to put every pain or illness down to my fibro I went to see his with cronic period pain “it'll be your fibro” extremely heavy periods I didn't stop bleeding atall during the month “it'll be your fibro” ended up aneemic due to heavy blood loss still didn't get refered to gyne till I saw a different Dr they did scans nothing visibly wrong, was told they could do three types of treatment plan A scrape they lining of my womb plan B put a surgical balloon in an fill it with boiling water an scald the lining away but the problems would probably be back in 5 years or less or there was plan C a drastic solution but it may not cure the pain hysterectomy but they would leave my overys as I was only in my 30's I went with plan C and touch wood no major pain a nigil now and then, I had already had 3 daughters and was sterilised age 21 after which the troubles started, my Dr has retired my new Dr refered me to pain management services so I am now on a six week course being told how to strengthen and stretch my muscles gentley and to set mysel realistic goals also how to relax. Well that's my prattling on done if I told you all the times I asked for a second opinion we would be here forever lol so its gentle hugs for all and ttfn. Sithy
Thanks all for your comments! The thing that was helpful for me about getting a diagnosis was that it confirmed my own understanding - that's why I experienced it as therapeutic. Getting a diagnostic label can have all sorts of repercussions, some good, some bad. I agree some medics have a tendency to lump everything under some loose diagnostic label as a way of denying the fact that actually they don't know what's wrong. I don't know why I get pain but from all I'd read I thought it was probably fibro. My GP was putting it down to aches and pains as we get older so it was a relief to hear the consultant say it is not just old age but a set of symptoms that are evidence related to my other symptoms (IBS, sleep problems, depression) and my experiences (trauma, a bad fall) and which come under the diagnostic label of fibro. It felt good to find the sense I had made was the same as the medic made! Better than leaving diagnosis to the expert but finding that it doesn't feel right.
TOTALLY with you on this - although I'm going back 17 years now to my own diagnosis. Had the usual pile of assorted symptoms, and so much pain, dragging myself about. Because I'd had depression nobody took me seriously. Was seeing a rheumatologist who used to get cross with me because his pills didn't work! Finally saw his replacement who diagnosed the problem and was amazed to see an enormous smile on my face. "Its not exactly GOOD news" she told me, but I thought it was - at last I knew that there really WAS something wrong, and I wasn't making it up or just being a wimp. Moreover my enemy had a name, something I could find out about and work on living with! So yes, I know just how you feel.
Hi, and thanks. Yes, to be able to put a name to a whole lot of symptoms means that I can read for myself what might be helpful instead of having other people decide what I need. It's nice to be looked after like a child when I need that, but as I'm an intelligent adult I can find out for myself all the various things that affect fibro and work on them as and when I can. That may be not at all, but at least I have the power to choose now! Thanks again, and I do hope you have managed to find ways to deal with your problems. As for me, I'm far from incapacitated all the time, although sometimes I feel like an old lady in her 80s and I'm only 63!!! Bye for now.
Trying to understand it all as I try to keep the faith.
Gp Diagnosis not Consultant 
Only just recover 
Doctor!!!!!
