Well that’s a first!

[Decsgran]

I went for a blood test this morning and after some confusion about what it was for, the phlebotomist asked me what the difference was between PMR and fibromyalgia! I’ve never had to explain medical things to a health care worker before!

[jinasc]

Good that is a one up, wish more would ask then we can educate them and help the next patient on the long road...............

[Devoid]

one of the nurses at our practice asks how my rheumatism is every time. I did use to say I haven’t got it but in the end gave up 🤣

[OldPenny in reply to Devoid]

Hi Devoid. I reckon they were just using rheumatism as an umbrella term?

My mum used to complain about her "rheumatism" or her "nerves" (she may well have had PMR, who knows, she never saw a doctor about it).

An old-fashioned term maybe? Like the "Gas Board", "Water Authority" - i.e. things in common parlance among the older generation that no longer exist. 😃

[piglette]

I have an orthopaedic surgeon friend who does not know the difference between PMR and fibromyalgia and always keeps muddling it up. In fact I am not sure he knows what PMR is!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Oh I have! And phlebotomists have a very narrow remit in the UK, not even trained as healthcare assistants in some cases! Here they are all fully trained and very experienced nurses - do a fantastic job!

[Grammy80]

I believe it!! when I was finally diagnosed with GCA in 2019....so many nurses would whisper in my ear, "What is GCA?" My confidence was shattered until I found this website.....It sure changed my journey and helped me over some rough spots as well as shared in my joys. xoxo

[Suffererc]

😂🤣😂🤣😂 they just recommending this site 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[keeptalking]

I’d rather they ask what it is instead of pretending they know when they don’t. At least they are trying to learn.

Although I admit it can be worrying when you feel you know more than those looking after you. 😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to keeptalking]

Especially when it is a doctor!

[ChrisinNam in reply to keeptalking]

Unless I'm speaking to a doctor (who should know!) I always ask if they know what Polymyalgia is. Many times they tell me they've never come across it before.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ChrisinNam]

"Unless I'm speaking to a doctor (who should know!) " - but they don't all too often. Or they know a very inaccurate version ...

[Amkoffee]

I had a nurse practioner (in training) tell me that I was making up the disease just because he had never heard of PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Amkoffee]

Dear me - I hope you gave him suitable instruction!!!!

[Amkoffee in reply to PMRpro]

That was what was so frustrating. I was there because I had just had a stoke and was not able to communicate well. I reported him several days later though.