It’s happened again that some non-seeing, unknowing, and non-advised person who should know better has stated that Fibromyalgia isn’t real. I’m writing this post today because I want to say more about the person and this explosive issue than simply advising you of their existence. Folks, the “Fibromyalgia” situation becomes more untenable and infuriating by the day. I’m not the only person who feels this way.
The problem arises because of:
- People who can’t see the legitimacy that something really important is going on medically, when the Fibromyalgia patient population in the US alone is estimated at 6 to 10 million people. Simply, they must be in a state of non-seeing. At the least, they are certainly in a state of denial.
You ask, “How can they not see what is so obvious?” I suggest that it must be because of the wart on the front of their nose has become unrecognizable. They see it all the time and their brains have blocked it out of their visual image of the world. Maybe they saw the wart once, didn’t like it or know what it was about, feared it at some unconscious level and/or simply decided to ignore it. Maybe it would go away… maybe they could avoid dealing with it. In very simple terms, they do not or cannot see what’s in front of them as Fibromyalgia, even though the situation is apparent to millions of other people all around them in the world.
Note: sometimes friends or loved ones can have this attitude, too.
- Medical doctors who really don’t make an effort to know their sick and hurting patients who come in the door with symptoms of Fibromyalgia. These doctors surely must be non-advised that if any of those patients meet the criteria for Fibromyalgia, they have a duty and an obligation to give them the diagnosis. The American Rheumatology Association agrees, insurance companies agree, and even the Social Security Administration supports such a diagnosis. *Research these issues more at Get Well Health.
- Individuals who are not aware of Fibromyalgia as being a legitimate illness are simply unknowing. We can certainly understand and put up with people in this group the most. Obviously not all of us know about every illness in existence today.
For people within these three groups, send them to my page on Fibromyalgia and all of the linked and referenced websites there. Surely there’s more available than they already know about or they wouldn’t have such flippant, non-caring and non-plussed attitudes about a very serious medical condition!
As I leave you today, I suggest that we in the Fibromyalgia community begin to prepare now for Fibromyalgia Awarness Day 2010, May 12th. Certainly we can begin to build a sense of urgency about it now. Also we have a duty and an obligation to spread the word about the legitimacy of this horrible illness. Don’t tolerate the doctor I mentioned above. And don’t put up with such nonsense.
PS- I became aware of this doctor’s opinion through a Facebook group that I belong to entitled, “Sufferers against Dr Crippen’s “Fibromyalgia-Whatever That Is.” You can find it and me on Facebook (as Cinda Crawford) or you can access his article here. (Get past the tarot card reading video and he has quite a bit to say… just none of it good.)
Please leave a comment to this post below. Then, send this information on and on and on. We all need to keep spreading the word about Fibromyalgia. And if you have any great ideas about how to create more Fibromyalgia awareness for Awareness Day, share them, too. I’m planning on doing a BlogTalkRadio Show and working out the details as we speak. If that interests you and you’d like to attend, comment below and tell me that, too. I would welcome your suggestions about how we can publicize the event within your community and sphere of influence.
Thanks so much and have a great day, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show
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Claudine 03.08.10 at 10:41 pm
I have CFS/ME & Fibromyalgia. I know all too well how real it is. Swollen lymph nodes and severe pain, fevers, chills, post-exertion malaise, cognition problems, etc. Those aren’t “in my head.”
Sue Ingebretson 03.09.10 at 11:23 am
The newest National Fibromyalgia Association Public Service Announcement provides a great resource for those wishing to better understand the Science Behind Fibromyalgia. Watch it at http://www.fmaware.org or directly from YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URvRAUtFcvY
Mac 03.10.10 at 12:35 am
Fibromyalgia isn’t real — the pain is, but the “disease” isn’t. Please read this article and consider whether you want to be promoting a fibromyalgia diagnosis: http://www.jrheum.com/subscribers/03/08/1665.html
Please take into consideration that I myself have lived for several years now with a debilitating amount of widespread chronic pain that has been diagnosed as fibromyalgia. I’m fighting for the full recovery of my health and for a greater sense of well-being for myself and for all chronic pain suffers when I say that I believe the fibromyalgia label is much more hurtful than helpful. Please read the article and decide for yourself.
Cinda Crawford 03.10.10 at 12:49 pm
Hello Mac, I appreciate you sending in this comment. However… not saying Fibromyalgia, as a “disease” isn’t real, is very misleading. No one that I know of classes Fibromyalgia as a disease process. Fibromyalgia symptoms certainly exist for millions of people, but because no cause, little methodology in treatment or a “cure” is available through western medicine, FMS is classed only as a syndrome. Does that make it less important? Less timely? Less worthy as an illness that people need answers for? Absolutely not. I read the article you suggested and I believe it suggests that because medicine has not been able to nail down those facts that somehow the desperate patients must be at fault- in some way. I hope the Rheumatologists rethink that position. I know they (rheumys) were backed into a corner years ago when FMS did not neatly fit into the medical specialty of Rheumatology, yet that was where it landed. They got “stuck” with it and all the Fibromyalgia patients. Well, guess what? The millions of sufferers are stuck, too! So instead of backing up or backing away, I’d love to see more support for these people from the entire medical community. No, not everyone has to complain as much as they do. No, some could certainly have a more hopeful, happy attitude… but it my opinion, most people do the best they can do at the time. Personally, I offer hope and help. That’s what I can do. If people choose to take the hope & help, great. If they don’t, I’m praying they find helpful answers somewhere else. Certainly it helps if people actively seek positive answers; that a no-brainer. Anyone will see improvement in his or her health by moving forward! But it’s not an ethical thing to abandon people in their time of greatest need. We a’re all entitled to our opinions and, trust me, I respect your opinion and your struggle to gain a full recovery. I pray that your story, too, may an inspiration to others.
Cinda Crawford 03.10.10 at 12:56 pm
I was so excited looking at the video you refer to until I realized that it’s linked to another huge drug corporation. I guess I shouldn’t be, because they’re the ones with the big bucks to do such huge advertising campaigns. And because of that, I’m a tad disappointed with the Fibromyalgia Association., too If they crawl in bed with big pharma, where does that leave the people who need them to be impartial?