Imagine the self questioning: "I know I’m in horrible pain and I’m always so very tired, how can there be nothing wrong with me. Am I crazy?"
It sounds like the beginning lines of a science fiction novel but every year, hundreds, maybe even thousands of people hear these exact phrases. In fact, they are likely to be told these things directly or indirectly from a wide range of specialists over the course of many months, sometimes even years. Then, when all avenues have been explored, many of these people will be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is one of the biggest secrets in modern health. According to the American College of Rheumatology 3-6 million people in the United States alone suffer from this affliction. Misdiagnosis and those who give up on the medical system long before they are diagnosed make these numbers hard to pin down. Who knows how many people suffer alone and in silence.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that generally includes generalized muscle pain, debilitating fatigue and a variety of other associated symptoms such as swelling joints; muscle weakness; mobility issues; pain in the extremities; shoulder and back pain; fibrofog; headaches; unrecuperative sleep patterns; depression; weight gain; and irritable bowel like symptoms. Apart from generalized pain and intense fatigue which seems almost universal amongst Fibromyalgia sufferers, symptoms differ from person to person. Moreover, the frequency, intensity, and duration of these symptom flare ups or bouts also vary substantially.
Why Does It Take So Long to Diagnose Fibromyalgia?
It is these variations and the lack of a quantifiable test for Fibromyalgia that cause so much confusion during diagnosis. Since many of these health issues are common with other conditions, doctors have no choice but to test and rule out all other possibilities before Fibromyalgia can even be considered a viable option. For those waiting for answers, the wait can be extremely frustrating to say the least.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
Although there are plenty of theories, doctors have no idea what causes Fibromyalgia. Some believe that the condition is caused by a virus like the Epstein Barr virus or from the remnants of childhood illness come back to attack the system. Others believe that allergies and environmental toxins are the culprits.
What should you do if you suspect that you might have Fibromyalgia? Probably the most important thing is to not lose hope. Keep asking for that second or third opinion. Find a doctor who will listen to you. Educate yourself. If you have to, educate your doctor. Keep pushing until you get answers. Then, if you are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, surround yourself with supportive people, especially those who’ve been in your situation.
