Fibromyalgia along with RA
I feel like I'm banging my head on a brick wall ,and crying out with pure frustration, I asked my doctor if he would send me to be tested for fibromyalgia, after telling him about the the searing pain all over my skin and complete inability to sleep. He told me that if the medical profession can't cure it we won't test for it , I sat with my mouth open in complete shock . Anyone else had this humiliation
Huh. Well, that's a new unhelpful doctor's reply I have never come across before,
. Like, how does that logic even track? Why would we only test for conditions we can treat and/or cure? What if we had done that for cancers and diabetes and any number of genetic conditions? I am truly at a loss for words.
I don't blame you one bit for feeling defeated and frustrated. I would, too, were I in your shoes.
Can you see another doctor? And who is this "we" you doctor referred to? That entire medical practice? I only ask because that seems a little odd to me and I don't know if he has the authority to speak for his entire practice or all doctors in general. And, he may be one of those doctors that doesn't believe Fibromyalgia is a real diagnosis (yes, these doctors are still out there).
I sure hope no other member of this community has experienced this particular nightmare, though I do hope others here can commiserate. Heaven knows plenty of people with RA and other autoimmune conditions have experienced all kinds of medical gaslighting over the years.
I am so very sorry this happened to you. You deserve better treatment than this.
Gentle Hugs, Erin, Team Member.I have RA and Fibro. I was fortunate to find a doctor who recognized and diagnosed both. It has been worth the hour drive from my home to be treated. Especially when I found out the local doctor who treated RA didn’t believe in Fibromyalgia. Please start looking for another rheumatologist. Good luck!
Hi
. As said, there are all kinds of diseases we treat that don't have cures (such as every autoimmune condition). Fibromyalgia is often treated with off-label anti-depressants, not because the issue is in the patient's head, but rather because the drugs relax the nerves. More recently, nerve relaxants such as pregabalin have been approved as treatments. These, plus another new treatment, Tonmya, are discussed in this article: https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/a-new-treatment-for-fibromyalgia/. I mention all this because these treatments are real and a diagnosis matters. I don't know what state you are in, but every state has a medical board and you may want to consider reporting this incident. Even if nothing were to come from it, it would be on record - I suspect you may not be the only person with issues. Hoping you can get the treatment you need. Best, Richard (Team Member)
