To: General Practitioners
More Support & Understanding For Fibromyalgia Sufferers
Dear NHS Doctors, please listen carefully to all of your patients who present with clear symptoms of Fibromyalgia, educate yourselves on all associated symptoms and medical conditions associated with it do not rule in favour of mental illnesses in the first instance or automatically. As it presents much more in women than men, women are made to feel that they're going crazy or they're hypochondriacs when that's the opposite of what they are, they're careful women who've been paying attention to what their bodies muscles and brain are stopping them from doing on a day by day basis. Any good doctor should advise any patient to start a mobility and pain and other symptoms diary over a period of several months and bring it back for a future appointment to map the process of the patient's health and wellbeing and possible decline. Ask if anyone in the family has the condition ask how long the symptoms have been apparent.
Why is this important?
Because Fibromyalgia doesn't just affect the afflicted but it causes interruptions and problems for all family members. It can be Hereditary but not always. Sometimes it becomes apparent through injury or illness especially prolonged illness like infections for example. But it causes the sufferer to be unable to do day to day tasks without chronic, immobility stiffness aches, swollen joints tenderness etc it causes IBS & Chronic Fatigue meaning planned events may not always be possible to attend. Hence Dating or just going out with Family & Friends isn't always possible, not to mention days lost at School College, Work etc. The Depression & Pains, & Tiredness & Flare ups, not to mention the associated medical conditions also can become very debilitating.
