Myth Debunked II of VI

IT’S AN UMBRELLA TERM

Yes and No.. Referred to as both a ‘wastebasket disease’ and ‘umbrella term’, fibromyalgia is often seen as a catch-all for symptoms that don’t fit other conditions and can’t be easily explained. Seeing fibromyalgia as a trashcan diagnosis links with the assumption its not a real condition in and of itself.

Yes

Fibromyalgia encompasses a myriad of symptoms, though many people also have additional diagnoses to account for other problems they’re experiencing. I don’t experience fibromyalgia in a vacuum; I also have CFS/ME, Osteoarthritis, Joint arthritis, Depression Hypothyroidism Endometriosis, IBS and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. and so on. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2006 by a rheumatologist who said I had “Symptoms consistent with Fibromyalgia” was further confirmed with the trigger point test. I even had to correct a doctor who didn’t know exactly when the points are. As a patient of Dr Bested at the Environment Health Clinic and eventually her private practice, she had me running tests out of the wazzo. The results just confirmed yes I have fibromyalgia. I was also ‘diagnosed’ with CFS at that point, but I know if been dealing with even longer than fibro.

No.

Because fibromyalgia can’t be objectively tested and measured, it’s a challenging diagnosis for many doctors to accurately reach and it’s made harder still when healthcare professionals are either sceptical, unsupportive or totally disbelieving of either fibromyalgia itself or the symptoms you’rel presenting them with.

Although it can involve various symptoms, the current list I’m aware of for possible symptoms is over 300 long. Any of these can be experienced differently by each person.

Fibromyalgia is a distinct condition. It may overlap with other illnesses but classic symptoms are still typically prevalent.

Tags: Disclaimer I am not a medical professional, Dr Alison Bested, Dr Allison Bested, Dr Bested, Fibro, Fibromyalgia, Myth, Myth Debunked, Not a myth