Fibromyalgia and stigma
So I was very interested to read an article published earlier this month in Communities Digital News entitled “The fibromyalgia stigma: When law enforcement, not pain management, wins” You can read Paul Mountjoy’s article on their site here.
He argues ” A patient who mentions the “F” word, or fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), to most primary care physicians, hospital residents, specialists and even pain management clinics, is liable to be labeled as a ‘drug seeker’and not a serious patient.”
Certainly this has been the experience of many patients with fibro, diagnosed or undiagnosed.
But i was wondering to what extent it applies to our readers. It would be great if you could take our poll where we look in more detail at the question of a stigma associated with fibromyalgia.
It would be great if you could use the comments box below to share your story in more detail.
Many thanks in advance.
GP’S seem to know about fibromyalgia but I feel they still think its not real. I have notice that if I attend a hospital or GP about a different ailment, the minute I mention that I have fibro they attitude changes towards me. I get dismissed and told a reason for my problem without any investigation.
I’ve literally broke down in cried because a supervisor keeps touching my back and shoulders in praise. I’ve told him several times that to touch me is like sticking knives into his skin, but he always uses the “I’m sorry, I forgot.”
I have been on more or less constant warnings for the last 3 years no one understands my condition at work and I get quite horrible comments at times.. I have given them fact sheets re my conditions but don’t think they have even read them