Tips On Fibromyalgia Medical Treatment
Because fibromyalgia is often mistaken for other, related conditions, getting a fibromyalgia diagnosis can be quite difficult. In addition, there is a lingering belief among some health care practitioners that fibromyalgia syndrome is not a serious condition with valid symptoms, but rather a mere psychological fabrication of the patient.
Because of this attitude, many health care providers, particularly in the past, told individuals suffering from fibromyalgia that their symptoms were all in their head. Such fibromyalgia misdiagnosis can cause frustration, helplessness and isolation; however, our tips on fibromyalgia medical treatment are designed to help you overcome misdiagnosis so that you can find the right fibromyalgia specialist for you and start your journey towards treatment.
Coping with Fibromyalgia Misdiagnosis
The average time frame between the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms and fibromyalgia diagnosis is eight years. During this time, fibromyalgia misdiagnosis means that patients with the condition do not receive the proper fibromyalgia treatment they need, leading to an aggravation of symptoms.
During the pre-diagnosis state, fibromyalgia patients often experience guilt, shame, isolation, frustration and anger, all of which are valid emotions caused by misdiagnosis.
When an individual is at last diagnosed with fibromyalgia, lingering feelings of resentment and frustration are often experienced towards previous health care providers who were unable to diagnose fibromyalgia. This can negatively affect an individual’s treatment process.
One way in which to combat such a problem is to either speak to the physician about these feelings or to write a letter in order to express these concerns. In either case, the message should be polite and constructive. This fibromyalgia misdiagnosis coping tip can provide closure for the individual and therefore help to minimize stress caused by fibromyalgia misdiagnosis.
Keeping a journal or talking to a friend, loved one or counselor about the frustrations of fibromyalgia diagnosis are other helpful – and healthy – options for working through your emotions, and can help minimize lingering feels of distrust which can prevent you from finding a good fibromyalgia specialist for you.
Tips on Receiving Proper Fibromyalgia Medical Treatment
In addition, it is important to try to maintain a healthy relationship with your current health care provider so that you can receive the best fibromyalgia care possible.
Some tips on maintaining an open and healthy relationship with your fibromyalgia specialist are:
- prepare yourself for your visit. Write down questions you have beforehand to maximize visits and be sure to jot down the answers.
- educate yourself as much as possible. Realize that you are in a great amount of control when it comes to fibromyalgia treatment. Read up on common fibromyalgia symptoms and treatment options and discuss any questions or concerns that you have about these with your doctor.
- reinforce and thank your doctor for specific behaviors that you find helpful. Show your appreciation for the unique care your fibromyalgia specialist provides you; for example, thank your doctor for being such a good listener.
- be assertive but not defensive. Be firm about any concerns you might have, but don’t become hostile if you disagree with what your doctor suggests. Remember that above all you are in charge of the course of your treatment.
- discuss problems as they arise. If you feel your current doctor and you are having communication problems, talk about them as openly as possible in order to try to resolve them. But don’t let past mistrust make you feel overly on guard. However, if things still don’t seem to be working out after some time, ask for a referral to another specialist.