Stephanie Ford
English 1101
Mrs. Davis
April 23, 2014
Argumentative Essay
Is Fibromyalgia (FM) a real condition or is it a catch all diagnoses? There is currently a debate nationwide about the controversy of Fibromyalgia. A lot of people including doctors believe that people that suffer from Fibromyalgia are making up the pain that they report. I being diagnosed with FM know that it is indeed a very real disorder.
“Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues”.(WebMD) It is believed that Fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way the brain processes pain signals. It is still unknown what causes one to have FM. Symptoms most of the time begin after a surgery, physical trauma, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.
Men can have Fibromyalgia however women are much more likely to develop it. “Many people who have Fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.”(WebMD) There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia however a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Relaxation, exercise, and stress-reduction measures also may help. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures also may help.
Some of the symptoms that FM sufferers are faced with are: widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, depression, headaches, and pain or cramping in the lower abdomen. “Widespread pain: The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.” (WebMD) and “Cognitive difficulties. A symptom commonly referred to as "fibro fog" impairs the ability to focus, pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks.” (WebMD) are the two main symptoms that I battle.
At this time there is not a specific test that can be done to diagnose FM. “To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you must have had at least 3 months of widespread pain, and pain and tenderness in at least 11 of 18 areas, including Arms (elbows), Buttocks, Chest, Knees, Lower back, Neck, Rib cage, Shoulders and Thighs.” (PubMed Health)
I was diagnosed with FM a little over two years ago. I have struggled with symptoms for many years. I have been to a countless number of doctors and I have been in & out of the hospital. I always got the same results, it is a pulled muscle, it is a deep tissue bruise… After years of fighting this I finally found a doctor that took me serious when I told her that I just hurt all over, all of the time! Once I found a doctor that didn’t treat me as if I were just a “drug seeker” I started an ever changing regiment of medications. I have been through several different types of medication. When I find one that helps with the pain it causes weight gain & fibro fog. When I find one that helps with the fibro fog it doesn’t touch the pain. I often wonder who has my voodoo doll and ask them kindly to please remove the thousands of needles that they are using. It is hard for people that don’t experience this level of pain to understand the extent of it.
Now let’s talk a little bit about some of the people that think Fibromyalgia are not real and why they think that. “Its a crap diagnosis which even the inventor of it says it does not exist.” (The Angry Pharmacist) “Its gotten to the point now that when the patient or doctor responds with “Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia” and I see nothing but narcotics on the patients profile for the last 10 years I want to put down on the prior auth “Diagnosis: Patient has a shitty life and just wants to get high”.” (The Angry Pharmacist)
“Even with the support of prestigious medical groups such as the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the ACR, too many doctors remain unconvinced that fibromyalgia is a real medical problem. They may believe the condition is the product of stressed-out patients who can't cope with the rigors of life. Or they think fibromyalgia is a psychosomatic disorder, the result of a person prone to depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.” (Winne Yu)
“People who have fibromyalgia look healthy. In fact, you may appear to be completely well, even when you're in the throes of mind-numbing pain. Fibromyalgia causes no outward deformities or changes in the joints and muscles, and people with fibro do not look sickly.” (Winne Yu) Often people that don’t believe in FM say things like, “but you don’t look sick”, “You should get out of the house more”, “maybe if you exercise a little bit”… “or an Incidence of 2% of the general population there has to be something big that ALL of my patients seem to have acquired this condition. Maybe its transmitted by toilet seats or welfare folk having sex with unicorns or leprechauns. Or here’s a novel idea, maybe they are just FAKING IT” (The Angry Pharmacist).
When a person as cancer you don’t see the cancer. You can see the symptoms and the side effects of the medical treatment they go through because of the cancer. Why is it so hard for people to believe that this is a real disorder? You may not be able to see FM but you can see the circles under my eyes because I haven’t slept well for days. You can’t see FM but you can see the muscle spasms. You can’t see FM but you can see the confusion in my eyes when I’m in a FM fog. You may not be able to see FM but you can hear me repeat myself because I have forgotten that I already told you.
I ask that before judging one on something that you cannot see or possibly comprehend you research chronic pain. FM fits in the category with chronic pain & chronic fatigue syndromes. This won’t make you feel where I’m coming from but it will help you understand where I’m coming from. People assume that because it is an “invisible disease” that is not real. It is invisible to those that don’t want to see it.
Works Cited
The Angry Pharmacist. "Fibromyalgia Is the New Low Back Pain." The Angry Pharmacist. N.p., May 2008. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article provides a pharmacist's opinion and interpretation of fibromyalgia and how it is not a real disease
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Fibromyalgia Fibromyositis; Fibrositis." Fibromyalgia. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 02 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article provides the basic information of the condition of Fibromyalgia.
Boles, David. "Labeling Disease: Fibromyalgia as Hypochondria." Boles Blogs. N.p., 17 Oct. 2006. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article helps to provide some proof that fibromyalgia is not real. This article provides insight into how the disease was labled as a fake disease
Netplaces. "Fibromyalgia." A Tough Diagnosis -. N.p., 2006. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article provides proof that fibromyalgia is not real. This article explains several different reasons why fibromyalgia is not a real disease such as: Too Many Imitators, Misplaced Blame and Medical Skeptism
WebMd. "What Is Fibromyalgia?" WebMD. WebMD, 6 June 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article helps provide proof that Fibromyalgia is real. This gives the definition of Fibromyalgia. It also provides the main symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
English 1101
Mrs. Davis
April 23, 2014
Argumentative Essay
Is Fibromyalgia (FM) a real condition or is it a catch all diagnoses? There is currently a debate nationwide about the controversy of Fibromyalgia. A lot of people including doctors believe that people that suffer from Fibromyalgia are making up the pain that they report. I being diagnosed with FM know that it is indeed a very real disorder.
“Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues”.(WebMD) It is believed that Fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way the brain processes pain signals. It is still unknown what causes one to have FM. Symptoms most of the time begin after a surgery, physical trauma, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.
Men can have Fibromyalgia however women are much more likely to develop it. “Many people who have Fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.”(WebMD) There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia however a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Relaxation, exercise, and stress-reduction measures also may help. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures also may help.
Some of the symptoms that FM sufferers are faced with are: widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, depression, headaches, and pain or cramping in the lower abdomen. “Widespread pain: The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.” (WebMD) and “Cognitive difficulties. A symptom commonly referred to as "fibro fog" impairs the ability to focus, pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks.” (WebMD) are the two main symptoms that I battle.
At this time there is not a specific test that can be done to diagnose FM. “To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you must have had at least 3 months of widespread pain, and pain and tenderness in at least 11 of 18 areas, including Arms (elbows), Buttocks, Chest, Knees, Lower back, Neck, Rib cage, Shoulders and Thighs.” (PubMed Health)
I was diagnosed with FM a little over two years ago. I have struggled with symptoms for many years. I have been to a countless number of doctors and I have been in & out of the hospital. I always got the same results, it is a pulled muscle, it is a deep tissue bruise… After years of fighting this I finally found a doctor that took me serious when I told her that I just hurt all over, all of the time! Once I found a doctor that didn’t treat me as if I were just a “drug seeker” I started an ever changing regiment of medications. I have been through several different types of medication. When I find one that helps with the pain it causes weight gain & fibro fog. When I find one that helps with the fibro fog it doesn’t touch the pain. I often wonder who has my voodoo doll and ask them kindly to please remove the thousands of needles that they are using. It is hard for people that don’t experience this level of pain to understand the extent of it.
Now let’s talk a little bit about some of the people that think Fibromyalgia are not real and why they think that. “Its a crap diagnosis which even the inventor of it says it does not exist.” (The Angry Pharmacist) “Its gotten to the point now that when the patient or doctor responds with “Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia” and I see nothing but narcotics on the patients profile for the last 10 years I want to put down on the prior auth “Diagnosis: Patient has a shitty life and just wants to get high”.” (The Angry Pharmacist)
“Even with the support of prestigious medical groups such as the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the ACR, too many doctors remain unconvinced that fibromyalgia is a real medical problem. They may believe the condition is the product of stressed-out patients who can't cope with the rigors of life. Or they think fibromyalgia is a psychosomatic disorder, the result of a person prone to depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.” (Winne Yu)
“People who have fibromyalgia look healthy. In fact, you may appear to be completely well, even when you're in the throes of mind-numbing pain. Fibromyalgia causes no outward deformities or changes in the joints and muscles, and people with fibro do not look sickly.” (Winne Yu) Often people that don’t believe in FM say things like, “but you don’t look sick”, “You should get out of the house more”, “maybe if you exercise a little bit”… “or an Incidence of 2% of the general population there has to be something big that ALL of my patients seem to have acquired this condition. Maybe its transmitted by toilet seats or welfare folk having sex with unicorns or leprechauns. Or here’s a novel idea, maybe they are just FAKING IT” (The Angry Pharmacist).
When a person as cancer you don’t see the cancer. You can see the symptoms and the side effects of the medical treatment they go through because of the cancer. Why is it so hard for people to believe that this is a real disorder? You may not be able to see FM but you can see the circles under my eyes because I haven’t slept well for days. You can’t see FM but you can see the muscle spasms. You can’t see FM but you can see the confusion in my eyes when I’m in a FM fog. You may not be able to see FM but you can hear me repeat myself because I have forgotten that I already told you.
I ask that before judging one on something that you cannot see or possibly comprehend you research chronic pain. FM fits in the category with chronic pain & chronic fatigue syndromes. This won’t make you feel where I’m coming from but it will help you understand where I’m coming from. People assume that because it is an “invisible disease” that is not real. It is invisible to those that don’t want to see it.
Works Cited
The Angry Pharmacist. "Fibromyalgia Is the New Low Back Pain." The Angry Pharmacist. N.p., May 2008. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article provides a pharmacist's opinion and interpretation of fibromyalgia and how it is not a real disease
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Fibromyalgia Fibromyositis; Fibrositis." Fibromyalgia. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 02 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article provides the basic information of the condition of Fibromyalgia.
Boles, David. "Labeling Disease: Fibromyalgia as Hypochondria." Boles Blogs. N.p., 17 Oct. 2006. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article helps to provide some proof that fibromyalgia is not real. This article provides insight into how the disease was labled as a fake disease
Netplaces. "Fibromyalgia." A Tough Diagnosis -. N.p., 2006. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article provides proof that fibromyalgia is not real. This article explains several different reasons why fibromyalgia is not a real disease such as: Too Many Imitators, Misplaced Blame and Medical Skeptism
WebMd. "What Is Fibromyalgia?" WebMD. WebMD, 6 June 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. This article helps provide proof that Fibromyalgia is real. This gives the definition of Fibromyalgia. It also provides the main symptoms of Fibromyalgia.