Anyone else feel like people don't think Fibromyalgia is real?

My doctors seem to accept the diagnosis but are profoundly oblivious to Mayo’s tests that indicated autonomic neuropathy (heightened pain sensitivity). My pain specialist does try. Change doctors if they trivialise your pain. Remember at med school they became doctors by passing exams often reinforcing what their teachers learned at the same school - I call it academic inbreeding and try to find doctors who have a broader education which I realise is difficult. Do your research if you have the energy. My chiropractor knows fibromyalgia is real and helps ( please avoid the bone cracking, neck wrenching types).

Thanks for your help and advice. My house work and gardening is non existent apart from when I have a burst of energy , which doesn't last long especially after a day at work. I am active during the day working as a music teacher and I walk part of the way to school. I am taking a supplement as I know I am low in vitamin D. I just wish there was an easy fix, as I always seem to be controlled by my fibromyalgia rather than me controlling it....

Yes, my family and my friends don’t understand the concept of Fibromyalgia.

I find that rather than saying fibromyalgia I say chronic muscle spasms and that they are exhausting . That seems to register.

That is a good tactic. Focus on the symptoms and not the name. I am going to an orthopedic Dr. in 3 weeks because the hip that hurts daily didn't show any arthritis on x-ray. I think I will just go in and talk about the pain and see if they want to treat it and I won't say the word unless they bring it up. I don't know how to describe or relate to them the slow throbbing pain that wakes me up in the night, but I will try.

All of you have been a big help on this thread and I appreciate it. I know I don't deal with the level of severity many of you do, so I wish you all the best and pray for comfort for each of you. Please keep sharing as it the mood hits you.

@kselliott22
I don't talk about it. I have several friends who have been involved in an exercise group for at least a decade. I declined to join it on the advice of my rheumatologist. All of them are still walking and in good shape while I have had to start using a walker. Every once in a while one of them will say something about being glad they exercised and how many miles a day they walk. I feel like it's a jab at me. I also have gluteal tendinopathy which is the main cause of my mobility issues. Apparently there is no treatment for that other than physical therapy. Between the fibro and tendinopathy, I am miserable most of the time.

Absolutely. Because there are no blood markers or diagnostic tests to prove it's existence, many doctors(who in my opinion are uncaring and close minded so shouldn't be caring for patients directly) dismiss it. Especially, I think, women are often told that we're depressed or otherwise mentally ill and are referred to a psychiatrist. Unfortunately I think it's very prevalent. I'm sorry this is the case for you. Hang in there and find another doctor who is compassionate and caring! I'm a retired doctor and I took too long with my scheduled patients (female-Ob/Gyn here) and was always behind simply because I talked to my patients. It is very sad to see so many doctors aren't caring and compassionate when that is the job. I felt as though I should care for and love my patients as Christ loves us. But I don't think that that's incredibly common in the profession. And gets worse as fees drop from third party payers and docs take on more and more patients to cash flow.

I am so glad I was given my diagnosis of fibromyalgia by a pain consultant and anesthetics consultant .I have practically been around most hospital departments here in the UK before I found the right doctor. I don't even think fibromyalgia was on anyone's radar for 5 years.I discovered on the way to finding answers to my hidden illness several diagnosis, LCIS in my breast( pain there aswell plus lump) weak esophagul motility, Gord , slipped disc and Radiculopathy .All I just wanted was an answer to my chronic pain here there and everywhere plus stiff joints and why I couldn't think clearly etc, the usual fibromyalgia stuff . He knew exactly what I had before I reached his office after reading my extensive medical history.To be honest I myself had never heard of fibromyalgia.I now have a lanyard with " I have fibromyalgia" on it that is further evidence that the condition is real and books on it. If it wasn't real people wouldn't bother researching it and there are so many of us suffering when we would rather spend time getting on with our lives. Yes there's loads of people that don't think fibromyalgia is real but there are people that believe it is, including highly respected consultants. I will pray that everyone who is suffering fibromyalgia symptoms get the support and diagnosis that will help them move forward. And for those of us with a diagnosis to try and help people understand the condition more if possible and for new and ground breaking treatment which will stop this very real pain cycle for everyone.
Best wishes everyone.
Guineapig lover.

I have had ME CFS for 33 years and in all that time (at least 10 different providers) NONE of them paid the slightest bit of attention to the disease and treated me as if it didn't exist. Not a single sympathetic or empathetic PCP in the bunch.

Your chiropractor was right, a lot of people are diagnosed with fibromyalgia as an easy out. But after over 40 years with it I can tell you it is vey real. Pain so severe all over my body. triggers include smells to perfumes and smoke, causing instant headaches, used to be migraines for me but they went away at 67. That is every day non stop pain. Of course people don't believe it because they have experienced only acute pain which is gone after the wound heals. When my legs hurt too much to even walk I was told to use it or loose it. My physio said to do whatever activity -- stretches walking whatever until it hurts, that is your bodies signal to stop,