It's important to keep in mind that it can take time and persistence to identify and diagnose fibromyalgia. You may have to see your doctor a few times before your fibromyalgia is diagnosed.

Many doctors have little experience with fibromyalgia, so you may need to see different kinds of doctors before you are diagnosed. Some of the different doctors you may see include:

• Family or general physician
• Endocrinologist
• Rheumatologist
• Physiatrist (sports medicine doctor)
• Physical therapist or massage therapist
• Psychiatrist

No matter how long it takes, try not to get discouraged. There are treatments available that can help, so be sure to ask your doctor about them.

Your treatment is more likely to be successful if you talk to your doctor openly about your symptoms and participate in decisions about your treatment. It is important that you educate yourself about fibromyalgia and what you can do to help to manage your symptoms. By doing this, you and your doctor can work together to develop a treatment plan that will work best for you.

• If you think you might be suffering from fibromyalgia, fill out the questionnaire, print it and take it to your doctor.
• To evaluate your symptoms before seeing your doctor, use the numerical pain scale and sleep scale provided on this site.
• Educate yourself about fibromyalgia before talking to your doctor. The more you know, the more involved you'll be in your treatment. Check out some additional resources for more information.
• Talk to your doctor openly.
• If you feel that your doctor isn't taking your concerns seriously, think about finding another doctor. Fibromyalgia is real condition, and there are real treatments available.