To reach a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and begin a treatment to relieve your widespread pain, you need to know how to communicate and work in partnership with your doctor.
In most cases, you can work with your regular doctor to diagnose fibromyalgia and, together, develop the right course of action to relieve your symptoms.
Putting a name on your symptoms
No one knows your body better than you. The pain and other symptoms you are experiencing are very real. Using the right tools and the right words to describe your pain can help you describe your condition to your doctor.
Some people are uncomfortable talking to their doctor, fearing the doctor may think they are complaining. The fact is, your doctor needs to know everything in order to help you. So do not minimize your symptoms, be specific, factual and clear. During your appointment ask questions – and take notes.
Your doctor is compassionate and highly educated in medicine, but fibromyalgia may not be top of mind upon hearing your symptoms. Remember, it is a legitimate condition that is becoming more widely accepted. It has official diagnosis criteria, but also has symptoms that are complex and often overlap with other conditions.
