Yes, in fact I just typed a response to the Kaiser Permanente thread here about fibro. My Kaiser doc blames all my other medical issues on my fibro, so I never get anywhere with her treating my other problems. Very frustrating.

I'm changing docs in September, and hope I get one who will listen to me and come up with a better treatment plan that goes beyond just putting me on morphine the rest of my life. But I'm afraid Kaiser docs probably all follow the same protocol - "millions and millions served" so I'm not real hopeful that things will change.

I hope you can get some relief. Take care.
Lynn

NO! I guess im very lucky! In a way! I have a lot of other illnesses than just fibro and i am glad my doctors all treat them fairly! BUT i do get some of them blamed on my weight! Which is frustrating my weight doesnt cause EVERYTHING! I am sorry this is happening to both of you, if my doctor had done that i would probably not be here to answer this with the problems i have!

There are a lot of medical problems that can be associated with Fibromyalgia. Here is a partial list:
Lyme disease
Lupus
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Cushing's syndrome
Hypothyroidism
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome
Cervical spinal stenosis

People with fibromyalgia are also at greater risk of developing a number of other disorders, many of which can exacerbate your current fibromyalgia symptoms, or are linked to certain conditions, which may lead to fertility problems. Illnesses, diseases and conditions that fall into this category include:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Osteoporosis
Endometriosis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Sjogren's syndrome
Crohn's disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Raynaud's Phenomenon
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Anemia
Morton's Neuroma
Seasonal Affective Disorder
GERD
Interstitial Cystitis
Yeast Infections
Bruxism
Low Cytokine Levels
Hypoglycemia Cardiovascular System
Nervous System

These are all medical problems that should be treated as separate issues from Fibromyalgia. If your doctor is not doing so, then find someone new. You have to be your own best advocate and insist that issues like migraine headaches, edema and so on are addressed and tests are run to get to the root of the problem. Complain to your insurance company in writing if your doctor is not doing their job.

In addition to Fibromyalgia, I have several underlying health issues which make me the patient from hell when it comes to getting treatment. I have no patience for doctors who blame everything on Fibromyalgia.

If you don't have it, I highly recommend the book "Fibromyalgia for Dummies." It is available on Amazon. It will give you a comprehensive view of this complex illness and a lot of ways to try and manage it.

We have all had at least one doctor who balked at treating our medical problems. I have fired at least two over the years for refusing to manage my medical issues properly. Let me tell you that it was a real revelation to those doctors to be told that they were fired. Doctors are your employee. Firing them and telling them why is a real eye opener.

Call your local hospital and ask to speak to the physician referral service. See if they can match you up with a doctor who has an interest in Fibromyalgia (FMS). Good luck and take care.

I was so fed up with their attitude that when i changed docs, I never mentioned the fibro. The only drug that helped was ibuprophen and anyone will prescribe that. So, if you don't need any other drugs, don't tell them. Then when I've gone in for an ache, was treated for that and not dismissed. Since then, I've had Acid reflux, IBS, migraines and each was treated as a real ailment. shouldn't have to do this but it works for me.

I have a little of both. I have numbness in my hands and feet so when I was with my primary she said that it was possible that it had to do with the fibro. I had an appointment with my neurologist a few days later who gave me a few tests and said that I had carpal tunnel and tarsal tunnel. I wouldn't be quick to jump that everything goes back to the fibro. If you feel that your primary just comes to that conclusion always, I would find someone else.

I get really tired of everything being blamed on Fibro when in fact, something else could be wrong and we would never know. I always ask to see a Specialist when I don't agree. Hugs

In my case, it was always me who attributed everything to my fibro. I had to make myself tell the dr when something new came along. It turns out that a lot of my pain is being caused by arthritis Who knew?

My dr has been pretty good about treating some of the symptoms that are associated with fibro. Some things can be treated and get better.

Hugs

I guess I've been lucky. My doctors really do try to rule out other conditions to be sure that the fibro is the reason. I've had fibro for 10 years so I am pretty in tune with my condition and I don't even bother going to the doctor unless I am experiencing something that is out of the ordinary as I perceive it. One statement that I use with my doctors is to tell them that whatever new symptom I am having feels different than what I am used to. Also, before I go to the doctor, I use the internet to see if I can figure out what is going on with me. Then I ask my doctor if it could be this or that. Hope this helps.

Kimber

I had a friend who died because her doctor put everything off to fibro.

By the time she got him to take her other symptoms seriously, she had Stage 4 thyroid cancer.

She left a husband and a couple of small children. She never made it to 40.

Don't let him do this to you - it's not only bad medicine, it's dangerous.

I'm disabled in one hip because they assumed it was my uterus, not my fibro----but whatever they decid to blame it on, DANGER DANGER.

Peace says it best. It is potentially deadly. Gentle healing hopes, Squeak.

I have never had that problem, because my doctor is a specialist in chronic pain and sees many patients with fibro. I wanted a doctor who was familiar with fibro patients and had successfully worked with them. She's an integrative medical doctor who creates individualized plans for each of her patients. I searched low and high to find her. She really takes the time to listen to my symptoms and find an answer.

I ditto what Fantod said as well. There are a lot of conditions that can co-exist with fibro and aggravate fibromyalgia. A knowledgeable fibro doctor would never just dismiss any new symptoms as fibro.

Some co-existing conditions that my doctor uncovered was sjogren's (sicca syndrome), anemia, low adrenal functioning, food intolerances, candida and a severe vitamin d deficiency. Each of these conditions had to be treated and corrected for my fibromyalgia to improve.

Best Wishes to you.

I've said it once, I'll say it a million times.....

LAZY DOCS BLAME EVERYTHING ON FIBRO

I've proven it time and time again. Finally just got a ppo, looked up my own specialists on super doctors, and have gotten accurate dx's for coexisting conditions. Something as seemingly benign as chest pressure shrugged off as costochondritis, turned out to be small vessel heart disease. Geeze, you think you could do your JOB? Sorry, I'm having an especially cynical doc week.

Hi all! I haven't been to this board in months, but need encouragement! Anyways, YES! I have switched docs twice because of this. I just want someone to think outside of the box. I have had tons of GI issues, along with chronic pain and fatigue, but once labeled with Fibro, no one will look at anything else. There are no Fibro docs in my area (Upstate NY). I would even travel to find one.