Depends on the severity of the fibro. Some only have minor fibromyalgia. Some mild. Some severe. But I also ask the same questions because I had a roommate who once said she had fibro and would complain about it all the time, then decide to re-arrange all the furniture by herself every couple of days. After now getting diagnosed I am sweating and unable to continue cleaning after simply just doing the kitchen! So I can totally understand how some people may seem like they are faking. The biggest issue with fibro is that it is also invisible. And isn't the same every day. I think the biggest problem with being believed for those of us who do have it worse is that those who have very mild symptoms or only need to take a tramadol do still complain about it. But we have to remember each case of fibro is different.

When I am good I still walk 5 miles at a time or hike with friends however, when I am bad I can't remember what the dishwasher is called or cook dinner without sitting down. I take Effexor and Ibuprophen at this point but I have a friend who is on fentonol patches at this point to even get out of bed.

I think he could have it. All I take for mine is Amitriptyline at night, and I was instructed to take Tylenol or Ibuprofen when necessary, but I don't because it doesn't touch my symptoms. I mostly manage mine with exercise, diet and lifestyle-it's definitely there but for me those things are enough to make me functional.

Severity varies, yes, but I will say flat-out that yes, some people *do* fake it---the same as they fake depression or back pain to get disability, because the symptoms are fairly vague and easy to "mimic". A good doc catches the fakers, but there's always a charlatan willing to take the $$$. It's not hugely common, but all it takes is one mention in the news and whammo, we're all "fakers".

As for severity, mine goes day to day. Catch me during PMS, and I'm a flare on feet. Sucks, but that's my reality.

I'm not sure whether you're asking if "people" fake it, or if he was specifically faking it.

Tramadol is a moderately strong pain med, and two a day, for some types of pain, offers significant relief. There was a time, 10 years ago, when that was what I took.

There was a time, for seven years before that, when one tiny Vioxx was all I took - but that got me more relief than I get now from 5mg of hydrocodone.

I'm not sure what the point of faking it would be when he's obviously working and not trying to get out of anything.

There are definitely different levels of severity - and I hate to see people with fibro dong what we complain that others do - looking at us and deciding if we're really sick or not.

I'm going to give the guy a pass.

I totally agree with Peace. Guys have enough trouble getting people to believe them about fibro.