I can't believe they publish such lies! They obviously haven't done much scientific research if they believe fibro and IBS is all in our heads. I had a doctor send me to counseling for IBS and I still have IBS. But now I have a new GI doc and she gave me a new diet and my IBS has been improving. THAT's proof it's not all in our heads! Also, if fibro was all in our heads, then why does PT help? And what about the skin biopsies that showed abnormalities? And abnormal PET scans?? And abnormal levels of pain chemicals in our spinal fluid? Germany and the Danish medical establishment are full of sh*t.

I'd like to see their explanation of our case. My mom and I have CFS and IBS that came on abruptly when we got sick with flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, etc.. in late Dec. 2010. After 3 weeks of waxing and waning symptoms, we were getting understandably worried, so since it was about time for my mothers routine 10 year colonoscopy, we thought that would be a good idea as they could determine the infecting organism and also check for cancer. After the procedure the doctor told me that her colonic mucosa was inflamed throughout and that it was an enterovirus. There is no treatment. We had her biosied colon tissue sent to Dr. Chia's EV Med research lab in Torrance CA to confirm the diagnosis. They can tell if the sample contains enterovirus but can't tell which serotypes are there. We then both ordered Coxsackie B tests through links at the Enterovirus Foundation website. We both have high antibodies to Coxsackie B2 and B6. Our IBS symptoms have improved some over the years but everything else is about the same. Andrea [Enteroviruses.com author] also has a very strong case.

I'm so sorry, say WHAT?! So if I just get over my PTSD or whatever, my fibro goes away? ???? While I agree to a point that our mindsets hinder our health, it's not *all* that. I know. I can be asleep and react to pain. How does that work if it's "in my psyche"? I'm out cold. On meds. And reacting to things that shouldn't cause pain, but do. Hello?

The sad truth is, this is where the research was 30 years ago, and it's circling back around b/c it's easier than admitting they can't find a magic bullet. I've never agreed with how fibro research is done, b/c my own observations just from this board lead me in other directions, but h ey, by all means, tell me to think positive and I'll feel alllllll better. Argh.

Hey, thanks for all the replies. I guess psychiatrists are frustrated creative writers. Use their imaginations as to what could fit their simplistic theories.

May be time to discontinue getting the research studies sent to me in their raw state. Respected medical journalists and researchers can summarize the important finding.s.

Hey, thanks for all the replies. I guess psychiatrists are frustrated creative writers. Use their imaginations as to what could fit their simplistic theories.

May be time to discontinue getting the research studies sent to me in their raw state. Respected medical journalists and researchers can summarize the important finding.s.

I just hate this kind of “science” because it is not science. I also have RA. But, the first 3 years, despite having huge red, swollen joints in 100 joints, I was told I didn’t have the disease by 3 rheumatologists. Why? Because my blood tests were negative! The 4th doctor looked at symptoms. He was an old doc, old school. He said he didn’t care what the blood tests said, I had severe RA. Sero-negative RA - blood tests all come back 0.

Ten years later, a different kind of pain. A pain management doc diagnosed me. By symptoms! Now, of course there are no blood tests for fibromyalgia, but if you have pain in certain places, fatigue or other symptoms, why dismiss it by saying it is all in our heads?

In fact, my RA is pretty well under control with meds. But my fibro, which was good for many years on Gabapetin is not! I know pain, and I know it is NOT in my head.

Wow! So glad I do not live in Germany/Denmark. Because so many people just love to pretend they are in pain to get attention there? I mean, how could so many people have similar symptoms, in so many places, so many ages, races and yet, it is all in their heads? Unbelievable!

Yes, yes about "people just love to pretend they are in to get attention."

I took the New Yorker writer, Atul Gawande to task for an article he wrote quite a few years ago about an architect with back pain whom he saw writhing on the floor in spasms.

Good old Atul thought he was faking because the tests didn't show any pathology. I reminded Atul that what the architect did was humiliate himself. Atul Gawande trained as a surgeon. He did write me a sort of apology letter saying that his wife (a female, go figure) reprimands him, too, for lacking compassion.