While there are varying opinions about what is and isn't an effective way to treat fibromyalgia, any doctor that categorically claims it's not a real disease is ignorantly behind on the times. Despite that, the attitude still seems to be quite common, unfortunately. A frustration many here have experienced. Some doctors really seem to disbelieve, others seem not to want to deal with a tricky disease that is notoriously hard to treat.

In my experience, though, many doctors will scoff when a patient starts suggesting diagnoses. I know, arrogant and rude, but many don't take that well to it. In the future, perhaps try to lead with your symptoms, not with a suspected medical culprit that you think you have.

Fibromyalgia has a huge range of symptoms, and is a tricky disorder because most patients experience it differently. There is also not one test that can be performed to look for it. It's a diagnosis of exclusion. Fibromyalgia symptoms mirror that of a lot of disorders. Those disorders CAN be tested for, so you'll first have to go through the wringer to make sure nothing else is wrong. Only after that can the diagnosis of fibromyalgia remain.

The American CDC and the WHO have given fibromyalgia a diagnostic code. The biggest global powers in medical health acknowledge its existence, so any doctor that doesn't isn't worth their salt. If and when you might decide to switch, perhaps inquire if they are familiar with fibro, or at the least pain disorders or rheumatological disorders.

What tests have your doctors done? A lot of blood work yet? Have they referred you to any specialists? A GP cannot make a diagnosis of fibro, and we advise anyone undiagnosed here to get a referral to a neurologist and a rheumatologist. They deal with the diseases that most commonly give the same symptomatology as fibro.

The short answer: I'm afraid you can't convince your doctor that you have fibro. You have to find a doctor that will take your symptoms seriously, to start the process of finding out what might be causing it. Make lists and logs of what kind of symptoms are happening and when. If your current GP won't listen to you while you have serious and chronic health complaints, I suggest firing them and finding someone that will actually honour the oath of not doing harm. By not listening to you they are doing you harm, and you don't deserve that.

Best of luck, and feel free to ask questions here or just vent about the situation. Take care!

Ditto. Present your *symptoms*. Present your *pain levels* and what kind and where it i, and any noticed triggers, but if you walk in and say< "I think I have XYZ", you automatically turn the doctor into your enemy. Also, there's a billion things to rule out before fibro, and a billion things that aren't fibor but seem like it, and vice versa. Self-diagnosis is dangerous for you.

That asid, vent away, and I have resorted to taking a journal with outlines of my body drawn in it, to show where the pain is and with little arrows to show where it radiates to from "main points", and similar. It helped docs distinguish between my fibro and other possibles. Also, if you have it all written down and presented as "Here's what I experience, what od you think?" you 1. flatter their ego; 2. aren't likely to forget anything important!

Luck an dhealing.

You may want to see if your primary doctor will refer you to a Rheumatologist. I know it is super frustrating to be told you are fine. I agree that it is ignorance.

Vent away!!

A Dr that doesnt believe in fibro will not never be helpful during the diagnostic process and if you get diagnosed with fibro. It is like talking and being treated by a wall.

Next time you encounter a Dr that tells they dont believe in fibro , you now have the knowledge as Sonya said - in the US fibro has its own diagnostic code and is recognized by the CDC and WHO as a disease. It doesnt get more official than that.

My advice would be to keep looking for a doctor that knows about fibro and is willing to help. If it is fibro then you will need a lot of support some of which you will find here, I am new here but everyone has made me feel like a part of the family. Keep your head held high and believe that there is a doctor out there that will help.

Has she been testing for other diseases/illnesses at all? There are many things that can be causing your symptoms, and a good doctor will test for everything. I second the thought that doctors do not like to be told how to do their jobs, and put up a stone wall if you suggest a diagnosis or tell them you were searchng webmd, so I would refrain from doing this to any new doctors. See a rheumatologist and tell them all your symptoms, even the infrequent ones. They will probably send you for tests, and maybe even refer you to a different specialist if they suspect somethng. Good luck!

Believe and medicine are mutually exclusive when it comes to diagnosis. When I hear that I run. FM is certainly real, or SSDI wouldn't allow it for a disability claim. Do a search for an FM specialist or specialty clinic in your area and get a referral from your PCP if possible.

Tell her she's living in the dark ages! Pretty ridiculous for docs to get away with it these days. There is a blood test now you can find more info on: http://www.fmcpaware.org/ and webmd if you google for it.
"There is a blood test -- called FM/a -- that identifies markers produced by immune system blood cells in people with fibromyalgia. One study showed the test can also help distinguish fibromyalgia from other conditions that can have similar symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus."

I would agree with bubs. I found my first functional medicine doctor that really laid it out for me and I found her after doing research and getting her from a list. Don't waste your time or energy with the doctors who are too lazy to be up on what is going on. Best is integrative medical doc, imo. Good luck to you :) Hugs, JP