I was told by my neurologist that after being tested for MS and the tests came back negative that then I had chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. ..from friends who have been diagnosed with this debilitating disease I've had fibromyalgia much longer than I thought. I will say that everyone I spoke with anxiety was a huge part of ot. I didn't realize that my anxiety was as bad as it was until my doc put me on paxil. ..mind you if I liked taking pills I wouldn't have 4 children! Fibromyalgia is said to be caused by extreme stress which I've had. You know your body....the docs are your employees if you're not getting the right answer find another doc! Don't worry about offending them...just because they have a degree doesn't mean they can understand what you are going through....stand up for yourself! I try to think of what suggestions I would give a friend. Good luck!!!

Been there.... I remember trying to get to the bottom of things and docs writing in their notes I was "hallucinating & delusional" and refer me to psych! After the 3rd time, boy was I mad! I knew I wasn't crazy and something was really wrong with my body! Finally found some smart doctors who began piecing the puzzles together. Also found a good eye doctor who "accidentally" stumbled upon my eye issues during a routine exam.... I'm not "hallucinating" like the stupid neuros and other dumb doctors were telling me, eye doc said it's actually something called ocular migraines. Hey wadda ya know! I'm not crazy after all!

Hang in there.... we fibro patients usually have to go through dozens of tests before they will acknowledge what it is. And even after the final diagnosis, sadly there are still docs and nurses who will still tell you they don't believe in FM and it's all in your head. So once you find a good doc keep her / him!

ON a serious note? I was blessed. My first rheumy *had* fibro (has, I should say, he's retired, not dead)----so after he did the rule-out tests to be sure? He didn't tell me it was psych or anything else.

I *have*( run into that attitude, and on one occasion I was upset enough to snap at the doc, "If I kick your balls, is *that* in your head?" and walked out. (It wasn't from fibro, either. I had an ovarian cyst. How is *that* in my head?!).....

Stay calm, take notes with you to keep it brief and to the point, amek sure you have questions written down, and take notes on what is said.

You could be having anxiety---there are a thousand things that seem similar until you do a bazillion tests and so on--- but it could be form fear of not knowin why your body feels weird for those periods, and then you're like, "Wait, what?"

I don't know if you mean your "flare" is 30-40 minutes, or if that's how long it takes for the symptoms to hit. A quick onset is usually traceable to a triggering event----an exercise, an exposure to a chemical, something, just as with an allergy, in a way---but in any case,....

Stand. Your . Ground. I've taken to saying, "Hi, I know you're the expert, but technically, I'm paying *you*, so here's my goals for this appointment." That's come in handy so often now I feel like a robot saying it.

Also, since my medical-related PTSD hit a few years ago (long story, full of malpractice and horror)? I *rehearse* the appointments. Walking in. Waiting. Filling forms. The weigh-in, the vitals. The more-waiting (usually). What I will say. How I will say it. I practice with Hubby, the neighbor's cats, an imaginary doctor, whatever. I find that helps me sort of feel "prepared", like "OK, I know my lines!" before a school play.

Luck and blessing!