Do You Really have Fibromyalgia?

A Good Book

Just because you have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia is no guarantee you really have it!  Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion which means it should be what is left after your doctor has ruled out all other conditions you could be suffering from.  It should not be the first diagnosis given, but the last one left.

There are multiple conditions and syndromes that can mimic Fibromyalgia, many of which can be completely cured.  Unfortunately, I have seen many patients who were wearing the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, only to discover with further investigation that they suffered from another condition which could be cured.

So I encourage you, before accepting the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, research the conditions below and be sure you were examined and tested to rule each one out:

• Under-active thyroid 
• Abnormal Hormone Function
• Adrenal Gland insufficiency
• Early Diabetes
• Fatigue Syndrome (common after some viral infections)
• Chronic Infection
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Substance Abuse
• Malnutrition with our without an eating disorder
• Undiagnosed Cancer
• Low Vitamin D Level
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Elevated Calcium
• Anemia
• Undiagnosed Syphilis
• Undiagnosed HIV



Another Good One

• Possible Medication Side Effects (some Cholesterol, Blood Pressure or Psych meds)

If you were diagnosed as having Fibromyalgia without any blood tests being run, then your diagnosis is in question.  There is no blood test that can diagnose Fibromyalgia, but many of the conditions listed above can be ruled out with the proper blood-work.

There are many other conditions which can pretend to be Fibromyalgia, these are just the most likely.  So, if you are newly diagnosed, it is time to put on your thinking-cap, either with our without your doctor, and rule out the other conditions that might be pretending to be Fibromyalgia.
kb.