@amandredpath, I saw that research too. However, I think it's too early for Drs to jump in. For one thing they need to be able to get the right tests and they need to be able to interpret the results. I understand that it is possible that there is inflammation in the brain but is the inflammation causing the issue, or is it just another symptom? I sometimes feel like there is inflammation everywhere in my body, so can believe it is also in my brain, but it may not be the cause. I think they need more research on the cause of the inflammation in the brain.

It is a great step forward for fibromyalgia sufferers.

last time I saw my doc he told me to just suck it up buttercup in different words, ,, and essentially shrugged it’s off as “it is what it is”
I have this need to be heard and believed, Thats what I get here now,, throwing out grateful hugs ❤️

At last, someone after my own heart. First of all, have any of you come across a book called 'What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About fibromyalgia' by R.Paul St
Amand MD, himself a sufferer based in California. It may be out of print now but you might be able to get it on Amazon. I am based in the UK but our problem is the same the world over. When I was first diagnosed in 2001 I too was shocked at the lack of information or support available and I started up a group for fibro sufferers in my home town. I was surprised at the number of people that contacted me. Despite my good intentions I found it overwhelming to carry such a group when I myself was a sufferer. Each sufferer was at a different stage, had different symptoms and were taking different medications. They all wanted to talk about their own situation. It was the first time they had been able to do that with other sufferers. I tried to run regular meetings but suffering myself I became overwhelmed. I did masses of research into the causes of symptoms in the hope that we could find some relief that didn't include heavy pain killers or tranquilisers etc. I tried to introduce some results of my research into the meetings. I made up a 'lending library' with books of interest but really they all just wanted to talk about their own problems and it did put off a lot of people who had just been diagnosed and had no idea of what they were truly facing. Eventually we couldn't afford to hire the room and I closed the group but I did carry on publishing a newsletter for a year after. Since then other people have started groups but they all went the same way. Fibromyalgia groups run by sufferers do not work in practice but who else would bother? I tackled all the local health authorities for some sort of authority run clinic and set out how it would need to operate, even offering my services free but was told there was no budget for it. I talked to a group of community nurses and some of them were interested and made notes but doctors wouldn't even put notices up in their surgeries to direct sufferers to other sufferers. There is no cure so doctors are not interested. Some Rheumatologists won't even diagnose it here and it seems that the only way to get benefits or allowances is to focus on your worst symptom but then you still need confirmation from the doctor. I once drafted a several page document on why and how a specified clinic for fibromyalgia sufferers might work. It was viable and would have encouraged sufferers to use self help methods to relieve symptoms but I was heavily patronised and then ignored. I still have a contact who lives in Scotland who bought Dr St Amand's book and followed his treatment. She has been on that for many years now and has even travelled to California to his clinic. I understand from her that she lives a normal life now and I applaud her stoic attention to the rigid discipline it requires. Auriol

I think a lot of doctors think of us as drug seekers,,,,, I have never asked for pills once and rarely take the ones that have been prescribed,gaba, but every time I see a new doctor I feel,a sense of judgement?

Everything you have said is true and Doctors don't seem to pay enough attention to those of us that suffer from fibromyalgia.
They can't give us adequate pain medication afraid I will become addicted.
In Australia we can't even access Cannibis Oil at all for people with Chronic pain.

It's only available for those in Australia that have Terminal Cancer or Epilepsy.

It's just so frustrating that Doctors and Rheumatologist don't always take patients with fibromyalgia seriously.

Many of us have other things that are wrong with us besides fibromyalgia as well to deal with.

Gentle Hugs 💜💖💜💖