Is There a (Caring) Doctor in the House?

Finding a doctor who cares

Finding a physician who you can trust,
who will listen to you, believe you, and support you is essential .

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have no known scientifically verified cause nor no known scientifically verified cure.  There are no outwardly obvious symptoms easily identified by others.  So your friends, family, and coworkers will not know how traumatic it is to feel so ill all the time unless you make them aware of what is going on in your life. This is understandable.  What I have difficulty understanding is the number of people I know with this horrible disease who cannot find a competent physician who believes they are sick.   I am shocked and astounded at the things I hear from fellow sufferers. They have been told by doctors:

You are just tired and overworked

It is a mental problem.  You are not physically sick.

You are just depressed and feeling blue.

I can't find a single thing wrong with you.

I don't believe fibromyalgia exists.

And I want to say.  "Oh really.  One day I was a perfectly healthy, active, energetic woman and now I am in so much pain and so constantly fatigued I can't function.  I am extremely sick.  And you are an incompetent, unfeeling, uneducated, unaware discredit to your profession.."

Fortunately there are also a lot of understanding, caring physicians who listen to their patients, believe their symptoms, and treat them with care and respect.  If you have been unlucky enough to have encountered a bad doctor, please don't despair and give up.  Keep looking.  Ask for recommendations from friends and family.  Find out which doctors other patients with fibromyalgia recommend.  Keep making appointments until you find the right doctor for you.

I have been blessed to have great doctors.  I am married to a family physician who is the smartest, kindest, wisest, most caring doctor I know. It is possible I am a little biased about that but I don't think so.  My current internal medicine specialist listens and responds to my questions and concerns.  My doctors support me, encourage me, and have helped me navigate the multilayered realities of dealing with a chronic illness.

Have you encountered people who do not believe you are sick?

Do you have a kind, caring, compassionate doctor who is helping you with your illness?