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Lucy R · 10-07-2008, 11:06 PM

Thanks for sharing that information. My doctor tested me for thyroid diseases before confirming my diagnosis of fibromyalgia and apparently I don't have a thyroid problem.

It took me over a decade to get a proper diagnosis though. I had been dealing with painful symptoms for years without ever getting any help or a diagnosis from doctors, so I started reading up on things on my own and found out about fibromyalgia. However, when I asked my GP whether I might have it he immediately dismissed that possibility without even examining me, doing any tests or sending me to a specialist, and at the time patients couldn't see specialists without being referred by their GP. Having tried to find out the cause of my symptoms for years, I got fed up with doctors and stopped trying to get a professional diagnosis and instead just tried to figure things out on my own. Recently (11 years after I first asked my doctor about the possibility of fibromyalgia) I decided to give things another try. This time I could go straight to a rheumatologist instead of a GP because the system here has been changed and a reference from a GP is no longer necessary. The rheumatologist immediately suspected fibromyalgia and Sjogren's and ordered a blood test and eye test to confirm that. I had a confirmed dual diagnosis from him in a matter of one week.

It's a real shame how many doctors can't seem to do their job properly.

It's good to hear that you're doing better now.

	(#5 (permalink))
Lucy R Junior Member Offline Posts: 16 Join Date: Dec 2008	10-07-2008, 11:06 PM Thanks for sharing that information. My doctor tested me for thyroid diseases before confirming my diagnosis of fibromyalgia and apparently I don't have a thyroid problem. It took me over a decade to get a proper diagnosis though. I had been dealing with painful symptoms for years without ever getting any help or a diagnosis from doctors, so I started reading up on things on my own and found out about fibromyalgia. However, when I asked my GP whether I might have it he immediately dismissed that possibility without even examining me, doing any tests or sending me to a specialist, and at the time patients couldn't see specialists without being referred by their GP. Having tried to find out the cause of my symptoms for years, I got fed up with doctors and stopped trying to get a professional diagnosis and instead just tried to figure things out on my own. Recently (11 years after I first asked my doctor about the possibility of fibromyalgia) I decided to give things another try. This time I could go straight to a rheumatologist instead of a GP because the system here has been changed and a reference from a GP is no longer necessary. The rheumatologist immediately suspected fibromyalgia and Sjogren's and ordered a blood test and eye test to confirm that. I had a confirmed dual diagnosis from him in a matter of one week. It's a real shame how many doctors can't seem to do their job properly. It's good to hear that you're doing better now.