Why is Fibromyalgia so difficult to diagnose?

Because unlike most other illnesses there are tests that can be taken. To diagnose someone with fibromyalgia blood tests are useless because there is no indicator. However, blood tests are used to eliminate conditions with similar symptoms. Which is another reason why it can be hard to diagnose someone with fibromyalgia. Chronic fatigue, Lyme Disease, RA, MS and lupus all have very similar symptoms, but by ruling out that a person doesn't have the other conditions can help the diagnoses process.

I was diagnosed earlier this year, but I'd been suffering for the past 7 years. Many doctors don't believe Fibromyalgia is a real condition and a lot of them think that it's a way for people to get medication or attention. There are also no physical symptoms that others can see.

...

When you are talking about fibromyalgia syndrome, it鈥檚 impossible to get through the subject without chronic fatigue coming up. The sensation of being constantly tired is likely to be one of the first symptoms a new patient will notice, along with inexplicable pain. Due to the rarity of the disease and the lack of standard level of care in terms of testing, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue can be difficult to diagnose and the patient may suffer for months or years before finding the right answer. For our purposes here, we will focus on the problems that the fatigue symptom causes and what a fibromyalgia patient can do on their own to combat the effects.

* Common problems associated with fibromyalgia fatigue
* Non medical ways to cope with the fatigue feeling
* Other fibromyalgia signs

Everyone has had those days when they just weren鈥檛 quite up to the challenge of their day. The fatigue could be a poor night鈥檚 sleep the night before or an ordinary illness like the flu or a cold. A person with fibromyalgia feels that way everyday and it negatively impacts their relationships both personally and professionally. Considering that this disorder most commonly strikes middle aged adults, not having the energy to engage in family life is often a problem. The same applies to workplace. It鈥檚 pretty tough to build a career when you can鈥檛 even fathom the idea of walking up a flight of stairs.

The good news is along with the medications you and your doctor will try in the quest to have you feeling better, there are things you can do to improve the fatigue situation on your own. One of the most effective fibromyalgia treatments you can use is good daily care. That means getting a reasonable amount of exercise. It鈥檚 important to keep it consistent so as to not tire yourself, especially on the bad days. Like anyone else though, exercise helps encourage restful sleep. Making your bedroom a haven for restful sleep is another good trick to try.

While fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are very often linked together, you should also be aware that there are other symptoms to be aware of. Less than restful sleep on a regular basis and unexplained pain in the joints and head area are other fibromyalgia symptoms that bear watching out for. Some patients also experience problems with their bowels in the form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. As unpleasant as fibromyalgia can get, it鈥檚 a relief to know that there are things you can do to combat the effects of this disorder.

Source: http://www.fibrofruit.com/fibromyalgia/8...

The difficulty with diagnosing fibromyalgia is that, in most cases, laboratory testing appears normal and that many of the symptoms mimic those of other rheumatic conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis.

the main problem is that attitude of the doctors who refuse to think outside the box and can only work with memorized facts and figures-not people