Thanks Jim

I'm not sure what you mean about Lynn's article, but maybe I'll catch on.  It's early for me  I don't seem to get my understander turned on, until later in the day.

I actually liked the FM commercial, that the NFA came out with in the beginning, but don't really like the new ones with the dark haired lady in the orange sweater.  The newer commercial is by Pfizer and the old was by the NFA.

The part I like about the commercials are, they bring Fibromyalgia back into the homes of others or some whom once possibly thought that is was a lazy housewife illness and some of those rotten attitudes.  When someone asks what's wrong, I really hate even mentioning theFM, as it seems there are so many strange opinion of this horrible illness.  I've printed out short articles or pamphlets on the internet that explain Fibro in a short summary for my family & some friends.

actually I have a couple of ladies I know that really have bad opinions of FM and you can tell it on their faces any time I run into them.  It will take a bit of work on all are part, to make sure we educate anyone who asks.  I even print out new & current articles on the subject for my doctors.  I don't think one in particular, has all the current facts about the illness.

Thanks for your response, take Care

Betty

Hi Betty.

That article about fibro being  not a real condition blew in my face or on my PC.

The only "friend" I dare to tell about my dx wrote me with the link of the NY Times telling me that I was fooled by my drs and by the big pharma and that I should kick myself ( you know where) and get on with my life.  I am  It took me years before telling some one else than my family and now this.

I sent her some replies to it by knowledgeable people to no avail. She is a nurse ( she should know), was my friend and do not believe me. That whole thing is leaving  so sad.  I will  tell no one about  it and continue to look like a lazy fat cow to the eyes of this world.  I am lucky  tho to have a fantastic husband who is understanding and loving . What else more do I need ?

Betty Boop Too

2/ 7/08 1:38am

Mariepi

Boy I certainly can relate to your frustrations, it's only been about a month since an old friend whos a nurse told me that FM is just what doctor call a pain illness that they don't know what wrong with you and it's not really an illness it's just made up.

Steam came out my ears at the time too.

All I think we can do, is to continue to educate & arm ourselves with the most current infomation and try our best to educate the public, starting with our family and working out toward our friends.

I can also relate to your apprehension at not wanting to tell anyone, I've on occasion not included FM in my explainations too.  But in some way, I think this may hurt me or others in the end, so I have been trying to learn to better explain the illness and also have printouts of studies or interesting research that has or is being done right now.  I give the printouts to my family & others to read.

Those involved in this article are amazingly really looking like a bunch of numnuts in the medical public and other arenas so I'm not thinking that this article is really holding any water with very many.

Take Care, I do know how you feel and I'm really sorry bout that

Betty

Mariepi

2/10/08 2:16pm

Hi Betty.

When obligated to say more than chronic pain ( my usual explanation) I say  myofibrositis. If they look at me with big interrogative eyes I say  arthritis and muscular arthritis . Funny that goes in like a hot knife in butter. Usually after that they don't ask questions anymore. I learned the hard way.

When my dr. put me on MSContin after years of trying everything else and almost damaging my kidneys anf God knows what ,  he told me then to never mention to people at large that I take the medication and wait that fibro is better accepted before talking about it. When I started it was for me the best pain medication and according to him the one with less side effects but with a bad name. 

I started Neurontin last week I was quite uncomfortable before and still is  taking a medication for something else to see if it could help me.  

My dr choice came to neurotin because he knows the drug well and I have to get out of opiates before going to to high dosage.    I function very well right now with what I take but the pain is getting worst so I accepted to do the trial. 

Marie aka Mariepi