Fibromyalgia

Good luck and keep your chin up. Also, a word of advice... Try to speak with your voice in a low, alto tone.The doctor is more likely to listen to you than if you use a higher pitched, plaintive voice. Womens' higher pitched voices are often subconsciously disregarded by doctors (both male and female) because the sound resembles a child's whining. You will be better listened to with a lower toned voice.

Jeannie,

Thank you so much for that advice. I do feel like I am whining and the doctors are just not listening to me.  I will definitely take your advice to heart.  I feel sometimes just weird trying to explain to the docs my symptoms because I feel as they are looking at me like I am exxagerating my symptoms or not real.  Sometimes I feel guilty for complaining about my symptoms.  But like so many on the forum, sometimes, I feel that there is much more than fibro with my symptoms but docs are just not listening.  I asked my rheumatologists to run tests on me since it has been about year or more since the last testing and he stated it was not necessary because fibro is what it is and there isn't anything to do about it.  This is when he decided to send me to a pain clinic. I feel like he just wants me to go away.  He doesn't see me regularly either. He will see me in 6 months again.  Is this odd? should I be looking for another rheumatologists? 

p.s. To any on the forum, are your docs listening to your symptoms?  Do your rheumatologists behave the way mine does?  Are they all the same? 

Thank you all for your support. Have a blessed night.

Simplistic007

Good luck with the pain clinic! I almost went to one, but I ended up a rheumatologist first. At first, it seemed like he was going to pass me off to my older doctor(who is a few states away) but I explained what was going on and he had been quite helpful. Even from the start he did a good job listening. He prescribed meds, and told me to see him in about 3 months. Not quite, which seems a while. But if you're still in pain, call the office up. I've talked to my doctor on the phone, we've increased my meds and the amount of excise.

If you're still not happy with him, find a new one. I've not seen my doctor's note, but it seemed he was taking a lot down. If I were you, I'd check out the pain clinic, see what they can do for you. If they end up helping, maybe you're rheumatologist won't be a vital in you healthcare.

Were your hands and feet swollen when you were in the office? No swelling noted means he didn't see any swelling and your hands and feet appear normal. It doesn't mean they don't hurt, it just means they look normal. If they were not swollen when you had your visit, you might want to ask if you can come in when they are swollen so he can look.

hello newby here not sure how this works but i am a hospice nurse and have fibromyalgia was diagnosed over 12 years ago