Fibromyalgia diagnosis from GP?

[CreatingHavoc]

Yesterday my GP said it sounds very much like I have fibromyalgia. I have a whole host of other long standing health issues but over the past 6 months or so things have ramped up. I've been having a lot of widespread pain, headaches, TMJ, pulsatile tinnitus, seeing my pulse in my eyes and many other blizzare, seemingly inexplicable things. I was sent to A&E a few weeks back by out of hours about the headaches and pulse things but they did a ct scan which was clear, albeit 'degraded by a streak artifact' whatever that means.

What do I do now? GP has ordered some bloods but it's a 3 week wait for the appointment. She said if the bloods flag anything up then she will refer to rheumatology but shouldn't she be referring me anyway regardless? I thought GP's couldn't diagnose stuff like this? I feel a bit like they can't be bothered to investigate further and just want to label me as having fibro to get rid of me. I've been to the Dr's a lot recently and just get nowhere every time. She wouldn't even prescribe anything because apparently they use a physical therapy and CBT approach now. I already had CBT for anxiety years ago and it didn't help at all. I do have weekly counselling though (private but low cost), which does help a bit.

I think the bloods will flag up my high rheumatoid factor, as it is always high (been tested a few times before due to joint pains) but the CRP etc were always negative.

Similar situation here. My health gets worse each year and GPs have mentioned so many things, fibro included, but just seem to keep repeating bloods and changing my medications. It's frustrating.

I recently won my PIP tribunal and when I first applied, I joked with DW about me being given PIP before the GP finds out what exactly is wrong with me. Didn't genuinely think that was how it would go, but it has.

That's not a great situation to be in. I hope things become clearer for you somehow. I just hope I can convince my GP to refer me.

I was diagnosed by a private rhuematologist

Cost 250 gbp

Went private as NHS was 6 months wait

Ask for a reumatologist for that diagnosis. Don't go with GP.

Fibromyalgia usually diagnosed in primary care - bloods are to exclude other things, there is no blood test for FM.

https://www.rcp.ac.uk/media/udlhnt1b/the-diagnosis-of-fibromyalgia-syndrome-guidelines_1_2_0.pdf

"In situations where symptoms and signs for FMS are unequivocal, it is not necessary to refer for specialist opinion for confirmation of diagnosis"

"Onward referral to a specialist service for diagnostic reasons is appropriate: — if FMS symptoms are continually equivocal — if there is clear diagnostic uncertainty (eg complicated by inflammatory rheumatological or neurological symptoms, see above) — in the presence of complex multiple health conditions — if there are symptoms that need investigating but are outside the clinician’s scope of practice  Referral options for confirmation of a patient’s diagnosis and/or for exclusion of other diagnoses typically include rheumatology or pain medicine services. For exclusion of neurological disease refer to neurology services. Availability of services and typical pathways vary within the UK."

Your GP is right that those are two out of the three tenets of management
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/treatment/