Why would her doctor lie to her about this?

I think some professionals see fibromyalgia as a term for a set of symptoms that aren’t clear rather than a real diagnosis. I suspect he was being dismissive of the idea of labeling it that.

She should try another doctor, one who specializes in fibromyalgia.

I was going to say, get a second opinion, and maybe ask the other doctor why that one would say they had “never heard of it.” Maybe he or she just meant that fibromyalgia has SO many different symptoms, or there are other things that could cause it, that it would be hasty to make that diagnosis.
Without being there, it’s hard to know how the conversation actually went down.

Doctors get sick too. Maybe it’s time for her to find another doctor. His memory may be failing. If I was her, I would mention it to another doctor in his team if he works with other doctors. If they feel he may start to be a danger to other patients, they may make him seek medical attention.

My guess is that doctor does not believe that fibromyalgia is a legitimate disease and therefore, he discounts it and brushes the patient off by saying he’s never heard of it.

I believe he never heard of it.

But it’s all over TV, in commercials.

Whatever happened to RLS, by the way?

@Dutchess_III: I’m aware it’s all over TV. I’m saying he doesn’t believe it’s legit, so he’s saying he never heard of it, meanwhile, it’s just that he doesn’t believe in it.

@Dutchess_III It’s all over the TV and commercials you watch. Probably more like to be on girl Channels. I don’t know if the doctor is a girl.

I’m often shocked by what doctors are unaware of. How many doctors still think Americans aren’t likely to be deficient in vitamin D? A lot. How many doctors didn’t know HPV causes cancer when it was already well known? A lot. How many GP’s who treat thyroid problems don’t check T4free and T3 and have never heard of Armour Thyroid (the script made from natural ingredients) and/or never prescribe Cytomel. Too many. How many doctors prescribe deadly combinations of medication? Too often.

My FIL has some lab work right now that in pretty sure his doctor is incompetent in her advice. I might be wrong, but everything I research seems to support what I thought. That would mean his doctor actually completely lacks knowledge about it. Total absence of knowledge on the topic. I hope I’m wrong and she is right.

If @jca is right and the doctor just doesn’t believe it’s a real thing (a possibility) either they miscommunicated and he was just being dismissive, or he just didn’t think it was the right diagnosis. But, I still think he might have no idea what it is.

@jca I was responding to @JLeslie.

What is a “girl” channel @JLeslie ? Would that be, like, Nova or the Discovery channel? National Geographic? True Stories from the ER? How It’s Made?

@Dutchess_III: I’m aware you were responding to @JLeslie. I took the liberty of responding anyway.

Not only channels, but specific shows too. Like, I almost never see a beer commercial, because I don’t watch sports. If you see tampon commercials, my guess is what you are watching is targeted to women.

However, regarding my main assertion that there is a good chance the doctor never heard of it, is that I am constantly disappointment in the knowledge of doctors (everyone here knows that about me, and I admit to being a little over the top about it) especially regarding newer ideas and theories. They know all sorts of things about medicine and the body that the average person doesn’t; their years of studying and practicing certainly count for something. But, they also lack knowledge often, especially if it is something they don’t treat every day. A GP doesn’t treat fibromyalgia really. Not usually. A few might know more about it than the average. More likely they would send a patient to a neurologist I think with no diagnosis. Even though rheumatologist treat it quite often.