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 Create a Solid Fibro Fighting Team
Without a solid foundation your team will certainly
fold under pressure. The key to fortifying the bond between
yourself and your team is communication.
Communicating with your
Doctor
Good communication is vital, especially with your health care
professional. They are relying on you and your symptoms to be able
to help you manage your fibromyalgia pain, therefore when you
communicate openly and descriptively it puts them in a better
position to help.
Answer these questions:
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Within the last week, how many times did pain or
exhaustion cause you to abort your normal schedule?
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Care for your family
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Work
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Enjoy social events
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Concentrate
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Do daily chores
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How often does the pain interfere with your ability
to:
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What medications have you tried?
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When is the pain the greatest?
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Where is the pain the most extreme?
Download a workable copy of this personal questionnaire to
fill out and share with your doctor.
Don’t hold back! Even the things that you feel are
trivial, and do not need to be mentioned should be. Be specific in
explaining what affect fibromyalgia has had on your life and
express how you really feel. Ask questions openly, and if you don’t
understand something your doctor has said, ask for it to be
explained again.
Why not start with letting your doctor do the
talking. Ask what treatment approaches he or she has used in the
past with other patients. Ask what he or she recommends in your
case, and why. Make sure you record your doctor’s answers that way
you will always have a personal record of your medical history.
Download a workable list of questions for
your doctor and record keeping sheet to ensure clear communication
with your doctor.
Networking with Others
Fibro360.com has compiled this list to help you immerse yourself in
the fibromyalgia community to further your education and fortify
your support system.
Government Sponsored Web Sites:
» Medline Plus
» National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Online Communities and Informational Web
Sites:
» American Chronic Pain Association
»
American Pain Foundation
» American Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Association
» Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers
(FFC)
» National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA)
»
National Fibromyalgia Research Association (NFRA)
» The National Pain Foundation
» National Women's Health Resource
Center
Continue with: Do Your Part
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