blood test

[Bluebottle]

There is now a simple blood test for fibromyalgia.

Why aren't we receiving it please? It would make our lives so much easier if we could prove that we really are ill and in pain. At present we are treated by the medical profession as if we have ‘Medically Unexplained Symptoms’, and some of us are not accessing adequate pain relief or medical care, and some of us are being treated by doctors as if we are hypochondriacs.

[meliniwish]

I agreed Bluebottle! Surely it would also be cheaper for the NHS than all the miriad of tests we have to go through not to mention referrals.

[lukibird]

Quite agree, it beats trying to get a diagnosis from doctors who don't believe in fibro

[mrsfizz11]

Can you tell us more about the blood test please? Can we ask our GP for this?

[pam stewart]

Although the taking of blood is simple, the procedure for determining the marker for FM is not.
The research on this is very recent and will have to be validated by other researchers before it is accepted by any health authority.
My understanding is that this blood test is only available in the USA at one centre where the initial research was carried at present.
All we can do is look out for any trials and volunteer to take part to move this forward.

[Bluebottle]

Many thanks for your reply, is there any hope of such research being funded here in the UK in the near future?