Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Fibromyalgia (FM), Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Unrelenting Fatigue (UF) which has been taken from our on-line survey results. For those who responded to the survey - thank you. For those who are looking for answers to these and other questions, keep asking until you find them, it is the only way you will find your path to wellness. For other questions, call toll free 1-866-443-4276 and speak with a National Patient Representative.
Q. Will it ever go away?
A. For many patients, comprehensive treatment of the underlying causes can completely eliminate many of the symptoms and if not eliminate, substantially reduce the severity and frequency. It is possible for patients to achieve this level of success allowing them to lead more normal, active, and fulfilling lives. Your goal and the goal of your health care provider should be to first identify and address all the causes of your pain and fatigue. This goal can be achieved by working with a specialized physician.
Q. Is the pain that other FM patients experience as severe as mine, and do they take as many painkillers as I need to take to simply survive from one day to the next?
A. Severe insistent pain is the most common symptom of Fibromyalgia. Patients often describe it as experiencing the worst flu ever had and then getting hit by a truck. Many patients take relatively high doses of pain medications in order to physically manage simple day-to-day tasks. Keep in mind the painkillers are simply masking the symptoms, not addressing the physiological and underlying problems that are causing the pain. The use of painkillers is a commonly used option to relieve the symptoms. The temporary relief achieved by painkillers is helpful as a short-term stabilizer, but never acceptable as a long-term solution.
Q. Could this become fatal?
A. Fibromyalgia (FM), Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Unrelenting Fatigue (UF) are not known to be the specific cause of any one person's death to date. However, some underlying etiologies present in FM/CFIDS/UF patients may make you more susceptible to life threatening illnesses. An example of an underlying etiology is a suppressed immune system, which may cause FM/CFIDS/UF patients to develop illnesses such as staph infections, pneumonia, and viruses that may affect vital organs. Unable to adequately fight off these illnesses or keep them in check, they can lead to some very serious consequences. Another common problem for FM/CFIDS/UF patients is that occasionally their symptoms mask symptoms of something more serious. For instance, FM patients often experience tightness in the chest, pressure on the upper torso, tingling, and numbness in the arms or on one side of the upper body. These symptoms are similar to those experienced during a heart attack or stroke. FM patients are warned not to take these masked symptoms lightly and seek medical assistance.
Q. My doctor thinks my FM is caused by emotional problems. Can this be true?
A. While researchers and specialists in this field are making great strides to educate, many health care professionals still think that FM, CFIDS, and UF are manifestations of psychological problems, not physiological problems. High levels of stress can be a trigger for the onset of FM/CFIDS/UF. Therefore, health care professionals often diagnose patients with depression. These practitioners often prescribe anti-depressants or mood altering medications, which again, only temporarily mask the symptoms and do not lead to a long-term solution. In reality, anger and depression are often symptoms of living with the chronic pain and lack of compassion and understanding. The key to overcoming this is to find a health care provider who understands the complexities of these conditions and acknowledges that they are real and very much based in your body, not your head.
Q: When will a Center come to my city?
A: Since FFC opened in 2004, we have rapidly grown to over 14 “Centers of Excellence” throughout the country and are continuing to look at various locations for future FFC Centers. The process in determining a location varies on a number of factors including finding the right Physician match for our patients and protocols. Please continue to look at our website or call 866-443-4276 to see if a Center is coming to your city soon.
Q: Why do you not take insurance?
A: Due to the complexities of these conditions, our physicians spend up to an hour with each patient doing an extensive review of the patient’s health history and previous care to determine what treatments need to be administered. Because these conditions are complex and require thorough analysis of all underlying causes and symptoms we simply could not diagnose you properly, and determine a plan of care in the 8-10 minutes that insurance would dictate our Physicians could spend with you. Our goal is to provide you with the level of care that you deserve and need in order to properly diagnose and treat these conditions.
Q: I have had extensive blood tests already, can those be used?
A: We do encourage patients to bring previous tests they have undergone for the Physicians to review; however, depending on the symptoms presented the Physicians may or may not be able to use existing lab work.
Q: What tests do you perform that other physicians do not?
A: Standard reference ranges within tests are not effective. FFC understands the gap of what is considered “normal” and is able to diagnose based on the true levels. Therefore, we do extensive lab testing which entail 20-30 or more, specialized blood tests that allow us to look at the overall big picture. We are committed to finding out what is causing the symptoms that our patients present. For example, we test many of the hormones in our system - from sleep hormones such as melatonin to female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. We also look at other hormone levels, such as human growth hormone and testosterone because both women and men need an adequate amount of testosterone. We evaluate the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary functions. We also perform viral and bacterial infection tests, where we look for 8 -10 different possible viral, bacterial, and fungal infections that may be present in your system and affecting your immunity.
Q: What happens during the first visit?
A: During the first visit, our Physicians spend up to an hour going over the 25 page patient questionnaire that examines all the symptoms and medical history of your case. Upon review, a treatment plan is put into place and your pain is addressed immediately.
Q: Will the FFC Physician replace my primary or do they work together on my treatment plan?
A: On most occasions, our patients do have a primary care physician, but they cannot effectively treat the complexity of symptoms that these patients present. Our Physicians are trained and specialize in treating these conditions; however, we do encourage complimentary therapies such as chiropractic services, massage therapy, etc. if these treatments provide symptom relief for our patients.
Q: How long does the average treatment continue?
A: The average patient sees significant improvement after the 4th visit; however, we encourage all of our patients to continue to the maintenance program. The approximate treatment length is 12 months depending on how aggressive patients are with the treatments and how their body responds. It solely depends on the patient and the severity of the underlying factors as well.
Q: What sort of training do your physicians undergo?
A: All of our Physicians undergo extensive training by our Medical Director, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum and Co Medical Director, Dr. Marc Spurlock. Upon completing clinical training, Physicians actively participate in monthly conference calls where they receive updates on the current research and studies. In addition, Physicians continuously receive the latest research and findings on treating Fibro and Chronic Fatigue via email.
Q: Are there any support groups in my area that I can contact?
A: FFC encourages our patients to become a part of a local support group. If you are not familiar with local support groups, there are several national organizations that we recommend visiting their website or calling.
- National Fibromyalgia Association: 714-921-0150
- Fibromyalgia Coalition International: 913-384-4673
- FACES: 773-936-4183
Q: I would like to participate in ongoing studies, where can I find those?
A: Numerous organizations are conducting ongoing studies on Fibromyalgia and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov or http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_clinicalTrials to determine if you are eligible to participate and the requirements for volunteering.
The physicians of Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Inc. offer a unique treatment approach with proven successful outcomes. We offer a free educational seminar to assist you in understanding your condition and your treatment options. Call toll-free 1-866-443-4276 today to make an appointment or RSVP to our free educational seminar to end your questions and regain control of your life!