On October 5th, I attended the annual American Academy of Pediatrics National Convention in San Francisco. The program brochure was entitled “Children’s Health, Climbing to New Heights, Walk Among the Giants of Pediatrics.” One of the “Giants” was Dr. James Jarvis, a Pediatric Rheumatologist from Oklahoma University, who gave a wonderful talk on how to diagnosis rheumatologic diseases (diseases of the joints), and what lab tests are useful.
What he said near the end of his talk almost made me fall off my chair. He said, “Now I am going to talk about the F word–Fibromyalgia,” and he made a motion with his finger. I have never heard fibromyalgia described as an expletive, as something dirty before. He went on to talk about his experience with children (accompanied by their parents) that are referred to him for possible fibromyalgia, even though fibromyalgia is NOT an illness that involves the joints. He finds children (and their parents) with fibromyalgia very difficult to deal with. From his presentation, I could tell that Dr. Jarvis is a kind and committed physician, but that diseases of the joints are what he prefers to evaluate and treat. He was just trying to be funny.
I understand that the evaluation of fibromyalgia and the education and treatment is intensive and time consuming, but I find it very rewarding. I wish Dr. Jarvis could spend a day in my office. Not all of my pediatric patients are happy and smiling and bouncing around, but many are–after they are feeling better. I don’t mind taking time with worried parents; it’s part of the package.
Let’s change the “F’ word to “Flourish” when you have fibromyalgia. The feeling you get when you start having good days and the world once again holds infinite possibilities. Especially for children and adolescents who have their whole lives ahead of them. Dr. Jarvis–I would happily see your fibromyalgia patients!