Fibromyalgia Makes the List!
Do you sometimes feel like nobody knows what fibromyalgia (FMS) is? More people are learning all the time, and I can prove it to you!
A company called comScore, Inc., specializes in measuring things in the digital world and it released the list of the 20 most commonly searched health conditions in February '08. FMS sqeaked in at number 20.
Here's the list:
| 1. Pregnancy | 8,841 |
| 2. Cancer | 7,718 |
| 3. Flu | 1,824 |
| 4. Depression | 1,824 |
| 5. Diabetes | 1,758 |
| 6. Addiction | 1,407 |
| 7. Herpes | 1,340 |
| 8. HIV | 1,340 |
| 9. Anxiety | 910 |
| 10. Stroke | 872 |
| 11. HPV | 861 |
| 12. Bipolar | 861 |
| 13. Cholesterol | 816 |
| 14. Headache | 763 |
| 15. Menopause | 667 |
| 16. Hepatitis | 614 |
| 17. Arthritis | 600 |
| 18. ADHD | 573 |
| 19. Asthma | 569 |
| 20. Fibromyalgia | 551 |
When you consider that most of the things on the list impact large groups of people, it's pretty impressive that FMS made it. Also, Lyrica came in 8th on the list of most commonly searched drugs by brand name.
The folks at comScore say fibromyalgia searches have really increased, and they credit Pfizer's fibromyalgia and Lyrica ad campaigns for bringing up awareness.
Whether you love or hate the drug companies (or a little of both, depending on the day), you've got to admit that their ad money can do a lot for a relatively obscure and misunderstood condition like FMS.
Now if only the FDA would approve Ampligen for chronic fatigue syndrome....
Awareness Links:
Living with Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Find a Support Group
- Start a Support Group
- Find support & understanding in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forum.
Comments
It’s all those searches *I* have been doing!
Seriously, though, I was just diagnosed in December and I’m trying to connect with other local people with fibromyalgia and to educate myself.
It’s hard to find people when we don’t know how/if to talk about fibromyalgia. Hypochondriacs, whiners, attention-seekers we are NOT.
Adrienne, I am glad for your blog. It’s a great resource, and it does help me feel more “connected” to others with fibromyalgia. Thanks again.
Heather
Heather - Have you tried to find a support group within the area where you live? Also, MSN has many Groups whom support fibromyalgia. If you would be interested in joining one please try: FibroSerenityGarden. We are a small, close-knit group of ladies who share commonalities with our health and life issues. Just say “Innie” invited you.
Adrienne, I am also impressed by this news. I do wish that they would find a classification for us though. I feel as if we are a ‘free-floating’ host of symptoms. Is it a CNS disorder, rheumatic, auto-immune…where do we fit in? Some articles list it as a syndrome; others as a disease.
At least we are being taken more seriously and not shoved to the side as ‘mental’. To think of all those years I suffered, not even knowing what was taking place with my body…going from doctor to doctor. I’m glad it made the list. I hope that the next time we have moved up and gained more recognition.
Best wishes to you all.
VA Breeze,
Could you send me more information on how to find that group? My email address is: greybeh@gmail.com
There is a local support group, but it’s not “local” enough. I live in Pittsburgh, PA and the closest group seems to be in Butler, PA. I don’t drive and I don’t even know how far away that is - I think it’s quite a distance. Thank you for your help! I’d like to hear from others who either live in Pittsburgh and have FM or who know of more online resources. I am a part of Fibrom-l mailing list - thank goodness for them!
Their homepage: http://www.fmscommunity.org/fibromlhelp.htm