"How would you like to see your career slip away from you as you gradually become less and less able to sleep, to rest, to feel awake, to feel like your memory is failing you, to be taking pills every night on call because your legs ache so badly, to become upset so easily you don't trust yourself to handle stressful situations at work? How would you like to have to stop working because you can't do it anymore?

This would certainly be a catastrophe. But not one of your making.

So, the next time your patient appears at their wit's end, please don't assume they are just somehow lacking in coping ability. Take them seriously. Show them some empathy. You will both be better off for it."

Margaret Macdonald is a family physician.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Fibromyalgia is not a trash can diagnosis."

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