Hi VegAthLes,
My first question is: Do YOU feel you have Fibromyalgia?
If your answer is NO: Then, if in fact something is wrong, keep searching until you know for sure, no matter how long it takes.
If your answer is YES: Then you need to find out all you can in order t help YOURSELF.
No one wants to believe that someone they care about is sick! Regardless if they are Medical or Non-Medical, family or not. But I agree your mom is a different story. Particularly since she is a RN.
You need to keep in mind not everyone 'really' knows about Fibromyalgia. Everyone has their own opinions about Fibro. Like it or not. That's life.
Its also very important to remember: Your mom ... IS YOUR MOM FIRST AND FORMOST! She loves you! You are MOST important to her heart! Then, she is an RN. That's her JOB. There is a very big difference there!!
You wrote: "... I think a lot of it comes from people (non-medical people) telling me that fibromyalgia is not really real, including my mother who is a registered nurse telling me that fibromyalgia is the "diagnosis" that people use to abuse pain meds...."
What YOUR comment means to me: Non-Medical people are telling you that Fibro is not really real, is because they don't 'really' know what Fibro is. They don't have it. Hopefully, they never do. Fibro comes on differently for everyone and in different ways, different speeds, and so on. There is so much research going on right now for Fibro. No one really knows everything. Time, with real good researcher ... will bring the answers
In regards to your mom's comment: "...abuse pain meds...". Well, I have to agree with her. I'm certain there are those who could take it too far, for good and bad reasons. In anything, there are those that do abuse meds. I can't deny that.
Personally, I take a lot of meds, vitamins, supplements and insulin, I WANT off the meds. But unfortunately, I know that may never happen. I need them to live, hopefully a long life.
People are different, that's for sure.
I'm very glad to hear that your doctor DOES listen to you!! That's very important!!!
As to your comment, "...more about my own anxieties...". I do understand your anxieties, that's for sure. Particularly at the beginning. Is this really happening to me? Am I making this up? Well, you are the only one that know for certain. You need to make that decision!
It is my believe that you have made that decision already! Its not my intention to upset you further. But, I also think the anxieties are coming from your RN mom and not your real mom. I'm not certain if you know what I mean. Your RN mom deals with on a regular basis at work. She has patients that need the meds and others that maybe abusing the situation, which makes it hard to know. Now your real mom would be concerned about how you are and make some suggests to find out what's happening. I guess my concern is, not to take her first comment to heart. She needs time to digest the facts.
May I guess that you talk to her. Ask what she thinks about what is happening to you. You might want to write your list of abnormalities and have them ready. Ask her for her help. She, also might be scared for you...
I think your concern is because you believe, your mom doesn't really believe you. Therefore, you may think no else will! Hence, why you think you're an imposter.
I apologize if I've over stepped my bounds!