Fibromyalgia is a syndrome composed of a specific set of signs and symptoms. It is a common disorder. Medical literature dating back as far as at least the 17th century have described the condition in detail. In 1987 the American Medical Association (AMA) acknowledged fibromyalgia as a true illness and potential cause of disability. Other organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have also accepted fibromyalgia as a legitimate clinical entity. Yet many physicians still consider it to be a "wastebasket diagnosis".

Lately I have been hearing a new term from some of my doctors. They say I suffer from "fibromyalgia symptoms" while denying that I have the condition itself. Does this make any sense to anyone? Ever heard it before? Because it seems to me that if the AMA, NIH, and WHO all recognize fibromyalgia as an illness, these doctors have no right to deny it.