If you spend any time around persons with fibromyalgia (FM), sooner or later the conversation will turn to doctors. After all, for most FM patients physicians play a critical role, first in making an initial diagnosis and later in prescribing a treatmentnt program for what is a very complex and usually frustrating medical condition. Not surprisingly, patients' comments about their medical practitioners run the gamut from enthusiastic, grateful, or respectful to defensive, angry, or incredulous.

Of course, many physicians have strong feelings about FM patients as well. I was reminded of this recently while listening to the audiotapes of two presentations given by rheumatologist Thomas Romano, M.D., Ph.D., at the National Fibromyalgia Partnership's May 2002 conference, Fibromyalgia: Facing the Future, in Orlando, Florida. While speaking on the topics of post-traumatic fibromyalgia and alternative medicine, Dr. Romano took time to consider common physician attitudes about fibromyalgia and the reasons for them.

This information is taken from the Benefits and Work website. There is a guide that Janet Horton our Benefits helpline Advisor can send to anyone who thinks they are likely to affected by the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in the near future. There is a test on the Benefits and Works website where you can find whether you are in the support group or work-related Activity group for this benefit - this is available to anyone you don't have to become a member of benefits and work to access this test.

Read the following Questions and Answers that will hopefully answer some of your questions on the newly introduced benefit. An important thing to remember is that if you are already in receipt of Incapacity Benefit then this will not affect you initially. Also this does not have any impact on DLA or Attendance allowance.

Also, this month we put new trustee Des Quinn under the spotlight to find out his favourite hobbies and what his future hopes are for FMA UK.  (Subscribe to FaMily Magazine to get more of these articles)

The following list shows those UK MEPs who have signed Declaration 69/2008 as at 28^th October 2008.

The UK total has now risen from 34 to 46 which is great, but we have a total of 78 MEPs so we still have a long way to go to ensure this Declaration is successful.

If your MEP has not signed yet, please contact them again to explain just how important it is for all fibromyalgia sufferers in the UK and Europe that we gain recognition by the signing of this Declaration.

ENFA Europe wide petition

After contacting your MEP please remember to sign the petition on the ENFA website as well. Just click on the image and fill in your details.