by John Stewart, Staff
The Mississauga News
Friday, May 13, 2005
Some days Susan Monaco can’t even get out of bed.
The 50-year-old Mississaugan is one of a million Canadians, mostly women, who suffer from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a disease that causes severe muscular pain and fatigue.
Most frustrating for sufferers is that, on the outside, they look fine.
“The problem is that we look healthy,” said Monaco, who heads a local support group for sufferers that meets the last Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Loblaws in the Heartland Centre at McLaughlin Rd. and Matheson Blvd.
“Sometimes even your family doesn’t believe you,” said Monaco.
May 12 is designated Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in Canada.
Asked to described what it feels like to have FMS, the local resident said, “It’s widespread pain, anywhere and everywhere.”
The disease must be diagnosed by a rheumatologist who finds 11 to 18 “trigger points” in the body. When pressed, the result is excruciating pain.
Like many sufferers, Monaco had trouble working after being diagnosed in 1986. Eventually, the bank she worked at tired of her frequent absences and offered her a package, which she accepted. She is now on a disability pension.
Lawyer Richard Bogoroch, who will speak at the next MFS support group session May 24, has successfully fought a number of civil cases for FMS and chronic pain patients against insurance companies over the past decade.
“Nothing shows up on an MRI or on an X-ray, so it’s essentially a rheumatalogical diagnosis. That’s why there’s controversy,” he said.
A landmark ruling by Canada’s Supreme Court in 2005 recognizing chronic pain cases was a major step forward.
While there’s no cure, FMS sufferers can get some relief. That’s one of the reasons for the support group, said Monaco.
Reprinted with permission from The Mississauga News
