‘This really explains my case!’: biographical reconstruction of Japanese people with fibromyalgia meeting peers

Homma, Mieko; Yamazaki, Yoshihiko; Ishikawa, Hirono; Kiuchi, Takahiro

doi:10.1080/14461242.2015.1098559

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…38,39,46 Likewise, whilst family and friends could be of great support and readily share domestic responsibilities, 34,37,54 some nonetheless expressed doubt regarding the illness. 31,36 The FMS diagnosis did not convey a clear meaning to others and did not therefore assist informants in explaining what was wrong; 30,31,[35][36][37][38]41,42,46,[48][49][50]54 they therefore felt obliged to provide further explanations. 31 Like health professionals, other people questioned the reality of the illness, and informants had heard statements that someone looking so well could not be sick.…”

Section: Role Of Fms Diagnosis In Legitimating Sicknessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…27,34 On account of such questioning of their diagnosis and attempts to relate their suffering to psychological problems, some informants felt humiliated by health professionals 34,37,43,51 and within their social network. 39,48,53 Informants were also aware of negative attributions of FMS 31,51 -for example, to hypochondria, 47 a 'women's disorder', hysteria, or simply as something everyone has. 31 In the face of these negative connotations of the diagnosis, informants frequently found it hard to counteract others' distrust and stigmatizing attitudes.…”

Section: Role Of Fms Diagnosis In Legitimating Sicknessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…50 Others rejected the medical diagnosis, with its negative associations, and instead constructed their own meaning of the diagnosis based on their own experience. 30,50 Strategies to maintain their credibility as persons could be to attribute FMS to their perfectionism and overactive life style when explaining their illness to others, 35,48 or to keep the diagnosis hidden, so as to avert stigmatization. 47 To avoid being a burden to their family, they might hide their suffering and preserve a healthy image.…”

Section: Role Of Fms Diagnosis In Legitimating Sicknessmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Diagnostic experience of patients with fibromyalgia – A meta-ethnography

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To examine how individuals experience the process and consequences of receiving a diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods:A systematic literature search of qualitative studies up to May 2016 was performed. Twenty-eight reports including information on patients' diagnostic experiences were subjected to an interpretive analysis in accordance with the principles of meta-ethnography.Results: Years were normally spent consulting specialists in an attempt to confirm the reality of symptoms and make sense of the illness. Great relief was felt at finally achieving the FMS diagnosis. However, relief waned when therapies proved ineffective. Health professionals and others questioned whether individuals were genuinely ill, that the illness had a psychological nature, and whether they were doing their best to recover. The diagnosis did not provide a meaningful explanation of individuals' suffering and had limited power to legitimate illness. Patients felt blamed for their failure to recover, threatening their personal credibility and moral identity. Conclusion:The FMS diagnosis has limitations in validating and making sense of patients' illness experiences and in providing social legitimation of their illness. Social relationships are strained during the diagnostic process and in the course of ineffective therapies. KeywordsFibromyalgia -contested illness -diagnostic experience -legitimacy -metasynthesis -metaethnography 3

show abstract

Section: Role Of Fms Diagnosis In Legitimating Sicknessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Role Of Fms Diagnosis In Legitimating Sicknessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Role Of Fms Diagnosis In Legitimating Sicknessmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Diagnostic experience of patients with fibromyalgia – A meta-ethnography

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…According to other studies, associationism and patient support groups are powerful tools. They can promote subjective transformations that may improve the self-management of the disease (Homma, Yamazaki, Ishikawa, & Kiuchi, 2016; Juuso, Söderberg, Olsson, & Skär, 2014; Sallinen, Kukkurainen, & Peltokallio, 2011) in addition to making the situation of people affected visible and allowing a critical transformation of health care practices (Akrich, 2010; Brown, Morello-Frosch, Zavestoski, & Contested Illnesses Research Group, 2011; Wehling, Viehöver, & Koenen, 2015). However, in the case of FM, CFS/ME, and MCS, literature on the importance of patient support groups as an instrument of political activism has not been found.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Illness Experiences

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, and multiple chemical sensitivity can be considered contested illnesses. The questioning of the status of these conditions as real diseases reduces feelings of legitimacy in those affected. The purpose of this study was to analyze subjectivity construction processes in people with these diseases. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted from the perspective of hermeneutic phenomenology and ethnosociology. We used life stories for compiling data (13 informants were interviewed face-to-face), and sociological discourse analysis was developed. Three main categories were identified: (a) self and grieving; (b) images and practices relating to fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, and multiple chemical sensitivity; and (c) relationships with health professionals. This study shows that daily experiences of people living with these diseases are marked by stigmatization processes. The ultimate purpose of nursing care for people with these conditions should be to reduce their vulnerability and exclusion.

show abstract

“…45,50 FM is invisible on medical assessments, and the validity of the diagnosis and realness of symptoms may be questioned by health professionals, including physiotherapists. 47,50,51 Moreover, patients with FM do not necessarily look sick, so the condition is invisible in this way as well. 28,49 Consequently, the patients' altered behaviour and inability to meet their former social obligations are difficult for others to understand and accept.…”

Section: Personal Suffering That Intrudes and Disturbs Social Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Rethinking physiotherapy for patients with fibromyalgia - lessons learnt from qualitative studies

Mengshoel

Grape

2017

Physical Therapy Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain, extensive fatigue and an array of other symptoms. Cure is not expected, and patients have to learn to live with the illness. During the last years several studies have examined how it is like to live with FM from a patient's point of view. These findings may help physiotherapists to better understand the challenges faced by patients. Objective: To describe what it is like for patients to live with FM and discuss how this may inform physiotherapy practice. Design: A systematic literature search of qualitative studies up till May 2016 was conducted, and 93 papers were read. The focus was on patients' experiences of symptoms and how they managed everyday life. Results: Incomprehensible, unpredictable symptoms of FM intrude and disturb everyday life. The body is constantly monitored by patients on a day-today basis according to fluctuations in pain and energy levels, and habits and routines of daily life are adapted to these shifts. With other words, the connection between body, self and daily life is ruptured. In contrast, those having recovered from FM had found out what they could tolerate during a day and spent long time in rebuiding a life worth living. Conclusion: The present paper presents an argument that living with FM calls for a rather complex personal healing process that should be recognized and supported by physiotherapists.

show abstract

‘This really explains my case!’: biographical reconstruction of Japanese people with fibromyalgia meeting peers

Cited by 11 publications

References 39 publications

Diagnostic experience of patients with fibromyalgia – A meta-ethnography

Diagnostic experience of patients with fibromyalgia – A meta-ethnography

Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Illness Experiences

Rethinking physiotherapy for patients with fibromyalgia - lessons learnt from qualitative studies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About