Fibromyalgia patient calls for greater awareness, understanding of disease
The often-misunderstood disease is characterized by severe pain throughout the body.
A Tokyo woman with fibromyalgia is using social media to raise awareness about her decade-long struggle to be diagnosed with her condition, which affects over two million people in Japan. Reina Serikyaku, a 30-year-old certified care worker, first began experiencing symptoms while in junior high school on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture.
Doctors were unable to find any abnormalities during her initial hospital visits, and one doctor even dismissed her concerns, suggesting she was imagining her pain. It wasn't until she was diagnosed at a specialized medical facility that she began seeking treatment, finally after over a decade of symptoms. Despite this breakthrough, many fibromyalgia patients continue to face challenges, including financial difficulties and the difficulty of working due to their condition.
Serikyaku has become an advocate for increased awareness and understanding of fibromyalgia, as well as support for those suffering from this often-misunderstood illness.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
