{
  "id": 5241489,
  "title": "Fibromyalgia patient calls for greater awareness, understanding of disease",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fibromyalgia-patient-calls-for-greater-awareness-understanding-of",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-03T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09/03/japan/science-health/japanese-fibromyalgia-patients/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "The often-misunderstood disease is characterized by severe pain throughout the body.",
  "key_points": [
    "Reina Serikyaku, 30, suffers from fibromyalgia for a decade",
    "Doctors dismissed her symptoms, suggesting she imagined pain",
    "Serikyaku advocates for greater awareness and support of fibromyalgia"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Serikyaku's struggle and advocacy highlight the need for greater awareness and understanding of fibromyalgia to address the challenges faced by patients, including financial difficulties and work-related issues.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}