Erin Story

Chapter 19: Fibromyalgia

By: Rosy

        “All right s, I have good news and bad news.”

          The s nervously listened.

          “Some good news is that Megan has not been taking too many pill because of pressure, and her problem is not as bad as we first thought. But we believe Megan has developed a case of fibromyalgia.”

          “Fibro-what?” Jenny asked.

          “Fibromyalgia. It is a chronic disorder that involves musculoskeletal pain and fatigue-which can cause headaches, and sometimes even fainting.” Dr. Johnekee explained.

          “What’s that muscu-pain stuff, doctor?” Erin asked.

          “Musculoskeletal pain is pain in the muscles and bones.”

          “Come to think of it,” Sophie said,”Megan has been complaining about growing-pains a lot lately. I guess it could have been that musulo-whatever.”

          “Some of the other symptoms are fatigue- has Megan been under a lot of stress lately?”

          “As a matter of fact, she has been,” Sophie said, “She’s been the youngest for 13 years, and now her mom is going to have another kid, so she’s pretty stressed about that.”

          “I see…” the doctor said as he jotted something down on his clipboard, “Another symptom is sleep problems. I suppose you s wouldn’t know Megan’s conditions with that, so I guess I’ll have to wait to talk to Margaret Davis about that. Umm, widespread and chronic pain, headaches, you’ve told me about those…Has Megan had any memory problems?”

          “No, I haven’t noticed any of those kinds of problems. She still get’s A’s on quizzes and stuff,” Erin said.

          “Good, good,” Dr. Jonhnakee said as he crossed something out on his clipboard, “that means that this isn’t the most serious kind of case of fibromyalgia.”

          “So is this one of those incurable diseases like you thought she had before?” Jenny asked.

          “Well, there is treatment, if that’s what you mean. There is medication, exercise therapy, acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, and chiropractic help for cases like Megan’s.”

          Suddenly the hospital door burst open and Mrs. Davis rushed in with a horrified look on her face, “Where’s my baby?” she asked.

          “Megan is in there,” the doctor said, pointing to Megan’s room, “but she can not have any visitors right now, she just got done with tests and is resting.”

          “I need to see my baby!” Mrs. Davis said, pushing past the doctor and running toward Megan’s room.