Authors of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia"

November 18, 1999

After conducting over 40 years of research on the disease, Dr. St. Amand has created an extraordinarily successful treatment outlined for the first time in his brand new book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia."

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TWBookmark: Welcome to TimeWarnerBookmark! Little, Brown and Company and the Talk City Network are proud to present our special guest for today, Claudia Merek. She, along with Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, has written a new book about fibromyalgia. Dr. St. Amand is one of the foremost experts today in both the research on and the treatment of fibromyalgia. After conducting over 40 years of research on the disease, Dr. St. Amand has created an extraordinarily successful treatment outlined for the first time in his brand new book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia." Welcome, Claudia! It's a pleasure to have you with us. I understand that Dr. St. Amand is within arm's reach and may contribute to your answers!

Claudia Merek: This is true. I'm in his office at his desk even now.

TWBookmark: Not a lot of people know or have heard about fibromyalgia. What exactly is it?

Claudia Merek: Fibromyalgia is a cluster of symptoms that are linked by specialized pain all over the body and fatigue. Fibromyalgia affects every cell in the body and causes cognitive problems called 'fibrofog,' as well as problems with bladder, irritable bowel, and every part of the body. There is no test. Diagnosis is made by an examination that shows areas of tenderness and swelling in the muscles and in the tendons, as well as symptoms that are related in an extensive patient history. Fibromyalgia is largely present in women -- it's 85 percent women, usually in their 40s or above -- although it can affect children as well as men. Symptoms can range from headaches to deadening fatigue to problems with memory and concentration so intense that patients cannot continue to work.

Bill: Why do you think so few people have heard or know about fibromyalgia?

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