May 12th is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.

It shall be proclaimed:

WHEREAS an estimated 10 million people in the United States (6% - 8% of the population of our country) and millions of people worldwide have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a disease for which there is no proven cause or cure; and is labeled as a chronic illness that is often diagnosed without differential diagnosis; and

WHEREAS it takes an average of 5 years to receive a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia as a patient; and medical professionals are frequently  misdiagnosing patients or prescribing improper treatment due to lack of properly updated resources, inability to access said resources or inadequate education; and despite the variety of treatments employed, most Fibromyalgia patients show no significant improvement in follow-up periods; and research recognizes that over 20 billion dollars per year are spent on patients because physicians are unable to provide them with therapies that work; and

WHEREAS Fibromyalgia afflicts women, men and children of all ethnicities and ages with debilitating pain; and either incurs difficulty with routine daily activities or negates the ability to perform daily activities in 50% of patients; and

WHEREAS patients with this illness struggle daily with the challenges of learning to live with not only widespread pain throughout their entire bodies that general pain medication does not relieve, but also extreme fatigue, stiffness and weakness, migraine headaches, numbness and tingling, impairment or loss of cognitive functions, multiple syndromes as accompanying symptom afflictions; and the emotional consequences or variety of sleep disorders that come as a result of Fibromyalgia may lead to self-medication and overuse of sleeping pills, alcohol, drugs or caffeine; and

WHEREAS Fibromyalgia has the capacity to severely alter the a patient’s lifestyle in terms of a patient’s working career with 26% of patients receiving some form of disability payment; and an estimate of 30% - 40% of patients who have had to stop working entirely or change jobs; and for every dollar spent on Fibromyalgia specific claims, employers spend approximately $50.00 - $100.00 on additional direct and indirect costs; and

WHEREAS this chronic illness additionally radically affects personal and social relationships with researched results of 80% of marriages ending in divorce if one spouse has Fibromyalgia; the vast majority of Fibromyalgia sufferers are highly driven Type A personalities that prior to their illness were great contributors to our state and the national economy and now research shows they are less likely to take initiative to meet new people or maintain current relationships;  and

WHEREAS the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (a nonprofit charitable organization), the Wisconsin Fibromyalgia Network and other organizations around our country have joined together to promote Fibromyalgia awareness and support—including improved education, diagnosis, research, and treatment; and

WHEREAS the community’s focus on Fibromyalgia education, research, awareness, advocacy and its impact on patients’ lives will guarantee hope for a better future for patients with Fibromyalgia and for Wisconsin;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ______________________, do hereby recognize the needs of this chronically ill community of citizens and proclaim May 12th as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in the great state of Wisconsin, additionally urging all of our state’s members to support the search for a cure and assist those individuals and families who deal with this devastating, chronic condition on a daily basis.

A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Chvala, for the Fibromyalgia Syndrome, on the occasion of recognizing May 12, 2002 as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.

SJR104
2007 Senate Joint Resolution 104

Relating to: recognizing May 12, 2008, as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
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Whereas, fibromyalgia is a disease with uncertain cause and no known cure; this chronic condition affects an estimated seven to ten million people in the United States and many more millions of people worldwide; and
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Whereas, fibromyalgia is more likely to affect women, occurring nine times out of ten in women; and
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Whereas, fibromyalgia is a very serious and chronic illness, increasing at dramatic rates, causing those affected to suffer from fatigue and debilitating pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons; and
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Whereas, people living with this condition learn to live with difficulty in performing everyday activities, such as climbing stairs, lifting weight, and performing other actions involving physical strain, and with widespread pain in muscles, joints, and ligaments; and
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Whereas, people with fibromyalgia face discrimination in the workplace and from family and friends because so few people are aware or understand what fibromyalgia is and the symptoms with which it manifests; and
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Whereas, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is difficult and takes an average of five years because many of the symptoms mimic those of other disorders, resulting in the average person spending thousands of dollars in medical bills just to receive a diagnosis; and
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Whereas, public education is important in order for patients to receive proper diagnosis and treatment; public awareness will help to eliminate the myths, improve patient support, and encourage research; now, therefore, be it
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Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That May 12, 2008, be recognized as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in Wisconsin, and all citizens are encouraged to support those seeking a cure for fibromyalgia and to assist those individuals and families who on a daily basis deal with this devastating disease.