The Bottom Line

Is anything sacred anymore? What happened to worthy causes without all the polyester-shirt/white-belt-and-shoes routine? Does it always have to be about the bottom line?

To me and to those who live with fibromyalgia, fibro is a condition; to others who sell pharmaceuticals and even some who provide treatments, fibromyalgia is yet another cash source. It's all about the bottom line to many of them. The profit margin.

This reality causes me both elation and concern.

There is no doubt that the increased recognition of fibromyalgia will result in better management of the condition, including pharmaceuticals and new types of treatment. There is also no doubt that a strong projected profit margin increases determination to find something that helps (the reasons for my elation).

There is also no doubt that a secondary product of increased acceptance of fibromyalgia as a real and debilitating condition will be "meds" and "docs" created simply to take advantage of a hopeful (aching) customer base; placebo's and new-fangled hocus pocus techniques that will not be real (the reason for my concern).

Recently, on my fibromyalgia news link, I have seen more articles on the profitability of new pharmaceuticals that are in the works, than on the condition itself (another cause for my concern).

I have great respect for modern medicine, including the research and development of new drugs and treatments for newly recognized conditions. I am simply too aware of the possibility of some within the world of health care and related fields to take advantage of already disadvantaged folks. It happens in every industry and every community; there will always be someone who will pick on the little guys, or be casually cruel to those who are hurting. Typically for that profit, that bottom line.

That is not our focus, or our message or our way of doing things. We are about real, caring research-based progress. The importance of moving forward and pushing for additional research is real, just as the importance of sharing the "good news" about fibromyalgia cannot be underestimated.

We have to spread the word that that fibro IS real - not imagined, that there ARE lifestyle changes that will help, that life CAN improve dramatically, and that there are people all over the world who DO understand. WE have to be positive, realistic, but positive.

Words like WE and CAN and DO are critical as we move forward to increase awareness, improve life for those with fibromyalgia and search for a cure.

I know that it's a worthy cause and I know that together WE CAN DO IT!

And that's the only bottom line that matters to me...