HP1031, item 1, 124th Maine State Legislature
JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MAY 15TH AS FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY
HP1031, LR 1991, item 1, First Regular Session - 124th Maine Legislature, page 1
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JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MAY
15TH AS FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY
WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people
physically, mentally and socially; and
WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points,
abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, fatigue and often psychological distress that can be
extremely debilitating and can interfere with basic daily activities and social interaction; and
WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is a very serious and chronic illness and is known as a syndrome,
which is a collection of signs, symptoms and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not
related to a specific, identifiable cause and for which there is no known cure; and
WHEREAS, this condition affects an estimated 7 to 10 million people in the United States and
many more millions of people worldwide and is more likely to affect women, occurring 9 times out of
10 in women; and
WHEREAS, people living with this condition 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
WHEREAS, people with fibromyalgia face discrimination in the workplace and from family and
friends because so few people are aware of or understand what fibromyalgia is and what its symptoms
are; and
WHEREAS, diagnosis of fibromyalgia is difficult and takes an average of 5 years because many
of the symptoms mimic those of other disorders, resulting in the average person's spending thousands of
dollars in medical bills just to receive a diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, public education is important in order for patients to receive proper diagnosis and
treatment; public awareness will help to eliminate the myths about fibromyalgia, improve patient support
and encourage research; and
WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association's community awareness campaign involves
an annual National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, and this year's awareness theme is "Fibromyalgia
Affects Everyone" to emphasize the far-reaching effects of this disorder, from broken lives to the
economic costs to patients and society; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Legislature, now
assembled in the First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to
recognize May 15, 2009 as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in the State, 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.

SR-38, As Adopted by Senate, April 14, 2011
Senators Booher, Anderson, Hansen, Moolenaar and Bieda offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 38.
A resolution to recognize May 12, 2011, as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
Whereas, Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain disorder that affects an estimated 10
million Americans and approximately 3 percent to 6 percent of the population worldwide; and
Whereas, While it occurs most often in women, it strikes men and children and all ethnic
backgrounds; and
Whereas, For those with severe symptoms, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating and
interfere with basic daily activities; and
Whereas, Fibromyalgia often occurs following a physical trauma, such as an acute illness or
injury, which may act as a trigger in the development of the disorder. Recent studies have suggested
that FM patients have generalized disturbance in pain processing and an amplified response to
stimuli that would not ordinarily be painful in healthy individuals; and
Whereas, There is no known cure for fibromyalgia. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms
and improving function. A variety of prescription medications are often used to reduce pain levels
and improve sleep; and
Whereas, Spreading awareness of the symptoms of fibromyalgia can help put an end to the
lack of understanding, education, and awareness of fibromyalgia that causes patients to go through
countless instances of mistreatment and misdiagnosis; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That in recognition of the importance of the ongoing fight against
fibromyalgia, we do hereby proclaim May 12, 2011, as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in Michigan.
We encourage all citizens to help educate and support family, friends, and neighbors who have been
diagnosed with fibromyalgia as an expression of support and compassion to fight this dreadful pain
disorder. By increasing awareness of the risk factors and taking direct actions to reduce them, we can
enable those who suffer from the disorder to live more peacefully; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor of
Michigan and director of the Department of Community Health.

Reps. Miller, Bieda, Accavitti, Ball, Brown, Byrnes, Condino, Constan, Dean,
Garfield, Gonzales, Green, Hammon, Hansen, Hildenbrand, Hopgood, Robert Jones,
Kathleen Law, LeBlanc, Leland, Lemmons, Marleau, McDowell, Meisner, Pearce, Proos,
Sak, Scott, Shaffer, Alma Smith, Spade, Stahl, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Valentine, Warren,
Cheeks, Clack, Hammel, Lahti, David Law and Sheltrown offered the following
resolution:
House Resolution No. 332.
A resolution to commemorate May 12, 2008, as Michigan Fibromyalgia
Awareness Day.
Whereas, Fibromyalgia is a disease without a known cause or cure. This chronic
disease affects people of all ages throughout the world. Nearly 10 million people in the
United States alone suffer from this chronic disease; and
Whereas, Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, which causes people to suffer from
often intolerable pain. One of the affects of Fibromyalgia is sleep fatigue as a result of a
lack of deep sleep as well as patterns of non-restorative sleep. Fibromyalgia can also
cause various nervous system pains such as; neuropathic pain, central nervous system
pain, and transmitter or receptor dysfunction pain. It can also cause headaches, interstitial
cystitis, dizziness, tingling sensations, lack of sensations, vision problems, noise
sensitivity, dysfunctional bowels, and problems with memory functioning; and
Whereas, People afflicted by this condition find it nearly impossible to complete
their daily routines. Patients have difficulty lifting any object even of light weight, have
problems using stairs, and any slight physical strain makes it almost impossible to
conduct daily activities; and
Whereas, A diagnosis of Fibromyalgia takes an average of five years. Throughout
the time the patient is enduring enormous amounts of pain, he or she often must face
discrimination at both the workplace, and the community; and
Whereas, The lack of public education of Fibromyalagia makes it extremely
difficult to treat as well as to diagnose. Increasing public education and research on the
causes and diagnosis of this illness would help to eliminate a misunderstanding of its
conditions, and possibly make advances in diagnosis and treatment more likely in the
future; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative
body commemorate May 12, 2008, as Michigan Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.

Reps. Bieda, Wojno, Simpson, Miller, Condino, Accavitti, Ball, Bauer, Brown, Byrnes,
Cheeks, Clack, Constan, Dean, Espinoza, Farrah, Gonzales, Hammel, Hammon, Hansen,
Hopgood, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Leland, Lemmons, Mayes, McDowell, Melton, Polidori,
Proos, Sak, Sheltrown, Alma Smith, Spade, Tobocman, Vagnozzi and Valentine offered the
following resolution:
House Resolution No. 75.
A resolution to commemorate May 12, 2007, as Michigan Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
Whereas, Fibromyalgia is a disease with uncertain cause and no known cure, this chronic
condition affects men, women, and children of all ages around the world. This chronic disease
affects an estimated 10 million people in the United States alone; and
Whereas, Fibromyalgia is a very serious and chronic disease, which affects people to
suffer often unbearable pain. Fibromyalgia causes these people to suffer in many ways including
sleep fatigue; with a disturbance of deep sleep, patterns of non-restorative sleep, it can also
include various nervous system pains such as; neuropathic pain, central nervous system pain,
transmitter or receptor dysfunction pain, headache, interstitial cystitis, dizziness, tingling
sensations, lack of sensations, vision problems, noise sensitivity, dysfunctional bowels, and
problems with memory functioning; and
Whereas, People suffering from this chronic condition make daily activities near
impossible. Patients are unable to lift objects even of light weight, have problems climbing and
descending stairs, and any physical strain makes it near impossible to conduct daily routines;
and
Whereas, A diagnosis of Fibromyalgia takes an average of five years. During the time
the patient is enduring all this pain, he or she often faces discrimination at both the workplace
and the community; and
Whereas, The lack of public education makes Fibromyalgia near impossible to treat, let
alone diagnose. Public education and research on the causes and diagnosis of this illness would
help to eliminate a misunderstanding of its conditions, and possibly make advances in diagnosis
and treatment more feasible in the future; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body
commemorate May 12, 2007, as Michigan Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.