Let’s talk about fibromyalgia—the invisible illness that leaves people in pain, exhausted, and gaslit by the very doctors who are supposed to help them.

In Montahy El Salaheya, we see Rania (played by Heba Magdy) struggling with unbearable pain, exhaustion, and difficulty moving. After a long search for answers, she’s finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia—a condition that, until recently, was barely recognized in Egypt or globally.

And honestly? It’s about time this conversation started happening in our media.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that affects the way the brain and nervous system process pain. It causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive issues. Unlike conditions that can be detected through blood tests or scans, fibromyalgia doesn’t show up on traditional medical exams, which is why it’s often misdiagnosed or dismissed entirely.

Globally, fibromyalgia affects around 2–4% of the population, with women making up nearly 90% of diagnosed cases. In Egypt, awareness is still low, meaning many people are struggling with undiagnosed, untreated pain for years.

Symptoms can vary but often include:

• Chronic pain throughout the body, often described as burning or aching
• Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
• Stiffness, numbness, and tingling in the muscles and joints
• Sleep disorders, including insomnia and unrefreshing sleep
• Cognitive difficulties, also known as “fibro fog,” affecting memory and concentration
• Sensitivity to light, noise, temperature changes, and even touch
• Digestive issues such as bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and nausea

Why Fibromyalgia Is Dismissed—Especially for Women

Here’s where it gets frustrating.

Because fibromyalgia isn’t visible on scans or blood tests, many doctors simply don’t believe it exists. And when the majority of cases happen to be women, the situation gets even worse.

I’ve personally been given a probable fibromyalgia diagnosis, and a close family relative has been officially diagnosed. I also know several people who’ve battled it in silence—while others spent years in pain without knowing why because every time they went to a doctor, they were told:

• “It’s just stress.”
• “You need to exercise more.”
• “You’re just overthinking it.”
• “Dala3” (a term often used to dismiss women’s pain as exaggeration or being overly sensitive).

Yes, dala3—because even in 2025, women’s pain is still not taken seriously.

The COVID-19 Connection: Why Fibromyalgia Is Finally Getting Attention

If you’re only hearing about fibromyalgia now, you’re not alone. It’s only in the past few years that it’s been getting more recognition—partly because of COVID-19.

• Many people who had COVID or long COVID started experiencing chronic pain, fatigue, and brain fog.
• Researchers found that post-COVID patients fit the criteria for fibromyalgia.
• This forced the medical field to start acknowledging fibromyalgia as a real, serious condition.

So, while this illness has been around for decades, it took a pandemic for the world to start acknowledging it.

How Montahy El Salaheya Shows the Reality of Fibromyalgia

Rania’s story in the series does something most shows don’t: it takes fibromyalgia seriously. Her character goes through:

• Chronic, widespread pain—not just in one spot, but all over her body
• Severe fatigue—making even simple movements feel impossible
• Pain flare-ups that come and go unpredictably
• People around her not understanding what she’s going through

The last point is a big one. Most fibromyalgia patients aren’t believed—even by doctors. And because it mostly affects women (who are twice as likely to have it as men), it’s dismissed even more.

When Should You Seek Help?

If you’ve been experiencing long-term, unexplained pain, it’s worth looking into fibromyalgia. Here’s when you should consider seeing a specialist:

• If you’ve had chronic pain for more than three months with no clear cause
• If your pain is widespread (not just in one area)
• If you experience extreme fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest
• If you struggle with brain fog, memory issues, or difficulty concentrating
• If you have sleep problems despite being exhausted
• If your pain gets worse with stress, cold weather, or physical activity

While there’s no cure, fibromyalgia can be managed with proper treatment, lifestyle changes, and support. The biggest challenge is getting the right diagnosis in the first place.

The Importance of Talking About Fibromyalgia

Here’s the reality:

• Fibromyalgia is real, even if most people don’t know about it.
• It’s not just ‘stress’—it’s a serious medical condition.
• Women’s pain needs to be taken seriously, not dismissed.

The fact that Montahy El Salaheya is even mentioning fibromyalgia is a big step in breaking the silence. It might not fix the medical system overnight, but it helps start the conversation—one that’s long overdue.

So, if you or someone you know has mysterious, long-term pain, exhaustion, or brain fog, don’t ignore it. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s “nothing.”

Because for thousands of people, it’s everything.