Ep. 49 Tonsillectomies and teeth extractions to treat Fibromyalgia? Gone with the Wind’s story of Margaret Mitchell. Part 9

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions

This week we discuss attempts to treat fibromyalgia 100 years ago. We look at the medical management of illness until the mid-1800s.  You will hear about the 4 humors,  the medical paradigm for understanding. With the advent of anesthesia and development of germ theory in the pre-antibiotic world, Margaret entered the medical establishment of her day.

Continue on the journey back in time listening to what it was like to have fibromyalgia and related problems 100 years ago.

As a doctor passionate about helping those struggling, I can't help wanting to reach back in time and sit down with Margaret in my clinic. I would have enjoyed spending hours and frequent follow-up visits discussing her struggles and working to lessen her mysterious pains, brain fog, and fatigue.  Her history gives insight into the limitations of medicine in the first half of the 20th century. Sadly, current sufferers with fibromyalgia will likely find that they will fit somewhere on the spectrum from never receiving a correct diagnosis and proper education and treatment to getting up-to-date education and comprehensive care. 

Dr. Lenz is an internist, pediatrician, lifestyle medicine physician, and clinical lipidologist with an interest in helping those with fibromyalgia and related problems go beyond just learning to live with it to even reverse fibromyalgia. He is also the author of the book, "Conquering Your Fibromyalgia: Real Answers and Real Solutions for Real Pain. " It is also available on audiobook with Dr. Lenz as the narrator.
If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. You can also go to

Click here for the YouTube channel

Support the show

When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD.

Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...