Men And Their Struggle To Find A Place In The Fight

As you know we treat everyday as a chance to create awareness for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (FM/CFS) but with the National Awareness day approaching us this Thursday the 12th of May, I wanted to shed some light and focus on the men who also struggle with FM/CFS.  Though most commonly fibromyalgia does seem to strike out at women, nearly 10%  of those diagnosed are men and are struggling to find their place not only in the treatment arena but in the support and awareness groups as well.

I recently read this great article that not only gave the perfect example of a man's journey from diagnosis to acceptance to becoming a major advocate for the illness, here is his story:

[1]Randy Wold, 58, was an auto mechanic, an excellent golfer, and a bowler who never scored below 200. Then, nearly 10 years ago, when he was suffering from intense chronic pain, he received a surprise diagnosis. His doctor told him he had fibromyalgia.

A disorder that causes chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia strikes mostly women. Of the estimated 5 million adults with fibromyalgia in the U.S., as few as 10% are men. For that reason, the popular perception of it as a women's disease has persisted, even among fellow patients.

"When I first went to a support group meeting, it was all women," says Wold, who is now on the board of the National Fibromyalgia Association - and the only male board member with the disease. "Some didn't want me there."

A neurologist who Wold consulted wouldn't see him, discounting his diagnosis and accusing him of angling to get disability payments.

"It's a tough deal for a man to have fibromyalgia," says Wold, who is no longer able to work and can only occasionally hit the links or the lanes. "One of my best friends doesn't believe I have it," he says. "His wife, who is a doctor, told him men can't get it, that it is in my head. That kind of hurt."

I can't speak for everyone, but Randy's story not only inspired me but reaffirmed my belief that we must self advocate in our medical treatment and continue to keep an open mind about where this chronic illness may lead us. It also brought the scary thought that if it is so hard for women to get a formal diagnosis and now know it is even harder for men,it raises the question of how many more men just give up? Knowing how easy it is to become frustrated and detoured by medical professionals in general, then add the stigma of "men should be tough" to the mix, I can only imagine the fear of never knowing what is really wrong with you, second guessing your mental health and living with the idea that there is nothing that can be done. Is this my life? If you have asked yourself this question, the answer is no. Reach out to support groups, keep searching for a physician who specializes in fibromyalgia and take pro-active action holistically until you are able to get the treatment you need. 

Help is available, don't be afraid to ask for it. This Thursday is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, for men and women alike. Take a moment to speak up, spread the word, sign a petition, join a support group and most of all give yourself a supportive hug for making each day count in the fight against fibromyalgia. 

I would love to invite all of you to join a secure web-site created by Fighting Fibromyalgia for anyone who suffers from an invisible illness. Here is the link, I hope to see you there. Fighting Fibromyalgia web-site/support group.

{1}WebMD