Men With Fibromyalgia : A Rare Occurrence
If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you know the symptoms: the constant fatigue, the intense muscle pain, and the tender areas of the body. While this terrible disease is most common in women of childbearing age, there are men with fibromyalgia as well. This is rare, however. According to a 1999 study, there is only one man with fibromyalgia for every three women with the condition. This makes men with fibromyalgia difficult to diagnose and treat, because cases in men are so rare.
The Symptoms Of Men With Fibromyalgia
Men with fibromyalgia tend to display different symptoms than women with fibromyalgia do. Because it is more common for women to have fibromyalgia, it is more difficult for doctors to diagnose men with fibromyalgia because the symptoms are different and not seen as frequently. Doctors are also predisposed to think of fibromyalgia as a “woman’s disease,” and thus they often to not think to diagnose men with fibromyalgia when they exhibit common symptoms.
Men with fibromyalgia seem to suffer fewer and milder symptoms than women with fibromyalgia do. The number and severity of the tender points in the body is reduced. Also, the fatigue is milder and fewer men experience irritable bowl syndrome as a side effect.
Finding Help: Limited Support For Men With Fibromyalgia
Because there are so few men with fibromyalgia out there, a man suffering from the condition may have a more difficult time finding support than women. Many support groups exist for women with fibromyalgia, whether they are part of a hospital program or online. However, although these support groups usually welcome men to their ranks, men with fibromyalgia have a more difficult time finding support overall.
And it is the men that may need the support most of all. Because the disease wears away your strength and muscle, men with fibromyalgia often feel a sense of failure or the inability to comply with the standards set for them by society. And because most men have the idea that it is necessary to hide their emotions, the result is repressed anger and difficulty communicating.
What Can I Do?
If you are a man suffering from fibromyalgia, it is important that you follow the same procedures as anyone else with the disease. Make sure to take all medication as prescribed to you. It is also vital that you exercise, eat a balanced diet, and get the proper amount of sleep. It may also be necessary to make changes to your work habits as well. If your work is putting a significant amount of stress or strain on your muscles, then you should re-evaluate your lifestyle so that you can better live with this terrible disease.