Fibromyalgia is not a life-threatening disease. Unlike cancer or AIDS, it is not a terminal illness. Although cancer can spread throughout the body and cause vital organs to shut down, leading to death if left untreated, fibromyalgia does not have the potential to cause fatal consequences.
However, it is important to note that being concerned about fibromyalgia is justified. This is because fibromyalgia patients have a much higher risk of experiencing suicide compared to the general population. It is easy to understand why this is the case. The two main reasons that suicide becomes a problem for men with fibromyalgia is largely because of the stigma attached to men and pain. A man is supposed to just "live with the pain" man up, and keep providing.
Eventually, fibromyalgia prevents a man from fulfilling this job, creating a false sense of inadequacy. Medication is the other factor. Many, if not all, fibromyalgia medications have side effects that can worsen depression by impairing certain areas of the body or mind, such as libido or cognitive fog, or by causing suicidal thoughts.
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