Meet, FMS Disability Advocate, Don Powell: Part II
© Tamara Peters
In part two of this interview Fibromyalgia Disability Advocate, Donald Powell, speaks out on a variety of issues including men with fibro, and the role of humor in coping with chronic illness.
What is the main purpose (overall goal) of your website - Fibromyalgia and Disability? What key knowledge do you hope fellow fibromites will come away with after visiting your site?
The main goal of my website for Fibromites is to let them know that they are not alone and they are not crazy. Fibromyalgia is real and can in fact be disabling. I hope they come away feeling that they are part of a larger group not only of people with potentially disabling illnesses, but of the disabled community as a whole. They should feel empowered instead of diminished; stronger and not weaker; and, hopefully, inspired to do something positive to make a difference.
I understand your specialty is educating husbands.. What kind of advice do you give them?
Husbands of women who have Fibro are often at a loss to understand what has happened to their once vibrant spouse. They can't relate to the exhaustion, forgetfulness, confusion, and the dropping things...let alone the pain. The first thing that I do is open there eyes to the fact that it isn't just THEIR wives but millions of wives, and then I drop the BOMB on them and tell them that I have it too. Then I invite them to come by the Men with Fibro site and see all the other men who have it, and have all the same problems their wives have.
It usually takes a while...the denial is often intensely strong. Often it ends up with a phone call where he ends up complaining about something off the wall like how she has to have the sheets pulled tight on the bed and it drives him nuts because he has to do it. Those little things will drive a husband as a caregiver up the wall where a wife won't even think twice.
What, if anything, do you see as the principle difference between men and women with fibromyalgia?
Are there any challenges you feel are unique to men with fibro? The principle differences between men and women with Fibro...simple...men aren't supposed to get it! How's that? No matter where you look it is still listed under women's conditions. It's bad enough to be a man with a debilitating illness, but to be a man with a debilitating illness who is told he has a woman's condition? You are
