For many of us, the fibromyalgia diagnosis left us feeling like, “Who am I now?” Fibromyalgia changes how we see ourselves, relate with others, and interact in our lives. What if you could significantly improve your quality of life? Or have the energy to do the things you love? Or to travel and enjoy yourself? Today is the seventh installment of our Stories of Hope and Healing. Tami interviews five recent graduates of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, and they share their journeys from pre-diagnosis to where they are now after graduation. One graduate even improved by 87%, going from the most symptomatic student in class to being essentially symptom-free today. In this episode, you’ll hear how Lisa’s fibromyalgia diagnosis led to an existential crisis and feelings of being spiritually unmoored, how her coach, Robin, helped to support her healing journey and build her healthcare team, celebrating the little wins with a “ta-da” list, the various approaches that contributed to Lisa’s 63% improvement in her fibromyalgia impact questionnaire score, the recognition that healing requires energy, resources to learn more about low-dose naltrexone, Lisa’s message for anyone dealing with a spiritual crisis, Kim’s post-diagnosis struggle with improving her symptoms after recognizing that the FDA-approved drugs were not a good fit for her, learning how to listen to what your body needs, how Kim’s coach, Robin, helped her to tune into your body’s voice, getting honest with yourself about the impact that fibromyalgia has on your life, how Kim used the tools she learned in class and her healthcare team to get through a recent significant fibro flare, the holistic changes that helped Kim improve her symptoms by 46%, recognizing the significance of an individual approach to symptom management, the far-reaching positive impact we can make by sharing what we know, the significant changes Connie has felt since going through the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program and improving her symptoms by 87%, how Connie’s coach, Brenda, helped her in numerous ways throughout her healing journey, Connie’s thyroid health, the huge difference that finding the right diet has made for Connie, Susan’s experience of trying various integrative and regular doctors, diets, and treatments, the frustration of not finding a solution until discovering the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, how Susan’s symptoms impacted her career as a kindergarten teacher, techniques and strategies that helped to improve Susan’s quality of life, the ways that her coach helped with implementing the new strategies, giving yourself permission to take care of yourself without guilt, staying on top of your pain, Lauren’s deep dive into fibromyalgia resources right after her diagnosis, deciding to work with her coach, Julie, early in her journey and the impact she’s had on Lauren’s fibromyalgia journey, why coaching has been Tami’s secret weapon in managing her fibromyalgia, how you can join the next Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, and more. If you've been looking for new ideas on your fibromyalgia healing journey, you’ll definitely find some in today's episode.       Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

For many of us, the fibromyalgia diagnosis left us feeling like, “Who am I now?” Fibromyalgia changes how we see ourselves, relate with others, and interact in our lives. What if you could significantly improve your quality of life? Or have the energy to do the things you love? Or to travel and enjoy yourself? Today is the seventh installment of our Stories of Hope and Healing. Tami interviews five recent graduates of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, and they share their journeys from pre-diagnosis to where they are now after graduation. One graduate even improved by 87%, going from the most symptomatic student in class to being essentially symptom-free today. In this episode, you’ll hear how Lisa’s fibromyalgia diagnosis led to an existential crisis and feelings of being spiritually unmoored, how her coach, Robin, helped to support her healing journey and build her healthcare team, celebrating the little wins with a “ta-da” list, the various approaches that contributed to Lisa’s 63% improvement in her fibromyalgia impact questionnaire score, the recognition that healing requires energy, resources to learn more about low-dose naltrexone, Lisa’s message for anyone dealing with a spiritual crisis, Kim’s post-diagnosis struggle with improving her symptoms after recognizing that the FDA-approved drugs were not a good fit for her, learning how to listen to what your body needs, how Kim’s coach, Robin, helped her to tune into your body’s voice, getting honest with yourself about the impact that fibromyalgia has on your life, how Kim used the tools she learned in class and her healthcare team to get through a recent significant fibro flare, the holistic changes that helped Kim improve her symptoms by 46%, recognizing the significance of an individual approach to symptom management, the far-reaching positive impact we can make by sharing what we know, the significant changes Connie has felt since going through the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program and improving her symptoms by 87%, how Connie’s coach, Brenda, helped her in numerous ways throughout her healing journey, Connie’s thyroid health, the huge difference that finding the right diet has made for Connie, Susan’s experience of trying various integrative and regular doctors, diets, and treatments, the frustration of not finding a solution until discovering the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, how Susan’s symptoms impacted her career as a kindergarten teacher, techniques and strategies that helped to improve Susan’s quality of life, the ways that her coach helped with implementing the new strategies, giving yourself permission to take care of yourself without guilt, staying on top of your pain, Lauren’s deep dive into fibromyalgia resources right after her diagnosis, deciding to work with her coach, Julie, early in her journey and the impact she’s had on Lauren’s fibromyalgia journey, why coaching has been Tami’s secret weapon in managing her fibromyalgia, how you can join the next Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, and more. If you've been looking for new ideas on your fibromyalgia healing journey, you’ll definitely find some in today's episode. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/114" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope & Healing #7 (Certified Advisors)

Welcome to the final episode of our special Be a Coach series. So far, I’ve answered questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. Some of the topics covered in the first three parts of this special series were what a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® and a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is, the difference between the two, who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® and who is better suited to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®, what you need and don’t need to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® or Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, why the world needs fibro coaches, and why you should consider becoming one. In this final installment, I’m digging into the nuts and bolts of how you can become a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® or Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®; including the exact steps you need to take.       Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Welcome to the final episode of our special Be a Coach series. So far, I’ve answered questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. Some of the topics covered in the first three parts of this special series were what a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® and a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is, the difference between the two, who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® and who is better suited to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®, what you need and don’t need to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® or Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, why the world needs fibro coaches, and why you should consider becoming one. In this final installment, I’m digging into the nuts and bolts of how you can become a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® or Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®; including the exact steps you need to take. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the <a href="https://beafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Special #4 - How Do You Become a Fibro Coach?

Ginevra Liptan

As patients, we must take control of some aspects of our health care to get what we need. Many fibromyalgia patients are familiar with the feeling that we know more about fibromyalgia than our healthcare providers do. How can you get help from someone who knows less about your condition than you? When you combine that feeling with the broken healthcare system in the US and things like fibro fog, many of us leave our appointments feeling like we’re no better off than when we went in. Today's episode is a segment from our July Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope and Healing event featuring our special guest commencement speaker, Dr. Ginevra Lipton. In her speech, Dr. Ginevra breaks down the three main friction points and how you, as a patient, can help overcome them and help your doctor to help you. Dr. Ginevra discusses the knowledge gap between healthcare providers and patients and how it impacts fibromyalgia treatment, challenges of the fragmented and struggling US healthcare system, how fibro fog and other fibro factors affect the patient-doctor interaction, how resources like the Fibro Manual can help you bring the correct information to your provider, taking a curious, collaborative approach to your relationship with your healthcare provider, Dr. Ginevra’s tips for getting around the fragmented and siloed healthcare system, why you might want to request an extended appointment, the benefits of telemedicine especially for fibromyalgia patients, how you can maximize your appointment time regardless of fibro fog, why you should consider tracking your symptoms, taking control of certain aspects of your healthcare to ensure you receive the necessary support and treatment, and more. In addition to these tips, studies have shown that the more you work with a coach, the better your results will be. A fibro coach can help you prepare for your doctor visits and implement what your doctor has asked you to do. You don’t have to take this journey alone.     Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

As patients, we must take control of some aspects of our health care to get what we need. Many fibromyalgia patients are familiar with the feeling that we know more about fibromyalgia than our healthcare providers do. How can you get help from someone who knows less about your condition than you? When you combine that feeling with the broken healthcare system in the US and things like fibro fog, many of us leave our appointments feeling like we’re no better off than when we went in. Today's episode is a segment from our July Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope and Healing event featuring our special guest commencement speaker, Dr. Ginevra Lipton. In her speech, Dr. Ginevra breaks down the three main friction points and how you, as a patient, can help overcome them and help your doctor to help you. Dr. Ginevra discusses the knowledge gap between healthcare providers and patients and how it impacts fibromyalgia treatment, challenges of the fragmented and struggling US healthcare system, how fibro fog and other fibro factors affect the patient-doctor interaction, how resources like the Fibro Manual can help you bring the correct information to your provider, taking a curious, collaborative approach to your relationship with your healthcare provider, Dr. Ginevra’s tips for getting around the fragmented and siloed healthcare system, why you might want to request an extended appointment, the benefits of telemedicine especially for fibromyalgia patients, how you can maximize your appointment time regardless of fibro fog, why you should consider tracking your symptoms, taking control of certain aspects of your healthcare to ensure you receive the necessary support and treatment, and more. In addition to these tips, studies have shown that the more you work with a coach, the better your results will be. A fibro coach can help you prepare for your doctor visits and implement what your doctor has asked you to do. You don’t have to take this journey alone. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/113" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Help Your Doctor Help You with Dr. Ginevra Liptan

Welcome to episode 03 of our special Be a Coach Series. In this series, I answer questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. In episode one of the series, I explained what a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® is and what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is. Episode two of the series was all about who makes a good coach and who is better suited to be an advisor. I also covered what you need and don’t need to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. In this episode, we’re taking a deeper look at why someone would want to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, why the world needs fibro coaches, and why you should consider becoming one.       Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Welcome to episode 03 of our special Be a Coach Series. In this series, I answer questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. In episode one of the series, I explained what a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® is and what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is. Episode two of the series was all about who makes a good coach and who is better suited to be an advisor. I also covered what you need and don’t need to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. In this episode, we’re taking a deeper look at why someone would want to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, why the world needs fibro coaches, and why you should consider becoming one. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the <a href="https://beafibrocoach.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Special #3 - Why Should You Consider Being a Coach?

Gisèle McDiarmid

Having been through the Western medical system for 20 years without meaningful change,  Gisèle McDiarmid decided to take her health into her own hands. She felt the need to explore further and find specialists who knew about invisible illnesses, and she finally received a diagnosis and the help she needed to rebuild her health. With that, she finally had enough energy to focus on empowering herself to maintain her health and well-being as much as possible without invasive interventions. That’s when she learned about the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute (IFC) and our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program. Today Tami welcomes Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Gisèle McDiarmid to share her experience in our training programs. In this conversation, Gisèle and Tami discuss Gisèle’s journey with fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, and chronic fatigue syndrome, the struggle to find the right treatments and support, the importance of self-care and learning to prioritize your own wellbeing, the benefits of working with a coach, how Gisèle discovered the IFC and her decision to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, empowering yourself with knowledge and communication tools for doctors, the ins and outs of fibromyalgia, its symptoms, and management strategies, how having a support group can make a huge difference in your quality of life, what made the program pandemic-proof, how self-care benefits us and those around us, benefits of becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, two of Gisèle’s client success stories with breast implant illness and long COVID, the value of having a coach that truly understands the experiences and challenges faced by fibromyalgia patients, recognizing that it is possible to have a better quality of life if you’re committed to taking better care of yourself, and more. For both Tami and Gisèle, being a coach has been their secret weapon in managing their fibromyalgia and helping others. No matter where you are now, don’t give up. You can find the right tools and support to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.     Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Having been through the Western medical system for 20 years without meaningful change,  Gisèle McDiarmid decided to take her health into her own hands. She felt the need to explore further and find specialists who knew about invisible illnesses, and she finally received a diagnosis and the help she needed to rebuild her health. With that, she finally had enough energy to focus on empowering herself to maintain her health and well-being as much as possible without invasive interventions. That’s when she learned about the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute (IFC) and our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program. Today Tami welcomes Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Gisèle McDiarmid to share her experience in our training programs. In this conversation, Gisèle and Tami discuss Gisèle’s journey with fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, and chronic fatigue syndrome, the struggle to find the right treatments and support, the importance of self-care and learning to prioritize your own wellbeing, the benefits of working with a coach, how Gisèle discovered the IFC and her decision to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, empowering yourself with knowledge and communication tools for doctors, the ins and outs of fibromyalgia, its symptoms, and management strategies, how having a support group can make a huge difference in your quality of life, what made the program pandemic-proof, how self-care benefits us and those around us, benefits of becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, two of Gisèle’s client success stories with breast implant illness and long COVID, the value of having a coach that truly understands the experiences and challenges faced by fibromyalgia patients, recognizing that it is possible to have a better quality of life if you’re committed to taking better care of yourself, and more. For both Tami and Gisèle, being a coach has been their secret weapon in managing their fibromyalgia and helping others. No matter where you are now, don’t give up. You can find the right tools and support to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/112" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Becoming an Empowered Patient with Gisèle McDiarmid

Welcome to episode 02 of our special Be a Coach Series. In this series, I answer questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. I cover all the basics… the who, what, when, where, why, and even the how. Don’t understand what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® or Adviser is? No problem. Just pop on over to episode one of the series because that is exactly what we covered in that episode. In this episode, I’m covering the who. Who makes a good coach? Who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®? Who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®? And, how do you know which one you might be? I also cover what I look for in the applications I accept into the training program and what you need and don’t need to join us a become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® or Advisor yourself.       Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Welcome to episode 02 of our special Be a Coach Series. In this series, I answer questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. I cover all the basics… the who, what, when, where, why, and even the how. Don’t understand what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® or Adviser is? No problem. Just pop on over to episode one of the series because that is exactly what we covered in that episode. In this episode, I’m covering the who. Who makes a good coach? Who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®? Who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®? And, how do you know which one you might be? I also cover what I look for in the applications I accept into the training program and what you need and don’t need to join us a become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® or Advisor yourself. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the <a href="https://beafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Special #2 - Who Makes a Good Coach?

Chelsea Liebowitz

As coaches, we get a lot of questions from people trying to understand their insurance coverage. From prior authorizations to deductibles, coinsurance, and patient assistance, many moving parts need to align to maximize our healthcare benefits. To help gain some clarity around all things insurance, Tami is joined by Doctor of Pharmacy Dr. Chelsea Liebowitz. A pain patient herself, Dr. Chelsea also works for an insurance company making determinations on prior authorizations and helping with self-funded plans. In this conversation, Dr. Chelsea and Tami discuss her pharmacy background, understanding the open enrollment period, defining common insurance terms such as deductible and copay, the relationship between your premium and your deductible, recognizing that the best plan really depends on how you utilize healthcare, differentiating between an HMO and a PPO and why a PPO is often better for someone with chronic illness, why insurance plans vary widely from one employer or individual to another, how to find out if your medications and treatments are covered when choosing your insurance, when a secondary insurance plan can be helpful, understanding drug tiers and how copay cards work, applying to a drug manufacturer for patient assistance, why you might need prior authorization for certain medications, getting insurance on the exchange, the benefits of working with an insurance broker, the prior authorization process, how you can increase your odds of having certain medications and procedures approved by your insurance company, Dr. Chelsea’s advice for reducing your headache woes, options to consider when insurance doesn’t cover your medication, and more. While this discussion focuses on the US healthcare system, many of the ideas and concepts apply to other countries and healthcare options. If you’re confused and overwhelmed by all the insurance options, this episode is for you.     Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

As coaches, we get a lot of questions from people trying to understand their insurance coverage. From prior authorizations to deductibles, coinsurance, and patient assistance, many moving parts need to align to maximize our healthcare benefits. To help gain some clarity around all things insurance, Tami is joined by Doctor of Pharmacy Dr. Chelsea Liebowitz. A pain patient herself, Dr. Chelsea also works for an insurance company making determinations on prior authorizations and helping with self-funded plans. In this conversation, Dr. Chelsea and Tami discuss her pharmacy background, understanding the open enrollment period, defining common insurance terms such as deductible and copay, the relationship between your premium and your deductible, recognizing that the best plan really depends on how you utilize healthcare, differentiating between an HMO and a PPO and why a PPO is often better for someone with chronic illness, why insurance plans vary widely from one employer or individual to another, how to find out if your medications and treatments are covered when choosing your insurance, when a secondary insurance plan can be helpful, understanding drug tiers and how copay cards work, applying to a drug manufacturer for patient assistance, why you might need prior authorization for certain medications, getting insurance on the exchange, the benefits of working with an insurance broker, the prior authorization process, how you can increase your odds of having certain medications and procedures approved by your insurance company, Dr. Chelsea’s advice for reducing your headache woes, options to consider when insurance doesn’t cover your medication, and more. While this discussion focuses on the US healthcare system, many of the ideas and concepts apply to other countries and healthcare options. If you’re confused and overwhelmed by all the insurance options, this episode is for you. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/111" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Understanding Insurance Coverage w/ Dr. Chelsea Liebowitz

Welcome to episode 01 of a special series where I’ll be answering a lot of questions I get about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and about becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. In this episode, we’re starting super basic by going over what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is, how that’s different from a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®, why you should consider the advisor class if you’re a patient who just wants to feel better, who else the advisor class is perfect for, what the certification aspect really means, the staggering statistics on how many participants see significant improvements in their symptoms by the end of the advisor class.       Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Welcome to episode 01 of a special series where I’ll be answering a lot of questions I get about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and about becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. In this episode, we’re starting super basic by going over what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is, how that’s different from a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®, why you should consider the advisor class if you’re a patient who just wants to feel better, who else the advisor class is perfect for, what the certification aspect really means, the staggering statistics on how many participants see significant improvements in their symptoms by the end of the advisor class. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the <a href="https://beafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Special #1 - What is a Fibro Coach?

Seth Lederman

One of the questions Tami gets most often is, “When are we going to have new fibromyalgia treatment options?” With only three FDA-approved fibromyalgia medications, many of us are on the alert for new options to address our symptoms better. To answer that question, Tami invited Dr. Seth Lederman, CEO and founder of Tonix, to talk about the fibromyalgia medication currently in phase three trials, TNX-102 SL. Dr. Lederman has dedicated his career to fibromyalgia research and has worked on this drug for almost 25 years. Today he’s sharing all the details about how TNX-102 SL could help fibromyalgia patients and walking us through the process of developing a new medication. In this conversation, Tami and Dr. Lederman talk about the process of creating a new medication and the FDA approval process, the significant challenges in the medication creation process, TNX-102 SL - the new fibromyalgia medication Dr. Lederman has been working on for almost 25 years, how TNX-102 SL is different and improved over Flexeril, the importance of improving sleep quality for fibromyalgia patients, the benefits of improved sleep quality, unrefreshing sleep in fibromyalgia patients and how it relates to the pain perception system, the current phase three trial of TNX-102 SL and how you can find out more, next steps after the successful completion the current study, preliminary results showing the positive effects of TNX-102 SL on the quality of life of fibromyalgia patients, the overlap between long COVID and fibromyalgia, the varied factors that can lead to the development of fibromyalgia, a new drug under development for depression that could also have activity in fibromyalgia, positive progress in fibromyalgia research and treatment, Dr. Lederman’s message for you, and more.     Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

One of the questions Tami gets most often is, “When are we going to have new fibromyalgia treatment options?” With only three FDA-approved fibromyalgia medications, many of us are on the alert for new options to address our symptoms better. To answer that question, Tami invited Dr. Seth Lederman, CEO and founder of Tonix, to talk about the fibromyalgia medication currently in phase three trials, TNX-102 SL. Dr. Lederman has dedicated his career to fibromyalgia research and has worked on this drug for almost 25 years. Today he’s sharing all the details about how TNX-102 SL could help fibromyalgia patients and walking us through the process of developing a new medication. In this conversation, Tami and Dr. Lederman talk about the process of creating a new medication and the FDA approval process, the significant challenges in the medication creation process, TNX-102 SL - the new fibromyalgia medication Dr. Lederman has been working on for almost 25 years, how TNX-102 SL is different and improved over Flexeril, the importance of improving sleep quality for fibromyalgia patients, the benefits of improved sleep quality, unrefreshing sleep in fibromyalgia patients and how it relates to the pain perception system, the current phase three trial of TNX-102 SL and how you can find out more, next steps after the successful completion the current study, preliminary results showing the positive effects of TNX-102 SL on the quality of life of fibromyalgia patients, the overlap between long COVID and fibromyalgia, the varied factors that can lead to the development of fibromyalgia, a new drug under development for depression that could also have activity in fibromyalgia, positive progress in fibromyalgia research and treatment, Dr. Lederman’s message for you, and more. Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/110" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

New Medications for Fibromyalgia w/ Dr. Seth Lederman: Ask the Coach

An objective test for fibromyalgia will change everything. As a researcher, Dr. Jarred Younger’s mission to figure out fibromyalgia has led him to study neuroinflammation as a primary suspect. “What I think is happening in fibro is an overly robust immune response, an abnormal reaction to low level, daily insults to the immune system.” Having seen so much suffering with no effective treatment options, Dr. Younger has become driven to solve the mystery of fibromyalgia by scientifically uncovering the root cause. Key Points  Could fibromyalgia be the result of inflammation in the brain? Find out what cutting edge science is discovering. A new tool for scanning and imaging the brain may help us finally pinpoint the pathology of fibromyalgia. The discovery of low-dose naltrexone as a treatment option occurred as Dr. Younger was testing his hypothesis on inflammation in the brain. Correcting inflammation in the brain can begin with simple (albeit difficult!) dietary and lifestyle changes. The hardest thing about running studies is getting willing participants — but that's how we make the scientific advancement. Advocacy is having a tremendous effect on fibromyalgia research. It actually improves the scientist's ability to create new information.   About Dr. Jarred Younger Dr. Jarred Younger is the director of the neuroinflammation Pain and Fatigue Laboratory at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He is currently funded by the National Institute of Health to study new techniques for diagnosing and treating neuroinflammation, which is inflammation in the brain and nervous system. Dr. Younger completed postdoctoral fellowships at Arizona State University and Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Younger's goal is to end the chronic pain and fatigue that is caused by inflammation in the brain.  Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books  The Teal Pumpkin Project American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association ClinicalTrials.gov Report.NIH.gov UpToDate.com    Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram. Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free. Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

An objective test for fibromyalgia will change everything. As a researcher, Dr. Jarred Younger’s mission to figure out fibromyalgia has led him to study neuroinflammation as a primary suspect. “What I think is happening in fibro is an overly robust immune response, an abnormal reaction to low level, daily insults to the immune system.” Having seen so much suffering with no effective treatment options, Dr. Younger has become driven to solve the mystery of fibromyalgia by scientifically uncovering the root cause. Key Points <ul> <li>Could fibromyalgia be the result of inflammation in the brain? Find out what cutting edge science is discovering.</li> <li>A new tool for scanning and imaging the brain may help us finally pinpoint the pathology of fibromyalgia.</li> <li>The discovery of low-dose naltrexone as a treatment option occurred as Dr. Younger was testing his hypothesis on inflammation in the brain.</li> <li>Correcting inflammation in the brain can begin with simple (albeit difficult!) dietary and lifestyle changes.</li> <li>The hardest thing about running studies is getting willing participants — but that's how we make the scientific advancement.</li> <li>Advocacy is having a tremendous effect on fibromyalgia research. It actually improves the scientist's ability to create new information. </li> </ul> About Dr. Jarred Younger Dr. Jarred Younger is the director of the neuroinflammation Pain and Fatigue Laboratory at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He is currently funded by the National Institute of Health to study new techniques for diagnosing and treating neuroinflammation, which is inflammation in the brain and nervous system. Dr. Younger completed postdoctoral fellowships at Arizona State University and Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Younger's goal is to end the chronic pain and fatigue that is caused by inflammation in the brain.  Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Teal Pumpkin Project</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.afsafund.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association</a></li> <li><a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ClinicalTrials.gov</a></li> <li><a href="https://report.nih.gov/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Report.NIH.gov</a></li> <li><a href="http://uptodate.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UpToDate.com</a></li> </ul> Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/21" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">show notes</a>. For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on <a href="https://Facebook.com/FibroCoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/fibrocoach" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Need a good book to read? <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Download Tami's books for free</a>. Ready to take back control of your life and health? <a href="http://findafibrocoach.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.</a>

Replay: Cutting Edge Fibro Research w/ Dr. Jarred Younger

Tired of being held prisoner in your own body? Tami Stackelhouse is an author and Master Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® who has gone from disabled to thriving. In this podcast, Tami brings together top fibromyalgia experts and advocates, creating a virtual dream team to help you take back control of your life and health. From doctors and researchers in the traditional medical setting, to coaches and providers of alternative and natural treatment options, this podcast will empower you to feel your best and set you free to live a fibro life you love.

HELPFUL

LOVE IT!!

Fibromyalgia Podcast®

What is fibromyalgia? As of today, we don't really know what causes fibromyalgia, and there is no cure. However, I do believe that there is a lot that can be done. I believe your symptoms can be managed so well that you can live the life you want to live. Knowledge is power. Find out more about the background and history of fibromyalgia, as well as the cutting-edge scientific study that is re-defining how we think about and treat this disorder in today’s Foundations episode. Key Points  Fibromyalgia is NOT a woman’s disease. Fibromyalgia is NOT a new disease. You will find the first full description of fibromyalgia and its symptoms in 1816. Fibromyalgia is MORE than a chronic pain condition. There are four primary symptoms of fibromyalgia, as experienced by the patient.  Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a fibromyalgia coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at TakeBackYourLifeBook.com. The FM/a Test 

What is fibromyalgia? As of today, we don't really know what causes fibromyalgia, and there is no cure. However, I do believe that there is a lot that can be done. I believe your symptoms can be managed so well that you can live the life you want to live. Knowledge is power. Find out more about the background and history of fibromyalgia, as well as the cutting-edge scientific study that is re-defining how we think about and treat this disorder in today’s Foundations episode. Key Points <ul> <li>Fibromyalgia is NOT a woman’s disease.</li> <li>Fibromyalgia is NOT a new disease. You will find the first full description of fibromyalgia and its symptoms in 1816.</li> <li>Fibromyalgia is MORE than a chronic pain condition.</li> <li>There are four primary symptoms of fibromyalgia, as experienced by the patient.</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a fibromyalgia coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="http://takebackyourlifebook.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TakeBackYourLifeBook.com</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://fmtest.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The FM/a Test</a></li> </ul>

Fibromyalgia

An objective test for fibromyalgia will change everything. As a researcher, Dr. Jarred Younger’s mission to figure out fibromyalgia has led him to study neuroinflammation as a primary suspect. “What I think is happening in fibro is an overly robust immune response, an abnormal reaction to low level, daily insults to the immune system.” Having seen so much suffering with no effective treatment options, Dr. Younger has become driven to solve the mystery of fibromyalgia by scientifically uncovering the root cause. Key Points  Could fibromyalgia be the result of inflammation in the brain? Find out what cutting edge science is discovering. A new tool for scanning and imaging the brain may help us finally pinpoint the pathology of fibromyalgia. The discovery of low-dose naltrexone as a treatment option occurred as Dr. Younger was testing his hypothesis on inflammation in the brain. Correcting inflammation in the brain can begin with simple (albeit difficult!) dietary and lifestyle changes. The hardest thing about running studies is getting willing participants — but that's how we make the scientific advancement. Advocacy is having a tremendous effect on fibromyalgia research. It actually improves the scientist's ability to create new information.   About Dr. Jarred Younger Dr. Jarred Younger is the director of the neuroinflammation Pain and Fatigue Laboratory at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He is currently funded by the National Institute of Health to study new techniques for diagnosing and treating neuroinflammation, which is inflammation in the brain and nervous system. Dr. Younger completed postdoctoral fellowships at Arizona State University and Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Younger's goal is to end the chronic pain and fatigue that is caused by inflammation in the brain.  Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books  The Teal Pumpkin Project American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association ClinicalTrials.gov Report.NIH.gov UpToDate.com 

An objective test for fibromyalgia will change everything. As a researcher, Dr. Jarred Younger’s mission to figure out fibromyalgia has led him to study neuroinflammation as a primary suspect. “What I think is happening in fibro is an overly robust immune response, an abnormal reaction to low level, daily insults to the immune system.” Having seen so much suffering with no effective treatment options, Dr. Younger has become driven to solve the mystery of fibromyalgia by scientifically uncovering the root cause. Key Points <ul> <li>Could fibromyalgia be the result of inflammation in the brain? Find out what cutting edge science is discovering.</li> <li>A new tool for scanning and imaging the brain may help us finally pinpoint the pathology of fibromyalgia.</li> <li>The discovery of low-dose naltrexone as a treatment option occurred as Dr. Younger was testing his hypothesis on inflammation in the brain.</li> <li>Correcting inflammation in the brain can begin with simple (albeit difficult!) dietary and lifestyle changes.</li> <li>The hardest thing about running studies is getting willing participants — but that's how we make the scientific advancement.</li> <li>Advocacy is having a tremendous effect on fibromyalgia research. It actually improves the scientist's ability to create new information. </li> </ul> About Dr. Jarred Younger Dr. Jarred Younger is the director of the neuroinflammation Pain and Fatigue Laboratory at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He is currently funded by the National Institute of Health to study new techniques for diagnosing and treating neuroinflammation, which is inflammation in the brain and nervous system. Dr. Younger completed postdoctoral fellowships at Arizona State University and Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Younger's goal is to end the chronic pain and fatigue that is caused by inflammation in the brain.  Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Teal Pumpkin Project</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.afsafund.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association</a></li> <li><a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ClinicalTrials.gov</a></li> <li><a href="https://report.nih.gov/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Report.NIH.gov</a></li> <li><a href="http://uptodate.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UpToDate.com</a></li> </ul>

Cutting Edge Research on Fibromyalgia with Dr. Jarred Younger

Are you feeling more overwhelmed and tired than usual? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, Tami shares some thoughts on how you can use this pandemic to re-evaluate your choices on how you want to spend your time and energy. Don't feel like you have to do All. The. Things. Give yourself extra grace and compassion and tell yourself often, "It's okay. You're doing your best." Key Points  We need to protect our own energy, emotions, and thoughts., especially if we are home alone or with others who are anxious and stressed. It’s okay if you feel overwhelmed. It’s okay if you are exhausted and tired and don't know how to handle everything. Give yourself extra grace and compassion right now. Don't feel like you have to do all the things. You do not have to use this time in any particular way. There is no right or wrong way to go through a pandemic. Everything you used to be committed to has stopped. It's an amazing opportunity to re-evaluate where you want to be spending your time and your energy. The Pause button in life has been pressed and we get to decide what happens when we hit Play. Practice telling yourself, “It's okay, you're doing your best.  Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get free copies of Tami’s books here Visit FibroWorkshop.com to discover our monthly free FibroWorkshops taught LIVE by Tami.  Other Episodes Mentioned  Episode 32: Your World Revolves Around Your Healing, Not Your Illness 

Are you feeling more overwhelmed and tired than usual? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, Tami shares some thoughts on how you can use this pandemic to re-evaluate your choices on how you want to spend your time and energy. Don't feel like you have to do All. The. Things. Give yourself extra grace and compassion and tell yourself often, "It's okay. You're doing your best." Key Points <ul> <li>We need to protect our own energy, emotions, and thoughts., especially if we are home alone or with others who are anxious and stressed.</li> <li>It’s okay if you feel overwhelmed. It’s okay if you are exhausted and tired and don't know how to handle everything.</li> <li>Give yourself extra grace and compassion right now. Don't feel like you have to do all the things.</li> <li>You do not have to use this time in any particular way. There is no right or wrong way to go through a pandemic.</li> <li>Everything you used to be committed to has stopped. It's an amazing opportunity to re-evaluate where you want to be spending your time and your energy.</li> <li>The Pause button in life has been pressed and we get to decide what happens when we hit Play.</li> <li>Practice telling yourself, “It's okay, you're doing your best.</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get free copies of Tami’s books here</a></li> <li>Visit <a href="http://fibroworkshop.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibroWorkshop.com</a> to discover our monthly free FibroWorkshops taught LIVE by Tami.</li> </ul> Other Episodes Mentioned <ul> <li>Episode 32: <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-32-your-world-revolves-around-your-healing-not-your-illness/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Your World Revolves Around Your Healing, Not Your Illness</a></li> </ul>

You Are Not Alone

She had to keep her own diagnosis secret, in fear of being harshly judged by her peers in medical school. While we have come a long way from the stigma that was once attached to fibromyalgia, there are still far too many of us suffering in silence. In this episode, Dr. Ginevra Liptan sheds light on the latest research and treatment options that give her hope. Key Points  What is happening in the body with fibromyalgia like a chain reaction. Everybody looks at the scientific and research data a little bit differently, like blind men describing an elephant. The thing that most doctors focus on is the end result of the chain reaction, which is the hypersensitivity or increase sensitivity to pain. But that is just the end result. A whole host of things are happening in concert with that pain. We need more targeted research. The New England Journal of Medicine, which is the biggest and most widely read medical journal in the world, has published only ONE ARTICLE on fibromyalgia. We can educate people about our illness by how we live our lives, with what we say and what we do. If there's one thing I want people to take away from this interview, it is this: If you have fibromyalgia, talk to your doctor about sleep. Work with them on getting better sleep. Sleep quality is key.  About Dr. Ginevra Ginevra Liptan, M.D. is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, board-certified in internal medicine, and trained in functional medicine, a holistic approach that blends both western and alternative medicine. After developing fibromyalgia as a medical student, Dr. Liptan spent many years using herself as guinea pig to find successful treatments, and has fine-tuned her approach by treating thousands of patients. She is one of the few clinical specialists in the world to focus solely on fibromyalgia, and directs The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Ginevra Liptan is the author of several books:  The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current Science and the Most Effective Treatments  To hear more from Dr. Liptan:  Visit her YouTube channel Read her online blog  Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. CBD: Dr. Liptan has many articles and videos on CBD on her blog and YouTube channel. She also has her own line of doctor-formulated CBD products at FridaBotanicals.com. 

She had to keep her own diagnosis secret, in fear of being harshly judged by her peers in medical school. While we have come a long way from the stigma that was once attached to fibromyalgia, there are still far too many of us suffering in silence. In this episode, Dr. Ginevra Liptan sheds light on the latest research and treatment options that give her hope. Key Points <ul> <li>What is happening in the body with fibromyalgia like a chain reaction.</li> <li>Everybody looks at the scientific and research data a little bit differently, like blind men describing an elephant.</li> <li>The thing that most doctors focus on is the end result of the chain reaction, which is the hypersensitivity or increase sensitivity to pain. But that is just the end result. A whole host of things are happening in concert with that pain.</li> <li>We need more targeted research. The New England Journal of Medicine, which is the biggest and most widely read medical journal in the world, has published only ONE ARTICLE on fibromyalgia.</li> <li>We can educate people about our illness by how we live our lives, with what we say and what we do.</li> <li>If there's one thing I want people to take away from this interview, it is this: If you have fibromyalgia, talk to your doctor about sleep. Work with them on getting better sleep. Sleep quality is key.</li> </ul> About Dr. Ginevra <a href="https://drginevra.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ginevra Liptan, M.D.</a> is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, board-certified in internal medicine, and trained in functional medicine, a holistic approach that blends both western and alternative medicine. After developing fibromyalgia as a medical student, Dr. Liptan spent many years using herself as guinea pig to find successful treatments, and has fine-tuned her approach by treating thousands of patients. She is one of the few clinical specialists in the world to focus solely on fibromyalgia, and directs The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Ginevra Liptan is the author of several books: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/110196720X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSF3MWS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief</a></li> <li>Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current Science and the Most Effective Treatments</li> </ul> To hear more from Dr. Liptan: <ul> <li>Visit her <a href="https://youtube.com/@drginevra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a></li> <li>Read <a href="https://drginevra.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">her online blog</a></li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>CBD: Dr. Liptan has many articles and videos on CBD on <a href="https://drginevra.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">her blog</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@drginevra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>. She also has her own line of doctor-formulated CBD products at <a href="https://fridabotanicals.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FridaBotanicals.com</a>.</li> </ul>

What is Fibromyalgia? with Dr. Ginevra Liptan

When we think about our fibromyalgia diagnosis, we tend to think in "survival" terms - How am I going to beat this? or How am I going to get better? Your Coach, Tami Stackelhouse, has a radically different perspective to offer: true, honest embracement. This may be very hard to hear, especially if you are in a lot of pain. We know how impossible this sounds. So listen gently, and learn how Tami took the tough, debilitating “life sentence” of fibromyalgia and turned it into a blessing for herself and others. Key Points  “What we don't do is almost more important than what we do, do.” This insightful quote by Steve Jobs is a provocative way to approach your new fibro life. How to become “tracking-wise” to learn what helps and what hurts. How to know what makes you feel good and ASK FOR what you need.  Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at TakeBackYourLifeBook.com. Chapter 4, “How Can I Have More Energy?” contains step-by-step instructions on how to use a pedometer to help you manage your energy. Tracking tools mentioned in this episode are available at:  https://fibromyalgiacoachinginstitute.com/book-bonuses/ “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson on Amazon Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix 

When we think about our fibromyalgia diagnosis, we tend to think in "survival" terms - How am I going to beat this? or How am I going to get better? Your Coach, Tami Stackelhouse, has a radically different perspective to offer: true, honest embracement. This may be very hard to hear, especially if you are in a lot of pain. We know how impossible this sounds. So listen gently, and learn how Tami took the tough, debilitating “life sentence” of fibromyalgia and turned it into a blessing for herself and others. Key Points <ul> <li>“What we don't do is almost more important than what we do, do.” This insightful quote by Steve Jobs is a provocative way to approach your new fibro life.</li> <li>How to become “tracking-wise” to learn what helps and what hurts.</li> <li>How to know what makes you feel good and ASK FOR what you need.</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="http://takebackyourlifebook.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TakeBackYourLifeBook.com</a>. Chapter 4, “How Can I Have More Energy?” contains step-by-step instructions on how to use a pedometer to help you manage your energy.</li> <li>Tracking tools mentioned in this episode are available at: <a href="https://fibromyalgiacoachinginstitute.com/book-bonuses/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> https://fibromyalgiacoachinginstitute.com/book-bonuses/</a></li> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/2FrnJoC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson on Amazon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80209379" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix</a></li> </ul>

How Fibromyalgia Became My Friend

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is one of the active ingredients found in the cannabis plant. As a non-psychoactive component, CBD will not alter your brain or make you feel “high”. It does, however, affect your body. In this episode, we’ll talk about those effects specific to the fibromyalgia body. Should you talk to your doctor about using CBD? Dr. Ginevra Liptan will offer insight from a medical standpoint and provide resources to help further your own research.  Key Points  Is there any difference between CBD, hemp, marijuana and cannabis? What is the difference between the effects of CBD and THC in your body?  I live in a state where marijuana is not legal, or I work at a job where I can't have THC in my system. What can I do? How can you make sure you are getting access to the right types of CBD for you? There is a huge amount of money being poured into researching both cannabis and cannabis-derived medications. I do encourage people to talk about it with their doctor, even though it's uncomfortable. Special giveaway! Listeners can win a bundle of CBD products ($146 value). Details on how to enter can be found at the end of this episode.  About Dr. Liptan Ginevra Liptan, M.D. is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, board-certified in internal medicine, and trained in functional medicine, a holistic approach that blends both western and alternative medicine. After developing fibromyalgia as a medical student, Dr. Liptan spent many years using herself as guinea pig to find successful treatments, and has fine-tuned her approach by treating thousands of patients. She is one of the few clinical specialists in the world to focus solely on fibromyalgia, and directs The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Ginevra Liptan is the author of several books:  The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current Science and the Most Effective Treatments  To hear more from Dr. Liptan:  Visit her YouTube channel Read her online blog  Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. CBD: Dr. Liptan has many articles and videos on CBD on her blog and YouTube channel. She also has her own line of doctor-formulated CBD products at FridaBotanicals.com. 

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is one of the active ingredients found in the cannabis plant. As a non-psychoactive component, CBD will not alter your brain or make you feel “high”. It does, however, affect your body. In this episode, we’ll talk about those effects specific to the fibromyalgia body. Should you talk to your doctor about using CBD? Dr. Ginevra Liptan will offer insight from a medical standpoint and provide resources to help further your own research.  Key Points <ul> <li>Is there any difference between CBD, hemp, marijuana and cannabis?</li> <li>What is the difference between the effects of CBD and THC in your body? </li> <li>I live in a state where marijuana is not legal, or I work at a job where I can't have THC in my system. What can I do?</li> <li>How can you make sure you are getting access to the right types of CBD for you?</li> <li>There is a huge amount of money being poured into researching both cannabis and cannabis-derived medications.</li> <li>I do encourage people to talk about it with their doctor, even though it's uncomfortable.</li> <li>Special giveaway! Listeners can win a bundle of CBD products ($146 value). Details on how to enter can be found at the end of this episode.</li> </ul> About Dr. Liptan <a href="https://drginevra.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ginevra Liptan, M.D.</a> is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, board-certified in internal medicine, and trained in functional medicine, a holistic approach that blends both western and alternative medicine. After developing fibromyalgia as a medical student, Dr. Liptan spent many years using herself as guinea pig to find successful treatments, and has fine-tuned her approach by treating thousands of patients. She is one of the few clinical specialists in the world to focus solely on fibromyalgia, and directs The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Ginevra Liptan is the author of several books: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/110196720X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSF3MWS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief</a></li> <li>Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current Science and the Most Effective Treatments</li> </ul> To hear more from Dr. Liptan: <ul> <li>Visit her <a href="https://youtube.com/@drginevra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a></li> <li>Read <a href="https://drginevra.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">her online blog</a></li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>CBD: Dr. Liptan has many articles and videos on CBD on <a href="https://drginevra.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">her blog</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@drginevra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>. She also has her own line of doctor-formulated CBD products at <a href="https://fridabotanicals.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FridaBotanicals.com</a>.</li> </ul>

CBD for Fibromyalgia with Dr. Ginevra Liptan

How do you lose weight when you have fibromyalgia? Before we can answer that question, we have to back up a step. Tami suggests that a lot of people start with the wrong question. They start with the question of, How do I lose weight? because that's what we care about. That's what we're worried about. But if we don't understand why we gained weight in the first place, then we might not be doing the right things to get the outcome that we want. Key Points  As fibromyalgia patients, our bodies are often stuck in “fight or flight” mode. The pain and fatigue we experience can make weight loss extra challenging. Many fibromyalgia patients also have thyroid and adrenal issues which dramatically affects our efforts to lose weight. The fundamentals of diet and exercise are only part of the equation. Cravings are not necessarily your fault. Cravings can be a very natural way that your body says, “Help! I am starving for nutrients!” Just two nights of bad sleep can affect the hormones that regulate your appetite. Studies show that "diets" do not work. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that can work to help you lose weight with fibromyalgia.   Note: This episode’s show notes and transcript contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we will likely receive a small commission. Read about what we do and don’t promote here. Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books The Fibro Food Formula by Dr Liptan The Mood Cure and The Diet Cure by Julia Ross Why Do We Get Fat? by Gary Taubes 

How do you lose weight when you have fibromyalgia? Before we can answer that question, we have to back up a step. Tami suggests that a lot of people start with the wrong question. They start with the question of, How do I lose weight? because that's what we care about. That's what we're worried about. But if we don't understand why we gained weight in the first place, then we might not be doing the right things to get the outcome that we want. Key Points <ul> <li>As fibromyalgia patients, our bodies are often stuck in “fight or flight” mode. The pain and fatigue we experience can make weight loss extra challenging.</li> <li>Many fibromyalgia patients also have thyroid and adrenal issues which dramatically affects our efforts to lose weight.</li> <li>The fundamentals of diet and exercise are only part of the equation.</li> <li>Cravings are not necessarily your fault. Cravings can be a very natural way that your body says, “Help! I am starving for nutrients!”</li> <li>Just two nights of bad sleep can affect the hormones that regulate your appetite.</li> <li>Studies show that "diets" do not work. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that can work to help you lose weight with fibromyalgia. </li> </ul> Note: This episode’s show notes and transcript contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we will likely receive a small commission. <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/home/privacy-policy/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Read about what we do and don’t promote here.</a> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a></li> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/2HRiP7y" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Fibro Food Formula</a> by Dr Liptan</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/1MncLzL" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Mood Cure</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/1l1CFdF" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Diet Cure</a> by Julia Ross</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/1vu3lEq" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Why Do We Get Fat?</a> by Gary Taubes</li> </ul>

Why Can’t I Lose Weight? Ask the Coach

Megan Densmore

We are told that exercise is good for fibromyalgia, but then we go out and do it, and we feel terrible. Rose was a dancer and competitive athlete until she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In her 20s, she felt like she lived in a body that was 85 years old. Over the last ten years, she has learned to listen to her body and retrain herself into competitive condition. Her advice can help you ease into a routine that is right for you and your body, no matter how big or small your fitness goals might be. Key Points  There are specific ways that people with fibromyalgia should approach exercise that may look a little different than the general population, but even the general population could benefit from a slightly more finessed entry into fitness. If you are starting a fitness program and have chronic pain, make sure that you know how to help your body recover from whatever exercise you do, and take baby steps all along the way. We may have to retrain our brain’s response to pain in order to progress. How to know the difference between productive pain and pain that means stop. Be cautious of stretching because stretching can actually cause us to flare more than strengthening or mobilizing. The process of getting stronger and building athleticism or building cardiovascular health is not linear. The biggest gift of having fibromyalgia, if we can see it that way, is the hypersensitivity and the increased body awareness that we get to have.  Disclaimer While Rose is a trained fitness instructor and has all the certifications to tell you what to do with your body, please know that this podcast episode is designed to give you general information only, and this information should not be considered medical advice nor should it replace consulting directly with your doctor. About Rose Harwood Rose went from debilitating fibromyalgia symptoms to being able to realize lifelong dreams of competitive athletics, and along the way she has become an advocate for chronic pain and invisible illness. She is a working actress and indie film producer, she is an experienced Pilates instructor, and she is a proud distributor of Shaklee products. She is excited to speak out about the freedom she now experiences in all avenues of her life, and she is committed to teaching others to find their own freedom! Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month, for the entire year 2020. This is the same information that she teaches her Coaches, clients, and students. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE. Go to FibroWorkshop.com to find out what Tami is teaching on next. Get Rose’s free e-book! Learn more about the “Zero to Hero” program and other ways to connect with Rose here. Learn about Invisible: The Film at Invisible-Film.com. Fundraiser for Invisible: The Film in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 25th. Contact Rose through her website for details. The symptom log mentioned in this episode can help you understand what is happening in your body and whether the things you are doing are helping or hurting. Access this tracking tool and all of our bonus materials using this link. Download this special handout that will outline some of the things to keep in mind if you want to begin exercising with fibromyalgia. Your warm-up is critical in preventing injury. Consider this warm-up routine that was designed by Dr. Ginevra Liptan (Episode 5, Episode 18). This is something that she uses with her patients at The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia. 

We are told that exercise is good for fibromyalgia, but then we go out and do it, and we feel terrible. Rose was a dancer and competitive athlete until she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In her 20s, she felt like she lived in a body that was 85 years old. Over the last ten years, she has learned to listen to her body and retrain herself into competitive condition. Her advice can help you ease into a routine that is right for you and your body, no matter how big or small your fitness goals might be. Key Points <ul> <li>There are specific ways that people with fibromyalgia should approach exercise that may look a little different than the general population, but even the general population could benefit from a slightly more finessed entry into fitness.</li> <li>If you are starting a fitness program and have chronic pain, make sure that you know how to help your body recover from whatever exercise you do, and take baby steps all along the way.</li> <li>We may have to retrain our brain’s response to pain in order to progress. How to know the difference between productive pain and pain that means stop.</li> <li>Be cautious of stretching because stretching can actually cause us to flare more than strengthening or mobilizing.</li> <li>The process of getting stronger and building athleticism or building cardiovascular health is not linear.</li> <li>The biggest gift of having fibromyalgia, if we can see it that way, is the hypersensitivity and the increased body awareness that we get to have.</li> </ul> Disclaimer While Rose is a trained fitness instructor and has all the certifications to tell you what to do with your body, please know that this podcast episode is designed to give you general information only, and this information should not be considered medical advice nor should it replace consulting directly with your doctor. About Rose Harwood Rose went from debilitating fibromyalgia symptoms to being able to realize lifelong dreams of competitive athletics, and along the way she has become an advocate for chronic pain and invisible illness. She is a working actress and indie film producer, she is an experienced Pilates instructor, and she is a proud distributor of Shaklee products. She is excited to speak out about the freedom she now experiences in all avenues of her life, and she is committed to teaching others to find their own freedom! Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month, for the entire year 2020. This is the same information that she teaches her Coaches, clients, and students. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE. Go to <a href="FibroWorkshop.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibroWorkshop.com</a> to find out what Tami is teaching on next.</li> <li>Get Rose’s free e-book! Learn more about the “Zero to Hero” program and other ways to connect with Rose <a href="https://zerotoheroworkout.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</li> <li>Learn about Invisible: The Film at <a href="Invisible-Film.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Invisible-Film.com</a>.</li> <li>Fundraiser for Invisible: The Film in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 25th. Contact Rose through <a href="https://zerotoheroworkout.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">her website</a> for details.</li> <li>The symptom log mentioned in this episode can help you understand what is happening in your body and whether the things you are doing are helping or hurting. <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/resources/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Access this tracking tool and all of our bonus materials using this link.</a></li> <li>Download this special handout that will outline some of the things to keep in mind if you want to begin exercising with fibromyalgia.</li> <li>Your warm-up is critical in preventing injury. Consider this <a href="https://youtu.be/Nvmmj_ZH-fk" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">warm-up routine</a> that was designed by Dr. Ginevra Liptan (Episode 5, Episode 18). This is something that she uses with her patients at The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia.</li> </ul>

Exercise in a Fibromyalgia Body with Rose Harwood

You can't take a vacation from fibromyalgia, which also means you can't take a vacation from doing all of the things necessary to manage your fibromyalgia. Healing is a full time job, and it takes a lot of work to keep feeling our best! Sometimes we hate making choices that feel like eating broccoli when we are really craving ice cream, and we give in, even when that lack of discipline leads to more pain, fog and fatigue. What can you do when your inner child wants to stomp her foot and say, "No! I don't want to!"?   Key Points  Why can’t I do what I know I need to do? Do I just need more willpower? Why forcing yourself to do something never works in the long run. How creating simple habits can help you develop automatic muscle memory - and how to determine which simple habits are right for you. The one BIG THING many coaches are missing when it comes to motivation. Being unmotivated is totally okay and totally normal. Sometimes the answer isn’t white-knuckling action - it’s rest.    Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. 

You can't take a vacation from fibromyalgia, which also means you can't take a vacation from doing all of the things necessary to manage your fibromyalgia. Healing is a full time job, and it takes a lot of work to keep feeling our best! Sometimes we hate making choices that feel like eating broccoli when we are really craving ice cream, and we give in, even when that lack of discipline leads to more pain, fog and fatigue. What can you do when your inner child wants to stomp her foot and say, "No! I don't want to!"? Key Points <ul> <li>Why can’t I do what I know I need to do? Do I just need more willpower?</li> <li>Why forcing yourself to do something never works in the long run.</li> <li>How creating simple habits can help you develop automatic muscle memory - and how to determine which simple habits are right for you.</li> <li>The one BIG THING many coaches are missing when it comes to motivation.</li> <li>Being unmotivated is totally okay and totally normal. Sometimes the answer isn’t white-knuckling action - it’s rest.</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> </ul>

Why Am I Unmotivated?

If you put a gun to my head and said, "Tell me the one thing that turned your life around with fibromyalgia, and you can only choose one." That one thing would be learning the fine art of self-care, learning how to listen to my body and give her what she needs so she can heal. This is the #1 thing that will make the biggest difference in how you feel. It is also the hardest part of the job. Taking care of yourself when you don't feel good or when you're frustrated with your body can be so, so challenging. Key Points  Self-care means self-love, but it goes beyond an emotion we feel. Self-care means treating ourselves the way we would treat someone that we care about and treating ourselves the way we would treat someone who we are responsible for taking care of. A caring environment is always healthier than a bullying environment, which is actually what most of us are providing ourselves when we try to make ourselves feel better. You just can't heal if you are always berating yourself or pushing yourself to your breaking point. We are teaching others how to treat us by how we treat ourselves. We are also teaching others how they should take care of themselves by how we take care of ourselves. Saying NO, and practicing good self-care, is what allows you to spend your energy, brain power, and good days on the things that are most important to you.    Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Access the bonus resources and worksheets from this episode at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/resources. 

If you put a gun to my head and said, "Tell me the one thing that turned your life around with fibromyalgia, and you can only choose one." That one thing would be learning the fine art of self-care, learning how to listen to my body and give her what she needs so she can heal. This is the #1 thing that will make the biggest difference in how you feel. It is also the hardest part of the job. Taking care of yourself when you don't feel good or when you're frustrated with your body can be so, so challenging. Key Points <ul> <li>Self-care means self-love, but it goes beyond an emotion we feel. Self-care means treating ourselves the way we would treat someone that we care about and treating ourselves the way we would treat someone who we are responsible for taking care of.</li> <li>A caring environment is always healthier than a bullying environment, which is actually what most of us are providing ourselves when we try to make ourselves feel better. You just can't heal if you are always berating yourself or pushing yourself to your breaking point.</li> <li>We are teaching others how to treat us by how we treat ourselves.</li> <li>We are also teaching others how they should take care of themselves by how we take care of ourselves.</li> <li>Saying NO, and practicing good self-care, is what allows you to spend your energy, brain power, and good days on the things that are most important to you.</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>Access the bonus resources and worksheets from this episode at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/resources/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/resources</a>.</li> </ul>

The Fine Art of Self-Care

The technology for pulsed electromagnetic field devices (PEMF) has been around for 60 years and used in healthcare systems around the world. Oska Wellness has revolutionized this technology by producing a miniaturized version for personal use, the Oska Pulse. Tami interviews the founder, Greg Houlgate, about the history, the mission, the research, and his own personal use of this new product. Does the Oska Pulse belong in your fibromyalgia toolkit? Key Points  The Oska Pulse is an FDA-registered, Class 1 medical pain relief device. While the Oska Pulse is a fairly new product, the technology behind it has existed for six decades, and there have been over 10,000 clinical studies on it. The Oska Pulse is clinically proven to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, improve mobility, and relieve pain. Users of the Oska Pulse have reported it being effective for reducing headaches and improving sleep, in addition to relieving pain. It has even been useful for pets, helping with issues like hip dysplasia. Get $55 off the purchase of your own Oska Pulse! Details can be found at the end of this episode.  Note: This episode’s show notes and transcript contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we will likely receive a small commission.  Read about what we do and don’t promote here. About Greg Houlgate Greg Houlgate is the founder of Oska Wellness. He's a board member, the chief product and business development officer, and has been an innovator of new technologies in both medical and consumer products. He has over 25 years of senior management, sales and marketing experience in many companies, including DJO's Global Recovery Science Division, which is a Blackstone Company; Onsite Network, which is also an interactive media company; West Coast Trends, who is a leading travel luggage and golf bag provider; Porsche Design; and Callaway Golf. Greg holds a bachelor of science degree in economics from UC Irvine and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. The Conquering Fibromyalgia Summit (affiliate link) is happening right now and runs from September 9th through the 20th, 2019. This is an online conference featuring doctors, researchers and advocates, and it's hosted by a doctor who also has fibromyalgia. Our own Fibro Coach, Tami Stackelhouse, is one of the speakers and will be offering an exclusive bonus class for conference participants. Get $55 off the purchase of your own Oska Pulse! Visit OskaWellness.com and use the discount code: FIBROCOACH. (affiliate link) The tracking tool mentioned in this episode can help make visits to your doctor more effective, giving them documented evidence for your pain and your fatigue levels. Access this tracking tool and all of our bonus materials using this link. 

The technology for pulsed electromagnetic field devices (PEMF) has been around for 60 years and used in healthcare systems around the world. Oska Wellness has revolutionized this technology by producing a miniaturized version for personal use, the Oska Pulse. Tami interviews the founder, Greg Houlgate, about the history, the mission, the research, and his own personal use of this new product. Does the Oska Pulse belong in your fibromyalgia toolkit? Key Points <ul> <li>The Oska Pulse is an FDA-registered, Class 1 medical pain relief device.</li> <li>While the Oska Pulse is a fairly new product, the technology behind it has existed for six decades, and there have been over 10,000 clinical studies on it.</li> <li>The Oska Pulse is clinically proven to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, improve mobility, and relieve pain.</li> <li>Users of the Oska Pulse have reported it being effective for reducing headaches and improving sleep, in addition to relieving pain.</li> <li>It has even been useful for pets, helping with issues like hip dysplasia.</li> <li>Get $55 off the purchase of your own Oska Pulse! Details can be found at the end of this episode.</li> </ul> Note: This episode’s show notes and transcript contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we will likely receive a small commission. <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/home/privacy-policy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Read about what we do and don’t promote here.</a> About Greg Houlgate Greg Houlgate is the founder of Oska Wellness. He's a board member, the chief product and business development officer, and has been an innovator of new technologies in both medical and consumer products. He has over 25 years of senior management, sales and marketing experience in many companies, including DJO's Global Recovery Science Division, which is a Blackstone Company; Onsite Network, which is also an interactive media company; West Coast Trends, who is a leading travel luggage and golf bag provider; Porsche Design; and Callaway Golf. Greg holds a bachelor of science degree in economics from UC Irvine and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="https://fibro.coach/CYF2019" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Conquering Fibromyalgia Summit</a> (affiliate link) is happening right now and runs from September 9th through the 20th, 2019. This is an online conference featuring doctors, researchers and advocates, and it's hosted by a doctor who also has fibromyalgia. Our own Fibro Coach, Tami Stackelhouse, is one of the speakers and will be offering an exclusive bonus class for conference participants.</li> <li>Get $55 off the purchase of your own Oska Pulse! Visit <a href="https://fibro.coach/oska" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">OskaWellness.com</a> and use the discount code: FIBROCOACH. (affiliate link)</li> <li>The tracking tool mentioned in this episode can help make visits to your doctor more effective, giving them documented evidence for your pain and your fatigue levels. <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/resources/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Access this tracking tool and all of our bonus materials using this link.</a></li> </ul>

Chronic Pain Relief Without Drugs: Introducing the Oska Pulse

Over the last few weeks, we have received many messages asking if fibromyalgia increases the risk of developing COVID-19, the illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 (aka, "the coronavirus"). Tami has interviewed several doctors to get the facts, as best as we know them right now. This episode contains the information we know to be accurate as of the time of publishing. Tami also covers things you can do to strengthen your immune system so your body is best equipped to fight off COVID-19. Key Points  Fibromyalgia itself doesn't increase your risk of COVID-19. However, fibromyalgia patients often have compromised immune systems which does increase your risk. Your best protection is to avoid exposure to the virus by staying home. Make sure your body and immune system are as healthy as possible to fight off infections. If you have autoimmune conditions, you want to be careful about how you strengthen your immune system. Focusing on the positive strengthens your immune system response. Be gentle with yourself. This is not the time to be beating yourself up.  Links &amp; Resources  Get free copies of Tami’s books here Visit FibroWorkshop.com to discover our monthly free FibroWorkshops taught LIVE by Tami. "Are You at Higher Risk for Coronavirus?" Dr. Lynn Webster. Pain News Network. 15 February 2020. The Painful Truth: What Chronic Pain Is Really Like and Why It Matters to Each of Us, Lynn Webster, MD on Amazon (affiliate Link) It Hurts Until You Die (film) Segerstrom, Suzanne C., et al. "Optimism is associated with mood, coping, and immune change in response to stress." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 74.6 (1998): 1646.  Other Episodes Mentioned  Episode 32: Your World Revolves Around Your Healing, Not Your Illness 

Over the last few weeks, we have received many messages asking if fibromyalgia increases the risk of developing COVID-19, the illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 (aka, "the coronavirus"). Tami has interviewed several doctors to get the facts, as best as we know them right now. This episode contains the information we know to be accurate as of the time of publishing. Tami also covers things you can do to strengthen your immune system so your body is best equipped to fight off COVID-19. Key Points <ul> <li>Fibromyalgia itself doesn't increase your risk of COVID-19. However, fibromyalgia patients often have compromised immune systems which does increase your risk.</li> <li>Your best protection is to avoid exposure to the virus by staying home.</li> <li>Make sure your body and immune system are as healthy as possible to fight off infections.</li> <li>If you have autoimmune conditions, you want to be careful about how you strengthen your immune system.</li> <li>Focusing on the positive strengthens your immune system response.</li> <li>Be gentle with yourself. This is not the time to be beating yourself up.</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get free copies of Tami’s books here</a></li> <li>Visit <a href="http://fibroworkshop.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibroWorkshop.com</a> to discover our monthly free FibroWorkshops taught LIVE by Tami.</li> <li><a href="https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2020/2/15/are-you-at-higher-risk-for-coronavirus?rq=coronavirus" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">"Are You at Higher Risk for Coronavirus?"</a> Dr. Lynn Webster. Pain News Network. 15 February 2020.</li> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/3dIps8o" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Painful Truth: What Chronic Pain Is Really Like and Why It Matters to Each of Us</a>, Lynn Webster, MD on Amazon (affiliate Link)</li> <li><a href="https://www.lynnwebstermd.com/it-hurts-until-you-die/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">It Hurts Until You Die</a> (film)</li> <li>Segerstrom, Suzanne C., et al. <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-02892-019" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">"Optimism is associated with mood, coping, and immune change in response to stress."</a> Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 74.6 (1998): 1646.</li> </ul> Other Episodes Mentioned <ul> <li>Episode 32: <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-32-your-world-revolves-around-your-healing-not-your-illness/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Your World Revolves Around Your Healing, Not Your Illness</a></li> </ul>

Help Your Immune System Fight Off Illness

We don't love New Year's Resolutions, but it’s that time of year. A lot of people are making resolutions, like: I'm going to get in shape, I'm going to eat better, I'm going to get control over my finances. Well, the ideas and intentions are good, but resolutions don't really set you up for success. In this episode, Tami will teach you how to create the foundation that you need, the support that you need, and the structure that is needed in your life to allow change to happen, and to happen easily. Key Points  Why do so many of us fail at New Year’s Resolutions, even when we are desperate to see these positive changes in our lives? Goal setting is also a challenge, especially for those of us with fibromyalgia. Learn why even S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-oriented) are not enough to bring you success. Find out Tami’s super simple secret to make reaching your goals automatic. Set your life up in a way that it becomes easier to do the thing, than to not do the thing.  Note: This episode’s show notes and transcript contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we will likely receive a small commission. Read about what we do and don’t promote here. Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Resolution Evolution 2020 on Saturday, January 11th. Your world doesn’t revolve around your illness. It revolves around your healing. Stories of Hope and Healing is a graduation celebration of the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute. Join us on Saturday, January 18th at 1:00 p.m. PST to hear how each of our newest graduates have been able to improve their fibromyalgia symptoms at IFCIgraduation.com. Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month for the entire year. Her first workshop will be Gentle Goal Setting for Fibromyalgia, an expansion of what you're going to hear on today's episode. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE on Monday, January 13th at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time. Go to FibroWorkshop.com to RSVP, get the workbook, and get ready to make meaningful progress toward living a life you love. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear (affiliate link) 

We don't love New Year's Resolutions, but it’s that time of year. A lot of people are making resolutions, like: I'm going to get in shape, I'm going to eat better, I'm going to get control over my finances. Well, the ideas and intentions are good, but resolutions don't really set you up for success. In this episode, Tami will teach you how to create the foundation that you need, the support that you need, and the structure that is needed in your life to allow change to happen, and to happen easily. Key Points <ul> <li>Why do so many of us fail at New Year’s Resolutions, even when we are desperate to see these positive changes in our lives?</li> <li>Goal setting is also a challenge, especially for those of us with fibromyalgia. Learn why even S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-oriented) are not enough to bring you success.</li> <li>Find out Tami’s super simple secret to make reaching your goals automatic.</li> <li>Set your life up in a way that it becomes easier to do the thing, than to not do the thing.</li> </ul> Note: This episode’s show notes and transcript contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we will likely receive a small commission. <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/home/privacy-policy/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Read about what we do and don’t promote here.</a> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://resolutionevolution.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Resolution Evolution 2020</a> on Saturday, January 11th.</li> <li>Your world doesn’t revolve around your illness. It revolves around your healing. Stories of Hope and Healing is a graduation celebration of the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute. Join us on Saturday, January 18th at 1:00 p.m. PST to hear how each of our newest graduates have been able to improve their fibromyalgia symptoms at <a href="IFCIgraduation.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IFCIgraduation.com</a>.</li> <li>Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month for the entire year. Her first workshop will be Gentle Goal Setting for Fibromyalgia, an expansion of what you're going to hear on today's episode. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE on Monday, January 13th at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time. Go to <a href="FibroWorkshop.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibroWorkshop.com</a> to RSVP, get the workbook, and get ready to make meaningful progress toward living a life you love.</li> <li>"<a href="https://amzn.to/36rBzC8" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Atomic Habits</a>" by James Clear (affiliate link)</li> </ul>

Goal-Setting & Habits with Fibromyalgia

Thousands of fibro patients are dispelling the gloomy prognosis that once came with fibromyalgia. The good news is there are so many ways for you to start feeling better! With so many options to take back your health and your life, the new challenge is figuring out where to begin. Do you start with cutting out sugar? Adding a supplement? Improving your sleep hygiene? Trying new techniques for pain remediation? Relax. Now smile. Tami offers expert guidance with four simple questions. Key Points  There are so many ways for you to start feeling better! How do you choose? Fibromyalgia is complicated and affects so many areas of your life. It can often be difficult to know where to begin on the road back to health. Learn four ways to approach finding the best place to start (or continue) your personal fibromyalgia healing journey. The four questions you should ask yourself to determine the next best step for you.    Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month, for the entire year 2020. This is the same information that she teaches her Coaches, clients, and students. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE. Go to FibroWorkshop.com to find out what Tami is teaching next.  

Thousands of fibro patients are dispelling the gloomy prognosis that once came with fibromyalgia. The good news is there are so many ways for you to start feeling better! With so many options to take back your health and your life, the new challenge is figuring out where to begin. Do you start with cutting out sugar? Adding a supplement? Improving your sleep hygiene? Trying new techniques for pain remediation? Relax. Now smile. Tami offers expert guidance with four simple questions. Key Points <ul> <li>There are so many ways for you to start feeling better! How do you choose?</li> <li>Fibromyalgia is complicated and affects so many areas of your life. It can often be difficult to know where to begin on the road back to health.</li> <li>Learn four ways to approach finding the best place to start (or continue) your personal fibromyalgia healing journey.</li> <li>The four questions you should ask yourself to determine the next best step for you.</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month, for the entire year 2020. This is the same information that she teaches her Coaches, clients, and students. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE. Go to <a href="http://FibroWorkshop.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibroWorkshop.com</a> to find out what Tami is teaching next. </li> </ul>

Where Do I Start? Ask the Coach

The experience of chronic pain can bring you to your knees. When our suffering is acute and unceasing, we often start asking questions that medicine and science can’t answer. Tami gently wades into these waters with us, offering viewpoints from a range of faith perspectives. Perhaps we can find a little solace in these true stories. Perhaps we can begin to develop and share a more robust theology of suffering and prayer. Some Unsettling Questions  What did I do to deserve this? Why hasn’t God healed me? Did I not pray right or believe hard enough? What happens when my body won’t allow me to observe a fast or practice my faith the same way others do? What do you do when your faith family actually makes matters worse?  Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Finding Your Faith Within Fibromyalgia is an ebook by Kate Straus, based on her experiences as an Orthodox Jew. In it, she shares the wisdom she gained from managing her fibromyalgia while practicing her faith with Orthodoxy, and some of the modifications she needed to make in order to do so. (For instance, when you have to take medication with food, and it's a fasting holiday, how do you do that?) 

The experience of chronic pain can bring you to your knees. When our suffering is acute and unceasing, we often start asking questions that medicine and science can’t answer. Tami gently wades into these waters with us, offering viewpoints from a range of faith perspectives. Perhaps we can find a little solace in these true stories. Perhaps we can begin to develop and share a more robust theology of suffering and prayer. Some Unsettling Questions <ul> <li>What did I do to deserve this?</li> <li>Why hasn’t God healed me? Did I not pray right or believe hard enough?</li> <li>What happens when my body won’t allow me to observe a fast or practice my faith the same way others do?</li> <li>What do you do when your faith family actually makes matters worse?</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://fibro.coach/2M6MdGP" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Finding Your Faith Within Fibromyalgia</a> is an ebook by Kate Straus, based on her experiences as an Orthodox Jew. In it, she shares the wisdom she gained from managing her fibromyalgia while practicing her faith with Orthodoxy, and some of the modifications she needed to make in order to do so. (For instance, when you have to take medication with food, and it's a fasting holiday, how do you do that?)</li> </ul>

Faith and Fibromyalgia

Jenni Grover

Resilience

In this episode, Tami speaks with ChronicBabe herself, Jenni Grover, about how ChronicBabe was born, what ChronicBabe continues to stand for, and the new work that is calling Jenni forward: her School of Creative Resilience. Listen in as these two babes discuss what it means to live and work with a chronic illness—and uncover the innate superpower we all have: Creative Resilience. Key Points  Many pain specialists say that your resilience is the biggest predictor of how well you will recover from chronic pain. Creative Resilience is teaching people how to tap into their innate creative energies, which we all possess, and then build that inner resource and use it to boost resilience and joy.  Resilience about more than just getting back up when you fall down. It's also about learning how to adjust. It's having the flexibility and creativity to think of new ways of doing things. We're all born with the ability to make things and make connections and learn new skills. Sometimes, we just need help tapping into that ability.  About Jenni Grover Writing has been Jenni’s passion since she was an itty-bitty girl growing up in Houston, Texas. Her journalism degree from Northwestern University took her places she never imagined. Since 1995, she has called Chicagoland her home, though her clients are all over the world! In 1997, Jenni was diagnosed with fibromyalgia; in the years since, she has added a handful of other diagnoses to her list. Determined not to let chronic illness and disability get the best of her, Jenni created ChronicBabe.com—a community for women who wanted to feel babe-alicious despite illness. With the training of an investigative journalist and the creative passion of a lifelong writer, Jenni has transformed her career to help others like her… and to ensure our stories make a difference in the lives of millions of people living with chronic pain and illness. Jenni is the author of ChronicBabe 101: How to Craft an Incredible Life Beyond Illness (affiliate link). Her newest work is all about Creative Resilience—and you’ll hear all about that in this episode. Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Visit FibroWorkshop.com to discover this month's free FibroWorkshop taught LIVE by Tami. The Daily Creative, Jenni's newest class School of Creative Resilience, Jenni's newest work ChronicBabe 101: How to Craft an Incredible Life Beyond Illness, by Jenni Grover (affiliate link) ChronicBabe.com, where it all started! ChronicBabe on YouTube 

In this episode, Tami speaks with ChronicBabe herself, Jenni Grover, about how ChronicBabe was born, what ChronicBabe continues to stand for, and the new work that is calling Jenni forward: her School of Creative Resilience. Listen in as these two babes discuss what it means to live and work with a chronic illness—and uncover the innate superpower we all have: Creative Resilience. Key Points <ul> <li>Many pain specialists say that your resilience is the biggest predictor of how well you will recover from chronic pain.</li> <li>Creative Resilience is teaching people how to tap into their innate creative energies, which we all possess, and then build that inner resource and use it to boost resilience and joy. </li> <li>Resilience about more than just getting back up when you fall down. It's also about learning how to adjust. It's having the flexibility and creativity to think of new ways of doing things.</li> <li>We're all born with the ability to make things and make connections and learn new skills. Sometimes, we just need help tapping into that ability.</li> </ul> About Jenni Grover Writing has been Jenni’s passion since she was an itty-bitty girl growing up in Houston, Texas. Her journalism degree from Northwestern University took her places she never imagined. Since 1995, she has called Chicagoland her home, though her clients are all over the world! In 1997, Jenni was diagnosed with fibromyalgia; in the years since, she has added a handful of other diagnoses to her list. Determined not to let chronic illness and disability get the best of her, Jenni created <a href="https://www.chronicbabe.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">ChronicBabe.com</a>—a community for women who wanted to feel babe-alicious despite illness. With the training of an investigative journalist and the creative passion of a lifelong writer, Jenni has transformed her career to help others like her… and to ensure our stories make a difference in the lives of millions of people living with chronic pain and illness. Jenni is the author of <a href="http://amzn.to/2fkvLSz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">ChronicBabe 101: How to Craft an Incredible Life Beyond Illness</a> (affiliate link). Her newest work is all about <a href="https://www.creativeresilience.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Creative Resilience</a>—and you’ll hear all about that in this episode. Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>Visit <a href="http://fibroworkshop.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibroWorkshop.com</a> to discover this month's free FibroWorkshop taught LIVE by Tami.</li> <li><a href="https://learn.creativeresilience.com/courses/the-daily-creative" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Daily Creative</a>, Jenni's newest class</li> <li><a href="https://www.creativeresilience.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">School of Creative Resilience</a>, Jenni's newest work</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2fkvLSz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">ChronicBabe 101: How to Craft an Incredible Life Beyond Illness</a>, by Jenni Grover (affiliate link)</li> <li><a href="https://www.chronicbabe.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">ChronicBabe.com</a>, where it all started!</li> <li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/chronicbabejenni" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">ChronicBabe on YouTube</a></li> </ul>

Creative Resilience with ChronicBabe Jenni Grover

Janet Farnsworth

Our body can feel like a battleground, like it's us against fibromyalgia, and this fight is happening inside of our body. Many of us with fibromyalgia “check out” from the neck down because we have to, just to get through the day. We're in so much pain. We're so fatigued. What if it were possible to fall in love with your body, right now, exactly as you are? Tami and her guest, Janet Farnsworth, offer this extraordinary gift in this special episode, which is our Valentine wish for you. Key Points  Fibromyalgia, abuse, whatever may have happened to your body in the past, or whatever is happening now, you still can love the body that you're in. Because you have fibromyalgia, you have a special kind of wisdom, a gateway into more intelligence about your body and what it needs. When it comes to our bodies, and even our pain, there is so much to be curious about, and to build a loving vocabulary around. We have within us so many resources to repair and to get healthy, even when we have certain aspects of ourselves that are challenged and taxed. Learn the single most important practice for reconnecting with your body, which might sound really boring and really obvious, but it is actually the most powerful.  About Janet Farnsworth Janet Farnsworth, nationally recognized yoga teacher and body-empowerment coach, inspires students to break through old beliefs of shame and blame and instead, connect to their bodies as the source of their greatest wisdom and joy. Founder of The Practice of Now: Let Love Move You, Janet has created a movement therapy practice designed to heal and nurture our relationships with our bodies. Janet believes authentic movement is the fastest way to physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being. With a graduate degree in social work, Janet also brings a background in expressive therapy, psychodrama, ecstatic dance and yoga. Her book, LOVE YOUR BODY: The Ultimate Guide to Stop Making Your Body a Battleground is a how-to for anyone who is ready to feel empowered and at peace with their body. Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month, for the entire year 2020. This is the same information that she teaches her Coaches, clients, and students. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE. Go to FibroWorkshop.com to find out what Tami is teaching next. Janet Farnsworth is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, somatic therapist, and body-empowerment coach who has spent years coaching women how to love their bodies again. Contact Janet and grab a free copy of her book at JanetFarnsworth.com. 

Our body can feel like a battleground, like it's us against fibromyalgia, and this fight is happening inside of our body. Many of us with fibromyalgia “check out” from the neck down because we have to, just to get through the day. We're in so much pain. We're so fatigued. What if it were possible to fall in love with your body, right now, exactly as you are? Tami and her guest, Janet Farnsworth, offer this extraordinary gift in this special episode, which is our Valentine wish for you. Key Points <ul> <li>Fibromyalgia, abuse, whatever may have happened to your body in the past, or whatever is happening now, you still can love the body that you're in.</li> <li>Because you have fibromyalgia, you have a special kind of wisdom, a gateway into more intelligence about your body and what it needs.</li> <li>When it comes to our bodies, and even our pain, there is so much to be curious about, and to build a loving vocabulary around.</li> <li>We have within us so many resources to repair and to get healthy, even when we have certain aspects of ourselves that are challenged and taxed.</li> <li>Learn the single most important practice for reconnecting with your body, which might sound really boring and really obvious, but it is actually the most powerful.</li> </ul> About Janet Farnsworth Janet Farnsworth, nationally recognized yoga teacher and body-empowerment coach, inspires students to break through old beliefs of shame and blame and instead, connect to their bodies as the source of their greatest wisdom and joy. Founder of The Practice of Now: Let Love Move You, Janet has created a movement therapy practice designed to heal and nurture our relationships with our bodies. Janet believes authentic movement is the fastest way to physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being. With a graduate degree in social work, Janet also brings a background in expressive therapy, psychodrama, ecstatic dance and yoga. Her book, LOVE YOUR BODY: The Ultimate Guide to Stop Making Your Body a Battleground is a how-to for anyone who is ready to feel empowered and at peace with their body. Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month, for the entire year 2020. This is the same information that she teaches her Coaches, clients, and students. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE. Go to <a href="http://FibroWorkshop.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibroWorkshop.com</a> to find out what Tami is teaching next.</li> <li>Janet Farnsworth is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, somatic therapist, and body-empowerment coach who has spent years coaching women how to love their bodies again. Contact Janet and grab a free copy of her book at <a href="http://www.janetfarnsworth.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">JanetFarnsworth.com</a>.</li> </ul>

Fall in Love with Your Fibromyalgia Body with Janet Farnsworth

Julie Hamilton

Are you struggling to keep up with the demands of your work due to your fibromyalgia? There is a big difference between not being able to do your job and needing a little help to accomplish certain tasks. In this episode, Julie Hamilton discusses how to ask for special accommodations at work, before things get so bad that you're faced with disciplinary action or even termination. Before you think about filing for disability, consider how small changes can make a big impact on your performance and job satisfaction.   Key Points  What are special work accommodations? When to talk to your boss about special work accommodations, what you should say, and what you should NEVER say. Just because you ask for it, isn't a guarantee. HOW to have a conversation with your boss that will increase your ability to work together and accomplish your mutual goals. How you can avoid disciplinary action, a poor performance evaluation, or termination, even if your fibromyalgia flares are holding you back. You CAN keep your job, advance your career, and feel good while doing it.    About Julie Hamilton Julie is a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach, Life Coach and Youth Life Coach. She has over 20 years experience as a Human Resources Director and Manager, with the last nine years in healthcare. In her role as an HR Director and Manager, she educated her coworkers, particularly nursing professionals, on the treatment and management of living with fibromyalgia.  Julie has worked with the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) since its inception in 1993, knows the requirements, and can effectively advise individuals on the necessities when working with their employer when they have a chronic disease. Julie’s specialty is helping young professionals who are frustrated with their health to excel in their career and regain their active social lives.    Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Get the HR tool kit you can print out or email to your HR department to educate them on fibromyalgia. Email Julie directly at JHamilton@CoachingPI.com for a copy. Julie also has an assessment tool to help you understand whether or not you need to request special work accommodations, if you need to use the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), or if you need to file for disability. You can get that assessment on Julie's website: CoachingPI.com. 

Are you struggling to keep up with the demands of your work due to your fibromyalgia? There is a big difference between not being able to do your job and needing a little help to accomplish certain tasks. In this episode, Julie Hamilton discusses how to ask for special accommodations at work, before things get so bad that you're faced with disciplinary action or even termination. Before you think about filing for disability, consider how small changes can make a big impact on your performance and job satisfaction. Key Points <ul> <li>What are special work accommodations?</li> <li>When to talk to your boss about special work accommodations, what you should say, and what you should NEVER say.</li> <li>Just because you ask for it, isn't a guarantee. HOW to have a conversation with your boss that will increase your ability to work together and accomplish your mutual goals.</li> <li>How you can avoid disciplinary action, a poor performance evaluation, or termination, even if your fibromyalgia flares are holding you back.</li> <li>You CAN keep your job, advance your career, and feel good while doing it.</li> </ul> About Julie Hamilton Julie is a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach, Life Coach and Youth Life Coach. She has over 20 years experience as a Human Resources Director and Manager, with the last nine years in healthcare. In her role as an HR Director and Manager, she educated her coworkers, particularly nursing professionals, on the treatment and management of living with fibromyalgia.  Julie has worked with the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) since its inception in 1993, knows the requirements, and can effectively advise individuals on the necessities when working with their employer when they have a chronic disease. Julie’s specialty is helping young professionals who are frustrated with their health to excel in their career and regain their active social lives.  Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books</a>.</li> <li>Get the HR tool kit you can print out or email to your HR department to educate them on fibromyalgia. Email Julie directly at <a href="mailto:JHamilton@CoachingPI.com">JHamilton@CoachingPI.com</a> for a copy.</li> <li>Julie also has an assessment tool to help you understand whether or not you need to request special work accommodations, if you need to use the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), or if you need to file for disability. You can get that assessment on Julie's website: <a href="http://www.coachingpi.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CoachingPI.com</a>.</li> </ul>

Work Accommodations for Fibromyalgia with Julie Hamilton

You are the world’s foremost expert at living in your body. No one is a bigger expert on who you are and how you feel than you. Your Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take responsibility for your own healthcare. Discover how to develop a more collaborative relationship with our providers, and provide them with the right information, so they can make the right diagnosis and help us create the right treatment plan for our specific challenges… and then follow through on what we decide we need to do. Key Points  Our providers' jobs are the easy 2%—telling us what needs to be done. Our job as the patient is the really hard 98%—actually doing the things it takes to feel our best. You have 100% control over how you are actively participating in a mental and emotional way, and how you are receiving what your providers have to offer. Use data to give a balanced, true picture of how we are doing when we are talking with our providers. If I say “I can't stand very long," that is very different than: “I can only stand for 5 minutes,” or “I can only stand for an hour.” You are the one living inside your body. You are the one who has to take care of it. How do you go about doing that really hard 98% of following through?    Links &amp; Resources  FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a fibromyalgia coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com.  Tracking tools mentioned in this episode are available here 

You are the world’s foremost expert at living in your body. No one is a bigger expert on who you are and how you feel than you. Your Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take responsibility for your own healthcare. Discover how to develop a more collaborative relationship with our providers, and provide them with the right information, so they can make the right diagnosis and help us create the right treatment plan for our specific challenges… and then follow through on what we decide we need to do. Key Points <ul> <li>Our providers' jobs are the easy 2%—telling us what needs to be done.</li> <li>Our job as the patient is the really hard 98%—actually doing the things it takes to feel our best.</li> <li>You have 100% control over how you are actively participating in a mental and emotional way, and how you are receiving what your providers have to offer.</li> <li>Use data to give a balanced, true picture of how we are doing when we are talking with our providers. If I say “I can't stand very long," that is very different than: “I can only stand for 5 minutes,” or “I can only stand for an hour.”</li> <li>You are the one living inside your body. You are the one who has to take care of it.</li> <li>How do you go about doing that really hard 98% of following through?</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a> is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a fibromyalgia coach.</li> <li>Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FibromyalgiaPodcast.com</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiacoachinginstitute.com/book-bonuses/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Tracking tools mentioned in this episode are available here</a></li> </ul>

The Patient's Role in Their Own Healthcare

In this episode, Tami talks about the subtle difference between focusing on your fibromyalgia and focusing on your healing. In your brain, you have a reticular activating system (RAS). Your RAS is the gatekeeper for information entering your brain and tells you what you should pay attention to. When you keep thinking of all the ways your fibromyalgia is impeding your life, all you see are more ways fibromyalgia is impeding your life. If you can make the mental shift to focus on ways you can heal, your RAS will start seeing more opportunities to feel better. Key Points  Fibromyalgia is simply where we’re starting. It’s where we are right now, but that’s not what the focus is. The focus is on where we're going: healing. What we focus on is going to grow and be pulled into our lives.  There's a very big difference between thinking, “I can't because of my illness” and “I’m choosing not to so that I can feel my best tomorrow.” It's less about what you can't do and more about what you can do. It's about moving you on that journey towards feeling better  Links &amp; Resources  Get free copies of Tami’s books here Visit FibroWorkshop.com to discover this month's free FibroWorkshop taught LIVE by Tami. The Monkey Business Illusion video How To Make Stress Your Friend, Kelly McGonigal, TEDGlobal 2013 Jenni Grover (ChronicBabe): How to be Resilient by Being Creative, Invisible Not Broken, Chronic Illness Podcast Network   Other Episodes Mentioned   Episode 2, Your Body Isn't The Enemy Episode 3, How Fibromyalgia Became My Friend Episode 9, The Fine Art of Self-Care Episode 13, How To Add More Joy To Your Life Episode 24, Practicing Gratitude with Fibromyalgia Episode 29, Fall In Love With Your Fibromyalgia Body with Janet Farnsworth Episode 31, Creative Resilience with ChronicBabe, Jenni Grover 

In this episode, Tami talks about the subtle difference between focusing on your fibromyalgia and focusing on your healing. In your brain, you have a reticular activating system (RAS). Your RAS is the gatekeeper for information entering your brain and tells you what you should pay attention to. When you keep thinking of all the ways your fibromyalgia is impeding your life, all you see are more ways fibromyalgia is impeding your life. If you can make the mental shift to focus on ways you can heal, your RAS will start seeing more opportunities to feel better. Key Points <ul> <li>Fibromyalgia is simply where we’re starting. It’s where we are right now, but that’s not what the focus is. The focus is on where we're going: healing.</li> <li>What we focus on is going to grow and be pulled into our lives. </li> <li>There's a very big difference between thinking, “I can't because of my illness” and “I’m choosing not to so that I can feel my best tomorrow.”</li> <li>It's less about what you can't do and more about what you can do. It's about moving you on that journey towards feeling better</li> </ul> Links &amp; Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get free copies of Tami’s books here</a></li> <li>Visit <a href="http://fibroworkshop.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FibroWorkshop.com</a> to discover this month's free FibroWorkshop taught LIVE by Tami.</li> <li><a href="https://youtu.be/ux1cL7tHjlI" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Monkey Business Illusion</a> video</li> <li><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend?language=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">How To Make Stress Your Friend</a>, Kelly McGonigal, TEDGlobal 2013</li> <li><a href="https://shows.acast.com/invisible-not-broken-a-chronic-illness-podcast/episodes/jenni-grover-chronicbabe-creative-resilience" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jenni Grover (ChronicBabe): How to be Resilient by Being Creative</a>, Invisible Not Broken, Chronic Illness Podcast Network</li> </ul> Other Episodes Mentioned <ul> <li>Episode 2, <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-02-your-body-isnt-the-enemy/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Your Body Isn't The Enemy</a></li> <li>Episode 3, <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-03-how-fibromyalgia-became-my-friend/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">How Fibromyalgia Became My Friend</a></li> <li>Episode 9, <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-09-fine-art-of-self-care/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Fine Art of Self-Care</a></li> <li>Episode 13, <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-13-how-to-add-more-joy-into-your-life/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">How To Add More Joy To Your Life</a></li> <li>Episode 24, <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-24-practicing-gratitude-with-fibromyalgia/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Practicing Gratitude with Fibromyalgia</a></li> <li>Episode 29, <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-29-fall-in-love-with-your-fibromyalgia-body-with-janet-farnsworth/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Fall In Love With Your Fibromyalgia Body with Janet Farnsworth</a></li> <li>Episode 31, <a href="https://fibromyalgiapodcast.com/podcast/episode-31-creative-resilience-chronicbabe-jenni-grover/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Creative Resilience with ChronicBabe, Jenni Grover</a></li> </ul>

Your World Revolves Around Your Healing, Not Your Illness

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