Fibromyalgia Podcast®: Recent Episodes

Tami Stackelhouse

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.

“It’s pretty amazing how much stress, emotion, memory, and trauma the pelvic bowl itself holds.” - Dr. Desiree Cassell

Pelvic floor health is important to all of us. We all have a pelvic floor, and pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to everything from incontinence and painful sex, which you might expect, but also knee, back, and hip pain, and even TMJ.

This dysfunction can stem from many different types of triggers, and the signs are not always obvious. Seeking out a specialized pelvic floor PT who is trauma-informed and understands the importance of an internal assessment can be life-changing for many women experiencing pelvic floor issues, as Tami has seen for many of her fibro clients.

Today, Tami is joined by Dr. Desiree Cassell, an expert pelvic floor physical therapist. After her first pregnancy, Dr. Desiree suffered from her own pelvic floor dysfunction, which she was able to resolve completely during her second pregnancy. This experience led to her passion in educating, empowering, and supporting other women throughout their lifespan, so that they don’t have to accept these common issues as part of life.

In this conversation, Dr. Desiree and Tami discuss how to find a qualified pelvic floor physical therapist and why in-person exams matter, what the pelvic floor is, how it works, and how pelvic PT differs from traditional physical therapy, why internal pelvic floor assessments are important, how they help to break stigma, what to expect during an internal assessment, what these assessments can reveal about your pain, how to choose a trauma-informed pelvic floor therapist, why comfort and trust are essential, common symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, why the condition is often misunderstood, the connection between your pelvic floor and the rest of your body, the impact of surgeries like C-sections and hysterectomies on pelvic health, the lack of follow-up care, how fascia, scar tissue, and emotional trauma can affect your pelvic floor and overall well-being, what to do if you’ve had surgery or trauma without pelvic floor rehab, breathwork to support pelvic floor healing and nervous system regulation, practical breathwork tips for identifying and releasing tension in your body, 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®.

In this special bonus episode, Tami is sharing a recent guest appearance she made on the Manders Mindset podcast hosted by Amanda Russo.

Also known as The Breathing Goddess, Amanda is a Breathwork Detox Facilitator, Transformative Mindset Coach, and Divorce Paralegal.

Amanda's journey into mindset and empowerment began by working with children in group homes and daycares. She later transitioned to family law, helping people navigate the challenging emotions of divorce. During this time, Amanda also overcame her own weight and health challenges through strength training, meditation, yoga, reiki, and plant medicine.

The Manders Mindset podcast is where real people tell how shifting their mindsets—and often their words—has dramatically changed their lives.

In the interview, Tami and Amanda discuss the realities of living with a chronic illness that most doctors don’t know how to treat, the emotional toll of being dismissed, the myths around fibromyalgia, what true healing looks like, the role radical self-awareness plays in that true healing journey, and why Tami decided to become the coach she wishes she would’ve had when she was first diagnosed.

If you enjoy this episode, please check out the rest of Amanda’s podcast here.

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®.

“Autism is not a problem that needs to be solved. Our co-occurring conditions are what need to be solved or accommodated.” - Dr. Angela Kingdon

Did you know 41% of people with strong autistic traits also have fibromyalgia? It works the other way around, too, with 10 to 20% of people with fibromyalgia having autistic traits. Even for those of us who only have one of the two, there are many parallels, and our shared experiences are numerous. Embracing this as part of our identity and accepting the strengths and challenges associated with fibromyalgia and autism is the key to finding new levels of joy and healing.

Today, Tami is joined by Dr. Angela Kingdon to talk about the connection between autism and fibromyalgia and clear up the rampant misinformation around autism. Angela is a dynamic autistic advocate, author, and speaker renowned for her impactful work in promoting neurodiversity and supporting autistic individuals.

In this conversation, Angela and Tami discuss Angela's experiences from late diagnosis to burnout, statistics on fibromyalgia and autism, understanding the concept of autistic traits, the challenges in obtaining an autism diagnosis for women and people of color, the importance of self-diagnosis in managing your health, how masking can complicate autism diagnosis, risks associated with high masking, the growing recognition of fibromyalgia and autism in healthcare, the stigmatization and misunderstanding of autism, why it’s important to research and request accommodations the causes of autism, debunking the vaccine controversy, the impact of genetics vs. environment in developing autism, the need for more research to support autistic individuals, the prevalence of fibromyalgia and other conditions among autistic individuals, creating an inclusive environment that benefits everyone, recognizing autism as a different way of processing information, synaptic pruning in brain development and its relation to autism, differences in sensory processing in autistic brains, the uniqueness of each autistic individual's experience and the need for personalized accommodations, managing overwhelming situations and their impact on the nervous system, how societal factors influence the expression of autism, what do to next if you think you may be autistic, reasons for seeking a formal autism diagnosis, challenges associated with having a fibromyalgia or autism diagnosis, common misconceptions related to autism, navigating the pressure to conform, social challenges faced by autistic individuals and the desire for connection, comparing experiences of autism and fibromyalgia, the shift from viewing autism as a medical issue to embracing it as part of your identity, the role of coaching, the correlation between identity acceptance and mental health outcomes, accepting your identity as the first step in the healing process, the benefits of having a supportive community of people with similar experiences, the challenges of labels in the autistic community, understanding the spectrum concept in autism, how autism and fibromyalgia symptoms can vary from day to day based on numerous factors, finding joy in your identity, the bond between fibromyalgia and autism communities, 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®.

“Inflammation is one of the root causes of many of our health issues, and we have the power to overcome it.”

Western medicine has a toolkit that can be very effective, but, especially as fibromyalgia patients, we need options. Whether it’s a prescription, practice, or natural supplement, expanding our fibro toolkit means that we’re prepared no matter how life shifts on us. That’s where natural options like turmeric can be an important addition to your fibro toolbox for managing symptoms like pain and inflammation.

In this Ask the Coach episode, Tami is joined by Dr. Shivani Gupta, an Ayurvedic practitioner who has her PhD in turmeric. In a world where conventional pain medications are no longer our first choice, the powerful anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric and its active compound, curcumin, have gained significant attention as natural alternatives.

In this conversation, Tami and Dr. Shivani discuss Ayurveda, its history, and its holistic approach to health and healing, key principles of Ayurveda, why Dr. Shivani chose to study Ayurveda, her PhD research on turmeric, the difference between turmeric and curcumin, curcumin's potency and why consuming turmeric itself is probably not enough, how Dr. Shivani developed her products, the role of sleep in reducing inflammation and overall health management, the importance of sourcing high-quality curcumin, the lack of regulation in the supplement industry, why she chose to have her products third-party tested, Tami and Dr. Shivani’s experiences with supplement quality and safety, the surprising statistics around loq quality and counterfeit supplements, the high standards required for supplements used in functional medicine, balancing natural remedies with conventional medicine for effective treatment, how to start supplementing with curcumin, who should avoid taking curcumin, the role of health coaches in simplifying health management, what to look for in your search for high-quality supplements, 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®.

1 in 16 people in the US are affected by fibromyalgia, and 1 in 13 women specifically—that’s about 6.4% of the population. To put these statistics in perspective, breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women, cervical cancer affects 1 in 13 women, and colon cancer affects 1 in 25 women and 1 in 23 men. Despite the similarity in prevalence, fibromyalgia has a long way to go in terms of awareness and medical training when compared to these other conditions.

In our mission to improve this, a critical avenue for increasing awareness has been obtaining official proclamations for states to recognize May as Fibromyalgia Awareness Month and May 12th as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Governor’s Proclamations are powerful tools that help advocates validate the struggles faced by fibromyalgia patients and garner support from state officials. This can lead to increased funding for research and better resources for those of us living with fibromyalgia.

Today, Tami is joined by her best friend and fellow advocate, Melissa Swanson. A few years ago, Tami and Melissa decided to bring together their communities, along with several other fibromyalgia organizations, and coordinate the efforts to obtain a Governor's Proclamation in every state. Their goal is to "color the map purple" for fibromyalgia awareness, and Melissa is the coordinator for this effort.

In this conversation, Melissa and Tami discuss what a Governor's Proclamation is, how it helps to raise credibility and awareness, the steps involved in requesting a Governor's Proclamation, the criteria we make sure to cover in Proclamation requests, why May 12th was chosen as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, working with various fibromyalgia organizations to obtain Proclamations, how Melissa helps individuals with the application process, their progress on the goal ot “color the map purple”, the benefits of coordinating with various groups in obtaining Proclamations, how you can help in your state, how collective efforts strengthen the push for fibromyalgia awareness, reasons for denial of Proclamation requests, the application timeline and how the process varies by state, Melissa’s preparations for the next round of applications, the ongoing need for help regardless of your state’s status, Tami’s experience requesting a Governor’s Proclamation in Oregon, statistics on fibromyalgia's prevalence among the U.S., why we need your help, upcoming events related to Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, and more.

Every voice matters in the fight for awareness and support for fibromyalgia. Let’s work together to make a difference.

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®.

When you receive a fibromyalgia diagnosis, it’s natural to wonder if things will ever get better. With the lack of fibro education in medical schools, many of us received our diagnosis alongside a statement that we “just have to learn to live with it”. With such a bleak prognosis, the road ahead becomes much more difficult than it needs to be.

The good news is, we can all feel better. A fulfilling life with fibromyalgia is possible, and recognizing that makes a significant difference. Far from the doom and gloom statements many of us have encountered, there's so much you can learn and do to improve your fibromyalgia symptoms. Even if you think you’ve tried it all, there’s always something else to try.

Today, Tami is joined by fibromyalgia educators and advocates, Dr. Ginevra Liptan and Sharon Waldrop. Dr. Ginevra and Sharon recently launched The Fibro Show on YouTube as part of their mission to spread awareness and empower people living with fibromyalgia. They’re sharing their fibro journeys and sharing resources you can access to improve your life with fibromyalgia.

In this conversation, Dr. Ginevra, Sharon, and Tami discuss Dr. Ginevra’s progress since her last time as a guest, her decision to create a YouTube show, Sharon's fibromyalgia journey and the challenges she faced at a young age, her decision to form the Fibromyalgia Association and how it has evolved, the difficulties she faced in finding adequate support after her diagnosis, the important recognition that a fulfilling life is possible despite her fibromyalgia diagnosis, Dr. Ginevra and Sharon’s mission for The Fibro Show, how the Fibromyalgia Association expanded into a national community with international reach, the need for support groups to focus on education and actionable solutions, plans for the upcoming Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Conference, what you can expect to experience at the virtual conference, actionable strategies for self-care, why sponsors are critical, the advantages of virtual events for accessibility and comfort for people with fibro, what it’s been like creating a YouTube show for fibromyalgia education, upcoming interviews and the format of the new YouTube show, why collaboration is crucial to enhance awareness and support in the fibromyalgia community, funding issues for fibromyalgia initiatives and the need for financial support, educating healthcare providers about fibromyalgia, Tami’s experience speaking to medical students about pain and fibromyalgia awareness, the lack of fibro education in the medical school curriculum, Dr. Ginevra’s plans for the next stage of her career, making space for new experiences and personal growth, Sharon’s upcoming plans and her focus on menopause coaching, the overlap between menopause and fibromyalgia symptoms in women, upcoming Fibromyalgia Awareness Day events in the US and Europe, and more.

If you have ever felt alone in your fibromyalgia or frustrated at the lack of awareness and resources, 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®.

“Waiting until you feel better to start working on your health is like waiting until you're in shape to start exercising.”

Have you ever wanted your life or your health to change, but at the same time, you weren't ready to change? Whether it feels like it’s going to be too hard, that you need to prepare more first, or you’re just not ready to give up something you enjoy, oftentimes our brain tries to protect us by putting up this resistance.

Tami has been there - and she’s still there in some areas of her life! In today’s episode, Tami is sharing her struggles with making necessary changes in her life and her strategies for creating a fibro life you love. She’s talking about struggling with the desire to change while feeling resistance, the pivotal moment when Tami realized that waiting to feel better actually holds back your health, the flawed logic behind feeling "not that sick" or "too sick" to start making changes, starting with small steps and being willing to make mistakes, the necessity of actively engaging in health improvement, how our natural resistance to change protects us, understanding your Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠, the conflict between wanting change and the reluctance to put in the necessary work, the stages of change model, moving through the stages of pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action, creating sustainable changes that you can maintain over time, the potential for relapse and common triggers, why we prefer to coach our clients for a full calendar year, Tami’s experience with relapse and lessons learned, the difference between taking action and maintaining changes, aiming for continuous improvements in your health and well-being, starting before you’re ready, immediate actions you can take, strategies for starting when you don’t feel ready, recognizing feelings and habits before making changes, recognizing that building new habits takes practice and patience, how a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® can help, and more.

You can't wait until you're well before you start to work on your health. You just have to start.

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®.

“When my fibromyalgia was at its worst, keeping my hair and body clean was the hardest task I had.”

Struggling with personal hygiene is not something we like to talk about. The stigma and embarrassment that can come with not being able to keep yourself clean makes it difficult to admit, much less to feel comfortable asking anyone about it. That leaves many of us feeling isolated in our experience despite the fact that it’s a common concern.

The truth is, for those of us with fibromyalgia, even the simplest daily tasks can become significant challenges. For Tami, when her fibro was at its worst, there were weeks when she was just too exhausted and in too much pain to even think about getting in the shower or washing her hair. Over time, she’s since figured out some tips and tricks that she’s here to share with you.

In today’s episode, Tami is talking about seven specific tips to keep yourself clean when you have fibromyalgia, and things like taking a shower feel too hard. She discusses the embarrassment and stigma around not struggling to maintain cleanliness, the relationship between fibromyalgia, depression, and personal hygiene, how to figure out a realistic schedule for bathing and washing your hair, washing hair and body on different days to conserve energy, focusing your efforts on cleaning the parts that need it most, hacks to save you time while staying clean, strategies for planning hygiene tasks while conserving your energy, why she highly recommends incorporating mobility aids, asking for assistance with personal care tasks, the benefits of understanding your Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠, 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®.

It’s okay to push yourself.

When we’re thinking about life with fibromyalgia, balance is very important. But balance is something that happens in the big picture. It’s not about every moment being in perfect alignment, it’s about the ebb and flow together balancing out to meet your needs.

Life comes in seasons - there are times when we need to push ourselves and there are experiences that are flare-worthy. The most critical element of living well with fibromyalgia is having the strategies in place to maintain the balance as we go through these seasons.

In today’s episode, Tami is sharing a peek behind the curtains of her life and how she makes decisions on when to push versus rest and how she plans her recovery. She discusses the effectiveness of coaching versus cognitive behavioral therapy for managing fibromyalgia, the need to plan for recovery after periods of pushing, Tami’s recent experience with hosting the fibromyalgia wellness summit, distinguishing between temporary stress and chronic stress, how Tami approaching recovery planning, choosing the right recovery environment, recognizing individual recovery needs based on personal experiences and stressors, preparing for comfort when traveling to new places, Tami’s tips for meal planning and packing for recovery, modifying new environments for better comfort and relaxation, why you need to prioritize your needs and self-care, the benefits of creating packing lists and task lists for trips, recognizing the need for recovery after travel, why you might need different strategies for physical and mental recovery, the need for both activity and rest, getting honest about what you need, and more.

Take the time to think about what you need to feel your best and don’t be afraid to stand up and ask for that.

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®.

If we’re open to it, fibromyalgia can be a path to self-discovery and personal growth. It teaches us about ourselves and how to let go of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations. It highlights the value of embracing small victories. It reminds us that rest is an intentional practice, not a passive activity.

Over time, our bodies change, and we have to adapt. Life doesn’t always go the way we expect it to, and the best thing we can do is to create systems that support us in our lives and that allow us the flexibility to adjust when we need to.

Becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® or Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® can help with this by educating, encouraging, and supporting you in your journey with fibromyalgia. As people with fibromyalgia ourselves, we can give you real tips and tricks from our own lives and things that have helped us with our fibromyalgia.

Today, in the tenth installment of our Stories of Hope and Healing, Tami shares inspiring excerpts from our January 2025 event. You’ll hear from three graduates about their stories and how they’ve been able to improve their fibromyalgia symptoms. On average, our graduates improve their symptoms by about 50% during the program, and in this group, their symptoms were improved by a staggering 63%. All of these graduates ended with a revised fibromyalgia impact questionnaire score of 26 or less, which is very close to what some would consider to be remission.

In this episode you’ll hear about Clara’s recognition that self-care means more than fine-tuning nutrition and exercise, insights from working with two different coaches and how each helped her in different ways, how Clara’s Book of Me helped her to better understand her body, why Clara decided to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® to help other women veterans, the main factors that contributed to her 84% improvement in symptoms, Kim’s perspective on the gift of feeling better and the joy of helping others through coaching, why Kim decided to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® despite having multiple other coaching certifications, the unique hands-on experience and the rounded curriculum of the program, avoiding burnout while managing fibromyalgia and maintaining a sustainable approach, adapting to life's changes, how a life crisis impacted Kim’s symptoms, lessons learned from a recent fibro flare, celebrating your progress and day-to-day accomplishments, the various strategies that contributed to Kim’s significantly improved fibromyalgia symptoms, how Kim has helped clients overcome insomnia and manage sleep apnea, why she loves working with women with strong personalities, encouragement for you to seek support and guidance in your fibromyalgia journey, Viktoriia’s decision to join the Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® program, understanding the importance of self-compassion, adapting your life to your fibromyalgia reality, lessons that fibromyalgia teaches us, essential elements in Viktoriia's recovery journey, the importance of flexibility and adaptability in managing stress and fibromyalgia symptoms, how coaching helped Viktoriia on her journey, the value of community and support among fibromyalgia patients, differentiating coaching from therapy, focusing on proactive management of fibromyalgia rather than coping strategies, the lack of resources for non-English speakers and the importance of bridging this gap in fibromyalgia support, 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®.

Fibromyalgia is an amplifier: any type of pain we experience, fibromyalgia cranks it up a notch. At the same time, we know that it’s crucial to treat pain early. Once we experience an injury or some trigger of acute pain, it’s important to address it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of it becoming a chronic issue.

For many of us with fibromyalgia, pain medication is essential not just for those injuries leading to acute pain but also on our highest pain days or when we’re having breakthrough pain during a flare. In those cases, we need to have options for pain management, and it’s encouraging to see these options being expanded.

Today, Tami discusses the recent FDA approval of the non-opioid pain medication Journavx. She explores how it works, potential benefits for people with fibromyalgia, why it’s crucial to treat pain early, potential side effects and medication interactions related to Journavx, Tami’s optimism about ongoing research and the potential benefits for fibromyalgia patients, 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®.

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.

Don't like waiting? Register now to have the complete 'Be A Coach' series, along with several bonus episodes, delivered straight to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to sign up for FREE.

Interested in hearing from our alumni about their journey in our courses? Register to receive our complimentary 'Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope' collection, automatically delivered to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to subscribe.

Join our next Virtual Open House and learn about our specialized training programs. Understand the difference between our Coach and Advisor paths, explore tuition options, and discover our fibro-friendly class structure. Click here to register or watch the replay.

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®.

We're in the middle of the summit, Living Well With Fibromyalgia: Real Patients, Expert Advice, Proven Results, and don't have a podcast episode for you this week.

In case you missed the previous announcement about the summit, it's a unique event that started on January 20th, but it's not too late to join us for free. It features real patients who are thriving with fibromyalgia, sharing their experiences and advice. In this two-week summit, you'll get a head-start on feeling better with condensed content that would normally take us 8-9 months on the Fibromyalgia Podcast® to deliver.

This summit is in a fibro-friendly private podcast format, accessible anywhere, anytime, with only one speaker each day, making it accessible for fibro bodies and minds.

Sign up at FibroWellnessSummit.com to access this exclusive content and connect with a supportive community. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity for Living Well With Fibromyalgia.

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®.

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.

Don't like waiting? Register now to have the complete 'Be A Coach' series, along with several bonus episodes, delivered straight to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to sign up for FREE.

Interested in hearing from our alumni about their journey in our courses? Register to receive our complimentary 'Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope' collection, automatically delivered to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to subscribe.

Join our next Virtual Open House and learn about our specialized training programs. Understand the difference between our Coach and Advisor paths, explore tuition options, and discover our fibro-friendly class structure. Click here to register or watch the replay.

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®.

Join us for Living Well With Fibromyalgia: Real Patients, Expert Advice, Proven Results!

This unique event, starting on January 20th, features real patients who are thriving with fibromyalgia, sharing their experiences and advice. In this two-week summit, you'll get a head-start on feeling better with condensed content that would normally take us 8-9 months on the Fibromyalgia Podcast® to deliver.

This summit will be in a fibro-friendly private podcast format, accessible anywhere, anytime, with only one speaker each day, making it accessible for fibro bodies and minds.

Sign up at FibroWellnessSummit.com to access this exclusive content and connect with a supportive community. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity for Living Well With Fibromyalgia.

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 an influencer, Tami is constantly trying new things that might help with fibromyalgia or make life easier and more enjoyable. This year, she decided to create a favorite things list to highlight the top seven things from 2024 that she uses in her everyday life and that she wouldn’t want to live without.

These resources have improved Tami’s life over the last year, and she first started using them in 2024. This list includes both things that she has been curious about, which she purchased and products that were sent for her to try. Regardless of the source, she only shares the items that she really believes in.

Today, Tami shares the details behind her favorite things from 2024. She explores how she selected the seven items on her list, why the Ember Mug made a significant impact on her water intake, the benefits of the Perfectly Snug Smart Topper for regulating sleep temperature, why Tami hasn’t worn regular socks in over ten years, what makes WIDE OPEN® socks uniquely comfortable, how Hungryroot food delivery service has transformed her eating habits and overall health, her surprising enthusiasm for exercise since starting Club Pilates, the origins and benefits of Pilates, how reformer Pilates supports weaker body parts while strengthening others, why Tami switched to BAEBROW at-home eyebrow tinting, why she loves MacGPT and how she uses it in her business, and more.

If you have anything that you think Tami should try or if you tried any of the items on her list, she would love to hear from you. Send her a message and let her know how they help 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®.

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.

Don't like waiting? Register now to have the complete 'Be A Coach' series, along with several bonus episodes, delivered straight to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to sign up for FREE.

Interested in hearing from our alumni about their journey in our courses? Register to receive our complimentary 'Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope' collection, automatically delivered to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to subscribe.

Join our next Virtual Open House and learn about our specialized training programs. Understand the difference between our Coach and Advisor paths, explore tuition options, and discover our fibro-friendly class structure. Click here to register or watch the replay.

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®.

When it comes to goal setting, New Year’s resolutions can feel like an exciting and hopeful way to start fresh. The problem is, for most people, they’re too big and idealistic that they fall by the wayside by mid-January.

Especially when we’re living with a chronic condition like fibromyalgia, we have to get realistic about not only what we want to accomplish but the time and energy we have to put toward our goals. We have our lives to live, health issues to manage, families to care for, and more. When you jump onto a “go big or go home” goal, you’re not giving yourself the best chance for success.

Today, Tami is joined by Fitness Coach and Behavior Change Expert Kerstin Goldstein to talk about all the reasons New Year's resolutions aren't that helpful. She also shares fibro-friendly ways to set goals that you will actually accomplish. Kirsten and Tami hope that Kerstin’s story will inspire you to think outside the box about what’s possible for your fibromyalgia healing and that their tips will help you achieve your dreams like they have for Kerstin.

In this conversation, Tami and Kerstin discuss Kerstin's fibromyalgia diagnosis journey, her experience with the healthcare system in Dubai, how her fibromyalgia diagnosis changed her approach to health and wellness, making the transition to online work for better health management, the mental shift required to make lifestyle changes to support your health, taking a holistic approach to recovery, the importance of small steps, Kerstin’s experience of completing a hike to Everest Base Camp, the significance of mental preparation over physical readiness, dealing with plantar fasciitis, Kertin’s mental preparation strategies, finding the balance between rest and activity for those with chronic conditions, viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth, effective goal-setting strategies for those with fibromyalgia, why Kerstin dislikes traditional New Year's resolutions, the SMART framework for goal setting, building confidence through small goals, treating yourself with kindness when setting and pursuing goals, managing unexpected life events, how habits and goal setting work together to create lasting change, celebrating small wins, approaching change with a sense of joy and fun, the value of external support, 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®.

Join our 10-Day FREE Fibromyalgia Wellness Summit January 20-31 — Register by December 31st for exclusive bonuses!

What is the Fibromyalgia Wellness Summit? A summit is like an online conference. The Fibromyalgia Wellness Summit will provide in 10 days what you would learn in five months on the Fibromyalgia Podcast!

What makes this summit different? Unlike typical summits, this event features real people with fibromyalgia sharing their proven methods for improvement. With just one speaker per day, delivered via a private podcast, it's designed to be fibro-friendly, easy to access, and transformational.

Register for FREE at FibroWellnessSummit.com by December 31st and receive our exclusive action guide for VIPs.

For extra perks, sign up as a VIP for $147. The VIP all-access pass offers exclusive perks like a live class with Tami, private film screening and Q&A with the Director, plus a backstage pass to our VIP Green Room — a private Facebook group with our speakers and other VIP guests. Register as a VIP by December 31st and join our VIP Green Room a week early for extra support and community.

Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your wellness journey in 2025!

Register at FibroWellnessSummit.com.

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 a master Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, author, and fibro podcaster, the questions I’m asked more than any others are:

How do I get better?

How do I improve my Fibromyalgia so I can get back to living the life I want to live?

While those sound like simple questions, they do not have simple answers. We all have similar symptoms, what helps you feel better may not be the thing that helps me feel better. We all have to find our own magic formula for what makes us feel best.

I know from personal experience just how overwhelming it can be to find that formula on your own. That’s why I created a training program in 2015 that would teach people just like you how to improve their own Fibromyalgia, and how to help others do the same.

In this first episode 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®, I want to start super basic.

We’re 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.

Don't like waiting? Register now to have the complete 'Be A Coach' series, along with several bonus episodes, delivered straight to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to sign up for FREE.

Interested in hearing from our alumni about their journey in our courses? Register to receive our complimentary 'Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope' collection, automatically delivered to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to subscribe.

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®.

COVID-19 has affected many of us; for some, the journey still hasn’t ended.

For the past four years, Tami has received a ton of questions about the intersection of COVID-19, long COVID, and fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, it’s been tough to find good answers with the spread of conflicting information and misinformation.

Today, Tami is excited to be joined by Dr. Keith Ellis, who’s here to answer our questions with science-backed information. There is a lot of common ground between fibromyalgia and the core symptoms of long COVID, and Dr. Ellis’ insights from his research and expertise as a medicinal chemist shed some light on how the broader interest in long COVID can benefit us as fibromyalgia patients.

In this conversation, Dr. Ellis and Tami discuss what COVID-19 is and how it affects the body, how COVID has changed over the years, the progression from acute COVID infection to developing long COVID symptoms, the rate of development of long COVID, the lack of effective prevention measures for long COVID, surprising demographics of those experiencing long COVID, the importance of a well-functioning immune system, differences Between Long COVID and fibromyalgia, core symptoms of long COVID, difficulties in diagnosing long COVID, Dr. Ellis' background in medicinal chemistry and why he began his research into treatments for long COVID, a realistic timeline for drug development, the limited understanding of fibromyalgia mechanisms compared to those of long COVID, the need for more research funding for chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia, the microclot hypothesis and its relevance to long COVID symptoms, how breaking down microclots can facilitate recovery from long COVID, the problem with treating symptoms rather than underlying causes in chronic illnesses, the need to study individuals who have recovered from fibromyalgia, Dr. Ellis’ natural supplement to combat long COVID microclots, using mechanisms of action to find natural substitutes for pharmaceutical drugs, empowering patients with information and accessible solutions for chronic conditions, the lack of research and awareness around fibromyalgia in medical education, funding and research disparities for fibromyalgia versus other conditions, the overlap between long COVID and fibromyalgia diagnoses, the need for research to differentiate long COVID from fibromyalgia symptoms, Dr. Ellis’ thoughts on the future of treatment solutions for long COVID and fibromyalgia, 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®.

Navigating chronic illness from a family perspective can be challenging for everyone involved. From small changes to daily routines to more significant shifts in family dynamics, learning how to adapt to this new normal can be difficult, especially for children.

Today, Tami introduces you to Mandy Farmer and her book, Soft Hugs for Mommy, created when Mandy recognized the need for something specifically to speak to a child’s perspective. Soft Hugs for Mommy tells the story of a loving family as they navigate the challenges of mommy's chronic pain condition and it’s filled with tender moments and caring gestures. The book encourages understanding and unconditional love as the family helps Mommy with her invisible illness. Mandy also collaborated with a child psychologist to create a "let's talk" section to facilitate conversations between parents and children about chronic illness.

In this conversation, Mandy and Tami discuss the themes of family support in Soft Hugs for Mommy, Mandy's background as a pastor's wife and her journey with fibromyalgia and chronic pain, how Mandy manages her fibromyalgia and the support from her family, the journey from blogging about chronic pain to publishing her first book, the benefits of attending online writing conferences, what it was like to write Soft Hugs for Mommy, the family-centric narrative of the book, how it focuses on a child's perspective and challenges adult perceptions, the target audience for Soft Hugs for Mommy, the central messages of empathy, kindness encouraging family teamwork, how Mandy’s personal experiences inspired the book's story, her connection with the illustrator, conversation starters to facilitate discussions between parents and children about chronic illness, the difficulties and emotional challenges of writing a book, encouragement for aspiring authors, the importance of grieving past expectations while embracing new possibilities in life, the benefits of online communities and resources for those with chronic health conditions, 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 my core beliefs is that something good can come out of everything.” - Tami Stackelhouse

So much of life is uncertain, and as a chronic pain patient, there’s no shortage of things to stress you out and make you worried. From finding out that the medication you need is out of stock to facing the threat of a layoff or having a health scare, there's bound to be a time in your life when you feel out of control or like you’re at the mercy of others. So, what do we do when faced with those feelings?

First, Tami wants you to know these feelings are normal. We see you and feel you and understand precisely how that feels. Secondly, Tami wants you to recognize that we’re often more understanding with those we love than with ourselves. Don’t deny your body the opportunity to process those emotions so you can move on.

Today, Tami shares strategies you can use in uncertain times to find the strength and support you need. She’s discussing why we should normalize feeling anxious about the inevitable uncertainties in life, the importance of processing emotions rather than suppressing them, the biological benefits of crying, how our beliefs about stress influence how stress affects our bodies, self-compassion and processing your feelings, the various forms of grief and why it’s not limited to situations involving death, coming to terms with the fact that we cannot fix everything, giving yourself space to process your emotions, what unapologetic self-care looks like, focusing on foundational self-care practices, seeking mental health support through counseling, meditation, and community, finding joy amidst the struggles, how understanding your Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠ can help you to better manage your fibro, the role of a coach in navigating stress and uncertainties, holding onto hope as a guiding light during difficult times, borrowing hope from others who have overcome similar struggles, finding a supportive community to navigate challenges together, setting boundaries for personal well-being, navigating health insurance complexities, ableism and its impact on those with chronic illnesses, becoming an advocate for yourself in navigating healthcare systems, why educating yourself about fibromyalgia is crucial, 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®.

“The room's not moving, but you still feel like you're on a boat. It just feels terrible.”

About 60 to 70% of all fibromyalgia patients also deal with dizziness, which shows up in two main ways: lightheadedness and vertigo. With lightheadedness, you’ll typically experience a feeling like you might faint or pass out, whereas with vertigo, it feels like the world is moving even when you’re holding still.

For the past week, Tami has been dealing with an episode of bad vertigo, and she decided to use this as an opportunity to bring the topic to the podcast since, chances are, you’ve experienced dizziness too.

Today, Tami is talking about the differences between lightheadedness and vertigo, the most common causes of lightheadedness in fibromyalgia patients, her recent experience with vertigo and how it compared to her first episode, the role of the vestibular system, conditions which cause vertigo, symptoms of BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), Ménière Disease and unilateral vestibular hypofunction, how these conditions differ from each other, vestibular migraines and their connection to vertigo symptoms, medications such used to treat vertigo and their effects on patients, vestibular rehabilitation therapy and why it’s essential for recovery, specific exercises used in vestibular rehabilitation to improve balance, how the Epley maneuver helps with BPPV-related vertigo, what research shows about the benefits of whole body vibration for treating vertigo, Tami’s current medications (including Scopolamine (patch), Dramamine Less Drowsy (meclizine), Zofran (ondansetron), Phenergan (promethazine)), 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®.

“When we share our stories, it helps everyone around us.”

As our students go through their training programs and approach graduation, many of them start to think about sharing their fibromyalgia stories. The idea can be daunting, especially with fibromyalgia, because there’s a stigma that comes with it. For many of us, it feels safer to keep it to ourselves because we have no idea how people will react. What will that look like? What will it feel like?

For Tami, sharing her story was an essential part of her journey, and she’s a big believer in how our stories can help the people they reach.

Today’s guest, Meg Stafford, joins Tami to talk about how sharing our stories helps the healing journey. Meg was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, and as part of keeping in touch with friends and family during her diagnosis and treatment, she started an email newsletter, which so many people found helpful that Meg turned it into a book.

In this conversation, Meg and Tami discuss Meg's experience with breast cancer, why she created an email newsletter to document her journey, the therapeutic value of sharing her experiences, how she managed the challenges of sharing her diagnosis, her decision to rely on her medical team rather than searching for information online, the fear of sharing personal stories and the uncertainty of others' reactions, surprising interactions she had with during her treatment, how she learned to handle different responses to her health updates, unexpected support and unsolicited advice she received during her treatment, the importance of sharing stories for both the storyteller and those who listen, how sharing her experience helped others in unexpected ways, why specific offers of assistance were much easier to accept, how to think about who receives personal updates during health challenges, why Meg chose to be transparent about her day-to-day experiences during treatment, the lessons she learned about accepting help from others, recognizing that fun and joy have an important place in healing, how storytelling can help to process fears and difficult experiences, writing as a therapeutic tool, the importance of expressing pain and emotions, how you can get started with sharing your story, preparing for and managing your response to others’ reactions to your stories, and more.

If you haven't come out of the closet, so to speak, about your fibromyalgia, Tami hopes this episode gives you some inspiration and some practical tips to try in sharing your story.

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®.

“What do you do if you notice fibromyalgia symptoms in a family member?”

A few weeks ago, one of the students in our Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® training class raised this question, and Tami hears variations of it all the time. Whether it’s your kid, sister, mom, or another relative, figuring out how best to handle the situation can be difficult.

A big part of answering this lies in the knowledge that fibromyalgia has a genetic component. If you have fibromyalgia, your first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) are eight times more likely to develop fibromyalgia. The other part is recognizing that treating acute injuries quickly and well is crucial to preventing chronic pain. Considering these factors, if you see something happen to your close relative, you’d want to bring awareness to the risks so they can treat the situation immediately and increase their chances of having the best possible outcome.

Today, Tami explores how to recognize and address fibromyalgia symptoms in family members and what you can do to support loved ones in these situations. In this episode, Tami shares the genetic risks associated with fibromyalgia, the importance of early treatment for injuries to prevent chronic pain, and potential fibromyalgia development, why we need to challenge the notion that discussing fibromyalgia symptoms could "plant a seed" in loved ones' minds, how being aware of genetic predispositions should influence lifestyle choices, the stigma associated with fibromyalgia, the need to openly address risk factors, treating injuries and symptoms promptly to mitigate long-term pain issues, five practical tips for supporting family members showing fibromyalgia symptoms, the role of lifestyle choices in risk management, the MTHFR gene mutation and its implications for fibromyalgia symptoms, the necessity of quality sleep for preventing fibromyalgia symptoms, why maintaining a protein-rich diet supports fibromyalgia management, understanding your energy levels and how to pace yourself, why it’s essential to seek prompt treatment for early signs of fibromyalgia, 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®.

Whether we're talking about pain, fatigue, or brain fog, there’s a massive difference between preventing your symptoms and trying to treat them after they’ve flared up. Getting your symptoms back to a manageable place in the middle of a fibro flare is like trying to catch a runaway train. Sometimes, when that happens, the only thing to do is to let the flare run its course.

Feeling helpless or out of control in a flare is not a position any of us like to be in, and that’s where prevention comes in. When we take the prevention route, we develop systems and strategies ahead of time that set us up to feel our best. It means being aware of early warning signs so you can nip symptoms in the bud before they balloon into a flare.

Today, Tami is talking about how to shift your thinking from treating after you experience those symptoms to preventing those symptoms in the first place. In this episode, Tami shares what it is about fibromyalgia that makes prevention difficult, how explosive synchronization and central sensitization show up in our fibromyalgia symptoms, recognizing warning signs of an impending fibro flare, the importance of mindfulness and body awareness, what it means to write your body’s owner’s manual, how to start identifying your triggers and effective responses to manage your symptoms, practical strategies to switch from treatment to prevention mode, how the Pomodoro® Technique can help with balancing work and rest to prevent fatigue, how blood sugar imbalances can affect pain, modifying activities to make them more comfortable and manageable, speaking up for your needs early and clearly, increasing your self-awareness, planning ahead with strategies for preventing pain in specific situations, 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®.

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.

Don't like waiting? Register now to have the complete 'Be A Coach' series, along with several bonus episodes, delivered straight to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to sign up for FREE.

Interested in hearing from our alumni about their journey in our courses? Register to receive our complimentary 'Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope' collection, automatically delivered to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to subscribe.

Join our next Virtual Open House and learn about our specialized training programs. Understand the difference between our Coach and Advisor paths, explore tuition options, and discover our fibro-friendly class structure. Click here to register or watch the replay.

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®.

“You need to make room for yourself.” - Lauren Vazzano

If you’re struggling with fibromyalgia and juggling the responsibilities of motherhood, you’re not alone. The good news is that you can feel better with the right strategies and support. Making yourself a priority and improving your health is the best way to support your family and help them to be in good health and good spirits.

Focusing on yourself can feel much easier said than done when you're in the thick of things, and that’s where a coach can make a huge difference. You don’t need to go on this journey alone.

Today’s guest, Lauren Vazzano, joins Tami to talk about how she was able to drastically improve her fibromyalgia symptoms as a stay-at-home mom with two young children. Diagnosed in the fall of 2020, Lauren's story is a testament to resilience and the power of being proactive about your health.

In this conversation, Lauren and Tami discuss Lauren’s fibromyalgia diagnosis timeline, how she was affected by the pandemic, the difficulties of homeschooling her young children while managing her health, Lauren’s journey through different doctors and treatments in search of relief, the value of lifestyle changes alongside medication for managing fibromyalgia, balancing dietary changes for fibromyalgia with managing family meals and preferences, strategies for accommodating kids' picky eating, how dietary changes affected her fibromyalgia symptoms, working with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® for support and guidance, modifying daily activities to reduce pain and improve quality of life, building a supportive team of specialists for managing fibromyalgia symptoms, overcoming overwhelm on the healing journey, focusing on healing rather than illness, Lauren’s decision to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, Lauren's fibromyalgia impact questionnaire scores and their significance, the rewarding experience of helping others with fibromyalgia, how coaching addresses the various life aspects affected by fibromyalgia, Lauren’s message for other mothers with fibromyalgia and family responsibilities, 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®.

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.

Don't like waiting? Register now to have the complete 'Be A Coach' series, along with several bonus episodes, delivered straight to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to sign up for FREE.

Interested in hearing from our alumni about their journey in our courses? Register to receive our complimentary 'Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope' collection, automatically delivered to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to subscribe.

Join our next Virtual Open House and learn about our specialized training programs. Understand the difference between our Coach and Advisor paths, explore tuition options, and discover our fibro-friendly class structure. Click here to register or watch the replay.

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®.

“Give yourself some grace and just know that you've done this for a reason, and it will make your life better.” - Deb Thompson

Many times, people with fibromyalgia put off surgeries that they need to have because they're worried about the inevitable fibro flare that's coming. When we have surgery, chances are that it’s going to cause a fibro flare. The good news is that while our pain may initially get worse, it then gets much better.

The key to getting through this is planning and owning what you need. No matter how close someone is to you or how much they know you, it’s always your job to understand and communicate your needs. When you have the right tools, it’s much easier to put that possible fibro flare into perspective and do what’s best for your health.

Today, Tami is joined by Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Deb Thompson to discuss practical tips for anyone with fibromyalgia who is facing a major medical procedure. Deb has recently had her third major surgery in eight years, and she’s sharing what was different about her most recent surgery and what she's learned in the process.

In this conversation, Deb and Tami talk about Deb’s timeline of chronic pain and long journey to a fibromyalgia diagnosis, her struggle with acceptance, how the podcast helped her to find support, why Deb decided to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, common concerns about the effect of surgery on fibromyalgia symptoms, Deb’s first surgery and lack of improvement after, her reflections on issues that arose with that first time, her recognition that she was looking outside herself to fix the problem, how emotional and physical stress affect pain levels post-surgery, pre-surgery preparations that helped Deb’s second surgery experience, comparing her recovery experiences, managing the post-surgery emotional crash, strategies for organizing tasks and planning for help ahead of surgery, minimizing stress and calming down your nervous system, getting back to basics with the things you know help with fibro symptoms, identifying pre-surgery requirements from a medication perspective, the best way to ask for help and communicate with your medical team, being proactive in pain management, communicating your needs to your family before surgery, building your flare survival plan, pre-appoinment preparation, coping with medical trauma, Deb’s top tips for recovery and managing fatigue post-surgery, accepting help from friends and family, creating a comfort bag to maintain independence post-surgery, why it’s crucial to prioritize sleep for recovery and managing fibromyalgia symptoms, self-care to support your long-term health, managing feelings of overwhelm effectively, how Deb helps women with fibromyalgia break the cycle of pain and fatigue, her advice for people with fibro facing upcoming surgeries, how the right coach can support you around your surgery, 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®.

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.

Don't like waiting? Register now to have the complete 'Be A Coach' series, along with several bonus episodes, delivered straight to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to sign up for FREE.

Interested in hearing from our alumni about their journey in our courses? Register to receive our complimentary 'Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope' collection, automatically delivered to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to subscribe.

Join our next Virtual Open House and learn about our specialized training programs. Understand the difference between our Coach and Advisor paths, explore tuition options, and discover our fibro-friendly class structure. Click here to register or watch the replay.

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®.

In the US, approximately 1 in 13 women and 1 in 20 men are diagnosed with fibromyalgia. To put those numbers in perspective, breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women, cervical cancer affects 1 in 13 women, and colon cancer affects 1 in 25 women and 1 in 23 men. Yet, even though the prevalence of fibromyalgia is in a similar range, screening for these cancers has become mainstream, and fibromyalgia remains on the sidelines of medical training.

As patients, we have to be more proactive than ever and be as knowledgeable as possible to make good decisions about our care. In many cases, we know more than our doctors, who - despite being compassionate - just don’t know how to help you. Unfortunately, it’s just the way the system is set up.

This is the reason Tami created the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute. A Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® or Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® can help fill this care gap by educating, encouraging, and supporting people with fibromyalgia.

In today’s ninth installment of our Stories of Hope and Healing, some of our recent graduates share their fibro journeys and how they've improved their fibromyalgia symptoms. You’ll hear about the importance of fibromyalgia coaching, how a fibromyalgia coach fits into your healthcare team, Dr. Robin’s long journey with fibromyalgia, why a growth mindset can help your fibromyalgia, cultivating a growth mindset, the role of a coach, the three key characteristics that contribute to successful management of fibromyalgia, a client experience story from Tina on the transformative power of a growth mindset in managing fibromyalgia, next steps for graduates, how Jeannette’s undiagnosed ADHD masked her fibromyalgia symptoms for decades, the lifestyle changes and support systems that contributed most to Jeannette’s symptom management, Jeannette’s advice for perfectionists and hope for the future, Margo’s skepticism and initial resistance to positivity about life with fibromyalgia, what it was like working with her coach Giselle compared to her DIY approach, benefits of having a coach who understands fibromyalgia from personal experience, how community and shared experiences in the coaching class helped her journey, how the class helped Ileana improve her fibromyalgia, what it was like as a coach working with a fibro coach, the need to look beyond managing symptoms and focus on joy and balance in life, the positive impact of finding a functional medicine doctor, the factors that contributed the most to improving Ileana’s symptoms, connecting with your purpose, 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®.

As a master Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, author, and fibro podcaster, the questions I’m asked more than any others are:

How do I get better?

How do I improve my Fibromyalgia so I can get back to living the life I want to live?

While those sound like simple questions, they do not have simple answers. We all have similar symptoms, what helps you feel better may not be the thing that helps me feel better. We all have to find our own magic formula for what makes us feel best.

I know from personal experience just how overwhelming it can be to find that formula on your own. That’s why I created a training program in 2015 that would teach people just like you how to improve their own Fibromyalgia, and how to help others do the same.

In this first episode 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®, I want to start super basic.

We’re 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.

Don't like waiting? Register now to have the complete 'Be A Coach' series, along with several bonus episodes, delivered straight to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to sign up for FREE.

Interested in hearing from our alumni about their journey in our courses? Register to receive our complimentary 'Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope' collection, automatically delivered to your favorite podcast app. Use this link to subscribe.

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®.

“I’m having trouble finding my team, as you call it. I often feel so alone in this. How can I best find a doctor to suit my needs?”

Choosing your healthcare team is a highly personal process that requires you to really understand your specific wants and needs. There are so many options, and, let's face it, there aren’t a whole lot of good doctors out there.

When building your health team, remember you won’t find one doctor who can do everything for you. You need a team of people, from a sleep doctor to a chiropractor to a primary care doctor and more in between. Once you have a team in place, there are still several reasons you may need to go back to the drawing board and find a new provider. Whether you’ve moved further away, you’re experiencing new symptoms or a new diagnosis, or you simply feel like you’re no longer in good hands with your provider, there are certain things that signal that you should move on. You should never settle for fine.

In today’s installment of Ask the Coach, Tami shares some of the varied reasons you may need to find a new provider and a detailed process for finding aligned practitioners. In this episode, Tami discusses red flags that suggest you may need to find a new doctor, reasons Tami has had to find a new doctor, balancing a doctor’s skills with their willingness to learn, why we need a team of providers when we’re dealing with fibromyalgia, steps to take when searching for a new doctor, the value of referrals from trusted sources, why you should include a naturopath or functional medicine doctor on your team, how to find a functional medicine provider or naturopath, getting clear on your specific needs and wants, how to go about researching providers, the benefits of bringing someone with you to your first appointment, critical questions to ask potential providers, trusting your instincts, essential healthcare providers to help you manage fibromyalgia effectively, 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®.

Today, Tami has another bonus episode for you!

Tami was recently interviewed by Meghan DeVito for the Kingdom Employee podcast. Once again, she’s sharing this conversation with you as a peek behind the curtain into an area of her life you normally don’t see.

In this conversation, Tami shares more about her spirituality and how her Christian beliefs impact her life, her business, and her work with clients.

Meghan and Tami discuss the role the faith and spirituality has to help people cope with chronic pain. Tami also shares some strategies for effectively communicating, delegating tasks, setting boundaries, and adapting lifestyles to help you manage your fibromyalgia symptoms.

If you’ve ever wondered about Tami’s beliefs and how they influence the type of work she does and how she built her business, this is a great episode for you to check out.

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®.

In 2009 - two years after her diagnosis - Tami started working with a coach and making positive changes in her life. At the same time that she saw her fibromyalgia begin to improve, she started noticing beautiful cherry blossom trees everywhere. They weren’t new, but her awareness of them was. Knowing that they frequently appear in Japanese and Chinese art, she looked up their symbolism, and what she found resonated deeply with her and her fibromyalgia experience.

In Japanese and Chinese art, cherry blossoms symbolize feminine beauty. They represent delicateness, strength, and power. With their fleeting beauty, cherry blossoms highlight the transience of life and the fact that no matter where you are and what you’re going through, this too shall pass.

In today’s episode, Tami shares why she chose cherry blossoms in her logo, book covers, and more and uses them to represent the journey with fibromyalgia. She discusses how working with a health coach helped her fibromyalgia to start to improve, the moment cherry blossoms began to enter Tami’s awareness, the meaning and significance of cherry blossoms in different cultures, her decision to embrace their symbolism, why Tami believes cherry blossoms make such a great symbol of our experiences within the fibro community, embracing the transience of life, learning to find the beauty and strength in disability, thinking of your body as a being who is on your side, believing in the incredible beauty of your body, connecting with the promise of hope, creating realistic goals and continuously improving, the feminine strength symbolized by the cherry blossoms, making empowered choices for your wellbeing, the power of hope, 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®.

In this special bonus episode, Tami is sharing a side of things you normally don’t see.

Today, we’re going behind the scenes of her business to share an interview she did with Cassie Parks from build. grow. profit. Cassie’s podcast is all about how people built and grew their businesses to the point of profitability.

If you have ever been curious about how Tami went from being a patient struggling with fibromyalgia to becoming a successful fibromyalgia coach and eventually founding the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute, this episode is for you.

It’s also for you if you are wondering about becoming a coach yourself or about how it’s possible to build a business while also finding ways to improve your fibromyalgia symptoms. If you’ve ever thought you couldn’t build a business because of your fibromyalgia, please listen to this interview.

If you enjoy this episode, please check out Cassie Parks’ podcast, build. grow. profit.

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®.

With fibromyalgia, balancing acceptance and hope can sometimes feel a little like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Acceptance isn’t about staying where you are. It’s about embracing the unknown and allowing your body right now while being open to letting her be who she needs to be and become who she needs to become. On the other side, having hope for feeling better means that you believe life will get better, and you’re open to trying different options and seeing what works.

Today, Tami is exploring how to balance the here-and-now focus of acceptance and the forward motion of hope. She’s talking about her GPS analogy for understanding the balance between the acceptance of where you are and the hope of feeling better, what it looks like to aim for being accurate about your goals rather than aiming for perfection, making continuous assessments and adjustments on your journey, accepting your current reality, the moment Tami finally accepted where she was and the struggle to get there, the danger of getting stuck in acceptance, benefits, and challenges that can come with support groups, getting the proper support to help you move toward your goals, how being overly focused on feeling better can keep you stuck, giving treatments a long enough try to honestly know if they are working or not, recognizing that little bits of improvement stack up, how you can start to get unstuck, the benefits of working with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, resources you can tap into if you’re not ready to work with a coach, rethinking self-care, and more.

Tami’s number one goal is that everyone living with fibro will feel like they are in partnership with their body. If you’re not quite sure how to get there yet, this one 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®.

Today, I have another bonus episode for you. Back in April, I was interviewed by Adam Devaney for the Loving Our Life’s Work Podcast, and Adam has graciously agreed to let me share that conversation with you.

In our conversation, we explore our purpose, authenticity, and the transformative power of self-discovery. I specifically dive into how I came to be doing the work I do today helping you feel better and how that truly is my life’s work.

This is a side of my story I don’t discuss very often and I’m excited to share with you.

If you enjoy this episode, please check out Adam DeVaney's Loving Our Life's Work Podcast.

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®.

Movement is not a way to pay for what you’ve eaten or shrink your body. It’s a way to care for your body and feel how you want to feel in it. If we reframe our thinking, moving away from focusing on what we want our bodies to look like and toward what we want them to do, it becomes easier to treat ourselves with kindness and respect.

You can’t control your health just by eating a certain way and exercising. There’s so much more to overall health, and you can’t measure it on your bathroom scale. Instead, by setting goals that are meaningful to your life and experiences, like improving your sleep or increasing your mobility, you can shift focus to where it matters most and will have the biggest positive impact on your life.

Today, Tami is joined by size-inclusive fitness specialist Kim Hagle to talk about diet culture and movement as self-care. Kim was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia just six months ago, and her work and fitness routine has had to shift as a result. If you’ve ever felt hesitant to exercise because of the pain or you feel like your self-image is holding you back, this one is for you.

In this conversation, Tami and Kim discuss Kim’s journey to becoming a size-inclusive fitness specialist, her recent fibromyalgia diagnosis, how her symptoms impacted her physical activity and mental health, the importance of rest and listening to your body's needs, conquering the fears of weight gain, muscle loss, and pain from exercising, Kim’s “all or something” approach to movement, changing how we think about exercise, recognizing movement as a form of self-care, honoring where your body is today, shifting body image and finding self-acceptance, practicing gratitude for your body, how diet culture impacts our beliefs, recognizing that we can’t measure health on the bathroom scale, personal responsibiltiy in health, creating your own definition of health, measuring health improvements based on outcomes that matter to you, practical steps to define your health goals and take small actions to improve your health, benefits of working with a coach, when to work with a physical therapist, the importance of self-compassion, embracing a slower pace, and more.

You are worthy of feeling good and being treated with kindness and respect, especially by yourself. It starts by meeting yourself where you're at, being compassionate, and taking one step at a time.

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®.

Today, I'm sharing the other half of my conversation with Dr. Andrea Moore. In the previous episode, I interviewed Dr. Andrea about her work. Dr. Andrea has her own chronic pain story, and she now helps those suffering from chronic pain find harmony and safety within their bodies.

Today's bonus episode is a replay from her podcast, Unweaving Chronic Pain, where she interviewed me.

Dr. Andrea and I explore the interaction between mind and body, especially when chronic pain is persistent. We address common misconceptions and highlight the importance of setting realistic goals that respect our current limitations. The conversation sheds light on the potential of incremental healing and the value of celebrating small victories for sustainable progress in managing fibromyalgia.

In this candid discussion, we also cover the various symptoms associated with this condition and the range of solutions that can provide relief. Topics include the role of the subconscious in personal growth, the high incidence of sleep apnea in fibromyalgia patients, and the importance of a holistic approach to treatment. The episode concludes with an invitation to view our bodies as allies in our health journey, emphasizing that every step forward, no matter how small, is progress towards reclaiming our well-being.

If you enjoy this episode, please check out Dr. Andrea's Unweaving Chronic Pain podcast.

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®.

“Sometimes taking care of yourself means not doing all the things.”

When you have chronic pain, it’s easy for self-care to become a job where you have to do all of these things, or else you haven't taken care of yourself. But self-care should nourish you and fill your cup; it shouldn’t feel like a burden.

Healing requires us to develop a toolbox of techniques that work for our individual needs, and one of the biggest game-changers on the journey to getting better is getting in tune with the right energy for approaching our healing.

Today, Tami is joined by Dr. Andrea Moore to explore how self-care can turn into self-sabotage and why focusing too much on eliminating pain can, in fact, amplify it. Dr. Andrea has her own chronic pain story, and she now helps those suffering from chronic pain find harmony and safety within their bodies. If you find yourself constantly chasing new wellness trends or ticking off an endless list of self-care rituals, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Tami and Dr. Andrea discuss Dr. Andrea’s chronic pain story and journey to finding relief, potential pitfalls of self-care and healing practices, the frantic energy that can come with pursuing treatment after treatment, finding balance when pursuing wellness, balancing self-care and living life, recognizing that self-care should feel nourishing and not burdensome, the vicious cycle of pain, physiological changes that happen when you experience chronic pain, the power of getting help, the concepts of body harmony and respect, redefining feeling safe in your body, accepting the unpredictability of life, the symbolism of cherry blossoms and Tami’s connection to them as a symbol, our tendency to repress and judge emotions, understanding what nervous system regulation really means, creating a balanced approach to emotional healing work, getting better at doing hard things, allowing yourself to take a step back and accept your current reality, building your capacity for intense emotions, the role of self-compassion in taking accountability, playfully engaging with your emotions, building trust and connection with your body, why we need individualized self-care strategies, limitation sof group work and when one-on-one time is needed, Dr. Andrea’s invitation to take a moment to pause and self-reflect, and more.

If you find yourself stressing that you can't do everything you need to do instead of being excited about living your life, that’s a good sign that it's time to seek support.

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®.

In this special bonus episode, I'm sharing a recent guest appearance I made on the Beyond Diagnosis podcast hosted by Rita De Michele.

Beyond Diagnosis helps women over 40 who are not getting the solutions or outcomes they would like to see from traditional medical care.

Rita is a Mindset and Empowerment Coach and, in this interview, we actually start at a pretty basic level since she has listeners who might not understand what fibromyalgia is.

In the interview, we discuss what fibromyalgia is, what the research is that shows fibromyalgia is real, the first things I did when I started working on improving my symptoms, and some of the things you can do to begin improving your fibromyalgia symptoms, and the mindset shifts that are needed in order to become an empowered patient.

If you enjoy this episode, please check out the rest of Rita's podcast here.

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®.

“We can help almost anyone feel better because we have so many tools at our disposal.” - Dr. Robin Pfaff

Managing fibromyalgia requires a holistic approach that goes beyond physical symptoms and equally addresses emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Our well-being is multidimensional, and each aspect requires attention and care.

To explore this approach further, today Tami is joined by Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Dr. Robin Pfaff. Tami and Robin are talking about her new book, Living Your BEST Life with Fibromyalgia: A Compassionate Approach to Reclaiming Your Heath and Reimagining Your Purpose, which Tami found to be very powerful.

Robin’s book is an incredible resource for people living with fibromyalgia. As with all aspects of our health, the most lasting change comes when we dedicate ourselves to participating in the activities, reflections, and exercises shared. By engaging at that level, you can cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and take meaningful steps towards a fulfilling life despite the challenges of fibromyalgia. Robin doesn’t advocate for ignoring our fibromyalgia or pretending that our trauma doesn't exist. It’s not about the toxic positivity we often see and hear. Instead, Robin gently coaches us on how to embrace the full spectrum of emotions and experiences to foster genuine healing and resilience.

In this conversation, Tami and Robin discuss Robin’s journey from psychotherapist to Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, how starting a coaching practice has changed everything for Robin, why being a fibro coach is a critical element in my remission, fundamental differences between psychotherapy and coaching, the three pillars of mindful self-compassion, the critical role of self-compassion in managing chronic illnesses, the profound value of sharing your unique journey with fibromyalgia, learning that there’s always something to be grateful for even when we’re suffering, building a toolkit so that you don’t get stuck in a negative cycle, avoiding toxic positivity and finding practical ways to avoid unnecessary suffering, Robin’s experience writing Living Your BEST Life with Fibromyalgia, Tami’s advice for anyone thinking about writing a book, the power of going deep instead of wide, what it means to live your B.E.S.T. life, using the B.E.S.T. model to improve your symptoms, how you can use Robin’s B.E.S.T. assessment tool, 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®.

In this special bonus episode, I'm sharing a recent guest appearance I made on the Power in Motion Podcast hosted by Kim Hagle.

Kim is a Certified Personal Trainer, Non-Diet Nutritionist and Body Image Coach – who’s on a mission to empower women to break free from tortuous exercise, restrictive eating and body shame, so they can free up their time, energy and resources to pursue their life’s purpose.

Kim was also recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and found her way to me after a disappointing doctor's appointment left her feeling like she needed to do her own research.

Kim and I had such a great time during this interview that I not only wanted to share it with you (with her permission, of course), but I also invited her to a guest on this show. So, tuned for that conversation on July 2nd.

If you love this interview, you'll love her podcast. So, be sure to check it out!

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®.

“No matter how small, any type of advocacy you do will have an impact.” - Lily Garner

According to the NIH, fibromyalgia affects 1 in 13 women in the US. That means about twice as many women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia as are diagnosed with colon cancer, and while you're not going to die from fibromyalgia, living with fibro pain and fatigue can feel like its own kind of death. Despite this and the fact that this rate is on par with or higher than many other conditions, fibromyalgia research continues to receive less funding than its counterparts.

The massive gap in advocacy and awareness means that while every woman knows to get a mammogram each year to screen for breast cancer or annual exams for cervical cancer, most doctors have never been taught how to screen for fibromyalgia or how to treat it. Some educational institutions still teach that fibromyalgia is a psychological disorder.

If we want this to change, we need more funding for fibromyalgia research and more people like today’s guests, Ann and Lily Garner, to advocate on behalf of our community. Ann and Lily Garner join Tami in this episode to discuss their experience advocating for fibromyalgia with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. Ann is a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® who has lived with fibromyalgia for over 20 years and her 14-year-old daughter, Lily, has been living with chronic illnesses for the last six years.

In this conversation, Tami, Ann, and Lily talk about Lily’s diagnoses and the long journey of medical gaslighting to get there, the massive difference it makes when you find the right doctor, Ann’s decision to become a fibro coach, how Ann’s experience advocating for Lily led to her working with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, why Ann and Lily decided to go to D.C. to join fibromyalgia advocacy efforts, the importance of having young people as fibromyalgia advocates, what the day-to-day of their advocacy trip to D.C. looked like, the type of responses and reactions they received from lawmakers in D.C., what’s next for Ann and Lily, Ann’s work as a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, and more.

Tami hopes this episode will inspire you to go out there, do your part, and let's change the world together.

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®.

Have you ever wondered why some people have an easier time managing their fibromyalgia than others?

We all have natural strengths and weaknesses and approach life in a unique way. Managing our fibromyalgia is no different.

Our personalities play a central role in how we approach life and our fibromyalgia, and research has shown that our personality traits have a direct influence on health outcomes and fibromyalgia symptoms.

Empowerment comes from figuring out exactly where your natural strengths and challenges lie so that you can support yourself in a sustainable way that will bring about the best possible outcome for you. To help you on that journey, Tami created the Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠ Quiz, based on the five-factor model of personality, which measures specific traits from low to high.

In this episode, Tami discusses why she created the Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠ Quiz, the five-factor model of personality, how the “big 5” personality traits affect fibromyalgia management, the two traits most associated with fibromyalgia symptoms and health outcomes, how Tami developed the four Fibromyalgia Wellness Styles℠, the benefits of understanding your Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠, additional information and support you’ll receive if you choose to sign up for your advanced profile, early feedback from students and coaches who have discovered their Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠, the main characteristics and challenges of each of the four Fibromyalgia Wellness Styles℠ - The Ponderer, The Prevailer, The Playmaker, and The Perfectionist, 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®.

You're probably aware of the need for more research funding to help us develop new treatments for fibromyalgia. You’re probably also aware of the lack of training most doctors have when it comes to fibromyalgia. But did you realize that the two are connected? Research not only uncovers new potential treatments but also shapes how and what medical schools teach our providers.

Right now, the exact causes of fibromyalgia are unknown. We’ve uncovered many aspects of how it presents, but not enough for it to be definitively classified by medical institutions. That means we don't even know what specialists to see when we need a diagnosis.

How will this change? More research and advocacy for funding. This is a significant reason why Tami is so passionate about sharing her experience and the experiences of other people who have fibromyalgia.

Today, Tami is joined by Melissa Talwar, Executive Director of the Support Fibromyalgia Network, a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with fibromyalgia. In this conversation they discuss why the Support Fibromyalgia Network was formed and how it’s evolved since its founding, what federal advocacy looks like, tackling the lack of funding for fibromyalgia research, the need for systemic changes and research to be able to change the way medical providers are trained, the power of collaborative efforts and patient involvement in driving these systemic changes, the impact of research funding on developing effective treatments and classification for fibromyalgia, current challenges in classifying fibromyalgia, how you can get involved in fundraising and advocacy efforts for fibromyalgia funding and research, the process of going to Capitol Hill to meet with our representatives, how the Support Fibromyalgia Network supports and trains people who want to get started with advocacy, the need for preparedness in sharing our personal stories and experiences, the significance of obtaining governor proclamations and its impact on creating awareness and recognition, the power of a unified voice and collective advocacy, Melissa’s message for anyone who feels like there’s no progress despite the advocacy, being open to experimenting and layering different modalities and tools, exploring a holistic approach to improving your quality of life, upcoming initiatives for the Support Fibromyalgia Network, how a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® can advocate for you and help you to advocate for yourself, resources you can access to learn more about fibromyalgia research and advocacy, 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®.

GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro are all the rage right now. Originally marketed as drugs to help diabetics with insulin resistance, they were later discovered to help people lose weight.

With those possibilities, GLP-1 meds are positioned to revolutionize health in the US since about two-thirds of the population is either overweight or obese and at risk for conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

But there’s been another new discovery—GLP-1 medications also have anti-inflammatory properties. Several different studies have since shown that GLP-1 medications help to reduce inflammation in the liver, kidneys, heart, and even the brain (which is of particular interest to fibromyalgia patients).

Today, Tami is joined by rheumatologist Dr. Isabelle Amigues to talk about GLP-1 medications and how they can potentially help those of us with fibromyalgia. In this episode, Tami and Dr. Amigues discuss the unusual way Dr. Amigues is incorporating GLP-1 medications in her practice, what you need to know about GLP-1 medications, the anti-inflammatory effects of GLP-1 medications and the implications, the link between inflammation and adipose tissue, the potential impact of GLP-1 medications on aging-related complications and inflammatory conditions, GLP-1 medications as a tool to get you over the final hurdle to fibromyalgia remission, utlizing mindful eating to help you make better food choices, tapping into the virtuous cycle of weight loss, breaking the stigma and releasing the judgment around our weight, factors to consider before taking GLP-1 medication, who should avoid these medications, putting the horror stories of bad experiences and side effects into context, next steps if you’d like to consult with your doctor about taking a GLP-1 medication, why it’s crucial to work with a qualified specialist, the affordability of GLP-1 medications medications, 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®.

“How do you propose we help low-income individuals with CFS and fibromyalgia? Self-care and wellness are rooted in privilege, choice, fellowship, support, time, and money to invest in themselves.”

So many people living with chronic illnesses are forced to navigate the issue of how best to support themselves with limited resources. While you’ll often hear Tami talking about coaching and our training programs on this podcast, that’s not everything available in the fibromyalgia community. Tami and other organizations offer many resources that allow people from all income levels to access tools and support to improve their quality of life.

It’s also valuable to recognize that while wellness is often rooted in the privilege of having money to invest in ourselves, self-care doesn’t have to be. Self-care is about how we treat ourselves, and it’s not a direct link to our income level. In today’s Ask The Coach installment, Tami answers how low-income individuals can access help with CFS and fibromyalgia and whether you can still work with a fibro coach if you haven’t been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

In this episode, Tami discusses the connection between wellness, self-care, and privilege, why I believe self-care has nothing to do with your income level, challenges faced by low-income individuals with fibromyalgia who rely on state healthcare programs, free resources and support provided by Tami and the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute, organizations that can help you implement the suggestions for improving your symptoms, patient assistance programs that can help with covering the cost of medications, tips for accessing lower-cost options for supplements and services, advocacy and support offered through organizations like Support Fibromyalgia Network, Fibromyalgia Care Society of America, and the Sherri Little Foundation, how you can advocate for fibromyalgia awareness and support, working with a fibromyalgia coach without a fibro diagnosis, training to work with conditions outside of fibromyalgia, 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®.

Exercise is one of the foundational pillars of health, but with fibromyalgia, we have extra sensitive bodies and nervous systems, and we need to be gentle. That means finding the right exercise to meet our needs can be tricky.

Today, Tami is excited to introduce you to a tool helping her feel even better and that she’s recently been obsessed with: a T-Zone Vibration machine. These machines use whole body vibration, a modality used for decades to increase muscle strength, bone density, and more. In fact, several studies have shown the benefits of whole body vibration for improving fibromyalgia symptoms.

To explore this further and share the results of a small informal study with our students and coaches, Tami is joined by Sarah Aboody, the Owner and General Manager of T-Zone Vibration. In this conversation, Sarah and Tami discuss how whole body vibration works and its uses for improving muscle strength, bone density, flexibility, mobility, and circulation, why oscillating vibration works best for fibromyalgia, benefits and uses of whole body vibration, the results of the informal study on the use of the T-Zone Vibration with Tami and some of our students and coaches, exercise as a pillar of health and how the T-Zone Vibration machine can help to build the habit, guidance for optimizing the use of the machine, why pain and fatigue might temporarily increase after whole body vibration, adapting whole body vibration for different needs, benefits of T-Zone Vibration machines, comparison of the smaller and larger vibration machines, special offers if you want to try a T-Zone Vibration machine, guidelines for getting started with whole body vibration, important considerations and precautions for individuals for whom whole body vibration may not be suitable, 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®.

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®.

Rest is not a luxury. It’s required for healing your mind, body, and soul.

A month and a half into the new year, everything around us is about making this your best year ever. From classes to articles, social media posts, and podcast episodes, there’s so much messaging about becoming a new and better version of yourself.

While growth is a good thing, and the transition into a new year can be a great time to make the changes to move closer to the life you want, you might find that these messages aren’t resonating. What if you’re feeling exhausted or frustrated? What if you can’t figure out where on earth you’d scrounge up the energy to make these changes?

Today, Tami talks about the power of rest and embracing life’s winter seasons. In this episode, you’ll learn about the significance of rest and its impact on healing, exploring life's seasons and how they relate to personal growth, spring as a season of new growth, what it looks like to open yourself to new experiences, summer as the season of maturing, why we’re often more comfortable in the summer seasons of our lives, how these seasons relate to our fibromyalgia, fall as a season of harvest, acknowledging the process of letting go and accepting change, winter as a time to embrace rest as a necessary component for healing and growth, the power of winter rest, understanding what rest means, using the 80/20 rule for managing your energy, practical tips for embracing more rest in your life, the concept of deep relaxation, the benefits of embracing moments of a "blue mind state,” how to cultivate a “blue mind state,” aligning your actions to embrace the season you’re in, remembering the inevitability of spring’s arrival, things to consider leaving behind during your personal winter, ways to nurture that power of rest, the delicate balance between self-care as work and self-care as compassion and grace for individuals with fibromyalgia, and more.

While you're waiting for spring to come, lean into your winter season and accept it for what it is. It’s an essential part of life and carries a lesson for you. Get the rest you need and reach out for help to move forward into spring growth.

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®.

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®.

Most of us with fibromyalgia have to spend a lot of physical and emotional energy teaching the people in our lives about our condition. From friends and family to doctors and coaches, it can be draining.

That’s just one of the ways working with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® transformational. It’s invaluable to have someone in your corner who knows what you’re going through because they’ve been there and have the tools to guide and support you.

What would it be like to improve your quality of life significantly? How would your life change if you could improve your symptoms by 50%?

Today, in the eighth installment of our Stories of Hope and Healing, Tami shares inspiring excerpts from our January 2024 event. You’ll hear from four graduates about their stories and how they’ve been able to improve their fibromyalgia symptoms. On average, our graduates improve their symptoms by about 50% during the three-month program, and many people’s lives look dramatically different today than they did before starting.

In this episode, you’ll hear about Julie’s diagnosis and how she went from years of just one to two down days per year to four years of barely being able to get out of bed, why the journey of becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® was transformational for Julie, learning to give yourself grace on your bad days, why Julie wrote Chronic Illness at Work, her passion for advocating for the fibromyalgia and chronic illness communities, how she’s set and surpassed goals she never believed she ever could, the importance of setting goals and celebrating your successes, why Kaylynne ultimately decided to join the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, what surprised her (as a skeptic) about working with her fibro coach Brenda, why being able to address her fatigue had a massive knock-on effect on many areas of her life, prioritizing your energy for restoring yourself, the changes that made the biggest impact on improving her fibromyalgia symptoms, developing a positive relationship with your body, Kaylynne’s message to high achievers and perfectionists who are struggling with their fibromyalgia, Viktoriia’s early symptoms of fibromyalgia and how traumatic events in her life made it more difficult to manage, her move to Canada and search for relief from her increasing symptoms, the huge reduction in symptoms Viktoriia experienced after joining the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program and working with fibro coaches, the series of difficult events and experiences that led Viktoriia to join the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program for a second time and what she did differently, her recognition that she has to actively choose to support her body every day, Viktoriia’s new approach to life management, the tools that have made the most significant impact on her fibromyalgia, the impact of food on her well-being, how her coach Robin helped her with emotional overwhelm and her mental health, the challenges of managing stress and emotions, letting go of perfection, Deb’s decision to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, how changing her approach resulted in an improvement in symptoms of 68%, the value of experimentation and her experiences working with clients, what it’s like living with an invisible illness, why being a coach helps you with your fibromyalgia, the significance of focus and tools to manage fibromyalgia symptoms, focusing on living in the current body you’re in and making necessary changes for managing fibromyalgia, reducing stress and allowing time for the body to heal, how you can join the next Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, what you can expect from the course, and more.

If you're looking for ways to feel better, you’ll be inspired to hear their stories.

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®.

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®.

As a master Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, author, and fibro podcaster, the questions I’m asked more than any others are:

How do I get better?

How do I improve my Fibromyalgia so I can get back to living the life I want to live?

While those sound like simple questions, they do not have simple answers. We all have similar symptoms, what helps you feel better may not be the thing that helps me feel better. We all have to find our own magic formula for what makes us feel best.

I know from personal experience just how overwhelming it can be to find that formula on your own. That’s why I created a training program in 2015 that would teach people just like you how to improve their own Fibromyalgia, and how to help others do the same.

In this first episode 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®, I want to start super basic.

We’re 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®.

“Taking action and being clear about what we expect does not have to be disrespectful.” - Meredith Holley

It’s very common for people with invisible disabilities like fibromyalgia to experience workplace conflict and discrimination because of it. From snide remarks to outright harassment, it can feel so isolating and even make your symptoms worse.

Despite that, most people don’t want to file a lawsuit. While it sounds so noble to have civil rights litigation, it’s a stressful process that often damages everyone involved. People want the tools and support to create a healthy workplace culture where issues are resolved so people can keep their jobs and receive the medical care they need.

In this episode, Tami is joined by attorney Meredith Holley to talk about speaking up for your needs and handling harassment and discrimination respectfully, whether it’s happening at work or at your doctor's office. They discuss Meredith’s journey into workplace conflict mediation and communication coaching, her experience with sexual harassment in the workplace, arming yourself with tools to empower yourself at work, how workplace conflict can worsen your fibromyalgia symptoms, the three pillars of empowered communication and how you can use them to handle workplace harassment and discrimination, acknowledging the impact of harassment and our tendency to minimize its effects, the weight of experiences that our cultural values label as “little”, the concept of internalizing blame and responsibility for others' actions, the importance of setting boundaries, the emotional impact of carrying labels and experiences related to disability, the three steps for bystander intervention, strategies for handling harassment and discrimination with respect and self-focus, listening to your body and taking actions to ensure personal safety in challenging situations, the value of understanding the best ways to communicate with your healthcare providers, navigating challenges with requesting workplace accommodations, embracing open-mindedness and flexibility and a focus on desired outcomes, navigating the balance between self-advocacy and collaborative decision-making with healthcare providers, using professional expertise as a tool, resources you can access, Meredith’s message for you, and more.

If you’re experiencing workplace conflict, know you are not alone and did nothing to deserve it. There are steps we can take to ease the pain and energy drain. This is a problem that’s worth solving.

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®.

We often underestimate what we can accomplish in a year. The goal can seem so massive that we think we’ll never get there and don’t even bother to try.

That’s why it’s so important to hear stories of hope from people who have been where you are. There is so much you can do in a year; whether or not you go for it, the year will go by. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do between now and then.

Today, we’re having a special bonus episode where Kim Osborne, a current student in our Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® training program, joins Tami. In September 2022, when Kim came to Tami, she was struggling. She was at the end of her rope and didn’t know what else to try. Many of the things that used to help her cope weren't working for her anymore, and even with her training as a health coach and yoga instructor, she was still feeling miserable. In this episode, Kim shares what worked for her and how her life transformed over the past year.

In this conversation, Tami and Kim discuss Kim's fibromyalgia diagnosis and the start of her journey, her experience with prescribed medications and struggle with the recommendations from her rheumatologist, the downward slide many of us experience where our lives get smaller and smaller, why Kim decided to explore alternative solutions including seeking a fibromyalgia coach, the decisive moment when you realize life can get better, the feeling of finding hope and support in a community who truly understands you, the powerful impact of being coached by the right person, surprising lessons that came from working with Kim’s fibromyalgia coach, Robin, the drastic difference between a trip Robin took a year ago and again this year, being open to changing goals and expectations when we recognize what our bodies need, Kim’s progress in the past year, the importance of taking action between now and the future, recognizing the real role of a coach, why seeing a functional medicine doctor was game changing for Kim, the subtle difference between wanting to fix fibro and wanting to help yourself feel as good as possible, why Kim decided to take the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® course instead of only working with a coach, Kim’s plans for the upcoming year, her experience working with clients during her Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® internship, remembering that each person's fibromyalgia journey is unique, Kim’s message of hope and encouragement if you’re struggling with your fibromyalgia journey, and more.

If you don't have your own hope, borrow Kim’s. You can find ways to feel better, and we would love to help.

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®.

“You can only truly heal once you’ve accepted what's going on.” - Dr. Isabelle Amigues

When you’re able to reflect on your fibromyalgia as a teacher, you stop fighting your body and put yourself in the best position to heal. Tami often describes fibromyalgia as the biggest gift life has given her. It’s a sentiment that can be difficult to understand when you’re struggling with getting through each day, but there are things you can do to move forward on your fibromyalgia healing journey.

For too many of us, when we received our fibromyalgia diagnosis, the doctor simply gave us the news and sent us on our way. What is omitted in that process is the fact that several rheumatological conditions can occur alongside fibromyalgia, and by treating those, you may experience significant relief.

If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and your treatment is not working well, that’s a sign that something else may be going on.

Today, Tami is joined by rheumatologist Dr. Isabelle Amigues to talk about her journey from doctor to patient and why it’s crucial to have the correct diagnosis. In this episode, Tami and Dr. Isabelle discuss Dr. Isabelle’s struggle with early parenthood and recognition she was feeling sad and unfulfilled in her life, her stage three breast cancer diagnosis and how it changed her approach to medicine, reframing cancer as a gift that’s here to teach her something, why her diagnosis taught her to live with meaning and intention, the self-love that came out of Dr. Isabelle’s cancer journey, looking at fibromyalgia as a teacher and why Tami believes it’s the biggest gift life has given her, Dr. Isabelle’s appreciation for her patients and why it’s important to her to empower them, why she created a holistic practice, common conditions associated with fibromyalgia, symptoms that suggest something else may be happening in addition to your fibromyalgia, challenges patients face when seeking a proper diagnosis, why it’s often a good idea to have at least one visit with a rheumatologist, Dr. Isabelle’s message for you, finding the right doctor for you, a doctor’s role as a coach, listening to what your body needs, 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®.

Family stories play a crucial role in shaping our beliefs about health, work, and other aspects of life. In previous episodes, we’ve talked about the way traumatic experiences can impact your health and fibromyalgia. Today, we’re taking it a step further and exploring how the traumatic events that happened to your ancestors can affect your wellbeing.

You may have a family story about a great-aunt who is always sick and uses that to escape family obligations. Or maybe you watched your grandfather work himself to the point of illness. Even positive stories can get twisted over time; either way, they matter. They impact our relationship with our bodies, health, money, and even the world around us. The important thing is we can change those stories.

Today, Tami is joined by Ruschelle Khanna, a licensed clinical social worker and executive coach, to share her expertise on generational trauma. In this episode, Tami and Ruschelle discuss how Ruschelle came to do this work, how generational trauma can impact fibromyalgia and overall wellbeing, why Ruschelle decided to write her book, the concept of inheriting memories and traumatic experiences, Ruschelle’s experience with fear stemming from her mother’s early memories, the impact of family stories and peripheral experiences on generational trauma, how trauma affects the fascia and its connection to fibromyalgia pain, a recent example from a client of Ruschelle’s demonstrating the release of stored emotions through somatic therapy, how trauma affects the body's flow of energy and information, looking at whether the muscular system, hormonal system, and energetic systems are flowing correctly, parallels between money management and fibromyalgia symptoms, the connection between strained family relationships, childhood trauma, and the development of chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia, what to do if your family isn’t supportive, why you need fo focus on and cultivate the areas where life is supporting you, talking to your body and acknowledging the thoughts and sensations in different body parts, why tapping is an excellent modality for working on the physical aspects of generational trauma, tracing family narratives and rewriting memories, where to find a genealogist or family constellation therapist for help in addressing generational trauma, the difference between coaching and therapy, healing through writing and connecting with ancestors, 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®.

For a lot of us with fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses, working on our fitness comes in bursts. We’re told exercise is good for us, but when we go out and do what ordinary people do, it’s too much, and we crash. Then, that cycle repeats itself over and over.

Tami has found a tool that helped her and many of her students and coaches to shift away from this up-and-down cycle and into a healthy relationship with being active. It’s an app called Gentler Streak, and she’s been using it over the last year, during which it's proven valuable for managing fibromyalgia symptoms while increasing fitness levels.

One of the things Tami loves most about Gentler Streak is that it’s more accurately in tune with how she feels and her normal versus a standard that might apply to someone who doesn’t have fibromyalgia.

Today, Tami is joined by Katarina Lotrič, co-founder and CEO of Gentler Stories, the creators behind the app. Katarina and Tami talk about the story behind the creation of Gentler Streak, recognizing that everybody’s normal is different, the unique features of Gentler Streak that make it suitable for individuals with fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses, the evolution of Gentler Streak to focusing on a holistic approach to activity and wellbeing, challenges with existing health and fitness apps, making room for balance and self-compassion, launching the Gentler Streak app, privacy and how the app works with your Health app, the metrics that are tracked in the wellbeing section of the app, why the decision was made to use sleeping heart rate, the limitations of heart rate variability on the Apple Watch, factors that can impact your sleeping heart rate, how Gentler Streak determines when you’re doing too much activity, insights that can be drawn from heart rate data, the ongoing improvement of the algorithm and the app, tracking other activities and exercise minutes, why it’s important to log your activities at exercises, the special offer you can take advantage of for two free months of Gentler Streak, the important of getting good data in the app, feedback from Tami’s students and coaches about the app, becoming your own companion, how Gentler Streak can help you to treat yourself with kindness, why there isn’t an Android version of the app at the moment, why Tami checks the wellbeing tab in Gentler Streak first thing in the morning, how Tami tracks activity in Gentler Streak, Tami’s goal for using the app, and more.

Tami is so excited to share about Gentler Streak because it's a gentle and fibro-friendly way to track physical exercise and body movement, and it does it without making you push too hard or feel like you're not doing enough.

Gentler Streak — Use this link to get a two-month free trial exclusively for listeners of the Fibromyalgia Podcast®! https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=1576857102&code=FIBRO

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®.

“How do you do it all?”

This question came up during one of Tami’s Ask Me Anything sessions during our annual alumni retreat, and it was so good that she decided to bring it to the podcast.

Before we get into the details, the short answer is Tami doesn’t do it all! At first glance, it’s easy to compare your life to what you see others doing. The problem with that is we tend to forget that we’re only seeing their highlight reel. You never know everything that’s going on behind the scenes at the deep level that you know your own life. On top of that, Tami’s fibromyalgia has been in remission for years, and it took a lot of work to get there. It doesn’t make sense to compare your everyday fibro life with that.

With that context in mind, in this episode, Tami shares how she chooses where to focus her energy and what to prioritize. She’s discussing the importance of making choices to prioritize the things that move you forward, how I learned to be intentional about choosing what to do, what it means to say no to say yes, the challenges of choosing between two good options, how to add more joy into your life, recognizing that you need to choose one habit to build at a time, why it’s worth it to prioritize improving your sleep quality, delegating tasks that are not in your zone of genius, offloading tasks in your personal life, how you can reduce your load with minimal resources, embracing imperfections in life, seeking support from others to reach your goals, the difference between talking to a coach versus a friend, finding the right professional help, and more.

As you continue to move forward into the life that you want to have, don’t be afraid to take a step back. Sometimes, that’s precisely what you need.

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®.

“No woman is going to get to 90 years old without having gone through menopause.” - Jeanne Andrus

As women, society has trained us to be afraid of menopause. To view it as yet another trial we have to suffer through. The truth is that if you learn to accept it, menopause is a gift. And to take advantage of it, you need to support yourself through it. This is the time when we get to put ourselves at the center. After decades of people pleasing, it allows you to take yourself from the periphery and make decisions from a point where you are considered a priority.

Today, Tami is joined by The Menopause Guru, Jeanne Andrus. Tami and Jeanne discuss how Jeanne became the Menopause Guru, her purpose and passion for helping women navigate this period of their lives, the technical definition of menopause, symptoms and indicators of menopause, the potential connection between perimenopause and fibromyalgia, how hormone levels change from perimenopause onward, the adjustment period at the start of postmenopause, why menopause should be viewed as a journey with unpredictable experiences and changes in the body, testing hormone levels to determine menopause status, special considerations for identifying where you are in the menopause journey if you’ve been on hormonal birth control, why Jeanne suggests working with your doctor to taper off your birth control gradually regardless of menopause status, Tami’s experience with suddenly stopping her birth control pills, how the pituitary and thyroid glands work together to regulate hormone production, why it’s crucial to remember that menopause is a natural process, supporting yourself naturally through the menopause transition, the overlap of fibromyalgia and menopause symptoms, how hormone replacement therapy can help, the shift in perspective that many women experience in their early 40s, how biology influences our roles in life, Jeanne’s resources for women on the menopause journey, why you should start thinking about menopause in your mid-30s, embracing menopause as a gift, how fibromyalgia can impact menopause symptoms, and more.

For those of us with fibromyalgia, many symptoms of menopause overlap, like insomnia, brain fog, pain, and fatigue. You cannot blame all of your symptoms on fibromyalgia because they can be coming from many other places, including hormones. If you’re a woman who’s 30 or above, it’s time to start thinking about menopause.

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®.

“The big rule of thumb is to do things that make you feel better.” - Dr. Izabella Wentz

Adrenal dysfunction is a significant contributing factor to fibromyalgia, and over the years, we’ve never met someone with fibromyalgia who didn’t also need to heal their adrenals. For Tami, supporting her adrenals and correcting her adrenal function resulted in her feeling much better.

For today’s episode, Tami is joined by Dr. Izabella Wentz, author of the new book Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Tami and Dr. Wentz discuss Dr. Wentz’s experience with adrenal dysfunction, how she found solutions at different stages of her life, why it’s essential to address both thyroid and adrenal health together, the interactive relationship between cortisol and thyroid hormones, the distinction between between adrenal fatigue and adrenal dysfunction, sources of stress that are often overlooked, dealing with medical gaslighting, the frustrating but common pattern of disrupted cortisol levels affecting sleep, how to regulate cortisol production and optimize your circadian rhythm, why we need natural light exposure where possible, Dr. Wentz’s passion for empowering people to take charge of their health, the Adrenal Transformation Protocol, different ways you can send your body safety signals, making time to minimize stress triggers in daily life and add pleasurable activities, different patterns of adrenal dysfunction, when exercise is beneficial versus detrimental for individuals, strategies for building resilience, the value of positive affirmations and the need to address unresolved trauma, the impact of self-talk on inflammation and stress in the body, the cumulative power of small changes, Dr. Wentz’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®.

“Whenever there's a lot of interest and dollars put into fibromyalgia research, patients only stand to benefit.” - Dr. Ginevra Liptan

During the pandemic, a potentially game-changing research article showed us that the immune system is involved in creating fibromyalgia pain. The results of this study were remarkable and began to address one of the most common questions about fibromyalgia - whether it is an autoimmune condition. It’s a huge question and an important one for us to keep asking because, at the end of the day, we need more research.

For this episode, Tami interviews Dr. Ginevra Liptan, fibromyalgia specialist and author of The Fibro Manual and The Fibro Food Formula. Tami and Dr. Ginevra discuss the game-changing mouse antibody study that showed the involvement of the immune system in fibromyalgia pain and the potential autoimmune component, how the study could potentially change the treatment approach for fibromyalgia, why Dr. Ginevra is hopeful for significant progress within a decade, fibromyalgia as an orphan disease that no speciality wants to claim, the relationship between antibodies and fibromyalgia symptoms, Dr. Ginevra’s hypothesis on how and why central sensitization is triggered in fibromyalgia, the complexity of the immune system and the challenges in understanding it, the misconception that inflammation is not involved in fibromyalgia, potential benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for fibromyalgia and other conditions, the upcoming Stanza app which uses behavioral therapy techniques to calm the fight or flight response, Tonix pharmaceuticals' phase three trial for a new fibromyalgia medication, exploring the possibility of transmitting fibromyalgia symptoms through blood donation, the search for effective fibromyalgia treatments, how to navigate the overwhelming and confusing nature new fibromyalgia research, the role of intuition and personal research in choosing treatment, recognizing that there is no magic bullet solution, why we advocate for combining different approaches for better results, 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®.

When we have an interest or a passion, but we're not pursuing it, we don't feel good.

Creativity is a vital part of wellness; for many people, it helps them manage their illness and feel better. No matter how you’re feeling, it’s important to know that staying creative and vibrant is possible.

Today, Tami welcomes Wellness Coach Jenni Grover to talk about how you can do more crafting, making, and creating. Jenni has a passion for making sure that people get to keep being themselves and expressing themselves through their creativity while also taking good care of their bodies.

In this conversation, Tami and Jenni discuss why Jenni created her ChronicBabe project, her passion for helping people feel better despite chronic illness, why she made the shift to being a wellness coach, the connection between physical and mental health and creativity, what it has been like for Jenni to adapt her life to support her love for writing without sacrificing her health, why we need to let ourselves evolve to meet our current circumstances, embracing a growth mindset, the vast difference it makes when we surround ourselves with supportive individuals from friends and family to a coach, how to getting started with accessible crafts, getting out of the comparison trap, pacing strategies and making sure you’re honoring them, tips for staying creative on low-energy days, how timers help with preventing burnout and maintaining productivity, balancing urgency and context, being intentional about taking breaks and enlisting the help of others, the empowering feeling of making conscious choices, two pacing tools Jenni loves, practical ways to get back to making things again, taking care of your brain which is your most important tool, finding balance in self-care, finding beauty in everyday life and how it can inspire creativity, what it’s like to work with Jenni as a wellness coach, and more.

Even if you're not a crafter or a maker, Tami and Jenni’s conversation can apply to any project and fibro life in general.

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®.

A certified Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is not a doctor. We can’t prescribe or diagnose, but we can help fill the gap in fibro knowledge for you and your doctors. IFC graduates have received hundreds of hours of fibromyalgia-specific training. We can teach you and your providers more about fibromyalgia and help you advocate for yourself and get better results.

Today, as we continue the seventh installment of our Stories of Hope and Healing, Tami interviews two more graduates of our Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® training program. After going through both our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® and Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® training programs over the last two years, Penny and Ann are nearly symptom-free.

In this episode, you’ll hear about their journeys and how they got where they are today. They are sharing Penny’s two-year journey to becoming almost symptom-free, the huge difference it made to work with the right providers, her experience going through early menopause as a result of a hysterectomy, how she finally got to the root causes of her pain, recognizing that each person’s fibro treatment recipe is unique, why becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® has been so rewarding for Penny, the challenges of navigating medical systems, the positive ripples of working on our fibromyalgia, the massive changes in Ann’s personal life since starting the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, why she feels like she’s finally come full circle, the changes which have made the most significant positive impact on Ann’s fibromyalgia, how helping other people as a fibromyalgia coach has been helpful for Ann on her fibro journey, some of her favourite things to recommend to her clients, Ann’s message for anyone struggling with fibromyalgia, how a fibromyalgia coach can help you on your journey, what it looks like to work with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, 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®.

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®.

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®.

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®.

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®.

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®.

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®.

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®.

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®.

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®.

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 & 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®.

With the lack of awareness and education about fibromyalgia, many of us go through years of chronic health issues without finding answers. You might even find that the medications, supplements, and treatments that are supposed to help you to get better are making you worse.

Today’s guest, Gisèle McDiarmid, went through all of that, and today she’s sharing what she uncovered that made all the difference. While her health deteriorated over 20 years, Gisèle received multiple diagnoses and treatment options, but nothing worked. So what do you do when everything makes you feel worse?

In this conversation, Gisèle and Tami talk about Gisèle’s life as a nurse, mother, and caregiver, managing her Hashimoto’s diagnosis, her deteriorating health and experience with injuries, chronic infections and allergic reactions, severe reactions to flu shots and what she learned about her ability to tolerate vaccines, why fibromyalgia awareness and education are so important, Gisèle’s health crash which turned out to be a massive fibro flare, the long journey to receiving her fibromyalgia diagnosis, her struggles with conventional medications and natural treatments, unlearning her disconnected body mindset, the power of tuning in and recognizing that you and your body are on the same side, learning about multiple chemical and environmental sensitivity, common triggers of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), why we need to become aware of our individual body burdens and all the things we’re exposed to, the increase in MCS diagnosis worldwide, why green initiatives matter, resources you can use if you think you may have MCS, Gisèle’s message for you, and more.

If it feels like nothing is working for you, Gisèle and Tami hope that her story gives you some new ideas of things to try. Always remember that it doesn’t matter if other people don't believe you as long as you know what you're going through is real. Even when we have a chronic illness, our life isn't over. Gisèle went from a crisis to living a full life again, and you can do it too.

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®.

Everyone with fibromyalgia understands how challenging it can be to explain the invisible pain and fatigue that comes with it. Despite affecting millions of people, there’s still a lack of understanding and awareness about fibromyalgia. That's where the documentary "Invisible” comes in.

Through personal stories and expert interviews, "Invisible" explores the impact of fibromyalgia on people's lives and the challenges caused by the lack of understanding and research. For today’s episode, filmmaker Nick Demos joins Tami to discuss his feature documentary on fibromyalgia, Invisible. Nick and Tami have been waiting to do this interview ever since they began working on the film eight years ago. Not wanting to give away the ending before people could watch, a lot had to be kept secret during the production process. Now, they finally get to talk about it publicly.

In this conversation, Nick and Tami talk about how Nick became involved with the making of Invisible, its evolution into a documentary about the fibromyalgia community, challenges with finding men when casting the film, how the perception of fibro as a woman’s disease has contributed to the lack of research and understanding, the difficulty balancing creating a piece of art with making a film that would educate and inspire action, Nick’s on-camera life-changing diagnosis, the unfairness of being discriminated against for something outside your control, why this film is vital to the fibro community, Tami’s experience being a part of the film, why it was especially tricky to visually explore stories about an invisible illness, why community is essential, why Tami and Nick consider some aspects of fibromyalgia as a gift, what most surprised Nick while making the film, the truth behind the lack of research on fibromyalgia, upcoming premiere events, how Nick manages his fibromyalgia, Nick’s message for you, and more.

Invisible is the film that the fibro community has wanted and needed, and we know you’ll love it.

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®.

With the sheer volume of information online, it can be challenging to know which sources are legitimate. Since ChatGPT’s launch in December 2022, we must be even more careful.

While it’s an incredibly useful tool for increasing efficiency for writing blog posts, generating book outlines, and more, the problem lies with the fact that it will create a response to whatever you prompt, regardless of the facts, potentially spreading misleading information.

Since many of us search for information about our health online, it’s crucial that we know that the sources we turn to are reliable. For today’s episode, Tami shares tips to help you understand who you can trust online. Tami talks about what you need to know about ChatGPT and information generated by AI, why adding the human element is critical, creative, and valuable ways ChatGPT is being used in different industries, how to figure out whether an information source is trustworthy, recognizing that the title of “doctor” doesn’t always equate to expert, website red flags, why it’s worth it to take a closer look at the underlying data and sources, tips on how to figure out which studies are valid, what you can learn by cross-referencing articles, being wary of content that’s overselling or over-generalized, building a list of trusted sources, how to use AI effectively, 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®.

Fibromyalgia can feel like an endless taking away of things. Whether you’re newly diagnosed and struggling to find your way, or you think you have it all figured out, boom, life happens.

We’ve all had hopes and dreams that ultimately died or were taken away. Living your best life doesn’t mean avoiding anything terrible happening - that's impossible. Instead, the key is knowing how to take care of yourself when life implodes.

For this episode, Tami interviewed Dr. Ginevra Liptan, fibromyalgia specialist and author of The Fibro Manual and the Fibro Food Formula. While in medical school, Dr. Ginevra was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has since devoted her career to helping other fibro patients. With all her expertise, it’s easy to assume her fibro would be permanently under control, but none of us are immune from life’s ups and downs. In this conversation, Tami and Dr. Ginevra discuss how Dr. Ginevra’s life fell apart during the pandemic, dealing with the worst fibro flare since she first got sick, the power of reconnecting with your deeper purpose, Dr. Ginevra’s drive to help people with fibromyalgia, giving yourself the grace to slowly build the pattern of accomplishing things, figuring out who you are after your diagnosis, finding meaning and direction from the pain, how Frida Kahlo has inspired Dr. Ginevra, why therapy was life-changing after her divorce, how to separate your vision from your purpose, what it was like for Dr. Ginevra to lose the Freedom Center so close to getting her divorce, the struggle to find a new identity after a life implosion, why Dr. Ginevra doesn’t identify with the typical Western medical doctor-patient dynamic, the terrible experience Dr. Ginevra had when taking her son to the doctor to investigate potential fibro symptoms, her work to help other doctors improve their standard of care for fibro patients, how you can help your doctor help you, why so many primary care doctors are burned out, the magic combination of a fibromyalgia health coach with a fibromyalgia doctor, Dr. Ginevra’s message for anyone dealign with a life implosion, and more.

If you're struggling on your fibro journey, Tami hopes today's interview will help you feel less alone. Be kind to yourself, take advantage of every available resource, and take small steps toward your goals. Brighter days are possible, and there can be a silver lining to the clouds you face.

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 good conversations with doctors can be difficult for many fibromyalgia patients. Whether it’s dealing with fibro fog or the fear of being labeled as a drug seeker, we often leave these interactions without feeling understood or confident in the action plan.

So how do we have better conversations with our doctors? By finding the right practitioner and arming yourself with tools to support you during your appointment.

Today Tami is joined by Dr. Andrea Chadwick to talk about current fibromyalgia research, the hallmarks of a good doctor, and simple strategies to get the most out of your doctor visits. In this episode, Tami and Dr. Chadwick discuss why she chose to work with chronic pain, the mission behind Dr. Chadwick’s Fibromyalgia and Centralized Pain Exploration Lab, the overlap between fibro and other chronic pain conditions, why it’s essential to tell our stories, research into how and why heat therapy helps with pain, advocacy for fibromyalgia research, the value of recording your pain journey and details of interventions you’ve tried, the types of conversations Dr. Chadwick has with new patients, figuring out your goals for your therapeutic relationship, how you can create space for grace, finding the version of you that works best in your fibromyalgia body, getting comfortable with moving on from a doctor who isn’t a good fit, how Dr. Chadwick became involved wth Swing Care and what you can expect from their virtual clinic, the advantages of telehealth, how you can register your interest in Swing Care expanding to serve your area, Dr. Chadwick’s message for people struggling to find good doctors, bonus resources you can use to make doctor visits easier, and more.

Dr. Chadwick wants you to know that there’s hope out there, and you can advocate for yourself to get better care. Getting better with fibromyalgia is a journey and a process. Trust the process, and more importantly, trust 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 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®.

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®.

“If it’s in you, it’s for you.” - Katy Suik

With fibromyalgia, we can’t do things the way we used to. That can trigger a loss of purpose and identity. “Who am I when I can’t do this? Can I still contribute?”

While we tend to think of our purpose as a single thing that will make our lives perfect, the reality is much more expansive. Purpose is not external to you. It’s about tuning into yourself and aligning with what’s already in you. When you lean into who you are, what’s meant for you will find you.

Today Tami is joined by Certified Professional Coach Katy Suik to talk about uncovering your higher purpose. Katy believes we are all born with the seeds of purpose within us, and it's our job to nurture those seeds to help make the world a better place. In this episode, Tami and Katy talk about how Katy’s quest to find herself led to developing a career helping others overcome their limitations and unpacking their purpose, the gifts that come through our experiences, recognizing that purpose is multifaceted, the connection between identity and purpose, reclaiming your power utilizing Katy’s pebble in a pond model, the danger of putting too much emphasis on what you do versus who you are, the difference between egotism and self-love, what you can expect from Katy’s upcoming free Entrepreneurial Purpose & Prosperity Masterclass, why many of us get stuck in a stagnant place, the three pillars that will be covered in the masterclass, the power of seeing real-life examples of people living in their purpose, what to do if you feel like you’re made for something more, Tami’s Joy List activity, shutting down your inner critic, why it’s helpful to have a coach on the journey with you, Katy’s message for you, and more.

When we feel worthy and love ourselves in a celebratory way, we can bring so much wonderfulness to this world. Whatever the circumstances in your life, you get to have the life of your dreams.

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®.

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®.

Treating your thyroid is a critical piece of managing fibromyalgia. It’s so crucial that Tami dedicates a whole week of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® training program to teaching about thyroid.

It’s also an issue that’s near and dear to Tami’s heart because it’s a significant part of her story. After years of classic thyroid symptoms being dismissed because her labs were “normal,” Tami was fortunate to discuss the problem with her fibromyalgia doctor, who ordered a full thyroid panel. That was when they discovered that she had Hashimoto’s, and treating it was a major step forward in getting her fibromyalgia under control.

Today Tami has invited her thyroid doctor, Dr. Kaley Bourgeois, to the podcast to talk about thyroid issues in fibromyalgia patients. In this conversation, Tami and Dr. B discuss what the thyroid is and what it does, what thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) signals, common symptoms of hypothyroidism, why Hashimoto’s is often missed, why Dr. B always includes thyroid screening for her fibro patients, how thyroid hormones are made, the role of T3 and T4 in your body, why it’s common for fibro patients to have issues converting T4 to T3, Dr. B’s recommendation to ask for a full thyroid panel with antibodies, huge differences between optimal versus lab ranges, treating thyroid issues, what you need to know about iodine, the three essential thyroid nutrients, considerations for thyroid hormone therapy, different medication options, why medicine needs to be individualized, your thyroid needs shift throughout your life, how to find the right practitioner for you, why most doctors aren’t well-versed in treating thyroid conditions, dietary changes to support your thyroid, lifestyle and nutritional factors to avoid, and more.

If you’ve ever had a doctor tell you that your thyroid is normal despite your symptoms, Dr. B is here to share why your doctor probably doesn't know how to treat your thyroid and the steps you can take to move forward on your healing journey.

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®.

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®.

One out of five children in the US suffers chronic pain.

From the prick of a vaccine to stomach pain, headaches, and chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, children's pain is being undertreated. Today Tami is joined by Dr. Anna Wilson and Rachel Rabkin Peachman to discuss the research on pediatric pain and simple ways you can help children manage their pain. Anna and Rachel are the authors of When Children Feel Pain: From Everyday Aches to Chronic Conditions, a powerful book that covers a wide range of pain-related topics in children.

In this conversation, Tami, Rachel, and Anna discuss why Rachel and Anna became interested in researching children’s pain, how they first found each other and connected over their overlapping pursuits, limitations of the ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) framework, the increasing cultural awareness of the impact of medical trauma, what research shows about non-verbal signs of pain in babies and infants, the problem with clinicians relying on physiological pain symptoms alone, shocking statistics on the number of children having chronic pain, how Anna and Rachel are hoping to improve the long-term outcomes for children feeling pain, the horrifying stories of babies in recent history getting surgery without anesthesia, how long it takes for breakthroughs in research to move into practice, teaching kids the tools to cope with pain through needle pricks, Tami’s insights from the way her body reacted to the traumatic stories shared in When Children Feel Pain, what research shows about babies’ bodies storing the memories of painful events, the non-genetic connection between kids and parents with chronic pain, how parents can create empowering messaging around pain for their children, why coaching is so helpful for navigating these situations, resources for parents with kids dealing with pain, why it’s crucial to manage your child’s pain, the issue of diagnostic uncertainty, tools parents can use, Rachel and Anna’s messages of hope for parents and children living with chronic pain, and more.

As someone who felt alone as a child in pain, Tami believes anyone who influences young lives can benefit from reading the book. While it’s a hard truth to read in places, it’s also full of hope and offers practical suggestions for what we can do to change the future.

Each exposure to pain builds on the last, and it’s never too late to course-correct.

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®.

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®.

When we hear stories we can relate to, it brings hope that healing is possible for us.

In the sixth installment of our Stories of Hope and Healing, Tami shares the stories of three recent graduates of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program. During the program, these women improved their fibromyalgia symptoms by an average of 51% in only three months. That’s right in line with the improvement we typically see with our graduates.

What would your life look like if you cut your symptoms in half? What could you do that you can't do now? Today’s graduates prove that you can go beyond your limitations once you know them.

Today you’ll hear from three real people who have fibromyalgia about their experiences. They share their history with fibro, why they decided to join the program, and the impact it’s had on their lives.

In this episode, Tami interviews graduates Kerstin, Laura and Tamy and they share the differences between listening to the podcast and being a part of the classes in the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, why working with a coach made all the difference for Kerstin, what it was like for Kerstin - a fitness coach herself - to be coached, why Kerstin fired her doctor, the fibro knowledge and personal choices that brought about Kerstin’s 10% improvement in her symptoms, the supplements that have helped Kerstin on her healing journey, Kertin’s top two tips, Tamy’s experience feeling stuck on the struggle bus, how the program helped Tamy reconnect with her authenticity as a wellness coach, why getting vulnerable was a crucial element in Tamy’s fibro journey, what it means to build your fibro team, recognizing that it’s normal for your needs to evolve along your healing journey, working through self-care guilt, the factors that helped Tamy to decrease her severe symptoms by 51%, dealing with breast implant illness alongside fibromyalgia, Tamy’s message to other people who feel like they’re on the struggle bus, why Laura took the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program a second time, why Laura decided that going forward she wants to have a coach for the long haul, budgeting your time and making the space to care for yourself so you can live the life you want, the elements that helped Laura to improve her symptoms by 75%, acknowledging that many of us need external accountabilty, and more.

Tami’s wish is that hearing their stories will give you some new ideas you can take back and share with your doctors and some encouragement and hope that you can feel better too.

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 consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

So much healing happens when you talk to somebody who truly understands you.

One of the more common questions Tami receives is a variation of “Can you actually help me?” Sometimes this comes up because you’re worried that you're too sick; sometimes, it's the opposite. Maybe you've tried so many things that you're afraid to get your hopes up and try something new. At the core, all these questions come up because people feel uncertain about whether fibromyalgia coaching would work for their unique situation.

For today’s episode, Tami talks through the most common questions about working with a fibromyalgia coach and shares the key areas to think about when considering whether to work with a coach. Her intention for today is to help you gain clarity on what might be the right choice for you.

In this conversation, Tami shares the core principle of fibromyalgia coaching, what it means for a coaching relationship to be client-led, the two elements that must be in place for you to see positive results from coaching, what to do if your resources are limited, why working with a coach is the best way to see results, remembering that scheduling a consultation is only a commitment for showing up for that consultation - nothing more, what you can expect from fibromyalgia coaching, how a coach can support you in different phases of your health journey, how long it takes to see results, the typical level of improvement Tami sees with her clients, the critical distinction between a coach and a doctor, what it would look like to have a fibromyalgia coach on your team, the advantages of working with someone who understands what you’re going through from personal experience, what a coach is not, who is a good fit for hiring a coach, 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 consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

I need to take a break from the podcast this week to practice good self-care, so I don't have a new episode for you today. I'll have a new episode for you on January 17th. In the meantime, feel free to check out any of the previous episodes to hold you over until then.

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®.

When you're healthy, you can be more you and bring your special magic to the world.

Over twenty years ago, when today’s guest Ann Garner Coulter was diagnosed, we were in what Tami describes as the dark ages of fibromyalgia. There were no FDA-approved medications, and it was even more challenging to find a doctor who knew enough about the condition to help. As a result, Ann had very few resources to help her manage her fibromyalgia, and she struggled for a long time. While dealing with those symptoms, including pain consistently in the seven to nine range, Ann continued working full-time but eventually lost her job due to her health.

Around the same time, her young daughter received a ME/CFS diagnosis. Ann stepped in as an advocate for her and discovered a side of herself she never knew existed. That discovery led her to more extensive advocacy work and her decision to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. Ann has a remarkable recovery story, and she’s now taken her pain down to a two or three most days. She’s also returning to work and working her way off of disability.

In this conversation, Tami and Ann discuss Ann’s journey to her fibromyalgia diagnosis over 22 years ago, Ann’s symptoms in the lead up to her diagnosis, what it was like navigating her diagnosis in what Tami calls the dark ages of fibromyalgia, the treatments and therapies Ann tried before finding a doctor who was able to help her, why it’s often hard to find doctors with the proper knowledge and experience, being pregnant with fibromyalgia, dealing with fibromyalgia alongside postpartum depression, working full-time while struggling with fibromyalgia symptoms then losing a job because of her health, why Ann finally filed for disability, how learning to advocate for her daughter helped Ann advocate for herself, Ann’s decision to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, what made the most significant difference in turning down her pain, how being a coach and helping other people has helped Ann, the vital role of faith in Ann’s journey, peeling back the layers and finding who she really is, what’s next for Ann, her impactful advocacy work, Ann’s message for someone struggling with fibromyalgia, what to expect from a coaching call with Ann, recognizing that it takes time to heal, 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®.

Kids are curious, and they’ll ask anything and everything about what’s different about you.

Today Tami is sharing a fabulous resource that will help you explain fibromyalgia to the little ones in your life. After leaving an office job of twenty years, Melissa started a new career working with young children. While working with little kids, they inevitably noticed the signs of her pain and would keep asking all these different questions. Recognizing that this wasn’t a unique situation, Melissa was inspired to create something that could help people better explain what they’re going through in a way that kids can understand. From there, her book, Ravyn’s Doll, was born.

In this episode, Melissa and Tami talk about the process from idea to publication of Melissa’s book, Ravyn’s Doll, the story that’s told in the book, the significant impact Melissa saw in her school district, which age group will get the most from reading Ravyn’s Doll, how the book has helped children and family members connect with their loved ones who are struggling with fibromyalgia, ways to introduce the book to kids at different ages, diving deeper into invisible illnesses and symptoms with older kids, supporting resources to help you get started with these discussions, paper doll lessons for younger kids, why it was important to Melissa to create the Spanish edition of Ravyn’s Doll, how you can purchase copies of Ravyn’s Doll, and more.

Ravyn’s Doll has been a fantastic tool for many people in helping their loved ones better understand them. Both Tami and Melissa have heard many stories from friends and clients about the huge difference this book has made. We hope that you will share these resources with the people in your life who have little ones, whether that’s your relatives, your students, or your pediatrician’s office; it’s essential to get these out into the world.

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®.

Around one-third of fibromyalgia patients also have Sjögren's Syndrome, yet most don’t know about it.

Sjögren's Syndrome is an autoimmune condition that affects the moisture-producing cells in your body. Today Tami is excited to share her conversation with Brenda Faverio, a graduate of the first Fibromyalgia Coach training class and one of the first Certified Fibromyalgia Coaches®. As someone with Sjögren's and fibromyalgia, Brenda shares the insights she uncovered on her healing journey and the experiences of the many women she’s coached.

In this conversation, Tami and Brenda discuss what happens to the body with Sjögren's Syndrome, common symptoms and associated risks of Sjögren's, the overlap between fibromyalgia and Sjögren's, Brenda’s journey to Sjögren's diagnosis, her family history of autoimmune disease, how the Schirmer tear test works, the importance of a supportive and knowledgeable medical team, the evil sidekicks that Brenda experienced alongside her Sjögren's, her experience with testing and treatment from a top Sjögren's specialist, the massive car accident that dramatically increased her symptoms, Brenda’s fibromyalgia diagnosis, how Brenda found her “why”, transforming from a dutiful patient to a proactive patient, the importance of taking action in addition to education, how Brenda found Tami and the decision to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, why she believes it takes a village to get through your autoimmune healing journey, how Brenda keeps her Sjögren's and fibromyalgia well-managed, building the skillset for managing your symptoms, red flags that suggest you should explore a Sjögren's diagnosis, how fibromyalgia symptoms show up differently from Sjögren's symptoms, first steps to take if you recognize Sjögren's red flags, how you can work with Brenda, words of encouragement for you wherever you are in your fibro journey, 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®.

People with fibromyalgia are significantly more likely to experience a sleep disorder. On top of that, some particular issues tend to happen when it comes to sleep and fibromyalgia.

Last week Tami and her friend, sleep expert Sovann Pen, talked about the importance of sleep for your healing journey and how you can get better sleep. In today’s special episode, Tami dives deeper into the specifics of fibro sleep, from research studies to books, supplement recommendations, and more.

In this episode, Tami talks about what research shows about the connection between poor sleep and pain, why not getting good sleep can make you feel more hungry and less satisfied after eating, the three ways sleep is different in people with fibromyalgia, different ways fibromyalgia impacts sleep, diagnosing fibromyalgia looking at the alpha brain wave/delta brain wave ratio, the 45% higher incidence of sleep disorders with fibromyalgia, why getting a sleep study done is probably a good idea, medications and supplements that can help you to get more and better sleep, causes and treatment of restless leg syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), sleep is essential for healing, things that can help you to fall asleep, lowering the overactive fight or flight response, increasing the amount of deep sleep you’re getting, practices you can try to lower your stress response before bed, and more.

The information Tami shares in this episode is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re interested in learning more, consider joining us for our next class of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® training program, where she goes much deeper into sleep and many other topics specific to fibromyalgia.

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 consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Unrefreshing sleep is one of the hallmarks of fibromyalgia, and it’s hard to face the day when you wake up feeling depleted.

With Fibromyalgia, we find three significant sleep issues that we must address: struggle with getting to sleep, problems with staying asleep, and calming the overactive fight or flight so we can get restful sleep.

Sleep is essential for having the mental and emotional energy to do the things we need to do to feel better, and Tami believes that her fibromyalgia would not be in remission without tackling her sleep issues. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution; everyone has to find the right recipe for their sleep. Today’s guest, Sovann Pen, joins Tami to talk about why sleep is vital to our overall health and how you can get better sleep.

In this conversation, Sovann and Tami discuss Sovann’s 25-year sleep career, how different people are affected by poor sleep quality, thinking about how your life could be better with better sleep, don’t assume your symptoms are solely due to fibromyalgia, how not getting enough sleep leaves us vulnerable to burnout, the high correlation between fibromyalgia and sleep apnea, the four stages of sleep, why people with fibromyalgia often struggle with getting restful sleep, Tami’s experience with sleep studies, what a sleep study entails, the three main sleep issues people with fibromyalgia experience, why you need to start sleep hygiene as soon as you wake up, when to consider meeting with a sleep specialist, the right place for sleep aids and medication for sleeping, when to take melatonin, figuring out what’s waking you up in the night, negative sleep thoughts, social media has a negative effect on many people’s sleep, digging deeper into the symptoms to address the core problem, how you can use the Wellness Wheel, Sovann’s tips for making friends with your CPAP machine, the need to slow down and take care of yourself, and more.

Be sure to tune in to next week’s special bonus episode, where Tami will share fibro-specific sleep information, including studies, supplements, and topics she teaches in her Certified Fibromyalgia 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 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 an eternal optimist, Tami likes to keep this podcast positive, often focusing on ways you can feel better with fibromyalgia. But you can't talk about fibromyalgia without exploring the darker side of things, like the grief many of us experience.

Grief affects all of us physically, emotionally, and energetically. Fibromyalgia can often seem like an endless taking away of things, from living in a body that doesn't function the way it used to, to the loss of our jobs, family, or friends who don’t understand. It’s natural to experience grief over the way life used to be.

Today Tami is happy to share a conversation she’s been looking forward to for months: her interview with grief coach Pat Sheveland, where they explore the intersection of grief and fibromyalgia. In this episode, Tami and Pat talk about how grief often shows up for those of us with fibromyalgia, Pat’s journey to grief coaching, the experience of writing four books, how grief affects us physically, the science of the grieving brain, why our fibromyalgia symptoms are amplified by grief, defining grief, the many different ways grief and loss show up in our lives, the grief of losing your life before fibromyalgia, the fallout that happens in various aspects of our lives when we have fibromyalgia, how to distinguish between sadness and grief, finding a safe space to talk about your grief, there is no timeline for grief, learning to coexist with grief, Pat’s recommendations for supporting yourself through grief, getting rid of the stigma of seeking help with managing grief, the benefits of working with a trained grief professional instead of relying on family or friends only, next steps for you if you’re ready for support with your grief, Pat’s beautiful message to 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®.

If you’re struggling right now with working with fibromyalgia or other chronic illnesses, there is hope.

Whether you’re an employer or an employee, today’s interview will be fabulous for you. Tami is thrilled to share this interview with Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Julie Hamilton about her new book, Chronic Illness at Work. One of the most important things about this book is that it not only helps those of us with chronic illnesses but shows companies that it's in their best interest to support their employees.

In this episode, Tami and Julie talk about Julie’s fibromyalgia diagnosis, becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, the inspiration behind Chronic Illness at Work, how supporting good employees benefits everyone involved, Julie’s favorite parts of writing her book, what it’s like writing a book with fibromyalgia, the deep emotions that came up when the book was published, how Chronic Illness at Work helps HR professionals and employers to support staff with chronic illnesses, why people working with chronic illnesses can also benefit from Chronic Illness at Work, the importance of ergonomics, exploring options for job accommodations, key facts on the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Job Accommodations Network, how Julie works with employees and employers, Julie’s passion for helping other people with chronic illnesses, how you can get a free copy of Chronic Illness at Work, success stories from Julie’s clients, benefits of working with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, 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®.

After our last Ask the Coach episode, where Tami covered the three FDA-approved medications for fibromyalgia, we received many follow-up questions from listeners.

Questions like: What’s the difference between being addicted and being physically dependent? How can you safely come off your medication? When is it time to reduce or discontinue certain medications?

In today’s episode, Tami is excited to be joined by Doctor of Pharmacy Chelsea Liebowitz, who’s here to clear up all these questions and more. As a pain patient herself, Chelsea spent years seeking answers for her chronic pain, and she knows your pharmacist's vital role as part of your healthcare team.

In their conversation, Chelsea and Tami talk about what it was like growing up with chronic pain and the medical gaslighting Chelsea experienced, how frustration with a lack of answers led Chelsea on a journey to figure it out herself, the discovery that copper toxicity was behind a lot of her symptoms, it requires determination and grit for people with chronic illnesses to get answers, Chelsea’s training in pharmacy, how pharmacists help patients, why you should build a relationship with a small independent pharmacy, the difference between addiction and physical dependence, most medication is not curative - it helps you manage your symptoms, viewing medicine as a tool to help you accomplish what you want, Chelsea’s tips for tapering off of your medications, how to know when it’s time to taper off your medicines, how coaches can help you to heal medical trauma, removing the stigma of withdrawal, distinguishing between temporary withdrawal symptoms and still needing your medication, empowering yourself around potential side effects, Chelsea’s experience with medical PTSD, things doctors say and what they really mean, 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®.

Many of the symptoms people blame on fibromyalgia are actually due to coexisting conditions.

Too many people go too long with the wrong diagnosis, taking inappropriate medications, and following unnecessary protocols because their provider didn’t identify the correct cause.

This topic came up a lot in the last cohort of Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® training. As we went through the program, the students had many lightbulb moments and realized much more was happening than just fibromyalgia.

By getting to know fibromyalgia deeply, it becomes a lot easier to spot when those symptoms are from something else.

After living with fibromyalgia since 2007 and being a coach for over ten years, Tami often picks up clues in client conversations that indicate something else is going on. Today, she’s sharing a brief overview of some of the most common conditions that tend to get overlooked after someone has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

In this episode, Tami talks about how she spots the clues that something else is at play, the problem with the lack of training about fibromyalgia in medical school, symptoms of other conditions often get blamed on fibromyalgia, why it’s critical to identify and address the root cause of your symptoms correctly, clues she typically sees that suggest Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), respiratory issues, Sjogren's syndrome, sleep apnea, thyroid conditions, lupus, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, neuropathy, and other common conditions we see alongside fibromyalgia, why testing TSH alone isn’t enough to assess your thyroid function, what you need to know about chronic fatigue syndrome/ME and fibromyalgia, viruses and bacterial infections that have similar symptoms to fibromyalgia, 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 consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

“I’d like to try Lyrica, but I worry about if I ever had to come off. Should I try it?”

For today’s Ask The Coach episode, I’m answering this question sent in by Sarah in the UK.

When treating fibromyalgia, we have to attack it from two sides. The first is addressing the fibromyalgia itself and the amplification of pain signals; the second is treating the pain that your fibromyalgia amplifies.

In most cases, fibromyalgia medications are more helpful than harmful and can be a valuable tool to break the pain cycle.

That said, the question of medications is complex and impossible to cover in detail in a podcast episode. Tami’s primary focus for this answer will be on fibromyalgia medications that address the amplification of pain signals, how they work, and the most important aspects you’ll want to consider.

In this episode, Tami discusses the FDA-approved medications for fibromyalgia, the fact that no single drug is capable of managing all fibromyalgia symptoms, Tami’s two-pronged approach to treating fibromyalgia, the main goal of fibromyalgia medications, Lyrica’s history and previous versions, how Lyrica and Neurontin work to reduce our experience of our pain, common side effects of Lyrica, physical dependency versus addiction, how serotonin and norepinephrine affect pain levels, why the anti-depressants Savella and Cymbalta also help to address fibromyalgia symptoms, the mode of action of other anti-depressants that are sometimes prescribed for fibromyalgia, Cymbalta is known for being challenging to come off of, the importance of very slowly weaning off of medications, the gradual process Tami used when she was ready to come off of her medications, why we hear more stories about negative experiences, the fact that there’s no morality in taking medication, 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®.

So often with fibromyalgia, we’re given negative news: there’s no cure, your life has changed, and the list continues. Once again, we’re on a mission to break that trend and show you that there are still adventures for you.

Tami is excited to be joined by Melissa Swanson to share the recent epic hiking adventure that, not too long ago, neither of them would have thought possible. Melissa and Tami met about eight years ago at the Leaders Against Pain Scholarship Training in 2014; since then, so much has changed.

In this episode, Melissa and Tami share what their fibromyalgia symptoms were like when they met, what it was like to have their sole focus be on getting through the day, why Melissa needed to wear sunglasses all the time, how Melissa’s bad knee acted as a trigger for a lot of other pain, the anxiety around having surgery and the potential impact it might have on your fibro, Melissa’s amazing recovery following total knee replacement surgery, the significant improvements Melissa experienced after joining the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, Tami and Melissa’s recent hiking adventure to the middle of nowhere and navigating “steep but manageable trails,” the surprisingly light after-effects of Tami and Melissa’s adventure, what Tami and Melissa did to boost their recovery, Tami and Melissa’s recognition that they are doing better than they realized, the shifts that made the most significant differences on Melissa’s fibro journey, and more.

After their adventure, Tami and Melissa were blown away by what they could actually accomplish now with their fibromyalgia. We hope their story and journey will inspire 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®.

There’s so much hope that comes from hearing the healing stories of other people on the fibromyalgia journey. Often, that’s where we first recognize that a better future is possible for us.

Today in our fifth installment of Stories of Hope and Healing, we’re sharing the inspiring stories of four recent graduates of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program.

During these conversations, you’ll hear Tami and the graduates refer to their Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score (FIQ), which measures the impact of fibromyalgia symptoms on a scale of zero to 100, with lower scores referring to milder symptoms.

When this tool was created, the average fibro patient’s score was around 58. In future studies, researchers found that the three FDA-approved fibro medications typically gave about 20% improvement, acceptance and commitment therapy showed around 27% improvement, and general health coaching brought around 35% improvement after a year.

On average, our students improve their scores by about 50%. For this cohort of graduates, the average improvement after our 3-month program was 62%, and in the individual interviews, you’ll hear each person's journey.

In this episode, our graduates share how they’ve improved their fibromyalgia over the last few months, the considerable role mental health plays in their healing journey, why even coaches need coaches, a game-changing supplement to transform your sleep, the significant shift that comes from slowing down and being more intentional, why it’s necessary to dig deeper to figure out if all your symptoms are from fibromyalgia, the key insights they found during the program, and more.

We hope this episode inspires you, encourages you, and simply shows you that it is possible to feel better than you do right now.

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®.

Don’t blame everything on your fibromyalgia.

Your pain, fatigue, sleep issues, and brain fog might not be from your fibromyalgia. We need to dig deeper.

Tami encountered this topic a lot in the last few months of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® training program. We’re not saying you don’t have fibromyalgia - what we mean is, sometimes symptoms can be caused by something else in addition to or instead of fibromyalgia.

Why does it matter? Assuming that fibromyalgia is the blanket reason behind every symptom, you might be missing out on opportunities for healing. By finding the true source of your symptoms, you’ll be able to get the right treatment to help you.

In this episode, Tami is talking about the common areas outside of fibromyalgia that might be causing similar symptoms. She shares why you should learn to read your labs, what it might mean if none of the typical medications are helping, common symptoms of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), the huge difference a CPAP machine made for her, why Tami believes myalgic encephalomyelitis, also called chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, is separate from fibromyalgia, the importance of testing for chronic infections, why advocating for yourself is essential, how a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® can help you on your fibro journey, 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®.

Everyone can get better.

Even in remission, Tami feels that there is always something we can do to feel better on our fibromyalgia journey. And because we have to focus on taking care of ourselves, in many ways, we can get to a place where we feel better than the average person.

Tami is excited to share this interview with Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, Julie Schiffman, where she shares her story of going from thinking she was dying to feeling healthier than ever.

In this episode, Julie talks about her long health journey and years of painful symptoms, her diagnosis with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome over 20 years ago, the mental toll of chronic pain, how to deal with guilt, frustration, and uncertainty around a vague diagnosis, Julie’s medication rollercoaster, finding hope for living a great life with fibromyalgia, why becoming a coach brought Julie so much healing, the confidence that comes with knowing you can control your symptoms, why Julie decided to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® after completing the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, what it looks like to do the best we can with the bodies we have, balancing helping others with taking care of yourself, the deep meaning Julie has found in her life since becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, what it would look like to work with Julie as your coach, and more.

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Julie and that it sparks new ideas and brings you encouragement and inspiration.

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®.

To get better, we have to change.

Maybe you’re trying to make healthier food choices or exercise more. Maybe you’ve realized you need to be firmer with your boundaries in certain relationships. Whichever area of your life it might be, the closer you get to the edge of your comfort zone, the more uncomfortable it’s likely to be.

That’s where self-sabotage or Upper Limiting comes into play. The concept of Upper Limiting was made famous by Gay Hendricks in his book, The Big Leap, which Tami highly recommends. It speaks to the idea that as we reach the limits of our comfort zone, we start to do things to bring ourselves back.

Tami has experienced this and seen it a lot with fibromyalgia clients. In this episode, she’s sharing why we self-sabotage, how you might be sabotaging yourself, digging deep into why you want to improve your fibromyalgia, developing a step-by-step plan that leads you out of your comfort zone, what it might look like when you’re sabotaging your fibro journey, the benefits of having help through this process, the importance of starting with self-reflection, how to find the support you want and need, 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®.

Many people with fibromyalgia also deal with a lot of anxiety.

With your nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode, you have a diminished capacity that can put you closer to the panic threshold. What that looks like in day-to-day life is that you might find yourself often pushed over the edge by something objectively small.

To help you learn more about managing anxiety and panic attacks, Tami is delighted to bring Ramses Rodriguez back to the podcast to share his expertise. Ramses has a great way of blending research and science with the down-to-earth and practicalness of someone who has lived through it themselves.

In their conversation, Tami and Ramses discuss his journey with panic attacks and anxiety, how anxiety impacted every facet of his life from career to relationships, how Ramses has gotten to a point where his panics are in remission, common symptoms of a panic attack, why it’s crucial to see a doctor if you think you have panic attacks, the key to getting your panics in remission, the physical toll of having anxiety, the metaphysical aspect of anxiety, practical steps you can take to bring down your anxiety baseline, exposure therapy for treating anxiety, why some breathing exercises make anxiety worse, the three major factors that cause anxiety, creating a regular practice to manage your anxiety baseline, the benefits of having a coach and a personalized strategy, 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℠.

So much has changed in the seven years since my first book, Take Back Your Life, was released. I'm excited to announce that I have just expanded, updated, and released a second edition!

From a new chapter on brain fog to massive progress on my fibromyalgia journey, I’m excited to share this updated version with you.

To celebrate the release, I invited my friend, Ramses Rodriguez, to interview me.

In this episode, Ramses and I talk about the exciting changes you’ll find in the new edition of Take Back Your Life, why it was so important for me to include a whole chapter on brain fog, how I break down the science into practical tools for everyday life, the story behind the title of the book, how getting a health coach changed my life, red flags that might mean you need more support than your current doctor can provide, how a fibromyalgia coach can support you as part of your health team, and more.

I hope you enjoy my interview with Ramses and that you enjoy the new book. I’d love to hear what you think.

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®.

Quitting is a key skill.

Understanding when it’s time to put something down temporarily or permanently is an important skill. Strategically quitting for the day, the weekend, or even for an hour or two might be just the thing you need for your sanity.

Tami quits frequently and considers that to be one of the keys to her success and to keeping her fibromyalgia in remission.

In this episode, Tami shares what’s different for her about this year’s Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, why she uses strategic quitting and how you can too, the harmful nature of our culture’s all or nothing view of success, some of the exciting events and documentaries coming up in the world of Fibromyalgia advocacy, 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℠.

Befriending your nervous systems starts with recognizing the unique patterns that may not be serving you and empowering yourself while getting to a place of balance.

Tami is excited to share this conversation with coach and Somatic Experiencing expert, Sarah Kleiner. Sometimes these techniques can sound a little bit woo-woo or like magic but Sarah shares the science behind the therapy as well as practical tips you can try to begin to tune back in with your body.

In this episode, Sarah shares how Somatic Experiencing helped her on her journey with anxiety, people-pleasing, and burnout, why working it’s important to work on both mind and body, the science behind somatic experiencing therapy, how trauma impacts our nervous system, the importance of creating small moments of safety for the nervous system that are felt, not mental, why you don’t need to justify how you feel, the reason certain breathwork techniques may not be working for you, why calm may not be what your body actually needs, physical symptoms of nervous system imbalance, and more.

I hope you enjoy this conversation and that the information Sarah shares will not only give you some new ideas but, more importantly, that you will be very validated in how you feel in your body.

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℠.

“When will the pain end?” For this entry in my Ask The Coach series, I’m answering this question which was sent in by a listener. It’s such a loaded question and there are so many details I’d need to know to give a full answer but today I’m going to answer it in a broader way.

The thing about fibromyalgia is that it’s not the type of illness that shows up for a while and runs it’s course then resolves itself like a cold. It’s also not something that you’ll outgrow or that goes away when you get to a certain age. It just doesn’t work that way.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do - you’re going to have to change your path if you want a different outcome.

For most people, with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, your fibromyalgia can be in remission and you can feel better.

In this episode, I share several resources you can use on your journey of helping the pain to end, the major turning point in my fibromyalgia journey, how you can teach your body not to process everything as pain, why you should reframe your journey as a marathon, not a sprint, how you can educate yourself about fibromyalgia, the importance of becoming a student of your own body, and more.

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℠.

Long COVID, sometimes called "long haulers" or "post-COVID syndrome", describes the lingering symptoms patients have after contracting COVID-19 and recovering from their initial illness. The experience of these patients often mirrors our experience with fibromyalgia and other conditions, such as ME/CFS.

In this episode, Tami talks with Dr. Jessica Drummond about her personal experience with Long COVID. You may remember Dr. Drummond from Episode 68, where Tami interviewed her about endometriosis. What you probably didn't know was that she was dealing with Long COVID even as that episode was recorded!

As someone with a chronic invisible illness, you'll appreciate and relate to Dr. Drummond's experience. Even as a medical professional, she dealt with colleagues, friends, and providers who kept trying to figure out what she did "wrong". Why does she have Long COVID when others don't?

In this episode, Dr. Drummond shares how she contracted COVID-19, how the first seven days of her experience vastly differed from everything else, the ups and downs of her journey with Long COVID, the eight typical categories of things people with Long COVID experience, the various treatments and management plans she’s implemented to aid in her recovery, what it was like for her getting the vaccine while having Long COVID, and more.

At the time of this episode's release, Dr. Drummond is still working on compiling the resources mentioned in this interview. This site will be updated as soon as those recourse become available.

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℠.

In this episode, Tami is giving you a little peek behind the curtain by walking you through an assignment she gives her students in her Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor℠ training program. During this assignment, she’ll help you create your Flare Survival Plan. Tami is also sharing a worksheet to help you create your plan, some ideas for what can go in your kit (not all of which are physical items), and some thought exercises to help you figure out what needs to be part of your plan.

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℠.

Tami is so excited to bring you this conversation with her friend and personal physician, Dr. Kaley Bourgeois. In this episode, Tami and Dr. Bourgeois chat about what a Naturopathic Physician is and how it’s different from a regular physician, what functional medicine is and how it’s different from conventional medicine, how Dr. Bourgeois’ mother’s lack of comfort with doctors led to an early passion for the work she does now, Dr. Bourgeois’ approach to working with clients who have fibromyalgia or other chronic illnesses, what IV therapy is and how glutathione is Dr. Bourgeois’ “most favorite thing ever”, what medical ozone therapy is and how it differs from cortisone injections, things she frequently sees in her clients that often get missed by other doctors, Dr. Bourgeois’ own journey with chronic pain, what Dr. Bourgeois wants you to know about working with multiple doctors, Dr. Bourgeois’ advice for people who feel hesitant to go to a new doctor for fear of repeating past experiences with doctors who weren’t a good fit, Dr. Bourgeois’ suggested resources for where to do your own research, what being in fibromyalgia remission actually means, 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℠.

Welcome to our fourth Stories of Hope and Healing episode!

In this special episode, you’re going to be hearing from five different women who are from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

All five of these women will be sharing information on what they’ve done over the last few months to improve their fibromyalgia.

As you hear their stories, you’ll notice they all have done different things as there’s no one-size-fits-all magic formula.

We hope these conversations inspire you and give you hope.

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℠.

It struck Tami recently that if you only ever focus on treating your fibromyalgia, but don’t pay enough attention to your general health, you’re leaving some pretty significant things out.

With the leading cause of death for women being heart disease, and February being American Heart Month, Tami feels it’s the perfect time to bring you her conversation with Lisa Steele George.

In their conversation, Tami and Lisa discuss a shocking statistic about how many women will die of a heart attack, the common symptoms of a heart attack and how to tell them apart from your fibromyalgia symptoms, Lisa’s experience having a heart attack even though she was considered on paper to be very healthy, why Lisa wrote her book, how they both felt betrayed by their bodies at times, the role your family history plays in your risk for having a heart attack, the importance of having a wide variety of tools in your toolbox to help you manage the stressors in your life, how sometimes the hard work of taking care of yourself can look like rest, 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℠.

I’m so excited to be bring you this first new episode of 2022!

Today, we’re going to be talking a little bit about perfectionism. Specifically, how it’s actually holding you back from feeling as good as you could.

In this episode, I share some examples where perfectionism may have gotten in your way, how the social media highlight reels of others help fuel our desire for our lives to be perfect, my own experience letting perfectionism get in the way of my doctor-recommended diet, the exercise I want you to perform to gauge how often perfectionism is getting in your way, my wish and goal for you in 2022, a quote from Teddy Roosevelt that perfectly sums up today’s topic, 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℠.

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 & 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)

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℠.

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

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 & 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?)

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℠.

"Don't be sorry for me. Fibromyalgia is the best thing that ever happened to me." This may seem like a radical statement, and I know most of you aren’t in this space yet, but even small gestures of gratitude can make a big difference. A growing body of research shows that people who practice gratitude are more optimistic and have greater satisfaction in their lives. They have been shown to make fewer visits to the doctor and have improved immune system responses. More than just a Thanksgiving observance, counting your blessings and giving thanks can make a difference all year long.

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℠.

The holidays can be super challenging, no matter who you are. Often we invest so much of our time and moxie into the holidays that the celebration begins to feel more like obligation. Add fibromyalgia to that picture, and it’s even more tiring and stressful, because we have limited energy to begin with. There is a way to make the holidays meaningful without all of the overwhelm. Follow the tips in this episode and see how your holiday season can a little richer, a little calmer, and a little less painful and exhausting.

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℠.

Do you ever have those days or periods in your life where it seems like everything is going wrong? If so, you’re not alone.

That’s why, this week, Tami is talking about what she does when everything goes wrong for her.

In this episode, Tami shares how it’s okay to not be okay, the stressful situation she’s been experiencing with her beloved cat that has resulted in more than one sleepless night, how it can be a struggle to find a balance between our reality of experiencing fibromyalgia symptoms and not giving into negativity, the main thing she does when everything is going wrong, how she takes care of the essentials during these times, the bio hacks involving brain chemistry she utilizes to help her get through times when things go wrong, the difference between a coach and counselor (and which one might be more appropriate 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℠.

Tami is continuing this week with the What Does Tami Do series by answering a question one of her clients asked her a few weeks ago.

In this episode, Tami explains whether or not she follows a particular protocol to manage her fibromyalgia or if she continually tries new things, how she knows if a particular treatment is working for her, six things people do wrong when they’re trying new fibromyalgia treatments, 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℠.

In the last episode, Tami answered a listener’s question about what she does to keep her fibromyalgia in remission. Since releasing that episode, she received quite a few follow-up questions about her migraines and chronic headaches.

So, consider this episode a sort of part two of WDTD (What Does Tami Do) where she’s giving more details about her journey with headaches and what she does to manage them now.

In this episode, she shares how the chronic migraines she experienced as a teen led to her first chronic diagnosis, why she generally ignored her headaches for most of her life, the anti-seizure medication her doctor prescribed to help treat her migraines, why she had to stop taking that medication after a year even though it was actually helping to ease her migraines, how her husband was the catalyst for seeking additional treatment for her migraines back around 2013, how getting Botox injections were the first game-changer for her, the second game-changer that came in the form of a monthly injection, common headache triggers, some general suggestions for reducing your headaches, 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℠.

Do you wonder exactly what Tami does to keep her fibromyalgia in remission? Are you looking for an example of what life really looks like when you're successfully managing your fibromyalgia?

You're not the only one! A listener recently asked — and Tami answered — these exact questions.

In this Ask the Coach, Tami covers exactly what she has done over the last 14 years to bring her fibromyalgia into remission:

The medication and supplement regime she follows
Other conditions she's been diagnosed with
Integrative therapies that have been helpful
The attitude that helped most on her journey.

And yes — you will actually hear the specific medications and supplements Tami took at the beginning of her journey, and what she takes now. (You'll be surprised!)

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℠.

Have you been recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia? Did you leave your doctor's office with more questions than answers? Or are you overwhelmed with information? Are you wondering, "What do I do now?"

In this episode, Tami covers the first steps of her own journey, as well as where she begins working with her students and clients. The ten steps in this episode include five things you can begin doing right away, on your own, with or without your doctor's help; the other five you'll want to work with your doctor on to get the best results. Tami has also included a list of Fibromyalgia Podcast episodes and resources perfect for anyone who is newly diagnosed, or simply wants to get back to basics.

There is so much that can be done to improve fibromyalgia symptoms and pain. Information can be confusing and overwhelming. Start with the steps in this episode to build a solid foundation that will help you feel your best — and help your providers help you more effectively!

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/69.

Due to circumstances beyond her control, Tami was unable to record a new episode this week. Join us on September 14, 2021 for our next episode.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus — the endometrium — grows outside the uterus. It's one of the most common causes of pelvic pain and infertility. Many women with fibromyalgia who are experiencing pelvic pain, painful periods, and more may also be dealing with endometriosis.

Listen in as Tami interviews Dr. Jessica Drummond about what endometriosis is, how to distinguish between fibromyalgia pain and endometriosis, and how she addresses endometriosis in her clinic.

You may have fibromyalgia, but that doesn't mean all of your pain is only fibromyalgia. Conditions like endometriosis are very treatable. Addressing these other causes of pain help to lower your overall fibromyalgia pain levels.

For more information, links to Dr. Drummond's clinic and books, plus free copies of Tami's books, visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/68.

On average, the clients interviewed in this episode have reduced the impact of fibromyalgia on their lives by 50%. Their average FIQR scores went from 52 down to 26. In this episode, they share how they were able to accomplish this.

You’ll hear how Dawn took immediate steps to feel better after her diagnosis — and how some tough love from her coach helped her make some necessary changes.

Nichi shares why she chose to hire a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach℠, even though she has one of the top fibromyalgia doctors in the world as her personal physician. She also shares how learning the "why" behind everything helped keep her motivated.

After dealing with fibromyalgia symptoms for 20+ years, Penny discovered just how much there was to learn, and how many ways to feel better that her doctors had never explored with her.

Listen to these interviews and be encouraged on your healing journey!

To schedule a consultation with a coach, download free copies of Tami's books, view the interview videos and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/67.

After Episode 64, we received a question from a listener about using a weighted blanket — or asking to keep the x-ray shield on — during her dental visit. This led Tami to have a conversation with her favorite hygienist, Julie, and six more tips.

If you haven't yet, make sure you check out Episode 64 for even more tips. In the meantime, know that your dentist wants you to be as comfortable as possible. Ask for what you need!

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/64.

EFT — the Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as tapping — has long been recognized as a powerful tool for reducing pain, stress, and emotional trauma. A 2020 study showed that a one-hour group EFT session reduced cortisol production by 43%. EFT can also be an effective pain management strategy that can be used alongside other medications and therapies with no side effects.

Since fibromyalgia is a condition known to keep patients stuck in a state of fight-or-flight, it makes sense to explore tools that can help reduce this overactive fight-or-flight stress response.

Listen in as Tami interviews Lauren Fonvielle, EFT Practitioner and coach, and hear how you can add EFT as a powerful tool in your fibromyalgia toolbox. Be sure to listen through to the end of this episode to hear Lauren's guided "tap-along" session that you can try for yourself!

Lauren has generously offered a complimentary 30 minute session to listeners of this podcast. For Lauren's scheduling link, more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/65.

Visiting the dentist when you have fibromyalgia is almost never fun — right now it's even more stressful because many of us put off seeing the dentist during the COVID pandemic! Since it may have been a year or two since your last dental exam, you may fear what the dentist will find.

Tami found herself in this situation recently, with an emergency dental visit and a brand-new dentist. That experience led her to record this episode with the tips she uses regularly to make her dental visits less painful.

Whether you're dreading going to the dentist after an extended time away due to COVID — or your fibromyalgia makes seeing the dentist more painful — utilizing these tips will help you have a much easier time on your next visit.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/64.

Visiting the dentist when you have fibromyalgia is almost never fun — right now it's even more stressful because many of us put off seeing the dentist during the COVID pandemic! Since it may have been a year or two since your last dental exam, you may fear what the dentist will find.

Tami found herself in this situation recently, with an emergency dental visit and a brand-new dentist. That experience led her to record this episode with the tips she uses regularly to make her dental visits less painful.

Whether you're dreading going to the dentist after an extended time away due to COVID — or your fibromyalgia makes seeing the dentist more painful — utilizing these tips will help you have a much easier time on your next visit.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/64.

Have you gotten your COVID vaccine yet? If not, you'll definitely want to hear this episode! Even if you've only received one of two shots, the information in this episode could help you minimize reactions from the vaccine.

In this episode, Tami shares her experience getting her own vaccine, including what other clients, friends, and family have experienced. In fact, between all the members of Tami's family, they've tried all three COVID vaccines!

With special permission from her doctor, Tami will also share a protocol designed to support your immune system, reduce any overactive immune response, and minimize any negative effects of the vaccine. Tami followed a similar protocol prior to and during her vaccine. Consider taking this the information to your doctor to see if it's right for you and your situation.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/63.

Improving your fibromyalgia is really hard to do all on your own; you need a team of people to support you, including various providers, friends, and family. So... what happens when your family doesn't support you? Aren't they the ones who should be giving you the most support?

Listen in as Tami interviews Heather Kent, psychotherapist and author of two books on toxic relationships, about what to do when your family isn't supportive. You'll learn how to tell if it's a lack of support which can be improved through education and communication, or a more toxic and unhealthy type of non-support, including the signs for a toxic or abusive relationship.

Heather and Tami want you to know: Your fibromyalgia doesn't have to be the thing that keeps you stuck in a toxic relationship — and a toxic relationship doesn't have to be the thing that keeps you stuck in your fibromyalgia pain and fatigue. There is hope. You can feel better and feel safe.

For more information, free copies of Tami's and Heather's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/62.

What did you feel when you were diagnosed with fibromyalgia? Relief? Shame? Frustration?

These were all things Regina Frisch felt when she was finally diagnosed after 15 years of struggling. When she was ready to take action and asked what the treatment plan would be, her doctor told her they didn't really have one.

Sound familiar?

It takes an integrative approach to treat fibromyalgia effectively. An integrative approach means treating the whole person, not just your parts.

When Regine learned that Norway's medical system couldn't provide what she needed, she used her contacts as a social worker and therapist to draw together a team of like-minded practitioners. Together, they founded FibroFokus, Norway's first outpatient fibromyalgia clinic.

Listen in as Tami interviews Regine and co-founder Dr. Hege Tønnesen about their journey and the integrative approach they use with their patients at FibroFokus.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/61.

When you're diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it can be a huge hit to your confidence. You may have trouble doing many of the things that have defined you: career, hobbies, friends.

In addition, let's not forget the unpredictable nature of fibromyalgia! It can be difficult to make plans because you never know if you're going to have a good day or a bad day. When you do make plans, you may have to cancel -- another hit to your confidence.

But it doesn't have to be this way. You can become more confident, knowing that whatever happens, you have the tools and knowledge needed to cut your fibro flares short and get back to feeling your best.

In this Ask the Coach episode, Tami answers the foundational question, "How Can I Rebuild My Confidence?" and gives three tips for how you can reclaim your confidence in your fibromyalgia body.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/60.

How many times has your doctor told you all your lab tests were normal? If you're like most of us with fibromyalgia, this has happened more times than you can count.

So what then? Do we keep testing? Or do we accept that the test is normal, in spite of the fact we feel that something is wrong?

After 20 years of certain tests coming back as "normal", Tami recently decided to try one more time as a way of "checking the box" with a new provider.... and ended up with completely different results! She shares her experience as well as five basic reasons your own "normal" lab test results may be wrong.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/59.

We can find evidence of fibromyalgia going back more than 200 years in medical literature.... and yet there there seems to be more fiction than fact surrounding it.

People are told things like, "There isn't much that can be done about fibromyalgia." Or, "Fibromyalgia is a middle-aged woman's disease." (Hint: Both of these things are FALSE.)

In this episode, Tami tackles seven of the most common myths about fibromyalgia, as well as the truth behind those myths.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/58.

Have you ever wondered what you should tell others about your fibromyalgia? Do you find yourself going back and forth between saying, "I'm fine" and telling them how you really feel? If so, this episode is for you!

We all intuitively understand that there are some people we can share more with than others. In this episode, Tami interviews Kimberli Wicks, a professional counselor who has lived for years with her own chronic illness. Kimberli outlines a simple way of categorizing the people in your life which will help you know how much to share about your diagnosis.

Tami and Kimberli also include several suggestions on ways you can build a support network, how to test the waters with how much to tell new people in your life, and ways to ensure you don't overburden the people you love.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/57.

Three Clients Share Their Fibromyalgia Stories

Tami interviews three clients on the ways that they have found to improve their fibromyalgia symptoms over the last few months. You’ll hear how Petr, a self-proclaimed "King of Fibro", discovered just how much he didn't know. You'll also hear how Petr's Fibromyalgia Coach, Micky, helped him in ways his two previous health coaches couldn't. Julie shares how much her life has changed in the last year and a half, including how she no longer feels guilt and shame over her illness — and how being a coach keeps her accountable. Creating her own perfect life balance helps Viktoriia feel her best, plus a word of encouragement from Viktoriia to our Russian-speaking fibromyalgia community.

You’ll also hear from our commencement speaker, Amy Velasquez Rempel of The Integrative Women's Health Institute, as she shares her journey from pain and confusion to hope and purpose with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and endometriosis.

Listen to these interviews and be encouraged on your healing journey!

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/56.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com.

Many people are confused about the differences between emotional support animals, service animals, and the laws and rights that each type of animal has under the ADA, especially with the recent Department of Transportation ruling defining emotional service animals as pets.

In this episode, Tami interviews Jennifer Kolar, founding member of Atlas Assistance Dogs, about these differences and laws. Listen in to hear several ways a service dog could help someone with fibromyalgia live a richer and more fulfilling life. Learn what it takes to have a service dog, what businesses have a right to ask you about your service dog, and the rights service animals have under the ADA.

Atlas Assistance Dogs provides an affordable way for individuals to train their dogs to be qualified service dogs.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/55.

Make no mistake, fibromyalgia is a physical condition causing widespread body pain, unrelenting fatigue, brain fog, and poor sleep. There really are things going wrong in your body that need to be corrected.

At the same time, how we think about our bodies, our fibromyalgia, and how we approach life all affect our health and the quality of the life we live.

In this episode, Tami talks with mindset coach, Courtnajé, about practical ways you can cultivate a mindset that supports you living your best fibro life. Courtnajé also shares from her personal health journey, including how her mindset practice has helped her navigate life with chronic health conditions, including a scary new diagnosis.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/54.

Many of us started off 2020 with goals to end the year healthier and happier.... only to have a global pandemic mess up all our plans!

For the last year, you may have had to set your own health aside to take care of kids who are now doing school at home. Or maybe you haven't had access to the types of therapies that have helped you feel your best. Maybe the stress of it all made your fibromyalgia worse.... or maybe you learned some things in 2020 that you want to carry forward into 2021.

In this episode, Tami walks you through the process she uses to set her goals and intentions for the new year — and why she's not a fan of New Year's resolutions!

This is the perfect time to reset and make your plan to make 2021 the year that you take back control of your life and health.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/53.

Have you arrived at the end of the year wondering, "What just happened?" Are you thinking, "Next year will be different!".... but wondering exactly how you will make next year different?

Good news! In this episode, Tami will teach you how to implement a year-end review process. This review will help you capture what worked from the year that's ending, including what you enjoyed, what worked, and what you want more of in the new year. You will also review what didn't work, what you want less of in the new year, and what kind of help you'll need to make those changes stick.

Grab your journal, your favorite pen, and a cup of tea and settle in for your year-end review. In our next episode, we will begin creating the plan for you to have your best year ever next year!

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/52.

While 2020 has been a year of social isolation for everyone, many of us with fibromyalgia were already too familiar with isolation. Pain and fatigue often keeps us from enjoying social events and interferes with our relationships.

In this episode, Tami interviews Jodi Taub, a psychotherapist with multiple chronic illnesses of her own, about how we can protect our mental health and cope with social isolation and the loss of our holidays — whether it was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic or simply fibromyalgia.

In addition, Jodi provides practical advice on how to know if it's just sadness vs. clinical depression and what steps to take to get the help you need. Jodi says, "We didn't choose to have our diseases, but we can choose to make things easier."

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/51.

In this Ask the Coach episode, Tami answers the question, "Should I take medication for fibromyalgia?"

The good news is that there are many ways of treating fibromyalgia. It's not a choice between medication or nothing! Instead, you get to choose whether or not medication is the right choice for you AND if you want to try other treatment options.

Tami gives six key points to consider as you make your choice. As always, anyone wishing assistance in this decision-making process should consider scheduling a consultation for more personalized assistance.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/50.

You're going along fine and then BOOM! Fibromyalgia flare! You try to figure out what pushed you over the edge this time and it all seems so minor.

But our mental, physical, and emotional capacity isn't defined by one thing. Instead, our capacity is more like a bucket. All the little — and big! — things go in the bucket and add up. If you're not careful, your bucket overflows and that's when you trigger a flare.

The Bucket Theory is a way of understanding your capacity so that you can make better choices that lead to less pain, more energy, and fewer flare ups.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/49.

There are things you know you don't know, like rocket science, maybe. But there are also many things that you don't know that you don't know, like your unconscious habits or how your body will respond to a particular fibromyalgia treatment option you never knew existed.

In this special replay, Eva Minkoff, host of the [Human]care podcast, interviews Tami to uncover the two lowest points in Tami's fibromyalgia journey, the thing that turned it all around for her, and how she guides her clients into "knowing what you don't know."

Be warned! There is a lot of laughter and fun in this episode! In fact, Tami describes this interview as one of the most fun interviews she's ever done! Enjoy!

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/48.

Note: This interview was originally shared in April 2019 on the Invisible Not Broken podcast. Eva has recently launched her own podcast, [Human]care, and includes a re-issue of this episode.

Ever wish you had an owner's manual for your body? Something you could reference to see exactly what to do to keep your body feeling its best?

Often, it seems like fibromyalgia symptoms create a guessing game of, "What did I do this time?" One minute you're fine, the next you've crossed the line into a fibromyalgia flare. In this episode, you'll learn how to write your very own owner's manual for your body. Tami calls this your "Book of You", a guide to managing your fibromyalgia symptoms and creating more predictable energy and pain levels. Included in this episode are prompts and examples to help you begin.

For more information, the Getting To Know You worksheet, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/47.

Brain fog can be one of the most difficult fibromyalgia symptoms to treat. Many doctors don't know what to do with our brain fog and act as if it will take care of itself once our pain and fatigue is managed. However, there are many tips, tricks, and tools that you can use to set up your life so that brain fog has a smaller impact.

In this episode, Tami shares her top ten brain fog tips and the tools she uses every day to stay on top of her business and personal life. All ten of these tips you can implement right now, today. No prescription or doctor required!

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/46.

Tami interviews four clients on the ways that they have found to improve their fibromyalgia symptoms over the last few months. You’ll hear how a mindset shift helped Joyce take ownership of her treatment plan. Julee shares how her 15-year chronic illness journey of 26 surgeries, bedrest, feeding tubes, sepsis, and more, taught her the importance of having fun and seeking joy. Trial and error, along with guidance from her coach and education on what options were available to her, helped Chantal get better sleep and lower her pain levels. Gisèle found clarity and solutions through putting pen to paper in class assignments.

You’ll also hear from our August 2020 commencement speaker, Sharon Waldrop, President of the Fibromyalgia Association of Michigan, as she shares encouragement and wisdom with our new graduates. She says, “Life sometimes seems impossible, but there’s always a way. You just haven’t thought of it yet.”

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/45.

What would it feel like to have to have a schedule that supported your body feeling great? Even better, what would it look like if your calendar could help you get better?

You may think this sounds impossible. When Tami was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, she discovered she could really only leave the house once a week and continue to feel her best. She felt like a slave to her calendar and prisoner in her own body. However, learning to protect her body’s healing time gave Tami more control over her health and symptoms. This helped her to have more stable and predictable good days and energy.

In this episode, Tami shares the Dream Week process she developed over a decade ago to help her body heal. The Dream Week Planner worksheets are included in this episode's show notes for you to download and use along with Tami as she walks you through designing your very own Dream Week.

For more information, the Dream Week Planner worksheets, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/44.

11 Things You Need For Your Fibromyalgia Healing Journey

After more than a decade of helping clients improve their fibromyalgia symptoms, Tami has learned what it really takes to get better — and it might not be what you think!

Yes, you do need effective fibromyalgia treatment, a fibromyalgia specialist to guide you, and a good doctor who treats you with respect and compassion. However, these aren't usually the same person!

Tami has also identified nine additional things that are just as critical on your journey. Listen in to learn what Tami has found to be key in all of her client fibromyalgia healing stories — and key to her own fibromyalgia remission.

For more information, free copies of Tami's books, and full show notes visit: FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/43.

With many areas beginning to reopen after being shut down due to COVID-19, many people are wondering how they can return to work safely — particularly when they carry a high-risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19.

The good news is that protecting your health while returning to work falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is your right to ask for "reasonable accommodations" to help you stay safe and healthy.

Listen in as Tami talks with Julie Hamilton about new laws that have been passed to help employees dealing with COVID-related absences, how special work accommodations can help you stay safe, how to have these important conversations with your employers and more.

Key Points

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) has been put into place to help employees who have to be off work for COVID-19-related reasons.
Many of us with fibromyalgia have weakened immune systems, so we need to limit our interactions with others and take precautions.
When it comes to job accommodations, we can be creative. We can think outside the box on how to keep you safe.
Technology companies are very forward thinking in coming up with some of the job accommodation solutions for us.
When you go back to work, there's high stress, fearfulness, and anxiety returning to work during COVID… Brush up on your coping mechanisms so that you can release that stress.
With all the changes in life during COVID, you may need to learn some new fibromyalgia coping skills. You may need new tools for your fibro toolbox.
Know what your company's policies are… and get a hold of your job description. That will give us an idea whether it’s really mandatory for you to work in the office or not.

About Julie Hamilton

Julie Hamilton 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 & Resources

FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, along with full show notes, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.
Get free copies of Tami’s books at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books

Nearly everyone with fibromyalgia has had some sort of trauma in their past. Mental or physical abuse, car accident, illness, the death of someone close to you, chronic stress, and more are all considered trauma.

But some people come through these traumas and become better people as a result. Perhaps they are more compassionate, learn resilience, or have a greater appreciation for life in all its imperfection.

This is Post-Traumatic Growth.

In this episode, Tami interviews Dr. Robin Pfaff about her work with post-traumatic growth, including sharing the story of one of her clients, Laurie. They discuss what trauma is and the impact that it has on fibromyalgia. In addition, Tami and Robin talk about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), what PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is, and the benefits of looking at fibromyalgia through the lens of any past trauma.

Content / Trigger Warning

This episode includes mention of trauma and suicide. If you are experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis, or concerned for someone else, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255.

Key Points

     * A very high proportion of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia will meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder at some time in their life.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) assessment score has been highly correlated with the development of chronic illnesses later in life.
One of the ways that we can mitigate the impact of trauma on our lives and our physical health is to wrap our minds around the concept of post-traumatic growth.
Post-Traumatic Growth means you went through a really stressful experience and came out the other side a better person.
In coaching, there’s no failure. We either succeed or we learn something.
Coaching in and of itself brings out the growth aspects for people.
Fibromyalgia is so tied to our fight or flight that anytime you can calm down your anxiety and stress response, it’s going to have a spillover effect of making your fibromyalgia symptoms lessen.
Being coachable, teachable, and willing to try new things really does make a difference.

About Dr. Robin Pfaff Dr. Robin Pfaff is in the business of helping women transform their lives and reach their full potential. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia herself over 20 years ago. After working 25 years as a psychotherapist, she retooled as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach. Robin has a special expertise in helping women reclaim their lives from the grief, loss and trauma that often accompany fibromyalgia and move through post traumatic stress into post-traumatic growth. She loves working with her fibromyalgia clients and considers Fibromyalgia Coaching to be an invaluable and unique treatment option that helps women regain their health and learn to love their lives again.

Links & 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. You will find the Dream Week exercise mentioned in this episode in Take Back Your Life.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Assessment Test
Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory
The Dream Week worksheets, videos, and other resources can be accessed by signing up here.
Schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Robin Pfaff
The Fibro Manual by Dr. Ginevra Liptan (Affiliate link)

Other Episodes Mentioned

     * Episode 18, *CBD for Fibromyalgia with Dr. Ginevra Liptan*

Episode 23, Counseling, Coaching and Post-Traumatic Growth with Dr. Robin Pfaff

Research Studies

     * Google Scholar is a great place to find research studies on a variety of topics related to ACEs, fibromyalgia and trauma.

Littlejohn, Geoffrey, and Emma Guymer. “Central Processes Underlying Fibromyalgia.” European Medical Journal 3.4 (2018): 79-86.

The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor

In this episode of our Ask the Coach series, Tami answers a question sent in from a listener: Should I go outside my insurance to get fibromyalgia treatment?

Many fibromyalgia patients who are struggling to feel better focus on what their insurance will provide for them. The reality is that no matter how good your doctor is, or how good your insurance coverage is, there will be things you’ll need to pay for out of pocket if you want to feel your best. This may mean adjusting your expectations and re-prioritizing how you’re spending some of your finances to focus more on your health.

Tami also introduces the Sherri Little Foundation, a non-profit organization created to provide micro-grants of $1,000 or less to chronic pain patients for things that insurance doesn’t cover, such as medical equipment, travel to see specialists, treatments, and more.

The Sherri Little Foundation will begin awarding their first grants in 2020.

Key Points

You need to do what it takes to get yourself feeling better.
If you have a health care savings account or flex spending account, you can use pre-tax money to buy things that would not be covered under insurance.
If the ultimate goal is to feel your best, what are you willing to do to get there?
No matter how good your doctor is, there are still things you’re going to have to pay for out of pocket if you really want to get better.
We need to adjust our expectations and realize that it’s going to take an investment of money, time, energy, and effort to get better.

Links & 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
Pain Warriors documentary on Amazon (Affiliate link)
Sherri Little Fibromyalgia Coaching Scholarship
Sherri Little Foundation, Inc.

Other Episodes Mentioned

Episode 23, Counseling, Coaching, and Post Traumatic Growth with Dr. Robin Pfaff

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Leaking a little when you cough or laugh and getting up multiple times a night to go to the bathroom isn't just about getting older and it's not about your fibromyalgia!

In this episode, Tami interviews Dr. Shelia Whiteman, author of To Pee or Not To Pee?, on the causes of bladder leakage, a common cause of prolapse, and what healthy bladder habits should look like. In addition, Tami shares her personal experience of working with Dr. Whiteman on her own challenges.

Key Points

It is not normal to have bladder leakage as you age.
If you have to go to the bathroom several times during a few hours, that is not normal.
Having fibromyalgia does not mean that everything that is bothering you is because fibromyalgia.
If you have a strong pelvic floor, that helps in supporting all your organs.
Many women trying to do Kegels are not doing them correctly.
Many bladder issues are easily fixable.

About Dr. Whiteman

Dr. Shelia Whiteman enables women to stop worrying about bladder leaks. She is the best-selling author of To Pee or Not To Pee? The Guide to Reducing and Eliminating Urinary Incontinence and is a pelvic health physical therapist.

Dr. Whiteman received her Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College, a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Boston University, and is a licensed Physical Therapist in the state of Maryland.

As an advocate for health and wellbeing, Dr. Whiteman has led many presentations, fitness programs, and volunteer activities in her community. In her leisure time, she can be found teaching cycling and pilates classes.

See Links & Resources below for links to download Dr. Whiteman's books for free, or schedule a complimentary consultation.

Links & 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.
Pain Warriors documentary on Amazon (Affiliate link)
To Pee or Not To Pee?: The Guide For Reducing and Eliminating Urinary Incontinence by Dr. Shelia Whiteman (FREE download)
To Pee or Not To Pee?: The Guide For Reducing and Eliminating Urinary Incontinence by Dr. Shelia Whiteman on Amazon (Affiliate link)
Schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Whiteman

Other Episodes Mentioned

Episode 28, Exercise in a Fibromyalgia Body with Megan Densmore

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Subscription boxes are a trend that's here to stay. They give you a great way to be introduced to new items with little or no risk. But are there any made for those of us with chronic illnesses?

The answer is yes!

Introducing the Chronic Love Box subscription service by Recovery Love Box — a subscription box designed for those living with chronic illness by someone with a chronic illness.

Join Tami as she interviews Liz Lajoie about her journey with chronic Lyme disease, the idea that sparked the Chronic Love Box, and how a simple care package can help you feel more confident and in control of your health.

Be sure to stick around after the interview — Tami does an unboxing of the most recent Chronic Love Box she received so you can see what all the excitement is about!

Key Points

Those moments where you most need help are usually the moments where you can't do it for yourself.
Recovery Love Box is meant to be an intellectual introduction to things that you may not have had the energy or time to find yourself and to be a cheerleader for you when you're having those down times.
If we can do a few things to take care of ourselves proactively, that builds confidence.
Many of us are here because we were very Type A, go-getter kind of people and maybe push too hard — until our bodies made us take a break.
Recovery Love Box was designed to bring positivity to people who don't often have the opportunity to get a care package.
We can always be trying new things. We don't have to be stuck in our ruts.
Use discount code 15FIBRO for 15% off your order at RecoveryLoveBox.com.

About Liz Lajoie

As someone living with chronic Lyme, Liz Lajoie understands that if you can barely get out of bed, it’s way too easy to avoid the foods we know we should be eating for our health (lots of fresh veggies & lean protein) and way too hard to steer clear of the junk food in the house we know we shouldn’t be eating… and sometimes cooking a full meal when you’re not feeling your best is just a bridge too far.

She thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to just have the good stuff on hand?”

And the idea for Recovery Love Box was born. Liz has made it easy for anyone to get healthy, organic foods and self-care products without having to step foot out of your door — and all our friends and family to have an easy answer for the “How can I help?” question, too!

In addition to Recovery Love Box, Liz is the founder of the Zen Money Initiative™, supporting mission-driven business owners to make more money, manage it better, and bring more of it home. She is the author of From Zero to Zen: Secret Keys to Nurturing Your Numbers and Finding Financial Flow and Zen Money Map: Charge Your Worth, Pay Yourself First, and Fund Your Wildest Dreams. She lives in northern New Hampshire with her husband and two kids.

Links & 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 your own Chronic Love Box at RecoveryLoveBox.com, use code 15FIBRO for 15% off (Affiliate link)
From Zero to Zen by Liz Lajoie FREE download
From Zero to Zen by Liz Lajoie on Amazon (Affiliate link)
Zen Money Map by Liz Lajoie on Amazon (Affiliate link)

Zen Money Map: Charge Your Worth, Pay Yourself First and Fund Your Wildest Dreams

From Zero to Zen: Secret Keys to Nurturing Your Numbers and Finding Financial Flow

Over the last few months, many parents are unexpectedly learning how to "homeschool" as kids are unable to attend school in person during the COVID-19 pandemic. If having your kids out of the house for school was part of your fibromyalgia coping strategy, you might be struggling right about now!

In this episode, Tami interviews Julie Schiffman, a Fibromyalgia Coach-in-Training who has lived with fibromyalgia for over 20 years, all while raising three daughters. Listen in as Tami and Julie discuss the most important thing you can teach your kids, as well as tips to help you cope.

Key Points

Fibromyalgia is not the end.
What’s really important is teaching your kids character.
Your fibromyalgia can really teach your kids how to not judge people and be respectful of people who are different than us.
We are really teaching our kids how to be better human beings.
You really need to let your kids learn to care for themselves. There will be a time they need to — so why not start now?
One of the tools we often help our clients create is a Flare Survival Kit. This is a list of things that help you manage your fibromyalgia. You can stick this on your fridge and your family can help you.
Most of us with fibromyalgia manage it ourselves and we don't think about how to include other people in that management.
We try our best, but it’s okay to not be a hundred percent all the time. Just be who you are and embrace it

About Julie Schiffman

Julie Schiffman was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia over 20 years ago when her three daughters were very young. Over the years, she has learned so much about how to change her life to suit her illness. With the tools Julie's learned, she is no longer fearful for the future. Knowing how to take care of herself as a fibromyalgia patient is her key to having the confidence to live the best life possible.

Julie helps moms struggling with guilt, desperation, and isolation, minimize their fibromyalgia symptoms while learning new ways of parenting.

Links & 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.
Ravyn's Doll: How To Explain Fibromyalgia To Your Child, by Melissa Swanson (Affiliate link)
Ravyn's Doll Coloring Book, by Melissa Swanson (Affiliate link)
Why Does Mommy Hurt? by Elizabeth M. Christy (Affiliate link)

Ravyn's Doll: How To Explain Fibromyalgia To Your Child

Ravyn's Doll Coloring Book

Why Does Mommy Hurt? Helping Children Cope with the Challenges of Having a Caregiver with Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, or Autoimmune Disease

The 2020 Fibromyalgia Awareness Day episode is a special collection of tips pulled from a virtual event Tami hosted for her clients, coaches, and her coaches’ clients.

Tami asked coaches and clients alike to share their best fibromyalgia management tips, the thing that helped them the most on their fibromyalgia journey, and what it was like to work with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Listen in to hear our best tips to help you feel better.

   ***Key Points***

  * If watching the news stresses you out, have someone else in your house be the designated news watcher.

Working with a coach on your goals provides needed accountability.
If you don’t have a functional medicine doctor or a naturopath on your team, it can be really, really hard to make progress.
You’re not in a sprint, you’re in a marathon… Don’t worry about time pressures that are put on you by society.
Being willing to spend the money, time, effort, and brainpower to try some new things can really be a huge benefit to helping you get better.
Educating yourself is critical. You have to advocate for yourself; you are the only person that knows what it’s like to live in your body. Most importantly, doctors are not being taught how to treat fibromyalgia.

Links & Resources

Note: This episode’s show notes 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.
- Get free copies of Tami’s books here
- Tami’s Facebook page
- Fibromyalgia Podcast Facebook page
- Figuring Out Fibromyalgia by Ginevra Liptan, MD (no longer in print)
- The Fibro Manual by Ginevra Liptan, MD (Affiliate link)
- Freedom From Fibromyalgia by Nancy Selfridge MD and Franklynn Peterson (Affiliate link)
- The Patient’s Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia by Bruce F. Campbell (Affiliate link)
  
  Other Episodes Mentioned
Episode 3, How Fibromyalgia Became My Friend
Episode 23, Counseling, Coaching, and Post Traumatic Growth with Dr. Robin Pfaff
Episode 25, The Impact of Juvenile Fibromyalgia on Families with Jara Halfen
Episode 29, Fall In Love With Your Fibromyalgia Body with Janet Farnsworth
Episode 35, My Favorite Energy Management Tool

Freedom from Fibromyalgia : The 5-Week Program Proven to Conquer Pain

The Patient's Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor

We've all had those times where we're going along, we're doing fine, and all of a sudden, we've done too much. We've all been there! It seems like the line between "okay" and "too much" is so fine, you can't tell when you're going to crossover. In this episode, Tami shares her favorite energy management tool that will put you back in the driver's seat and in control of your own energy levels.

Key Points

Using a pedometer or activity tracker can help you manage your energy.
If we want to get better, we need to budget some of our energy towards our healing.
If you don’t feel good at your current average number of steps, you may need to figure out ways to decrease your steps.
Don’t look at the number of steps on your activity tracker as the minimum to meet each day. Instead, it’s the maximum amount you can spend for the day.
Pay attention to how many steps each activity costs you. Once you have an idea of what things cost, you can start making choices on how you want to spend your energy.
Activity trackers give you an objective way to estimate how much energy you’ve spent and have left. This puts you back in the driver’s seat and gives you control.
Tracking your steps gives you a way to go back and look at your history when you have moments where you think, "Oh great. I’m in a flare. What the heck did I do this time?"
In order to get better, you have to know how much energy you’re really spending each day, what makes you feel good, and what is too much.
Most of Tami’s fibromyalgia clients average 1,000-5,000 steps a day at the beginning.
If you feel good and have energy at the end of the day, that means your body has energy left to heal. It doesn’t mean you should have done more.

Links & 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.
Tami's first book, Take Back Your Life, contains more information on managing your energy using a pedometer. Get free copies of Tami’s books here.
Find a Coach to help you discover new ways to improve your energy

Other Episodes Mentioned

Episode 27: Goal-Setting & Habits with Fibromyalgia
Episode 28: Exercise in a Fibromyalgia Body with Megan Densmore
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

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 & 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

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 & 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

The Painful Truth: What Chronic Pain Is Really Like and Why It Matters to Each of Us

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 & 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 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 & 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

ChronicBabe 101: How to Craft an Incredible Life Beyond Illness

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 & 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.

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 & 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.

We are told that exercise is good for fibromyalgia, but then we go out and do it, and we feel terrible. Megan 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 Megan 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 Megan Densmore Megan 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 & 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 Megan’s free e-book! Learn more about the “Zero to Hero” program and other ways to connect with Megan at MeganDensmore.com.
Learn about Invisible: The Film at Invisible-Film.com.
Fundraiser for Invisible: The Film in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 25th. Contact Megan 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 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 & 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)

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

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 & 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?)

Jara’s daughter, Lexi was just beginning seventh grade when she fell and ended up with a very mild concussion. It didn't seem like a big deal. Soon after, she was in constant pain and fatigue. It took months to diagnose the cause and even longer to figure out how to help Lexi spring back to life. The entire family is affected when a child has fibromyalgia, but there is hope. Jara shares the tools and resources she found most helpful, and the keys that helped her daughter feel like a normal teenager again.

Key Points

When you have a sick child, your entire world revolves around them and their illness and helping them get better.
With multiple children, we have to learn to manage our energy, to step back and focus on each of them specifically, and to create time and attention for all of them.
There is no magic bullet. The key to feeling better with fibromyalgia is really a bunch of little things that add up together, the tools that we figure out for our toolbox.
There are options for families with kids that need that extra support, like IEP programs and the 504 plan.
Parents, you know your child better than anyone else. Pay attention, and observe what they are going through. You have to dig deep and be an advocate for them.
The sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner you can find solutions.

About Jara Halfen Do you have an adolescent at home who is newly diagnosed with Juvenile Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue? Perhaps you have a teen who just seems to have unidentifiable pain and extreme fatigue but hasn’t been diagnosed with anything specific? If you need advice on how to move forward, consider scheduling a complimentary coaching session with Jara Halfen.

Jara is a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach who partners with adolescents and their families to learn ways to cope with and manage Juvenile Fibromyalgia. A mother of two teenagers, Jara learned first-hand about living with fibromyalgia when her daughter was diagnosed at the age of 14. Through this journey, Jara has gained understanding of what fibromyalgia is, what its impact is on her daughter and the entire family, and what it’s like to be a caregiver.

Links & 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.
If you are trying to understand the ins and outs of managing Juvenile Fibromyalgia and want to consider coaching for you or someone you care about, you can contact Jara at jarahalfen.com.
What Is an IEP? Everything You Need to Know About IDEA, IEPs, and 504 Plans. ADDitude Magazine. 24 Nov 2019.
Dr. Melissa Congdon at MelissaCongdonMD.com and in Episode 16.
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia, by Dr. Paul St. Amand (the guaifenesin protocol) https://amzn.to/1LiJLHo (Affiliate link)
EpicGenetics FM/a Test (fibromyalgia blood test)

WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT (TM): FIBROMYALGIA: The Revolutionary Treatment That Can Reverse the Disease

"Don't be sorry for me. Fibromyalgia is the best thing that ever happened to me." This may seem like a radical statement, and I know most of you aren’t in this space yet, but even small gestures of gratitude can make a big difference. A growing body of research shows that people who practice gratitude are more optimistic and have greater satisfaction in their lives. They have been shown to make fewer visits to the doctor and have improved immune system responses. More than just a Thanksgiving observance, counting your blessings and giving thanks can make a difference all year long.

Key Points

A growing body of research shows that an attitude of gratitude benefits our physical body.
Where you place your focus is where your life will flow. This is a basic law of the universe. This is part of the law of attraction. We also find it in the Bible.
It’s hard to count our blessings when fibromyalgia feels like an endless taking away of things, but we do have a choice.
The three general guidelines for developing a gratitude practice plus three practical ideas to help you get started PLUS an advanced bonus tip for those ready to take their gratitude practice to the next level.
Keep in mind that you are creating a habit—one that will pay dividends for the rest of your life.

Links & 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.

Research Studies

A number of studies on gratitude conducted by Dr. Robert Emmons can be found by visiting this link on Google Scholar.
McCullough, M. E., and R. A. Emmons. "Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 84.2 (2003): 377-389.
Nes, Lise Solberg, Suzanne C. Segerstrom, and Sandra E. Sephton. "Engagement and arousal: Optimism’s effects during a brief stressor." Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 31.1 (2005): 111-120.
Sansone, Randy A., and Lori A. Sansone. "Gratitude and well being: The benefits of appreciation." Psychiatry (Edgmont) 7.11 (2010): 18.
“In Praise of Gratitude.”, Harvard Health Publishing (2019)

Dr. Robin Pfaff was in the closet about her fibromyalgia, working part-time as a psychotherapist and part-time recovering from the toll that work took on her. A big move in January 2017 caused a severe fibromyalgia flare that put her on the couch for months. It was here that she found coaching and the keys to getting her life back. Robin is now paying it forward as a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach, helping other women take charge of their life and health.

Key Points

Fibromyalgia coaching is a unique treatment option: one part life coach, one part health educator, and one part wellness coaching.
The difference between counseling and coaching, and how to know which one is right for you.
Research has found that a huge group of folks that have experienced post traumatic stress move forward through that and experience what they call post traumatic growth.
The BEST approach to living with fibromyalgia: B for Body (or physical health), E for Emotional and mental health, S for Social Support, and T for Transcendence (or spiritual well-being).
You don't know what you don't know, and having someone to come alongside you, keep you encouraged, share the workload, and offer a different perspective and new ideas can really shortcut that process and help you feel better, faster.

About Dr. Robin Pfaff Robin has a doctoral degree in counseling and a master's degree in human development. She has worked as a psychotherapist for over 25 years specializing in women's issues. As you will hear in the episode, Robin has fibromyalgia herself.

Robin is trained and certified as a Health and Wellness Coach and as a Fibromyalgia Coach. Since she has fibromyalgia, she understands the frustration of living with a chronic illness and trying to keep up with a job, family, friends, pets, grandkids — all the activities that you enjoy. Robin is determined to be as healthy as she can be while managing fibromyalgia, so that she can be present for her own life as a coach, a wife, a mother and a grandmother. She's delighted to have the opportunity to help you believe in yourself again and take charge of your life and health, so that you can feel better and show up for your own precious life.

Links & 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.
Find out how you can flourish with fibromyalgia by visiting Dr. Robin Pfaff’s website here.
To request Dr. Robin’s self-assessment tool — which allows you to pinpoint where you could use some help, what areas of your life to focus on, and where your strengths are — send an email to DrRobinPfaff@gmail.com with the subject line, “BEST Self Assessment”.

Research Studies

To learn about the Adverse Childhood Experiences study (ACE study), visit https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/acestudy/index.html.
Note: Additional studies on post traumatic growth can be found by visiting Google Scholar.

The holidays can be super challenging, no matter who you are. Often we invest so much of our time and moxie into the holidays that the celebration begins to feel more like obligation. Add fibromyalgia to that picture, and it's even more tiring and stressful, because we have limited energy to begin with. There is a way to make the holidays meaningful without all of the overwhelm. Follow the tips in this episode and see how your holiday season can a little richer, a little calmer, and a little less painful and exhausting.

Key Points

With fibromyalgia, the biggest way that you can improve your holidays is to feel better.
Is your family already over-stuffed? Here’s how you can honor the season and the spirit of giving without accumulating even more stuff.
Think about setting new traditions or doing things a little differently. Stepping outside of our normal way of doing things can actually make it easier for us.
Don't end up over-committed to things that are less important. Focus on what really matters to you, and make time for that first.
Learn the warning signs that your body is going into a fibro flare, and give your loved ones concrete ways that they can help you.

Links & 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

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 & 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

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 & 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

The Diet Cure: The 8-Step Program to Rebalance Your Body Chemistry and End Food Cravings, Weight Gain, and Mood Swings--Naturally

Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It

The Mood Cure: The 4-Step Program to Rebalance Your Emotional Chemistry and Rediscover Your Natural Sense of Well-Being

The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief

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 & 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.

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 (affiliate links):

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
Sign up for the Frida Center email list

Links & 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 (affiliate link).
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.

The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor

The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief

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 & 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 Mayo Clinic reports 2-6% of school aged children in the U.S. have fibromyalgia. Conservatively, that means 14.8 million kids struggle with fibro fog, chronic pain and a host of other confusing and debilitating symptoms. Dr. Melissa Congdon joins us with the message that pediatric fibromyalgia is very treatable, meaning you and your child can enjoy their time as children. Learn how getting an early diagnosis makes a huge difference in helping your child succeed at school, in sports and beyond.

Key Points

Does your child wake up crying or feeling fussy without illness or a known cause?
Does your child come home from school some days exhausted, some days not?
Homework: Does your child have trouble remembering what they have studied for a test?
Sports: Does your child perform well on some days, but on others they have trouble keeping up?
If your child has a first degree relative with fibromyalgia, they are 8-1/2 times more likely to develop this syndrome themselves. Might your child have fibromyalgia?

About Dr. Melissa Congdon

Dr. Congdon practiced general pediatrics in Glendale and Mill Valley, California for 18 years until severe fibromyalgia symptoms forced her to retire from medical practice in 2008. Her diagnosis led her to a comprehensive study of the various treatment options for fibromyalgia. Using a combination of diet, exercise, acupuncture, supplements, medications, the guaifenesin protocol, and other modalities, she was able to return to medical practice in 2009, and chose to become a fibromyalgia consultant. She trained with fibromyalgia expert and author Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, Internist, Endocrinologist, and Associate Professor at the Harbor UCLA Medical Center.

Dr. Melissa Congdon is board certified in pediatrics, and sees children and adults in her fibromyalgia and pediatric consulting practice.

Links & 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.
Dr. Melissa Congdon chose to focus on fibromyalgia medicine after her recovery from fibromyalgia symptoms, and caring for children is her first love. Dr. Congdon has 18 years of private practice experience as a board certified pediatrician, an undergraduate degree in psychology, and the experience gained in raising two children of her own. Dr. Congdon offers pediatric consultations to families and since 2009 has treated hundreds of adults and children with fibromyalgia. You can reach out to her at MelissaCongdonMD.com.
Inspired by her fibromyalgia patients, Dr. Congdon produced a 30 minute documentary, “Fibromyalgia: Getting Our Lives Back—Success Stories on the Guaifenesin Protocol” which she has made available for free online for everyone to learn more about fibromyalgia and this treatment option.
In 1999 Dr. St. Amand, an experienced endocrinologist and UCLA assistant clinical professor, published his effective protocol for reversing fibromyalgia, based on nearly half a century of research, including his own experience with the disease and that of hundreds of his patients. This third edition of the book offers the latest research and Dr. St. Amand's breakthrough program that uses guaifenesin, an inexpensive, safe, and increasingly available medication that can help reverse the disease. The authors have seen symptoms eliminated and normal living restored in an astonishing 95% of the pediatric fibromyalgia sufferers they treated with guaifenesin.
We have designed a Symptom Observations worksheet to help you track your child’s symptoms to make it easier to report during your visits with medical providers. Access all of our worksheets using this link.

WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT (TM): FIBROMYALGIA: The Revolutionary Treatment That Can Reverse the Disease

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 & 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.

Do you worry that your job could be in jeopardy due to your struggle with fibromyalgia? Did you know that the Family Medical Leave Act can protect your job while you take time away to heal? Julie Hamilton is an expert on FMLA and has used it with her clients and in her own healing journey with fibromyalgia. She joins us today to detail exactly what the FMLA requires in order for you to take advantage of it, and to describe what situations the Act may cover on your own healing journey as a valuable employee.

Key Points

"I used to be a good employee until fibromyalgia came along." There may still be ways for you to be that employee again, through using things like the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to take some time off, to heal, and to feel better.
Healing can be a full-time job in itself! The FMLA can cover your time away from work, and it also guarantees your job after your return to work.
You do not have to be a full-time employee in order to use the FMLA.
The Family Medical Leave Act also protects your confidentiality.
There are a lot of rules and guidelines, both for the employee and the employer, in order for you to use the FMLA. Julie can help you understand these requirements.
It is CRITICAL that you know how to navigate the rules and guidelines, otherwise your FMLA claim may be denied and your wages unrecoverable.

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 & 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 FMLA checklist walks you through all of the requirements and deadlines that you need to follow when applying to use the FMLA. 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, or if you need to file for disability. You can get that assessment on Julie's website: CoachingPI.com.

What are the things you once loved that fibromyalgia is now keeping you from doing? What would it feel like to be able to take joy in those things again? In this episode, we do more than just tell you how this is possible. Tami will lead you in an interactive exercise that will open the door to your joy and greatest pleasures once again. Download the Joy List Worksheet and start adding the fun things back into your life!

Key Points

What are the things that you love to do, that feed your soul, that make you happy, that bring joy into your life and fill you up, so that you have something to give?
This episode walks you through creating your own Joy List. You will end up, right now, adding something back into your life that brings you joy, something that you've had to say no to before.
If you've said yes to too many other things, you might be saying no to the things that bring you joy. Another common barrier to joy: We feel guilty taking time for ourselves.
This is not about making yourself another to do list because we all have way too much to do. What we really need is to do more BE-ing. We need to do more relaxing into life and becoming the person who has the life that we want to have.
It is totally possible to have a life you love, even with fibromyalgia.

Links & 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.
Joy List Worksheet

It can be super tough to say, “No, I can't do that.” It's so easy for fibromyalgia to feel like an enormous taking away of things. We can't do the job we used to do. We can't do the activities we used to do. We can't eat the foods we used to be able to eat. But we can do a little mindset shift and realize we're doing it for a reason. It’s never about saying No. You learn to say “No” so that you can say “Hell YES!” to other things: the things that really matter to you, the things that will help make your life feel rich and rewarding and fun again.

Key Points

It's very natural to push yourself to do all of the things you want to do, the things you feel like you need to do, the obligations that you have, or even pushing yourself so you can help somebody else.
Saying No sometimes is very emotional. Sometimes, for some people, it really feels like a failure.
Are you giving yourself the space to heal, or are you trying to continue on in the exact same way, at the exact same pace, doing the exact same things, as you did before fibromyalgia?
“It's not that hard to choose between good and bad. What's hard is choosing between good and best.” When it comes to fibromyalgia, we have been given the gift of being aware of the fact that we can't do everything. We've been given the gift of having to choose. This means we have the gift of making those choices count.
How do you go about saying No when there are so many expectations and obligations?

Links & 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.
Joy List Worksheet

Do you dream of travel and adventure, but the thought of going out-of-town, even for a short weekend, feels defeating — and almost sends you into a flare just thinking about it? Traveling with fibromyalgia can be challenging! These tips from Tami will show you how you can take that summer vacation, visit distant family, or even holiday in Spain, without all of the pain and overwhelm.

Key Points

The healthier you can start off at the beginning of your trip, the better off you'll be at the end, when you've used up a lot of extra energy
Don't be afraid (or ashamed) to ask for help when you need it.
Know when and where it is smarter NOT to save money when you travel.
How to save weight, wear and tear on your body while you travel.
When packing light is NOT a good idea.
Plan to use facilities and amenities that can help your body feel better.

Links & 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.
Evernote: try a free month of Evernote Premium using this affiliate link
TSA Pre✓
Global Entry
Oska and Quell devices
Travel vacuum bags
PillSuite
Small travel bottles
Blog Post: “Accepting Assistance” by Melissa Swanson of Fibro Warriors ~ Living Life, as published on ProHealth.com
Blog Post: “Seven Keys To Savy Traveling With Fibromyalgia”

NovoLido Travel Space Saver Bags (10 Packs), 3 Sizes (L-M-S) of Airtight Compression Bags Travel Storage Bags, No Vacuum Pump Needed, Reusable Packing Sack Organizers for Travel Home (Transparent)

TOPWEL 10ml Empty Clear Refillable Airless Vacuum Pump Cream Lotion Bottle (5pcs)

Every 10th episode is a special one, where Tami answers YOUR burning questions. Our first listener question is one that Tami hears quite a lot: “Does the weather affect fibromyalgia?” Listen in for some of the science behind the answer, as well as how our own bodies may know things that science hasn’t figured out yet.

Key Points

“If I'm in a windy place for just a few minutes, it leads to so much pain for days.”
“Normal room temperatures are not normal for me. Whenever I sit in a class, listen to a lesson or a lecture, I feel cold and that starts to cause more body pain.”
When we talk about "weather", we are talking about a lot of things. We are talking about if it's rainy or dry, what the humidity is, if the sun is shining, if it's cloudy, what the temperature is, and along with it, there are things like barometric pressure changes. The term “weather” actually represents a lot of different things!
How does the weather affect our fibromyalgia symptoms? How can you help your body feel better, regardless of the forecast?

Links & 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.

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 & 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.

Do you always do exactly what your doctor tells you to? Or do you sometimes think, "You have NO clue what it's like to live in a fibromyalgia body? Do you realize what you're asking me?" Or do you just forget because you have brain fog? There are so many reasons why you might not be doing the things your doctor is telling you to do. A Certified Fibromyalgia Coach has been there, done that, and is trained specifically in fibromyalgia treatment and management strategies. Learn how that direct, personal experience can help you bridge the gap and feel better faster.

Key Points

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2007. Between 2007 and 2009, I did not get better; in fact, I got worse.
In those two years, there were lots of things my doctor was suggesting that I do, and I wasn't very good about doing them. Not because I didn't want to, but because I actually didn't know how.
The turning point for getting better was hiring a health coach: a person to talk to, to strategize with, and come with new solutions.
If you were going to climb Mount Everest, your first steps would probably be researching: HOW does a person climb Mount Everest? You would probably also start looking for somebody that had already done it, so that you could learn from them.
A Fibromyalgia Coach is going to help you climb that fibromyalgia mountain, helping you get the very best results possible in the shortest amount of time possible.

Links & 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.
For additional details on choosing the best coach for you, check out chapter 8 “Would Working with a Coach be Helpful” in Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain. Download a FREE copy at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com.
"8 Tips for Choosing a Fibromyalgia Health Coach", MyRestoredHealth.com

As patients, we feel so powerless sometimes. We're at the mercy of our doctors. We're at the mercy of our insurance company. A health coach can help us realize that we have what's called "self-efficacy." We gain a sense of control over our pain, and we engage in our own care in a vitally powerful way. When we engage in our care and gain that control, it's really empowering. We understand that, "I am responsible for myself, and I have the ability to improve my pain."

Key Points

Sports has already figured out how important coaching is. Executive management has figured out how important coaching is. We need to apply it to health now.
New studies show that patient pain levels and functional status improve dramatically with just a coaching model alone.
A transformative care model: where you integrate coaching and patient training with treatment, using a team of medical professionals, a health coach, and technology.
Additional studies demonstrate what happens when you integrate health coaching into routine care, estimating the reduction in health care cost would be at least 50%.
Patient-centered care is really where it's at. How do we create a system with health care providers with care that really transforms patients and provides the care they need to actually get better long term?

Links & 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.

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 & 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

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.

Links & 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.
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 The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor, The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief, and Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current Science and the Most Effective Treatments.
You can also follow Dr. Liptan on YouTube.

The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief

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 & 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

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 & 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

Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography

"I realized I was treating my body as if it were a stubborn donkey!" What if instead, by treating your body with kindness and respect, you would actually start feeling better? Tami shares how shifting your mindset and your relationship with your body is the first critical key to living the fibro life you love.

Key Points

Do you feel like your body is a prison, and you are trapped inside?
Do you say things like, “Can’t I just get a new body?”
What if you and your body were actually on the same team, working together to break free of the fibromyalgia prison of pain?

Links & 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.
Blog Post: “First Commandment of Healing: Don’t be an Ass. Honor Your Body.”
Blog Post: “Honoring Your Body: Getting to Know YOU”
Blog Post: “Honoring Your Body: Practical Advice, Part 1”
Blog Post: “Honoring Your Body: Practical Advice, Part 2”
Blog Post: “Ask the Coach: Why Don’t I Take Care of Myself?”

In a fresh approach to hope and healing, Tami Stackelhouse shares what she has learned from a decade of taking her life back from her fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Key Points

I believe fibromyalgia does not need to be a life-ending illness.
I believe there are ways for every person with fibromyalgia to feel better.
As patients, the more we know, the better we can advocate for ourselves.
I believe in laughter! We need humor and a lightness that makes life worth living.
I also value beauty, grace, self-care, and just being kind to one another.
I believe fibromyalgia is like blind men describing an elephant! lol
I believe you get better faster when you slow down.
I believe the world doesn’t revolve around your illness - it revolves around your healing.
I believe that talking to somebody who understands is a healing activity in itself.
I also believe that in general, most of us really do know what we should be doing. The challenge is actually doing it.

Links & 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.

Tami Stackelhouse's fibromyalgia journey went from diagnosis to disability to desperation before she discovered the keys to living a fibro life she loves. Today, Tami almost never has body pain, has enough energy to do the things she wants to do, and her life no longer revolves around her illness. As your Fibromyalgia Coach, Tami's mission is to encourage hope and educate you on ways you can improve your fibromyalgia symptoms.

This audio magazine will feature a Dream Team of top doctors, researchers, experts, coaches, and patient advocates in the fibromyalgia community. Tami will be sharing before and after stories to inspire you and show you what is possible. Tami will coach you the same way she has coached her clients over the last decade.

Stay tuned for our foundational episodes, covering some basic topics that I talk about over and over again, such as:

The role that we have as patients in our own healthcare
Why your body isn't actually the enemy
What a Fibromyalgia Coach is and does
How self-care isn't really about the things you do