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®.

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®.

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.

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.

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®.

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.

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®.

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.

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.

“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 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

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

Note: In the years since this episode was published, sadly, Recovery Love Box is no more. This episode, however, is still very relevant, as Liz shares her chronic illness story, including her diagnosis with chronic Lyme disease.

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.

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.
• 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)

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)

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

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

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

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®.

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.

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. Rose was a dancer and competitive athlete until she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In her 20s, she felt like she lived in a body that was 85 years old. Over the last ten years, she has learned to listen to her body and retrain herself into competitive condition. Her advice can help you ease into a routine that is right for you and your body, no matter how big or small your fitness goals might be.

Key Points

• There are specific ways that people with fibromyalgia should approach exercise that may look a little different than the general population, but even the general population could benefit from a slightly more finessed entry into fitness.
• If you are starting a fitness program and have chronic pain, make sure that you know how to help your body recover from whatever exercise you do, and take baby steps all along the way.
• We may have to retrain our brain’s response to pain in order to progress. How to know the difference between productive pain and pain that means stop.
• Be cautious of stretching because stretching can actually cause us to flare more than strengthening or mobilizing.
• The process of getting stronger and building athleticism or building cardiovascular health is not linear.
• The biggest gift of having fibromyalgia, if we can see it that way, is the hypersensitivity and the increased body awareness that we get to have.

Rose went from debilitating fibromyalgia symptoms to being able to realize lifelong dreams of competitive athletics, and along the way she has become an advocate for chronic pain and invisible illness. She is a working actress and indie film producer, she is an experienced Pilates instructor, and she is a proud distributor of Shaklee products. She is excited to speak out about the freedom she now experiences in all avenues of her life, and she is committed to teaching others to find their own freedom!

Links & Resources

• FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.
• Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books.
• Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month, for the entire year 2020. This is the same information that she teaches her Coaches, clients, and students. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE. Go to FibroWorkshop.com to find out what Tami is teaching on next.
• Get Rose’s free e-book! Learn more about the “Zero to Hero” program and other ways to connect with Rose here.
• Learn about Invisible: The Film at Invisible-Film.com.
• Fundraiser for Invisible: The Film in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 25th. Contact Rose through her website for details.
• The symptom log mentioned in this episode can help you understand what is happening in your body and whether the things you are doing are helping or hurting. Access this tracking tool and all of our bonus materials using this link.
• Download this special handout that will outline some of the things to keep in mind if you want to begin exercising with fibromyalgia.
• Your warm-up is critical in preventing injury. Consider this warm-up routine that was designed by Dr. Ginevra Liptan (Episode 5, Episode 18). This is something that she uses with her patients at The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia.