What is Fibromyalgia? with Dr. Ginevra Liptan

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.

Ginevra Liptan, M.D. is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, board-certified in internal medicine, and trained in functional medicine, a holistic approach that blends both western and alternative medicine. After developing fibromyalgia as a medical student, Dr. Liptan spent many years using herself as guinea pig to find successful treatments, and has fine-tuned her approach by treating thousands of patients. She is one of the few clinical specialists in the world to focus solely on fibromyalgia, and directs The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Ginevra Liptan is the author of several books:

• The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor
• The Fibro Food Formula: A Real-Life Approach to Fibromyalgia Relief
• Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current Science and the Most Effective Treatments

To hear more from Dr. Liptan:

• Visit her YouTube channel
• Read her online blog

Links & 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.