The Impact of Juvenile Fibromyalgia on Families with Jara Halfen

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.

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)