Fibromyalgia Podcast®

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. 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

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

We 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)

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)

"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)