“One of my core beliefs is that something good can come out of everything.” - Tami Stackelhouse

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

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

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

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

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

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

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

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

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

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

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

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

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

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

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

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

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

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Welcome to the final episode of our special Be a Coach series. So far, I’ve answered questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Some of the topics covered in the first three parts of this special series were what a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® and a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is, the difference between the two, who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® and who is better suited to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®, what you need and don’t need to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® or Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, why the world needs fibro coaches, and why you should consider becoming one.

In this final installment, I’m digging into the nuts and bolts of how you can become a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® or Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®; including the exact steps you need to take.

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

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

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

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

To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

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

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

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

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

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

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Welcome to episode 03 of our special Be a Coach Series. In this series, I answer questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

In episode one of the series, I explained what a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® is and what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is.

Episode two of the series was all about who makes a good coach and who is better suited to be an advisor. I also covered what you need and don’t need to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

In this episode, we’re taking a deeper look at why someone would want to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, why the world needs fibro coaches, and why you should consider becoming one.

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

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

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

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

To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

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

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

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

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

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

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

Welcome to episode 02 of our special Be a Coach Series. In this series, I answer questions about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and what it takes to be a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®. I cover all the basics… the who, what, when, where, why, and even the how.

Don’t understand what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® or Adviser is? No problem. Just pop on over to episode one of the series because that is exactly what we covered in that episode.

In this episode, I’m covering the who. Who makes a good coach? Who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®? Who makes a good Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®? And, how do you know which one you might be?

I also cover what I look for in the applications I accept into the training program and what you need and don’t need to join us a become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® or Advisor yourself.

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

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

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

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

To learn more about the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.

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

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

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

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

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.

Need a good book to read? Download Tami's books for free.

Ready to take back control of your life and health? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.