Join our 10-Day FREE Fibromyalgia Wellness Summit January 20-31 — Register by December 31st for exclusive bonuses!

What is the Fibromyalgia Wellness Summit?  A summit is like an online conference. The Fibromyalgia Wellness Summit will provide in 10 days what you would learn in five months on the Fibromyalgia Podcast!

What makes this summit different? Unlike typical summits, this event features real people with fibromyalgia sharing their proven methods for improvement. With just one speaker per day, delivered via a private podcast, it's designed to be fibro-friendly, easy to access, and transformational.

Register for FREE at FibroWellnessSummit.com by December 31st and receive our exclusive action guide for VIPs. 

For extra perks, sign up as a VIP for $147. The VIP all-access pass offers exclusive perks like a live class with Tami, private film screening and Q&A with the Director, plus a backstage pass to our VIP Green Room — a private Facebook group with our speakers and other VIP guests. Register as a VIP by December 31st and join our VIP Green Room a week early for extra support and community.

Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your wellness journey in 2025!

Register at FibroWellnessSummit.com.

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®.

As a master Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, author, and fibro podcaster, the questions I’m asked more than any others are:

How do I get better?

How do I improve my Fibromyalgia so I can get back to living the life I want to live?

While those sound like simple questions, they do not have simple answers. We all have similar symptoms, what helps you feel better may not be the thing that helps me feel better. We all have to find our own magic formula for what makes us feel best.

I know from personal experience just how overwhelming it can be to find that formula on your own. That’s why I created a training program in 2015 that would teach people just like you how to improve their own Fibromyalgia, and how to help others do the same.

In this first episode of a special series where I’ll be answering a lot of questions I get about our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® class and about becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, I want to start super basic.

We’re going over what a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® is, how that’s different from a Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor®, why you should consider the Advisor class if you’re a patient who just wants to feel better, who else the Advisor class is perfect for, what the certification aspect really means, the staggering statistics on how many participants see significant improvements in their symptoms by the end of the Advisor class.

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.

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®.

COVID-19 has affected many of us; for some, the journey still hasn’t ended.

For the past four years, Tami has received a ton of questions about the intersection of COVID-19, long COVID, and fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, it’s been tough to find good answers with the spread of conflicting information and misinformation.

Today, Tami is excited to be joined by Dr. Keith Ellis, who’s here to answer our questions with science-backed information. There is a lot of common ground between fibromyalgia and the core symptoms of long COVID, and Dr. Ellis’ insights from his research and expertise as a medicinal chemist shed some light on how the broader interest in long COVID can benefit us as fibromyalgia patients.

In this conversation, Dr. Ellis and Tami discuss what COVID-19 is and how it affects the body, how COVID has changed over the years, the progression from acute COVID infection to developing long COVID symptoms, the rate of development of long COVID, the lack of effective prevention measures for long COVID, surprising demographics of those experiencing long COVID, the importance of a well-functioning immune system, differences Between Long COVID and fibromyalgia, core symptoms of long COVID, difficulties in diagnosing long COVID, Dr. Ellis' background in medicinal chemistry and why he began his research into treatments for long COVID, a realistic timeline for drug development, the limited understanding of fibromyalgia mechanisms compared to those of long COVID, the need for more research funding for chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia, the microclot hypothesis and its relevance to long COVID symptoms, how breaking down microclots can facilitate recovery from long COVID, the problem with treating symptoms rather than underlying causes in chronic illnesses, the need to study individuals who have recovered from fibromyalgia, Dr. Ellis’ natural supplement to combat long COVID microclots, using mechanisms of action to find natural substitutes for pharmaceutical drugs, empowering patients with information and accessible solutions for chronic conditions, the lack of research and awareness around fibromyalgia in medical education, funding and research disparities for fibromyalgia versus other conditions, the overlap between long COVID and fibromyalgia diagnoses, the need for research to differentiate long COVID from fibromyalgia symptoms, Dr. Ellis’ thoughts on the future of treatment solutions for long COVID and 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®.

Navigating chronic illness from a family perspective can be challenging for everyone involved. From small changes to daily routines to more significant shifts in family dynamics, learning how to adapt to this new normal can be difficult, especially for children.

Today, Tami introduces you to Mandy Farmer and her book, Soft Hugs for Mommy, created when Mandy recognized the need for something specifically to speak to a child’s perspective. Soft Hugs for Mommy tells the story of a loving family as they navigate the challenges of mommy's chronic pain condition and it’s filled with tender moments and caring gestures. The book encourages understanding and unconditional love as the family helps Mommy with her invisible illness. Mandy also collaborated with a child psychologist to create a "let's talk" section to facilitate conversations between parents and children about chronic illness.

In this conversation, Mandy and Tami discuss the themes of family support in Soft Hugs for Mommy, Mandy's background as a pastor's wife and her journey with fibromyalgia and chronic pain, how Mandy manages her fibromyalgia and the support from her family, the journey from blogging about chronic pain to publishing her first book, the benefits of attending online writing conferences, what it was like to write Soft Hugs for Mommy, the family-centric narrative of the book, how it focuses on a child's perspective and challenges adult perceptions, the target audience for Soft Hugs for Mommy, the central messages of empathy, kindness encouraging family teamwork, how Mandy’s personal experiences inspired the book's story, her connection with the illustrator, conversation starters to  facilitate discussions between parents and children about chronic illness, the difficulties and emotional challenges of writing a book, encouragement for aspiring authors, the importance of grieving past expectations while embracing new possibilities in life, the benefits of online communities and resources for those with chronic health conditions, 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®.

“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®.