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Having good conversations with doctors can be difficult for many fibromyalgia patients. Whether it’s dealing with fibro fog or the fear of being labeled as a drug seeker, we often leave these interactions without feeling understood or confident in the action plan.
So how do we have better conversations with our doctors? By finding the right practitioner and arming yourself with tools to support you during your appointment.
Today Tami is joined by Dr. Andrea Chadwick to talk about current fibromyalgia research, the hallmarks of a good doctor, and simple strategies to get the most out of your doctor visits. In this episode, Tami and Dr. Chadwick discuss why she chose to work with chronic pain, the mission behind Dr. Chadwick’s Fibromyalgia and Centralized Pain Exploration Lab, the overlap between fibro and other chronic pain conditions, why it’s essential to tell our stories, research into how and why heat therapy helps with pain, advocacy for fibromyalgia research, the value of recording your pain journey and details of interventions you’ve tried, the types of conversations Dr. Chadwick has with new patients, figuring out your goals for your therapeutic relationship, how you can create space for grace, finding the version of you that works best in your fibromyalgia body, getting comfortable with moving on from a doctor who isn’t a good fit, how Dr. Chadwick became involved wth Swing Care and what you can expect from their virtual clinic, the advantages of telehealth, how you can register your interest in Swing Care expanding to serve your area, Dr. Chadwick’s message for people struggling to find good doctors, bonus resources you can use to make doctor visits easier, and more.
Dr. Chadwick wants you to know that there’s hope out there, and you can advocate for yourself to get better care. Getting better with fibromyalgia is a journey and a process. Trust the process, and more importantly, trust 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.
About Dr. Andrea Chadwick
Dr. Andrea Chadwick, M.D., M.Sc., FASA, is the Medical Director of Swing Care, a telehealth clinic specializing in expert, holistic fibromyalgia care. She is double-board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Her clinical expertise focuses on complex centralized pain syndromes including fibromyalgia. She is Director of the Fibromyalgia and Centralized Pain Exploration Lab at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
To learn more about Swing Care’s telehealth clinic for fibromyalgia, or to schedule a free informational call, visit: https://www.swing.care
Links & Resources
- Sign up to access the bonus resources you can use at your doctor visits. These are the same resources Tami uses with her students and clients.
- InvisibleFilmPDX.com — Join us for a special Fibromyalgia Awareness Day fundraising event and the west coast premiere of the fibromyalgia documentary, Invisible. We will be holding a live, in-person screening on May 13 in Portland, Oregon, along with a virtual screening you can attend from your living room on May 20! Tickets are on sale now.
- To schedule a community screening in your area — even if it’s just a few friends in your living room! — visit: https://kinema.com/films/invisible-ntz0cv
- Check out Chapter 7 of Take Back Your Life
- Fibromyalgia Podcast | Episode 104: Step Into Your Purpose with Katy Suik
More from Tami
- For daily doses of hope, inspiration, and practical advice, join Tami on Facebook or Instagram.
- Get free copies of Tami’s books here.
- Schedule a consultation with Tami or one of her coaches through the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute.
Listener Shoutout
“I just watched Invisible this afternoon, unbelievable! I’m going to share this with my family and friends. This documentary is what the world needs to see to help understand what fibromyalgia is like to live with.”
~ Julie