Foundations – Fibromyalgia Podcast®

Episode 59: But My Labs Are Normal

April 13, 2021 22:06

How many times has your doctor told you all your lab tests were normal? If you’re like most of us with fibromyalgia, this has happened more times than you can count.

So what then? Do we keep testing? Or do we accept that the test is normal, in spite of the fact we feel that something is wrong?

After 20 years of certain tests coming back as “normal”, Tami recently decided to try one more time as a way of “checking the box” with a new provider…. and ended up with completely different results! She shares her experience as well as five basic reasons your own “normal” lab test results may be wrong.

Episode 58: 7 Common Myths About Fibromyalgia

March 30, 2021 21:44

We can find evidence of fibromyalgia going back more than 200 years in medical literature…. and yet there there seems to be more fiction than fact surrounding it.

People are told things like, “There isn’t much that can be done about fibromyalgia.” Or, “Fibromyalgia is a middle-aged woman’s disease.” (Hint: Both of these things are FALSE.)

In this episode, Tami tackles seven of the most common myths about fibromyalgia, as well as the truth behind those myths.

Episode 49: Understanding Your Capacity Using The Bucket Theory

November 10, 2020 31:14

You’re going along fine and then BOOM! Fibromyalgia flare! You try to figure out what pushed you over the edge this time and it all seems so minor.

But our mental, physical, and emotional capacity isn’t defined by one thing. Instead, our capacity is more like a bucket. All the little — and big! — things go in the bucket and add up. If you’re not careful, your bucket overflows and that’s when you trigger a flare.

The Bucket Theory is a way of understanding your capacity so that you can make better choices that lead to less pain, more energy, and fewer flare ups.

Episode 47: Write Your Body’s Owner’s Manual

October 13, 2020 39:22

Ever wish you had an owner’s manual for your body? Something you could reference to see exactly what to do to keep your body feeling its best?

Often, it seems like fibromyalgia symptoms create a guessing game of, “What did I do this time?” One minute you’re fine, the next you’ve crossed the line into a fibromyalgia flare. In this episode, you’ll learn how to write your very own owner’s manual for your body. Tami calls this your “Book of You”, a guide to managing your fibromyalgia symptoms and creating more predictable energy and pain levels. Included in this episode are prompts and examples to help you begin.

Episode 44: Design Your Fibromyalgia Dream Week

September 1, 2020 1:22:55

9 Steps To Making Your Calendar Work For You — What would it feel like to have to have a schedule that supported your body feeling great? Even better, what would it look like if your calendar could help you get better?

You may think this sounds impossible. When Tami was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, she discovered she could really only leave the house once a week and continue to feel her best. She felt like a slave to her calendar and prisoner in her own body. However, learning to protect her body’s healing time gave Tami more control over her health and symptoms. This helped her to have more stable and predictable good days and energy.

In this episode, Tami shares the Dream Week process she developed over a decade ago to help her body heal. Included in the links below are the Dream Week Planner worksheets for you to download and use along with Tami as she walks you through designing your very own Dream Week.

Episode 43: What Does It Take To Get Better? 11 Things You Need For Your Fibromyalgia Healing Journey

August 18, 2020 1:01:14

After more than a decade of helping clients improve their fibromyalgia symptoms, Tami has learned what it really takes to get better — and it might not be what you think!

Yes, you do need effective fibromyalgia treatment, a fibromyalgia specialist to guide you, and a good doctor who treats you with respect and compassion. However, these aren’t usually the same person!

Tami has also identified nine additional things that are just as critical on your journey. Listen in to learn what Tami has found to be key in all of her client fibromyalgia healing stories — and key to her own fibromyalgia remission.

Episode 35: My Favorite Energy Management Tool

April 28, 2020 32:26

We’ve all had those times where we’re going along, we’re doing fine, and all of a sudden, we’ve done too much. We’ve all been there! It seems like the line between “okay” and “too much” is so fine, you can’t tell when you’re going to crossover. In this episode, Tami shares her favorite energy management tool that will put you back in the driver’s seat and in control of your own energy levels.

Episode 13: How to Add More Joy Into Your Life

June 25, 2019 41:36

What are the things you once loved that fibromyalgia is now keeping you from doing? What would it feel like to be able to take joy in those things again? In this episode, we do more than just tell you how this is possible. Tami will lead you in an interactive exercise that will open the door to your joy and greatest pleasures once again. Download the Joy List Worksheet and start adding the fun things back into your life!

Episode 12: Say No So You Can Say YES

June 10, 2019 40:44

It can be super tough to say, “No, I can’t do that.” It’s so easy for fibromyalgia to feel like an enormous taking away of things. We can’t do the job we used to do. We can’t do the activities we used to do. We can’t eat the foods we used to be able to eat. But we can do a little mindset shift and realize we’re doing it for a reason. It’s never about saying No. You learn to say “No” so that you can say “Hell YES!” to other things: the things that really matter to you, the things that will help make your life feel rich and rewarding and fun again.

Episode 09: The Fine Art of Self-Care

May 14, 2019 41:10

If you put a gun to my head and said, “Tell me the one thing that turned your life around with fibromyalgia, and you can only choose one.” That one thing would be learning the fine art of self-care, learning how to listen to my body and give her what she needs so she can heal. This is the #1 thing that will make the biggest difference in how you feel. It is also the hardest part of the job. Taking care of yourself when you don’t feel good or when you’re frustrated with your body can be so, so challenging.

Podcast: Foundations

Foundational episodes of the Fibromyalgia Podcast