Fibromyalgia Podcast®

I'm taking a break from the podcast this week celebrate my husband's birthday on a cruise to Alaska! I'll have a new episode for you on October 7th. In the meantime, feel free to check out any of the previous episodes to hold you over until then. Also... don’t forget to register for the Living Well with Fibromyalgia Summit: Holiday Edition happening October 13–24, 2025! Join me and seven of my coaches for 10 days of gentle, fibro-friendly talks designed to help you navigate the holidays with less pain and more joy. 👉 Get all the info and sign up free 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®.

Be honest — are you already wondering how you’re going to survive the holidays this year without ending up in a flare that takes weeks, or even months, to recover from? We know that feeling all too well — and that’s exactly why we've created something brand new this year: the Living Well with Fibromyalgia Summit: Holiday Edition. This is a completely free, 10-day virtual event happening October 13th through 24th, designed to help you navigate the holidays with less pain and more joy. You’ll learn: ✨ How to reduce pain and flares during the holidays ✨ How to save your energy — and your sanity ✨ How to handle stress without ending up in bed ✨ And how to actually enjoy the moments that matter most If you’re ready to step into the holidays calmer, more joyful, and flare-free, we'd love for you to join us. Sign up today 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®.

I’m excited to invite you to the Free From Chronic Pain Summit — happening now through September 25. Click here to register for free This online event brings together leading experts from around the world, and I’m honored to be one of the featured speakers. Here’s what you’ll discover: ✨ Real results from a wide variety of healing approaches ✨ Advanced tools and proven methods from top practitioners ✨ My talk: Fibromyalgia — Proven Solutions for Real Relief ✨ Free gifts from every speaker (including my Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠ Quiz + Guide) Best of all, every session is free and on-demand through September 25 — so you can watch whenever it works for you. In addition to my talk, I encourage you to check out these two speakers: Angi McClure — neuro-based movement therapist (Episode 164 of the Fibromyalgia Podcast®) Lauren Fonvielle — EFT (tapping) practitioner & coach (Episode 65 of the podcast) Their work is especially helpful for fibromyalgia pain management. And please share this event with friends, family, or co-workers living with chronic pain. It’s not just for fibromyalgia — it’s designed to help with many types of pain. Click here to register for free         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®.

Have you been hearing the buzz about the new medication approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia can come with a myriad of symptoms that make everyday life more difficult. With the limited pharmaceutical options available, the addition of another FDA-approved medication is a ray of hope. Tonmya™ is the first medication approved for fibromyalgia in over 15 years, promising a new option for those of us with fibromyalgia. Today, Tami is joined by Dr. Seth Lederman, one of the co-founders of the company that developed Tonmya™, to talk about the journey from idea to FDA approval and what it could mean for the fibromyalgia community. With decades of experience in rheumatology, immunology, and drug development, Dr. Lederman has been focused on helping people with fibromyalgia for much of his career. In this conversation, Tami and Dr. Lederman discuss his medical and research background, why he focused on fibromyalgia, advances in fibromyalgia research, the FDA approval process, why Tonmya™ targets non-restorative sleep and Dr. Harvey Moldofsky’s influence, clinical trial design, dosing studies, and FDA requirements, outcomes measured in trials and the focus on pain reduction and sleep challenges, challenges in developing Tonmya™ including high placebo response and financial risks, how Tonmya™ differs from Flexeril, side effects of Tonmya™ and how it compares to other treatments, how quickly patients may see benefits, tolerability and safety considerations, when Tonmya™ will be available and how it will be distributed, how patients can access Tonmya™ and find more information, efforts to make Tonmya™ affordable, the need for advocacy and raising awareness, future steps for Tonmya™, what you need to know about the criticisms of early Tonmya™ studies, 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. Did you catch our Virtual Open House? Tami answered the top six questions about our classes, plus the differences between our Advisor and Coach training paths, and which one might be right for you. Discover our tuition and payment options, and how our classes are tailored for fibro brains and bodies. Catch the replay of the event here. Don't like waiting? Get the full Be A Coach series NOW! Register to access 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. Use this link to subscribe. 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®.

*Trigger Warning: This episode contains content about suicide* “Getting well can be expensive. Too often, the things that help us most are the things insurance won’t cover.” – Tami Stackelhouse For too many of us living with fibromyalgia, our quality of life and access to care depend on what we can afford, not what we actually need. Coaching, acupuncture, mobility aids, functional testing, and even travelling to see the right doctor often aren’t covered by insurance. That gap leaves countless people stuck, unable to move forward on their healing journey simply because of finances. This is why The Sherri Little Foundation was created. Founded in honor of one of Tami’s clients who recognized how financial privilege shaped her fibromyalgia care, the foundation provides micro-grants to help people with chronic pain get the support they need but can’t otherwise afford. From mobility scooters to travel expenses, accessibility modifications, or certain therapies, these grants are designed to remove barriers and give you the chance to reclaim your life. In this episode, Tami discusses how financial barriers impact chronic pain patients, why The Sherri Little Foundation was created, Tami’s experience with out-of-pocket medical costs, Sherri Little’s story, the mission of the foundation to support those with limited resources, Tami’s personal connection to its work, the story of Lily, a 14-year-old grant recipient from 2024, examples of how grants have helped fill systemic gaps in accessibility and care, eligible uses for these grants, details of the 2025 grant cycle, including exactly how you can apply,  financial and age requirements for applicants, the application process, tips for preparing application materials in advance, how the grant selection committee prioritizes applications, how you can get involved and support the mission, Tami’s hopes for the future of the foundation, and more. This year, the application window will open at midnight on September 1, 2025. The window will close on September 7, 2025, or when 50 applications have been submitted, whichever comes sooner. Tami expects the foundation to reach its application limit on the day of opening or the following day, so don’t delay!     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. Did you catch our Virtual Open House? Tami answered the top six questions about our classes, plus the differences between our Advisor and Coach training paths, and which one might be right for you. Discover our tuition and payment options, and how our classes are tailored for fibro brains and bodies. Catch the replay of the event here. Don't like waiting? Get the full Be A Coach series NOW! Register to access 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. Use this link to subscribe. 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®.

“Self-care is the beginning of a path to hope.” - Micky Beaton When life feels chaotic, self-care is usually the first thing to go (if it was even there in the first place). But for those of us living with fibromyalgia, that’s when you need it the most. Deprioritizing the practices and tools that help you feel your best will lead to fibro flares, more pain, and less energy, making it even harder to keep up. Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming. It doesn’t have to be treating yourself to something extravagant. At the core, self-care is about prioritizing your health and your body and treating yourself the way you’d treat someone you love. It means listening to your body, making small, deliberate choices that support your well-being, and letting go of the guilt that often comes with putting yourself first. When you make yourself one of your “favorite people,” you create the best chance for you to have a better quality of life. Today, Tami is joined by Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Micky Beaton to talk about how you can create a reliable self-care routine that is sustainable and fits into your life. Micky was diagnosed with fibromyalgia over 20 years ago and spent many of the years since searching for answers. Recognizing that there were many other people out there with fibromyalgia who needed the right support, Micky joined the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® and then Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® training programs. In this conversation, Tami and Micky explore Micky’s diagnosis experience and early struggles with fibromyalgia, the push-crash cycle she found herself stuck in for a long time, her path to life coaching, further education, and discovering fibromyalgia coaching, why what works for one person may not work for another, finding positives in chronic illness, Micky’s ongoing learning and passion for coaching, her experience of mutual growth with clients since becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, how coaching helps clients maintain self-care and accountability, creating flexible self-care plans, what self-care really means, myths about self-care, the connection between independence and community, practical tips for delegating and overcoming perfectionism, the importance of building a support team, the pillars of self-care, why you should be having conversations with yourself, how self-care became Micky’s passion, how self-care supports medical treatments and calms the nervous system, where to start with self-care without feeling overwhelmed, how to fit self-care into already busy lives, why it’s important to begin with easy actions and celebrate small wins, why you should trust in the process and stay hopeful, 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. Join us at our next Virtual Open House! Tami will answer the top six questions about our classes. Learn the differences between our Advisor and Coach training paths, and uncover which one is right for you. Discover our tuition and payment options, and how our classes are tailored for fibro brains and bodies. Register for the FREE event here. Don't like waiting? Get the full Be A Coach series NOW! Register to access 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. Use this link to subscribe. 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®.

There aren't enough stories out there of people who have fibromyalgia and who have found ways to feel better. Many of our doctors tell us there’s nothing we can do, and it’s not uncommon to hear about how terrible life with fibromyalgia is. But while it can be debilitating, it’s not a life sentence. There’s always something else you can try to manage your fibromyalgia symptoms. Life adjustments will have to be made, but feeling better is absolutely possible, and all of our students have experienced this for themselves. After taking the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program, graduates see an average of 50% improvement in their symptoms, and after taking the Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® program, are often nearly symptom-free. Most fibromyalgia medications only offer 15-30% improvement, if they work for the individual at all. Today, in the eleventh installment of our Stories of Hope and Healing, you’re going to hear the stories of four recent graduates, as told by them. For this class, the Advisor students showed an average improvement of 66%, while our Coach students achieved scores that align with what some people consider remission. In this episode you’ll hear about how Jeannette overcame perfectionism and what she did to pace herself, why Jeannette wanted to become a coach, what she’s learned from both client wins and challenges, the tools and strategy that most helped Jeannette improve her Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) score, Jeannette’s ideal coaching clients, her advice for perfectionists just starting their healing journey, why Shelly chose community and coaching for her fibromyalgia journey, how her coach, Kim, helped her learn to manage her pace and setbacks, how Shelly achieved a 59% FIQR improvement through small, sustainable changes, Shelly’s advice for listeners who feel overwhelmed, what it was like for Jacqui to start the class during her worst fibro flare, the major differences in Jacqui’s life before and after coaching, the specific steps Jacqui took with her coach around medication, nutrition, and mindset, what inspired Jacqui to become a coach and help other fibromyalgia patients, Lauren’s experience being diagnosed during the pandemic and with two young children, Lauren’s two-year journey of gradual healing and the long-term strategies that made a difference, success stories from Lauren’s clients, how Lauren supports mothers of neurodivergent children, Lauren’s encouragement for moms navigating both fibromyalgia and caregiving, how you can get support on your fibromyalgia journey, 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®.  

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. Join us at our next Virtual Open House! Tami will answer the top six questions about our classes. Learn the differences between our Advisor and Coach training paths, and uncover which one is right for you. Discover our tuition and payment options, and how our classes are tailored for fibro brains and bodies. Register for the FREE event here. Don't like waiting? Get the full Be A Coach series NOW! Register to access 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. Use this link to subscribe. 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®.

“It’s never too late for your second spring.” - Angi McClure Have you ever felt like you were losing your physical independence because of your fibromyalgia? Maybe you struggle with tasks like climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or getting up off the floor? For many of us living with fibromyalgia, even simple daily tasks can feel draining. Strengthening your resilience is the key to adapting through life’s seasons. The good news is that, no matter what age or stage of your life you're in, there are gentle, practical, and sustainable ways to reconnect with your body, build resilience, and enhance your physical independence. Today, Tami is joined by Angi McClure, a neuro-based movement therapist and founder of Bamboo Bodies. Angi specializes in age science and supports her clients through functional Chinese medicine, nutrition, and seasonal lifestyle habits. While Angi’s work focuses on age training and longevity, the principles apply perfectly to those of us with fibromyalgia. In this conversation, Tami and Angi discuss how Angi became interested in exploring age training and her personal and professional journey into supporting older adults, the parallels between aging and living with fibromyalgia, adapting to life’s changes, why we should redefine physical independence as an athletic pursuit, recognizing the resilience of those with chronic illness and pain, why “training like an athlete” is more about mental and emotional resilience than physical exercise, the meaning of neurological resilience, why community is a crucial element in reconnecting with your body, energy management and The Spoon Theory, seasons of life and how they relate to aging and fibromyalgia, insights from Chinese medicine on life’s seasons and their impact on health, the “second spring” and why it’s never too late to adapt, how Angi bridges neuroscience and Chinese medicine, why pain is a brain output, how mindset and working on yourself builds resilience, the “threat bucket” analogy for stress and pain, practical ways to lighten your load, practical tools you can start using to support resilience, how to find joy in movement, the need for a personalized approach to movement, the benefits of qigong and playful movement, 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®.

“Listening to your body is one of the key things you need to do to make everything else work.” Over the past ten years of teaching people about fibromyalgia, Tami has seen certain issues repeatedly come up that get in the way of the healing journey. Last week, during our Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® training class, a student raised an important question about how we identify these issues when we have a client who isn’t improving as we would like them to. The more you learn about fibromyalgia, the more aware you are of tools that could help you and why your symptoms may not be improving. At the same time, some less obvious issues often go unnoticed but must be addressed to make progress. Things like working with a doctor who doesn’t quite know what to do with us, being in a season of life that doesn’t allow us to prioritize ourselves, or unconscious trauma responses that block us from making the changes we need to. In today’s episode, Tami is sharing the top three hidden reasons why your fibromyalgia symptoms might not be improving. She discusses why not listening to your body can block healing (whether or not it’s unintentional), the key difference between consciously ignoring your body and being unaware of what it needs, the benefits of writing your body’s owner’s manual, how trauma can make it harder to manage your symptoms, acknowledging that rest and awareness are essential for healing, how undiagnosed or undertreated health conditions can get in the way of your healing journey, underlying conditions that Tami had to address as a part of her fibro journey, advocating for yourself and finding medical professionals who listen, how fibromyalgia amplifies other sources of pain, the importance of being realistic and managing expectations, why some people may not be ready, willing, or able to do the work required for improvement, when it’s okay not to do the work, support for those facing financial or geographic limitations, 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®.

In this special bonus episode, Tami is sharing a recent guest appearance she made on the To Your Health podcast hosted by Esther Avant. Esther is a health industry veteran with 20 years of experience, passionately helping people stop starting over so they can build the consistency and confidence to create the kind of life they want — starting with their health. Through her work, Esther shares practical tools and new ways of thinking to help audiences focus on what matters, lean on those who can help, and take compassionate ownership of the process. With the To Your Health podcast, Esther empowers women to make meaningful, lasting changes for their physical, mental, and emotional health. In the interview, Tami and Esther discuss everything from the basics of what fibromyalgia is, to how to tell the difference between fibromyalgia and other conditions like menopause. Tami also gives you some tips to better budget your energy and how to communicate better with your loved ones. Tami also discusses some mindset shifts that can really make a difference as you’re learning to manage your fibromyalgia. If you enjoy this episode, please check out the rest of Esther’s podcast here.     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®.

“It’s pretty amazing how much stress, emotion, memory, and trauma the pelvic bowl itself holds.” - Dr. Desiree Cassell Pelvic floor health is important to all of us. We all have a pelvic floor, and pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to everything from incontinence and painful sex, which you might expect, but also knee, back, and hip pain, and even TMJ. This dysfunction can stem from many different types of triggers, and the signs are not always obvious. Seeking out a specialized pelvic floor PT who is trauma-informed and understands the importance of an internal assessment can be life-changing for many women experiencing pelvic floor issues, as Tami has seen for many of her fibro clients. Today, Tami is joined by Dr. Desiree Cassell, an expert pelvic floor physical therapist. After her first pregnancy, Dr. Desiree suffered from her own pelvic floor dysfunction, which she was able to resolve completely during her second pregnancy. This experience led to her passion in educating, empowering, and supporting other women throughout their lifespan, so that they don’t have to accept these common issues as part of life. In this conversation, Dr. Desiree and Tami discuss how to find a qualified pelvic floor physical therapist and why in-person exams matter, what the pelvic floor is, how it works, and how pelvic PT differs from traditional physical therapy, why internal pelvic floor assessments are important, how they help to break stigma, what to expect during an internal assessment, what these assessments can reveal about your pain, how to choose a trauma-informed pelvic floor therapist, why comfort and trust are essential, common symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, why the condition is often misunderstood, the connection between your pelvic floor and the rest of your body, the impact of surgeries like C-sections and hysterectomies on pelvic health, the lack of follow-up care, how fascia, scar tissue, and emotional trauma can affect your pelvic floor and overall well-being, what to do if you’ve had surgery or trauma without pelvic floor rehab, breathwork to support pelvic floor healing and nervous system regulation, practical breathwork tips for identifying and releasing tension in your body, 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®.

In this special bonus episode, Tami is sharing a recent guest appearance she made on the Manders Mindset podcast hosted by Amanda Russo. Also known as The Breathing Goddess, Amanda is a Breathwork Detox Facilitator, Transformative Mindset Coach, and Divorce Paralegal. Amanda's journey into mindset and empowerment began by working with children in group homes and daycares. She later transitioned to family law, helping people navigate the challenging emotions of divorce. During this time, Amanda also overcame her own weight and health challenges through strength training, meditation, yoga, reiki, and plant medicine. The Manders Mindset podcast is where real people tell how shifting their mindsets—and often their words—has dramatically changed their lives. In the interview, Tami and Amanda discuss the realities of living with a chronic illness that most doctors don’t know how to treat, the emotional toll of being dismissed, the myths around fibromyalgia, what true healing looks like, the role radical self-awareness plays in that true healing journey, and why Tami decided to become the coach she wishes she would’ve had when she was first diagnosed. If you enjoy this episode, please check out the rest of Amanda’s podcast here.     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®.

“Autism is not a problem that needs to be solved. Our co-occurring conditions are what need to be solved or accommodated.” - Dr. Angela Kingdon Did you know 41% of people with strong autistic traits also have fibromyalgia? It works the other way around, too, with 10 to 20% of people with fibromyalgia having autistic traits. Even for those of us who only have one of the two, there are many parallels, and our shared experiences are numerous. Embracing this as part of our identity and accepting the strengths and challenges associated with fibromyalgia and autism is the key to finding new levels of joy and healing. Today, Tami is joined by Dr. Angela Kingdon to talk about the connection between autism and fibromyalgia and clear up the rampant misinformation around autism. Angela is a dynamic autistic advocate, author, and speaker renowned for her impactful work in promoting neurodiversity and supporting autistic individuals.  In this conversation, Angela and Tami discuss Angela's experiences from late diagnosis to burnout, statistics on fibromyalgia and autism, understanding the concept of autistic traits, the challenges in obtaining an autism diagnosis for women and people of color, the importance of self-diagnosis in managing your health, how masking can complicate autism diagnosis, risks associated with high masking, the growing recognition of fibromyalgia and autism in healthcare, the stigmatization and misunderstanding of autism, why it’s important to research and request accommodations the causes of autism, debunking the vaccine controversy, the impact of genetics vs. environment in developing autism, the need for more research to support autistic individuals, the prevalence of fibromyalgia and other conditions among autistic individuals, creating an inclusive environment that benefits everyone, recognizing autism as a different way of processing information, synaptic pruning in brain development and its relation to autism, differences in sensory processing in autistic brains, the uniqueness of each autistic individual's experience and the need for personalized accommodations, managing overwhelming situations and their impact on the nervous system, how societal factors influence the expression of autism, what do to next if you think you may be autistic, reasons for seeking a formal autism diagnosis, challenges associated with having a fibromyalgia or autism diagnosis, common misconceptions related to autism, navigating the pressure to conform, social challenges faced by autistic individuals and the desire for connection, comparing experiences of autism and fibromyalgia, the shift from viewing autism as a medical issue to embracing it as part of your identity, the role of coaching, the correlation between identity acceptance and mental health outcomes, accepting your identity as the first step in the healing process, the benefits of having a supportive community of people with similar experiences, the challenges of labels in the autistic community, understanding the spectrum concept in autism, how autism and fibromyalgia symptoms can vary from day to day based on numerous factors, finding joy in your identity, the bond between fibromyalgia and autism communities, 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®.

“Inflammation is one of the root causes of many of our health issues, and we have the power to overcome it.” Western medicine has a toolkit that can be very effective, but, especially as fibromyalgia patients, we need options. Whether it’s a prescription, practice, or natural supplement, expanding our fibro toolkit means that we’re prepared no matter how life shifts on us. That’s where natural options like turmeric can be an important addition to your fibro toolbox for managing symptoms like pain and inflammation. In this Ask the Coach episode, Tami is joined by Dr. Shivani Gupta, an Ayurvedic practitioner who has her PhD in turmeric. In a world where conventional pain medications are no longer our first choice, the powerful anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric and its active compound, curcumin, have gained significant attention as natural alternatives. In this conversation, Tami and Dr. Shivani discuss Ayurveda, its history, and its holistic approach to health and healing,  key principles of Ayurveda, why Dr. Shivani chose to study Ayurveda, her PhD research on turmeric, the difference between turmeric and curcumin, curcumin's potency and why consuming turmeric itself is probably not enough, how Dr. Shivani developed her products, the role of sleep in reducing inflammation and overall health management, the importance of sourcing high-quality curcumin, the lack of regulation in the supplement industry, why she chose to have her products third-party tested, Tami and Dr. Shivani’s experiences with supplement quality and safety, the surprising statistics around loq quality and counterfeit supplements, the high standards required for supplements used in functional medicine, balancing natural remedies with conventional medicine for effective treatment, how to start supplementing with curcumin, who should avoid taking curcumin, the role of health coaches in simplifying health management, what to look for in your search for high-quality supplements, 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®.

1 in 16 people in the US are affected by fibromyalgia, and 1 in 13 women specifically—that’s about 6.4% of the population. To put these statistics 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. Despite the similarity in prevalence, fibromyalgia has a long way to go in terms of awareness and medical training when compared to these other conditions.  In our mission to improve this, a critical avenue for increasing awareness has been obtaining official proclamations for states to recognize May as Fibromyalgia Awareness Month and May 12th as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Governor’s Proclamations are powerful tools that help advocates validate the struggles faced by fibromyalgia patients and garner support from state officials. This can lead to increased funding for research and better resources for those of us living with fibromyalgia. Today, Tami is joined by her best friend and fellow advocate, Melissa Swanson. A few years ago, Tami and Melissa decided to bring together their communities, along with several other fibromyalgia organizations, and coordinate the efforts to obtain a Governor's Proclamation in every state. Their goal is to "color the map purple" for fibromyalgia awareness, and Melissa is the coordinator for this effort. In this conversation, Melissa and Tami discuss what a Governor's Proclamation is, how it helps to raise credibility and awareness, the steps involved in requesting a Governor's Proclamation, the criteria we make sure to cover in Proclamation requests, why May 12th was chosen as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, working with various fibromyalgia organizations to obtain Proclamations, how Melissa helps individuals with the application process, their progress on the goal ot “color the map purple”, the benefits of coordinating with various groups in obtaining Proclamations, how you can help in your state, how collective efforts strengthen the push for fibromyalgia awareness, reasons for denial of Proclamation requests, the application timeline and how the process varies by state, Melissa’s preparations for the next round of applications, the ongoing need for help regardless of your state’s status, Tami’s experience requesting a Governor’s Proclamation in Oregon, statistics on fibromyalgia's prevalence among the U.S., why we need your help, upcoming events related to Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, and more. Every voice matters in the fight for awareness and support for fibromyalgia. Let’s work together to make a difference.   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 you receive a fibromyalgia diagnosis, it’s natural to wonder if things will ever get better. With the lack of fibro education in medical schools, many of us received our diagnosis alongside a statement that we “just have to learn to live with it”. With such a bleak prognosis, the road ahead becomes much more difficult than it needs to be. The good news is, we can all feel better. A fulfilling life with fibromyalgia is possible, and recognizing that makes a significant difference. Far from the doom and gloom statements many of us have encountered, there's so much you can learn and do to improve your fibromyalgia symptoms. Even if you think you’ve tried it all, there’s always something else to try. Today, Tami is joined by fibromyalgia educators and advocates, Dr. Ginevra Liptan and Sharon Waldrop. Dr. Ginevra and Sharon recently launched The Fibro Show on YouTube as part of their mission to spread awareness and empower people living with fibromyalgia. They’re sharing their fibro journeys and sharing resources you can access to improve your life with fibromyalgia. In this conversation, Dr. Ginevra, Sharon, and Tami discuss Dr. Ginevra’s progress since her last time as a guest, her decision to create a YouTube show, Sharon's fibromyalgia journey and the challenges she faced at a young age, her decision to form the Fibromyalgia Association and how it has evolved, the difficulties she faced in finding adequate support after her diagnosis, the important recognition that a fulfilling life is possible despite her fibromyalgia diagnosis, Dr. Ginevra and Sharon’s mission for The Fibro Show, how the Fibromyalgia Association expanded into a national community with international reach, the need for support groups to focus on education and actionable solutions, plans for the upcoming Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Conference, what you can expect to experience at the virtual conference, actionable strategies for self-care, why sponsors are critical, the advantages of virtual events for accessibility and comfort for people with fibro, what it’s been like creating a YouTube show for fibromyalgia education, upcoming interviews and the format of the new YouTube show, why collaboration is crucial to enhance awareness and support in the fibromyalgia community, funding issues for fibromyalgia initiatives and the need for financial support, educating healthcare providers about fibromyalgia, Tami’s experience speaking to medical students about pain and fibromyalgia awareness, the lack of fibro education in the medical school curriculum, Dr. Ginevra’s plans for the next stage of her career, making space for new experiences and personal growth, Sharon’s upcoming plans and her focus on menopause coaching, the overlap between menopause and fibromyalgia symptoms in women, upcoming Fibromyalgia Awareness Day events in the US and Europe, and more. If you have ever felt alone in your fibromyalgia or frustrated at the lack of awareness and resources, this episode is for you.     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®.