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    Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey
    Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey
    Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey
    Ebook194 pages1 hour

    Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey

    By Tami Brady

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    It is estimated that 4-8 million people in the United States suffer with Fibromyalgia. Another one million also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Some statistics state that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia may directly affect 5% of the world's population.
    I am one of the individuals in this growing epidemic. In 1997, after a chaotic year of intense medical and psychological testing, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. I spent much of the last ten years in deep denial feeling alone, confused, frustrated, and angry. It has taken me a great deal of soul searching, but I believe that today I am a better, more centered person because of my experiences.
    I've never been someone who dictates advice, so my book provides worksheets you can develop to tailor your personal responses to symptoms and crises. It is the good, the bad, and the ugly of my personal journey that I share with you, my fellow Fibromites. My hope is simple, that you will find solace and renewed hope in my words.
    What People Are Saying About Strategies
    "This book is a passionate, intense account of one person's conquest over suffering. As a psychologist working with chronic pain sufferers, I can endorse Ms. Brady's philosophy, approach and tools." -Bob Rich, PhD, author Cancer: A Personal Challenge
    Another great self-help book from Loving Healing Press

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLoving Healing Press
    Release dateJun 29, 2007
    ISBN9781615999316
    Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey

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    Reviews for Strategies

    4/5

    16 ratings7 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Although considered a self-help or health & fitness book this is actually a personal narrative of the author's experiences with having fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Having lived with both of these diseases for over two decades I was excited to have the opportunity to review this book. However, my excitement quickly faded. The impact of FMS & CFS on one's life is greatly minimized in these pages. The author never fully imparts how truly devastating these diseases are, she does not convey the extreme pain one deals with on a daily basis or how a sufferer never knows from one day to the next what life will be like. Nor does she impart how a FMS sufferer is at the mercy of the weather, especially cold, damp conditions that leave one almost completely incapacitated. The fact that the author evidently takes no medication or regularly sees a doctor for her conditions also minimizes the true impact these conditions can have on one's life. Most of us are not capable of living without some form of medication and the fact that the author chooses to do so may lead a non-sufferer to believe that the diseases are not as debilitating as they truly are.The work sheets in the back of the book, designed for helping you to create a coping strategy, are perhaps the best part of the book. These are a valuable resource for someone who has been newly diagnosed, but long time sufferers will not have need of them for we have already devised our system of coping mechanisms and strategies. The resources section is another plus as it is comprehensive and well worth exploring.Overall I found the book to be a disappointment. There are many people who do not believe these diseases exits, or if they do, they believe they are not as debilitating as sufferers say. This book will do nothing to help change these beliefs simply because the impact on the author's life is never fully defined. Her days spent in bed, unable to care for her children are mentioned in passing. Her struggle to earn a degree and gain a career seem as if they were not a struggle at all and the overall tone of the book is one of "Look at me! I can be Superwoman even though I am ill!". This attitude is the one that hurts sufferers the most. It's the one we have been trying to overcome for years so our pain and suffering is acknowledge as valid, debilitating and not something to be taken lightly. I fear this book will only reinforce the belief that we all can still be Superwoman even though we have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.However, I fully agree with the author stating that sufferers become great actresses in order to mask their symptoms from the world and that the majority of people never realize the afflicted have health issues because they cannot see it. I also agree with her stating that being keyed in to the smaller symptoms and taking care of them right away can often prevent a major flare up from occurring. I also believe, like the author, that we should each take our healing into our own hands, that using alternative methods such as Reiki and meditation is a very worthwhile approach. As an herbalist, aromatherapist and level II Reiki practitioner I absolutely see the merit in pursing this angle even though it is often unsuccessful for the majority of sufferers. There are numerous spelling, grammatical and improper word usage errors. For instance, in one passage the author describes a man who loves to cook as missing his calling as a "chief" when in actuality it should say "chef". This mis-usage of that word happens twice within the same section and comes across as laughable. Yes, these are ultimately the fault of the editor and publisher, but they do reflect poorly on the book itself.
    • 4/5
      This is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. This is more than just a medical book giving health definitions, it is a story of a lady who has battled both of these illnesses and have found ways to make her life better in the midst of pain. We see in the beginning of the book that after living for a few weeks in a fog that the author was determined to get her life back. She made an appointment with the doctor and stated she was done with the pills and her physician stopped seeing her. One thing she learned was to not depend upon a doctor, rather she sat out to read, listen and learn more about what was going on within her body and found ways to try and improve the symptoms. Being positive and never giving in to the pain was paramount in finding ways to beat the intense level of pain.Chapters 7 - 11 are very helpful and insightful. It is here that she has some major transformations and begins to look beyond just the pain in search of something that would help her improve. She later declares that having these two issues within her life caused her to focus on what was really important in life. She has learned how to spend her time and energy wiser. Later in the book there are summaries and strategies given that are a great resource. The author also includes a place for the reader to write their own issues down. Having a journal and recording what is happening to the individual is so important in knowing what to do to bring about healing. There are also sections for: Medications and Supplements as well as a Resource Guide listing websites of help groups. This is a very well written and insightful book. it is easy to read and understand without getting bogged down in deep medical language.I was provided this book from reviewthebook.com for my honest evaluation. 4 of 5 stars.
    • 5/5
      The story of one women's Journey of being diagnosed and living with potential debilitating conditions known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Along the way she developed strategies for dealing with the sometimes crippling pain and mental confusion she aptly names fibrofog. A heartwarming revelation of one's expectations, goals and struggles. Interlaced with encouraging and humorous quotes that introduce each chapter. Amazing enough she maintains a hectic lifestyle even for someone without these conditions. She is a wife, mom, an Archaeologist and self-described workaholic that won't let anything hold her back, especially a medical condition. A testament to one women's perseverance which provides encouragement and hope to anyone with any serious medical condition or someone who may have a loved one dealing with a ongoing condition.
    • 4/5
      I received this book through Early Reviewers, and am glad to have read it. It describes the authors' journey through the difficulties of having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. It's relevant to me because I also have Fibromyalgia, TMD and Chronic Pain Syndrome. It's inspiring to read about another's journey through pain, fatigue, and the great courage she had to find a way to live with these debilitating diseases. Her writing is eloquent, and she brings hope to those who have yet to find ways to find some relief from the myriad of symptoms that come with these auto-immune diseases. She also offers up suggestions of things to try for relief that have helped her to cope. It's also good to know that those of us who are experiencing these diseases are not alone.
    • 3/5
      Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey is a journal written by Tami Brady about her discoveries of having these diseases and how she has learned to deal with them. Having at least two people in my own family who MIGHT have this problem, I found it difficult at first to read about all her many problems because i've heard such neverending and similar complaints from my family members But there is a lot of information that I am sure could be helpful for them as well as others who are trying to decipher this intricate malady. Initially it is depressing and a bit difficult to stay with. The book reads quickly, however, and soon gets into 'taking the bull by the horns' as the writer moves on to develop her own personal method of coping . Here there is a wealth of advice and discussion of what she has done to help herself. Brady has beaten down her demons and ends the journal with an optimistic outlook full of hope. I have no doubt that those battling these same conditions can find hope and some answers in this book. Also included is a generous amount of open pages for the use of the reader, and a really great reference section. I see it as a useful read for those who are seeking help with these problems. At the very least, they can realize they are not alone with their trouble.
    • 3/5
      I admire Brady for telling her story in Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey. I found many of her experiences to be interesting and comforting. I especially liked the list of resources at the back of the book and the inspirational quotes that open each chapter. However, I did not find the charts and tables which are meant to help with executing the suggested strategies to be helpful, but rather wasted space. While I am an advocate for trying alternative therapies and treatments, I found Brady’s relentless suggestion to practice Reiki aggravating. Overall, this book is geared toward a Canadian audience – as an American I wasn’t familiar with some of the drugs and medicaments that were suggested. Bottom line –check the book out at the library and save your money. I expect that the gross grammatical and spelling errors will be corrected before publication. - The next book you write I suggest you get a different editor!
    • 3/5
      Every Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia patient has a unique story to tell. In Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey, Tami Brady shares her experiences with these two debilitating illnesses.I could see a lot of my own experiences in those of Ms. Brady. Like Ms. Brady, my illness made itself apparent after a very stressful period in my life. I also endured the frustration that came from waiting for months for a correct diagnosis. Even after I received that diagnosis, there was very little offered to me in the way of treatment options. As Ms. Brady noted: “No follow up visits. No care regime. The rest was left up to me.” Many patients will see something of themselves in the author’s struggle to adjust to life with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.The book, however, seems a little unbalanced. The first ten chapters chronicle her journey to diagnosis and accepting the limitations that come from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. The last four chapters are aimed at specific strategies for living with both conditions. These four chapters are incredibly helpful and well-organized, but they make up a very small portion of the book. There were also many typographical and grammatical errors throughout the book. These were extremely distracting to me during my reading. I hope that these errors will be corrected in future printings.I enjoyed reading this book and found it helpful to my own struggle – both physical and mental – that comes from living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. As Ms. Brady states in the Foreword, “In the end, we are all changed forever. On good days, I believe for the better.”

    Book preview

    Strategies - Tami Brady

    Preface

    In the spring of 1997, I got what I thought was a really bad case of the flu. It wasn’t. My symptoms worsened and after consultation with numerous specialists I was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. I spent the next decade alternately denying my illness and trying to find a cure so I could get back to my regular life. Instead, what I found was an entirely different existence filled with countless strategies to deal with my symptoms.

    In the years since, I have viewed my health conditions as both my downfall and the most amazing gift I have ever been given. My period of denial pushed me to do some really amazing things. I completed both my BA and MA in archaeology and heritage, with honours and distinction. I started my own archaeological consulting company. I wrote and published my first book, a self-help work titled The Complete Being: Finding and Loving the Real You. I created online courses, wrote several regular columns, served as contributor liaison for an archaeological magazine, and acted as dean for an online university.

    My period of acceptance led me to a quieter place, where I have the ability to be myself without excuse or embarrassment; where my health and my family are my main priorities; where I feel loved and valuable for the person I am; where I feel free to undertake work that I feel is important and worthwhile; and where I am content.

    Sometimes, on bad days, I feel isolated and depressed. I am angry that my life has been taken from me. It’s a struggle to use what little energy and strength I have to get through the day. Thoughts of my lost dreams and the knowledge that tight budgets will always be my constant companions are sometimes almost too much to bear.

    Still, these realizations and moments of darkness make me treasure my good days. On these brighter days, I feel like I am exactly where I need to be. Each experience, each page that gets written in a frenzy of activity, every time I don’t huff and puff when I climb the hill behind my house, and whenever I remember some tiny bit of trivia that I had thought was forever forgotten in the fibrofog of the day before, I realize that I am blessed. I know how much of my life I had previously been taking for granted. I remember how little I actually listened to and enjoyed my children in the past. I see what’s really truly important.

    What follows is the story of my experiences: how I came to a more peaceful place and the struggles that I continue to work through each day. Those of you with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia will likely see yourself in my experiences. Although our symptoms and our paths to find balance and contentment might differ, having these health issues impacts our life in ways that we could never have imagined even in our wildest dreams (or nightmares as the case may be). In the end, we are all changed forever. On good days, I believe for the better.

    All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without the benefit of experience.

    —Henry Miller (1891-1980)

    The spring of 1997 was both a time of great hope and a period of incredible stress. I had been going through a number of major changes in my life. For about four years, I had been working at a local museum as a glorified tour guide. When I first started at the museum, I absolutely loved it. Before that point, I had been a stay-at-home-mom. Before that I was in high school. Despite the seeming hopelessness of my situation, I had always hoped to go to university and study archaeology and history. Working at the museum was my personal test to see if I really liked history enough to focus on it for a living. Secretly, I also wanted to be sure that I was smart enough to actually take in large amounts of academic information.

    I started out at the museum as a volunteer and although I am a fairly introverted person, I blossomed as a tour guide. Before the first season was complete, I was asked to take a paid part-time position the following year.

    I read every local history book I could get my hands on. I listened intently to my supervisor who was a wealth of information. It felt great to share my newfound knowledge with others and freeing to have amazing academic conversations with my colleagues. My self confidence rose to new heights until I actually believed I was smart enough to go to university and earn my degree.

    In the summer of 1995, I started taking university level correspondence courses in history and anthropology with the intention of transferring over to the local university full time in the fall of 1997, when my youngest child started school full time. Although the course work was demanding, I fell into university study like I had been born for it. I was organized and managed to take care of my duties at home, at work, and still get good marks. I felt I was ready for more.

    In 1996, the museum hired a new curator. This new curator wasn’t a people person like the previous one. She micromanaged, was straight by the book, and brought with her a wave of political chaos that left everyone feeling undervalued and attacked. Staff members took sides, volunteers quit, and everyone was miserable. I eventually dreaded going to work. By the spring of 1997, I was more than ready to quit and start full time university classes.

    At home, my life also started to fall apart. My father-in-law was preparing for open heart surgery. It was agreed that he and my mother-in-law would stay with us during the process. I don’t think I had a clue what I was in for and I don’t think I was realistic in my vision of what this surgery might entail.

    I love my in-laws and even believe that they love me in their own way. However, we have never really gotten along. To this day, I’m not sure if it’s because we are so very different (different lifestyles, values, belief systems, and life goals) or if it’s because we are so very alike (all or nothing thinking, unable to share our true feelings, and most importantly a strong sense of family protectiveness). The truth is that I think I agreed to my inlaws stay at our house just so that they would accept me into the family and love me the way I needed to be loved by them. I was so very naïve.

    We soon found out that heart surgery isn’t a one time event with a few weeks of stress. My father-in-law had almost a year of tests and consultations before the actual surgery. A few times a month, he and my mother-in-law would stay with us for a week or two for another round of tests or yet another set of appointments. We were all stressed, frustrated and scared. We all wanted to get the operation done and over before my father-in-law had another heart attack. No one talked about the what ifs but these unsaid thoughts took over every aspect of our lives. The surgery was eventually scheduled for the fall of 1997, just as I was entering university.

    There was no doubt that I was under a lot of stress (from work, the worries about my father in-law, the financial stress of housing two extra people, and the anxiety over starting university in the fall), so it didn’t really surprise me that I got a lot more colds during the winter of 1996-97. It seemed like I would just get rid of one bout of flu and the next week I had a cold. I was getting pretty run down and bitchy but I persevered.

    Later that spring, I had what I thought was a really bad case of the flu. My body was one big ache and the fatigue was debilitating. It knocked me flat on my back to a point where completing daily chores became almost impossible. This was definitely not a good situation when I already felt that my in-laws thought that I was a bad housekeeper and wife.

    I eventually went to the local clinic to see if there was something I could do to get over this horrible flu bout. Regrettably, the appointment didn’t go quite as I expected. The doctor told me that I could have glandular fever (a.k.a. mononucleosis) and took a blood test. Now, I was really upset. I was sure that the only way I could have contracted mononucleo-sis was if my husband was cheating on me. After all, in high school everyone called it the kissing disease. I was pretty angry and it was a long week until the tests came back negative.

    Unfortunately, even though the tests were negative for mononucleosis, my worries weren’t yet over. The doctor told me that he had no idea why I was sick but that it was definitely something because my white cell count was irregular. I believe he told me to consult my family doctor but that’s a little fuzzy in my memory.

    The next few weeks were a blur of bad getting horribly

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