| Tami Brady earned a BA and MA in Archeology | | | | looking for important information such as types of |
| before turning her interests to alternative | | | | medications, health care contacts, and doctor's |
| medicine, largely due to her own issues with | | | | appointments). |
| infertility and being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue | | | | There really isn't a right or wrong way to use |
| Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Today she provides | | | | these forms. I have included copies of my own |
| whole health therapy sessions to help people with | | | | completed forms at the end of the book if |
| Fibromyalgia and infertility issues. She is the author | | | | anyone wishes to see the types of information |
| of seven books, the latest of which is "Strategies: | | | | that could be included in these charts. However, |
| A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia | | | | my best advice for readers, especially when using |
| Journey." | | | | the strategy forms, is to fill out the sections as |
| Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Tami. I'm | | | | honestly as possible in order to gain some |
| intrigued that you've written "Strategies" as a | | | | understanding of the various symptoms and what |
| memoir. To begin, will you tell us a little bit about | | | | types of things work for them. |
| your own journey dealing with Chronic Fatigue | | | | Tyler: What are some of the most prevalent |
| Syndrome and Fibromyalgia? | | | | symptoms a person will notice if they have |
| Tami: Great to meet you, Tyler. | | | | Fibromyalgia? |
| In 1996, I was readying myself for a new phase | | | | Tami: Unfortunately, the symptoms of |
| of my life. My children were all now in school and I | | | | Fibromyalgia (such as localized pain, muscle |
| was planning to study for my archaeology degree. | | | | weakness, and memory issues) are shared with a |
| That winter, I had more than the usual number of | | | | number of other conditions ranging from |
| the flu and colds, which I attributed to stress: my | | | | accidental poisoning and problems with the thyroid |
| job, readying to go to back to school, and my | | | | glands to Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus. It really isn't |
| father-in-law's impending open-heart surgery. | | | | easy to determine if a person has Fibromyalgia. It |
| That spring, I got another bout of what I thought | | | | is for this reason that most individuals with these |
| was the flu. This one knocked me completely off | | | | kinds of symptoms have to endure a battery of |
| my feet. I could hardly get out of bed each | | | | tests and examinations before any sort of |
| morning. | | | | diagnosis is determined. |
| Unfortunately, it wasn't the flu. I spent the next | | | | Tyler: Our reviewer, Paige Lovitt, mentioned that |
| year being shuffled around from one specialist to | | | | she also has Fibromyalgia, and that like yourself |
| another trying to figure out what was wrong with | | | | she was an overachiever, which seemed to |
| me. By the time, I was diagnosed with Chronic | | | | exasperate the situation. Is Chronic Fatigue |
| Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia my health had | | | | Syndrome and Fibromyalgia something people can |
| deteriorated. I hardly slept, I was in constant pain, | | | | create for themselves due to pushing themselves |
| and my legs collapsed on a regular basis. | | | | to do too much? |
| It took me a long time to deal with my conditions. | | | | Tami: This is one of those things that no one |
| I was angry and frustrated but probably my | | | | seems to know about these conditions. It seems |
| biggest hurdle was all the denial and self | | | | to me that the majority of individuals I talk to |
| judgments. I saw my health issues as a sign that | | | | with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia |
| I was weak and a failure. So instead of listening to | | | | are extremely busy, overachievers. For a number |
| what my body was screaming to tell me, I just | | | | of years, I actually believed that I had somehow |
| kept pushing myself hoping that the pain and | | | | caused myself to become ill. |
| fatigue would dissipate on its own. | | | | Then, I came upon some material that looked at |
| Perhaps that's the most important lesson for | | | | other conditions that are commonly associated |
| those of us who live with Chronic Fatigue | | | | with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. |
| Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. We spend so much | | | | The ones that stuck out for me were |
| time and energy berating ourselves for what we | | | | Endometriosis, Renauld's Syndrome, and allergies. I |
| can't do and the lives we were forced to leave | | | | suffer from all three of these. Suddenly, I realized |
| behind that we forget about the gifts that we are | | | | that I might have actually had a predisposition to |
| given through this experience. Our fatigue and pain | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. It |
| makes us choose what's really important in our | | | | became clear to me that even though my |
| lives. These symptoms force us to be more | | | | overachiever attitude obviously made my |
| loving and kind to ourselves. If we allow them to, | | | | symptoms worse, I hadn't caused myself to |
| they can even show us a better, more content, | | | | become sick. |
| fulfilling existence. | | | | Tyler: Paige also mentioned that some people in |
| Tyler: Tami, is there a relation between Chronic | | | | the medical field still tell people that Chronic |
| Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia? Can a person | | | | Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia are only in |
| have one without the other-does one cause the | | | | their heads. What response would you give to |
| other? | | | | people skeptical about the existence of these |
| Tami: The general definition of Fibromyalgia is | | | | disorders? |
| chronic pain. One of the diagnostic tests for | | | | Tami: This is probably one of the worst parts of |
| Fibromyalgia is the presence of pain in a majority | | | | living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and |
| of particular trigger points throughout the body. | | | | Fibromyalgia. Often the symptoms of these |
| Actual symptoms vary from person to person | | | | conditions are invisible to the average person so |
| including localized pain; heaviness or weakness | | | | most people don't even realize that we are sick. |
| causing mobility issues, swelling of the joints; | | | | Therefore, when we mention we have health |
| memory and thinking impairment (fibrofog); and a | | | | issues most people are shocked. The first |
| myriad of other problems. Between four to eight | | | | reaction for many people is disbelief, even within |
| million individuals suffer with Fibromyalgia in the | | | | the medical community. |
| United States alone. Some estimates suggest that | | | | My advice to all individuals with Chronic Fatigue |
| 5% of the population actually has Fibromyalgia. | | | | and Fibromyalgia is to talk to others facing the |
| Another million people have Chronic Fatigue | | | | same issues and arm yourself with knowledge. |
| Syndrome. A large portion of individuals who have | | | | Join a discussion group or a local support group, |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also have Fibromyalgia. | | | | read whatever books or articles you can find. You |
| The most common symptom with Chronic | | | | will soon realize that you are not alone; remember |
| Fatigue Syndrome is intense fatigue, often coupled | | | | there are millions of us out there. Make use of |
| with unrecuperative sleep and chronic insomnia. | | | | these resources to build yourself a solid support |
| In my case, my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | | | | system and above all keep looking for health care |
| symptoms often exasperate my Fibromyalgia | | | | options that will fulfill your needs. |
| issues and vice versa. Far too many times a | | | | Tyler: If a person thinks he or she does have |
| string of sleepless nights has heralded a wave of | | | | Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, how should they |
| back pain or intense pain in my hip that has made | | | | go about getting diagnosed with it? Should they |
| it impossible to get any sleep. | | | | start with their local doctor, or are there |
| Tyler: Tami, why do you think it took so long for | | | | specialists or specific hospitals a person should visit |
| the doctors to diagnose you with Chronic Fatigue | | | | for treatment and diagnosis? Where did you finally |
| and Fibromyalgia, and how did you know they | | | | get diagnosed with it? |
| were correct when you were finally diagnosed | | | | Tami: Most people do start with their family |
| with it? | | | | doctor and are then referred to various specialists |
| Tami: At present, there are no definitive tests for | | | | as they go through the testing process. |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia. | | | | Afterwards, some individuals team up with |
| Moreover, since many of the symptoms are | | | | medical professionals who specialize in Chronic |
| shared with other conditions such as accidental | | | | Fatigue and Fibromyalgia for their care and |
| poisoning, problems with the thyroid glands, Lupus, | | | | management. I personally started the process |
| Multiple Sclerosis, and the like, it is extremely | | | | with my family doctor who referred me to a |
| difficult to determine that someone has Chronic | | | | variety of different specialists. The final specialist, |
| Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia. Essentially, a | | | | who gave me my diagnosis, was a Sports |
| doctor has to discount every other possible | | | | Medicine professional. |
| physical solution. Then, after psychological | | | | The sad truth is that at present going through the |
| evaluations are complete, they can finally look to | | | | process of testing and getting to the heart of |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. | | | | your health issues can be a very frustrating |
| Unfortunately, for now at least, it's just a long | | | | experience. So my best advice to people who |
| frustrating process. | | | | think they may have these conditions is to find a |
| To be honest, when I was diagnosed with Chronic | | | | health care professional with whom they feel |
| Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, I didn't | | | | comfortable. Having someone who will really listen |
| believe it was a real condition. I thought that it | | | | to you, answer your questions, and work with |
| was a made up nonsense that the doctors told | | | | you is invaluable. Don't be afraid to look around |
| people so they could ready themselves for having | | | | for someone who fits you and your needs. |
| Multiple Sclerosis. The reason I thought this was | | | | Tyler: What sorts of responses have you |
| because my aunt had recently been diagnosed | | | | received so far for the book? I know you |
| with MS and her symptoms seemed a lot like | | | | received an endorsement from Bob Rich. |
| mine. | | | | Tami: I have been overwhelmed by the positive |
| It wasn't until many years later that I came to | | | | support from both the medical community and |
| accept that I did indeed have Chronic Fatigue | | | | people living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and |
| Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. This change of heart | | | | Fibromyalgia. I have received numerous emails |
| came mostly from reading books about these | | | | from people, who like myself, pursued medical or |
| conditions and interacting with others who have | | | | alternative medical careers because of their own |
| the same issues. Even though some of the actual | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia |
| symptoms that we experienced were slightly | | | | experiences. |
| different, the locations of pain nodules, the type | | | | I've also had the privilege of having others share |
| of pain and fatigue, the progression and duration, | | | | their stories with me. Some lift my heart: those |
| and the triggering mechanisms of these | | | | who found the courage to leave a loveless |
| experiences were fascinatingly similar. | | | | marriage, left a stressful career behind, started a |
| Tyler: Why did you decide to write "Strategies"? | | | | business, let go of grief, and found the courage to |
| Tami: Strategies gradually evolved into what it is | | | | face childhood abuse. Others make my heart |
| today. It started out with lists and notes that I | | | | ache: people feeling frustrated, completely alone, |
| took with me to all my doctor appointments in | | | | and unsupported by the medical system. |
| those early years. Later, as I started writing a | | | | Tyler: Will you explain a bit about whole health |
| personal journal, my writing became more about | | | | therapy? Are you an advocate of holistic health |
| expressing my feelings in a safe way. Finally, I | | | | practices? I think some confusion exists about |
| formally began to analyze my symptoms and try | | | | holistic medicine as being outside accepted |
| to find strategies to deal with them. | | | | medicine. What concerns if any, should people |
| It was at this point that I started working on the | | | | have about holistic medicine? |
| actual text for this book. At first, I had no | | | | Tami: Whole health therapy is a methodology that |
| intention of publishing my words. I simply needed | | | | works in conjunction with other forms of health |
| to understand my own story. I had a lot of | | | | care. In my practice, I focus on Energy |
| deeply hidden emotions and insecurities that I | | | | Psychology (Reiki and various forms of spiritual |
| needed to acknowledge so that they could be | | | | healing) which is useful not only as relaxation and |
| released. | | | | coping techniques but also as a means to enhance |
| Being so very open and honest was a pretty | | | | self healing. |
| scary prospect. In truth, I think I was afraid of | | | | I am an advocate for finding what works for |
| who I might find hidden underneath all the | | | | each person. Some individuals will feel quite |
| overachieving bravado that I had built up over the | | | | comfortable looking to complementary, |
| years. Still, each time I sat down to write, I felt | | | | alternative, and holistic health care options. Others |
| another piece of a huge burden lifted from me. I | | | | may find it a little uncomfortable or ill suited to |
| began feeling content, more peaceful, and even a | | | | their personal beliefs. My best advice is to follow |
| little joyful. | | | | your intuition and do whatever works for your |
| Eventually, I knew that I had to share my story | | | | particular situation. |
| with others. Not because I was in any way special | | | | Tyler: Tami, I know this is not your first book. Will |
| but to validate the journeys of everyone who | | | | you tell us a little bit about some of the other |
| has been touched by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | | | | books you have written? |
| and Fibromyalgia. Our symptoms and our personal | | | | Tami: "Strategies" is my seventh published book |
| paths might not be exactly the same but having | | | | and my third title with Loving Healing Press. My |
| these conditions impacts our lives in a way that | | | | first book was "The Complete Being: Finding and |
| we couldn't have imagined in our wildest dreams | | | | Loving the Real You." "The Complete Being" is a |
| (or nightmares as the case might be). | | | | guide to the healthy development of the mental, |
| Tyler: Tami, you actually are very involved in the | | | | emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of the |
| alternative health field. Do you credit your own | | | | self. Readers are encouraged to use the included |
| medical issues with your interest in alternative | | | | exercises to understand their genuine nature and |
| medicine? | | | | move towards fulfilling their dreams. |
| Tami: Yes, very much so. I believe that the | | | | My second and third titles, "Blame and Judgment" |
| universe sometimes gently nudges us in just the | | | | and "From Lost to Found" were books of poetry. |
| right direction. I'm a little (okay a lot) stubborn, so | | | | As a way of sorting through my feelings, I write |
| I needed a pretty big push. | | | | poetry. Sometimes dark, sometimes full of hope, |
| I loved being an archaeologist. I really enjoyed | | | | these pieces illustrate my personal journey thus |
| traveling around the countryside and hiking in the | | | | far. |
| back country looking for artifacts and remnants | | | | My fourth book was "Regaining Control: When |
| of archaeological sites. I also liked the fact that | | | | Love Becomes a Prison." This resource was made |
| everyone knew what an archaeologist did for a | | | | specifically for those suffering from dependence |
| living. I never had to dread the "What do you do | | | | issues. This issue is near and dear to my heart. |
| for a living?" question. It never failed, the moment | | | | Due to my health issues, I've often worried about |
| I said I was an archaeologist, the person I was | | | | keeping my independence while accepting |
| talking to would begin telling me about their | | | | appropriate help. Moreover, I come from a long |
| favorite Discovery episode. It was a great | | | | line of strong women who found themselves in |
| icebreaker! | | | | abusive situations due to unhealthy dependence. |
| The major problem with archaeology (apart from | | | | My fifth and sixth books are training manuals for |
| the physical strain) was that I had to pretend a | | | | the first and second levels of Usui Reiki Ryoho, |
| lot. I had an image to uphold which was | | | | the traditional form of Reiki. These books include |
| extremely limiting. Not only did I have to fane that | | | | full instructions and the attunement needed to |
| I was in perfect physical and mental health, I felt | | | | undertake Reiki sessions. The final two books in |
| obligated to adhere to a specific range of beliefs | | | | this series are set to be published by this |
| and ways of behaving. | | | | summer. |
| As I gradually grew to love and accept myself, I | | | | Tyler: It sounds like you will be busy for a while, |
| realized that I didn't have to act a certain way to | | | | but once your two more books on Reiki are |
| be a good person. I didn't have to impress anyone | | | | published, do you have plans to write more |
| but myself. My opinions counted and my personal | | | | books, and what are your professional plans in |
| truths were just as valid as the next person's. | | | | terms of your medical practices? |
| This new line of thinking led to experimenting with | | | | Tami: I will most definitely keep on writing. Writing |
| alternative health methods such as Reiki and | | | | is one of the many gifts that I uncovered while |
| various traditional forms of spiritual healing, which | | | | on my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and |
| eventually led me to whole health therapy. Right | | | | Fibromyalgia journey. It allows me to be creative |
| now, my practice focuses primarily on Energy | | | | and share my life experiences with others. I |
| Psychology (Reiki and various form of traditional | | | | actually start to feel like something's missing in my |
| spiritual healing) as relates to Fibromyalgia and | | | | life when I'm not writing for an extended period |
| infertility. My current Ph.D. research is looking to | | | | of time. |
| expand this therapy to include aspects of Jungian | | | | In the meantime, I will be completing my Ph.D. |
| Theory (archetypes, shadow work, and dream | | | | research and will look to integrate my findings into |
| therapy), Awareness Therapy (meditation and | | | | my current whole health therapy sessions. Likely, |
| awareness), and Popular Self Help Psychology | | | | this will include meditations, journaling, awareness |
| (journaling, self love, manifesting, and belief | | | | therapy exercise in association with my current |
| analysis). | | | | Energy Psychology sessions and the use of |
| Tyler: Will you tell us about the worksheets in the | | | | techniques such as dream work, shadow work, |
| book, their purpose, and the best way to use | | | | belief analysis, and manifesting. |
| them? | | | | Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Tami. |
| Tami: The worksheets at the back of the book | | | | Before you go, will you tell our readers about |
| are copies of those resources that I originally | | | | your website and what additional information they |
| made for my own use. I have found them | | | | can find about "Strategies" and your other books? |
| invaluable for keeping me organized, getting me | | | | Tami: Thanks so much, Tyler. You can find out |
| through my worst days, and gaining some | | | | more information about me, whole health therapy, |
| understanding about the progression of my | | | | and my books on my website at My books are |
| symptoms. For ease of use, I have organized | | | | available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and other |
| these pages into three types: strategy forms (to | | | | fine retailers. |
| help keep track of various symptoms and | | | | Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is |
| strategies to alleviate these issues); keeping | | | | pleased to be joined by Tami Brady, who is here |
| upbeat (to record inspiring quotes, affirmations, | | | | to talk about her new book, "Strategies: A |
| and anything else that will help on those tough | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia |
| days); and getting organized (to combat the | | | | Journey," Loving Healing Press (2008), ISBN |
| effects of fibrofog and reduce the frustration of | | | | 9781932690484. |