Conquering Your Fibromyalgia Podcast

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Good sleep routines, known as sleep hygiene, can promote healthy sleep, but poor sleep habits can worsen restorative sleep. This week's episode will look at the nonmedication treatment of sleep problems. Management of Fibro and related problems involves multiple approaches working simultaneously to reduce pain, fatigue, and brain fog, and sleep is an im...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions In this week's episode, we look at the impact sleep deprivation has on emotional eating and weight gain, which can worsen underlying conditions more common in those with fibromyalgia, like sleep apnea. We also look at the impact of ADHD and PTSD, which involve our emotions,  on our ability to get good restorative sleep. Dr. Lenz is an internist, pediatr...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Today we continue the conversation around sleep and fibromyalgia by looking into sleep apnea, another common medical condition in those with fibromyalgia. While fibromyalgia is more common in women than men, sleep apnea is often considered in men, being eight times more likely to be recognized than in women. There are different reasons for this. Men are like...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Like many with fibromyalgia, you may wonder, "why don't I sleep well? Why am I exhausted even after sleeping for 7-9 hours? Why do I get "sore" from sleeping? Why is sleeping painful? I'll finally get some awful pain to subside; I drift off into bliss eventually…. But then, when I wake up from sleep, I'm wincing from horrible pa...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions This is the first part of a more in-depth discussion on sleep and fibromyalgia that I spoke at on November 5th for the virtual Fibromyalgia Care Conference. This week you'll hear an in-depth discussion on restless leg syndrome and periodic limb disorder, which are common in those with fibro, but typically not recognized, let alone diagnosed or treated....

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions This is the third part of a 3 part series of an interview with Adam, a patient of mine who went through 8 challenging years after being originally diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease and seeing no improvements. His subsequent journey will resonate with many, but the reversal of his fibromyalgia inspires and offers hope for those stuck in despair. Dr. Lenz is...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions This is the second part of a series of an interview with Adam, a patient of mine who went through 8 challenging years after being originally diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease and seeing no improvements. His subsequent journey will resonate with many, but the reversal of his fibromyalgia inspires and offers hope for those stuck in despair. Dr. Lenz is an in...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions This week we start a series with an interview with Adam, a patient of mine who went through 8 challenging years after being originally diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease and seeing no improvements. His subsequent journey will resonate with many, but the reversal of his fibromyalgia inspires and offers hope for those stuck in despair. Dr. Lenz is an internis...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions In this week's episode, we hear some of the struggles people with Chronic Lyme identify with. A study from John Hopkins Lyme Research Center on the development of post-Lyme Treatment Syndrome after acute Lyme is discussed. A fair number have persistent symptoms despite appropriate treatment. We also discuss cytokines, the molecules that are released whe...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions In this week's episode, we discuss some claims about Chronic Lyme taking a deep dive into some of the science. What is Post-treatment Lyme disease Syndrome? Is it related to Long Haul COVID Syndrome? Is there a connection between these and fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome? Dr. Lenz is an internist, pediatrician, lifestyle medicine physician, an...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions On this week's episode we discuss acute and late Lyme and the discuss a condition called by some Chronic Lyme. Chronic Lyme is nebulous and many feel those who have been diagnosed meet the criteria for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The topic of Lyme disease is relevant to fibromyalgia because many people have been diagnosed with Chronic Lym...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions In this episode, I interview  Dr. Zac Telfer to discuss medical training, the history of Lyme disease, and how and who discovered it. We then discuss acute Lyme disease. Lyme disease, in many aspects, is very straightforward, but in others, it can be confusing and even controversial. Living in Wisconsin, I have seen many with acute Lyme disease and helped th...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Living with fibromyalgia affects the mind, body, and spirit. This week discusses finding existential meaning in life and the concept of a metanarrative. Luke Thompson, a philosophy professor and pastor, shares wisdom and insights into the problems of pain and suffering.  Medical doctors and scientists often don't talk about faith and spirituality with t...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Living with fibromyalgia affects the mind, body, and spirit. Those with fibromyalgia can feel like the "least of these," often feeling overlooked, invalidated, and in great despair. This series discusses finding meaning in life with Luke Thompson, a philosophy professor and pastor, as he shares wisdom and insights into the problems of pain and suff...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Living with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions can be extremely challenging. This series discusses finding meaning in life with Luke Thompson, a philosophy professor and pastor, as he shares wisdom and insights into the problems of pain and suffering.  Medical doctors and scientists often don't talk about beliefs, but it affects everybody, a...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions What is the impact of a comprehensive approach to migraines? In part 3 of the conversation with Dr. Cheyette, a pediatric neurologist, you will learn about the powerful effect of bridging the best of medical management and lifestyle medicine. You will learn that the cost savings to the patient, family, and society are tremendous. You will also learn hopeful...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions This week's episode discusses concussions and their connection with migraines and ADHD. Migraines fall under the umbrella of fibromyalgia. Both involve problems in how the brain and central nervous system process stimuli. You are sure to gain greater insight into both of these. You can learn more about Dr. Cheyette through her website. Dr. Lenz is an in...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions This is the first of a 3 part conversation with Dr. Cheyette, a pediatric neurologist and author with a special interest in migraines and ADHD. Migraines fall under the umbrella of fibromyalgia. Both involve problems in how the brain and central nervous system process stimuli. You are sure to gain greater insight into both of these. You can learn more about...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Many people with fibromyalgia have tremendous frustration and disappointment in the medical system. The reasons include delay in diagnosis and little hope for improvement when it is finally diagnosed. Sadly, Margaret was never diagnosed. Only through a retrospective look at her life can the connections be made. Hopefully, her story will help physicians be mo...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Things went from bad to worse as Margaret's husband John had a myocardial infarction and heart failure. The deterioration in his health impacted Margaret similarly to before when caring for her father, but her own health was tenuous at best prior to John's sudden decline. This pushed her to the breaking point. Continue on the journey back in time l...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Margaret is seen at John's Hopkins research hospital in an attempt to find an explanation and cure. What they found was that her chronic symptoms were idiopathic except for a possible disc herniation. What happened? Listen to hear the rest of her heroic saga with fibromyalgia and related problems. Continue on the journey back in time listening to what i...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions In this week's episode, we hear about Margaret's success and then a sudden fall with the development of severe headaches. She also endured the heavy crosses of caring for her father who had prolonged care needs for years before he passed. Continue on the journey back in time listening to what it was like to have fibromyalgia and related problems 10...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions This week Margaret's book finally gets published. This success causes her problems. She has the task of giving speeches about her book but finds it very taxing on her causing pain. Continue on the journey back in time listening to what it was like to have fibromyalgia and related problems 100 years ago. As a doctor passionate about helping those struggl...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions This week we discuss attempts to treat fibromyalgia 100 years ago. We look at the medical management of illness until the mid-1800s.  You will hear about the 4 humors,  the medical paradigm for understanding. With the advent of anesthesia and development of germ theory in the pre-antibiotic world, Margaret entered the medical establishment of her day. Contin...

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Margaret Mitchell fears the worst after she develops breast pain. Early in her novel writing she had so many barriers to overcome not the least was tending to the health needs of others. Continue on the journey back in time listening to what it was like to have fibromyalgia and related problems 100 years ago. As a doctor passionate about helping those strugg...