Becoming an Empowered Patient with Gisèle McDiarmid
Having been through the Western medical system for 20 years without meaningful change, Gisèle McDiarmid decided to take her health into her own hands. She felt the need to explore further and find specialists who knew about invisible illnesses, and she finally received a diagnosis and the help she needed to rebuild her health. With that, she finally had enough energy to focus on empowering herself to maintain her health and well-being as much as possible without invasive interventions. That’s when she learned about the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute (IFC) and our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program. Today Tami welcomes Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Gisèle McDiarmid to share her experience in our training programs. In this conversation, Gisèle and Tami discuss Gisèle’s journey with fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, and chronic fatigue syndrome, the struggle to find the right treatments and support, the importance of self-care and learning to prioritize your own wellbeing, the benefits of working with a coach, how Gisèle discovered the IFC and her decision to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, empowering yourself with knowledge and communication tools for doctors, the ins and outs of fibromyalgia, its symptoms, and management strategies, how having a support group can make a huge difference in your quality of life, what made the program pandemic-proof, how self-care benefits us and those around us, benefits of becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, two of Gisèle’s client success stories with breast implant illness and long COVID, the value of having a coach that truly understands the experiences and challenges faced by fibromyalgia patients, recognizing that it is possible to have a better quality of life if you’re committed to taking better care of yourself, and more. For both Tami and Gisèle, being a coach has been their secret weapon in managing their fibromyalgia and helping others. No matter where you are now, don’t give up. You can find the right tools and support to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. 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®.