Ep. 123 The Healing Power of Podcasts for Invisible Illness Warriors

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Have you ever wondered how podcasts could be a lifeline for those with invisible illnesses? Come and be part of an enriching dialogue with our esteemed guests, Professor Melanie Finney and the brains behind a startling study, Kate Pederson. Kate was inspired to do the study because her sister is living with POTS, one of the invisible illnesses that falls under the umbrella of fibromyalgia. We'll unravel the layers of isolation experienced by the invisible illness community and the surprising solace they find in podcasts. According to Kate's study, a staggering 97% felt less isolated, and an alarming number expressed a lack of empathy from their healthcare providers. 

As we move forward, we discuss fibromyalgia, an invisible illness with its unique set of challenges, and the pivotal role podcasts play here. The majority, 94%, found the information shared by podcast hosts invaluable, and three-quarters could trust the host they tuned into. We also tackle the conundrum of making podcasts more interactive, considering it's often a one-way communication. But, we also celebrate the power of storytelling and the platform podcasts offer for these unsung heroes to share their narratives. Join us as we shed light on these invisible battles being fought every day.

Support the show

A Fibromyalgia Starter Pack, which is a great companion to the book Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. Dr. Michael Lenz practices general pediatrics and internal medicine primary care, seeing patients from infants through adults. In addition, he also will see patients with fibromyalgia and related problems and patients interested in lifestyle medicine and clinical lipidology. To learn more, go to ConquringYourFibromyalgia.com. Remember that while Dr. Lenz is a medical doctor, he is not your doctor. All of your signs and symptoms should be discussed with your own physician. He aims to weave the best of conventional medicine with lifestyle medicine to help people with chronic health conditions live their best lives possible. Dr. Lenz hopes that the podcast, book, blog, and website serve as a trusted resource and starting point on your journey of learning to live better with fibromyalgia and related illnesses.