Episode 4

The first episode in the new, shorter format, recorded on my very own microphone. Thank you for your patience in waiting for it!

Most of today’s show is about audio entertainment and information, which is great when the fatigue is so bad that listening is one of the few things we can do.

Links:

• Audio Books
  • Audio-Book-Rentals is a blog that compares and reviews the various audiobook rental services that are available.
  • Simply Audiobooks - the only one I’ve tried personally.
  • Kitable - said to have an especially good selection of science fiction and fantasy.
  • BooksFree - has both paperbacks and audiobooks, but they certainly don’t seem to be “free.”
  • Audiobookworld
  • Recorded Books
  • Audible.com
  • LearnOutLoud.com
  • Podiobooks.com - free, original fiction sent to you one chapter a week.
  • IPodder.org’s audiobook category
  • LibriVox is related to Project Gutenberg
• Podcasts
  • Podcast Pickle
  • Podcast Alley
  • Podcast411
  • Yahoo’s Podcast Directory
  • Podcasting News
  • Digital Podcast.com
  • IPodder

Questions for you!

1. Do you prefer shorter or longer podcasts?
2. What topics do you want to hear about?
3. Do you like having music in the show?
4. Do you want me to post transcripts of the shows?

Thank you! And remember, I always love hearing from you. Comment here,
e-mail me, or call me at 206-350-0021.

‘Til next time, be good to yourself!

Fibrant Living is produced by Sam Chupp and is a member of the Fireheart Foundry family of podcasts. Music for the podcast is by Kimo Watanabe, and comes from the Podsafe Music Network.

 

 Fibrant Living 4: Audio Entertainment: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I had to share this excellent post on Surviving Travel and Conference from Indie. Guzman-Cooper, RN writing at WebMD. She provides a great checklist of things she did to prepare for the trip, as well as other bits of wisdom, such as:

When I arrived to park my car, arrive at the airport and check-in, I sought out assistance. For me this was a new thing since I tend to be an independent lady and tend to try and do everything by myself. But I realized I needed the assistance and it was not wise for me to risk any more problems than I was already dealing with by being stubborn!

I look forward to the second in this two-post series.

Great cartoon from Ragged Edge. I want to get that notepad printed up!

The magazine also has an excellent blog and some very good articles. I just finished reading their spotlight on invisible disabilities, which linked to the cartoon. There’s plenty of excellent reading material on their site.

I’ll record episode 3 as soon as my sound tech (aka Sam, my partner) is available.

Right now, though, I’m in the mood to plump up my blogroll. Suggest other blogs and podcasts about fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or chronic illness, please! What are your favorites? Do you have one yourself? Tell me about it!

I’ve posted about online resources, as well as mentioning some periodicals that are good offline resources. Now I want to share some of the books I recommend to others who are learning more about fibromyalgia.

The First Year : Fibromyalgia - A Patient-Expert Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Claudia Craig Marek is exactly what the title says. If you only check out one book, make it this one. You’ll get a decent overview of what FMS is and a good idea of the most common treatment strategies.

Two of Devin Starlanyl’s books, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (2nd Edition) and The Fibromyalgia Advocate, are an essential part of my library. They’re imposing books, but don’t let that intimidate you. They are excellent, encyclopedic references that everyone dealing with fibromyalgia should own and use.

The Arthritis Foundation has some excellent information about fibromyalgia, which is treated for the most part by rheumatologists despite being seen more recently as a neurological dysfunction. One book in particular, The Arthritis Foundation’s Guide to Good Living with Fibromyalgia, 2nd Edition, takes the reader through coping techniques and includes some very mild exercises which almost anyone can tolerate. Another, The Arthritis Helpbook: A Tested Self-Management Program for Coping with Arthritis and Fibromyalgia is a more in-depth book with a broader focus. It also adds an excellent section on adaptive devices.

New books are released every month, and over time I’ll be reviewing them and some of the others in my library. These books, though, should give you an excellent introduction to fibromyalgia and some common coping techniques.