Description
I was 30 years old and had recently become a single mum to my two young girls when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Every day I was in agony and feeling so fatigued that I was seriously struggling to care for my children. Doctors would just shrug at me when I asked them for treatment options, or they would offer me prescriptions for anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication. They told me if I didn’t want to take a bunch of tablets (which they admitted were unlikely to help me much anyway) then I’d just have to ‘learn to live with it.’
Fibromyalgia is a debilitating, chronic condition that affects mostly women, and like me, most of them will be told by their doctor that there is nothing they can do for them, and these women will accept that they will be stuck in a body that is letting them down for the rest of their lives.
Sound familiar?
I decided this wasn’t good for me – there was a better life for me – and ‘learn to live with it’ just wasn’t good enough. I refused to accept a life limited by fibromyalgia.
I got my attitude on and took back control of my body and my health. I researched as much as I could, when I could, and I created my own fibromyalgia treatment plan.
I achieved the ‘impossible’ – I cured myself!
I want to give others options and hope for recovery.
And, because I know how hard it is to invest when all hope has been lost, I’m selling hard copies of my book for just $5 (free postage within Australia, plus New Zealand; $12 postage to UK, USA, Canada).
I want my book to be accessible for anyone who needs it, so FibromyAWESOME is also available to purchase on Kindle.
FibromyAWESOME is a valuable resource for anyone who as been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and doesn’t know where to turn.
Although Melanie has years of experience healing herself from fibromyalgia, and has worked in the medical field, she doesn’t overload the reader with information or scientific words.
Melanie tells us to question the treatment options given to us, and to think beyond the medication route. She encourages the reader to drop the labels and beliefs that come from medical practitioners, and from themselves.
As someone diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I have found FibromyAWESOME comforting to read, as well as interesting, insightful, well sourced, and the tips and suggestions are easy to implement.
I have read it many times already!
Excerpt from FibromyAWESOME Foreword, by Kate Cuzzilla, teacher & tutor
Angela Daly, healthcare professional –
This book is an enjoyable. easy-to-digest overview of doing things differently when it comes to managing the impacts of fibromyalgia.
It’s a wonderful mix of humour, stern nurse direction and personal wisdom that makes it relatable.
The hard work Melanie has done in finding her own solutions and becoming empowered within the traditional medical system is evident in this guide.
This book is both a brief glimpse at a woman’s journey with fibromyalgia, and an inspiring story of the importance of choice in health care.
Dr Jo Lukins, PhD –
Thank you, Melanie, for filling a niche in sharing your journey with fibromyalgia.
I am sure your strategies and well-considered experiences will be well received, and of great benefit to others living with fibromyalgia (and their families).
You have written this book in an easy-to-read, conversational style which feels like a chat with a friend.
Thank you for writing through the lens of hope and offering suggestions for how women can take their lives back.
Sarah Purvey, Clinical Psychologist –
FibromyAWESOME is an empowering and personal guide to navigating recovery from fibromyalgia.
It’s easy to read, practical and informed.
Melanie teaches you how to be the expert of your own body and you will discover the steps towards the journey of transforming your health.
Melanie will show that it is truly possible for your health to radically improve.
I’d recommend it to anyone who is struggling with this illness and will be sure to buy some copies for my psychology practice!
Leila, via Amazon Australia –
This is a great, practical and engaging read about Fibromyalgia. Tips to challenge your mindset and practical strategies to help you change your life. I’m a psychologist and I’m recommending it to all my clients with Fibro.
Madeleine Sara, freelance writer –
Melanie O’Shea’s style is chatty, informal, no nonsense and frank. She gives positive affirmations to support each chapter point she makes with personal context, as a framework for her decision to play a more active role in managing her own Fibromyalgia. Ms.O’Shea emphasises the importance of the need for us all to research our own concerns and triggers for ourselves. She is firmly on the side of taking control of one’s own health care with support and guidance from the best healthcare providers we can find.
I was heartened by the fact that she shares my approach to the lifestyle medicine part of the condition; without which, as she points out, no real progress can be made by any of us! In other words: if we are not prepared to embrace these aspects of our self care, we can’t expect to make any real difference to our symptoms.
I have noticed that when other people don’t always share our views on Fibromyalgia self-care, but appear to be making better progress with their symptoms; we may feel skeptical, dissenting, defensive or oversensitive to their advice. At some stage in our own journey, however, we may become more circumspect, allowing us to recall the advice, when we are ready, to help support us on our own road to better health. Indeed, it is also very helpful when authors share strategies and approaches that we may not have considered for ourselves.
Melanie O’Shea makes some very valid points regarding what helps us succeed and what leads to crushing failure – Keeping up a momentum without overdoing it.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand why, as Fibro convalescents, we all ultimately need to make lifestyle changes to effect real change in our symptoms.
Of course, it’s still up to us all to actually apply this general advice in a way that suits our own, individual circumstances: physical, emotional and medical needs, with the support of our health care professionals. To find ways to enjoy the challenge of living as close to a normal life, as we may expect, post-fibro.