Let’s talk favourite fibromyalgia books.
At this point in my journey, it’s rather hard for content I read to contain new information.
However, these are my top five books for anyone with Fibromyalgia, whether you are starting out or someone who has been working on their journey for years.
Often I will re-read these and glean new threads to follow up on to take me further into my healing journey. I love these books so much that this list has stayed the same (with updated information) for FIVE years.
I use affiliate links, so if you make a purchase using these links I gain a small commission without extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting me to bring this information to you.
My Favourite Fibromyalgia Books For You
The FibroManual: Your Complete Treatment Guide to Fibromyalgia For You and Your Doctor by Doctor Ginevra Liptan
Dr Liptan is a doctor who has Fibromyalgia. She developed it while in medical school, with little recognition of it among those in the mainstream medical field at the time. Through research, trial and error, she has managed to recover from (not cure) Fibromyalgia.
Her book The Fibro Manual: A complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor (2016) is a revelation. Not in that it has entirely new ideas for me, but her research coupled with her experience (personal and professional) has produced conclusions that resonate with me.
For example, she believes sleep to be a vital factor in treatment:
“Sleep studies show that Fibromyalgia subjects show abnormal “awake-type” brain waves all night long, with reduced and interrupted deep sleep and frequent “mini-awakenings” (Brandi 1994; Kooh 2003). This deep-sleep deprivation leads to pain, fatigue, and poor brain function (Lerma 2011; Moldofsky 2008; Harding 1998). Treatment focused on increasing deep sleep is the key to improving all these symptoms.” The Fibro Manual: A complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor (2016) Dr Ginevra Liptan p25.
She has chapters dedicated to helping us achieve a whole night’s sleep. This includes a table of medicines that can help the different parts of the brain with sleep disturbances. (I always look up medicines online to check potential side effects etc.)
Once sleep is tackled, she explains how to approach the rest – food intolerances, nutritional imbalances, pain, fatigue and fibro fog.
The structure is such that it is designed for us to gain an understanding of our illness and the ways forward (vital as we are often our own advocates) and also to share the information with our doctors (who, as a profession, like evidence-based treatment).
There is a handy appendix with a useful treatment plan that you can show your doctor. Liptan also provides tips for how to effectively work with your primary physician (who sees many patients a day in 15 minute slots and doesn’t necessarily have time to read all the research on Fibromyalgia) including to break up your issues (ie. fatigue, then pain, then other) and how to approach treatment ideas.
I’d wholly recommend reading this book, whether you are newly diagnosed or a veteran needing a tune up.
From Fatigued to Fantastic! By Doctor Jacob Teitelbaum
Dr Jacob Teitelbaum is one of a few prominent physicians who treat Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He wrote From Fatigued to Fantastic! And has developed the SHINE protocol to help manage the illnesses. An important part of the SHINE protocol is nutrition. Based on research Dr T found that people with Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome tend to be short on some key nutrients, including the B complex, vitamin C and D and magnesium.
I’m a real fan of Dr Teitelbaum, he has so much information freely available online. He has a real wealth of information on his website. I’ve slowly come back to each letter of his SHINE protocol as I’m ready to tackle it.
I have read his books multiple times. Each time I glean new understanding. There is an entire checklist section at the back for you to work through.
His supplement Recovery Factors is also the only supplement I am taking at the moment for fibromyalgia.
If you love reading, like me, you can try Amazon Kindle Unlimited! Just sign up here Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans
. Amazon Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited reading (say what?), unlimited listening to their audiobooks. It’s also available for those of us who use Amazon.com.au *squee*.
If audio books are more your speed, as they are for me with three little ones, you know you can get a free trial of Audible on Amazon here. I’ve recently started reading a lot more audio books as the hands free option is far easier to access with the wee ones. You will get access to two audio books, plus two Audible Originals, and other cool membership options for 30 days. Cancel anytime if you don’t want the full subscription.
Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain by Tami Stackelhouse
I enjoyed this book. This woman has achieved a lot. In addition to this book, she has set up the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute to train fibro coaches – these people work with and advocate for people with Fibromyalgia.
I read this book on Amazon Kindle and have dozens of bookmarks and highlights all throughout. She talks about managing pain, increasing energy, improving sleep, how to work with your doctor, how to help yourself heal, and bring more joy into your life. She talks about her own journey which I feel is really important, and she is real. She is proud (and rightly so) or working her way in her chosen career (helping others with Fibromyalgia) by putting in workable boundaries – she takes regular breaks, has Wednesdays off for recovery and works to her body clock starting and finishing later than the usual expectations.
The Fibro Fix: Get to the Root of Your Fibromyalgia and Start Reversing Your Chronic Pain and Fatigue in 21 Days by Doctor David Brady
This is not a book I’d recommend before The FibroManual or From Fatigued to Fantastic! but I think it has an important point of view.
Doctor Brady talks about the high prevalence of misdiagnosis and many of the things it could be instead.
As a nutritionist and naturopathic medical doctor he takes a holistic approach, which I like.
Melissa vs Fibromyalgia: My Journey Fighting Chronic Pain, Fatigue and Insomnia by Melissa Reynolds
This book shares my journey, the ups and the downs, the ultimate journey from just surviving to thriving.
It is my perspective as a patient and what works for me. It is a compilation of my blog and more. Having dealt with pain since I was about 14 years old and diagnosed for more than 10 years, I have learnt a fair few things to share. I updated this to reflect the big three that help me in 2020.
Also, FYI, I sell this as an eBook and worksheet bundle to help you start making your symptom management plans.
BONUS!
Pregnancy and Fibromyalgia: My Experience and Research in Pregnancy and Parenting with Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Fibromyalgia by Melissa Reynolds
This is one of only two books available about pregnancy with fibromyalgia. It combines the research and information currently available (very, very little) and my experience through four pregnancies (updated to reflect my 2020 pregnancy).
I balanced tips, tricks and information with my personal experience. Because my experience will not necessarily reflect yours, we are all so different and how we respond to pregnancy is no different. In this edition we also have other parents tips and tricks included.
This is also available as an eBook and worksheet bundle. Because I want to do more than just share information with you, I want you to end up with a practical toolkit of things to help you!
So these are my favourite fibromyalgia books. I’d love to hear your favourite books about chronic pain, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia. You may also like to check out my Reading Corner with even more books.
Great picks, especially as I was only thinking the other day about finding a self-help style book on fibro since my more recent diagnosis. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Caz x
If you haven’t read Dr Liptan start there, a lot of other fibro warriors recommend her book too 🙂