Today we’d like to introduce you to Necie Edwards.
Necie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Fibromyalgia temporarily derailed my life mentally, physically, spiritually as well as occupationally. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2014 while working in the pharmaceutical industry. It was during this time period that I was subjected to bullying for two and a half years. The bullying, toxic work environment, and long work hours was the perfect storm which led to my diagnosis.
According to research conducted by the Mayo Clinic, fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals. Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event. Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men.
Fibromyalgia cost me a lot of things, it cost me my career; at times I had difficulty thinking with clarity due to fibro fog. Which is a type of cognitive dysfunction reported by many people with fibromyalgia. Also, sometimes, referred to as brain fog, its symptoms include difficulty with concentration, memory deficits, and confusion. Everything stressed me out. It caused me to have post-traumatic stress due to the bullying. For example, whenever I would pass by the office where I used to work, I would have panic attacks. I learned this was post-traumatic stress and needed to go into therapy to get some help for it.
Spiritually, it cost me a lot being in so much pain. When you’re in so much pain, sometimes, you don’t even know how to pray for yourself, you don’t even know what to ask God for and sometimes it literally hurts so bad to even pray. You may be thinking how can that be because you can pray silently. Well, it’s the battle of the mind being in so much pain that you cannot even think, being in so much pain that you can’t even pray and some days, all I could say was Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy and that was all I could say, because I just felt that I was just locked up with emotion and pain. And God seemed so far away.
I felt that I was abandoned by God and one day, when I was having what I referred to as a big pity party, one of the worst I’ve had in a long time. God spoke to me quickly and said, “Necie, get up, stop feeling sorry for yourself, this is not about you. Where others have meant for bad unto you, I meant for good. So, this is not about you, you are to get up, go out there and start helping other people. And he gave me specific clear guidelines on how to proceed.
I had always wanted to have my own talk show on the local public access channel. Years past when I would go to the cable station to propose an idea for a show, they would always deny me. I didn’t have any experience, they didn’t have any open slots or you needed to go through producers training and none of that I was able to do because I was working full time. This time, when I went to the cable studio and told them that I wanted my own show named Fibromyalgia Talks; geared towards chronic pain; within 15 minutes just like that they said approved.
Next, I started a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, Fibro Patient Education and Support Organization, https://www.fibromyalgiapatienteducation.info/. I created the not-for-profit because when I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I didn’t have a support system and couldn’t find the help I needed. I didn’t want other patients to suffer and experience what I had encountered and wanted to help others.
The majority of the not-for-profits for Fibromyalgia are focused on research which is needed, but it left a void and I recognized due to my health advocacy background and experience that this was an area where I could have the greatest impact. We also have an online global support group that now has about five hundred and eighty-six members from the above countries:
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
Ireland
Jamaica
Cayman Islands
Belgium
Bolivia
Costa Rica
Egypt
Spain
Guatemala
Albania
Puerto Rico
India
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Trinidad and Tobago
Ukraine
Vietnam
Netherlands
United Arab Emirates
South Africa
In 2017, we launched our brand-new radio talk show called The Pain-Free Zone on Syndicated Talk Radio. http://www.talkzone.com/shows/242/painfreezone.html.
I know patients need a partner who empowers them with education and information about their pain issues and how they can be managed and overcome through a mind/body/spirit approach to treatment — without resorting to dangerous and addictive opioids. With THE PAIN-FREE ZONE, I hope to help improve the quality of life of pain sufferers everywhere.”
During our show, I host expert guests, including top physicians, chronic pain specialists, healers, and other professionals who will share their pain management strategies and insights. Listeners are also invited to call in to have their specific issues addressed.
Where I am at now is focused on my advocacy work and looking for opportunities to advance my career after being out of work for 4 years due to a chronic illness. I recently wrote a new book: Temporarily Derailed: Living with a Chronic Illness in the Workplace is the premier guide to managing your pain in a professional environment.
In Temporarily Derailed, you will discover how to:
Manage your pain in a difficult environment
Overcome physical challenges like staying alert and avoiding fatigue
Stand up for yourself and become your own advocate in the face of workplace discrimination
Minimize stress
Increase job satisfaction
Maintain relationships
Get the professional help you need
Develop a support system
And more!
It’s time to get past just dealing with your chronic illness – you deserve to thrive, and Temporarily Derailed can help show you how.
So, there is power in pain, and pain has led me to my purpose.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The name of my business is Fibro Patient Education and Support Organization. We spread awareness and develop programs that enable patients to live a fulfilling life: body, mind, and spirit. We offer an online global support group and local face to face support.
I specialize in working with professional women in the workforce who are sick and tired of being sick, fight chronic pain. And provide support and coaching to move forward and live a fulfilling life.
I am most proud of as a company of being able to create a global community of Fibromyalgia and Chronic pain Warriors thrive and not just survive. I see the impact daily that we are making.
What sets me apart is I am a certified Chair Tai-Chi Instructor, Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, have a certificate in Worksite Wellness & Health Promotion, B.A. in Communication and the only local not-for-profit that specializes in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain with a live radio show The Pain-Free Zone which appears on Talk Zone Syndicated Radio Show. Our biggest markets are Chicago, LA, and New York and we average 4,000 downloads per month.
In addition, we have a talk show on the local Comcast Public Access Television in Lake County, IL.
Fibromyalgia Talks. Comcast Cable – Channel 4 (Vernon Hills)
AT&T U-Verse – Channel 99. The channels depend on your cable provider:
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was considered a book nerd and spent all my time in the Library and always wanted to be a Medical Research Librarian.
Also, I was born and raised in NW Indiana and am known for my baking and cooking skills. Baking is one of my passions and I love creating treats for family and friends. Research and patient advocacy are two of my main interests in life.
Contact Info:
- Address: Fibro Patient Education & Support Organization
Attn: Necie Edwards
105 E. Townline Road, Suite 128,
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061 - Website: https://www.fibromyalgiapatienteducation.info/
- Phone: Phone: (224) 225-9478
- Email: Necie@FibromyalgiaPatientEducation.info
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fibropatienteducation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fibropatienteducationsupport/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/fibropatientedu/
Image Credit:
Jerry Edwards
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
