Both Fibromyalgia awareness and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome awareness are incredibly important topics to patients, their loved ones and the medical profession. That statement was never truer than right now.

Today as we all begin celebrating Awareness day and week, I’m bring you some very special interviews. Truly, I am so excited! Today’s Health Matters Show Friday podcast features Celeste Cooper with the part 1 of a two-part series.

Along with covering both Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, both Celeste’s interview and the one that follows (*interview number 3, May 12th) also feature information on neuro-endocrine related illnesses (term: NEID) and the grass roots, volunteer organization known as PANDORA. You’ll hear about this in detail if you listen to all three of the audio podcasts this weekend.

Normally I only offer 1 podcast on Friday of each week. But due to the nature of Awareness day falling on Sunday this year, I decided to do three shows and bring you that much more material.

Celeste Cooper is a retired nurse, originally certified in emergency nursing. She specialized in hospital-wide education and designed programs for the Missouri State Board of Nursing and ran a training center for the American Heart Association.

The author of several books, such as Broken Body Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See Saw of Chronic Pain, Celeste is considered a renowned author, lecturer, Fibromyalgia expert and has appeared or contributed to Dr. Oz, Harpo Studios, Jeff Arnold, and Discovery Communications, plus she advocates for all chronic pain patients as a participant in the Pain Alliance. Counting her personal health problems, trials, setbacks and successes, surely Celeste Cooper is a very valid person to speak to us today.

(Today’s podcast is 24 minutes, 37 seconds.)

One nice suggestion that Celeste makes is for us all to use our time, talents and treasure well. Don’t be shy; take action and make a difference. Find several ways to participate in advocacy at her website, TheseThree.com. From writing letters to contacting people who can make a difference with elevating the knowledge and science of these illnesses, there are lots of options.

Another topic covered in the interview is how many rheumatologial and autoimmune illnesses there are (beyond Fibro and CFS) that are celebrated for awareness in the month of May, such as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Lupus, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout and allergies.

There are other great topics discussed during the interview. Please take time to listen to it here on the blog, download it to your i-Pod or catch it on i-Tunes.

Then please comment and share the news of this fantastic series of interviews. It is my pleasure to bring each part to you. Thanks so much. Let the celebration begin!

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show