Hi! My name is Kristal. Suffering with Fibromyalgia myself, I am a Fibromyalgia Advocate, Educator and Awareness Coordinator on behalf of the Fibromyalgia Community. I help the FM Community better understand their illness, help individuals understand the process of applying for disability benefits, support people with advocating for their medical needs and communicate on their own behalf along with promote Fibromyalgia Awareness.  I spent many years navigating the healthcare system to get an appropriate diagnosis, find knowledgeable treatment specialists, sift through misinformation about my medical condition and overcome the stigma of Fibromyalgia being a “fake disease” or it being “All In My Head.” My experiences led to frustration, and years of time wasted, With countless emergency room and hospital trips and very few treatment options. It was at this point, I realized despite all my healthcare knowledge, military experience and 20 years working in Social Services, if I was struggling to receive timely and appropriate healthcare, then others with Fibromyalgia must be struggling as well. It was this realization that propelled me into the world of Patient Advocacy for the Fibromyalgia and Military Veteran Communities.
I decided I could do one of two things: Wallow In Pity or Use My Experiences to be a Positive Agent of Change for the Fibromyalgia Community! Thus, I started an annual awareness campaign “POP and PUT ON PURPLE To Promote Fibromyalgia Awareness” several years ago to share my Knowledge And Expertise with friends and family, along with help others battling Fibromyalgia. In August 2018 I upstarted an ongoing social media Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign, which occurs every month called “Fourth Friday Fibro Day.” This FM Awareness Event takes place on Facebook and Instagram on the 4th Friday of each month. I also host an annual social media campaign in the month of September, which is Chronic Pain Awareness Month, called “Faces of Pain Awareness Campaign” which outlines the experiences of chronic pain sufferers through photos and personal stories. If through my advocacy efforts, I can make 1 person with Fibromyalgia feel less alone and validated, then it gives my pain purpose! BIO: “Kristal is a Fibromyalgia Patient Leader Expert and Advocate who is diagnosed with Fibromyalgia as well. Utilizing her 20 years of social services professional experience, Kristal’s advocacy focuses on educating the Fibromyalgia Community on their illness and how to best advocate for their healthcare needs. As an Army Veteran, Kristal also advocates on behalf of Military Veterans diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. As an advocate Chronicling her experiences with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain, Kristal utilizes Social Media to provide the Fibromyalgia Community with up to date information/research about Fibromyalgia, provides support and validation for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Sufferers, promotes Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness with Social Media Awareness Campaigns along with advocates for the Fibromyalgia Community’s medical health needs. Utilizing the space of Social Media, Kristal helps connect and unite individuals with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain throughout the world, to help them build up their online network of friends and social media support system. Kristal is the founder of The Fibromyalgia Pain Chronicles, Co-founder of Veteran Voices For Fibromyalgia and Founder of the National Alliance of Fibromyalgia Advocates. She serves as a Board of Trustee Member for the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America, Inc. as well as serves as a member on the Wego Health Patient Leader Advisory Board and is a Co-op Patient Member at Savvy Cooperative. Kristal has received numerous awards and recognition for her advocacy work on behalf of Military Veterans and the Fibromyalgia Community, including being named the Non-Medical Expert of Fibromyalgia by Med Corp in 2017, 2018 Wego Health Award Recipient for Patient Leader Hero and Best In Show On Facebook and the 2019 Fibromyalgia Care Society of America, Inc. Award Recipient for Fibromyalgia Warrior of the Year.”  
KRISTAL’S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

FACEBOOK: 

The Fibromyalgia Pain Chronicles:  https://www.facebook.com/KristalPainChronicles/

Veteran Voices For Fibromyalgia:  https://www.facebook.com/VeteranVoicesForFibromyalgia/

National Alliance Of Fibromyalgia Advocates:  https://www.facebook.com/NAFAcommunity/

INSTAGRAM:  

Kristal @ TFPC:  https://www.instagram.com/thefibromyalgiapainchronicles/  

Please do not forget today is another chance to vote for me for Best of LI Life Coach https://bestof.longislandpress.com/voting/#/gallery/?group=330484