From Managing Symptoms to Healing: A Rheumatoid Arthritis Journey

Show Notes HOST Melody Hartzler | | Book Appointment AROUND THE TABLE Dr. Amber Fish Book Appointment In Today's Episode In this episode of Table Talk, Melody Hartzler sits down with Pharm to Table pharmacist Amber Fish to discuss her personal journey with rheumatoid arthritis and how functional medicine transformed her health. Amber shares how addressing gut health, nutrition, lifestyle, and root causes helped her reduce inflammation, regain her quality of life, and move beyond simply managing symptoms with medication. Together, they discuss practical strategies for supporting autoimmune conditions and the importance of making sustainable lifestyle changes. Key Take Aways Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of autoimmune disease rather than simply managing symptoms. Healing the gut can significantly reduce inflammation and improve symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions. Supplements can be valuable tools during healing, but they work best when paired with strong lifestyle foundations like nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress management. Lasting health improvements come from consistent daily habits, not quick fixes or short-term programs. Healing is a journey and sustainable progress happens by making small, manageable changes over time. Topics Discussed 00:00 – Welcome to Table Talk Introduction to today's conversation on rheumatoid arthritis and functional medicine. 00:32 – Amber Fish's Health Journey Amber shares her background as a pharmacist and her diagnosis with rheumatoid arthritis. 02:24 – Conventional Treatment & Medication Challenges Navigating medications, side effects, and searching for better answers. 06:31 – Discovering Functional Medicine How a new approach gave Amber hope beyond symptom management. 09:07 – Functional Testing & Finding Root Causes Exploring gut health, SIBO, micronutrient deficiencies, and mold exposure. 10:33 – Navigating Supplements How to approach supplements without becoming overwhelmed. 14:27 – Healing the Gut & Reducing Inflammation The improvements Amber experienced after addressing gut health. 16:30 – Building Healthy Daily Habits Why nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and relationships all matter. 19:51 – Healing Is an Ongoing Process Maintaining progress and adapting to life's challenges. 21:47 – How Long Does Healing Take? Setting realistic expectations for autoimmune recovery. 23:26 – Mold Exposure & Environmental Factors Understanding how environmental stressors contribute to chronic illness. 24:49 – Final Thoughts & Where to Connect with Amber Resources Mentioned The PharmToTable Team – Functional Medicine Providers Dr. Amber Fish – PharmD, BCPS, IFMCP Functional Testing & Tools Stool Testing SIBO Breath Testing Micronutrient Testing Health Topics Rheumatoid Arthritis Functional Medicine Gut Health Autoimmune Disease Chronic Inflammation