Help for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Hypoglycemia and Their Connection part 2
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
by Marijo Phelps
Last week I posted the beginning of a piece on Fibromyalgia with the promise of a book review and a careful look from the perspective of this RN "with a raised eyebrow".
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I HAVE NOW READ THE BOOK.
The title was “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia" by R. Paul St Amand, M.D. and Claudia Craig Marek. Dr. Amand is an MD from California.
To say that I am encouraged and impressed would be a complete understatement. Have you ever wanted a doctor who listened and actually tried to get down to the cause of what was ailing you instead of throwing a whole pharmacy at your symptoms? Dr. St Amand is that kind of doctor.
He has worked with people exhibiting the symptoms of Fibromyalgia before that name even existed. The book was written in 1999 and at that time Dr. St Armand had forty years experience with patients having the FMS problems. He also had that diagnosis himself. Parts of the book would be great to share with an MD who is a listened and open to hearing from you, his patient. It is understandable but definitely shows scientific deductions and how Dr. St Armand reached some of his conclusions.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is the tie-in between diagnoses which have overlapping symptoms yet separate diagnosis. The treatment and protocol he proposes in his book, that thousands have done and had a successful relief in their symptoms, seems to work on several of these diagnosis.
Even if you aren’t going to try his suggestions the book had invaluable information for those with any of the following diagnosis/symptoms: muscular pain, fatigue, bladder infections, insomnia, hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel or bladder syndrome, chronic candidiasis, interstitial cystitis.
He talks about what happens within your body and why it happens and gives some practical solutions to the problem. He also goes into commonly used treatments and what to expect with those. The book is interspersed with notes and letters from his patients giving snap shot of their struggles and victories. You will find that you are not alone and that there is, indeed, hope!
The drug he has used with great success is no longer a prescription drug. Guaifenesin can now be purchased over the counter and when used with the protocol described can be very effective in a remission of symptoms.
There are also support groups all over for help with this as outlined in his book.
I am hoping and praying this will lead to literally a renewed life for many. I had lunch with Chris yesterday (she has been diagnosed with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and hypoglycemia) she is doing the protocol and taking Guaifenesin – the book mentions that you will get worse before you get better and that is an indicator that you are on the right track…. She was going through that but with a smile on her face because she was finally, after years of suffering, finally on the right track! This RN doesn’t even have raised eyebrows, it was a wonderful and thorough book with much anecdotal evidence!
Marijo Phelps,saved by Jesus grace in 1974, from 9 years atheism into His loving arms. She is wanting to spread the good news about His redemptive plan for our lives through written media. Her name is pronounced Mary Jo. She was an RN for 23+ years, missionary with YWAM,statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ 9 years. Her first poem published when she was four years old. (her mom had much to do with that!) She has been writing ever since.
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)Hi Marijo,Thanks for writing this article. I have been counseling an individual who has been struggling with this for years. I'll pass the info on. Great news!MarkTHANKS! I have also found relief in a different direction with Mannatech products.
Excellent book review. You clearly understand the subject matter of the book and speak from experience. Your interest and knowledge comes through clearly, and you give the reader good reasons to look into this book.Thanks so much, Colin! I am just thrilled to find an MD that is looking for solutions and not just treating symptoms - in my many years as an RN this alone is hard to come by - then he is so gracious and he has FM himself! Great read and in the parts written for other medical personnel it doesn't hurt to skim the info but there are gems throughout the book.
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing your review.Crystalthank you for coming by and commenting!
Thanks for the review, Marijo. I am sorry to hear you may become one of the number of fibro-y people. I have had fibro for about 10 years along with an autoimmune disease and am monitored and treated by a GP turned wellness doc. Guaifenesin in not something she has me using, though over the years she has gotten me off chemical/synthetic drugs and onto compounded or natural meds with the exception of one, and my quality of life is very good. I cannot work a regular 9-5 job anymore (my past jobs had been physical), but I still take care of my yard; just a bit slower than before. I have been blessed with a great job that I can handle, even on bad days. I can no longer play softball, volleyball, etc. I have to settle for walking. Anyway, even with a DX of fibro and all that goes with it, I just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth that you can still have a good quality of life and handle the pain and fatigue.I didn't know I had it because of the natural products I have been taking - then getting a history and thinking back to how it was before I was on the Mannatech AND when my massage therapist poked (randomly and hitting the 18 points that are supposed to be sore with FM - WOW, I got so I was telling her what was a random poke and when she hit a "bingo" Anyhow, the guaifenesen is taken WITH using a protocol of getting rid of salysilates and a few other "natural" things in your topicals (shampoo, lotions, make up etc) The book was great with many helps even if you aren't going to do the protocol. Was refreshing and hopeful with his 40 years behind it and he is more like your doc probably is - tuned into something besides just the pharmacy... thanks for commenting, Lorrie! PS with the Mannatech I am not fatigues (we do 5-6 miles hikes and I live to tell of it) and I have never been depressed - I do have trouble sleeping sometimes, and am somewhat achy - the massage therapist can always find knots....
very well done, Marijo! You have started a much needed article.Thanks so much - so many suffer because of this and related symptoms!
Great article. I will have to pass the name of the book on to some of my friends that suffer from fibromyalgia. Linda DIt was totally outstanding and my friend is doing the things advised and it is working just like they said it would - after YEARS of being miserable and very sub-normal...
great article...thanks for giving us the review. Perhaps someone else will be able to use it in their fight against this disease.It is a nasty one for sure - thanks for commenting and reading Richard!
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