It is too soon to know what, if any, impact this will actually have. The FDA is not required to follow the committee’s recommendation, although historically they do. At the very least it is a good time to consider what options you have to prepare for the possible ban. Prescription painkillers will always be available in some form. With complaints of chronic pain on an epidemic rise, drug companies will see to it. But prescription painkillers need not be the only option for Fibromyalgia pain treatment.

So what can I do to ease my pain naturally?

I am glad you asked! In the midst of a severe Fibromyalgia flare-up, there may be nothing as quick to bring relief as good old - insert your painkiller of choice here, but for daily maintenance and preventative health care, natural is best.

Foods & Herbs

Your food should be your first medicine. In a previous post I listed the many toxic foods to avoid if you have Fibromyalgia. Now lets take a look at foods and herbs beneficial for pain management.

Essential fatty acids are a must. EFAs like Omega-3s are necessary fats that humans cannot synthesize, and must be obtained through diet. Omega-3s have a natural anti-inflammatory quality along with a whole complex of other health benefits. Research indicates that omega-3s may be better absorbed from food than supplements.

Wild salmon is a great source of Omega-3s, as are other fatty fish like albacore tuna, halibut, and sardines. Not a fan of fish? Flaxseed oil and Canola oil are good choices too. Or how about walnuts? Try a sprinkle of walnuts on spinach salad for a nutritious and delicious double dose of essential fatty acids. Summer squash, cauliflower, and broccolli are all very good sources as well.

Herbal remedies also aid in pain relief. Natural pain relief — like herbal medicine, is an increasingly popular way to manage pain.

• Turmeric is gaining great recognition as a natural painkiller. Why not try sprinkling some on that piece of salmon you are grilling up?
• Fresh ginger helps with inflammation.
• Capsaicin applied topically may be beneficial for relieving pain.
• Feverfew has been found useful for treating migraines.
• Ginseng is listed by the American Pain Foundation as beneficial for Fibromyalgia pain treatment.

If you are serious about trying herbal remedies for pain relief, I advise that you consult with your physician or a licensed herbalist who understands how powerful these herbs can be.

Soak on it

More and more research indicates that Fibromyalgia patients suffer from magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is extremely important to many functions in the body, and a deficiency can cause several of the symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia. There are great benefits in taking an Epsom salt bath, rich in hydrated magnesium sulfate, which is easily absorbed through the skin.

As listed on the Epsom Salt Industry Council website, here are some of the health benefits to be had from an epsom salt bath:

• Flushes toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Relieves stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
• Reduces inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
• Improves oxygen use.
• Improves absorption of nutrients.
• Improves formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
• Prevents or eases migraine headaches.

I don’t think we could ask much more from a simple bath! Epsom salt baths are so relaxing and therapeutic, I recommend you take two or three a week – more if your level of pain dictates. Before bed is a great time, as you will find yourself so relaxed by the natural serotonin boost, you will be able to gently drift off into a restorative sleep.

Just Breathe

Yoga, Qigong, meditation and many other mind-body practices teach the healing properties of purposeful breathing. Conscious breathing can actually change your body chemistry by increasing oxygen supply to your cells and prompting the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers. Deep breathing relaxes the muscles and calms the mind.

In her book Yoga for Fibromyalgia, Shoosh Lettick Crotzer teaches The Healing Breath technique. To practice this, begin in a seated pose with your feet flat on the floor and your arms resting lightly on your thighs. Close your eyes, follow the directions below, and let your breath heal.

Inhale and exhale slowly, focusing on how the air feels as it passes through your nose, into your body, and back out. Think of your breath as the gift of life – prana: life force. Let it feel soothing as it flows inside. If you have general pain, visualize this healing breath filling your whole body. If your pain is more specific, on inhalations, bring the breath directly to your pain. Then, for either type of pain, let each new inhalation bring energy to expand and soften, cleanse and release, rejuvenate. With the exhalations, let the tensions and heaviness of your pain flow out with the breath. Breathe slowly, and continue until you feel quiet, heavy, and more relaxed. Come out of the pose when you are ready. Notice the difference you have made in yourself.

Mindful breathing will bring you more in-tune with your body. It is something we should all practice everyday, regardless of our level of pain.

Good Health Requires Mindfulness

Self care is critical in the management of Fibromyalgia. There is no magic pill that will reverse all of the symptoms we live with. There never will be. So instead of waiting for the magic bullet, we should focus on simple and manageable things we can do to help improve our health and wellbeing. It may take a great combination of holistic and natural remedies, combined with the care of our doctors, to really achieve optimal results. Be your own best health advocate and practice the Healing Breath technique, cook yourself some salmon for dinner, and then take a relaxing epsom salt bath. You are worth the effort.

I guess I can just say that she is someone I reached out to individually because she was interested in getting involved in something I am doing and reaping great health benefits from, and now the whole thing has blown up in my face. I am just stunned at how my support and good intentions are now being twisted into such ugliness. It goes back to The Law of Detatchment and the lesson I learned there – “Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not ridgidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems. I will participate in everything with detached involvement.”

Basically what it all boils down to is I tried to help someone before she was ready to face or accept any changes that would be required of her to take control of her health. She is not ready, and I am perfectly okay with that. I did not and do not judge her, I just let her know that the opportunity is still available to her and that I would gladly go with her (and I am just talking about going to a holistic chiropractor, nothing too scary) to help alleviate her anxiety.

Now I am being accused of not showing her understanding or compassion and of pushing her away. Really the email blind-sided me and blew me away! And this was my favorite line – “Just remember I and many others have FMS and cannot predict how we will feel on certain days.” Okay, really, because I was not aware of that! Seriously, I guess I am a little mad. Now I am pondering how to respond to her, realizing full well that she possibly could read this post before I reply to her email. I am mad and offended. I did miss a call from her one day, and because I did I gave her my private cell number for her to reach me and even that offended her. I am starting to think I just cannot win with her.

But then what does that mean for her future with the support group? She has really enjoyed and benefited from each meeting she has attended and I would hate for her to lose that over a misunderstanding, but I am at a loss of how to salvage this relationship. The last email I sent her was so positive and encouraging and yet she still thinks I am pushing her away. I get the feeling she is projecting a lot of personal stuff onto me, and I am not sure I can reason with her. I am not sure I have the energy to reason with her, because remember, I have Fibromyalgia “and cannot predict how I will feel on certain days.”

I have had members join and leave the group because it was not a good fit for them, and I am fine with that. I have never had issues with a participating member though, so I am at a loss. I know I cannot be all things to all people and still honor my own health, but my every intention toward her was pure, and my head is spinning over her reaction. What to do? What to do? At this point, I really have no idea what I am going to do.

From Hillary

I am committed to provide you with support and ways to really tackle the challenges that arise in order to create more peace in your life.

But in order for me to really HELP YOU it takes your walking with me to assist YOU on YOUR Journey. And it’s easy to find your power, harness your will, enjoy freedom and feel good about it as you heal your disease when you know you are not alone!

It’s Simple – All YOU have to do is send in YOUR question and tell me what keeps YOU up at night so I can better assist you gain all your hearts desire to have more PEACE in YOUR life.

Back in 1996 when I was diagnosed with MS I turned to every book possible. All I had were pages to turn to not a person who walked in my shoes and NOW YOU have this opportunity to ask YOUR burning questions –  this one I would of pounced on!

So what are you waiting for?

http://www.AskHillaryNow.com

I have participated in two of Hillary’s calls. Each time I came away with inspiration to apply to my own quest to improve my health and wellbeing, and to one day live free of Fibromyalgia symptoms. There is a saying that goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I assure you, Hillary cares, and I think it would be worth you time to listen to what she knows. I will be listening tomorrow. I hope you join me.

25/30

It began as an average Sunday morning – sleep in, go to a leisurely breakfast at our favorite cafe, hit the grocery store and buy something to grill for dinner, head back to the house, walk the dog and then assume the position – me at my computer and Rob wherever he lands with his laptop. Rob made a call to one of his friends who just happened to mention he was walking around Balboa Park at the Healing Arts Festival. “The what?” I said. “The Healing Arts Festival?” “What is it and why didn’t I know about it?” So I immediately got online and looked it up.

The festival was organized and sponsored by The Alternative Healing Network, 501(c)(3) non-profit of San Diego. Their purpose is to educate the community and promote the use of alternative medicine as a path to increased health and well-being. Sounds like a great event right? We thought so too so we hopped in the car and headed down there. 

It was a beautiful day in San Diego today and the park was packed. Tons of natural health booths, two stages with bands playing, yoga and qi gong sessions going on, and people everywhere. I am pretty sure dog beach was deserted today because there were almost as many dogs as people at the festival. So we walked around and I made as many contacts and connections as I could. I am always on the lookout for health and wellness information to share with my fibromyalgia support group, and a new potential guest speaker to come share their expertise at one of our educational meetings. I was not let down.

I don’t know what it is about the holistic community, but by far, they are the community most eager to help and share their knowledge and skills with my group. They are truly and genuinely interested in what I am trying to achieve as a group leader, and also in helping each and everyone of the members improve our health and well being. They are sympathetic and understanding of chronic illness, but believe strongly that our health and quality of life can improve, and they are passionate about helping us learn how. Of course they have a financial interest when they donate their time to come speak at our meetings. Of course they are hoping to gain new patients and of course their services are not free. They did not spend 9 hours today manning their booths for the simple joy of it. They did it to increase community knowledge and awareness of alternative medicine and healing. Participate in a yoga session, lay down for a free massage, and then sit down and experience the healing effects of music. Sounds like a nice time doesn’t it? And what a bonus to head home feeling better and stronger than when you left. Some of the practices may call for a more open mind then others, but they are all meant to help heal the body, achieve emotional freedom, and improve ones quality of life. 

I am overjoyed with the contacts I made today, especially the great contact I made with the Chopra Center, and so glad that we made the spontaneous decision to head down there. Of course it means that now I am sitting here writing my post at 8:30 at night. But as long as I get it in by midnight, I will get an A on my writing assignment for the day. I should have been a teacher. I am such an easy grader!

2/30

Hillary Rubin

Personally my journey began back in 1996 when I was working in the fashion industry for Prada in NYC and was diagnosed with MS. Like most I was upset, angry and thought my life was over. At the same time I also found yoga and now from keeping up a healthy lifestyle (left fashion), yoga and other holistic tools am living symptom & drug free. What worked for me that I also teach is to embrace the diagnosis, empower myself through taking action and enjoy the experiment process that is a constant evolution.

 

I am involved with the So Cal MS Chapter as a speaker, expert and yoga teacher. My business I am not a Mess ™ is dedicated to help others see there diagnosis as a gift, teacher and blessing. Yes – I know that takes time but I have been able to do this and have created products to help like my Yoga DVD Foundations, Free Growth Worksheets and will be starting Free Tele-seminars in March (http://www.askhillarynow.com) to answer questions regarding diagnosis, wellness and what to do with our challenges. 

 

After reading Hillary’s e-mail I took the time to review her website and read more about her philosophy. She has founded her life’s work around her mission to share how she embraced her illness, learned from what her body was telling her and is now living symptom free. I was intrigued so I signed up for her free tele-seminar on March 25th.

March 25th was a particularly bad day for me. Just two days after my lab Casey had passed and I really was not in a good frame of mind for the call. I almost did not call in, but the thing that motivated me to follow through was the hope that I would get something out of it to share on my blog and with my support group. For the first fifteen minutes I sat listening, but not really hearing what Hillary was sharing, but eventually the sound of her voice and her passion and enthusiasm sucked me. Before I knew it I had written 5 pages of notes! Here are just a few bullet points from my notes:

• What is your health worth to you?
• You are responsible for your health.
• You are more than any diagnosis.
• Love yourself in the way you want others to love you.
• Growth isn’t linear, it takes time.
• Our mind feeds our body – the subconscious is powerful.
• Shift from “I have” to “I was diagnosed.”
• Journaling gets “it” out of your body.
• Know that you are not alone.

The message Hillary shared on her call was inspiring. At the end of the hour my heart felt lighter and much of the sadness had left me. Within minutes I began writing my tribute post to Casey and my grief began to leave me. I felt blessed for the time I had with her instead of a sense of loss. Now I am feeling inspired to apply Hillary’s message to my health. If it worked for my grief, it can work for my overall wellness. I feel like I am already on a similar path, and it is no coincidence that my path crossed with Hillary’s. 

Yesterday I received another e-mail from Hillary offering a free MP3 of the tele-seminar. I have not listened to it again, but I plan to. And I wanted to offer the link to any of you who feel you can benefit from her message. I think everyone can, so here is the link: Ask Hillary Now

It is an hour long, so make yourself a cup of tea, grab a notepad and get comfy. I promise it will be worth your time. She has another call coming up on April 29th if you would like to sign up for it. Just click the link in her above e-mail. If you do listen to the MP3 I would love to know what you think. If you do not find your blessing there today, I hope you find it somewhere!

So you are probably wondering, what is Takesumi and why should I be interested in it. In a previous post, I listed the several toxins and infections Dr Shores tested me positive for: 

• Heavy Metals
• Arsenec
• Borrelia Burgdorferi – lyme
• Chloroform
• Formaldehyde
• H-pylori

Takesumi, which is a carbonized bamboo supplement, is an effective and the most gentle way Dr. Shores knows to rid the body of toxins and infections. Here is a description fromMichael Lebowitz D.C.:

 Takesumi, on AK testing, fairly routinely blocks positive tests to toxic metals, chemicals, and often foods too. I look at it as a supreme detoxification product. It also appears to adsorb myco and endotoxins (and other bio-toxins) from various organisms, take the load off the liver and kidneys and thus act in an anti-aging fashion. Takesumi is also reported to adsorb radiation (radon, nuclear, etc.)

 

Michael Lebowitz D.C. has been a researcher in applied kinesiology and nutrition for over 30 years, and this statement was based on his clinical testing and research. Takesumi also has anti-fungal, anti-bacteria, anti-parasitic and anti-viral properties.

I began taking the Takesumi over two weeks ago. Some of the effects I have been feeling are headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, my skin (especially on my face) feeling hot, and some dehydration. I naturally drink a lot of water each day, but I have had to increase my water consumption considerably and I still wonder if I am drinking enough. Dr. Shores warned me about the side effects of doing a detox, and I am not experiencing anything out of the ordinary, but I am experiencing it for longer than anticipated. Although the effects sound similar to a fibromyalgia flare-up, they are not at that level of severity – thank goodness!

Now for the good news. My fibrofog is much diminished since starting the detox! Even though my body is feeling achy and fatigued, my brain is feeling as sharp as it has since the accident. I have been much more productive and organized, even with the headaches. Honestly if it were not for the improvement I am having with my cognitive function, I am not sure I would continue with the detox, but it has made me a believer and I am sticking with it in the hopes that I soon see other improvements as well. Another of my support group members, who is also on the detox under Dr. Shores supervision, has already tested negative for all of the infections he originally found in her, and she has been taking the Takesumi just a week longer than I have. That gives me even more hope. Every evening after I mix up the carbonized bamboo with some water I yell “TAKESUMI” in my loud ninja-warrior voice and then swallow it down. Silly, yes, but I am a warrior in my battle against fibromyalgia, and if I have to be a warrior, being a ninja is a pretty cool thing!

I will keep you posted on any changes and improvements I have with my detox. If you have any questions about the Takesumi, please leave them in the comments. Dr. Shores has been generous enough in the past to have direct dialogues with readers via the comments. If he is unavailable I can try to look into it myself. 

And now for my little disclaimer:

In a continuing effort to live well with Fibromyalgia I am going to be researching and trying new and different things to help improve my health.  I will report on my research and my own personal experiences, but I am not a doctor and therefore will not be telling anyone to try what I do. If you think you may benefit from my experiences, please check with a medical professional to see if it is right for you.

Bread, crackers, cereal, soy sauce, gravy, beer – just a few of the things I have eliminated completely from my diet since Dr Shores told me I am gluten intolerant. I look at that list and inherently I know they are all “bad” for me foods, but I did not exactly realize why. It is not a “fat” thing or a “carb” thing with my body, it’s a gluten thing. So how have I been feeling since eliminating glutens from my diet? Well – better!

The first thing I noticed was an increase in energy. I began feeling less fatigued and sluggish. Then I noticed that my head was feeling clearer, less foggy. If that is all eliminating gluten ever did for me I would be happy with the results, but eventually I also noticed that my back muscles were no longer on fire with pain and my shoulder muscles seemed less tense. Now I should note here that I began yoga at the same time I went off glutens, so it could be a combination of the two, but I am certain eliminating the gluten has been a major factor in my feeling better.

The thing that cinched it for me is my hands. The joints in my hands had been so painful for the better part of a year. So much so that I was certain I was developing arthritis in them. I had a hard time gripping and opening things; my coordination was off – I dropped things often; and my hands frequently woke me up throughout the night with throbbing and aching pains. Well my hands are feeling much better. It was a gradual improvement, probably the last thing I really noticed. I still have some pain and stiffness in them, but there is a noticeable improvement.

So all that after only ten days. I’m sold and so is my husband. He has been doing it with me and he is feeling better too – more energy, better brain function. This began as a two to three week trial to see how my body responded. After ten days I am firmly committed to it as a new way of eating – not for now – for life. Don’t let me kid you, it is not easy! I think what I miss more than the taste of gluten foods is the convenience of them. There will be much less grab-and-go eating and much more careful preparation of food. I am fortunate to have several excellent markets to chose from to help me with my shopping – Trader Joes, Jimbos and Henry’s Markets all offer extensive selection of gluten free foods. 

And if feeling better was not enough (which it is), I have also lost 3 lbs in the ten days, but it feels like I have lost more. Dr Shores suspected I was gluten intolerant because I carry my weight around my face and midsection – two common indicators. These are the areas I am feeling the most difference in because I am no longer bloated or puffy. Now that is what I call a BONUS!

I don’t know if eliminating gluten can help everyone with Fibromyalgia; I doubt it given the multiplicity of people who suffer with it, but if you suspect it may help you, I recommend you ask your doctor to test you. If you would like to research it further here is a link to WebMD. I am so new to this I cannot offer any great advice or resources, but I am open to anyone who has some for me!

On Wednesday my support group had our laughter meditation (referred to as laughter yoga in my previous post) session with Sarito Sun, Laughter Healer and Coach, Hypnotherapist and Meditation Instructor. Now I have to admit I was a little skeptical about the evening. I watched the videos on laughter yoga and I wondered if I would be too self-conscious to let myself go enough and enjoy the experience. Turns out I had no problem at all letting go. If only I had a video of the evening to share with you how fun and freeing it was. Fifteen group members were in attendance, and for about a half hour, all fifteen of us were laughing, and moving, and smiling in a state of pure joy. And it all started off with a few simple laughter exercises which forced us to “fake” laugh. It did not take long until the laughter and joy became real.

It was such a treat to look around the room and see the happy expressions on everyone’s face. Some members literally had to drag themselves to the meeting that evening they were in such a bad way, but everyone was able to participate and we all left feeling a little lighter, and little happier. The half hour of laughter did not cure any of us, and it truthfully may have only distracted us from our pain and fatigue, but it was a beautiful gift none the less. Sarito brought a guest with her who shared his experience of recovery through the use of laughter meditation. In his experience, 30 minutes of laughter a day – fake or  not – can reduce pain symptoms and improve sleep and fatigue. After my half hour experience I can only say it is the most fun I have had in my quest to improve my health, and it is definitely worth trying. I am smiling right now as I relive the evening to share with you!

On Friday I had my first appointment with Dr. Shores, the holistic chiropractor who spoke at a previous support group meeting and also contributed to my blog. It was an enlightening appointment. Through Bio-response testing he was able to determine I have several issues which are likely contributing to, our may be the cause of my Fibromyalgia.

Here is the breakdown of what Dr. Shores believes to be my greatest issues:

40% – Structural. Due most likely to the slip and fall which initially brought on my Fibromyalgia, and the car accident which gave my FM superpowers (post still coming – I promise!)

30% – Grain Intolerance & Dairy Allergy. Turns out I am gluten intolerant. This is the thing I most feared learning. I think I have suspected it for some time but did not want to face having to drastically change my diet - eliminating all wheat and grain based foods. Again through Bio-response Dr. Shores demonstrated how the gluten intolerance was partially responsible for my muscle pain. In my understanding my body treats the gluten as an infection, and it draws the “infection” away from my digestive tract and into my muscle to help my body eliminate it. This causes muscle pain, inflammation and spasms. YES, YES, & YES!!! He also believes my dairy allergy should clear up if I eliminate gluten from my diet. This is going to be a huge lifestyle change for me, and I am certain I will be writing about it. Anyone out there with suggestion or advice, I gladly welcome it.

30% – Toxin/Infection – Dr. Shores’ presentation on heavy metal toxins is one of the things that most intrigued me about his philosophy of wellness. After hearing him speak about how metal filings constantly release fumes and the fumes go straight to our brains, I suspected he was right in that this could be a cause/contributing factor to fibrofog. It turns out I tested positive for all of the following:

• Heavy Metals
• Arsenec
• Borrelia Burgdorferi – lyme
• Chloroform
• Formaldehyde
• H-pylori

Although this list looks overwhelming, Dr. Shores assured me not to panic. In his estimation the thing I should be most concerned with, and will get the most improvement from correcting is the gluten intolerance. As part of my treatment I will be taking a supplement to help my body detox, but I am beginning with eliminating the gluten.

He also used his special gentle adjusting instrument (which I can never remember the name of) to correct some of my structural issues. I have been walking around for as long as I can remember with my right leg slightly shorter than my left. With just a few adjustments it was corrected. I stood up and could tell instantly. It was a weird sensation! I will report back soon about how I am doing with his treatment and recommendations. I think I may finally be on to something.

And if the laughter and the holistic healing weren’t enough, Saturday brought me another great tool for my arsenal in my battle against Fibromyalgia. One of my newest group members is also a certified yoga instructor. She arranged to teach a special gentle yoga class for group members at the Wellness Center. Yoga helped relieve her Fibromyalgia symptoms so much that she became an instructor in order to share and encourage other FM sufferers to try it for themselves. Eight brave members attended and we were lead through gentle movements and also taught modifications of movements that we could take with us into most any yoga class.

I had taken yoga once before and it was an awful experience. The instructor was not gentle or nurturing and seemed put-out that a newbie was in her class. Saturday was a completely opposite experience and I am now a yoga convert. It was like my muscles were waking up from a long cryogenic freeze. I loved it so much that I took another class on Sunday with a different instructor. I was able to modify several of the movements and keep up for the most part. I was not the most graceful participant, but I continued to enjoy the awakening my muscles experienced the day before. I cannot think of a better way to describe it. I know my muscles thanked me, and after taking it easy for a couple of days I am heading back tomorrow. I have had no negative effects or a flare-up like I did from the H2O Cardio class. 

So that happened! I don’t know if it was the laughter, or the adjustment, or the yoga, but I am feeling better – better than I have since taking the H2O Cardio class. My mind is finally clear enough to write a post, and my muscles are not burning with fire after sitting at my desk for a couple of hours to write it. Woo hoo!

From Dr. David Shores, DC

A Comprehensive Holistic Approach To Fibromyalgia And Chronic Pain

Dannette from Fibromyalgia Haven asked me to write a guest article for her site when I spoke at her fibromyalgia support group in January.

Having worked with many fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and chronic pain patients I thought I would share a recent case to demonstrate what I find and how I proceed.

Late December 08 a new patient presented to my office with the diagnosis of fibromyalgia that began in 04. Her primary complaint was severe muscle and joint pain. She also reported severe joint swelling in all the major joints of her body and water retention. Her joint pain and swelling was at it’s worst in the morning. She had a history of multiple traumas. Neurologic testing showed multiple cervical and lumbar nerve compressions. Bio-response testing showed multiple severe heavy metal toxicity, more than seven chronic infections and several vitamin deficiencies along with several structural problem.

We supplemented her with the deficient vitamins only and gave her a nutritional supplement to chelate or remove the heavy metals and a nutritional supplement to aid her body in clearing the infections. She was monitored weekly and adjusted with an instrument  to handle the structural and neurological problems. As of today 2/2/09 she reports that her symptoms are eighty percent resolved with virtually all of the morning stiffness and pain gone. We expect further improvement as she continues on her program.

I find this case to be typical of many with fibromyalgia. In most cases there are a multitude of problems including structural, toxins, nutritional, infection and emotional. When the problems are addresed in the correct order and with great care, many with chronic pain improve tremendously. For more information please go to www.drshores.typepad.com

David Shores DC

1524 Encinitas Blvd

Encinitas, Ca 92024

760-753-4300

Disclaimer: This information is for education purposes only. The doctor does not diagnose or treat any medical conditions. The doctors goal is to restore proper function and thus restore self healing.

Personally I was very interested in Dr. Shores’ approach. It makes sense to me (especially after listening to his comprehensive presentation) that Fibromyalgia can stem from “a multitude of problems including structural, toxins, nutritional, infection and emotional.” A lot of my current research is based on what I learned from Dr. Shores, i.e heavy metal toxicity (post coming soon). As part of my unending quest to improve my health I will be working with Dr. Shores. I will write regular posts about my sessions and my response to his treatment in an effort to help us all benefit from his knowledge and expertise.

Thank you for your time and contribution Dr. Shores.

1. I think I have that too.

2. My sister-in-law has fibromyalgia and she’s still working. She says it helps to take her mind off the pain.

3. But you look okay.

4. Is that a real disease.

5. Maybe you just need some B vitamins.

6. Do you have any percocet? I could sure use one right now.

7. Well, we all start to ache when we get older.

8. Can you hold this box for me? I can’t find my keys.

9. Does this mean you won’t live as long.

10. Well, just try to look on the bright side.

Linda Meilink goes on to qualify each thing on her list, and these clearly come from her own personal experience. But it got me to thinking. What has been said to me over the years that has just made me cringe? So here is my list.

1. Did you see that commercial for the new drug that cures Fibromyalgia? - Now this drives me nuts because, A) It does not CURE Fibromyalgia. It is an anti-seizure medicine which has proven to reduce pain in FM patients. B) Pain is just one of the symptoms of FM and it does nothing to address the others – fatigue, fibrofog, dizziness, sleep disorders, etc. C) It has its own list of side affects that some of us would rather not expose ourselves to, and D) I chose not to take prescription drugs to treat my FM.

2. Fibromyalgia is what they diagnose you with when they are not sure what is wrong with you. - ARGH!!! I heard this most recently from someone who was quoting his friend – AND HIS FRIEND IS A DOCTOR! FM is still under-researched and misunderstood, but it is real, and recent testing is going a long way to prove that. Now if everyone in the medical field would just open their mind to the possibility, great progress could be made.

3. If you would just exercise you would feel better. - It is not that simple. Yes, gentle exercise can be beneficial for fibromyalgia, but it can and does cause flare-ups. It is a matter of slowly building up your tolerance, but forgive us if we do not go out of our way to deliberately cause ourselves more pain. It really is a vicious circle. If you knew something you ate would make you healthier, but that you were going to throw up violently each time you ate it, could you?

4. You can’t be here by 10AM, how about 11:30AM? - Uh, no. When I am down, I am down. I will not magically get better in an hour and a half. But thanks for being flexible!

5. Well it is really common. - Okay, so does that mean it should be easier to deal with? Are you equating it to acne or ingrown toenails? I just don’t understand this comment. Pain may be common, but it is still painful. Common does not equal easy to live with. And part of what makes it seem so common is that it is currently being over-diagnosed, but that is for another post.

6. A lot of people are much worse off than you are. - First off, this is absolutely true. I have a lot of fortune in my life – friends, family, etc. But everything is contextual. This is my life, and this is what I struggle to live with everyday. Somedays I manage well, but others I am a total and complete mess. Does that mean that I am being insensitive to my neighbor who has terminal cancer? No, I don’t think so. It simply means I am struggling and could use a little empathy. So reminding me that it could be worse does not make me feel better, it simply makes me feel guilty for indulging in a little self pity.

7. How is your back? - I got this one a lot after I was first diagnosed 11 years ago. The original injury which brought on my FM was to my neck. I had never had issues with my back, and yet numerous people asked me this. Often the same person more than once. Pretty ungrateful of me to not appreciate their interest in my health, but it always confused and frustrated me. This is a much more appropriate question since the accident two years ago. My back is killing me right now!

8. Have you tried acupuncture? - I would love to try acupuncture, but who can afford it? It is not something you can do one time and reap the benefits of it. It is something you need to do repeatedly, and it is costly. I have not always had insurance, and when I have acupuncture/massage is not covered. It is too bad that holistic medicine is for the most part not covered and that it is so expensive.

9. Maybe you are just depressed. - For a lot of patients Fibromyalgia and depression do go hand in hand, and until recently many doctors believed that FM came out of depression, but that is not the case. Many women with FM have never suffered from depression. I have had some pretty low days, but I can honestly say that I have never been clinically depressed. FM has changed my life so dramatically I have had a lot of trouble adjusting and adapting. I have been mad, sad, angry, unreasonable, and a few times I felt close to losing my mind – but tell me, could you be physically tortured and never respond dramatically to it?

10. Silence. - No response is sometimes the worst response. I have had new doctors sit and smile condescendingly at me while I explained to them I have Fibromyalgia. They never say it, but I know they are thinking that it is not real, that what I am experiencing can be explained away, that I am weak, and a hypochondriac. They say a lot by sitting there saying nothing at all and I hate them for it. I hate their close-mindedness and their pre-judgement of me. I can never get past their silence.

So that is my list. What is on your list?

NOTE: My husband thought this was a little edgy and he could tell I was clearly not feeling well when I wrote it. The very nature of the subject tends toward negativity. I hope this is not too abrupt to read but I am choosing not to edit myself.