char's faqs
Char's salicylate motto
If you absolutely have a doubt or cannot ascertain if your product is salicylate safe after reading the book, checking our website, checking the responses from Claudia and the Administrative Team in the Archives, checking the Dictionary, or using a Google search, then use my motto:
IF IN DOUBT...DO WITHOUT...OR THROW IT OUT.
IF IN DOUBT...DO WITHOUT...OR THROW IT OUT.
How do i post to the guai group?
1) Post your email to the group. To post to our group use this address and save it in your address book:
[email protected]
2) You will receive an email back from Listserv that has an attachment of your post with this message:
"For security reasons, the GUAIGROUP list has been configured to request positive confirmation of messages posted to the list. You must now confirm that the enclosed message did originate from you. To do so, simply reply to the present message and type "OK" (without the quotes) in the text of your message, or click on the link below. If this does not work, or if the message did not originate from you, then contact the list owner for assistance."
3) You must now APPROVE your message:
You now need to verify that indeed this was your post to the group and not a virus or a post from a spammer. This action will protect you and all Listserv communities.
There will be a link in the email you receive for you to click on to send your message to the group. I find this the easiest way by clicking on this link.
4) Your message will now be sent to Listserv for an ok.
5) A link in your browser will open up and state ok. That means your message will go out to the group and will show up in the Archives. You can always verify your message was posted by checking the Archives.
[email protected]
2) You will receive an email back from Listserv that has an attachment of your post with this message:
"For security reasons, the GUAIGROUP list has been configured to request positive confirmation of messages posted to the list. You must now confirm that the enclosed message did originate from you. To do so, simply reply to the present message and type "OK" (without the quotes) in the text of your message, or click on the link below. If this does not work, or if the message did not originate from you, then contact the list owner for assistance."
3) You must now APPROVE your message:
You now need to verify that indeed this was your post to the group and not a virus or a post from a spammer. This action will protect you and all Listserv communities.
There will be a link in the email you receive for you to click on to send your message to the group. I find this the easiest way by clicking on this link.
4) Your message will now be sent to Listserv for an ok.
5) A link in your browser will open up and state ok. That means your message will go out to the group and will show up in the Archives. You can always verify your message was posted by checking the Archives.
WHAT IS A SIGNATURE LINE FOR THE GUAI GROUP?
We ask you to sign all of your posts with the following information:
A. Your name or any name you choose
B. Type of guaifenesin you are taking and current dosage
C. Date you started on Guai
D. If you are a patient of Dr. St. Amand
E. Other medications you take
F. Hypoglycemic Diet: if you are on it and whether it is Strict or Liberal
We get hundreds of posts from members worldwide and it is very difficult to even begin to help you without the above information. We are all volunteers and do our best in the time we have available. It will save us time to have this basic information at our fingertips when we respond.
You can find out how to create a signature line in your email program. Look at my signature for tips. I personally use Outlook for my email program.
A. Your name or any name you choose
B. Type of guaifenesin you are taking and current dosage
C. Date you started on Guai
D. If you are a patient of Dr. St. Amand
E. Other medications you take
F. Hypoglycemic Diet: if you are on it and whether it is Strict or Liberal
We get hundreds of posts from members worldwide and it is very difficult to even begin to help you without the above information. We are all volunteers and do our best in the time we have available. It will save us time to have this basic information at our fingertips when we respond.
You can find out how to create a signature line in your email program. Look at my signature for tips. I personally use Outlook for my email program.
Char's three "t"s
I have often talked about the 3 Ts to heal and persevere from a tragic event, trauma, death, divorce, sorrow, moving, etc. They are TEARS, TALK, and TIME. These 3 Ts were told to me at my Mother's funeral. The 3 Ts helped me cope with the death of my Mother and cope with life.
I now think we should or could apply them to our dealing with this disease and our healing and journey toward wellness through Guai.
First of all we need to cry our TEARS about and over this disease. This includes men too. TEARS for the loss of our friends and/or family members that would not or could not understand us and what we are dealing with.
TEARS for all the doctors we have been to that don't understand FMS.
TEARS for all the family and friends who don't understand us or FMS.
TEARS for all the guilt that we feel.
TEARS for our pain and suffering.
TEARS for all the feelings that we will never get our life back.
TEARS for all the jobs we lost.
TEARS for all our joy we lost.
TEARS of the unknown and hopelessness that some feel.
TEARS for our loss of mobility.
TEARS of joy at finding this website, our new friends here, and Dr. St. Amand and Claudia and the books that vindicate us.
TEARS of joy at the knowledge that there is a name to this disease.
TEARS of joy to know that there is a medication that will reverse this disease for most people if they adhere to the protocol correctly.
TEARS of joy knowing that there is light at the end of this tunnel.
TEARS of joy for Guaifenesin.
Then we need to TALK about this and that is exactly what we are doing here. We TALK about our cycling, our pain, our dosage, our salicylates, etc., our HG Diet, the loss of our friends or family, the loss of our ability to do the things we used to do, the loss of our jobs, guilt that we feel for passing FMS on to our children, etc. We sometimes TALK about our fear that we are never going to get well because while in a hard cycle that is how we feel. We TALK about our frustration with the doctors who refuse to accept Guaifenesin as the medication that reverses FMS. We also TALK about the progress we are making on Guai when we are Salicylate Free and are on the HG Diet if we need it. So in other words we TALK ,TALK, and TALK... and that is a good thing. It is helping us to heal and deal with this disease and all that it involves.
Then comes the word TIME. TIME is *your* time. It takes TIME to heal, TIME to heal wounds, TIME to heal grief, TIME to heal guilt, TIME to accept this disease and your abilities, TIME to cycle, TIME to learn to do the HG Diet if you need it, TIME to learn to sort out the Salicylates. Then it takes TIME to reverse this disease.
TIME is your genetic time. The time you need to reverse this disease depends upon your genetics, how long you have had it, and how old you are. Cycles take time. TIME of cycles vary from person to person.
So for those of you who are hurting or in a hard cycle, frustrated or down in the dumps, just know that you are not alone and that cycle will pass; you are on your way through reversal.
I now think we should or could apply them to our dealing with this disease and our healing and journey toward wellness through Guai.
First of all we need to cry our TEARS about and over this disease. This includes men too. TEARS for the loss of our friends and/or family members that would not or could not understand us and what we are dealing with.
TEARS for all the doctors we have been to that don't understand FMS.
TEARS for all the family and friends who don't understand us or FMS.
TEARS for all the guilt that we feel.
TEARS for our pain and suffering.
TEARS for all the feelings that we will never get our life back.
TEARS for all the jobs we lost.
TEARS for all our joy we lost.
TEARS of the unknown and hopelessness that some feel.
TEARS for our loss of mobility.
TEARS of joy at finding this website, our new friends here, and Dr. St. Amand and Claudia and the books that vindicate us.
TEARS of joy at the knowledge that there is a name to this disease.
TEARS of joy to know that there is a medication that will reverse this disease for most people if they adhere to the protocol correctly.
TEARS of joy knowing that there is light at the end of this tunnel.
TEARS of joy for Guaifenesin.
Then we need to TALK about this and that is exactly what we are doing here. We TALK about our cycling, our pain, our dosage, our salicylates, etc., our HG Diet, the loss of our friends or family, the loss of our ability to do the things we used to do, the loss of our jobs, guilt that we feel for passing FMS on to our children, etc. We sometimes TALK about our fear that we are never going to get well because while in a hard cycle that is how we feel. We TALK about our frustration with the doctors who refuse to accept Guaifenesin as the medication that reverses FMS. We also TALK about the progress we are making on Guai when we are Salicylate Free and are on the HG Diet if we need it. So in other words we TALK ,TALK, and TALK... and that is a good thing. It is helping us to heal and deal with this disease and all that it involves.
Then comes the word TIME. TIME is *your* time. It takes TIME to heal, TIME to heal wounds, TIME to heal grief, TIME to heal guilt, TIME to accept this disease and your abilities, TIME to cycle, TIME to learn to do the HG Diet if you need it, TIME to learn to sort out the Salicylates. Then it takes TIME to reverse this disease.
TIME is your genetic time. The time you need to reverse this disease depends upon your genetics, how long you have had it, and how old you are. Cycles take time. TIME of cycles vary from person to person.
So for those of you who are hurting or in a hard cycle, frustrated or down in the dumps, just know that you are not alone and that cycle will pass; you are on your way through reversal.
what can i take to get more energy?
There is no miracle cure for low energy when you have fibromyalgia.
The basic problem when you have the disease is that you cannot make energy properly. Think of it this way: if your car's engine is not running, it doesn't matter what grade of fuel you put in your car. Adding wonderful things to give it more mileage won't give it more mileage because it isn't running correctly.
Yes, you can temporarily speed up your metabolism by taking stimulants. Most of the supplements for energy are caffeine, usually in the natural form that occurs in plants such as green tea and coffee. This shortcut will work for a while but it is simply beating a dead horse. One day your body will not respond and you will be even more fatigued because your raced a failing engine and that took even more power to do. You will end up in the red and have to work your way out of it, which is really hard.
Exercise will help speed your metabolism gently and more naturally. Even a short walk several times of day will help.
But there are no short cuts on this one. Any drink, pill, or supplement for energy only works by being a stimulant, and that won't work for long. In the end, you will simply end up more fatigued.
The basic problem when you have the disease is that you cannot make energy properly. Think of it this way: if your car's engine is not running, it doesn't matter what grade of fuel you put in your car. Adding wonderful things to give it more mileage won't give it more mileage because it isn't running correctly.
Yes, you can temporarily speed up your metabolism by taking stimulants. Most of the supplements for energy are caffeine, usually in the natural form that occurs in plants such as green tea and coffee. This shortcut will work for a while but it is simply beating a dead horse. One day your body will not respond and you will be even more fatigued because your raced a failing engine and that took even more power to do. You will end up in the red and have to work your way out of it, which is really hard.
Exercise will help speed your metabolism gently and more naturally. Even a short walk several times of day will help.
But there are no short cuts on this one. Any drink, pill, or supplement for energy only works by being a stimulant, and that won't work for long. In the end, you will simply end up more fatigued.
WHY DO WE HAVE PAIN IN CYCLES?
Here are some answers I have put together to help explain this from “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia”.
Page 165.
"The majority of people find their cycling dosage with relative ease. They get worse and they get better. They forge ahead, whether slowly or quickly, and soon learn the direction of their recovery. By now you've guessed that it’s not so simple for everyone. A small number of patients, possibly 5 percent, will have barely perceptible symptoms during reversing. They erroneously think they have to get hammered with PAIN when they reach healing levels. For them, it's not so. If mapping is not available, this group will probably continue raising their dosages to unnecessary levels in a quest for dramatic reversal symptoms. There is no real downside to this error (except expense), and patients who push up the dose do get well at accelerated rates. We should also mention that a very small group of patients FEEL BETTER FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS after beginning guaifenesin and START TO CYCLE A BIT LATER. That's the reason we hold patients at certain dosages for a designated time. Until a blood test appears for fibromyalgia, mapping and/or journaling is all that we've got to determine the state of affairs. This is why we so highly recommend mapping for anyone who can find talented hands or keeping a symptom journal carefully for those who cannot.”
Page 52.
"Do you remember our discussion in chapter 1 about the lumps and bumps of fibromyalgia? We find them on every patient with the disease, and we draw them on a body caricature, or map, to keep track of them. These SWOLLEN places ARE for the most part TENDER. They're also located in TENDONS and LIGAMENTS, but mostly in MUSCLES. Ninety to 95 percent of the SWELLING is simply WATER that has collected under considerable PRESSURE."
"The worst part of this process is that SWELLING PRESSES on NERVES and they transmit messages of DISCOMFORT to the BRAIN, which is the only organ that can feel pain."
Page 53.
"When reversal begins, WATER has to reenter the ailing cells, wherever the cleaning out is about to start. That extra fluid causes SWELLING all over again, EXERTING more PRESSURE on NERVES to renew the message of PAIN. Thanks to guaifenesin, when an area is being purged, newly accumulated fluid quickly reverses its direction and is pulled out from the cells."
"So when cells do spring cleaning, they simply sweep their rejected phosphate and fellow travelers out into the blood. This results in an added burden for that system; it's now loaded with the very substances it has been trying to dump for years. Large batches of these excesses are delivered to the kidneys, but those organs can't just process the inflow instantly. You’ll recall our theory postulates that fibromyalgia occurs because the kidneys are sluggish when it comes to expelling phosphate. Therefore the flood pouring out of cells is also more than they can immediately handle. Since the urine is the main elimination route, debris piles up a bit and must wait its turn to get out of the body. The blood is impatient and, meeting renal resistance responds by sneaking mini deposits all over the body. Muscles knuckle under the pressure and suck up a fair share, which causes generalized, flu-like ACHING. The brain also cooperates and scoops up enough debris to intensify fatigue, cognitive impairment, irritability, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It's as if the disease were heading entirely in the wrong direction. In fact, it seems worse than ever, since PURGING is moving debris OUT of CELLS at least SIX TIMES FASTER than it had been allowed to ENTER. It's déjà vu all over again! The DIFFERENCE THIS TIME, however, is that the KIDNEYS are NOW WORKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, thanks to the guaifenesin. They're in OVERDRIVE trying to ELIMINATE the excess phosphate, calcium, and whatever at full capacity. The SYMPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA thus disturbingly WORSEN UNTIL THE KIDNEYS FINALLY CATCH UP."
Page 63.
"Though the INITIAL REVERSAL CYCLES might have attached TEN to TWENTY places at one time, LATER REVERSALS may work on only ONE or TWO sites simultaneously."
Page 174.
"There's no longer any doubt the ‘BRAIN CYCLES' are disturbing, INTENSE parts of fibromyalgia. Ask anyone who has the disease: They dependably appear when the rest of the body goes under attack. Like any of the other symptoms, they can LAST for DAYS, WEEK, OR MONTHS, depending on how long you’ve had the illness. Most of the time, when PAIN levels ease, the BRAIN CLEARS remarkably well."
Page 175.
"The central nervous system symptoms include depression, fatigue, irritability, impaired memory and concentration (scattered mind), apathy, nonrestorative sleep independent from insomnia, nervousness, and the brain-disconnected-from-body sensation. For most of us, the COGNITIVE problems and FATIGUE are the MOST OVERWHELMING. They're easily the EQUAL OF PAIN in their negative impact on the quality of life, and many patients consider them distressingly worse."
Pages 176 & 177
"Nowadays medical literature abounds with well-detailed studies of both FIBROMYALGIA and CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME. Many physicians believe they are the SAME ILLNESS. We've treated more than ten thousand patients in these categories, and we can assertively say that we've NEVER SEEN A CASE OF PURE CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME. Notwithstanding the variations in history, body mapping reliably ties complaints to physical changes and amply satisfies the criteria of fibromyalgia. FATIGUE is the DOMINANT complaint of people with HIGH PAIN THRESHOLDS. Carefully questioned, they relate the symptoms of irritable bowel, bladder or vulvar pain, and musculoskeletal complaints, however minor they may seem. The worst map we ever created was of a woman who swore she had NO PAIN at all, only mild stiffness. Later she admitted that she had dental work and delivered babies without anesthesia. While most patients have a combination of PAIN and FATIGUE, some lie at opposite ends of the bell-shaped curve and experience very little else."
Page 165.
"The majority of people find their cycling dosage with relative ease. They get worse and they get better. They forge ahead, whether slowly or quickly, and soon learn the direction of their recovery. By now you've guessed that it’s not so simple for everyone. A small number of patients, possibly 5 percent, will have barely perceptible symptoms during reversing. They erroneously think they have to get hammered with PAIN when they reach healing levels. For them, it's not so. If mapping is not available, this group will probably continue raising their dosages to unnecessary levels in a quest for dramatic reversal symptoms. There is no real downside to this error (except expense), and patients who push up the dose do get well at accelerated rates. We should also mention that a very small group of patients FEEL BETTER FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS after beginning guaifenesin and START TO CYCLE A BIT LATER. That's the reason we hold patients at certain dosages for a designated time. Until a blood test appears for fibromyalgia, mapping and/or journaling is all that we've got to determine the state of affairs. This is why we so highly recommend mapping for anyone who can find talented hands or keeping a symptom journal carefully for those who cannot.”
Page 52.
"Do you remember our discussion in chapter 1 about the lumps and bumps of fibromyalgia? We find them on every patient with the disease, and we draw them on a body caricature, or map, to keep track of them. These SWOLLEN places ARE for the most part TENDER. They're also located in TENDONS and LIGAMENTS, but mostly in MUSCLES. Ninety to 95 percent of the SWELLING is simply WATER that has collected under considerable PRESSURE."
"The worst part of this process is that SWELLING PRESSES on NERVES and they transmit messages of DISCOMFORT to the BRAIN, which is the only organ that can feel pain."
Page 53.
"When reversal begins, WATER has to reenter the ailing cells, wherever the cleaning out is about to start. That extra fluid causes SWELLING all over again, EXERTING more PRESSURE on NERVES to renew the message of PAIN. Thanks to guaifenesin, when an area is being purged, newly accumulated fluid quickly reverses its direction and is pulled out from the cells."
"So when cells do spring cleaning, they simply sweep their rejected phosphate and fellow travelers out into the blood. This results in an added burden for that system; it's now loaded with the very substances it has been trying to dump for years. Large batches of these excesses are delivered to the kidneys, but those organs can't just process the inflow instantly. You’ll recall our theory postulates that fibromyalgia occurs because the kidneys are sluggish when it comes to expelling phosphate. Therefore the flood pouring out of cells is also more than they can immediately handle. Since the urine is the main elimination route, debris piles up a bit and must wait its turn to get out of the body. The blood is impatient and, meeting renal resistance responds by sneaking mini deposits all over the body. Muscles knuckle under the pressure and suck up a fair share, which causes generalized, flu-like ACHING. The brain also cooperates and scoops up enough debris to intensify fatigue, cognitive impairment, irritability, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It's as if the disease were heading entirely in the wrong direction. In fact, it seems worse than ever, since PURGING is moving debris OUT of CELLS at least SIX TIMES FASTER than it had been allowed to ENTER. It's déjà vu all over again! The DIFFERENCE THIS TIME, however, is that the KIDNEYS are NOW WORKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, thanks to the guaifenesin. They're in OVERDRIVE trying to ELIMINATE the excess phosphate, calcium, and whatever at full capacity. The SYMPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA thus disturbingly WORSEN UNTIL THE KIDNEYS FINALLY CATCH UP."
Page 63.
"Though the INITIAL REVERSAL CYCLES might have attached TEN to TWENTY places at one time, LATER REVERSALS may work on only ONE or TWO sites simultaneously."
Page 174.
"There's no longer any doubt the ‘BRAIN CYCLES' are disturbing, INTENSE parts of fibromyalgia. Ask anyone who has the disease: They dependably appear when the rest of the body goes under attack. Like any of the other symptoms, they can LAST for DAYS, WEEK, OR MONTHS, depending on how long you’ve had the illness. Most of the time, when PAIN levels ease, the BRAIN CLEARS remarkably well."
Page 175.
"The central nervous system symptoms include depression, fatigue, irritability, impaired memory and concentration (scattered mind), apathy, nonrestorative sleep independent from insomnia, nervousness, and the brain-disconnected-from-body sensation. For most of us, the COGNITIVE problems and FATIGUE are the MOST OVERWHELMING. They're easily the EQUAL OF PAIN in their negative impact on the quality of life, and many patients consider them distressingly worse."
Pages 176 & 177
"Nowadays medical literature abounds with well-detailed studies of both FIBROMYALGIA and CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME. Many physicians believe they are the SAME ILLNESS. We've treated more than ten thousand patients in these categories, and we can assertively say that we've NEVER SEEN A CASE OF PURE CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME. Notwithstanding the variations in history, body mapping reliably ties complaints to physical changes and amply satisfies the criteria of fibromyalgia. FATIGUE is the DOMINANT complaint of people with HIGH PAIN THRESHOLDS. Carefully questioned, they relate the symptoms of irritable bowel, bladder or vulvar pain, and musculoskeletal complaints, however minor they may seem. The worst map we ever created was of a woman who swore she had NO PAIN at all, only mild stiffness. Later she admitted that she had dental work and delivered babies without anesthesia. While most patients have a combination of PAIN and FATIGUE, some lie at opposite ends of the bell-shaped curve and experience very little else."
ARE BODY TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES COMMON IN FIBROMYALGIA?
As one who used to have sweating, cold spells, etc. with FMS and hot flashes, I thought I would post this from the new Revised AND Updated Third Edition of the Book, Chapter 13, Page 269.
"Patients complain of low-grade fevers, and in rare cases the thermometer may register over 100 degrees. The majority of fibromyalgics sweat excessively at any time. Even minor fevers break at night and interrupt sleep, and drench bedclothes. Hot flashes are common in both sexes--I joke that I went through menopause at age thirty-two. The body's thermostat malfunctions in various ways, and you may feel comfortable only in a very narrow temperature range. You may rapidly switch from too hot to too cold. Layer clothes that easily go on or off for fast coping; keep a jacket or shawl handy."
"Patients complain of low-grade fevers, and in rare cases the thermometer may register over 100 degrees. The majority of fibromyalgics sweat excessively at any time. Even minor fevers break at night and interrupt sleep, and drench bedclothes. Hot flashes are common in both sexes--I joke that I went through menopause at age thirty-two. The body's thermostat malfunctions in various ways, and you may feel comfortable only in a very narrow temperature range. You may rapidly switch from too hot to too cold. Layer clothes that easily go on or off for fast coping; keep a jacket or shawl handy."
CAN I GET A SWOLLEN MOUTH AND TONGUE FROM GUAIFENESIN?
Guaifenesin does not have side effects.
What you describe is probably a symptom of cycling. I have had it many times in the past. However, in my case, I am also allergic to some peppers and they will cause my tongue to swell, etc. So I try not to have pepper on my meals.
In the Revised and Updated Third Edition of the Book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia", on Pages 264-266 it describes mouth, tongue, and throat symptoms:
"The entire surface of the mouth and throat is lined with almost equally sensitive membranes. Salivary glands secrete digestively helpful and also unwanted compounds, which include phosphate (phosphoric acid) excesses. Such acidic secretions can scald like an excessively hot cup of coffee leaving a burned sensation. We can blame similar outputs for the sour or metallic sensations that invade our taste buds. Saliva leaks out during sleep and causes rashes around the corners of the mouth (more often visible in small children and fair-skinned people). More distant membranes aren't impervious to the acid wash, which can cause a sore throat or dry hacking cough. Menthol-free cough drops, such as Fruit Breezers, Xylitol "mints," Halls Fruit Flavored Drops, or old-fashioned Luden's are some products that won't block guaifenesin. The same caveat: Avoid mint, mentholated, and medical-strength herbal lozenges."
"The tongue shares the bathwater. It sports the largest number of oral taste buds. Like any other muscle, it may become tender or feel as though it were cut. Sometimes only the borders are affected as if they'd been abraded by an emery board and unduly sensitive when rubbed against the teeth. Foods may seem altered, tasteless, or distressingly foul. During fibromyalgic flare-ups, mouth sores may revisit, suggesting a herpes resurgence; often they're of unknown, not viral origin (aphthous stomatitis). Smaller sores can be chemically cauterized using an old-fashioned, styptic pencil. Various compounds will shorten a true herpetic cold sore onslaught, e.g. Abreva, acyclovir, and zinc lip balms."
"The sore throat of fibromyalgia is usually unlike that of an impending infection. It's more superficial and not helped by swallowing, clearing, or coughing. Patients may raise only the usual, clear mucus. Spastic outside, mid-neck muscles may impinge on nerves and cause an intense sore throat indistinguishable from a strep infection. The absence of swollen glands upon examination can differentiate between the two. Swallowing is sometimes downright painful, as though a foreign body or tablet were locked in some deep recess. This sensation can last for weeks, but causes no tissue injury."
If severe and unrelenting check with your doctor as there could be other conditions that cause mouth problems. Also check all your other medications and supplements for side-effects.
What you describe is probably a symptom of cycling. I have had it many times in the past. However, in my case, I am also allergic to some peppers and they will cause my tongue to swell, etc. So I try not to have pepper on my meals.
In the Revised and Updated Third Edition of the Book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia", on Pages 264-266 it describes mouth, tongue, and throat symptoms:
"The entire surface of the mouth and throat is lined with almost equally sensitive membranes. Salivary glands secrete digestively helpful and also unwanted compounds, which include phosphate (phosphoric acid) excesses. Such acidic secretions can scald like an excessively hot cup of coffee leaving a burned sensation. We can blame similar outputs for the sour or metallic sensations that invade our taste buds. Saliva leaks out during sleep and causes rashes around the corners of the mouth (more often visible in small children and fair-skinned people). More distant membranes aren't impervious to the acid wash, which can cause a sore throat or dry hacking cough. Menthol-free cough drops, such as Fruit Breezers, Xylitol "mints," Halls Fruit Flavored Drops, or old-fashioned Luden's are some products that won't block guaifenesin. The same caveat: Avoid mint, mentholated, and medical-strength herbal lozenges."
"The tongue shares the bathwater. It sports the largest number of oral taste buds. Like any other muscle, it may become tender or feel as though it were cut. Sometimes only the borders are affected as if they'd been abraded by an emery board and unduly sensitive when rubbed against the teeth. Foods may seem altered, tasteless, or distressingly foul. During fibromyalgic flare-ups, mouth sores may revisit, suggesting a herpes resurgence; often they're of unknown, not viral origin (aphthous stomatitis). Smaller sores can be chemically cauterized using an old-fashioned, styptic pencil. Various compounds will shorten a true herpetic cold sore onslaught, e.g. Abreva, acyclovir, and zinc lip balms."
"The sore throat of fibromyalgia is usually unlike that of an impending infection. It's more superficial and not helped by swallowing, clearing, or coughing. Patients may raise only the usual, clear mucus. Spastic outside, mid-neck muscles may impinge on nerves and cause an intense sore throat indistinguishable from a strep infection. The absence of swollen glands upon examination can differentiate between the two. Swallowing is sometimes downright painful, as though a foreign body or tablet were locked in some deep recess. This sensation can last for weeks, but causes no tissue injury."
If severe and unrelenting check with your doctor as there could be other conditions that cause mouth problems. Also check all your other medications and supplements for side-effects.
Can we cycle depression?
We can cycle depression with Guai and FMS but one must be sure they do not have a "clinical depression” or other mental conditions. If they do then it is wise to seek help of their doctor. Some folks have to take medications for their condition for life. There is no shame in that. Please remember that only EXPERTS with MEDICAL DEGREES can diagnose depression with accuracy. When in doubt seek PROFESSIONAL advice and/or a second opinion if needed. DEPRESSION CAN BE DANGEROUS and NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED if there is any doubt.
Walking is a great way to help ease depression. Page 345 and 350 of Revised Book. "There's no doubt even modest exercising will make you feel better." "Besides improving pain thresholds, releasing endorphins, and rebuilding mitochondria, exercise has a positive effect in ameliorating depression."
In the winter we may not get enough light and we get the blues. In that case, a SAD light may help you.
Page 344 of Revised Book states:
"A certain amount of depression and frustration is normal with chronic illness." "Try a few tricks to coax your brain out of depression while you're waiting for guaifenesin benefits. Easier said than done, but you can better learn to fend off some of its facets. It's perfectly normal to chafe against your limitation, mourn losses, and feel sad at being deprived of stamina to do what you've previously enjoyed."
"Depression in fibromyalgia may stem from feeling defeated in trying to meet some unrealistic standards, self-imposed at home or work. Recognizing limitations is a good place to start and might also lessen stress by letting you erase self-inflicted rules. Concentrating energy on doing what you do best helps immensely."
Depression is addressed in the Revised Book on these pages: 175-178, 276, 321-22, 343-46, and 390.
Here are some quotes from Dr. St. Amand relating to Bi-polar and mental illness:
"The FM usually triggers more intense bipolar attacks but is not the basic cause of it."
"Depression in FM is not usually of the intense clinical variety of bipolar problems. The FM patient does not have manic moments -- far too tired for that."
"Simply said: FM does not cause mania. Bipolar or unipolar individuals could however have FM. Anyone can have FM regardless of what other diseases he or she may harbor."
"However, were FM superimposed on the existing compulsive disorder, everything would be worse. ADD is sometimes misdiagnosed when FM is the cause. One can tell since the affected individual usually has performed quite normally in studies prior to the development of FM."
Walking is a great way to help ease depression. Page 345 and 350 of Revised Book. "There's no doubt even modest exercising will make you feel better." "Besides improving pain thresholds, releasing endorphins, and rebuilding mitochondria, exercise has a positive effect in ameliorating depression."
In the winter we may not get enough light and we get the blues. In that case, a SAD light may help you.
Page 344 of Revised Book states:
"A certain amount of depression and frustration is normal with chronic illness." "Try a few tricks to coax your brain out of depression while you're waiting for guaifenesin benefits. Easier said than done, but you can better learn to fend off some of its facets. It's perfectly normal to chafe against your limitation, mourn losses, and feel sad at being deprived of stamina to do what you've previously enjoyed."
"Depression in fibromyalgia may stem from feeling defeated in trying to meet some unrealistic standards, self-imposed at home or work. Recognizing limitations is a good place to start and might also lessen stress by letting you erase self-inflicted rules. Concentrating energy on doing what you do best helps immensely."
Depression is addressed in the Revised Book on these pages: 175-178, 276, 321-22, 343-46, and 390.
Here are some quotes from Dr. St. Amand relating to Bi-polar and mental illness:
"The FM usually triggers more intense bipolar attacks but is not the basic cause of it."
"Depression in FM is not usually of the intense clinical variety of bipolar problems. The FM patient does not have manic moments -- far too tired for that."
"Simply said: FM does not cause mania. Bipolar or unipolar individuals could however have FM. Anyone can have FM regardless of what other diseases he or she may harbor."
"However, were FM superimposed on the existing compulsive disorder, everything would be worse. ADD is sometimes misdiagnosed when FM is the cause. One can tell since the affected individual usually has performed quite normally in studies prior to the development of FM."
IS IT COMMON TO FEEL LIKE YOUR CLOTHES ARE BOTHERING YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE TOO SENSITIVE?
I am tall and thin with broad shoulders. My biggest annoyance is bras! The straps are never long enough and they are always too tight. I pull and stretch them and even cut them some to make them more comfortable. So now I just wear a bra only when I go out in public.
My other annoyance is the tags on blouses, shirts, etc. I can't stand them touching my skin so I cut them off. Tight waist bands drive me nuts too as do the tight elastic in underwear. So I cut them a bit to make them larger. Tight socks at the top annoy me too thus all of my socks have cuts at the top.
When we cycle water enters the cells and puts pressure on the nerves sending pain signals to the brain. I may find that in areas where I was cycling the hardest is the area where clothes bothered me the most.
Dr. St. Amand mentions the skin in the book. Chapter 11 Pages 240-50 Revised Edition of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia":
"Only in recent years have we realized the variety and extent of skin symptoms in fibromyalgia."
"All kinds of other weird effects appear. Crawling feelings anywhere on the skin feel like errant hairs or insects that are never there. Burning can be felt anywhere on the surface of the body, commonly on the back of the neck, arms, or thighs. Fibromyalgics ritually CUT IRRITATING TAGS OFF THEIR CLOTHES before putting them on for the first time."
"Fiery hot, itchy soles and palms are relentless."
"The skin is the largest organ of the body in terms of area. Average adults have about two square yards of skin, and it performs many functions. It protects against invaders, produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun, and contains millions of tiny nerve endings that relay messages to our brains. We tend to forget that the hair and nails are specialized offshoots of the dermis and are technically part of this same system."
"The skin is made up of two layers, the dermis and the epidermis, with a layer of subcutaneous fat directly beneath. The epidermis is a thin layer that's constantly active. Cells are created there, and as newer ones are made, they push older ones up toward the top, where they flatten and become squamous cells. Finally they are moved higher still to make up the stratum corneum and are sloughed off. The average life expectancy of a skin cell is one month. The dermis has large amounts of collagen that serve as supportive tissue. Obviously, the skin contains blood, nerve, lymph, and muscle cells along with hair follicles and sebaceous glands. As you might imagine, it takes a lot of energy to keep this huge system running properly. And we all know that fibromyalgics are energy-challenged everywhere!"
So there you have it, friends.....the reason why!
My other annoyance is the tags on blouses, shirts, etc. I can't stand them touching my skin so I cut them off. Tight waist bands drive me nuts too as do the tight elastic in underwear. So I cut them a bit to make them larger. Tight socks at the top annoy me too thus all of my socks have cuts at the top.
When we cycle water enters the cells and puts pressure on the nerves sending pain signals to the brain. I may find that in areas where I was cycling the hardest is the area where clothes bothered me the most.
Dr. St. Amand mentions the skin in the book. Chapter 11 Pages 240-50 Revised Edition of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia":
"Only in recent years have we realized the variety and extent of skin symptoms in fibromyalgia."
"All kinds of other weird effects appear. Crawling feelings anywhere on the skin feel like errant hairs or insects that are never there. Burning can be felt anywhere on the surface of the body, commonly on the back of the neck, arms, or thighs. Fibromyalgics ritually CUT IRRITATING TAGS OFF THEIR CLOTHES before putting them on for the first time."
"Fiery hot, itchy soles and palms are relentless."
"The skin is the largest organ of the body in terms of area. Average adults have about two square yards of skin, and it performs many functions. It protects against invaders, produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun, and contains millions of tiny nerve endings that relay messages to our brains. We tend to forget that the hair and nails are specialized offshoots of the dermis and are technically part of this same system."
"The skin is made up of two layers, the dermis and the epidermis, with a layer of subcutaneous fat directly beneath. The epidermis is a thin layer that's constantly active. Cells are created there, and as newer ones are made, they push older ones up toward the top, where they flatten and become squamous cells. Finally they are moved higher still to make up the stratum corneum and are sloughed off. The average life expectancy of a skin cell is one month. The dermis has large amounts of collagen that serve as supportive tissue. Obviously, the skin contains blood, nerve, lymph, and muscle cells along with hair follicles and sebaceous glands. As you might imagine, it takes a lot of energy to keep this huge system running properly. And we all know that fibromyalgics are energy-challenged everywhere!"
So there you have it, friends.....the reason why!
HOW DO I FIND VITAMINS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN SALICYLATES?
When you purchase your vitamins and supplements be sure and read the labels carefully. These are the things that will block your guaifenesin:
1. Bioflavinoids: Hesperidin, Rutin, Quercetin
Next look for the natural salicylates which are the plants.
2. You cannot take any plants as medications. If you see a plant name with strength after it in the ingredients you cannot take the product.
Examples would be: Gingko, Echinacea, Valerian Root, Milk Thistle. (Herbal supplements are many times stronger than you would get in a normal food amount. That's why you can't use them.)
Ingredients that are not the names of plants are fine. For example: COQ10. There is no plant named COQ10 so it is fine to take. Also fine would be: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Calcium, Magnesium, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, SamE, MSM, glucosamine.
In choosing your Vitamin C buy one WITHOUT "Rose Hips" or other plants.
You don't have to check the "inactive ingredients" in something you swallow. These can be identified by being listed under the "inactive incredients" heading and having no strengths after them. This means that they are food strength or not concentrated. (There is no difference between the starch in a pill and the starch in your cereal.)
You do not need to know the source of any ingredient. Calcium is calcium. It does not matter where it comes from. Silica is a mineral, it does not matter the source. Just check the actual INGREDIENTS. Natural is a marketing term as is “plant derived.” All you need are the actual listed ingredients.
Remember, the FDA does not regulate your vitamins and thus you may or may not actually be getting what is listed on the label. Buyer beware. Check www.ConsumerLab.com for reviews. We do not recommend you take vitamins, but if you do please check with your own personal doctor before starting or changing any regimens.
1. Bioflavinoids: Hesperidin, Rutin, Quercetin
Next look for the natural salicylates which are the plants.
2. You cannot take any plants as medications. If you see a plant name with strength after it in the ingredients you cannot take the product.
Examples would be: Gingko, Echinacea, Valerian Root, Milk Thistle. (Herbal supplements are many times stronger than you would get in a normal food amount. That's why you can't use them.)
Ingredients that are not the names of plants are fine. For example: COQ10. There is no plant named COQ10 so it is fine to take. Also fine would be: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Calcium, Magnesium, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, SamE, MSM, glucosamine.
In choosing your Vitamin C buy one WITHOUT "Rose Hips" or other plants.
You don't have to check the "inactive ingredients" in something you swallow. These can be identified by being listed under the "inactive incredients" heading and having no strengths after them. This means that they are food strength or not concentrated. (There is no difference between the starch in a pill and the starch in your cereal.)
You do not need to know the source of any ingredient. Calcium is calcium. It does not matter where it comes from. Silica is a mineral, it does not matter the source. Just check the actual INGREDIENTS. Natural is a marketing term as is “plant derived.” All you need are the actual listed ingredients.
Remember, the FDA does not regulate your vitamins and thus you may or may not actually be getting what is listed on the label. Buyer beware. Check www.ConsumerLab.com for reviews. We do not recommend you take vitamins, but if you do please check with your own personal doctor before starting or changing any regimens.
will flaxseed oil block my guaifenesin?
Flaxseed oil in CAPSULES will block your Guaifenesin. It is an oil from a plant. You cannot take plant oils as medications. Page 83 of the Revised Edition of the Book:
"Some people like to grind up a handful of flax seeds and put them in cereal or toss them into salads, etc. That would seem to be fine, a normal amount you'd eat. I can't quarrel with this idea. It is a food and would not block..."
"Flaxseed Oil should also be fine as a food, that is if you bought OIL and made a salad dressing out of it. This flaxseed oil is sold in a market and the label reads NUTRITIONAL FACTS. It is a food, it is not concentrated.”
"Some people like to grind up a handful of flax seeds and put them in cereal or toss them into salads, etc. That would seem to be fine, a normal amount you'd eat. I can't quarrel with this idea. It is a food and would not block..."
"Flaxseed Oil should also be fine as a food, that is if you bought OIL and made a salad dressing out of it. This flaxseed oil is sold in a market and the label reads NUTRITIONAL FACTS. It is a food, it is not concentrated.”
WHAT ARE THE SALICYLATE RULES FOR MENTHOL?
Are menthol, menthyl, mentha and methyl salicylate free?
Here's the easy way to remember it. If you see an N in it -- it's a salicylate.
These words are all from the Latin word for MINT.
MENTHOL -- is an alcohol from mint oil. It's a blocker.
MENTHYL -- is compound radical that is the base of menthol. So Menthyl anything is a salicylate. It signifies a compound made from menthol.
MENTHA -- is the prefix meaning Mint. (It's Latin, like most plant names) So Mentha Arvensis, Mentha Piperita, Mentha Viridis are just species of mint plants. They are high in salicylates.
METHYL (no N in this word) is not made from menthol, menta, or any of those. Methyl signifies a chemical derived from METHANE (by the removal of one hydrogen atom). So these chemicals are NOT salicylates, except for one - methyl salicylate - because you see the word "salicylate." Methyl salicylate is oil of wintergreen, or a mint oil.
MET -- not a salicylate (unless salicylate is added)
Here's the easy way to remember it. If you see an N in it -- it's a salicylate.
These words are all from the Latin word for MINT.
MENTHOL -- is an alcohol from mint oil. It's a blocker.
MENTHYL -- is compound radical that is the base of menthol. So Menthyl anything is a salicylate. It signifies a compound made from menthol.
MENTHA -- is the prefix meaning Mint. (It's Latin, like most plant names) So Mentha Arvensis, Mentha Piperita, Mentha Viridis are just species of mint plants. They are high in salicylates.
METHYL (no N in this word) is not made from menthol, menta, or any of those. Methyl signifies a chemical derived from METHANE (by the removal of one hydrogen atom). So these chemicals are NOT salicylates, except for one - methyl salicylate - because you see the word "salicylate." Methyl salicylate is oil of wintergreen, or a mint oil.
MET -- not a salicylate (unless salicylate is added)
Is BISABOLOL a salicylate to avoid?
BISABOLOL is not a salicylate. It sounds very much like BISABOL, which is a plant resin that should not be used because it will block guaifenesin.
BISABOL = NO, do not use products that contain this ingredient.
BISABOLOL = YES, this is fine.
BISABOLOL is fine to use. Remember the LOL at the end of the word. Think Laughing Out Loud to remember it. BISABOLOL is the one you CAN use. (BISABOL is rare in products)
BISABOL = NO, do not use products that contain this ingredient.
BISABOLOL = YES, this is fine.
BISABOLOL is fine to use. Remember the LOL at the end of the word. Think Laughing Out Loud to remember it. BISABOLOL is the one you CAN use. (BISABOL is rare in products)
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOOD SUGAR AND FIBROMYALGIA?
Here are some very important quotes from "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia Fatigue. I suggest that all of you who have energy issues purchase this book -- it is invaluable.
Page 65 & 66
"We earlier warned that a large number of fibromyalgics suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and carbohydrate intolerance for some very sound metabolic reasons. Insulin, as we'll discuss more fully in Chapter 3, is released every time we eat carbohydrates. Some people produce too much of it. One of the prime functions of insulin in the body is to drive glucose into cells -- but glucose doesn't enter alone. It drags phosphates with it. And as we've seen, excess phosphates in the cells of fibromyalgics is already the problem! Among the tissues most responsive to insulin are muscle cells, and they can be forced to accept inordinate amount of phosphate. Insulin also signals certain kidney cells to reabsorb some phosphate that was scheduled for elimination in the urine. It stands to reason, then, that those with carbohydrate craving or hypoglycemia will feel better if they follow the dietary restrictions we'll explain just ahead. Though no specific diet is needed for fibromyalgia, getting rid of the wide fluctuations of blood sugar will allow a surge of energy and a lessening of both pain and clouded mind we recognize as fibrofog."
"Although fibromyalgia will yield to guaifenesin, dietary factors may be critical to whether you feel much better, despite the improvement on your body maps."
Page 86 & 87
"Many persuasive arguments can be made for the fact that our modern diet is not what we were designed to eat. That may be why caffeine and carbohydrates are such potent villains. Sorry, hypoglycemics, there is no getting around this even though it's not what you want to hear: You must avoid the interdicted foods and maintain dietary restrictions long enough to get well."
Page 87 & 88
"We don't invent diseases; we only administrate them." Our job is to warn of the pitfalls and outline what foods must be avoided. We deeply regret taking away so many comfort foods and tasty treats, but we can neither bargain away necessary restrictions nor dispense self discipline. By the time you're an out-and-out hypoglycemic, you've already raided your energy bank and dried up the account. Like every other illness we talk about in this book, if you've developed the symptoms, you're broke! You can no longer write checks until you've reestablished a positive balance."
"Cheating is a guarantee of self-defeat. There are no effective shortcuts like chromium picolinate or other dietary supplements -- no matter what the advertisements say. You can sometimes get by if you try eating small meals all day long. Eventually, however, you have to sleep, and when you do you’ll wake with your body in an uproar."
Page 88
"Taming insulin releases helps non-hypoglycemic fibromyalgics as well. A prime function of insulin is to drive glucose molecules into cells, but it must also tag them with companion phosphates. Once attached, they prevent glucose from escaping back out of the cell. This chemical ritual facilitates storage and assures energy availability for rapid deployment."
"Insulin also signals certain kidney cells to reabsorb some of the previously filtered serum phosphate that was destined for elimination. These salvaged ions are then returned to the bloodstream and widely distributed to various tissues throughout the body. Cells most severely affected by hypoglycemia and fibromyalgia -- muscle and brain -- are the very ones most compliant with insulin's demands. Those hyper responsive structures heed commands and absorb the largest amounts of phosphate. It follows that curtailing carbohydrate intake diminishes intracellular phosphate, and that’s the very thing we need in fibromyalgia."
"For these reasons, fibromyalgics, not only the carbohydrate-craving ones, may enjoy some symptomatic improvement by avoiding sugars and heavy starches. Let's face it, there's lag time and much cycling ahead before guaifenesin gradually reverses fibromyalgia. In the meantime, highly encouraging energy gains and symptomatic abatement may come from this type of dieting. Some quick rewards include easing the fibrofog and drowsiness that follow a carbohydrate meal. Morning fatigue may be lessened simply by avoiding the heavier carbohydrates before bed. Irritable bowel syndrome almost always improves significantly in a few days. For non-hypoglycemic fibromyalgics, three weeks on the restricted diet is plenty of time to experience its benefits. The flip side is that if nothing improves, there's no need to stay on it. So often are our words misinterpreted that we repeat: Though it may prove energizing, there is no required diet for fibromyalgia."
Page 65 & 66
"We earlier warned that a large number of fibromyalgics suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and carbohydrate intolerance for some very sound metabolic reasons. Insulin, as we'll discuss more fully in Chapter 3, is released every time we eat carbohydrates. Some people produce too much of it. One of the prime functions of insulin in the body is to drive glucose into cells -- but glucose doesn't enter alone. It drags phosphates with it. And as we've seen, excess phosphates in the cells of fibromyalgics is already the problem! Among the tissues most responsive to insulin are muscle cells, and they can be forced to accept inordinate amount of phosphate. Insulin also signals certain kidney cells to reabsorb some phosphate that was scheduled for elimination in the urine. It stands to reason, then, that those with carbohydrate craving or hypoglycemia will feel better if they follow the dietary restrictions we'll explain just ahead. Though no specific diet is needed for fibromyalgia, getting rid of the wide fluctuations of blood sugar will allow a surge of energy and a lessening of both pain and clouded mind we recognize as fibrofog."
"Although fibromyalgia will yield to guaifenesin, dietary factors may be critical to whether you feel much better, despite the improvement on your body maps."
Page 86 & 87
"Many persuasive arguments can be made for the fact that our modern diet is not what we were designed to eat. That may be why caffeine and carbohydrates are such potent villains. Sorry, hypoglycemics, there is no getting around this even though it's not what you want to hear: You must avoid the interdicted foods and maintain dietary restrictions long enough to get well."
Page 87 & 88
"We don't invent diseases; we only administrate them." Our job is to warn of the pitfalls and outline what foods must be avoided. We deeply regret taking away so many comfort foods and tasty treats, but we can neither bargain away necessary restrictions nor dispense self discipline. By the time you're an out-and-out hypoglycemic, you've already raided your energy bank and dried up the account. Like every other illness we talk about in this book, if you've developed the symptoms, you're broke! You can no longer write checks until you've reestablished a positive balance."
"Cheating is a guarantee of self-defeat. There are no effective shortcuts like chromium picolinate or other dietary supplements -- no matter what the advertisements say. You can sometimes get by if you try eating small meals all day long. Eventually, however, you have to sleep, and when you do you’ll wake with your body in an uproar."
Page 88
"Taming insulin releases helps non-hypoglycemic fibromyalgics as well. A prime function of insulin is to drive glucose molecules into cells, but it must also tag them with companion phosphates. Once attached, they prevent glucose from escaping back out of the cell. This chemical ritual facilitates storage and assures energy availability for rapid deployment."
"Insulin also signals certain kidney cells to reabsorb some of the previously filtered serum phosphate that was destined for elimination. These salvaged ions are then returned to the bloodstream and widely distributed to various tissues throughout the body. Cells most severely affected by hypoglycemia and fibromyalgia -- muscle and brain -- are the very ones most compliant with insulin's demands. Those hyper responsive structures heed commands and absorb the largest amounts of phosphate. It follows that curtailing carbohydrate intake diminishes intracellular phosphate, and that’s the very thing we need in fibromyalgia."
"For these reasons, fibromyalgics, not only the carbohydrate-craving ones, may enjoy some symptomatic improvement by avoiding sugars and heavy starches. Let's face it, there's lag time and much cycling ahead before guaifenesin gradually reverses fibromyalgia. In the meantime, highly encouraging energy gains and symptomatic abatement may come from this type of dieting. Some quick rewards include easing the fibrofog and drowsiness that follow a carbohydrate meal. Morning fatigue may be lessened simply by avoiding the heavier carbohydrates before bed. Irritable bowel syndrome almost always improves significantly in a few days. For non-hypoglycemic fibromyalgics, three weeks on the restricted diet is plenty of time to experience its benefits. The flip side is that if nothing improves, there's no need to stay on it. So often are our words misinterpreted that we repeat: Though it may prove energizing, there is no required diet for fibromyalgia."
HOW DOES THE GLYCEMIC INDEX FIGURE IN HYPOGLYCEMIA?
Below is information from Claudia on the glycemic index that are in the Guai Group Archives. I have posted excerpts below and not the entire post. You too can view all of these and more by Claudia by doing a Search of the Archives using the words "Glycemic Index" and Claudia's email which is [email protected].
"There are many flaws with the glycemic index and reasons you should not use it if you are on the HG diet. For more information, if you are interested, use our archives."
"AFTER TWO MONTHS OF A PERFECT LIBERAL DIET you are free to try other foods to see what you can tolerate. You cannot trust net carbs, glycemic index, absorbed carbs etc. Only trust your very own body to tell you what you can tolerate. Some people react to sugar alcohols with blood sugar swings. Doesn't matter that they are okay for some people, for others they are not. Some people react to them because they are sensitive to the chemicals (though many are from natural sources. Folks: Truvia and Purvia are NOT natural stevia. They are chemicals extracted from Stevia.)
"Many doctors believe the glycemic index has numerous errors in it. There is also a huge variation in foods depending on who measured them, how they were prepared, how long they were cooked, how ripe they were (natural sugar content), etc. We all know that there is a huge difference in fruits and vegetables as to how sweet they are from piece to piece.
"GI indexes were designed using healthy people, not diabetics or hypoglycemics. Their bodies respond differently to sugars by definition."
"It is best to simply avoid the "FOODS TO STRICTLY AVOID" on the diet if you’re hypoglycemic. Like the QUICK SAL check it is a short cut that works and will save guess work on what you can eat."
"The glycemic index is not accurate for hypoglycemics ... not very helpful to most diabetics either. It is an average of readings done on healthy people when they consume a single food in a limited quantity. This is obviously not how we eat. Each meal combines several foods.”
"The glycemic index has limitations because really what we want is the insulin response not necessarily the glycemic level."
"Secondly, the glycemic index is more accurate in diabetics because their blood sugar goes up (and up and up). It doesn't drop quickly at a certain point like a hypoglycemic's does."
"In a hypoglycemic the fault can lie with too much insulin production (an overreaction) or the counterregulatory hormones not working in sync."
"And lastly, what exactly IS the glycemic index? It is an average of blood sugar readings (when compared to sugar) a certain amount of time after a certain quantity of a single food is consumed."
"These are just some of the general reasons why the glycemic index doesn't translate into an accurate measure for hypoglycemics."
"There are many reasons why the glycemic index isn't accurate especially for hypoglycemics. It is a number based on averages of a normal person's response to a single food. In diabetes where the blood sugar is less labile, it is more accurate. For a hypoglycemic the rise and sudden fall is much more complex and involves many more hormones.”
"There are many flaws with the glycemic index and reasons you should not use it if you are on the HG diet. For more information, if you are interested, use our archives."
"AFTER TWO MONTHS OF A PERFECT LIBERAL DIET you are free to try other foods to see what you can tolerate. You cannot trust net carbs, glycemic index, absorbed carbs etc. Only trust your very own body to tell you what you can tolerate. Some people react to sugar alcohols with blood sugar swings. Doesn't matter that they are okay for some people, for others they are not. Some people react to them because they are sensitive to the chemicals (though many are from natural sources. Folks: Truvia and Purvia are NOT natural stevia. They are chemicals extracted from Stevia.)
"Many doctors believe the glycemic index has numerous errors in it. There is also a huge variation in foods depending on who measured them, how they were prepared, how long they were cooked, how ripe they were (natural sugar content), etc. We all know that there is a huge difference in fruits and vegetables as to how sweet they are from piece to piece.
"GI indexes were designed using healthy people, not diabetics or hypoglycemics. Their bodies respond differently to sugars by definition."
"It is best to simply avoid the "FOODS TO STRICTLY AVOID" on the diet if you’re hypoglycemic. Like the QUICK SAL check it is a short cut that works and will save guess work on what you can eat."
"The glycemic index is not accurate for hypoglycemics ... not very helpful to most diabetics either. It is an average of readings done on healthy people when they consume a single food in a limited quantity. This is obviously not how we eat. Each meal combines several foods.”
"The glycemic index has limitations because really what we want is the insulin response not necessarily the glycemic level."
"Secondly, the glycemic index is more accurate in diabetics because their blood sugar goes up (and up and up). It doesn't drop quickly at a certain point like a hypoglycemic's does."
"In a hypoglycemic the fault can lie with too much insulin production (an overreaction) or the counterregulatory hormones not working in sync."
"And lastly, what exactly IS the glycemic index? It is an average of blood sugar readings (when compared to sugar) a certain amount of time after a certain quantity of a single food is consumed."
"These are just some of the general reasons why the glycemic index doesn't translate into an accurate measure for hypoglycemics."
"There are many reasons why the glycemic index isn't accurate especially for hypoglycemics. It is a number based on averages of a normal person's response to a single food. In diabetes where the blood sugar is less labile, it is more accurate. For a hypoglycemic the rise and sudden fall is much more complex and involves many more hormones.”
IS HAIR LOSS RELATED TO FIBROMYALGIA or GUAIFENESIN?
Basically there could be many causes of hair loss -- some illnesses, low iron, thyroid levels out of range, etc., some medical conditions, and simple hereditary. A medical doctor should help you see if any of these apply to you.
The most common reason is heredity. If you look around, you'll notice that most people (men and women) lose hair as they age while others experience a change of hair so that it becomes much finer and seems like less. The age at which you will start to lose hair is part of your genetics, which cannot be changed. Some men are balding at 20, some at 30, some at 50, and so on. Women generally begin to lose hair later, but as our hormones change, our hair changes too. Looking around at your relatives will give you some clues. It is, in fact, most normal for people to lose hair as they age. Even people who do not "go bald" have much less hair as they get older, either because the consistency changes or because follicles die. Women do not generally lose as much hair as men; it has to do with a testosterone conversion in the human body. Women make testosterone too and it declines as they age. Women who take supplemental testosterone can, as a side effect, get "male pattern baldness."
Many medications cause hair loss, including all antidepressants, some cholesterol medications, certain blood pressure medications, blood thinners, birth control pills, and too many of certain vitamins. Do check the side effect of any meds you take. You will be surprised at how many can do it. It can also be cumulative if you are taking several of these medications. You can find the side effects to medications easily online if you are curious.
Poor health can result in poor hair quality. Diabetes can cause hair loss. People with kidney disease, liver disease and lupus can also suffer from hair loss. It can also be due to hormonal issues or stress. There is an autoimmune disease, Alopecia areata, that causes hair loss, sometimes on the rest of the body as well as the scalp. Also there are infections of the scalp that can cause hair loss.
Fibromyalgia, and any chronic illness, steals the body's energy. When you are ill, your hair will be of poorer quality and hair shedding cycles can last longer. When you get healthier, you'll find that your natural hair loss cycles are shorter and your hair will be of a better quality. (Hair cycles naturally in growing and shedding cycles). If Fibromyalgia is the cause, though, it would only be a few months on the guaifenesin protocol before you'd see new hair coming in, and of better quality. Hair loss can happen before you get better quality hair growth with guaifenesin. You should gradually start seeing better quality hair if the guaifenesin protocol is going to help. And, yes, it can be during the first year, or later on, depending on your own personal reversal rate.
Things like Rogaine and some hormones can help for some people. But obviously there is no great solution to hair loss. Otherwise there would not be hair transplants, wigs or hairpieces.
Hair loss will cycle. It cycles even in healthy people, but it is often more pronounced in those of us with FMS because our bodies cannot make healthy hair as well. There is nothing in guaifenesin that causes hair loss, it is the FMS. So it improves over time as your other symptoms do.
Here are some quotes from Dr. St. Amand that addresses hair loss in FMS and after Guaifenesin:
"Hair is defective in FM since it too forms from the dermis, as do nails. However, about the fourth or fifth month of guaifenesin, a batch of the bad stuff comes out, to be followed by a much better hair. People also shed periodically every 3-4 years."
"Remember, hair is part of the integument (skin). As you know, we see all kinds of rashes, hives, itching, defective fingernails etc. As the new hair growth begins these same patients tell us it is of finer quality, more "like my old hair".
Even though this can be a result of FMS, excessive hair loss should be evaluated by your doctor and/or dermatologist If you are experiencing hair loss to the extent you think you are about to go bald, please get it evaluated by a dermatologist. Remember, not everything is FMS.
The most common reason is heredity. If you look around, you'll notice that most people (men and women) lose hair as they age while others experience a change of hair so that it becomes much finer and seems like less. The age at which you will start to lose hair is part of your genetics, which cannot be changed. Some men are balding at 20, some at 30, some at 50, and so on. Women generally begin to lose hair later, but as our hormones change, our hair changes too. Looking around at your relatives will give you some clues. It is, in fact, most normal for people to lose hair as they age. Even people who do not "go bald" have much less hair as they get older, either because the consistency changes or because follicles die. Women do not generally lose as much hair as men; it has to do with a testosterone conversion in the human body. Women make testosterone too and it declines as they age. Women who take supplemental testosterone can, as a side effect, get "male pattern baldness."
Many medications cause hair loss, including all antidepressants, some cholesterol medications, certain blood pressure medications, blood thinners, birth control pills, and too many of certain vitamins. Do check the side effect of any meds you take. You will be surprised at how many can do it. It can also be cumulative if you are taking several of these medications. You can find the side effects to medications easily online if you are curious.
Poor health can result in poor hair quality. Diabetes can cause hair loss. People with kidney disease, liver disease and lupus can also suffer from hair loss. It can also be due to hormonal issues or stress. There is an autoimmune disease, Alopecia areata, that causes hair loss, sometimes on the rest of the body as well as the scalp. Also there are infections of the scalp that can cause hair loss.
Fibromyalgia, and any chronic illness, steals the body's energy. When you are ill, your hair will be of poorer quality and hair shedding cycles can last longer. When you get healthier, you'll find that your natural hair loss cycles are shorter and your hair will be of a better quality. (Hair cycles naturally in growing and shedding cycles). If Fibromyalgia is the cause, though, it would only be a few months on the guaifenesin protocol before you'd see new hair coming in, and of better quality. Hair loss can happen before you get better quality hair growth with guaifenesin. You should gradually start seeing better quality hair if the guaifenesin protocol is going to help. And, yes, it can be during the first year, or later on, depending on your own personal reversal rate.
Things like Rogaine and some hormones can help for some people. But obviously there is no great solution to hair loss. Otherwise there would not be hair transplants, wigs or hairpieces.
Hair loss will cycle. It cycles even in healthy people, but it is often more pronounced in those of us with FMS because our bodies cannot make healthy hair as well. There is nothing in guaifenesin that causes hair loss, it is the FMS. So it improves over time as your other symptoms do.
Here are some quotes from Dr. St. Amand that addresses hair loss in FMS and after Guaifenesin:
"Hair is defective in FM since it too forms from the dermis, as do nails. However, about the fourth or fifth month of guaifenesin, a batch of the bad stuff comes out, to be followed by a much better hair. People also shed periodically every 3-4 years."
"Remember, hair is part of the integument (skin). As you know, we see all kinds of rashes, hives, itching, defective fingernails etc. As the new hair growth begins these same patients tell us it is of finer quality, more "like my old hair".
Even though this can be a result of FMS, excessive hair loss should be evaluated by your doctor and/or dermatologist If you are experiencing hair loss to the extent you think you are about to go bald, please get it evaluated by a dermatologist. Remember, not everything is FMS.
Is it common to have burning perspiration and tears with Fibromyalgia?
With FMS we have acidic secretions from our body. They are in our tears, saliva, perspiration, urine, feces, mucus, etc. Below are some quotes from the new revised edition of the Book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia":
"Most fibromyalgics have problems with the so-called inner skin, the mucosa that lines every moist membrane in the body. All these areas are subject to the irritating effects of fibromyalgia. The primary reason for this is that the watery secretions that keep them wet become ACIDIC and create surface burning. Eyes react with excessive tearing that dries during the night. Water evaporates, leaving behind mucus and calcium phosphate. This forms the sticky and sometimes gritty ‘sand’ we notice in the corners of our eyelids in the morning."
"The membranes of the nose are not immune to fibromyalgia. They express their discomfort with mucous outpourings due to histamine release, as we have already mentioned. The majority of patients report classic symptoms of this: chronic nasal congestion or postnasal drip. Waking hours are spent sniffing, blowing noses, or clearing throats. Mucus is usually clear, but the appearance of yellow or green phlegm indicates a superimposed infection, which must be treated appropriately."
"We've already mentioned that the BODILY SECRETIONS of fibromyalgia are ACIDIC. Nasal membranes are delicate and easily burned by surges of watery mucus."
Page 263:
"The throat begins in the mouth. The entire surface is lined with almost equally sensitive membranes. Salivary glands are involved in trying to rid the body of unwanted phosphate (phosphoric acid). Their ACIDIC SECRETIONS scald, leaving a burned sensation, as if you'd taken a big sip of an excessively hot cup of coffee. The same sources can be blamed for sour or metallic sensations emanating from taste buds. Saliva leaks out during sleep and causes rashes around the corners of the mouth."
Page 218:
"You'll recall that the entire body participates in trying to get rid of excessive phosphate. These ACID PARTICLES are secreted through TEARS, SALIVA, SWEAT, VAGINAL FLUIDS, and BOWEL EXCREMENTS. This output is not negligible except when compared with what's excreted in the urine, which is the major dumping system."
I personally have had many bouts of acidic problems and my most frequent one is around my mouth due to saliva dripping out. I also have the burning urinary symptoms and burning acidity in the anal area. I also cycle post-nasal drip. They come and go as I cycle and will eventually lessen, and ultimately clear, as Guaifenesin reverses me.
"Most fibromyalgics have problems with the so-called inner skin, the mucosa that lines every moist membrane in the body. All these areas are subject to the irritating effects of fibromyalgia. The primary reason for this is that the watery secretions that keep them wet become ACIDIC and create surface burning. Eyes react with excessive tearing that dries during the night. Water evaporates, leaving behind mucus and calcium phosphate. This forms the sticky and sometimes gritty ‘sand’ we notice in the corners of our eyelids in the morning."
"The membranes of the nose are not immune to fibromyalgia. They express their discomfort with mucous outpourings due to histamine release, as we have already mentioned. The majority of patients report classic symptoms of this: chronic nasal congestion or postnasal drip. Waking hours are spent sniffing, blowing noses, or clearing throats. Mucus is usually clear, but the appearance of yellow or green phlegm indicates a superimposed infection, which must be treated appropriately."
"We've already mentioned that the BODILY SECRETIONS of fibromyalgia are ACIDIC. Nasal membranes are delicate and easily burned by surges of watery mucus."
Page 263:
"The throat begins in the mouth. The entire surface is lined with almost equally sensitive membranes. Salivary glands are involved in trying to rid the body of unwanted phosphate (phosphoric acid). Their ACIDIC SECRETIONS scald, leaving a burned sensation, as if you'd taken a big sip of an excessively hot cup of coffee. The same sources can be blamed for sour or metallic sensations emanating from taste buds. Saliva leaks out during sleep and causes rashes around the corners of the mouth."
Page 218:
"You'll recall that the entire body participates in trying to get rid of excessive phosphate. These ACID PARTICLES are secreted through TEARS, SALIVA, SWEAT, VAGINAL FLUIDS, and BOWEL EXCREMENTS. This output is not negligible except when compared with what's excreted in the urine, which is the major dumping system."
I personally have had many bouts of acidic problems and my most frequent one is around my mouth due to saliva dripping out. I also have the burning urinary symptoms and burning acidity in the anal area. I also cycle post-nasal drip. They come and go as I cycle and will eventually lessen, and ultimately clear, as Guaifenesin reverses me.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WATER RETENTION AND FIBROMYALGIA?
Some of us wonder why we can gain weight one day and not another, due to water retention.
There are, of course, some medications that can cause this. Excessive salt intake is another reason. Some medical conditions can also cause it. Always check with your doctor to rule out other causes or contributing factors.
Here are some quotes from the Revised Edition of the Book:
Pages 268 & 269
"We've previously discussed water retention, so we won't review the physiology here. The body holds on to what only seems like excess water. It has to retain two or three pounds during attacks to facilitate the ionic shifts of calcium, sodium, phosphate, chloride, potassium, and magnesium as well as larger-size compounds. Water accumulation will happen both ways, with depositing attacks or during reversal. It's the same chemistry going forward or backward. During cycles, fibromyalgics are accustomed to swollen eyelids upon awakening and rings that temporarily don't fit anymore. During the day, gravity takes hold and fluid leaves the torso, piling up in the legs. Suddenly in the late afternoon, your shoes may not fit well. Even if swelling is not obvious, the skin is stretched from within. This tugs on the millions of tiny nerve ending and causes the restless leg syndrome. This along with foot and leg cramps, can make nights miserable."
Page 52
"...These swollen places are for the most part tender. They're also located in tendons and ligaments, but mostly in muscles. Ninety to 95 percent of the swelling is simply water that has collected under considerable pressure. We suspect this fluid has been sent into cells because of the unwelcome presence of a slight excess of phosphates, calcium, and probably other constituents such as sodium and chloride. Our bodies dispatch water to these areas in an attempt to dilute these ions and keep them from crystallizing inside the cells. This tactic succeeds and keeps the tissue secretions in solution. This permits cell survival, but at the expense of losing some normal functions. The worst part of this process is that swelling presses on nerves and they transmit messages of discomfort to the brain, which is the only organ that can feel pain. Only when each ion is neatly tucked into the safest storage areas possible is some of the water allowed to leave and actually make the bump smaller, easing pain somewhat."
Page 53 (This is a great page to read in full)
"When reversal begins, water has to reenter the ailing cells, wherever the cleaning out is about to start. That extra fluid causes swelling all over again, exerting more pressure on nerves to renew the message of pain. Thanks to guaifenesin, when an area is being purged, newly accumulated fluid quickly reverses its direction and is pulled out from cells. This time, it lugs out some of the excess phosphate, calcium, and whatever else was added to expand the miseries of fibromyalgia. Depending on the amounts of water-borne material being extracted from a given site, the bloodstream suffers varying degrees of flooding by the same debris."
From Dr. St. Amand:
Simply said:
1. A defective enzyme in the kidneys causes phosphate retention
2. Phosphate is not allowed to accumulate in the bloodstream
3. Phosphate is ultimately driven into cells
4. Water and calcium have to enter with it to keep proper dilutions
5. Water causes swelling (lumps that can be felt). It's like inflating a soft tire to the ultimate. Though both air and the tire are soft, they're made hard by internal pressure.
6. Swelling presses on nerve endings -- day and night
7. Pain ensues and is steady because the swelling is steady
You can just ignore what hyperacidity does to those same nerve endings. Acids burn and induce hurt. Also ignore the fact that the brain is affected with the same problem.
There are, of course, some medications that can cause this. Excessive salt intake is another reason. Some medical conditions can also cause it. Always check with your doctor to rule out other causes or contributing factors.
Here are some quotes from the Revised Edition of the Book:
Pages 268 & 269
"We've previously discussed water retention, so we won't review the physiology here. The body holds on to what only seems like excess water. It has to retain two or three pounds during attacks to facilitate the ionic shifts of calcium, sodium, phosphate, chloride, potassium, and magnesium as well as larger-size compounds. Water accumulation will happen both ways, with depositing attacks or during reversal. It's the same chemistry going forward or backward. During cycles, fibromyalgics are accustomed to swollen eyelids upon awakening and rings that temporarily don't fit anymore. During the day, gravity takes hold and fluid leaves the torso, piling up in the legs. Suddenly in the late afternoon, your shoes may not fit well. Even if swelling is not obvious, the skin is stretched from within. This tugs on the millions of tiny nerve ending and causes the restless leg syndrome. This along with foot and leg cramps, can make nights miserable."
Page 52
"...These swollen places are for the most part tender. They're also located in tendons and ligaments, but mostly in muscles. Ninety to 95 percent of the swelling is simply water that has collected under considerable pressure. We suspect this fluid has been sent into cells because of the unwelcome presence of a slight excess of phosphates, calcium, and probably other constituents such as sodium and chloride. Our bodies dispatch water to these areas in an attempt to dilute these ions and keep them from crystallizing inside the cells. This tactic succeeds and keeps the tissue secretions in solution. This permits cell survival, but at the expense of losing some normal functions. The worst part of this process is that swelling presses on nerves and they transmit messages of discomfort to the brain, which is the only organ that can feel pain. Only when each ion is neatly tucked into the safest storage areas possible is some of the water allowed to leave and actually make the bump smaller, easing pain somewhat."
Page 53 (This is a great page to read in full)
"When reversal begins, water has to reenter the ailing cells, wherever the cleaning out is about to start. That extra fluid causes swelling all over again, exerting more pressure on nerves to renew the message of pain. Thanks to guaifenesin, when an area is being purged, newly accumulated fluid quickly reverses its direction and is pulled out from cells. This time, it lugs out some of the excess phosphate, calcium, and whatever else was added to expand the miseries of fibromyalgia. Depending on the amounts of water-borne material being extracted from a given site, the bloodstream suffers varying degrees of flooding by the same debris."
From Dr. St. Amand:
Simply said:
1. A defective enzyme in the kidneys causes phosphate retention
2. Phosphate is not allowed to accumulate in the bloodstream
3. Phosphate is ultimately driven into cells
4. Water and calcium have to enter with it to keep proper dilutions
5. Water causes swelling (lumps that can be felt). It's like inflating a soft tire to the ultimate. Though both air and the tire are soft, they're made hard by internal pressure.
6. Swelling presses on nerve endings -- day and night
7. Pain ensues and is steady because the swelling is steady
You can just ignore what hyperacidity does to those same nerve endings. Acids burn and induce hurt. Also ignore the fact that the brain is affected with the same problem.
Can Dishwashing Liquids Block Guaifenesin?
Page 94 of “Revised and Updated Third Edition, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia":
"Dish soaps are usually okay to use. A few brands may contain aloe or plant oils. (Those found at health food stores most often contain herb or seed oils.)"
I use Dawn. If you are worried and use the ones with plant oils or aloe, just wear gloves.
"Dish soaps are usually okay to use. A few brands may contain aloe or plant oils. (Those found at health food stores most often contain herb or seed oils.)"
I use Dawn. If you are worried and use the ones with plant oils or aloe, just wear gloves.