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Success Stories Almarene - Tucson, Arizona Symptoms Resolving: Pain, Chemical Sensitivities, Fatigue, Fog,
Exercise Intolerance Several years ago I got Dr. St. Amand’s book (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia) and read it but, for a variety of reasons, I never actually started using guaifenesin. Coincidentally, this past spring I started using Mucinex to clear up a sinus problem. After eight weeks my sinuses had cleared up and I stopped using it. After looking at the ingredients on the bottle and seeing “guaifenesin”, I remembered my book by Dr. St.Amand about the use of guaifenesin for treatment of fibromyalgia. My own fibro was getting worse. I had experienced two deaths in the family—I lost the man in my life twice in seven years—and the trauma and stress of it aggravated all of my symptoms. My pain, fatigue and brain fog became just horrendous. I finally had to tell my financial people to take care of things for me. I just could not think. I had to double up on amitriptyline because I could not sleep. I had to start getting my teeth cleaned every four months because the plaque was building up so fast. Because of chemical sensitivities I had to avoid every kind of perfume and scented products. I had stopped exercising though I had always been active, having grown up working on a farm, and I had to cut way down on my social life. I was so exhausted I could barely get myself in the car. So I grabbed my book and began to read again how to go about using guai as a treatment for fibro. I began taking 600 mg morning and 600 mg evening of Mucinex and decided I would take it for a period of time and see if it worked. At first, I didn’t concern myself with the salicylate issue though I probably should have. Then the more I read, the more interested I became. I stopped the toothpaste I was using, thinking I could brush my teeth with no paste and that would work, until I found salicylate free toothpaste. Unbeknownst to me, I was already using several salicylate free products—lotion, shampoo—and rarely used any makeup so that isn’t an issue. About that time, I phoned the office of Dr. Greg Penniston in Tucson, talked to Robyn and the first thing she asked was “Are you salicylate free?” Well kinda! It turned out that I was still using some products with salicylates in them. More conversation with her and a trip to their office, I live in Tucson. I settled in, Robyn gave me the website for guailife.com and the Resources and Links source and off I went to follow the protocol. Wonderful things began to happen! About 1½ months into the protocol while sitting at my desk at home, my scalp began to tingle and my head began to clear, the brain fog was leaving. I couldn’t believe it. It felt more or less like when I take my migraine medicines and the pain and swelling goes down, but better, clearer, able to think! “It must be wishful thinking or placebo affect,” I thought. The brain fog hasn’t returned. At three months, I switched to the quick acting guai and I now take 400 mg morning and 400 mg night. About then, I took on a driving trip, they have always been painful exercise, but I do it anyway. When I arrived home after 8 hours of driving, I got out of the car and was tired, of course, but NO PAIN. Wow! Now by the 4th month, I noticed the plaque has flaked off my teeth. I have been going to the dental hygienist every four months because my teeth look so bad and she sandblasts the plaque off my teeth with baking soda. I look like I just have just had my teeth cleaned, so I now have extended my dental cleanings back to the regular six-month program. I walked through the cosmetic department of a store this last weekend without holding my breath to get past the smells that have always been overwhelming to me. My success with guaifenesin has been a remarkable four-month journey and it is wonderful to get up in the morning and not hurt. I still have some postnasal drainage but the guaifenesin keeps it moving. I no longer have to use nasal steroids and sprays. I remain on 25 mg daily of amitriptline and 5HTP to ease sleeping problems and control migraine headaches. I look forward to the day when I don’t depend on that. I’ve begun a workout program again. I now go every day though still haven’t gotten to quite a full routine, but I will soon. I still have the IBS issue and probably other issues I’m not even aware of anymore, they have been with me so long. What will happen in the next several months, I can hardly wait to see. What will clear up next? I’m thrilled with my progress. I can’t believe all this has happened in just the last several months. It’s wonderful. I’m sad it has taken so long to solve these issues as my family has listened to me complain for so long, I’m now almost 67 years old. I’m looking forward with renewed fervor to new challenges that were excruciating in the past and to some fantastic adventures in life and travel! The next 30 years should be wonderful. Almarene Snead |
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