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I am an ICU nurse and travel all over, working 11 states. I am an active
person except for almost constant pain in my arms and legs that began after
a car accident and an injury due to roller-blading. I went to a chiropractor
for two years and but my pain wasn’t getting any better. When I went to Dr.
Penniston, he told me he thought I had fibromyalgia. Nobody had ever
mentioned fibromyalgia to me before. Dr. Penniston checked me and found I
had bumps in my muscles associated with fibromyalgia. He recommended I start
taking guaifenesin.
When I started on 400 mgs of short-acting guaifenesin per day I was on a
week long vacation. For the first couple of days my pain became much worse,
as Dr. Penniston had predicted, but by the end of the week, I started
feeling better. In fact, I didn’t realize how much better I was feeling
until I noticed I was carrying my own suitcases to the car!
Though I started on 400 mgs per day, I began taking only one a day (200
mgs). I would forget to take my second dose, because of being busy, but even
on one a day, I was still feeling great! The pains in my legs and arms were
fine, even on one dose per day. It was a totally different from what I had
been experiencing since my accidents.
Since being on guai, I have not felt the need to go to Dr. P as much, only
every once in awhile, when something goes out from lifting, etc. I just
don’t need as many adjustments because I’m feeling so good.
One time, at the end if June, I went home for a visit and forgot to bring my
guaifenesin. I didn’t worry about it though because I thought it would be
interesting to see what would happen and whether I was actually feeling
better because of the guaifenesin. “Let’s see if I really have fibro.” My
pain came back within a week in my arms and legs. Within two weeks, most all
of my pain was back and I was feeling a lot more stress with work. When I
got back on the guaifenesin at two per day, immediately, the pain in my legs
and arms began to go away again.
Also, since being on guaifenesin I have lost 32 lbs. I had been trying to
lose weight for a long time but found it difficult to do because I hurt so
much. Food had become a source of comfort. I had broken my pelvis, roller-blading,
trying to lose weight and I just wasn’t getting anywhere with losing weight.
Now, it has happened naturally.
I never would have guessed I had fibromyalgia. Besides my arm and leg pain I
am an active person with few health problems. I’m living proof that you
don’t have to be a basket case in order to have fibromyalgia.
Darla Schmidt
Age 37
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