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"I couldn’t do anything but ‘couch potato’. Now, I passed my physical
readiness test in the Air National Guard without breaking a sweat!"
In February 2001, I noticed that my feet were on fire. That is what led me
to seek medical attention, since I thought I might have peripheral
neuropathy. I also had tired, sore feet and tight, banding feelings in upper
arms and lower legs. I shrugged these off and lived with it since it really
didn't bother me that much. But when the burning feet came on... Ouch!
In May, I went to see a neurologist and he said he was going to test me for
MS (multiple sclerosis), including nerve studies, muscle studies and a
series of MRI's. At the same time, a big allergy attack hit Mesa and my
wife, friends of ours and I got hit real bad. Between the allergy attack and
stress of being tested for MS, I feel that I had my first real Fibro
meltdown attack, with fibrofog, intense pain, fatigue, etc.
In June 2001, I was diagnosed by a specialist (who does arthritis, fibro,
etc.) as having fibromyalgia. He didn't offer much except exercise and to
live with it.
I was in pretty rough shape. I had burning pain in my neck, arms, and legs
and hypersensitivity. I was very sensitive to touch. Just rubbing up against
things could be uncomfortable and would cause a burning sensation. There was
a tight banding feeling in upper arms and lower legs. My feet were on fire.
I had parathesias—strange sensations—in my arms, legs, and especially my
lower legs. I had strange feelings in my arms and legs for a long, long
time. I became sensitive or allergic to many substances, including Johnson's
baby oil. My skin can be hypersensitive and I believe I have developed
chemical hypersensitivity.
I could not go a hundred yards without being totally exhausted, sometimes no
more than 100 feet. About all I could do was make it (barely) through work
at a desk job and then collapse on the couch for the night while my often
frustrated wife.
Mentally, it was ‘fibrofog city’, with dizziness. I was unable to
concentrate, was scatterbrained. It was like my mind and brain were
detached. It’s very difficult to describe. I was in a daze. I had lots of
frustration. I was quick to anger with a feeling of desperation.
Before my health took a dive, I had often played tennis and my wife and I
liked to go day walking and camping. I couldn't do any of these things after
the onset of severe symptoms until I started to get better in mid-summer
2001 after taking the guai. Once the fibro took over, I wasn't in any shape
to do any physical activity. About all I could do was make it (barely)
through work at a desk job and then collapse on the couch for the night. My
wife was frustrated with me, needless to say. She and I both work full time
and it would have been nice to help her with chores around the house. I have
a sedentary, desk job, but I still felt physically exhausted by the end of
work and could barely walk to the car to drive home, let alone do house
chores. The fibro made it so I couldn't do anything but ‘coach potato’ after
work and on weekends. This caused tension in my marriage
I was researching fibro and found a treatment via the website
www.guaidoc.com. That's how I discovered Dr Penniston. After reading the
book on guaifenesin protocol, I went to see Dr. Penniston. I started
guaifenesin and avoided salicylates like the plague and started to get
better. After several months, I became fairly functional.
After finding my right dose, lots of the hypersensitivity subsided and I had
a lot more energy.
Now, I’m able to do the things I like to do, such as hiking with my wife.
The biggest change has been an increase in my endurance. I just passed my
physical readiness test in the Air National Guard. Well, I could barely go
100 yards when I first visited Dr. Penniston, and the PT test is a three
mile brisk walk. I did it, no problem, without breaking a sweat or being
totally exhausted afterward!
I can participate fully in chores around the house now (much to my wife's
delight), and I can go shopping, etc. I’m definitely not 100% yet, but able
to get by in life better than before.
The severity of all of my symptoms has greatly reduced. Mentally, I've been
good except for a couple of (guai) cycles, (I'm in one now). I still have
parathesias, burning feet, etc., but they are greatly reduced and there are
periods where I feel almost normal. The symptoms come and go. The
parathesias in lower right leg and aching, burning feet seem to hang around
more than the other symptoms.
Based on my experience, I highly recommend guaifenesin to those out there
with fibro/chronic fatigue. Give the guai protocol a try and get mapped by
Dr. Penniston. You owe it to yourself because very few regular doctors out
there are going to be able to help. Since there is no money in guai, the
government and pharmaceuticals are not going to fund the research into this
promising treatment.
So, get with the program, avoid salicylates and take the guai. See if it
works. It probably will, if you follow the protocol. If it doesn't, you’re
out a couple of hundred bucks. I spent that much and more on one specialist
visit alone in the traditional medicine world.
Sincerely,
John W. Cassel
Age 36
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