Dom's Current Meds
& Supplements
updated June 15, 2009
Although I'll never be Hercules, I'm glad to be able to keep up
with my work and responsibilities. Here's what I currently use to help my
fibro fog, sleep disorder and fatigue. Some of these I use daily - some only as needed. Thankfully, I have been 95% pain
free for many years now. (See PAIN SUGGESTIONS in
red below.)
1. Immune powder
- balances immune function and modulates autoimmune
responses. I sprinkle it on cold cereal or make a
shake. The benefits I have experienced are: better sleep
(with meds), no more racing thoughts, no digestive problems, gas
or bloating. Surprisingly, my complexion also cleared
up after 50 years! This powder works in the "gut." Recently I
learned that 80% of our immune function actually takes place in our
intestines! Yep!! It's called the "gut brain." This
helped me understand why the immune powder has been so helpful to me since I
began using it in 2001. You can also take
1-2 capsules of a special compound that comes with the shake, which helped me
greatly and I became pain free using these together. Write dombush@bellsouth.net for
more info. (It is recommended that you not use herbal (plant-based) supplements during the first 30 days on the immune powder, so you might want to try this first, before anything else. It also has a 90 day money back guarantee.)
2. Powerful
antioxidant - heals free radical (oxidative)
damage. This brand is the only
antioxidant that actually helped me (I tried MANY over the
years.) It helps relieve my debilitating fatigue and brain
fog. It helps the red blood cells transport
oxygen around the body more efficiently. I think my brain
was starved for oxygen! Write dombush@bellsouth.net for name of antioxidant.
3. Powerful nutritional
powder - makes me feel incredibly better, more
energetic and focused. Contains vitamins and minerals
PLUS probiotics and fiber, so it both
nourishes and detoxifies! This has made a huge difference
in my health and energy level. I call it my
"rocket fuel!" Write dombush@bellsouth.net for
details.
4. Ambien - I
take half of a 10 mg Ambien tablet (generic is called Zolpidem and is
MUCH cheaper - works the same, at least for me.) Then in the middle
of the night I take the other half tablet plus .5 mg (1/2 mg) of
Lorazepam (generic ativan, an anti-anxiety medication). Now
here's something really strange - before I began using the immune powder (#1
above), there were NO sleep meds, including Ativan or
Ambien that worked for me after I turned 47 and went through hormonal
changes. I think the immune powder enables my immune system to function
more normally, so that the meds can work. (For insomnia sufferers, I made a
complete list of things I tried for sleep and how they worked for me - see
www.fms-help.com/sleep.htm.) By the way, I tried Ambien CR because I had a free 7 day
coupon, but it did not work well for me at all - I felt terrible the next day -
the drug probably lingered in my system too long. Everyone is different
though.
5. Essential
oils - Certain
therapeutic grade essential oils help me with relaxation, sleep and general well-being.
Essential oils do not feel oily. They are highly concentrated liquids
distilled from plants. They can be used topically or by inhaling
their fragrance. Essential oils have electrical frequencies
which affect the limbic portion of the brain. I discovered
(much to my surprise) that one of these oils relieves my feelings of "fibro
fog" and severe exhaustion. A few drops of the oil goes a long way.
I recently read in a magazine about a young man who survived being shot many
times during the Columbine High School massacre several years
ago......now that's STRESS!!!!!!! He now uses
the same essential oils that I do!!! I continue to learn about and
experiment with the oils daily. Some help with sleep, infection, skin,
mental fog, etc. Many have powerful anti-viral and
anti-fungal properties. Write dombush@bellsouth.net for info
about essential oils, or visit www.fms-help.com/oils.htm, where I tell about how I "discovered" the oils and their benefits
for my brain fog.
6. Colloidal
silver - natural antibiotic - can be
used in many ways and it has helped me avoid trips to the doctor for all kinds
of infections. At times it has worked better for me than antibiotics,
from which I usually have bad side effects. If I feel a cold or sore
throat coming on, I spray colloidal silver up my nose and on the back of my
throat. It can also be taken orally to kill viruses and
bacteria, or put into a douche to help yeast
infections. CAUTION: Be careful which brand
of colloidal silver you choose, because some can be
harmful while others are not
effective. I can send you info about the colloidal silver I
use. Write dombush@bellsouth.net. Actually, I
developed CFIDS in 1987 www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm
after a terrible respiratory virus and being treated by the docs with 6
broad-spectrum antibiotics, one after the other. I think this wrecked what
was left of my fragile immune system.
7. Generic
Nyquil (at bedtime) or generic
Dayquil (for daytime) - If I feel like I
might be catching a cold, I don't mess around! I am a
piano teacher and sit next to sick children frequently on a piano bench in
a small room where germs and bacteria are abundant at times. I don't
get any sick leave, so I have to stay well or don't get paid! I found that
if I immediately take either 1 tablespoon of Nyquil or Dayquil, that it
often stops the development of a cold in its tracks. Sometimes I use generic Actifed at night instead of
the generic Nyquil. (Why generic? It's cheaper at Wal-Mart and
just as effective.) If I can stop a sinus problem before it gets a
foothold, it usually goes away. I don't wait anymore until symptoms are
raging, because then I could be down for weeks. A friend
told me that 3g of Vitamin C helps
stop cold symptoms, and I have found that to be true also. It helps
me when I feel run down. I also spray colloidal silver in my nose and
throat, as mentioned above. It's a lot easier to stay well than to
try to crawl back up the cliff once you've fallen off! I also
find that if my nose is a little drippy, taking 1 tablespoon of Nyquil at
bedtime helps me sleep as well as stops the annoying
dripping. (For the past 2 years, I used Zicam nasal swabs or spray at the first sign of a cold to keep me from catching it, but in the news today, June 16, 2009, there are reports of people permanently losing their sense of smell and taste from using Zicam, so it is being removed from the market.)
8.
Cold sores - For decades,
I have battled large, recurrent cold sores on my
face....ugh!!! The most effective thing I've found to stop them in their
tracks is H-Balm (a topical essential oil blend) as
soon as I feel the "tingle." I do this several times a day. For a list of everything I've tried to stop cold sores and what seems to trigger them, please visit my cold sore page.
9.
Hearos foam ear plugs - the soft
small beige ones from Wal-Mart are the absolute best I've found to block out
noises comfortably while I sleep.
10.
Sleep mask - I use a black sleep
mask to block out light. $2.97 at Wal-Mart. Wearing the mask keeps
me from having to put depressing dark shades over the windows, which my husband
hates. (When I first started wearing the mask years ago he said he felt
like he was sleeping with the Lone Ranger......ha!)
11. Cold packs - I
put these behind my neck or on my forehead at night to help slow my
thoughts down, and they also feel good if you have hot flashes and live in a
miserably hot, humid climate like I do in Florida. You can get these cold
packs at Wal-Mart or any drug store. I keep mine in the freezer. Be
sure that you don't freeze your skin though! I like the cold packs that
feel like cloth on the outside, because they don't stick to your skin.
Another great product I found is the Chillow
-- a soft plastic mat the size of a pillow
that you fill with water, and it stays cool all the time. You can find it
at Walgreens drugstore for $19.95. Mine sprung a leak, but the company
promptly replaced it with a sturdier
version.
12. Dark sunglasses - I
sometimes wear dark wrap-around sunglasses when riding in the car or
driving. Prior to using products #2 and #3 above, I felt extreme
brain tiredness from seeing all the images coming at me so
quickly. It was especially bad on sunny days, when the sun made patterns
on the road from the trees. I would have to put my seat back from sheer
exhaustion while my husband drove. Also, the constant shifting around in
the car as you travel wears out my brain somehow. This "travel problem"
began after I worked for a year in toxic mold in 2005 www.fms-help.com/mold.htm. Also, see Yuppie
Flu - "Drained by the Brain" at www.fms-help.com/yuppie.htm.
13.
Hot flashes - I am 57 now
(where has the time gone?!) Neither plant-based or pharmaceutical
estrogens help me, so I just live with the hot flashes. If I'm home, I put
a cool pack on my neck from the freezer. It's a cloth thing filled with
little beads or beans. Very soothing and relieves the misery
quickly.
14. Milk
- I limit my intake of milk and dairy products. This is not due to lactose
intolerance, but because of hormones and antibiotics that cows are injected with
which seem to cause havoc in my body. See www.notmilk.com for reasons why not to
drink milk. I use Rice Dream ORIGINAL (not flavored) rice
milk for cereal or for making the immune shake (#1 above). Rice
Dream Original is available at Wal-Mart, with the cheapest price in town
at $1.76 per quart. Other grocery stores in our area and the
local health food store charge considerably more - even double for this
product!
15. Fish
oil capsules - I began taking fish oil capsules (omega 3 fatty acids) for
depression upon the advice of my sister-in-law (Ph.D. in
virology). I was then able to stop taking Lexapro (antidepressant) and
have had no more depression. I'm not sure the Omega 3 fish oil was the
total answer to my depression, because around the same time, I experienced an
emotional healing, but I think Omega 3's help. The sad feelings come back
if I let down my guard and don't take the Omega 3's for a few days. Be
careful on the brand of fish oil you use - some can be rancid and cause more
problems. Write me at dombush@bellsouth.net for some potent
brand names.
16. Exercise - I can
tell when my body needs exercise. You have to keep your lymphatic
system moving! My preferred exercises are
walking and using 3 lb. weights. Of
course in the early days of my fibro (1980's) www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm, I was unable to move
at all without severe, long-lasting, debilitating pain, so I'm thankful to not
have pain anymore. I have been 95% pain free for over 10 years. See
my pain suggestions at the bottom of this
page.
17.
Alkalizing powder - Acid causes
disease and makes pain worse. I take this powder at night or anytime I feel
acidic - about half a teaspoon in a glass of distilled
water. It also helps me in other interesting ways, such as calming symptoms of a
yeast infection. Everything I have read says to keep your pH more
healthily alkaline. You can try to do this with diet, but it is almost
impossible, even if you try a vegan diet. Write dombush@bellsouth.net for alkalizing
brand.
18. Lorazepam
(generic Ativan) -
Mentioned above. I take .5 mg (that's 1/2 mg) in the middle of the night
if I wake up and can't go back to sleep. Although this is an
anti-anxiety medication, it helps me with sleep, maybe
because of the "bed dread" I developed from 4 decades of
insomnia. Prior to age 47 (big hormone shift), I had used melatonin
and herbs successfully for sleep. See my insomnia story at www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm.
19. Stress
tablets - These were suggested to me by a newsletter
reader. When I feel stressed out, I take 4 tablets in the evening to help
relax my nerves and help my mind calm down. Great for unwinding from a
stressful day. Write dombush@bellsouth.net for
info.
20.
Tussionex cough syrup - I take this
occasionally for help with chest "tightness" and coughing - I don't know if it's
a lung problem or just inflammation and the myofascia pulling tighter in the
chest area due to fibro. Interestingly, there is an essential oil blend
that has also taken away the tight chest feeling I was having. Write dombush@bellsouth.net for
info.
21.
Scripture tapes help me fall asleep
at night. They are so comforting and spiritually uplifting to listen to! I
prefer Alexander Scourby reading the King James Version of the Bible.
Also, Sounder Sleep CD's help me fall asleep - they are
very relaxing and soothing - and sometimes I listen to my very soothing
Christmas CD www.fms-help.com/CD.htm.
22. Azo (for yeast)
- I try to avoid sugar, but if I do eat a dessert, I take an
Azo (for yeast) tablet - it's a
homeopathic remedy. I also take an acidophilus (probiotic) capsule and a
B-complex tablet to offset the
damage. I have that this is easier than coping with a fungal
or yeast infection. I also follow this regimen
if I have to take antibiotics, which I try to avoid.
23.
Zyrtec (antihistamine - get the
generic - it's much cheaper) and Zaditor (antihistamine eye drops) - I have found
these highly effective recently when I suffered badly for a few days with
itching eyes and throat and sinus drainage (cause unknown, but I suspect
pollen here in Florida). In the past, I have also had severe allergic
reactions to fragrances from scented soaps and candles, so I avoid
those.
24. Seroquel (for sleep) - my very good doctor (internal medicine - compassionate and
knowledgeable) says that if we can solve my sleep disorder (of 40 years
duration) that a lot of my other health problems/complaints will go away.
I believe that is true, because when I get restorative sleep I am functional,
but when I don't, I can barely survive the day. I am now taking a tiny
dose of Seroquel (25 mg) at bedtime. It took some getting used to, but
it is helping my sleep. I continue to take 10 mg zolpidem plus 1/2 mg
lorazepam during the night as well (see details above). Together,
they help me sleep. Without them, I don't sleep. I have had insomnia
since I was 16. I am now 57. My sleep problem has gotten more
resistant as I have aged. My insomnia story is at www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm.
I wish there were just one SURE remedy that helped ALL of us who suffer from
sleep disorders. It can be terribly disabling. By the way, Seroquel
in much higher doses (such as 300 mg) is used to treat bipolar and
schizophrenia. I have a relative with schizophrenia, so maybe something
genetic is going on here....who knows!
25. Stay away from mold - 25% of the population is very adversely affected by mold. I live in Florida where it is extremely humid. I worked in a moldy building in 2005 and became very, very sick! See www.fms-help.com/mold.htm. I have not fully gained my health back completely, although I am much better. It is now 2008. Mold can be devastating, so beware of "sick buildings!" They can be your home, place of employment, a library, courthouse, etc. In my case, I was working in a hurricane damaged building that had not been remedied. This is my 4th negative experience with mold in my life! The other three were: 2 former dwellings (an apartment and a mobile home) and a place of employment many years ago where I sat beside a mold-filled air conditioning return duct. All the meds and supplements in the world won't help if your system is being pulled down by mold in your environment if you are sensitive to it. For me, I become virtually disabled - like having a constant flu and I can barely move, the fatigue is so severe. Do a google search for mold or "sick buildings" and you will learn more. In the damp climate where I live, we have to keep the air conditioning system clean and running all the time to avoid mold forming in the house.
26. Pill splitter - This is a handy, cheap gadget you can buy at Wal-Mart or any pharmacy. I use it to divide dosages of tablets. One of the main things I learned since being diagnosed with FMS in 1982 is to use the LOWEST dose possible of any med to achieve positive results and avoid negative side effects. Any time I am prescribed a new med, I try just a tiny bit to see how my system will react. I have had some horrible experiences in years past with drug reactions, so this is a precaution I take.
PAIN
SUGGESTIONS
I have been 95% pain free for many years now, after 14
years of intense suffering - see my fibro story at www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm. Here are some things that helped
me...
1. Powerful
antioxidants - write dombush@bellsouth.net
for brand - some antioxidants work better than others in healing the body of
oxidative damage.
2. Immune shake and inflammation-reducing
capsules - for joints and collagen support - these helped
me greatly. Write dombush@bellsouth.net
for brand and details.
3. Alkalinity -
having a more alkaline pH can help reduce pain. Acid increases
pain. There are 3 ways I know of to become less acid: 1) vegetarian
diet, which doesn't work for me; 2) mineral sachets that you put in your
drinking water; or 3) an alkaline powder that you mix
with distilled water - write dombush@bellsouth.net
for brand. Also, reduce or eliminate soft drinks, which are primarily
acid.
4. Pacing &
switching - Don't sit too long in one position or
maintain activities of intense mental concentration without a break. Pace
your day and keep switching your activities - mental, physical,
etc. I tend to focus too intently on things I am
doing.
5. Avoid Stress
- I can hear you laughing at this one.. Seriously, I have cut down on
any forms of stress that work negatively on my mind or body. Some
stresses are unavoidable. Others can be relieved by getting a
backbone and saying "NO!" to excessive demands and obligations.
Family stress is the worst and usually unavoidable. Try to protect
yourself in order to maintain your own health. This may involve
making changes that are unpleasant for other people. I have
noticed a tendency in myself (and most other fibro sufferers) to always pick up
the heavy end of the load. I am far more inclined to change myself instead
of asking others to accomodate me. This isn't a bad trait (trying
to get along with people) but it can become stressful when it puts undue
pressure on my time or physical resources. By the way, reducing stress is
the first of my 100 Tips for Coping with Fibromyalgia &
Insomnia at www.fms-help.com/tips.htm.
6. Magnesium -
Taking magnesium helped my muscle stiffness and pain during my worst fibro
years. When muscle "gelling" was at its worst, I would take up to 6 magnesium
tablets per day. The worse "side effect" that can happen is to have loose
bowels, although some people with chronic constipation appreciate this "side
effect." Magnesium draws water into the colon. If this is a problem,
cut back the amount of magnesium you take, or take it only with meals.
Most people with FMS are deficient in magnesium, a mineral. Women are told
all the time to take calcium for their bones to avoid osteoporosis, but for
people with FMS, magnesium is an extremely important mineral. Magnesium
helps muscles relax. Calcium helps muscles
contract.
7. Pain relieving drops and
ointments - You can put a few drops of specific essential oils
on painful areas. It soaks into your skin, and gets into your cells and
bloodstream. I also know a great pain relieving ointment. If you want info on
either of these, write dombush@bellsouth.net.
8. Avoid aspartame
(Nutrasweet) - I stopped using aspartame in my beverages when I
learned of the dangers many years ago. I have even heard of people whose
"fibro" pain went away when they stopped using aspartame (and MSG in its many forms - you can google this
topic.)
In conclusion, with
FMS/CFIDS/ME there is no one single "MAGIC BULLET." You have to
keep looking for things that help. What helps a friend with fibro may not
help you and vice versa. Also, strangely, what helped 5 years ago may not
be effective for you anymore. It can get reeeeally frustrating, but
DON'T GIVE
UP!!!! I have a relatively functional life again,
and thank God for everything I learned online and from my newsletter
readers, who send me all kinds of info about managing FMS/CFIDS/ME.
Sadly, doctors are mostly unable to help us with this
illness, except to prescribe meds that may or may not work to relieve
symptoms. Some drugs have horrrible side effects too - particularly
anti-depressants, in my experience. The only people I know of who have
found significant relief from their symptoms have done it primarily with
nutritional interventions, as I have. I have a lot of GREAT INFO on my homepage
at www.fms-help.com and in my newsletters, which you can request by
emailing me at dombush@bellsouth.net.
My newsletter archives are at www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm
if you want to search for a particular topic.
Your fibro
friend,
Dominie Soo
Bush
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