What I Use - List of Dom's Meds and Supplements
Those of us who
are afflicted with Fibromyalgia (FMS), Chronic Fatigue & Immune
Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) need
things to help us at various stages of our illness. Presently,
there is no "cure" for our ailment, but there are many things I have found
that help me with symptoms, such as the sleep disorder.
Please note that
a particular drug or supplement that works for one person may not
necessarily work for another. To complicate matters, what works
for us for awhile may stop working later! Yes, it's
frustrating!! There's no magic "one-size-fits-all" bullet. We
have to keep trying new things and new approaches, hoping to stumble upon
something that helps us. They don't call this "Millionaire's
Disease" for nothing - it's very costly to have to keep
trying new things, and terribly hard on those of us who have had a "cash-ectomy" (removal of cash from
our wallets) and a "job-ectomy" (removal of our
jobs) due to chronic illness!
Ideally, you should look for products with a refund guarantee, which enables you
to have money for your next "experiment," if you don't get results.
Dom's Current Meds &
Supplements
(updated July 17,
2008)
Although I'll never be Hercules, I'm
glad to be able to keep up with my work and responsibilities again.
Here's what I currently use to help my fibro fog, sleep disorder and
fatigue. (Thank God I no longer have fibro pain - see PAIN SUGGESTIONS 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.
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 brand.
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
brand.
4. Ambien - I usually take a 10 mg Ambien tablet
(the generic is called Zolpidem and is MUCH cheaper - it works the same, at
least for me.) If I wake up in the middle of the night and
can't get back to sleep, I take 1 mg of Lorazepam (generic of
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
actually 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 (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.
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 fatigue.
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 II 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. Also, as of last year, I began using
Zicam nasal swabs at the first sign
of a cold. This was suggested to me by an elderly gentleman at my
church. I do think they are effective and have helped prevent colds
for me! 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 3 mg 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.
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 Releev (an ointment) as soon as I feel the
"tingle." I do this several times a day. I also take
200 mg of Acyclovir 3 times a
day for 7 days after I feel the first "tingle." This was recommended by my
doctor and it works for me. I can't ignore those first signs of a cold
sore outbreak. Once a cold sore has begun to form, there is little you can
do to stop it from running its course. I also take one L-Lysine tablet
daily, avoid nuts (not the people kind....ha), and avoid excessive sunshine and
stress, all of which I have found activate the virus.
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 56 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 don't drink
milk anymore and try to avoid dairy products as much as possible. This is
not due to lactose intolerance, but because of hormones and antibiotics that
cows are injected with which 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 good
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 1 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. Anti-Stress
tablets - These were suggested to me by a newsletter reader and
they work. 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
brand.
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 always 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 full-blown
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.
PAIN
SUGGESTIONS
I have been 95% pain
free for the past 10 years, 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 glucosamine 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.
The newsletter archives are at www.fms-help.com/newsletters.htm
if you want to search for a particular topic.
Feel free to write me if you have any questions.
I can't answer all of my email, but I try, and I do read everything
my readers send in!
Your fibro friend,
Dominie Soo Bush
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