What I Use
A list of Dom's Meds, Supplements
and Lifestyle Helps
Updated Dec. 28, 2009
Those of us afflicted with
Fibromyalgia (FMS), Chronic Fatigue & Immune
Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
(M.E.) need various medications and supplements to help
manage the many problems this illness creates. The amazing discovery by the
Whittemore Peterson Institute in November 2009 of the XMRV
retrovirus in blood samples of over 2/3
of CFS patients (vs. 4% in the general population) has forever changed
the way doctors and patients will be dealing with this baffling health problem
in the future. Presently there is no "cure," but below are some
things that have helped me with the insomnia,
pain, depression, fatigue, cognitive problems, frequent viral
illnesses, etc. since my FMS began in June 1982 www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm.
(My CFS story is at www.fms-help.com/fatigue.htm,
and my dreadful insomnia story is at www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm.)
Please
note that a particular drug or supplement that works for one
person with FMS/CFIDS/ME may not necessarily work for
another. To complicate matters....what works for us for awhile may
stop working later! Yes, it's frustrating!! There is 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 individually.
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!
Regarding medications, do
your research online and ask your doctor about various ones that may
possibly help you. Don't get a full supply, since you may take just
one pill and decide that the drug has bad side effects for you. Also, I
have found it best to take just a tiny amount of any drug to first see what
effect it has before proceeding with the prescribed amount. (I could
tell you some hair-raising stories about dangerous and frightening drug side
effects I've experienced!!!)
I am not a doctor, just a
patient (read: guinea pig) with FMS/CFIDS. When looking for supplements, it's helpful to try
ones with a refund guarantee, which enables you to have money for your next
"experiment," if you don't get results. Until a "cure" is found, we are kind of on our own in
discovering things that help us manage our symptoms, which they now know is
caused by a retrovirus that actually enters our DNA and changes it! (See
the XMRV page mentioned above for more info.)
Below are 3 LISTS
that I hope will help other sufferers--
1. WHAT I USE
CURRENTLY
2. WHAT I HAVE USED
IN THE PAST SUCCESSFULLY
3. PAIN RELIEF
SUGGESTIONS
Please write me dombush@bellsouth.net if you have
questions about any of the items on my lists below.
Dominie
Bush
1. WHAT I USE
CURRENTLY
updated Dec. 28, 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. Different things work for different people.
1. Ambien - For sleep. 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 (see below), 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
enabled my immune system to function more normally, so that the meds could
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.
2. Oxygen
Drops - This has been the most effective thing I've
found for reducing brain fog, increasing stamina, and lowering the frequency of
viral illnesses. These drops oxygenate the body and brain and
alkalize the pH. Acid causes disease and makes pain worse. I put
these drops in drinking water. It adds oxygen to my system and helps
raise my pH to be more healthily alkaline. You can try to stay more
alkaline through diet, but it is nearly impossible, even with a vegan
diet. A reader told me about these drops in August 2009 when I
was looking for help for cold sores. They have proven to be incredibly
helpful for preventing "fibro crashes" and "brain fog." I have
always felt like I was not getting enough oxygen to my brain. My
husband said he thought I needed to be on oxygen, but my doc wouldn't prescribe
even a trial use of oxygen since my blood 02 was in the normal range.
Interestingly, a reader told me that her doc measured her blood 02 at rest, and
then again after climbing a set of stairs. It was dramatically
decreased after she climbed the stairs, and he was shocked! Maybe this is
why CFIDS patients feel worse after exercise. This awful feeling
that my brain or heart was dying or being crushed has gone away since using
these oxygenating drops in my drinking water.
3. DNA Immune - This
product boosts the immune system and protects DNA. In light of the XMRV
retrovirus discovery (see link to XMRV page above), this product makes sense to
try. It comes from a highly reputable company that makes many effective
nutraceuticals.
4. Essential
oils - Certain therapeutic grade essential oils help me with relaxation, fighting infection 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. Be sure to get theraputic grade
essential oils from a reputable company and not merely "recreational
fragrances." Write dombush@bellsouth.net for a list of essential oils I use.
5. 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.
6. 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.)
7.
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 DMSO and stabilized
liquid oxygen 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.
8.
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.
9.
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!)
10. 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.
11. Dark sunglasses - I
sometimes wear dark wrap-around sunglasses when riding in the car or
driving to avoid 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.
12.
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.
13. 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. I have had a complete hysterectomy at age 34 due to endometriosis,
which went undiagnosed for over 15 years, despite consulting many doctors.
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 (listed below).
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!
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. Lorazepam
(generic Ativan) -
I take .5 mg (that's 1/2 mg) once in the early afternooon and again in the
middle of the night when 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.
17.
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.
18. 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.
19. 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 (half of a 25 mg tablet) at bedtime. 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 58. 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?!
20. Avoid 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.
21. 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.
2. WHAT I HAVE USED IN THE PAST
SUCCESSULLY
1. Immune balancing shake - balances
immune function and modulates autoimmune responses. 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." 80% of our immune function
actually takes place in our intestines! Yep!! It's called the "gut
brain." This powder has been extremely helpful to me since
2001. I use it daily. You can also take 1-2 capsules of a special
compound along with the shake, which helped me become pain free when used
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.
DOMINIE'S
FIBROMYALGIA & CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME HOMEPAGE