Greetings! Welcome to Positive Living for People with Fibromyalgia & OOS, your Friends and Caregivers.   We're bringing Information and Relaxation to You! Inserted 27 August 2003

 
 

Has No-one Ever Heard Of Fibromyalgia?
Written by Robyn Cooper
August 21, 2003


Robyn Cooper of Havelock North Guai Mentor for 'Positive Living' Robyn Cooper of Havelock North
Guai Mentor for Positive Living'

MY STORY

Five years ago, at the age of fifty-five, I was fit, healthy and had never been really sick in my life.  I had a good social life and played competitive bowls, being out on the green three or four days a week.  Then I started to get neck, shoulder and back aches, not pain - just aching by the end of the day.

 
The doctor had no answer and sent me to a specialist who was fairly sure it was my gall bladder.  That did not solve the problem and he suggested I went to a chiropractor.  Against my better judgement, I followed his advice.
 
Bad move!  The worst decision I ever made.  The chiropractor said,  "No problem.  You just need realigning."
 
He used an activator with 40 pounds pressure which slightly moves your bones.  Fine maybe if you don't have fibro, but drastic in my case.  I went to him with a backache and came out with terrible pain.  It did not settle down as he said it would.  I could not get off the bed.  Subsequent visits to try and get rid of the pain, only bought on more.
 
After six months, he told me to see a surgeon as I needed back surgery.  By then I would have done anything to stop the pain. I travelled to Auckland and sought two specialist opinions.  Both men said the M.R.I. scan showed nothing to explain the pain.  Has no-one ever heard of fibromyalgia?
 
I was sent home to wait for another three months and as I was no better, I had major surgery.  It was a textbook operation, near perfect, which has been confirmed by two other specialists.
 
I was determined to get back to a normal life.  I started walking and exercising.  Three months later I broke my foot, which put me back to bed for three months as I could not use crutches because of my previous back problems.  When I finally started moving again, I could not believe my situation.  I could not sit and I could not stand either.  Walking was out.  I had pain everywhere.  The fatigue was bad and I was back to bed 23 hours of every day.  I was living on painkillers and feeling just so depressed and miserable.
 
AT LAST, A DIAGNOSIS
 
My doctor sent  me to a rheumatologist who assured me the pain was not coming from my back surgery.  He checked my pressure points and told me I had fibromyalgia.  I had never even heard of it and when we left the surgery, I told my husband in no uncertain terms, that I was not having it.  I had enough problems with my back, without having any thing else wrong.  We went out to lunch and I tried to ignore it. 
 
Of course that did not work.  I could see no future for me as it all just became worse.
 
GUAIFENESIN
 
Two awful years later, my husband bought me a computer and I looked up the word "fibro".  I found the Guai site and read Megan Parker's story.  I immediately phoned her and she was so helpful.  I had hope for the first time since becoming ill.
 
I ordered Dr St Amand's book and my guai.  I found my dose to be 1800 mgs a day.  Even now, I still continually refer to this book and I am really vigilant as to what I put on my skin, double checking everything as my brainfog really affects my memory. 
 
RESULTS
 
I have been on Guai now for 15 months. After three months the awful migraine headaches had gone and also the pain in my hands.  After six months, the front of my thighs no longer hurt and my neck and shoulders were much better.  I now have pain only below the waist.  That is the good news.
 
The bad news is the lower region of my back still has bad pain, which radiates to my hips and down the back of my legs.  Still, thinking about it, being fifty per cent better in fifteen months just has to be good news!
 
I now have a life, limited though it is.  I can do some housework, drive the car and go shopping.  I can even enjoy my grandchildren for an hour or two.  I used to be exhausted in minutes with them.   I can sit now on a chair and stand for a while.  I walk three kms every day which forms my main exercise.  I do get tired afterwards but my back needs the exercise.  I also do hydrotherapy once a week but my back is still my problem.
 
I wish I knew how much of my pain is due to fibro and how much is the aftermath of the surgery.  I am still very hopeful the guai will clear my back in time too.
 
I find it very interesting that the latest fibro research is saying the same as Dr St Amand has been saying for years.  Fibro does run in families and we are born with a genetic predisposition to having the illness.  My mother has fibrositis which is the old name for fibromyalgia.
 
FUTURE
 
Last month I visited my rheumatologist again.  He was amazed and quite delighted by my improvement.  His records showed sixteen pressure points and now I only have six.  I have not told him about the guaifenesin yet.  I will when I am really well again. 
 
If you are thinking of trying Guai, don't wait.  You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.  I have had so much help from Megan and Jacqui, that I am now ready to help others.

Please email me or phone if you just need someone to talk to.

 
Robyn

Email    click here

Phone  06 877 6243
Robyn Cooper,  Havelock North, N.Z.


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