Nine Year Guai’versary

On November 15, 2005, I started on the guaifenesin protocol to reverse my fibromyalgia.  Often we are too busy with harvest & the fall work for me to even notice the day go by let alone think or write about it.  But this year, I did note the date and decided to just put up a short blog post about it.

Nine years!  I have my life back in regards to my pain level and fatigue and that is worth the rules of the protocol.  Yes, I have other diagonoses but this post only concerns my fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue diagonosis.

Short reminder… Nine years ago, we were looking to buy a wheelchair for me, in my size, with only my cooties on it.  My kids were both at home yet, one did my driving, and they would argue in Target over who would get to push me.  I couldn’t walk the grocery store and barely made it to a back row seat at church hanging onto K’s arm.  K was working but lived at home.  She planned our meals and if she didn’t work the early morning shift, she would start our lunch prep before she left for work.  I spent the days on the couch vs the bed so that JP would visually see that he had a mom.   I was 42 and going no where.

Now there is no wheelchair and no need for one!  I try to do aqua aerobics 2 times a week and some days at home I do yoga with a DVD or Amazon or such.  And if it makes any sense, I can do a whole session of a Jillian Michael’s Yoga Meltdown.  I challenge you!  Of course, I’m the one running the kitchen, hauling in groceries, and cooking all the meals here.  And all the other stuff you read here on the blog.

I do not give 2 hour replies via email or phone for those that think I’m crazy doing this and want to chit-chat.  I have a lot going on and have learned to not waste my breath.  🙂

But if you’ve gotten this far, here are my suggestions:

*Buy the book and read it all.  (yes, I know you have fibrofog, so did I.)   What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Fibromyalgia by Dr. Paul St. Amand & Claudia Marek — only get the 2012 edition!!
*Read the website.  (fibromyalgiatreatment.com)  The heading has FTC – Spreading Hope.  You are ill- not crazy!
*Subscribe to the archaic listserve and get the emails in one chunk to your box.  It is usually 1 email a day but sometimes a few more.  At the bottom of the page I linked, click on the “subscribe guai group” link.

The guai protocol is not a sprint (done in 2 days) but a marathon.  Like a person takes blood pressure medicine every day, so I take my guai every day.  It is not a normal medical route that you take a pill and all is well.  There are rules.  You can follow the rules and get better or not.   They aren’t guidelines; they are rules.  In a nutshell, one has to watch what is used on your skin (shampoo, lotion, makeup, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, etc).  But you don’t learn that from that previous sentence, you learn it from the website and the book.

It is SO much easier to follow this now than it was when I started 9 years ago.  They continually learn and make it easier.  My PCP is quite pleased with my treatment; she knows about it enough that she supports me and knows that many aren’t diligent enough to accomplish this.

If you still interested and going to give guaifenesin a try for your fibromyalgia, I will help you. Any thing you need.  I’ll help you scan your products.  I’ll email with you.  I’ll even go shopping with you. But you have to be willing to learn about it, follow the rules, and give it time.  🙂

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Another great guai day

One on the guaifenesin support group was struggling today.   She is just a ‘toddler’ in the stages of reversal so I posted this to encourage her & others.   Thought I’d share with you as I know I don’t post much about my fibromyalgia.  

Shirley, it is OK to vent! We’ve walked in your shoes. Or not wanted to walk as well! ((hugs))

Today as I was out scraping frozen and packed snow off my driveway, I was so excited!! Three years ago it was difficult to walk to the bathroom.

When we went to church, dh dropped us off at the door. I HUNG onto dd’s arm and she led me to a seat immediately. I couldn’t stand when others would stand. After that was over, I’d lean to get back out to the car.

My legs felt like cement and sometimes I had to pick them up with my hands to change their position when I was sitting.

So today I shoveled snow. 
Then I walked a bag of heavy garbage to the dumpster. 
Then I wandered around the loop on our farm looking for my dh. 
I found him and we walked to the barn. I approved the play area he built out of straw bales and misc boards for our new puppy that is coming home today. 🙂
I walked up the icy, snow-packed hill to the house.  (and didn’t fall!  😀 )

Guai works!  

 

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Guaifenesin Progress Report

Three years + 2 months

My 3 year anniversary in November 2008 came when I was too busy to stop and write a report.   I was at my clearing dose on November 15, 2005 and this is how far I’ve come!

I just commented the other day that this is the best January I’ve ever had.  No big let-down after the holidays and no big yucky winter mood either.   I’m busy working my business of home made soaps and busy in my in between hours with quilting.  

Three plus years ago, I was barely functioning.  I moved from the bed to the couch so my kids could see they had a mom.   Our daughter did most of the grocery shopping and cooking.  I wasn’t able to walk a store and my kids would argue over who got to push me around in the wheelchair.   I drove short distances but didn’t trust myself.  Sometimes I wasn’t sure how to get where I needed to go and other times arrived somewhere not knowing why I was there. 

Now I take care of the house, family, and get the groceries.    I have stepped up my soap business and have been working that a lot more.  I am back to enjoying my sewing and quilting time, too.  I love having my mind back and I’m sure my family does too.  I go to an aqua aerobics class twice a week.  

I love how much thicker, fuller, and curlier my hair got in just the first few months on guai.   My skin is healthier as well.   It feels good when others tell me how good I look.   🙂  

I retire this spring as our son graduates from our homeschool in May.  But I have plenty to keep doing with building my soaping business and keeping up with Phil.   I am also President of our quilt guild this year.   Last year as VP and this year have added a lot of activity and responsibility to my mind.  

How do I really describe how much better I am?  You could ask my mom.   🙂 It is great when my family sees how much better I am with the guai.   I think if you would meet me and not know that I have fibromyalgia, you wouldn’t guess it.   

I cleared a ton of depression out over these years on guai and I’m happier than I ever have been.   Even during the midwest winter!   Here & there I can pinpoint a specific area of clearing and count it back to an event.   I’ve cleared deposits from 3 of my 4 pregnancies and each one is easier than the last.  

If I overdo it or have a lot of stress the first thing that hits me back is the fatigue.  I end up taking afternoon naps for a few days and am back to my normal.  

I follow the HG eating plan.  I stay on strict even tho I don’t lose weight on it.  I get reactions when I eat 2 or more items on the liberal side so those things are only for a cheat here & there.  

I clear at 1200 mg a day but bump it up with 400 FA when I can to clear faster.   With the FA added, I also have less itching.  But I learned to take my FA in the morning as it gives me energy.  🙂

When I started guai, I had about 7 1/2 yrs to totally clear.  Sometimes I calculate that I’m a bit ahead of normal and other times right on.  That is so encouraging to me.   But being this good at 1/2 way done is super for me!

Currently I’m cycling issues with my feet and low back but it only causes me to pause for twice daily MSM cream applications.  Otherwise, I keep going!  (with my shoes on!)

I’m so thankful to the friend who lent me her WYDWTYAF book!  (At the time, I was actually frustrated by well-meaning folk that had advice and books out my eyeballs for me.   What a difference the RIGHT book made!)  But mostly I’m thankful to Dr. St. Amand & Claudia for their work, the guai group members & admins for their help, and for the MI conference in 07.  It was a treat to be able to make that trip but also to meet Claudia, Cris, Gretchen, & Char.   Thank you all!!  🙂

The guaifenesin protocol has been a miracle to me!

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