Reversing Fibromyalgia

[Melissa]

Hi all, I'm new to this board, eager to have company on this journey. I'm 38 and have fibromyalgia--though if I have my way, I won't have it much longer. Two years ago I did 100% raw for 4 months and really reversed the majority of my FM symptoms. I felt great! Then I fell off the wagon...I was in a master's program (got through it, whew) and under stress so poor habits came back. My "poor habits" are what others would consider healthy eating...in other words, organic mac n cheese and organic broccoli and organic ice cream and organic cheese puffs! Three weeks ago a friend my age died after battling melanoma and that tragedy spurred me to get back to my raw foods. I did a ten day juice fast and am now juicing plus eating raw. I felt great while juicing but now am really aching, esp. in my neck and shoulders. Also headachey. Ugh. I'm keeping with it though, very determined. If there's anyone else out there who has FM or Chronic Fatigue (or perhaps any chronic ailment) and is doing raw, I'd love to lend each other support and ideas. I cook for my household (partner Anne, our 7 yr old son, and my mother in law, age 88) and need lots of strength to go this road alone and believe in my own healthy, pain free, slimmer (I need to lose about 40 lbs.) future.

[smasty]

Hi Melissa! Welcome!!! I know we've got folks on this board that deal with FM, CFS, and other things. They'll chime in soon. I've been blessed with good health so I can't speak to how raw has helped me in that area...for me it's cured food addiction/compulsive overeating issues, and REALLY helped me deal with stress in my life without the aid of junk food.

Stress is so tough...probably the number one reason people fall off the wagon.

The key is...you ALREADY know what raw feels like, so this is no experiment for you, right? So, you're way ahead in the game. Welcome back to raw! We've been waiting for you!

[glad_2beme]

Hi Melissa, oh my we have so much in common, I look forward to talking soon, have to put son to bed now!!! Welcome, to the area...( I am Melissa also and have been diagnosed w/ CFS/FM also)

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi Melissa and welcome! I hope you get to feeling better soon!

While you await replies from members here who've experienced what you're going through, also check out: http://dyingtogetwell.com Shelly also battle with Fibro AND terrible side effects from having gotten the depoprovera birth control shots and her body healed itself and reversed the disease from her eating a raw diet, fasting, etc.

Her story is remarkable to say the least!

[glad_2beme]

HI Melissa, its me again....I am a 38 yr old Melissa as well, diagnosed with the same. I was great a year ago, but on Nov 1, 2003, my husband crossed over to the other side (passed away, for those who ask what side) he was 49, ...My turmoil began immediately. I understand the CFS/FM can come about from a tragic event. I truly believe my symptoms are nerves and depression. But after gaining about 50 lbs this past year and cannot physically function, I have to get these poisons out of my system once and for all. I am a true sugar addict, and I can tell when I get on that binge I cannot even move...I have an 8 yr old son who needs to get clean also, I see this is going to be a hard one for me to do with him, he is the JUNK FOOD KING...talk to you soon, take care

[Helen Of Tennessee]

I was debating whether to reply to this thread or not. I feel like I'm a cheater for how I dealt with my severe case of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue.

I didn't know about raw foods, or very little, when I was so ill. It was changing my thyroid meds that took me from being bed ridden for 2 years to being normal within 10 days. BUT after that I learned about raw food and how by feeding my body raw foods, my body could repair itself. So I'm still on the meds (afraid of being back in bed and in severe pain), but with the increase of raw foods, my meds are being cut back. One day I'll be off of them and I will also be free of Fibromayglia and Chronic Fatigue without the assistance of my thyroid meds.

Since going high raw (trying for 100%), my thyroid meds have been cut back, I lost weight, and my BP is basically normal, most of the time. So I know the raw foods is what is allowing my body to heal from the Fibro, Chronic Fatigue, and all the other thyroid symptoms I had/have.

You can read my whole testimony at:
http://www.shazzie.com/raw/transformation/helen.shtml

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Melissa]

Woke up this morning and wondered if anyone had seen my post yet...Wow! Thank you all for sharing your experiences and welcoming me. Eager to learn more about you all. Rawkinlocks, isn't Shelley's site interesting? Thankful I never was on depo provera. I feel that my FM was triggered about 14 years ago by several rounds of antibiotics for a sinus infection that would NOT clear up. Glad2beme, I'm sorry for your loss and inspired by your courage. You're going to help yourself and your son. I also crave sugar like mad...but I got through Halloween w/out touching it. Unfortunately I ate TOO many dates to counthttp://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=5775# I think overdoing nuts and dates is what is currently making me feel sore, so I've cut way back. Helen, glad you posted. Your attitude towards meds makes total sense. How do you guys feel about supplements? I'm not taking any except Standard Process digestive enzymes right now, but I have a cabinet FULL of Fibro stuff that has been somewhat helpful in the past...malic acid, esp. (found in apples.)

[glad_2beme]

I found that increasing my magnesium has helped some, my son loves to massage my back (thank goodness), and I am going out on a limb here, but when I was at my absolute worst, a friend introduced me to a spiritual healer, who has helped tremendously. Maybe its her prayers and guidance but I can tell you when I leave her I feel so much better with less aches and pains than before....God IS GREAT to me.

[SimplyRawesome]

Hi Glad_2beme,

Welcome! You will truly find the support and suggestions you need here. I don't suffer from the same conditions as you, but I do have chronic asthma and just wanted to share with you that I have an awesome Chiropractor in Huntsville (dont' know where in Alabama you are). I drive from Murfreesboro to go see him - that's how great he is! He does accupuncture, reflexology, etc. He's devoted to healing the patient not to the insurance companies. If you're interested in more, let me know and I'll email you his information privately.

[glad_2beme]

I am in Montgomery...about 3 1/2 hrs from Huntsville, but I go up that way quiet often...glad to meet another southerner...wish we were a bit closer, but you never know we may meet someday. thanks for the info, I might give him a try, I have a great chiropractor here, but there is always room for improvement.

[chilove]

Hi Melissa, I can relate to where you are coming from. I had chronic fatigue and horrible muscle pain and headaches. Whenever I stay raw the pain goes away and the fatigue gets better (it hasn't ever totally gone away yet). Even though I feel so much better on raw it's been a struggle to stay raw due to emotional eating and an emotional dependance on food. I was doing pretty well until I went back to college after 13 years this quarter--the stress really messed with my eating. But I am determined to stay raw. I don't have a choice. I feel horrible if I don't stay raw. I've also noticed that eating a lot of nuts and dehydrated food makes me feel yucky so I have to watch that. I'm glad to have other people to share this journey with. I have felt sick and tired for about three years now and I am so ready to feel better. I almost am afraid to hope that some day I will be pain free and full of energy. It seems like a wonderful dream. If it is possible, I know it will only be possible through raw food. I look forward to the day when all of us with health challenges will be posting testamonials of our success stories to inpsire others!

[Jay]

Hi Melissa and chilove,

welcome to this board!
I'm sorry I can't help you with your questions, but I see that others are already helping and giving information where they can.
Can you tell this is an amazing community?? ;)

take care and see you around!
Joke

[ksabe98]

HI,
I am pretty new to this board. I have been raw fooding for exactly 85 days. I have the challenges of Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Migraine, Asthma, Allergies and about 20 other things. However I don't say that I have these things anymore and I don't let them own me. I am no longer my disease challenges. I started raw 85 days ago and I didn't really ease my way in. Once I figured out what I wanted to do I just jumped in head first. In the last 2 and 1/2 months I went off all of my medications including birth control pills and other things I had been taking for over 12 years. I don't recommend you go cold turkey off of any medications and I didn't do it that way. I eased off of all of them slowly. But I did go off of one of my meds literally in the first week of being raw. I expect to be well in less than a year and am looking forward to it. I have lost 20 pounds of the weight that I gained from one of my meds. and have a little ways to go to get to my ideal weight. I had lost about 50 pounds before this on you guessed it "The Atkins Diet". I will tell you what there is no motivation greater for veggies and fruit than not being able to eat very much of them for a year and a half so I have enjoyed thoroughly the indulgence in the veggie world. I am currently on a juice fast as I have one of my yearly colds. However I am expecting it to go away faster than ever. I usually have to have a course or two of antibiotics as these things usually turn into a mean lung monster war but not this time. I can tell that I am already going to get better faster. Anyway my friends I hope that my story helps any of you that also have health challenges. I can tell you all one thing. The mind plays a huge part in getting better or also in not getting better. It is powerful in our ability to succeed or to fail. So I live now knowing that my challenges will be over very soon. I am not trying this out to see if it will work I know it will.
Wonderful evening to all of you.
Lisa

[Melissa]

It's fantastic knowing you're all out there...and while I'm sorry you have these similar health struggles, I'm glad to have the company in moving towards wellness. I too have been scared to even believe in the possibility of being well, so I used to minimize my goal and say "I hope to lessen my pain a bit" or "lose a few pounds" etc. But now I feel differently...I'm going to hold a vision of myself as perfectly well, free of my symptoms, slim, energetic and radiantly healthy. Why the heck not? I'm happy to believe in whatever vision you all hold for yourselves. On another note, I wonder if any of you have experienced this...As time goes by on the raw diet (day 15) I see some of my FM symptoms flaring up for a couple days and then fading back again. For example, for years I've had episodic dizziness, dry eyes, foot cramping, headaches (more like scalp aches actually) and always have tight painful neck and shoulders. I notice that I'm feeling better overall --less muscle pain and more energy--but that my headaches came on strong a few days ago and then left, and now I have terribly dry eyes. Is this part of clearing up my system?

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Lisa,

Wow, what an inspiration you are!!!! To have so many health issues and to see how quickly you are seeing results!!! This is FANTASTIC!!!!

It will be interesting to see what your doctor(s) say when you are totally healthy!!!! Hopefully, now that more people are getting healthy through eating raw, doctors 'should' start to sit back and take a look at nutrition.

Let us know how you are doing and let us know how your doctors respond as your body heals itself from Lupus, RA, and all the other ailments you have.

This is so exciting!!!! :D

Looksing forward to hearing more reports from you. Hope you are having a WONDERFUL day today!!!!

<>< Helen of Tennessee - who will be sqeezing organic oranges later for a nice tall cold glass of OJ - YUMMY :p

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Melissa,

It sure does sound like detox. I have read different things on detox and one of them is that as your body clears up, it kind of goes in reverse in cleaning out, so things you had in the pass "may" come back to haunt you, but know it's just your body cleaning these diseases right out of your body! Just hang in there, and see how you feel in the weeks and months to come. You sure do seem to have a very positive outlook, even with your flare ups. You're going to do just fine.

Keep posting, keep reading, keep getting better and better :)

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Melissa]

Thank you Helen! I love hearing that I'm going to get better and better...Love that vision and am taking little steps in the right direction each day. A friend my age died two weeks ago (cancer) and left two boys...I started 100% raw--in fact, juice fasting--that same day as her funeral, 15 days ago. I just got tired of feeling like a sitting duck, eating the same old way, being in pain, just waiting for some terrible illness to strike. My emphasis now though is to convert the initial impulse (fear) into a healthier motivating force --joy, love of life, desire to make the most of each day...Anyway, thank you all. I'm going to figure out how to post my photo and really join in more. What a lifeline this community is!!! So glad I found it by "accident" (don't believe in that concept any more.)

[Wrecked Spark]

I like the way you think Melissa... very balanced with an eye on the magic behind the veil. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your journey to vibrant health!

Cheers,
Wrecked Spark

[ksabe98]

Hi thank you all for your kind words. I hope to be an inspiration to everyone and you all can be for me. Melissa I read in a few places were they call exactly what is happening to you "retracing". Or have you heard the theory that when you heal sometimes your symtoms get worse before they get better. Which is precisely the reason so many turn back just when they are making progress. I too have had this happen along the way it is weird. Like my arm will start hurting so badly and then it just fades away. It almost feels like somethings coming out "toxic something" and then it's gone. But I also suffered from a cystitis bought a couple of weeks ago and I was able to get rid of it with a kidney/bladder cleanse and now I think I may never have them again. I think that it is the weakest points of your body are the ones that suffer the most through the detox. I have had some horrible migraines myself in the last 85 days but they seems to be getting better. If you ever need some advice or an ear you can always email me. ksabe98@dslextreme.com
I understand completely how you feel.
Have the greatest day you can imagine today
Lisa

[Olive]

Melissa,

Just wanted to say thanks for the thought of converting the energy of fear into a positive force! It is so easy for me to forget that at times, and your reminder is very wonderful! :)

[Melissa]

Retracing...That's so fascinating. I'm going to try to find more info on this idea. I think it explains what's going on for me. When I have these flair-ups of symptoms, it can be so very discouraging. I have moments of thinking "If I'm going to have FM symptoms even when I'm 100% raw, why bother?" but truly these thoughts pass by quickly. I KNOW I must stay the course this time to break through to real wellness. It's just that I want it NOW! It's so hard to be patient and have faith, isn't it? And that's what I feel this experience is really testing and teaching me. Patience and faith. (Real faith, by the way, not faith in the Bush/Cheney sense...Feel the need to reclaim that word lately...Okay, I promise to curb my ranting!) Anyway, tonight I'm having lots of intense muscle pains in my mid back, neck and--most intensely--this one FM flare spot, the muscles right under the breasts, top of the ribs. That's also the spot (on the left side) where I get intestinal pain at times. Someone once told me that's where the intestine turns and is common to have pain there. But thank goodness eating raw has helped that pain a lot even in 2 weeks, along with some other Irritable Bowel symptoms. It is so much more fun to be alive when you feel WELL!!!
Time to put my son to bed. I'll keep checking in. This is wonderful! Hope you are all having good evenings.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Melissa,

Zsuzsa wrote a neat post on re-tracing. You can read her post at:

http://www.rawfoodsupport.com/read.php?f=1&i=24832&t=24747

I think it's the 3rd post down in the thread.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Rawmommie]

Melissa,
I'm new to this forum and eating raw (11 days!) but I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone! I have FM also, it's worse in the winter and I decided to go raw b/c my symptoms were flaring up. I have also been searching for people that can support me and tell me that this is going to pass b/c my symptoms seem to get worse on days and then better. I just keep telling myself that the alternative will be worse and this is what my body needs right now. Good luck to you!

Karen :)

[Melissa]

Thanks Helen...That link was interesting. I think it's fascinating to think of disease as the body's way of trying to stay alive rather than die of toxic overload.

Rawmommie, let's stay in touch. This board is incredibly helpful. I just zoom around to different topic reading posts and gaining knowledge and insights. Helps me stay on the path. One piece of advice (from my last time going raw for 3 mos., 2 yrs ago...and then falling off the wagon and having my FM get so bad) : Try not to overdo sweets, including fruit, smoothies, and dried fruit. (I was a date-aholic at one point!) The greens are what will have the biggest impact on inflammation, I've found, and I think my FM is a state of inflammation and congestion basically. Gotta get my son to school, I'll check in tonight!