Fibromyalgia and Raw: Let's Compare Notes

[Melissa]

Hi everyone. I get the sense that many of us on this board have or had fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome. I'm very interested in knowing who we all are, what you're doing and how it's working for you.

I think comparing notes could help us fine-tune our diets and detox program so we make good healing progress. I'd like to read your journals, see what you're eating, and put you on my "buddy list" so we can keep each other posted along the way.

My history: I've been 100% raw since October 27th. I would describe my fibro as having been a 7 at worst and 5 at best on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being disabled or bedridden, 5 being symptomatic but not completely distracting (life can still be enjoyable) and 1 being asymptomatic. My "5" days were fewer and fewer in number and my symptoms had become more upsetting: two MS scares, tingling and numbness in extremeties, extreme fatigue, vertigo, and severe neck pain. I'm very committed to reversing my fibro and will do whatever it takes, just need to figure out the equation. (By the way, I've had lots of tests: no MS, no blood sugar or thyroid problems, etc. I'm completely well on paper :rolleyes: )

Since going raw: I'm 13 lbs down and my fibro is about 40-50% better depending on the day. I still have a rare day now and then when I feel really bad, as bad as my "cooked" fibro symptoms (like today for example...ugh)

I wonder what I could learn from what others are doing to get better results or if this is just a matter of individual biochemistry and being patient? How long do you think you've had fibro and how bad was it? How is raw helping? What foods seem to help or hurt? Are you exercising? Anything we can tell each other to help would be great. I'm trying to be patient. I also know that some of you (Alissa included, as described in her book) seemed to respond immediately to raw food and seemingly within weeks completely cured your fibromyalgia.

Ideas? Stories? Tips?

Determined to understand this better,
Melissa

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Melissa,

I feel so sorry for you!!!! I've been there!

Like you I had fibromyalgia, tingling and numbness in extremeties, extreme fatigue, vertigo, and severe neck pain like you, plus I had cracked heels, horrible headaches, blurred vision, brain fog, burning on the bottom of my feet, and about 10 more symptoms. At times my pain was a 10 and I considered suicide. I was basically bed, chair ridden for 2 years.

I did exercise but within a 3 week period I went from lifting weights 3 days a week to not being able to walk down the stairs to get to the gym. I physically was unable to exercise anymore.

My doctor tested me for MS twice, Lupus and my thyroid tests showed normal (I was on Synthroid).

I saw a naturalist doctor and started a juice fast and taking herbs, and basically felt nothing (note: I only lasted 4 days on the juice fast and took the herbs for about 2 months).

After much research on the Internet, I learned I wasn't converting my T4 to T3 (thyroid hormones) and within 10 days of getting on the right meds, all my symptoms were gone.

Now I'm working on my raw diet, and have been for 5 years. When I eat very high raw, my thyroid meds get cut back. When my level of raw falls, I get the fibro back (no where as bad as I had it before I switched from Synthryoid to Armour). I know it's going to take a while because most people that I know that got off their thyroid meds, took a full year of 100% raw. I could increase my meds and the symptoms would go away, but that's not what I want. I want to keep increasing my raw foods and decreasing my thyroid meds until I'm off of them and with no symptoms.

So I would have to say that you will probably have to eat raw for quiet a while before you start seeing some big improvements in your fibro and other symptoms. But you WILL!!!!

BTW, I'm back to working out. I am limited a little, no sparring (fighting) or jumping jacks, but I can do most everything else. These cause pain in my neck, which leds to horrible headaches. I just finished a 12 day long headache from doing a little too much jumping. I know that an all raw diet will eventually take care of this and I'll be back to doing EVERYTHING again.

<>< Helen of Tennessee
http://www.shazzie.com/raw/transformation/helen.shtml

[Rawmommie]

Melissa,
My fibro was in its early stages I believe. I had been eating Lowcarb for over 3 years when I started doing Body for Life (a strenuous 12 workout program). I couldn't keep my energy up, so I started adding in more carbs. BIG MISTAKE for me. I feel like my fibro started then. Almost immediately after I finished my challenge I started having terrrible yeast symptoms. My face was breaking out, bad cravings, and then came the muscle pain. I was lethargic. No energy, I couldn't lift my arms. I went to the doctor and she did all kinds of tests. No thyroid, no pcos, etc. She said I had fibro and cronic fatigue and put me on wellbutrin for the depression. It didn't help. This was last fall. So, I took matters into my own hands and went back to my lowcarb eating. My symptoms all but dissapeared. I was still tired, but the pain was gone, so I thought that was that.

This summer the symptoms started coming back. Just soreness in my arms when I tried to wash my hair and depression. It wasn't as intense, I would rate it a 4-5, but it scared me. I didn't want to be that way again. I was eating the way I normally did, and I was still having the symptoms. My face was breaking out worse too. (I think this is related, I'll explain in a minute). So, I happened upon Raw. I went 100% from day 1 and after a week my symtoms were gone. I think that your symptoms sound more intense and you have had them for longer, so it is taking longer for it to get out of your system.

Ok, so here is my theory. Completely out there, but this is what I think...
Have you ever read a book called the yeast connection? I believe that we have overgrown yeast in our bodies and when it overgrows, it leaves the bowel and gets in the bloodstream. It then gets into the muscles. I think this is what causes fibro and cronic fatigue. So, the longer you eat the cooked foods and breads with processed sugar or yeast in them, the worse it gets. My face has cleared in direct correlation with my fibro and cronic fatigue symptoms and I'm convinced this is the missing link that is overlooked in the medical industry.

Karen

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi again, Melissa,

I think what Karen said is so true . . . . those that probably got over their Fibromyalgia on a raw diet in a short period of time probably caught it in the earlie stages. My pains started probably 10-12 years before I ever heard of the raw diet, and it was only the last 2-3 years where I was in real bad shape. I know it will take a long time for my body to rebuild itself, and even longer for me because I'm just finding it so hard to go 100% raw. But I KNOW this is the answer.

Also, like Karen said, the doctors are missing many links pertaining to Fibromyalgia. Most think it's a disease of it's own and that there is no cure, expect antidepressants (yes I was offered that by my family doctor, my Rhuemotologist, Neuro-surgeon and Neruologist). I tried it for 4 days and tossed them. I'm so glad I did as my son is now hooked on them for the past 7 years and he wants off so bad! Anyway, Fibro is a "symptom" of something. For me it was the thyroid hormones. For Karen it was Candida, for Shelly it was the birthcontrol shot that she took. But whatever is causing the symptom of Fibromyalgia, in time, it WILL reverse with an all Raw Diet. Just be patient.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[lil]

I've also had the fibromyalgia so bad that I could barely walk. I had little help from medical resources.

What pulled me out of it was having Myers Cocktail Injections (high doses of mineral and vitamins) over several months and changing my diet. I orginally went off of wheat and diary and that made a huge difference (I was a vegetarian at the time...). I then went off of glutens and that provided more relief. If I eat high raw and mostly fruit - I don't experience any symptoms. Easier said than done!

It took me a long time to being able to exercise. I now do regular weights and cardio. But if I stop it, the fibro pain and stiffness quickly comes back. I've also done a lot of other treatments, especially for candida and metal toxicity.

I'm not sure fibro ever leaves - but I do think it's manageable.

[Melissa]

Thank you guys! I've read your encouraging posts a couple of times already! Helen, I love hearing "it WILL go away" in time. I do know what my "event" was that kicked my fibro into high gear: About 7 years ago I had a painful sinus infection (which I was prone to) and stupidly and totally uncharacteristically followed doctor's orders and took three back-to-back courses of three different antibiotics (Doc: "That one didn't work for you? Hmm...Let's try this one.")

Before then, I had an occasional flare up of symptoms but many days lived symptom-free and had pretty decent energy. After that, I lived with symptoms every day, had pain every day and my energy took a nose dive.

Karen, I think your idea about yeast is a contributing factor for me b/c obviously my intestinal flora was wiped out during the antibiotic assault. I feel so STUPID and just kick myself every day that I did that :( I also am furious at the medical profession that is so blind and so cavalier about drugs, drugs and more drugs. Most of them have been "bought" and brainwashed by pharmaceutical companies. :mad:

Anyway, I'm not budging from my raw course and I'll let you know how it goes.

Anyone else out there have a fm/raw story or progress report to share?

[chilove]

I haven't been diagnosed with fibro, but I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and I also had severe headaches, neck, shoulder, and back pain. I believe I was in the beginning stages of full blown fibro. I was a total junk food vegan and had been for years. I NEVER ate fresh fruits and veggies. I thought I didn't like them. All I ate for about 12 years was starches and tofu and diet coke. No wonder I got so sick!!! I was actually bed ridden for about 3 months and then drug myself around for another couple of years, exhausted and in pain. I went to allopathic doctors (had every test done, nothing was wrong with me), naturapathic doctors (was diagnosed through a stool test with an imbalance in my intestional flora) and chiropractors, massage therapists, and accupuncturists. I spent thousands of dollars on supplements and treatments. A few things helped a little, but nothing really made me feel like I was on the way to real recovery. In addition to the fatigue and muscle pain, I had depression, anxiety, hormonal imbalances that caused my breasts to hurt constantly and my periods to be very irregular, I had a painful, swollen bladder for no apparent reason, i had horrible IBS with severe gas and bloating (very embarrasing), the whites of my eyes became bloodshoot and very dull, my skin became very dull and grey looking, I developed dark circles under my eyes. I discovered raw by reading a Naturopathic book, I think its called Prescription for Natural Healing, or something like that. It has all these medical conditions and then suggestions on what to do for each condition. I was flipping through it one day and I noticed that a high raw or 100% raw diet seemed to be recommended for pratically every health condition. I thought to myself that if eating raw was so good for all these health conditions, that it was probably the way to go. I started reading everything I could online about raw and was convinced it was the answer I was looking for. I have been high raw for a little over a year. I go between 70% to 100%. My pain went away completely within a couple of weeks on high raw. I feel the absolute best when I eat 100% raw with mostly juicy fruits and veggies and very little nuts and dehydrated food. Too many nuts and too much dehdrated food can make me feel just like eating cooked does, headachey and sore again. I do find that if I overdo it on the nuts or dehdrated foods, or if I eat too much cooked and get sick, a couple of days of all juicy fruit, especially lots of pineapple, helps me feel better very quickly. I think the pineapple has some kind of anti-inflammatory enzyme or something. After a year on high raw I've noticed the following improvements: headache and muscle pain gone, depression gone, anxiety almost completely gone, hormonal imbalances gone, bladder pain gone, IBS completely gone, digestion is great. The things that still need improvement that I may need to go 100% to help is my energy level (I think it is still about 50% of where I would like it to be, although now I can get through a typical day, which is a huge improvement from when my energy was at its worst) and my appearance, I think I still look very sickly with my dull eyes and skin. The only thing that is keeping me from 100% is my emotional dependance on food. It is very hard but I am working on it. I know that I will need to go 100% to heal completely, but if I push myself too much, I start to feel deprived and it backfires and I end up going on total junk food binges. So, I'm taking it slowly and working on challenging the emotional attachment to certain cooked foods that are slowing down my healing. I can make myself very sick again by just eating cooked for a few days, it's so amazing to me. For awhile I was a phase of being very angry at my body for being "different" and for not being able to be ok on all the kinds of foods everyone else eats, until I realized that it's not just me. People are getting sick all the time from eating SAD (and the vegan version of SAD) because that is not how our bodies were designed to eat. It's as simple as that. It took awhile to sink in, but I'm not feeling sorry for myself anymore. I do believe that you can recover completely from the fibro Melissa!!! I haven't started journaling and don't know if I have the time to, but would love to be a part of a online support group. Wishes of great health to everyone!!

Audrey

[Rawmommie]

Yes! That's what convinced me too! I was sick and fought taking the antibiotics b/c I was afraid and already thought it might be connected to yeast. BUT, everyone in my family was pushing me to take them. 2 days. I took them for 2 days and my face broke out something AWFUL and I could barely move. I knew then that the antibiotics had killed all the *good* stuff in my gut and the yeast had taken over. No more antibiotics for anybody in this family! Not if I can help it! :mad:

Karen