Andrea's Testimony
The Beginning
The first 20 years of my life were pretty normal. I was healthy and active and did well in school. I didn't even know that fibromyalgia existed. My fibromyalgia materialized during college when I was 20 (in 2003). I was always on the go and rarely slept. I was busy with classes, sports, work, and student organizations. When I finished an extremely hectic and stressful semester I was exhausted. I slept a lot and had little energy. Soon I began sleeping excessively and was tired all the time. I could still go running, but had to sleep for hours afterwards. As the summer progressed, I slept more and more, resulting in less and less energy. Sleep was no longer providing me the rest I needed.
I started seeing doctor after doctor and all my tests were NORMAL!! They kept saying NOTHING was wrong with me!! So they blamed stress... said I was depressed... even suggested I might have cancer. In the midst of this doctor train I started my next semester of school and struggled through. I had to skip classes for doctor appointments or to sleep. Just getting showered and walking to class was a tremendous task, let alone trying to pay attention and complete assignments.
The pain increased slowly but surely. My muscles eventually ached all the time. I was downing painkiller after painkiller, but the pain never went away. Eventually I hurt my stomach from all the painkillers. I was constantly exhausted and could barely stay awake to complete my homework. Headaches were constant. I gained weight - that was the least of my worries. Was just happy that I could still squeeze into my clothes. The thought of having to shop for new clothes was inconceivable. Somehow I plugged along and passed my classes. I wanted to exercise but had no energy. There were many nights and later days where I just laid in bed in pain. I had too much pain to sleep but I was too worn out to do anything else. My muscles were always contracted. My hands, knees, and elbows especially hurt. Every step was agonizing.
I don't ever want to feel like that again. That's what keeps me going.
When I was at my lowest point, I finally saw a good doc. She took my symptoms seriously. She referred me to a rheumatologist who prescribed a low-dose antidepressant. It was this low-dose antidepressant, which helped me to get restful sleep again. I took off school the next semester to get my life back in order... and slowly I was feeling better. I had more restful sleep, the pain lessened and I was getting my life back. I started feel almost normal again...
It gets worse.
In 2005 I moved from Pennsylvania to Hawaii for my first teaching job. Even though my anti-depressant helped, my fibro was slowly starting to get worse. I had to slather analgesic lotion on my shoulders and back at night to even think about falling asleep. I tried in vain to wash off the smell before going to work. I worried my students would notice that I smelled like an "old lady". My muscles were in constant contraction and it hurt. I had been participating in a running club, but slowly it became harder and harder to complete the runs. Instead of going on runs I was going on walks. I started taking a lot of vitamins and drank expensive juices to see if that would help. Taking painkillers was part of my daily routine.
When I saw no improvements, I decided I needed to find a support group. Until this point, I had never talked to someone else in person who had fibromyalgia. I knew there had to be a better way to deal with this.
iFoG on the horizon
I did a Google search to find a fibromyalgia support group in Oahu. I found iFoG. I had heard of the Guaifenesin Protocol but was very unsure about it. Knowing I had nothing to lose, I attended my first meeting in 2006. I felt very comfortable at our first meeting. It was weird seeing other people with fibro. They all looked so normal. It was a relief that other people really understood what I was dealing with.
What have you done for me lately?
I've been on guai for about 5 years now. It has made my life much better! Today my pain is minimal. Headaches are practically non-existent. I rarely have to take painkillers. A few years ago I went through a large bottle of pain medicine monthly. Now I can walk for more than an hour. I can even throw in a few minutes of running (such a great feeling!). I love yoga and Pilates because they gently tone my muscles while giving them the good stretching they need.
I currently work full time as a teacher. Talk about a stressful job that requires a lot of energy. Instead of crashing on the couch after work, I do stuff. Traveling has become much easier. Sleep is restful. I am even attending graduate school soon. I am ready to handle school while still working. A few years ago there is no way I would have even considered this.
Regrets? Just one!
Not starting guai sooner! Starting the guai protocol is a big step. If you've found iFoG, you have found a great support group that will lead you step by step. They can answer all your questions. The members and leaders know what it is like to be in your shoes. I live in California now but still keep in touch with the group.
HOPE.
The guai protocol and iFoG have given me hope. My health continues to improve. Yes, I do still have days I don't feel great, but they are diminishing as time goes on. I don't worry anymore about my future health. I had a few bumpy years, but it's now behind me.
The hardest thing in this journey was coming to terms with what I am dealing with. I never realized how many ways fibro affects me and has affected me since I was younger. These past years on guai have been more than just a health improvement story - it's been a personal journey of accepting that fibro is here and that I need to take action. When I take my guai pills I like to imagine I'm kicking fibro's okole - one pill at a time.
When I moved to Hawaii I didn't know that my fibromyalgia was going to worsen, or that there was a support group here. At first, I was unsure about the protocol, but it's changed my life in ways I never thought possible. You made it to this website and you owe yourself to get to a meeting. Give it a chance. You'll be glad you did.
Andrea