Three Supplements that seem to help my FM

Doctors have helped me very little and I don't want the meds so I became my own best health advocate (by necessity) and took two years of classes with a highly respected naturopath / nutritionist and did a ton of research online. The online support groups I found were not very helpful at all because if you even suggested that FM could be diet / toxin related they would throw a fit. It was disturbing that they wouldn't even entertain the thought that they may be able to help themselves by changing their diet and supplementation. Instead, they took it as me saying they brought it on themselves and it was their fault. I wasn't suggesting that AT ALL! I was trying to be helpful and share information. It was a bad experience for me! lol I didn't stick around and I learned nothing of value from them...

I was taking a ton of supplements through 2009 and stopped because I had two surgeries this year (sinus tumor and fibroid tumor). I'm having a really hard time getting back into taking them (not sure why) but I've felt so bad in past months and I know it's not just because the surgeries / recoveries.

Here are the three supplements that I truly believe helped me the most:

1. Magnesium. Apparently most people have a deficiency and as soon as I started taking it my headaches went from daily to just getting the PMS migraines. (I have major hormonal imbalances). The transformation was undeniable. Since I've stopped I get the occasional stress headache but they're nothing like they used to be....

2. This is the wonder drug and noooo I don't sell it or promote it any way.... It's a systematic enzyme that you take on an empty stomach and it just helps the body do what it's supposed to do in a more efficient way. It's called Vitalzyme and it's not cheap (I usually buy from World Nutrition - I get sale emails once in a while) but it's amazing! When I first started taking it I had to take like 8-10 a day but they came out with a more concentrated gel cap and now it's only 2-3 tiny little pills. I can sure tell the difference when I stop taking it! I stopped for a surgery I just had 8/10 and haven't started back because it's sort of a pain in the butt - you can't take it with any food in your belly so hours before eating and hours after. I feel like total crap now! Once I start taking them again (promising myself it will be tomorrow morning) it will probably take 3-4 days before I notice an improvement. They're awesome and they're supposed to benefit over all health and are especially helpful for scar tissue. Supposedly it eats away scar tissue from past surgeries - especially those related to the reproductive system.

3. I was too paranoid to take sleep meds (prescription addictions seem to run in my family). I searched for natural stuff and nothing worked or there would be something bad in it. I finally found a supplement and thought I would give it a try because it seemed to contain all of the things I read about that are supposed to help sleep and there wasn't really anything bad in it. It's made by Irwin Naturals and called Power to Sleep PM. Great stuff!! I don't take it every day but if I'm having trouble falling asleep I take two and I'm out like a light in about 20-30 minutes and I don't feel anything out of 'norm' in the morning. It has Valerian extract, Hops extract, Passion flower, GABA, Melatonin and more! I've seen it in health food stores for about $30 for 60 but I buy it online for about $16. I just click shopping link on Google website to find the best prices.

I hope this can help some of you. It's such a frustrating condition and 'normal' people just don't understand. Since I took these classes I feel empowered instead of helpless. I don't put up with crappy doctors. I either don't need them or I find new ones. I have an nice collection of helpful books and can share some titles if you're interested. I'm determined to be as good as I can be and I believe (God, I hope) that the WLS will help me with that. I hope I don't get worse because I believe I'm not nearly as bad as most people right now. I don't know if it's the supplements or the fact that I've made a lot of progress in detoxifying my home and my life or if I've just become such an expert at ignoring symptoms since I've had them most of my life....(?) I just discovered this group today and I was very disappointed to read that the surgery might make me worse :( :( :(

Well I'm not bashing you at all but I'm just the opposite, I don't trust or believe in the naturopathic treatments, I prefer standard medical treatments that have had to prove their value and effectiveness before being put on the market. I've tried several "cure alls" for fibro and they haven't helped a bit. So for myself I'll pass because I eat very healthy anyway most of us who haver had WLS have to do that anyway so if we are following our docs diets we SHOULD be eating healthy foods anyway and so nothing there to change.
I do have to put a big WARNING here for others that may want to follow your suggestions, please check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal or naturopathic treatments as many of them MUST NOT be taken with our standard fibro meds. It can be lethal to mix them without checking for interactions first. So try these things if you are interested but do it carefully!
Please don't take this as a slam, it is not meant that way it's just that there are so many desperate folks with fibro that they often try things without checking them out first. As far as I'm concerned different strokes for different folks and if it'll help anyone well go for it!

To each their own I guess.  I'm not trying to push these on anyone.  It took me a few years to realize what worked and what didn't and I'm just sharing because many people aren't comfortable with all the drugs they try to put us on.

I do know this for a fact:  FM wasn't caused by a chemical pharmaceutical deficiency.  I don't want to be filling my body with chemicals when the best case scenario is that they might hide symptoms and the worst case could be very bad but either way they're probably going to cause more symptoms that require more drugs.  

I was in a pain mgmt group at the hospital here that was teaching FM sufferers how to manage pain without meds.  At least half the women in the group were in the process of getting off the drugs.  The sleep meds were a nightmare.  These women were walking zombies and their stories were just horrible.  Our group lasted six weeks and several of the women were still having problems after all that time.  That is beyond scary. 

In reality, modern day 'Healthcare' is actually 'Diseasecare'.  They don't try to cure you (which supplements and diet can do), they just try to ease your symptoms.  Sad but true.  I guess if they cured you they wouldn't be in business very long....

I think fibromyalgia affects everyone DIFFERENTLY, therefore cookie cutter treatments don't work for everyone.  There is a clear deficiency somewhere with fibromyalgia that has yet to be found in the overall population.  I think some people respond well to homeopathic treatments while others respond to western medicine. 

Mine responds well to SSRIs (zoloft, wellbutrin and the like), zyrtec/benadryl (chronic itching b/c of a mast cell issue and sleep) and the occasional flexeril or vicodin for the breakthrough pain.  Cymbalta/Lyrica/Savella don't work for me as they cause horrific weight gain and dizziness.  Many of my patients responded well to them but not the medications I take.  I responded well to acupuncture, but it didn't work for my friend Jessie that has fibro and lupus.  

I respond to the magnesium, but have never tried the others.  Thanks for the suggestions!

Every one has different causes and responses with FM, that is why my fibro MD does a barrage of labs to check hormones, blood counts, thyroid, heavey metal, infectious processes plus many more.  She explained to me that starting a good sleep pattern was a key to begin and gave me a natural mixture.  You make HGH while you sleep that repairs cells.  I started at a low dose and slept 12 hours only getting up x1 for go to the bathroom.  I usually woke up every one to two hours to turn because of pain so it was a great difference !  The blood work has brought many more things to light and I know can walk ith out my cane for the first time in over a year!!  My GP is so pleased he ants to talk to her to learn more about treatment of fibro.  I had thought my life was only going to be about pain now I have days that are with little to no fibro pain and the artheritis pain is down also . 
I am in the process of getting an RNY  so I can loose some weight to help.

I appreciate your tips and may try them if I am unable to successfully use the meds I am currently on after surgery.  I am a believer in both conventional medicine (hence the surgery) and alternative therapies.  I've tried many, many alternative therapies for fibro, but none had more than a fleeting impact on my health conditions (I still would try other therapies however, as I believe that "natural" treatments are preferable).  I'm currently managed with psych meds (cymbalta, abilify), lyrica and a rare vicodin and ibuprofen when the pain is extreme.  Most of the time the pain is mild to moderate and does not impair my functioning.  I'm also concerned about the impact of the surgery, but I have heard of people for whom the fibromyalgia went away post surgery, so I'm keeping an open mind.  If it doesn't go away or is worse, I believe that between alternative treatments and conventional treatments I'll find a way to manage.

I agree that it is imperative to consult your doctor before mixing alternative and conventional "medications".  Also I think post surgery with the malabsorption issues it will be especially important to confer with your doctor before you can even know what dosages would be safe to take.

Good job on doing your own investigating!! I have a great fibro doc that believes in both pharmies and natural remedies. He's open to everything!!
I agree that an herbal blend to help with sleep is wonderful! My doc agrees, too. He's the one that recommended mine. It's called SuperSnooze and is a blend of Melatonin, Valerian, Hops and others, similar to yours.
I also take Neurontin three times a day, which really helps. I have Zanaflex to keep me in deep sleep once I AM asleep. My doc also recommended a HUGE vitamin D supplement.
You all hang in there. Fibromyalgia can be a real pain! I'm working on getting better every day!

Hi there, I am new here also.  Where do you get the SuperSnooze and is it expensive?  I was just put on Cymbalta (120 mgs. daily) and not sure when to take it since it can cause insomnia, which I struggle with. Or better to take at night because it makes you drowsy.  My dr. did not specify and I am unable to reach her.  Would taking the S.Snooze interact with the Cymbalta? I also had GB surgery in 2004 and have FM.Has not been DX'd yet-I just moved to new area and am looking for new drs.I am on the Cymbalta for depression/anxiety/FM.  Thanks for any help I can get-seems like the only help we get is from each other!  God Bless each one of you on here.      (Jan)