Follow-Up: I AM PRACTICALLY CURED OF FIBROMYALGIA! I am not a hypocondriac and never saw a doctor prior to early 1994 (except maybe when I was a baby or a little child) The following information based upon my own experience. I also had a pain condition that I thought was from a car accident in late 1993. I found it hard to get up and get thru the day. After seeing many doctors, in 1995 one of them told me that I had "fibromyalgia", a rheumatoid condition with no cure. He recommended four things to do: proper diet, exercise such as walking and stairmaster, weekly massage therapy, and low doses of amytripilene (to put me into a deeper sleep so that I would feel refreshed in the morning). I was extremely skeptical of his diagnosis at first, because it was a ruematoid condition (as opposed to the spinal injury as shown up on my MRI). I took my chances and decided to try this course of therapy. This course of therapy definitely improved my condition substantially, however I kept looking for a "cure" for my pain. I was then able to stop seeing the chiropractor. As I was getting treated for fibromyalgia, in July 1996 I had to get a heavy metal test due to a substantial amount of lead I had been exposed to in my occupation. I went to a highly recommended place to get such a test. They introduced a chemical called DMPS into my system to draw out the toxic metals stored (hiding) in my system and analized the urine of the following 24 hrs (Blood tests are not accurate. A urine test following DMPS injection is the only proper test). The DMPS test itself lead me to believe I definitely had heavy metal poisoning. After 4 hours being injected with the DMPS, the trigger points that normally hurt were THROBBING in pain. The pain got worse after the DMPS test. The doctors told me that it would take about 3 wks to get the test results back. During those 3 weeks of waiting, the trigger point pain was worse I had ever experienced for the entire three weeks(and after). I knew, from the pain, that I had metal poisoning , which caused the "fibromyalgia" . I searched on the internet and could not find the link between lead poisoning (I was sure that it was lead poisoning ) and fibromyalgia, despite the feeling in my heart and soul that lead poisoning caused my fibromyalgia. The test results indicated industrial levels of toxic mercury in my system, not lead. They said that this problem was very serious and I required immediate treatment. They told me that I needed to get my fillings taken out and go for 30 chelation treatments. I honestly thought they were quacks (how could mercury fillings poison me, then all of the US would also be poisoned)! For the next several months my pain stayed worse. The massage therapy still helped to a certain degree. I began taking vitamins for the first time in my life, due to the increased pain and fatigue after the DMPS test. I believe that the DMPS pulled out heavy metals from my bones (that would normally be stored there for up to 20 years) and re-introduced these metals into my system. My system became toxic and overloaded with metals, and my failure to pursue treatment made me worse. In early 1997, a family friend and nieghbor ( who had undergone the removal of mercury from his system) , asked me to obtain a book for him called "Mercury in your Mouth". He told me to read it and then give it to him. Grudgingly I bought the book and looked at it. After reading it for about 2 hours, I realized that I POSSIBLY did have mercury . According to the book , some people are more sensitive to mercury . According to the book, ALL mercury fillings are toxic and that these silver fillings are one-half mercury. It is an undisputed fact that mercury is 5000 times more toxic than lead! The controversy about the silver fillings is that there are scientists who have proved that the fillings leach the mercury into the body and there are dentists that call these experiments "flawed". I checked numerous articles on the internet and found that indeed silver fillings are toxic. There a many countries in Europe where such silver filings are outlawed. Mercury testing: According to the book and the internet, there is no need to take a test for mercury if you have silver filings. Blood tests are not inaccurate whatsoever. It seems the only accurate way is to be injectedwith DMPS and then take a urine sample over 24 hrs. However, the point of the book and the internet is this: silver fillings are toxic ! If you have silver filings, get them replaced with resin or gold (I'd be scared of putting any more metals in my mouth and gold is very expensive). Supposedly resin filings are inferior and will fall out. Well I have them and they feel quite fine to me. I then got all my fillings taken out. Literature recommends getting them taken out 1 at a time each month. My recommendation: get them out as quick as possible and then get DMPS treatment. The reasoning is this: After the first DMPS treatment I was sick for quite a while. DMPS attracts mercury from your bones (and therefore from your mouth). Getting DMPS treatment when you still have fillings may make you worse. Not getting DMPS treatment while you are in the process of getting your fillings out may make you worse. The solution: get fillings out quickly and get DMPS. I did not get drastically worse by getting them out over a short period of time (some of the literature warns against this). You must find a dentist that is open minded. Some of them are skeptical. See if you can find one in the literature recommended in your area. The book entitled Mercury in your Mouth lists dentists in all areas. You can order it through www.amazon.com. After getting my fillings out in early 1997, I then underwent DMPS chelation treatment (there are two types DMPS and EDTA chelation). DMPS is superior over EDTA becuase DMPS has a much stronger affinity to mercury, lead, cadmium, etc. My pain level then decreased by 90% ! I could not believe it . I was nearly cured. Now I had to find out how to cure the last 10% of the decreased pain. The doctors had given me a list of things to avoid (because of fibromyalgia). It included wheat , peanuts, and deodorant that included aluminum hydroxide. After having gotten rid of 90 % of my pain thru outlower and upper back and neck, there remained pain in my back near my armpits, and other places. I checked the label on my deodorants and there was aluminum hydroxide. I took my chances and spent $3.00 for a natural (and not as effective) deodorant in a health food store. Beleve it or not, switching deodorants got rid of about 7% of pain in my upper and lower back. The deodorant I now use is called "Tom's of Maine". I doesn't last too long and I have to carry it around in my pocketbook. But at least I'm healthy. Now I am 97% cured from the back pain, by removing my silver fillings, getting chelation treatments, and changing my deodorant to natural deodorant. It sounds really strange and I suffered for over 3 years before figuring it out. There is no need for expensive tests, that may not be accurate. Your dentist can replace the fillings if they are "old" and switching your deodorant is easy. You can find a doctor that does chelation by contacting ACAM 949-583-7666. MORE INFO: I then made an appointment in late 1997 to see the doctors that had originally diagnosed me with mercury poisoning. Maybe they weren't such quacks after all. They had also told me that I had a thyroid problem a year earlier, but I chose to ignore them. They started me recently on thyroid pills and my thinking cleared up and I began to get more energy. I purchased a book they recommended called "Thyroid the Unsuspected Illnes" by a Dr named Broda Barnes (I think). The book explains how 40% of the population may have a thyroid problem. That seems somewhat incredible to me. However, upon reading, he explains how, prior to the discovery of antibiotics, there used to be a high incidence of death due to infectious diseases. Survival of the fittest, meant survival of those less prone to infection. Thyroid problems are inherited. (Thyroid problems cause irritable bowel syndrome, increased suscepibility to infection, fatigue, depression, brain fog, PAIN, etc. ) The book explains how in the 1900's 10% of the population had mild thyroid problems. He explains how that # has increased to 40% because antibiotics kept people alive after the 1940's that were susecpible to infections (due to mild thyroid problem) and the gene gets passed on and on. The reason why I am telling you about this is because you mention fatigue. The very first thing to do is buy the book described above. Buy that book first (not similar ones) because the author is the leader in this field, and I believe other books were written after his (and based upon his book). By reading the book, you will find out that many of the tests are inaccurate, and that the most accurate test is your own basal body temperature. Testing your own basal body temperate means IMMEDIATELY UPON WAKING, without moving, take the thermometer that you placed the nite before right next to your bed (shaken all the way down) and put it under your arm for 10 minutes, WITHOUT MOVING. Do this for several days in a row and take an average temp. If your basal temperature is below 97.8, you are hypothyroid (not enough thyroid 40% of population). If your basal temp is above 98.2 you are hyperthyroid (not as common). The reason why you do not take oral temp is because your temp in mouth may be raised due to slight sinus infection, that you are not even aware of. If you find basal temp less than 97.8, buy the book and then find a doctor that specializes or is very familiar with thyroid problems. The reason why is because the doctor must check something called weak adrenal function (or maybe cortisol output). I found this topic "weak adrenal function" (it was the only one I found) recently on the internet by a woman who had mild thyroid problem, got thyroid supplements, and got worse. She had to check through medical literature and found that she had to be checked for weak adrenal function first. Her doctor, at HER request, performed the test, which was positive, and required an additional supplement. I requested the same test by my doctor and it turns out my adrenal output (cortisol) was normal. 100 thyroid tablets cost about $15.00, so the treatment is inexpensive and the diagnosis is free (your basal body temp). The basal body temp test,according the Dr. Barnes the expert in the field, is the most reliable diagnosis tool. MORE INFO: Around Jan 1998, the same doctors gave me a little sheet with recommended foods for my blood type: type A. They also told me to buy a book entitled "Eat right for your type". By this time, I welcome anything they suggest, no matter how good I already feel. These people are real experts . That diet is working wonders for me and everyone else that follows it. The author of this book and his father researched this subject for 45 years prior to publishing a book. It is very interesting and explains how the blood produces antibodies in response to certain foods by each blood type group ("food allegies"). After I began to follow the "list" of allowable food for my blood type, I virtually lost my appetite for most of the time. I began to feel better and have more energy. My digestive system got back on track. The book warned about eating too much wheat. Since I was following the book to the letter of the law, I stopped eating wheat altogether. Remember the adrenal function test I requested prior to treatment of thyroid (it was a 24 hr saliva test), they also checked some secretory IgA levels with that same test. The test showed a depressed immune system due to the output of IgA.They were interpreted by a nurse practicioner (and not a doctor) . She told me that I had a wheat intolerance, and to avoid wheat. I requested a copy of those results , so I could research it on my own on the internet. Around the same time, I had bought the blood type diet book and that also recommended wheat in small quantities, if any, for my blood type. Because of the test results and the book, I had cut wheat out of my diet from Jan 98 until March 98 and began to feel better. My digestion went to normal (but I thought maybe the thyroid pills were doing that, since I started taking the pills around the same time). The copy of the my test results mentioned the word "celiac". Last nite and this morning I researched "celiac" on the internet which means a condition of wheat intolerance. Some of the sites mention that PAIN can be a side effect. Celiac condition occurs possibly when you have had a virus and your body produced antibodies against the virus. Wheat proteins may have a similar structure to the virus, and therefore your body attacks this "foreign" object. I know from my own experience and from that saliva test that I have some form of wheat intolerance. I know I dont have "Celiac Disease". Now I must be extra careful to avoid wheat products. This seems to be a fairly common problem. . Hopefully that will get rid of the remaining 3% of what was originally an "incurable" condition: fibromyalgia. In conclusion, I believe that toxins cause fibromyalgia, since I am virtually cured, after suffering for years. Another way to detoxify: (1)the sauna. The skin is like a "third kidney" used to eliminate toxins. Doctors have dialysis patients use the sauna to eliminate toxins. (2) vitamins and antioxidants (3) peroxide IVs (4) DMPS chelation My e-mail address is marisssa@classic.msn.com (3 s's) if you have any questions. GOOD LUCK AND BE WELL