Feeling Worse then Ever!!

[puppetlady]

OH my what a weekend!

Had to take a nap both days, SO tired that I was dragging myself through the day and then just gave up and took the naps.Big toe is killing me again (gout?) Leg cramps are somewhat gone but
gained 3 pounds of (water?) back over the weekend........My shoulder is aching and my arms feel like lead again while I am typing. Haven't felt this bad in a year.......

I started Atkins on Jan 7 , 03
First I have just been struggling with the leg cramps but now the fatigue is back full force. Also my muscles are HEAVY again and spasming.If I turn too quickly they stiffen up.....Even hurt my neck clipping the dogs toenails.Just the squeezing hurt my neck and wrist. Seems like the simple things are getting to be too much again.

I am trying to stick with it but Oh man I feel AWFUL!

I was doing pretty good before I started Atkins. I had finally gotten the fatigue under control using coral calcium and some other supplements. I haven't been taking them as consistently since I started Atkins. but I have ordered more supplements to make up for the lack in Atkins.


I have hypoglycemia,adrenal exhaustion and fibromyalgia .I believe of course they are all related started with my reaction to carbs first so I am trying to start there since I know that refined carbs started this whole mess in the first place. I just did some reading about Schwarzbein and am considering a switch to that.....

Don't know if that would help but boy am I beat.
Thanks for any ideas,
Debbie :wave:

[quietone]

sorry you are feeling so bad.

I am not very familiar with the diet you are on, but perhaps its the wrong one for you.

What other diets have you tried? Have you ever looked into the blood type diet?

[jessea]

First, please try the 5HTP before bed - it is working WONDERS with me, today I WOKE UP WITHOUT AN ALARM CLOCK, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS NOT TIRED!!! That is unreal for me, I usually get 10 hours, and still have to drag my sorry body out of the sack.

My legs feel better, too. Getting better sleep is imperative with fibro and adrenal problems. Your muscles repair themself while you are in deep sleep, and people with fibro do not sleep deep enough. The 5HTP really helps you get better quality of sleep.

For the adrenal fatigue, I am currently taking Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin C, B complex, Vitamin E and MSM. Been taking that for the last 5 days, am feelin much better. Then the 5HTP at night.

Don't know if any of this will work for you, because everyone is different. But at the very least, try the 5HTP, it is inexpensive, too.

Hope you feel better!!!

-Jess

[didi3]

Could you please tell me what the DHP? (the first supplement mentioned) is? I could use something to help out. I've got fibro, RA, Raynaud's, Lupus, CF - but the Atkins diet seems to help. Still am having terrible time sleeping, leg and hip pain while in bed. Could use some suggestions for those problems. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.
Was thrilled to find this forum!!! :)

[didi3]

Sorry, I didn't get the right name - I didn't know I could see the message while I replied. Learned something new today!!
But I still need to know about 5HTP. Thanks.

[puppetlady]

HI Quietone

I have been on Atkins since Jan 7, but am looking at Schwarzbein until my adrenals are more healed. Atkins seems a little harsh for my system. I had to take another nap from 9 to 11 and then almost feel asleep in the car today .I have never done that before so it was pretty scary........

Jessea ,I am so happy to hear the 5-htp is helping and Mine should arrive any day now. I order most of my supplements from www.vitacost.com. I did just find a really good article about using 5-htp in combination with St. John's wort and Magnesium at.

http://holistic-online.com/Remedies/CFS/fib_5HTP_therapy.htm

I was feeling pretty good before starting LCing so I am sure I can get back on track.\

I am just having the flu like feeling and fatigue. The leg cramps are better. I am just waiting for my new supplements to help me through the changes I am experiencing.

Debbie

[quietone]

5-HTP, the immediate precursor to serotonin, is effectively absorbed into the bloodstream and readily passes the blood-brain barrier, to promote optimal serotonin balance in the brain.* 5-HTP was found to be superior to L-Tryptophan in this respect due to its being a step closer chemically to serotonin.

In recent clinical studies, therapeutic administration of 5-HTP was confirmed effective in treating depression, fibromyalgia, binge eating, chronic headaches, and insomnia.*

My husband and I have talked about trying it often, but never have. But with my memory impairment these days, I can't remember why we haven't. Or perhaps we did and I can't remember that either.

:lol:

All I know is in Europe they have a drug now that actually adds serotonin instead of one of these SSRI's. SSRI's don't add anything, they just make what you have available for use over an over. This other drug supposedly actually makes your body produce more serotonin. I read about it about two years ago and still we hear nothing about it over here.

Man, didi3, you are really carrying a load. I will get my tests results back when I go back to the doctor (which I can't do until I do my sleep study). I really feel for you!

All I can say is, with what you are dealing with, try the 5HTP. If it works for you, then great!!

[summer*rai]

:( Sorry that you are feeling bad...What meds are you taking for the fibro..?...I know the tiredness....I have learned to just take those naps whenever they demand...

Another thought that came to mind was...Do you snore...????I find out that along with the fibromyalvia/lupus....I had sleep apnea...with my cpap my life has gotten much better....

The amytriptline 75 mg is really helping too, along with paxil 25 and zanax as needed plus thyroid..and all the other stuff for high blood pressure...well gotta get hubby home and we're having a birthday supper for now 4 year old grandson and hubby...birthday's the same day...just a long ways apart...

[puppetlady]

Thanks Summer*rai,
I am feeling a bit better tonight.

I don't take any meds. Just lots of vitamins and minerals .They help bunches. I have just been having a flare since LCing because I have hypoglycemia and I am sure adrenal problems after reading Schwarbein Principle today.........

I think this was just too much too quick for me but I am sure it will all balance out with a bit of tweaking.

I do snore and I do catch myself not breathing when I take naps. It wakes me up so I am sure that doesn't help. I did try amytriptiline and It made me sleep 16 hours a day. I would rather not do that so I take coral calcium for the pain. I have some other herbs and vitamins that help with the thyroid stuff.

I am going to take some sleepy herbs to get a good nights rest along with a cal/mag. They are reccommended in Schwarzbein.
I am going to do that for a few nights to get some good sleep in hopefully, I was waking up ever morning at 5 and doing fine with that for over a couple of years now but boy I have gone down hill lately since starting LC. I am sure I will adjust I think I just haven't been getting enough good carbs.

Debbie

[kjturner]

Gosh, reading these posts really helps me get things into proper perspective. I now realize just how much I have healed my fibro as I *used* to have the symptoms described above, but I don't have them much any more. *What* a relief! I feel for every one of you. Keep at it--this thing CAN be beaten. I have done/do a combination of massage therapy/chiropractic to deal with the spasming; I do low carb/high protein to control my weight and blood sugar (diabetic). I take a huge host of supplements for immune/health support, but I'd have to say eliminating ALL starches from my diet and the massage therapy are the two things that helped the most. I take DSF by Nutriwest for my adrenals. My chiropractor/kineseologist and I are currently trying a supplement to lower my cortisol levels and so far I can see a difference with that as well. I take a LOT of magnesium and I like the coral calcium. I also watch my pH values of what I eat and I add sodium chlorite to everything I drink to lower the pH. (I also drink "Trinity" brand water, which is alkaline). I follow basic 'blood type' guidelines and avoid foods that will aggravate my immune system. I had to take a lot of melatonin and 5htp for about a year, but now I rarely need it. I did the guafenesin therapy for about a year, but my kidneys decided eliminating the medication and I guess the phosphorus along with it was irritating so I stopped it, but it did help for as long as I was doing it. It has taken me about 4 years to get to this point and I hadn't realized just how far I'd come until I read this thread. Don't despair--I am proof you can beat this thing, but it'll take time.

[jessea]

Wow, thanks for telling us your story, and what worked for you. I think all of us with Fibromyalgia are hoping for relief, and we are all trying so many things.

Could you please elaborate on what you are taking for your adrenals? The DSF, what is in it? I think adrenal problems are part of my own scenario, so I am curious.

Fibro is so frustrating. People who don't have it just don't understand. One day you feel great, the next day it's like someone pulled the rug out from under you. Glad to hear you found relief, it was sure a long road for you!

Have a great day!

-Jess

[chattemi]

Jess,

How many mg's of the 5htp do you take each day.
I started taking 200 mg. per day and I was very nauseated.
Have you had that at all?
I am wondering if it was something else that made me sick. I am going to try again tomorrow.

Chelle

[puppetlady]

Today was a little better but I have been walking around in a daze all day. Could be low potassium again? Feel a bit lightheaded. Still had such a cramp in my instep so I have been limping around. I don't worry about sounding like a whiner anymore . After 5 years of this cramping off and on I figure anyone who has Fibro Knows exactly what I am talking about and anyone who doesn't well I guess I just sound like a whiner but OH my Gosh I feel like I got hit by a mack truck at this point. Just swirling around here today. Anytime I move I seem to send some new muscle into a spasm. If I hold the phone with one shoulder then other one starts into cramping.

I have been reading Schwarzbein again today. Sorta jumping all over the place. I can see she really believes in healing totally with diet and hormone replacement if necessary. I am going try this WOE because I think I have given atkins a good month and I am just way too sick to keep going. I will try eating 5 times a day. I did notice since starting to eat during the day on a regular basis that my hypoglycemia is worse and I need to eat every 3 or 4 hours which is fine. I know it is my body saying hey !!!!!!!! don't stop now. FEED ME!!!!!!!! Had some cantalope today which was a welcome treat. I probably should stick with veggies but had 2 of those melons in the fridge that need to get eaten so as not to go to waste so I decided to have that with my lunch.

I thought before changing my WOE that I was pretty much on the mend with my Fibro but Really concentrating on my eating has shown me that I have a long way to go. Most of the stability I was experiencing was just coming from eating the same old way to control my sugar swings which was only eating a couple of times a day. Now that I am not doing that my body is trying to adjust to just eating food. NEW concept for me. Just can't stand feeling so awful when I eat but I understand that this is the way it can be. pg 165 Schwarzbein

Dr. Schwarzbein says :
"by the time I was nineteen years old, all food made me feel ill......I felt sick from not eating ; if I ate I still felt sick.. I thought I must be allergic to food."

This was like OH WOW someone else who has the same thing going on. I have been having this problem since I was 16 . If I eat I feel "sick" If I don't eat I feel "sick" I almost cried when I read that but now I know what to do. as sick as I am feeling I have to eat to get the blood sugar under control and my metabolism to heal. I could care less about my weight right now When you feel this sick it doesn't take top priority.It is like when you have the flu .You just want chicken soup and a warm blanket.
Oh well gotta run......Hope you are all well, Debbie :wave:

[jessea]

First of all, to Chelle, I take 100mg of 5htp right before bed. I started taking 50, but increased to 100. It is helping SO much, I can't believe it! Of course, I am sure the low carb is helping a great deal, too.

Second, to Puppetlady, I am so sorry you are feeling so terrible! You need a hug:
:bhug:

I am wondering, do you have Candida? I felt really really awful on Atkins for the first three to four weeks. But then the tide turned. I found out through research that it was Candida. I have read some theories that Candida causes Fibromyalgia. If you are feeling badly, you could be experiencing die-off from the candida. I found that my fibro symptoms were worse during this time, as well.

If you were ever on alot of antibiotics, it is very possible you have it. If you ate alot of sugar, and had bad sugar cravings, that is another symptom of Candida. You might want to research it and see if you think it applies to you. I am still experiencing the die off symptoms, but not as badly.

It is also possible that you have food allergies. Before my food allergies were diagnosed, and at their worst, everything made me sick to the point of vomiting.

Please keep us posted on how you are feeling, and check out some information about Candida. If you need some links, let me know. You will feel better, because you are on the right track, I think, like me, you need to do some fine tuning. But no matter what, giving up sugar and grains is the right thing to do for your fibromyalgia!! Hope your 5 HTP comes soon, it is helping me sleep like a baby!

Take care, and God Bless!!

-Jess

[colinjn]

Hi There,
I would second the suspicion about candida. I have had all the cramping and spasms etc. that you have mentioned for years. And they have all disappeared after a couple of months of anti-candida supplements.

This was an amazing side-effect! I was taking the caprilic acid (i think that is what it was) for general health. My naturopath didn't even connect the spasms with the candida when prescribing it. ( I'm having a foggy day here, so please bear with me) After taking the CA for a while I noticed that the cramping and restless leg syndrome had vanished. To tell you the truth, I was initially skeptical about candida infection. It seemed too vague a condition. Also I have been on Atkins for quite some time and thought tht the body would have cleaned up any excess yeast easily since I wasn't eating any sugar or starches. But as they say "the proof of the pudding...."!

Candida may also be why you are feeling so bad after going on Atkins. I was warned that you get severe reactions when you kill off the yeast too quickly, and that the process must build up gradually. So perhaps your system is being overloaded by yeast that is being starved and sloughed off. I would be carefull about going to a diet that added sustaining nutrients though. But I'm not an expert in that area.

Good luck

Colin

[kjturner]

I agree about the candida thing. Stick with the Atkins Induction for a while and see if the thing levels out. Also go check out the forum about candida/IBS and see if that might be it. Also check out what foods you should avoid for your blood type. If you know what your blood type is let me know and I'll give you the basic 'avoids'. One sign you may be dealing with candida is cravings. As the yeast dies off you may feel very ill from the toxins being released and the yeast makes you crave the very things you should avoid eating (sweets/starches) in order for it to keep alive. It's fighting for it's life, remember. I used to have candida too, but I've successfully fought it. The trick is to eat NO sweets/starches at ALL for about two months. Anything that turns into sugar just keeps feeding the 'yeast beast'.

As to the DSF, go to Nutriwest.com, enter the product line and look for DSF. I don't happen to have the bottle with me right now....

[puppetlady]

Well I am not sure exactly what is helping but I am feeling better
I was checked for Candida At Christian Northrup's clinic that is right here in Yarmouth Maine. I was found to be clear of that and they basically told me to go see a shrink. Well obviously the pain is not in my head. ........All I have to say to that is just because it isn't yeast doesn't mean it isn't real. I am saying to them ......not to all you nice people who are just trying to get me to consider another possibility. Just letting you know I took that route about 17 years ago......... I of course was not impressed with their recommendation considering that although I might have seemed a bit frazzled and frustrated from the pain and fatigue ,a shrink was certainly not going to heal this physical pain.

Don't know if I mentioned but since I have hypoglycemia and fibromyalgia that of course is the source of all this aggrevation.

I am happy to report that I walked 25 minutes on my treadmill yesterday .Finished a work project I was working on . Had a very productive and pain free day and am back on track now. Hopefully this will be a nice long spell of feeling great. I did get the rest of my new supplements and have been taking them again and drinking my water . SO onward and upward.

Thanks for all your suggestions
Debbie.

[jessea]

Sorry to hear about the doctor wanting to send you to a "shrink". How rude. It isn't fair that you are feeling unwell, and to have a medical professional think it is all in your head. I firmly believe that in order to get healthy, you have to take the bull by the horns and do it yourself. Read all you can, try different supplements. I have been misdiagnosed so many times, and if I would have listened to the bad advice I have gotten from doctors over the years, I am sure I would be dead by now.

Just curious as to what test they ran for the candida? Yes, it is possible that you DON'T have candida, and that would be a great thing.

Good for you that you are exercising again, that will help the fibro alot, too. I hope the upward swing in your health continues, keep us posted!!

:wave:

-Jess

[kjturner]

...they said the same thing to my Aunt for years, that her complaints had no physical basis and that it was just 'female' troubles. Well, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (by a different doctor) a few years later. The thing is the doctor who diagnosed it said she'd had symptoms for years and the other doc should've caught it. She probably didn't have the cancer then, but her body was trying to say something was wrong and they might have been able to get her on a course of care that might've staved off the cancer. Too late now....

[puppetlady]

Thanks Jessea and KJ,

I had a bit of a tired day yesterday and only did 12 minutes on the treadmill. Really trying to pay attention to my energy levels and not push too far but do something to keep moving. I have been trying different supplements at night to get better sleep .I have an herbal sleep remedy and I took it last night and slept very well so that always help. I took 5-htp and magnesium the night before and did so so . I am going to keep taking the herbal combo and try to get better sleep at night .

I also notice when I do exercise I have afternoon muscle pain and fatigue which I am sure is waste build up . I am trying to drink more water to help keep things flowing.

I run into the same problem with my mom of this being all in my head and poo pooing it everytime I say something about Fibromyalgia. She thinks I am imagining it am just a big overeater. Truth is a barely ate enough before and I am eating more then ever now that I have gotten the hypoglycemia under control She is thin but has very high cholesterol and eats low fat / low calories. MY question is if she is soooooooooo healthy then why is her cholesterol almost 300??? I told her to check out low carb. I love my mom but GEEZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Debbie.

[EarthLight]

Hi Debbie - I've read some of your recent posts & wanted to send good wishes your way.

It's great that you're finding sleep remedies that help you. You're really making the effort and it WILL PAY OFF!

It's interesting to me how our bodies want different solutions, sometimes even at different times. I've tried 5HTP & got nothing, though most people love it. I agree with you on the magesium & potassium - they help. I notice what high levels of pot you feel you need right now. Just keep rechecking - it might shift. (I'm that way on mag - I've gone WAY high on it from time to time.)

Maybe I overlooked it, but I wanted to share one cramp remedy that is my top choice - it's apple cider vinegar. (People who believe in it rave about in all sorts of ways.) Someone told me it's high in potassium and gets into your system fast. Check with your body to see if this might be of help :idea: .

Now even when not Low carbing, I get lots of cramps - they throw me out of the bed & I know how painful they can be - then & later. I've had more occasions than I could count when I couldn't stand and have done the begging God for help thing - not a pretty picture. Most people don't understand how much of a crisis bad cramps can be.

So my personal stop cramp attack includes: slugging down apple cider vinegar, 3 good swallows (I take it straight, chased by water - many folks just drink a few drops mixed in water, which is what my Dr. suggested as a prebedtime tonic). I also use l-taurine (my body craves aminos) kava, and my pot/mag supp. Then I immediately head for the shower. Once I manage to get in (a challenging feat in itself sometimes) I direct the hottest water I can stand at the area that's cramping. Of course, I also rub & massage the best I can - I've tried the slap your legs method, but it bruises! And I walk - and walk - and walk - I've worn a groove going in circles in my little apartment! :) Have your husband help with the massage stimulation. There's an accupressure spot on the back side of your thigh (about mid way or a hand's width above your knee) that REALLY works.

I've also heard that horsetail herb can help. Did you know that hypoglycemia, FM, food allergies, low thyroid (& more imbalances, I'm sure) can EACH cause cramps? When I made that correlation, it was like - well, great - no wonder I have the darn things. I'd add exertion and stress to that list of aggravating factors.

One thing that recently changed for me - I'm doing allergy clearing treatments and when I described my "thigh screamers", the doc determined that reactions to sulfites were the primary cause. I went from 8-13 or more per month to only 2 of them in the last 8 months, for that one area of cramping! Whew - I'll take it - they were the worst.

Hope some of this helps, and even more, hope you have a day with smoothness and high energy. ~

[puppetlady]

Wow Thank you for all the great info.
It is kinda weird but I took a break for a couple of days from thinking about any of the LC stuff and then went back on.The cramps have stopped now so I am soooooooooooo relieved.
I have had this problem for 5 years now and of course it is that whole combo

of Hypoglycemia,fibro,thyroid being low,stress , fatigue.....

I have added back a few more carbs/started drinking more water and been very consistent about taking my supplements which I wasn't being very good about when I first started LCing. I also ordered Potassium,Magnesium and Zinc orotate which supposedly are more bioavailable . So far so good ...........It is funny how each of responds to different things and I did feel that I slept better with the herbal supplement

Here are the ingredients.
calcium 56mg
niacin 50 mg
B6 20mg
magnesium 114 mg
kava kava root ext 200mg
valerian root ext.... 150 mg
Lemon Balm herb 150mg
Passion Flower 150mg
melatonin 5mg

THis does the trick for me and I think the biggest difference for me now is that I am FORCING myself to keep track of everything I need to do to get better.

SLEEP/WATER/EXERCISE/EATING ENOUGH/SUPPLEMENTS.

I have tried very hard to discipline myself and remember it is a combination of lots of good little habits and not one magic bullet.
Not having the Leg cramps now is a first for me in so long I can't remember. I mean 5 years of those jump you out of bed and send you around the room screaming kinda cramps. I get them so bad I couldn't even straighten my leg out even with my full weight on them. Mostly calves and instep but neck sometimes and shoulders and arms as well. Feels like someone has string inside that they can pull to just yank all your limbs tight. I am sooooooooooo glad to be getting over that. I knew that I had to find something to calm them down so I could start to sleep again. otherwise I never get good sleep...


Well gotta run and eat lunch so I don't get feeling sick
Debbie :wave:

[Gnasher]

Hi. I see earlier Schwarzbein mentioned as an easier alternative to Atkins. I too have FM, which had been under control, but I developed severe back pain since being for just over a week on Atkins. I don't know what the allowed foods on Schwarzbein are. Please can somebody help me. Thanks! :confused:

[puppetlady]

Schwarzbein, is more restrictive on food additives and such but allows fruit. I actually stayed with Atkins and have adjusted and am doing very well now .I had a terrible first month of leg cramping when I first started but am finally coming out of the aches and pains. I think that most would agree that it is a "normal " adjustment period when your body is just getting used to a different way of eating.

As for the back pains Does it seem like it is muscle pain or maybe your kidney? Make sure you are drinking plenty of water as this woe is diuretic in nature and you wanna keep that water flowing .I was dehydrated just from years of not drinking enough. It is on the top of my TO DO list every day now cause I know how much bettter I feel . It removes a lot of the toxins that are being released when you burn up old fat.

Hang in there because the alternative is to go back to eating stuff that is even harder on our bodies. I felt like giving up at times cause I wasn't feeling better but I reminded myself I certainly wasn't gonna feel better eating anything with sugar or white flour in it so I just had to keep going.

If you just can't give up fruit then maybe Schwarzbein is a better fit for you and it also recommends eating 5 times a day which I just can't seem to fit in. I just stuck with Atkin's cause I am stabilizing now.

Hope you feel better soon and maybe you wanna start a journal so we can come visit you there.

Debbie

[Gnasher]

Thanks for your support - i will try and hang in there and drink more water. I had also been drinking some wine which obviously was not good, but it just happened that week that we had a lot of social arrangements - not good for starting a diet.
:o

[kjturner]

Earthlight, may I strongly suggest you try massage therapy? What you have just described sounds to me as though you have myo/fascial/dermal adhesions. I know, I am (was) riddled with them. I'm going to open a new thread for adhesions as I personally feel they are very important to healing fibro...please see my new thread...