Gee, this is SAD! Fibromyalgia is affecting nearly half the population of people in the US, and I can't GIVE away the solution!!! Guai Rocks!! Suffers of the world, give up your pain and get well.
Oh well......I am having good results, at least.
I got my first mapping done w/ a friend who does massage, and after I get through two weekend camping trips coming up at the end of July, I shall go back for the followup map. I hope to see some good changes then. I'm waiting until after the camping because I was kinda sore the day after the mapping. She was super gentle, but just palpating my body for the "lumps and bumps" St. Amand describes makes it hurt more. Going INTO sleeping on the ground w/ a sore body is not a "Good Thing".
In the meantime, I am not finding it difficult at all to avoid sals. Sure hope I don't learn after my next mapping that I'm not clearing as I think I am, 'cause it will lead to a lotta work sorting out any sals I'm still encountering.
I've got really good at reading labels.....not a problem at all.
I haven't had to give up much of anything. Toothpaste? I bought some Tom's of Maine apricot flavoured stuff that's pretty good, but I also have taken a liking to brushing w/ baking soda. It really cleans well!
Shampoo? I lucked out there....after I bought some Pantene, Johnson's baby shampoo and the stuff that makes your hair curly, I got to reading the labels on my fave Tresemmes and found that I didn't actually have to do anything more than change to a different Tresemme formula. I like that!
I've learned to wear latex gloves to garden.....just hafta remember not to pull weeds or deadhead flowers w/o ma gloves. Piece a cake.
My deodorant has been the biggest challenge, and I'm still working on that.....had ta give up my cherished Secret 'cause every single one of their formulae has palm oil in it. To make it solid, I guess. I haven't tried to look for a Secret roll-on....that may be a solution.
But in the meantime I am using Ban roll-on and it's okay, but not nearly as effective as my good ol' Secret. Oh well, perhaps we FMs will get to be such an economic force that they'll make a sal-free version just for us!
I had to give up a
wonderful nail care product simply because I could not get the customer service folks at that company to 1) comprehend what I was saying and asking for, and 2) respond to me in any helpful fashion. So, they don't get any more of my money. My nails are in much better shape anyway......I think it's because the guai is taking the phosphates outta my system and my nails are less brittle and better hydrated because of it. So, not much loss there.
I found an amazing oil-free SPF 45 sunscreen over at the Marina Del Rey pharmacy, just around the corner from Dr. St. Amand's office. Online at
www.fibroconnection.com. They specialize in all sorts of sal-free products.....personal care, makeup, sun screen, bug spray. It's very nice to be able to buy anything of their lines and be secure that I'm not nuking my guai. I really like the oil-free sunscreen, 'cause I avoid wearing it if it makes me sweat underneath it. It's so ugly and sticky I run the risk of exposure rather than wear it, and I've tried a lot of brands. But this one is great! It even makes my skin softer and smoother, so it's almost like a beauty treatment. Plus, plus!!!
I also ordered their 400 mg FA guai, and it's HALF the cost of the Humibid e I was buying at Safeway! Seems to be working, although I took a break when I ran out of Humibid e, and when I got back on again, my hands have hurt a LOT less, so the jury's still out on whether or not the new guia is working.
Guess I'm talking to myself here, but that's okay, I'm GREAT company!
Take care all,
sky