I looked at my diet. If I don't have any caffeine (or coffee especially) I do much better. I've kept a food diary to avoid certain things that affects the RA and GD that I have. It seems to have positive effects on my muscular pains as well.

Also if I take the certain supplements, I do better as well. I have found that every one of us is different. What will work for me, will not work for the next person with the exact same diseases that I have.

Take care... :-)

boswellia works for my pain

choline helps grease brain synapses pathways - less fog

Increasing glutathione levels helps alot. I use n-acetyl l-cysteine and my body converts it into glutathione but you can get just straight glutathione

I make tea from the ephedra plants growing in my yard (high desert)

I'm getting ready to try some kava kave tea.

I am All natural...I have tried many meds...mostly with very adverse effects...I think I have myself to a pretty good place...was a haul to get here tho...but am WAY better then where I was 2 short years ago !!

everybody, thanks for the ideas. I have been trying to stay away from caffeine but it is so hard ( I love coffee in the morning).

Well, if you need an excuse, caffeine helps you breathe. That's worth something, right?

There was an article posted recently about the health benefits of caffiene. I've tried giving up coffee and it had absolutely no effect on anything - so it's back to being a staple of my diet.

No matter what you eat, the most important thing you can put into your body is enough water. So many of us - us being humans, and more specifically women, walk around at least partially dehydrated most of the time. Nothing works right in your body without proper hydration - not our body processes, not our meds - nothing works right without enough water.

If you do decide to go the herbal route make sure none of them interact with each other. Everything is chemical, whether natural or man-made, and we still have to be cautious about what we combine in our bodies.

Good luck!

thanks for the reminder. I forget sometimes about water but its so true-needs lots of water. How do I know what herbal supplements I cant take together. Do you know a good website or book that talks about them?

Backing up what Peace posted about things mixing in your body, I read an interesting article the other day about the channels in our bodies that move the nutrients. One channel might get blocked and a person could OD without realizing it.

Food can be antagonistic, too. A common one to be careful with is grapefruit juice - it blocks certain enzymes and can cause toxic side effects.

Take the time to research everything.

I have tried lots of supplements...to no avail. Also I have avoided meds. the side effects have always been the pits. I agree caffeine does aggravates FM. When I stay away from dairy and GLUTEN (wheat products) I feel some relief. But love bread and pasta...so I am always in a battle. But here on the east coast it has been so hot, rainy and humid nothing will help until this weather breaks. And the AC is a killer too! But you need it. I hate the feeling of going in and out of the AC...I ache all over and get cold sweats. This too shall pass!

I have one cup of coffee in the AM to help wake up.

I gave up simple sugar two months ago and white bread and it's been tremendously helpful. I have cut way back on meds.

I do take magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin D and a good multi which helps plenty. Fish Oil helps my brain a whole lot.

I am constantly exploring more options. I would love to be on all natural stuff, but we will see. I will take each step as it comes.

at night i take valerian root250mg & melatoninw/vit b6, 6mg(if you are dehyradted, can give you a slight head aches in morn=must take right as going to bed w/ no lights on it light of any kind thru your eyes detroys the potioncy & drink plenty of water during the day, like you would meds it our life soarce!)

In day after i eat breakfast i take Co Q-10, L-lysine,flaxseed oil 1000mg, fish oil(extra energy or under stress=two double dose), calsuimw magisum & zinc=
(can get constapiated from calsium if you don't take magnisum w/ it! or direeh if you take magnisum w/ out calsium)
eat fruits & veggies all day & drink water evry hour while awake & kep glass by bed @ night! A lot of head aches & nausea is caused by dehyration in those of "us" that have Fibro" & other like illness's
healing prayers & angels to watch & guide you & yours
oxo
paula

Pam,
Do you mean you don't eat sugar at all?? and that helps. I will try but I love my snacks.
I also take magnesium and fish oil, but hadn't heard about vitamin b and d helping.
Have you heard of astragalus or goldenseal root for fibro?

It seems that I have a sore throat all the time, does anyone else have this problem too?

I get good energy from Vitamin B6 and sugarfree Red Bull. I am wheat/gluten free. I'm not so good at the sugarfree part. I try deleting foods one at a time and see if they have any effect. Try different vitamins one at a time in case of bad side effects you will know exactly what one is causeing it. Mostly I try to eat good and get good rest. Explore all your options and see what works best for you.

Photochick,

I don't eat simple sugars like cookies, cakes, candy...you get the idea. I also stay away from white bread as our body converts to simple sugar.

I read labels and stay away from anything high in sugar. Sometimes sodas or yogurts and the like can have as much as 26 grams of sugar in a serving. I don't avoid carbohydrates all together, I eat whole grain cereals, bread and pasta, I also eat fresh fruit and vegetables which are healthy.

The first week I actually thought I didn't notice a difference or even felt worse (maybe my body was purging). But about the 2nd week it was a big difference. It's been two months now and I have less pain and fatigue and have been able to cut most of my meds to half. I also exercise most everyday which was hard before I did this. Keep this thread going as I would like to learn more about natural stuff.

I drink lots of good water everyday also.


Hugs and Prayers for good health,
Pam