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Summary: The fibromyalgia book to follow.
Review: ... I've been reading all of the fibromyalgia books since last year, when I found out about fibromyalgia in general. They all have slightly (and sometimes extremely) different things to say about it, recommend, and even "facts" and statistics to state. This book, though, is a Life-saver! After reading it, I've actually seen Dr. Solitar in Manhattan who wrote the foreword. He uses Dr. St. Amand's guaifenesin protocol, incorporating it with other things to help reduce the pain and other symptoms on a day to day basis while you're waiting for the guaifenisin to kick in. ... Please read this book if you have Fibromyalgia. I've had it my entire life and I am just beginning to get results by taking the guaifenesin. This is a very important book.
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Summary: Real progress and real relief
Review: After 25 years and many thousands of dollars spent on various treatments, I found this book. I purchased the book, read it many times, and have followed the protocol very carefully. I began in August of 2000 and am 90% better. A total cure? the definitive answer to this mysterious condition? - maybe not, but many steps in the right direction. The protocol is surely worth an extensive test period by anyone who has suffered (many of us for years)with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Diligently following the protocol is a good time investment compared to spending your life in fatigue, pain, and with host of other symptoms of FMS. This is "the reference" book in my extensive healthcare library. Dr. St. Amand's book has restored my hope in regaining a normal life.
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Summary: Ten year search ended
Review: After ten years in my 30's of extreme pain, muscle spasm and a variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms, this book led me to the proper diagnosis of my illness, fibromyalgia. After 1 year of treatment I have lowered my pain and symptoms by more than half. My mother also read the book and is now following the protocol. She now can exercise every day and do a variety of heavy tasks and hobbies. One year ago she couldn't even do housework. I also have found Dr. St. Amands hypoglycemia diet in this book much easier to follow than the old traditional one. My blood sugar is under control and I am able to live on the diet not "survive". This is a totally different approach,but very informative and it works. Give it a read and a try. It is more than worth the investment in time and cost.
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Summary: Interesting idea convincingly presented
Review: Dr. Amand presents an interesting thesis: that fibromyalgia is caused by a dysfunction in phosphorous metabolism that can be effectively treated with an inexpensive, readily available drug--guaifenesin--that is often used as an expectorant. He presents a protocol involving the use of guaifenesin in the context of a strict avoidance of salicylates (aspirin and many other products, even hair and grooming products). The presentation is well-written and quite compelling.
My critical sense, however, makes me ask whether the treatment really works (even if not as dramatically as claimed), and, if so, for whom. If you look at the newsgroups and discussion boards, some individuals swear by guaifenesin and Dr. Amand's protocol, while others who have tried it claim no benefit. I am involved in fibromyalgia survey research, and have observed the same phenomenon (of some people benefitting from the protocol, but many experiencing no effect whatsoever) in the responses to guaifenesin-related items in my surveys. Such an observation, however, is typical for many treatments aimed at fibromyalgia; what it suggests is that there are unknown variables that determine whether or not the protocol will work in any given case--and it is these variables that need investigation.
My conclusion is that this is a book definitely worth reading. In fact, you might want to consider a systematic test of Dr. Amand's protocol to see if it works for you. Just be critical, keep notes, and post your experiences in the newsgroups and message boards (or participate in surveys and research studies), so that others with this very debilitating condition might benefit.
Jeffrey Owen Katz, Ph.D.
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Summary: The Fibromyalgia Nightmare is Finally Over
Review: For the last ten years I have become increasingly ill with a series of seemingly unrelated complaints: disabling fatigue, allergies, chemical sensitivities, severe muscle pain, headaches, depression, itchy skin,etc. I have shuffled from one diagnosis to another with no relief in sight. I found this book and realized finally, I WAS NOT ALONE! These are symptoms we all share as people who suffer from a very real and debilitating disease called fibromyalgia. This book is the first I've read that offers a protocol that has been successful for many people. I found a Dr. and started the protocol one week after reading it and have already reaped some of the benefits promised. This treatment is not,as Dr. St. Armand says "for the faint of heart", but there is a support group of people just like you who have started on the road to wellness and will help you on your journey also. We share ideas and focus on getting well. Many of us have. I promise you this book will not disappoint you and reading it will give you an immediate benefit: HOPE.
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Summary: This REALLY WORKS!
Review: I have read this book and followed the protocol as outlined and I am reversing the disease! I can't believe I am getting my life back! I have tried everything out there. I have suffered with this illness since 1988, when it forced me to quit work. Save your time and money and read this book first.The book is written in a way that is easy to read and understand.
There are patient accounts throughout each chapter so you get an idea of what it is like to have the disease. You will see yourself in there, (if you are a fellow sufferer). In the back there is a technical section which explains the medical basis, for those of you who are professionals, or interested in the nuts and bolts. It is not a quick fix and it requires patient awareness and participation. But it is worth the time and effort to read and implement this. GET YOUR LIFE BACK! Buy it. I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. St. Amand and Ms. Marek!
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Summary: Dr. St. Amand's protocol saved my life!
Review: I have suffered from fibromyalgia most of my life but in 1998 the pain and fatigue became so unbearable I just didn't want to live anymore. I had been to numerous doctors, rheumatologists and psychiatrists but none of the medications they gave me helped so I decided to take my own life (at age 32). While I was in the hospital I thought to myself there must be a better way to handle FMS and I wasn't going to let this disease get the best of me any longer, so I searched and searched until I found Dr. St. Amand via a co-worker. I started Guaifenesin on Jan 25, 1999, ten months later I am almost pain free, I can get out of bed in the morning and go to work, run with my dogs, play with niece, and most important I have the will to live again. I urge everyone with fibromyalgia to try Guaifenesin, you must get this book--the entire protocol and all the information you need is in it. Dr. St. Amand and Nurse Claudia gave me my life back and I love them from the bottom of my heart for helping me and so many other fibromyalgia sufferers live a better life.
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Summary: Read the book before you review it!!!
Review: I was amazed at some of the "reviews" for this wonderful book. Apparently reading the book is not a criteria for writing about it. Several people in this space have recently written long lists of foods they "have to give up to do this protocol." Well, they're one hundred percent wrong:there is NO diet for this treatment. Herbal (plant) medications are a problem but not foods. The book is excellent, full of information about the disease, Fibromyalgia, written with compassion and hope. Several chapters are devoted to a medical doctor's protocol that has helped thousands get their lives back. Simply scanning the other reviews or going to fibromyalgiatreatment.com to read about real people will help you understand. And if you have fibromyalgia you owe it to yourself and those you love to leave no stone unturned to get well. THERE IS HOPE. You can get better, and you can do it with this simple inexpensive medication and with this material. The bottom line is that the doctor tells it like it is: if you have a chronic illness, fibromyalgia, diabetes, heart failure etc. the responsibility to get well is YOURS. A doctor can only help with expertise and medications: the day to day hard work to regain health, sorry, belongs to the patient. Some of us do the work and succeed, others with many medical conditions simply cannot and lead circumscribed lives as a result.
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Summary: This book is about the treatment that gave me my life back
Review: In 1998, I was very, very sick with fibromyalgia. I had crushing fatigue, chronic pain, irritable bowel, irritable bladder, impaired memory and concentration. I had been following my rheumatologist's standard advice - pills for pain, antidepressants, sleep aids, exercise, and stress reduction - religiously, for years, but I just kept getting sicker. I was in bed four or five days a week. I was starting to apply for Social Security Disability when I decided to try Dr. St. Amand's guaifenesin protocol as a last resort. If it didn't work, I had already planned how I would commit suicide when the fibromyalgia got to be too much. But instead, I prepared carefully for starting the protocol, as instructed, and then took my first pill. By the time my Social Security hearing came around, I was feeling so much better I'd forgotten I'd ever applied. In the six years since then, I've gone back to work full-time, bought a house and done my own remodeling and gardening, and babysat three active grandchildren - all at the same time. Just after I retired this year, I went back to school to renew my health care credentials so I can care for others part-time in retirement. I feel better each year than I did the year before. This protocol requires discipline; you can't bargain with it or it won't work; and you feel bad for a while before you start to feel better, but IT WORKS! Six years ago, if I cleaned out the cat box, I was done for the rest of the day. If this is a placebo, it's one that I'm gladly taking for the rest of my life! If you have fibromyalgia, you owe it to yourself to get this book.
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Summary: This is an important book
Review: In this day of miracles being advertised (I used to be in advertising!) it's too easy to reject approaches as being hard or taking too much work while we waste money on hype. I'm a diabetic and I know what I'm talking about. I took vitamins, more vitamins, pills, etc. until I realized one day, if I wanted to get well I had to find a good resource and use it. My wife has fibromyalgia, and this was the book for her. We both learned so much and laughed and cried as we read about the disease. After that, we got serious about the protocol this book lays out in a clear step by step fashion. We are both healthy now, and looking foward to so many wonderful days in our future. Just do it!
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