marjaerwin

I am suffering severe chronic illness, including sensory hypersensitivity, migraines, nerve pain, joint pain, itching, and post-exertional malaise. I suspect fibromyalgia. I have been tested for multiple sclerosis, lupus, and Lyme disease. I am not a doctor, just another sufferer trying to make sense of it.

One proposed treatment for fibromyalgia involves going off salicylates and going on guaifenesin. Dr. Paul St. Amand suggests that excess phosphate can cause fibromyalgia, and that without salicylates, guaifenesin can help the body emove phosphates and recover from fibromyalgia. It's certainly tempting. It's not something that's performed better than the placebo, though, in clinical trials.

http://www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com/

I have had kidney issues since I was a kid. I have also had trouble with gout-like joint issues, as mentioned above. Since I am on estrogen and I do not drink alcohol, I have practically no risk for either gout or pseudogout, and I don't know what else could cause these symptoms. So although clinical studies haven’t shown guaifenesin to be any better *for the average fibro patient* than placebos, I figured, if multiple conditions can lead to fibro symptoms and the guaifenesin protocol treats some conditions, it might be better *for me* than nothing.

I tend to vomit after exposure to mint, and have bad reactions, though I've forgotten what, after exposure to aspirin and aloe vera. It was a surprise to realize that the tea, which I drank so much of, was chemically related to these poisons.

I have gone off salicylates, figuring that might help in itself, and gone on guaifenesin, doubting it would help but needing to try.

However, while looking up salicylate intolerance/salicylate sensitivity and fibro, I stumbled across another article, which might make more sense of things.

Mark London argues against the phosphate theory, and suggests that magnesium deficiency and/or salicylate exposure could explain many fibro symptoms, and that guaifenesin's effect as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever could explain some of the other effects.

http://web.mit.edu/london/www/guai.html