One week update

May 3, 2004

Well, it's been a week since I started on magnesium and malic acid

supplments, and things are going very well. It still might be a

coincidence, but my pain level and muscle spasms are way better than

they were just a week ago. I hardly had to take any relief meds at

all last week, and I could just cry tears of joy. My pain level

hasn't been this low in I don't know how long, and it's doing

wonders for my outlook. It's also been helping me to sleep a lot

better. Saturday night, I slept for the first time all the way

through the night without taking a sleep med in years, and last

night, I only took half an Ambien. I'm hoping to get to at least an

only occasional use of it, if not getting away from it altogether.

I can't believe I didn't try this sooner!

My next project, starting as soon as the supplement comes in, is

adding NADH for energy. I can't wait to add that one, so I'm not so

fatigued at the end of the day. My energy level has been a little

better since I've not been in so much pain, but it's still hard to

get through a whole day and not want to take a nap when I get home.

I'm hoping this new supplement works as well for me as the magnesium

and malic acid have!

I've also been making some other big changes over the past week.

While I've been trying to follow a reasonably healthy diet for a

while, I knew it wasn't as great as it could be. I've made a

renewed committment to eating right, focusing on getting more

protein, complex carbs, and trying to steer clear of simple carbs,

sugar, processed foods, MSG, and caffeine. I allow myself a cup of

coffee in the morning, or I'd never get going, and then that's all

my caffeine for the day, and then I'm on water after that. Old

habits die hard though. I found myself buying Pop-tarts with my

coffee this morning at the gas station. I never did eat

them...ended up having a bagel and mandarin oranges out of the

vending machine at work for breakfast.

The ultimate change I've made is that I quit smoking yesterday. I'd

been putting it off and putting it off, because I've lost almost 60

pounds, and I was so afraid of gaining any of the weight back. I

know, stupid reason, but one I held onto. Then yesterday, my dad

came to visit, and he said that he quit smoking this past Tuesday.

As we sat there, I realized that not once did I hear the hacking

cough that I've long associated with him. That made such an impact

on me, and it really got me thinking. I'd already been coming to a

point where my own smoking was bothering me, and making me feel

yucky, so I figured, it's now or never, and if my dad of all people

could do it, so could I. I don't have the will-power, or the

strength to do it cold turkey though, so I'm using the nicotine

patches. Hell, going cold turkey would probably send me into a

flare anyway!

So that's my update for week one. I'm feeling pretty good for right

now, but who knows what's to come next. Hopefully only good things,

but I'm realistic enough to know that pain and flares will come

again. All I can do is hope they are fewer and further between, and

maybe a little less intense now!

Take care everyone, and I hope you have a painfree and beautiful

evening!

Jen

May 3, 2004

I'm really thrilled. So happy for you! What therapeutic dose of malic

Acid have you achieved?

That NADH stuff, you can get the Vitamin Shoppe brand which is

cheaper. I have not tried NADH yet, mostly because of the expense. I

have added MSM, and have been amazed at how much my degenerative

joint pain has been reduced. My allergies seem to be a little better

with MSM.

Something about NADH:

http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/3450/T/CFIDS_F

M/searchtext/NADH/

> Well, it's been a week since I started on magnesium and malic acid

> supplments, and things are going very well. It still might be a

> coincidence, but my pain level and muscle spasms are way better

than

> they were just a week ago.

May 3, 2004

Thanks for the support! I'm pretty thrilled myself! I'm at 1000mg

of malic acid, and the supplement I'm taking also has ashwagandha

and boswellia in it, 2 ayurvedic herbs that are supposed to be good

for chronic pain and inflammation, which I have from chronic

tendonitis.

I haven't tried the NADH either, they were out of it at the place I

go to when I wanted it, but it should hopefully be in by tomorrow.

I take MSM as well, Lignisul MSM in powdered form. I tried it in

capsule form, but I found that I like the powdered stuff a lot

better. It's very pure, with no fillers or additives. My 13 year

old, who has asthma, also takes MSM, and she hasn't had an asthma

attack in well over a year, even in the winter, which used to be her

worst time.

Again, thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it, as well as

the link. I will check it out as soon as I can!

Jen

May 6, 2004

Jen,

Way to go girl! I wish I would of quit smoking years ago. I just quit

Feb5,2004 . I quit while I was quitting using the Methadone for chronic pain.

I couldn't handle thee side effects from the methadone anymore and I got so

sick from trying to quit the medicine that I couldn't smoke. I tried but I

couldn't do it. I was just so sick that I could not make myself smoke. It was

nasty I have never been so sick in all my life. But I quit smoking. So I guess

it was worth it. I had smoked off and on for 30 years , mostly on. Good luck!

You can do it. If the pactches are uncomfortable try the nicotrol inhaler. with

that you can use it wherever you are and you discreetly get a hit of nicotine

whenever and wherever yo happen to be(in the movies or in the Mall) or? Anyway

Good luck with it! You can do it! G.