Susan, I've had FMS since I was 26 which would be 29 years now.

I've been through shots and massage, biofeedback and relaxation techniques, medications and holistic preparations, heat, ice, a Shiatsu machine and probably stuff I've long forgotten.

Because of my symptoms and test results, I've been told I had Lupus, thyroid problems, psychological problems, depression, and Huntington's Chorea which was followed by the news that I had, at most, 10 years to live. That was back in 1985. I was given this bleak news 6 weeks after giving birth to my son. I can't even begin to tell you the effect that had on me and my FMS!

FMS was how I defined myself for many years. Who I was, how I lived and what I did. It ruled me in every way.

I can't say for certain why I went into remission, but I can tell you what I've done differently in the past few years.

First, I stopped using Equal about five years ago and no diet drinks of any kind. I do use Splenda without problems.

I was put on Wellbutrin many years ago to help my brain enter a deep phase of sleep where the body does the most healing. Even still, I lived on Advil and Aleve, taking 800mg up to four times a day. Enough to require me to have liver tests twice a year.

Then I heard about Magnesium Malate. I really feel this is what turned the corner for me. For a few years I took it twice a day but since going into remission I only take it if I'm feeling a little achy. Below is the only brand I have taken. It's inexpensive but a little tough to find so I usually buy online. I get the largest bottle available, 360 tablets for under $25.

Hope this helps.

Jodi-

Will definately be trying this. I've been through the same gamut as you, Jodi, since 1984. It's beyond frustrating.

I'm going to see if my online vitamin place sells it as well. I've had FM for the last 14 years...

Thanks so much for sharing!

~Susan

Susan-Thank you so much for posting this,and thank you Jodi for the recommendation! I have never been formally diagnosed with FMS but I believe I have it and have had for at least 30 years.My cousin has it and has had a really hard time of it for many years but a couple of years ago went into remission.I have tried all kinds of supplements but nothing seems to work for long or as well as I hoped they would.I am taking the supplement Serrapeptaise right now and have been for about 4 months.I believe it has helped immensely but I am going to order the Magnesium Malate and try it.How long did you have to take it before you noticed a difference?

Thanks for responding, everyone. Jodi, my story is similar to yours, too, including the lupus diagnosis. I learned about Magnesium Malate on ProHealth's Fibromyalgia message board. I have the same brand as you. I took it for a while. I don't remember why I stopped taking it (or indeed if there was a reason), but I didn't notice any improvement. I do take magnesium, though, and probably should at least finish the malate bottle.

I steer clear of all artificial sweeteners.

I've observed a big connection with sleep (well documented in FM research), stress (connected to everything!), and social interaction. I remember last year I was worried about my trip to Yale for the reunion. How could I keep up with the activities for several days? I reminded myself that most of the people there would be 13 years older than I, so the activies shouldn't be too strenuous. As it turned out, I had a wonderful time, danced every night, and was just about unaware of my FM until I came home. I did pay a bit afterwards, but the trip was well worth it.

When I was working at a job I loved, with people I thoroughly enjoyed, I had energy and my pain was minimal.

Here's a very good article about FM and Magnesium.

Here is a link that might be useful: FM and Magnesium

Lilliepad, I took Mag Malate religiously for a number of years, don't know exactly how many though.

It is easy to just stop taking Mag Malate as they are horse pills with no coating on them. Any time I'm faced with taking big pills I just imagine I'm eating a chunk of steak and drink lots of water as well. Obviously in a normal meal setting we swallow food larger any than pills that are out there.

Susan, I was involved in the first ever FMS newsletter which came out of a small office or home in Bakersfield, CA. I helped sponsor it and gave input. I think that was in the early to mid-80s. I've followed a number of support groups over the years but find they just depress me. I have discovered that I am lucky in that I do not have other common symptoms like IBS.

Stress is a huge factor and you're right, if all is good in the world, my symptoms decreased.

Jodi-

Thanks for the article, Lydia. I bookmarked and will read.

Jodi, I agree with you about support groups. Every once in a while I pop into ProHealth's message board to check on one thing or another, but I mostly avoid it and other FM sites because I've found that the more I focus on illness and symptoms, the worse I feel. No surprise there, I guess.

oh boy did I need to see this.

I have been told that I probably have FM, but I've been taking Magnesium for about 6 mos now because my Dr mentioned that I might have a low level of magnesium. I cannot tell you how much it helps. My sister has been telling me much of the same info that is in the FM link. Magnesium is a "miracle drug". I told my Dr. that she could just stop writing out scrips for other drugs and give all her patients magnesium. I has truly helped me out a lot. I've even noticed much lower blood sugar readings when I take it regularly.

Thanks.

gneegirl-How much magnesium do you take daily?

Wow! Inever knew about this! I will get some magnesium malete today. Thank you!
Keep in mind too that lots of the "statin" class of drugs for lowering cholesterol (Liptor, Crestor, etc) can make you so crippled and unable to function that it can resemble a bad FM flareup.I have had two friends who were almost unable to walk..their docs never thought it could be thier cholesterol meds.
Does anyone know what the diagnostic "pressure points" are that docs use to assess FM?

Happy, I Googled fibromyalgia trigger points, and this diagram was one of the hits.

Interesting about the statins. I just had lunch with a friend who spends her winters out of the country. Her doctor had prescribed one statin, then another when she had a reaction to the first one. When she left to travel for the winter, she elected to abandon the statins at least for the time being. In an effort to lose weight, she undertook a low-carb diet. She did lose weight, and she also lost the need for the statins as her cholesterol dropped dramatically from the diet.

I was diagnosed in 1990. I take nothing for it .I take 8 vitamins a day including magnesium, 2000 units Vitamin D, C, three of the B's , an aspirin,& Centrum silver ..Sleep is of utmost importance. I don't get into a REM sleep. I have all sorts of sound machines going and don't let my cats in my room to disturb me. It's all about the serotonin. I speed walk three miles a day doing a 14 minute mile. I need to do this..I know my daughter has it..she is my clone and has a stressful job. I got mine babysitting a baby granddaughter back then when my son and his wife got a divorce and he had 1/2 custody..Altho the baby is heading off to college next month..

Hi Lily - I read your profile . . . I live in a farmhouse of about the same vintage in Pennsylvania, too.

Ah, sleep! I didn't get enough of it last night, that's for sure. Like many people with FM, I have a window of sleep opportunity each night. Some nights it's very small. If I don't get to sleep right then (and often it comes when I'm in the middle of doing something), I can't fall asleep later when I want to. When that happens, I've found melatonin often solves the problem. I highly recommend it! Last night, thought, I had stayed up late to finish a project that is due today, and even melatonin didn't help.

Also like many people with FM, my nervous system is out of whack. I'm kept awake by the slightest disturbance, and "disturbance" could be anything. These days I have my ailing cat, Princeton, in my bedroom. This has not been good for my sleep.

Sleep aside, one of the biggest things that has helped my FM is breathing. Proper breathing, that is. Abdominal breathing. I try to make a point of lying down each day and breathing deeply, even if it's only for 15 minutes. Sometimes I fall asleep. But even if I don't, I always get up feeling better.

Alisande..I DO think fibromyalgia is a disease of the nervous system. I think we are wired differently than most people and are usually high achievers and perfectionists. As I said my fibro came from watching the baby GD. She came at 7AM and was here till 6PM..And she was a dear sweet little girl but it wore me out. The sleep thing is the biggest problem. I have always been a night person..always . But now I'm up half the night because that is my cycle. I need to get 7 hours and if it's interrupted, I'm in trouble with pain. I try to keep life as stress free as possible but that's almost impossible. My 19 year old cat died three weeks ago and that set off a flare. ..BTW..how old is your house? Mine is a Federal style clapboard circa around 1830-1840...lacks closet space but makes up for it in character.

Is there a difference between the Magnesium Malate and the other magnesiums out there?