Lower Weight Equals Lower Blood Pressure

BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK (Photo credit: Morning Calm News)I'm in the midst of my second round of hCG drops, or phase 2 of the hCG protocol. I'm down 22 lbs. and 15 total inches. All of this was a huge factor at my last six-week check-up at the Rothfeld Center for Integrative Medicine. Over the past year, my blood pressure had been creeping up over the borderline and into mild stage 1 hypertension, or high blood pressure. My blood pressure has always been on the low side, and I never thought I'd have to deal with this problem. But here I was, faced with the numbers on my home blood pressure monitor, showing me I had a consistent problem. I really did not want to go on medication and I was hoping that losing some weight would help. Luckily, when my doctor took my blood pressure, I was back into high normal ranges!

We also checked my BMI (Body Mass Index) which had gotten as high as 32 and is now 28, which means I'm just "overweight" and not "obese" according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). At least it's headed in the right direction! I'd like to lose another 20 lbs. and then I'll be in the normal range. Another benefit - it's been fun to go shopping in my own closet. I'm getting back into clothes that I haven't been able to wear in a long time. I'll be going to a wedding this weekend and instead of buying a new dress, I just went to Joy's Closet - a boutique for gently used clothes :)


To see where you stand, check this blood pressure chart:
Systolic vs. Diastolic Blood Pressure Range Chart

The Rothfeld Center VS The Marino Center

Image via WikipediaIn one corner, a small private practice for integrative medicine and in the other corner, a large group practice for integrative health. Both are heavyweights in holistic treatment, but which one will be the winner? I'm being treated by doctors at both centers and after three or four rounds, so far, no knock-outs, but certainly some good punches.

Actually, I've been meaning to post this article for some time, but life has intervened. Which is a good thing because it means I'm feeling good enough to have a life! My time is not just about going to the doctor or the acupuncturist or the physical therapist anymore. I'm writing for my local paper, going to my daughter's cheer leading competitions, visiting my son at college and going to my first college football game - tailgating and all. And of course, Mother Nature threw us a curve ball with a freak October snowstorm that knocked out our power for several days. I didn't realize how much we depend on electricity until I didn't have it - lights, heat, TV, computer, internet, phone - and in some cases even flushing the toilet! It was certainly a lesson in gratitude and I'm grateful that the power is back on so I can write and post this article.

I was reading through a sleep journal I kept last winter and I realized how far I've come. I was waking every few hours all night every night; my hot flashes were explosive; I was depressed and anxious; I was bone-tired fatigued and everything hurt. My neurotransmitters were barely registering and my adrenals were flat-lined. I was a mess! But I have to give much of the credit to The Rothfeld Center for getting me back to some semblance of a normal life. They have been treating me aggressively since last spring and I feel like it's finally paying off. I had to wait five months to get into see the doctor at The Marino Center, so I feel like the more recent treatment at The Marino Center has been ancillary to the treatments I've been receiving at The Rothfeld Center.

Now, a direct comparison between the approaches of The Rothfeld Center and The Marino Center:

Diagnosis:
When I first went to The Rothfeld Center, I went through a battery of tests, including blood tests, spit tests, vision/neuro-toxin tests, heavy-metal tests and DNA tests. Then once those results came back, I had more blood tests to get more specific results. I must say that the labs screwed up my blood tests more than once causing me to go back for more blood draws, which was annoying and painful. Based on all that information, Dr. Rothfeld told me that I have toxins in my body and neuro-toxins in my brain. It could have been from mold or some other toxin. Also, because of my DNA, I'm extremely vulnerable to toxins and it's harder for my body to get rid of the toxins once I have them. He also diagnosed me with insulin resistance and thryroid resistance syndrome. In addition, my neurotransmitters and adrenals were shot.

When I finally got into see the doctor at The Marino Center he was surprised that his top go-to tests for fibromyalgia had never been performed on me. I was surprised, too, given the battery of tests I had just undergone at The Rothfeld Center. I had a blood draw at the office to determine food sensitivities to 180 different foods and I took home a stool test to look for yeast in the gut. I won't go into details about the stool test but it wasn't pretty! I was glad I took both tests because they showed problems that weren't uncovered at The Rothfeld Center. The stool test showed that I had both good bacteria and bad bacteria in my gut. It also showed that I had candida, or yeast, in my gut, too.

Treatment:
Image via WikipediaEven before my test results came back at The Rothfeld Center, Dr. Rothfeld put me on magnesium-IV therapy, his go-to treatment for fibromyalgia.Once my results came back, he started me on a no-starch diet for the insulin resistance, which means no grains or starchy vegetables. Then he put me on a detoxification program, including a cleanse and a protocol of medications and supplements. He also put me on several supplements to boost my neurotransmitters and support my adrenal system. For the thyroid resistance syndrome, I'm following Wilson's T3 Protocol, using T3 supplementation to boost my metabolism.

Once I got my stool test results back at The Marino Center, Dr. Bordiuk was able to target my treatment. The lab had tested my sample with various anti-boitics on the bacteria and anti-fungals for the yeast so we could see which ones actually worked. I was on the anti-biotic/anti-fungal protocol for two to three weeks. I haven't noticed a huge improvement in my symptoms, but perhaps my symptoms would have been worse had I not treated the bacteria and yeast in my gut. As for the food sensitivities, Dr. Bordiuk told me to follow the 4-Day Rotation Diet. Foods without any "stars" are fine to consume. Foods with one star can be eaten every four days. For instance, if I eat blueberries or pinto beans on Monday, I can't eat them again until Friday. Foods with two or three stars must be avoided for four months. Then I can try them again one at a time. If I have a reaction, I have to continue to avoid that food. If I don't have a reaction, I can eat that food using the 4-day rotation.

Appointments:
I've noticed a very different approach to appointments between the two centers. At The Rothfeld Center, appointments almost always run late. However, the doctors always spend a good amount of time with me and answer all my questions. I never feel rushed. On the other hand, I have to schedule three or four hours out of my day every time I go there.

At The Marino Center, appointments run close to on-time. I've waited up to 15 minutes but usually no longer than that. But appointments are booked every half an hour and if I'm late my appointment gets squeezed. Even when I'm on time, half an hour seems rushed and I don't always have time to get all my questions answered. On the other hand, I'm in and out of there within an hour and I have the rest of the day to live my life.

Results: Fibromyalgia is a tricky condition to treat. It's hard to tell which treatments I've received at either center have helped or not. I've seen several doctors at The Marino Center over the years with varying success. This is the first time I've tried going to The Rothfeld Center and so far, I think their approach is helping overall, but it's hard to pinpoint the results of specific treatments. In either case, I'm glad to have several reputable medical professionals to help me manage this life-altering condition. Now I have more than one resource to turn to when the going gets rough!

Thyroid Resistance Syndrome

If your thyroid levels are considered normal or on the low end of normal, but symptoms of an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, are still present then Thyroid Resistance Syndrome (TRS) may be a factor. Mainstream medicine does not typically treat TRS, but doctors who treat patients with FMS know that a shot of T3, the active form of thyroid hormone, helps to relieve some resistant FM/hypothyroid symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, cold hands and feet, constipation and bloating. At my last follow up appointment at the Rothfeld Center, my doctor suggested that TRS could be the reason that the scale has not responded to the cleanse and the detox regimen I've been following.

Sometimes I wonder if I even have a metabolism! It seems like I have to "diet" just to maintain my weight, and no matter what I do, the pounds will not come off. Dr. Rothfeld said that even though I'm already being treated for hypothyroidism, my internal furnace is not burning hot enough and may need a boost of T3 along with the T4 that I'm already taking. He asked me to take my temperature three times a day for three days to determine where to begin. I started yesterday and upon awakening, the time of the lowest body temperature, my temperature was at 97.6 - a full point below the normal 98.6!

Here's more information from the Rothfeld Center about Thyroid Resistance Syndrome:
The thyroid gland, at the base of the neck, is one of the body's largest endocrine glands, which secrete hormones into the bloodstream. The thyroid's main function is to regulate the body's metabolic "furnace" and a malfunctioning thyroid affects temperature control, weight control and the conversion of food into energy. The thyroid mainly makes the thyroid hormone T4 which is largely inactive. The production of T4 is controlled by stimulation from the pituitary hormone TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).T4 then travels to individual cells where it is converted to the active form T3, which then travels to the mitochondria or the furnace of the cells that control metabolism.

When TSH levels go above a certain level (around 5.5) the thyroid is considered underfunctioning by conventional medicine. That's when thyroid replacement is given, mostly in the form of synthetic T4. However, there is considerable evidence that blood tests fail to detect most cases of underactive thyroid. Some people have "tissue resistance" to thryroid hormone. In other words, T4 is being produced at normal levels but it is not being converted to T3 at the cellular level. Instead, T4 can convert to a blocking hormone called reverse T3 which can slow the metabolism. Patients experience symptoms of low thyroid but are considered normal because their TSH is normal.


Lewrockwell.com lists these symptoms of low thyroid:

The classic signs of a sluggish thyroid gland include weight gain, lethargy, poor quality hair and nails, hair loss, dry skin, fatigue, cold hands and feet, and constipation – and these symptoms are relatively well known.

However, some of the conditions you might not associate with your thyroid include:

• High cholesterol
• Irregular menstruation
• Low libido
• Infertility
• Gum disease
• Fluid retention
• Skin conditions such as acne and exzema
• Memory problems
• Poor stamina

Related articles

• Giving Your Thyroid a Helping Hand (bigsexymedia.com)
• Weight Gain, Fatigue, Memory Problems? (lewrockwell.com)

28-Day Cleanse Recap

So, I finished the cleanse several weeks ago but I never reported on how it went. At first I didn't feel any differently, and I didn't lose any weight either, which was depressing. But Dr. Arora at The Rothfeld Center had me fill out a symptom questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the cleanse. My total score went down from 70-something to 50-something, so I guess it made some difference.

I've continued on an anti-inflammatory diet which means no wheat or root vegetables, no dairy and very low sugar. It also includes two protein shakes a day made with Ultra Meal Rice by Metagenics. At least I don't have to gag down those berry flavored shakes anymore. One of the shake flavors is chocolate, which actually tastes pretty good, and the other is vanilla. I add different kinds of fruit to the vanilla flavor - mango was actually very tasty. I eat six small meals/snacks a day spaced out every three hours and always have protein with each meal or snack. That means almonds are a common snack. I wouldn't say the pounds are melting away, but I've seen a small decrease on the scale.

I've read several articles claiming that a low-carb diet is the healthiest way for humans to eat since our ancestors ate mostly fruit, veggies and protein. Refined carbs and baked goods are relatively recent in our evolutionary development, and we just don't digest them or metabolize them very well. A low-carb diet lowers blood sugar and has been linked to a lower rate of cancer, too. Cancer cells feed on glucose which is sugar which is what carbs turn into in our blood stream. Here's what Preventdisease.com had to say:

A low-carb diet forces the normal cells in your body to use fat for fuel, instead of carbs. Cancer cells can't do this. They need glucose to grow. So when you limit carbs, you cut off the glucose. This limits the fuel supply to the tumors.
Plus, by limiting carbs, you reduce your body's insulin levels. This too is a good thing. Insulin is a hormone that promotes tumor growth in both humans and mice. Numerous independent studies confirm this.

So, I carry on with my low-carb, high quality protein (kinda boring) diet in the hopes that it will result in a healthier me - on the inside and out. I'll keep you posted.

Related articles

• Protein Shakes for Weight Loss Work Very Well (e-prescribe.biz)
• Operation Detox (eyesofenid.com)
• The One Life-Saving Low-Carb Secret You Never Hear About  (preventdisease.com)

Travel Tips from the Fibro Fog

My husband and I on a helicopter tour of Kauai

Travel can be fun and exciting - but it can also be stressful. Driving to the airport, getting through security, jet lag, and getting around in unfamiliar territory can be difficult for anyone, but for someone with fibromyalgia it can be a veritable minefield of flare-ups. Any portion of the trip, even fun things like snorkeling, can deplete our energy or cause uncomfortable joint and muscle pain. My husband and I had two 5 1/2 hour plane rides on our way back home from Hawaii with a time difference of six hours. Those close encounters with all types of humanity plus the disorientation of jet lag suppressed my immune system, and I came home with a wicked cold. A few days later, I went to the Rothfeld Center and had a Vitamin C IV transfusion to boost my immune response and hopefully nip it in the bud.

Tip #1: boost your immune system while traveling with extra Vitamin C. Here's some advice on dosage from Orthomolecular:

The best way to prevent a cold is to take plenty of vitamin C. Avoiding dietary refined sugar is

Image via Wikipedia

also helpful. One popular preventive method is to take 1,000 mg of vitamin C every eight hours. If you feel a cold coming on, take 2,000 mg of vitamin C every waking hour and continue this dosage until the cold is gone. Many people successfully use even more frequent doses. If you arrive at bowel intolerance with vitamin C (loose stool), reduce the dosage by 50 percent. Taking large quantities of vitamin C lessens the duration of the cold and its symptoms. The higher the total daily dose, the better the result. 

My doctor recommended two other supplements: Thymactiv (with bovine thymus which helps to fight any acute illness by stimulating the bodies natural defenses); Transfer Factor Basics (with colostrum, a pre-breast milk substance with antibodies to protect newborns against disease, and other prime immune supporting nutrients).

Tip #2: Educate your travel companions in how to respond to flare-ups ahead of time. My husband is an engineer-type, left-brained person who likes to know what to expect before encountering a situation. We spent a good deal of time (two sessions with our couples therapist and one with my individual therapist) in strategizing how to handle flare-ups while trying to have fun in Hawaii. One important distinction for my husband was to realize the difference between trying to "manage" my condition and supporting my condition. If I want to hike to a waterfall, even though it might cause a flare-up, that is my decision to make. I can't stop living just because I have fibromyalgia! His job is to stay supportive if that activity causes me to be overtired or achy. How does he know what to do to be supportive? We decided that it is both my responsibility to tell him what I need and it's his responsibility to ask me what I need. Communication is key!

My shaky shot of a mountain goat in Kauai

Tip #3: Decide on a code word to communicate instantly when the situation becomes overwhelming. When the plane is five hours late or your luggage is lost and the situation becomes tense, you don't always have the time or energy to explain how you are feeling in that moment. A code word or phrase tells your travel companions in an instant that the situation is becoming too stressful and you need their help to cope. We decided to use "Remember the Smirking Goat" (from The Devil tarot card) as a reminder to find the humor in any unpleasant situation. But it had to be said with a big grin. I actually invoked the smirking goat after driving around in circles trying to find our helicopter tour and it helped us both to calm down and enjoy the ride - literally! Then the coolest thing happened - while swooping through a valley in the helicopter, our pilot spied some mountain goats and hovered over them for a closer look. I snapped a quick, blurry photo, but I knew that the smirking goat had showed up to remind us to have fun, no matter what flare-ups, fights or problems arose.

The Dreaded of the Dreaded

Image via Wikipedia

Illustration of an HLA-DR antigen receptor
with bound antigen

At my third follow up appointment with Dr. Rothfeld at The Rothfeld Center, I found out why I'm more susceptible to getting ill and have more difficulty in getting well.  It's all encoded in my genetic make-up for immune system function.

It's a little bit confusing with all the "alphabet soup" but I'll try to keep it simple. The human leukocyte antigen system (HLA) contains a large number of genes related to human immune system function. HLA-DR is involved in disease susceptibility and disease resistance and there are several combinations of gene sequences in the HLA-DR complex. According to Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, author of Mold Warriors, there are two patterns in the alpha-chain, 4-3-53 and 11(12)-3-52B, that make the body very susceptible to biotoxins which he calls "The Dreaded." AND I HAVE BOTH - a double whammy! One sequence from one parent and one sequence from the other. There are also several patterns in the beta-chain that Dr. Shoemaker calls "The Dreaded of the Dreaded" which means it "tends to be difficult to get well." AND I HAVE THAT, TOO - a triple whammy!

The Genetic Fates dealt me not only The Dreaded, but The Dreaded of the Dreaded as well!

The good news is that I didn't have any abnormal levels of heavy metals - except for gadolinium which is used in the contrast for MRI's. Dr. Rothfeld said that they always see elevated levels in anyone whose had an MRI. However, no one knows if high levels of gadolinium are bad or not except for patients with kidney disorders. Given the uncertainty, Dr. Rothfeld endorsed my bi-annual MRI's in order to follow up on my previous benign brain tumor and make sure it doesn't come back. Okay, I'll take the risk there.

Having said all that, there are still indications of inflammation in my system as well as low reserves of a methylating enzyme (VIP) to fight that inflammation. So, Dr. Rothfeld put me on a protocol for removing toxins from my system. Because of my genetic predispostions, he also said that if I am exposed to toxins in the future that I should go back on this protocol right away:

• NaproRella: a little green pill made from an algae that binds neurotoxins
• FolaPro: a supplement to bypass the faulty methylating enzyme
• Wellchol: this is actually a prescription cholesterol medication in a class called bile acid-binding resins. It works by removing bile acid from the body, causing the liver to make more bile by using cholesterol, which reduces cholesterol in the blood and lowers blood sugar. In my case, acid-binding resins will bind with the toxins and allow my body to eliminate them. A side benefit should be lowered cholesterol and blood sugar levels!

An added bonus was that my husband came to my appointment with me to hear first-hand about my test results, learn about my treatment plan, and meet my doctor. I hope the experience makes it easier for him to understand my situation and how I'm dealing with it. I know it can be hard for family members to cope with chronic illness in a loved one. It takes a lot of hard work and love to maintain supportive relationships!

28-day Cleanse: Day 1

Image via Wikipedia

Body Mass Index Chart

After Dr. Rothfeld put me on a low starch diet, he suggested that I meet with Dr. Sarika Arora at the Rothfeld Center. I met with her today and she put me on a 28-day cleanse with even more restrictions - no dairy, meat or soy. I also have to drink half my body weght in water from a PBA-free bottle (no more Poland Spring Water bottles). Without revealing the actual number, let's just say that half my body weight is a lot of water every day!!!

Dr. Arora started with a Bioimpedance Anaysis (BIA) which measured "body composition" including body mass index (BMI), the integrity of muscle cell walls and the amount of water in my cells (you want more water in muscle cells compared to fat cells). The procedure was easy and painless. The analyzer uses an imperceptible electric current through pads stuck onto my hands and feet. A software program translates the data into real numbers which are compared to standards based on my age.


Dr. Arora's recommendation was based on my elevated CRP levels, which indicate inflammation in my system; my high blood sugar and triglycerides; being overweight; as well as my symptoms of sleep disturbances, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain (oh, my aching knees!). I need to detoxify my system, support my liver and eliminate any foods that trigger any kind of sensitivity (like dairy and wheat).

The program I'm following is from Metagenics and includes a "medical food" called UltraClear Plus, which is a berry-flavored powder I mix in water. The UltraClear Plus provides protein and multi-vitamins. A patient guide booklet gives step-by-step instructions and recipes - very important! The cleanse is comprised of three stages:

• Step 1 (days 1-6) is the initial clearing. Potentially allergenic foods are eliminated and the amount of UltraClear Plus is gradually increased
• Step 2 (days 7-13) is the detoxification. Select number of low-allergy foods with three servings a day of the medical food, UltraClear Plus.
• Step 3 (days 14-28) is the reintroduction phase. Foods previously eliminated are slowly reintroduced to the diet.

This is only the first day, so I have no idea of how this will go. Some people have headaches, muscle aches and/or problems eliminating (if you know what I mean) as the body starts to detox and/or withdraw from caffeine or sugar. I'll keep you posted as I go through the detox stages.

Related articles

• "Breakthrough Medical Food Combined With Low-Glycemic Diet Almost Twice As Effective As One Of The Best Diets Alone For Lowering Diabetes Risk Factors" (diabetesdialectics.wordpress.com)
• Insulin: superhero or super villain? (primalmeded.com)
• The Skinny On: Measuring Body Fat Percentage (fitsugar.com)

Dealing With Toxicity and Chronic Inflammation

 I finally had my follow up appointment with Dr. Rothfeld at the Rothfeld Center. We went over my lab results and it was a lot to process. I'll give the hightlights:

The Good News: I don't have Lupus or any other autoimmune disease - yay! My thyroid is functioning within low normal ranges, and I'm negative for yeast and thyroid antibodies.

The Good News/Bad News: My overall cholesterol number is high, but so is my good (HDL) cholesterol, so the risk ratio is normal. My triglycerides (type of fat found in the blood) are high which suggests metabolic syndrome, an insulin management problem. Because of the metabolic syndrome, Dr. Rothfeld suggested a low starch diet which means I have to avoid all grains and starchy vegetables (ones that grow underground). As my QiGong instructor said, it's simple but not easy! Eliminating the largest category on the food pyramid is really difficult. No more oatmeal for breakfast, turkey wraps for lunch or matzoh ball soup for dinner!

Image via Wikipedia

Fighting Inflammation

The Bad News: I'm depleted in many essential bodily functions and I'm fighting toxicity and chronic inflammation. High CRP levels suggest chronic inflammation, possibly from fighting chronic viruses such as Epstein Barr or chronic toxicity (indicated by high C4A levels) from heavy metals, mold or other toxins. Dr. Rothfeld suggested a website for more information called survivingmold.com by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker. I took a Functional Acuity Contrast Test (FACT) vision test that indicates neurotoxins are interfering with my brains ability to make certain distinctions.

Other than serotonin, all my neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine, dopamine and GABA, are extremely low. When Dr. Rothfeld said that my brain is deranged, I wasn't sure if I should be insulted! Those "out of range" neurotransmitters put my adrenals into flight or fight mode which is highly stressful on my system. As you can see by the chart, my cortisol output is basically flat-lined compared to normal ranges which are high in the morning and drop off by night time. That makes me fatigued in the morning and too wired at night, interfering with sleep.

I've conducted more lab tests to determine the type of toxicity in my system and find out if the clotting anitbodies are still in my blood. I follow up with Dr. Rothfeld again in six weeks. In the meantime, I've started new supplements to boost my brain function:

MSM/Glucosamine (for joints and brain function)
Crave Arrest (to boost neurotransmitters)

Operating Under the Influence of Magnesium

Image via Wikipedia

You know how some medications have a warning that says: don't drive or operate heavy machinery while taking this medication? Well, they should print the same warning on the side of the Magnesium/Vitamin B infusion bag. Magnesium is a muscle relaxer and it sure does it's job! I was so out of it after my IV Nutrient Infusion Therapy at The Rothfeld Center that I had to recline in the lounger and close my eyes for 10 to 15 minutes before I could even get out of the chair. Magnesium also causes a warm flush throughout the body. It's like having a hot flash and a Valium at the same time!

By coincidence, my friend was in the infusion room at the same time and we joked that we should have come together since driving home is "challenging" after therapy. But then I realized that we could both be killed! Plus it would be an interesting conversation with the cops if we got pulled over. "I'm sorry officer but we haven't been drinking. We just had mega doses of Magnesim!" Friends Don't Let Friends Infuse and Drive!

Another woman in the infusion room had her husband bring her to the center so that she wouldn't have to drive home. Probably a good idea. One more interesting side effect of the infusion was the taste of B Vitamins in my mouth. I took one bite of my chicken parmigiana sub after treatment and it tasted like bitter herbs. And Passover isn't for another few weeks!

The good news is that I didn't need to nap the rest of the afternoon the second time around like I did after the first treatment. I hope that means I'm getting better.

So remember to infuse responsibly and don't infuse and drive!

This message brought to you by MADD - Magnesium Adds Ditsy Drowsiness

 

Related articles

• IV Therapy (bloomnaturalhealth.wordpress.com)
• Magnesium deficiency: Not always a nutritional problem (sciencedaily.com)

The Rothfeld Center for Integrative Medicine

On the recommendation of a friend with both MS and Lyme Disease, I went to see Dr. Glen Rothfeld at the Rothfeld Center for Integrative Medicine. In fact, I've been to the Rothfeld Center three times this week. On Monday I had my initial consultation with Dr. Rothfeld. On Wednesday I had blood drawn after fasting for 12 hours to test for all kinds of things like thyroid, Lyme, viruses, adrenal hormones, etc. And on Friday I had my first IV Nutrient Infusion Therapy with Magnesium and Vitamin B. I felt pretty loopy after the IV treatment, so I went home and had a nice nap!

Dr. Rothfeld has been treating people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome for 35 years and he knows what he's doing. He's built a practice that integrates the best of Western and Eastern medicine with supplements and IV therapy. At the initial consultation, Dr. Rothfeld spent a good deal of time with me going over all my history, what's worked in the past and where I am now. He did a physical exam in which he felt either side of my spine and could tell right away how tight my neck was on the right side, which made the left side of my lower back tight, too, as compensation. He said that the tightness in my neck might be triggering "fight or flight" nerves that release stimulating hormones which could be interfering with my sleep.

Image via Wikipedia

Structure of Malic Acid

Since results of the blood work takes 4 to 6 weeks, he made some recommendations to start me off in the meantime. One recommendation was a supplement called RibosCardio, which is similar to a product I used when I first started at the Fibro and Fatigue Center, so I felt it was on the right track. It's a powder that helps boost energy levels with d-ribose, magnesium, malic acid and L-carnitine. It's a little bitter, but I add some stevia and it's not too bad.

He also knew both my rheumatologist and acupuncturist and said that he works well with them. I felt like I'm finally building the right circle of health care providers that can really help me deal with my fibromyalgia on a long-term basis. After all, with a chronic condition I have no choice but to be in it for the long haul!

I will post more about my experiences with the Rothfeld Center as I go through the process with Dr. Rothfeld.