Does anyone know if the zone can help this condition. I would also be very interested if anyone using this site has this condition or has found the zone to be helpful.

Sonia

Hi!

Yes, the Zone is good support for people with this condition. I've recently been helping a friend gather Zone info on this topic. You can find a bit more with a search of Drsears.com

Good luck!

I went to a medical seminar a few years ago. One of the presenters was a doctor who specialized in caring for those with fibromyalgia. The interesting thing about her was that she also carried the diagnosis, and so this specialty was a passion for her.

In terms of treatment, this speaker was very intent on making it clear that there were 2 things that were very important in the treatment of fibromyalgia: an anti-inflammation diet, and fish oil.

She described the diet in her presentation, and without calling it the Zone, it was about as close as one can get to the Zone.

Thanks Sue and Cranberry..Cranberry you wouldn't happen to know the name of this Doctor or if there is any information online about her ?

Sonia

The doctor was from Madison Wisconsin, but I can't remember what her name was. I will have to see if I still have my notes from that seminar.

I was wondering the same thing. I have fibro and seem to be doing worse lately. Adding alot of weight and hurt too much to exercise. Looking for a diet to help get some weight off and feel better. MY doctors don't seem to be helping much. Just moved to new area, came from Ca to Tx so have to find some new doctors here. Let me know if you tried this diet and how you feel. I am 50 and feel about 90!

Hi Debbie: I hope you're still here. I have fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed a couple of years ago in CT, but now (as of Sept 2008) live in McAllen TX with my daughter, son-in-law & grandson. By the Grace of God, I found a wonderful doctor. He looked over my medical records and examined me. He said I did, indeed have fibromyalgia, & the medications I was taking for it were fine, but then he showed me my lab reports (I'd never looked at them) & said My A1C (quarterly blood sugar) was so high, if it went even the slightest bit higher, I'd be officially diabetic. My cholesterol reading were also horrible. All my previous doctor had said was that I was "borderline" in both categories and that I needed to "watch it". Anyway, this new doctor insisted I go on the Zone diet plus the Omega Rx fish oil. He said I also have osteoarthritis in the hands & bursitis in both shoulders and may have rheumatoid arthritis, also. Oh, and lets not forget that I now have osteoporosis; I've lost 1/2 " in height. The doctor was very nice, but believe me, I came out of there scared stiff & had myself on the Zone diet within 3 days. Like many people with fibromyalgia, I have a lot going on in my body. I've only been on the diet for a month & I can say I'm seeing many positive changes in my body. I'd have to say probably most of it is from the diet, but I can't discount the dietary supplements, the shots in the shoulders, a prescription for plaquenil and one for Boniva. I think you should give The Zone a try and see how it works for you. Best Wishes!

I'm so happy to fine that their are are few of us fibromites out there. I just finally started this new way of eating a few weeks ago. I've had FMS/MPS for about 12yrs now and thank god for the FMS/MPS Survival Manual Book by Devin Starlanyl, M.D. There is no greater information for us than what is in these books. I even teach my doctors from these. I've had many ups and downs with these syndromes. So many little & big things in everyday life can effect us. This year found out I also have Osteorthritis & my prim doc said he believed that I also have Hypoglycemia. Which is so hard to test for but did fine info in a couple of Dr. Sears books. My Rheumatologists I have now is not much help at all! Always trying to give me drugs that make me sick or almost kill me. But due to a friend I found a WEB site that has Doctors listed ( http://www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com/) I use to have a wonderful doc in another state.
In the last 3 weeks I've changed my eating habits using the zone diet & started losing some weight. I have more energy, the fog has greatly improved, decreased pain, etc. Now to just get my hypoglycemia in control, which has improved greatly already. If I keep going I might feel like going back to work. Now if I'd had paid more attention to my book, it highly suggest using this diet. I've done everthing else but not the diet.
Its great to go from thinking I was ready for disability pay, like several of my family members from these same exact health problems to thinking I may get back to work!
Now I can't wait till my fish oil gets here, I need all the help I can get with the inflammation, which to has gotten much better already.

That's great Charly! The Zone diet is helping to lower your inflammation level and adding the appropriate dose of a Zone fish oil will lower it even more.

Good luck and keep us updated!

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 9 years ago. The meds I've been given are awful and I refuse to take them. I think the Zone eating plan is going to be helpful long-term. I've been on it for 5-6 days, and I'm lovin' it! My cravings and after-meals hunger are gone--amazing! I've eaten in a (mostly) healthy way for years and years, but the difference with the Zone is the balance. That seems to be the long-sought-after ticket to weight loss and hunger control that I was afraid I'd never find. I'm excited to see what happens in the months ahead!

Hi, Ladies! I have severe fibromyalgia, so I can relate to how you are feeling. I started the Zone on 12/4/08, and I can tell you that it does work! YEA! When I started, I couldn't bend my knees at all. Today I can bend them as far as sitting upright in a chair ... not for long, but I can do it for a little while. I can do my Pilates machine with one band now and I can do other exercises with a resistance band for my legs and arms. I truly believe I wouldn't be able to do this if it weren't for the Zone.

I agree about the medications out there for fibromyalgia. I have to take the maximum dose to get any help, but the side effects are horrible! I ended up in the ER a year ago because of one medicine ... couldn't stand up without falling, everything was 10x vision (not double vision), etc. I've pretty much gone off those medications now ... the Zone is much more effective and is my drug of choice!

I don't know if your rheumatologists have told you or not, but any carbonated drink or caffeinated beverage is going to make you feel worse. Salt is also horrible for fibromyalgia as is any food with gluten. Drink as much green tea (decaffeinated) and ginger tea as possible ... I have to drink six glasses of each every day. Also, there are several spices that help: cinnamon, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, hot spices, etc.

I hope this helps you. Hang in there ... you're going to feel better soon!

THat is really great advice, Karen!

I had been to a seminar several years ago, and one of the speakers gave a talk about fibromyalgia. It was very interesting and unexpected to hear all of the advice that was given. Basically, the advice was to follow an anti-inflammatory diet and take fish oil. I don't recall the speaker's name, but she was a doctor who was also suffering from fibro herself, was almost wheelchair bound at one point before she turned things around with the recommendations that she gave at the seminar.

The anti-inflammatory diet was described very similar to the Zone (well, except for all of the balancing that we do), using fruits, veggies, lean proteins and good fats. No grains or starches. And, no gluten, no processed foods.

I don't recall the fish oil dose, but that was also a part of the regime.

The spices that Karen mentions are all good for fighting inflammation.

(lol, I guess I am repeating myself, I posted on this thread back in October about this speaker!)

You're welcome SONIA! Good luck!

I don't know if anyone is still following this thread, but I had Fibromyalgia until 1998 when I used the Zone Diet to get well. Before my Fibro symptoms started in 1991, I ran one to two miles three or four times a week. Over the next seven years, my Fibro progressed to the point that I had to hold on to the shopping cart just to shuffle through the grocery store. By May 1998, I only had enough energy to go to work and come home, and not always even that much energy. I ended a five year relationship because I was too exhausted to deal with it.
I remember sitting at my desk, which was six feet from the copy machine, and wishing that someone would come by, take my document to the copy machine and copy it for me. I went on the Zone Diet FAITHFULLY toward the end of May. I actually felt worse after the first few days as my body straightened itself out, but after five days I started feeling better. Ten days from the day I went on the Zone, I was chasing tennis balls for the athletes at the Special Olympics. After being on the Zone stringently for six months, I was able to relax and just roughly follow the Zone. I automatically eat in the realm of the Zone Diet at home, but cheat shamelessly when I go out to eat. If I start feeling any symptoms, I go back strictly on the Zone. The only thing I still have trouble with is sleep and depression, and I have had the sleep problem since high school, so I don't think I can blame that on the Fibro. The doctors say the depression is genetic.
I cannot recommend strongly enough that anyone with Fibromyalgia try the Zone.

My good friend Karen (whom was posting on this thread previously) had some superb results over the past few years with the Zone, with regard to how it controlled her fibro symptoms and other issues. She always said that she LIVED with a pain level of 10/10 (or more), but the Zone helped her to drastically reduce her pain levels. (Karen, I miss you!)

Judy, excellent results! Glad to hear about your continued success. An increase in Omega Rx could help with the depression. Good luck.