Jenny Clark (Charlottesville, Virginia) on 09/13/2008
Most patients with fibromyalgia/CFS report that it began after surgery or after a car accident. Many of the anesthesias used in surgery, including epidurals for childbirth, are fluorinated. The sudden entry of a high level of fluoride is likely what starts the condition. Anti-inflammatories are another commonly fluorinated set of drugs drug, and car accident victims are likely reacting to their medication when they develop fibromyalgia. Prozac, Paxil, Lipitor and many other drugs are fluorinated. The name of the drug does NOT always have "fl" in it.India has been living with the effects of fluorosis for years. We can learn important lessons from them. India has high levels of fluoride in the water and soil, and they have the exact opposite image of fluoride than those in the US. They are currently working to defluorinate their water supply and they are asking US toothpaste companies to leave. They report that "donor" countries have been encouraging fluoridation there. Physicians in India would diagnose fibromyalgia with a different name: a non-skeletal phase of fluorosis, where fluoride affects the soft tissues of the body. Too arrogant to learn from our world friends, we invented our own diagnosis. Patients in India who present to a physician with GI disturbance, muscle pain, headaches, fatigue and cognitive decline are immediately recognized as having fluorosis.
The US not only helped to create the fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue problem here with the fluorination of drugs, we've missed the diagnosis for 50 years.
A noted fluoride toxicologist in India recommends a blood test called SA/GAG that offers a definitive diagnosis. I am trying to see if that is available in the US through some physicians I know.
Most importantly, we can learn from the effective treatments used in India today. Removal of fluoride from the diet, supplementation with calcium, magnesium and vitamin C. This simple treatment appears to be working and their physicians say fluorosis is reversible if caught early. How many of us wish we had known this sooner!
After 50 years of studying what happens when you drink a toxin, it makes more sense to simply keep the toxin out of your body.
Replied By Teresa (Kenedy, Texas) on 09/14/2008
I really appreciate this information. I suffer with Chronic Fatique and will definitely be sharing this info with family and friends that also suffer from it. It is hard to get others to believe that flouride is a dangerous toxin, because it is so drilled into us through commercials and from our dentist that it is necessary for us to use it to prevent cavities. Many have the opinion that if the FDA says it's safe for us, then we should not worry. I stopped using flouride about a year ago, and am wondering after using it for 30 plus years, how long it takes to get the effects of it to go away. I am supplementing with calcium, magnesium and vitamin C and have seen some improvement, but there are days that I have no energy whatsover.Thank you again for posting this information.
Replied By Ellen (Austin, Texas) on 12/31/2010
I cut out fluoride a long time ago, and I've been taking magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C for years before and after my fibromyalgia diagnosis. I don't think there's a connection for me, unless I just need to detox from the fluoride. I'm confused about this fluoride connection since mostly women have fibromyalgia and everyone drinks tap water with fluoride.
Replied By Causes Not Bandaids (London, Uk) on 03/28/2011
Ellen, from what I've read on this site alone, flouride will stay in the system unless you do something to get rid of it, its not enough to stop the intake. Also, I read there is a link to women taking a lot of flouride based antibiotics for urinary tract infection, which I guess they're more prone to. It's also been suggested that more men than once thought suffer with it as it becomes more widely known and diagnosed. Perhaps its not as straightforward as we'd like, there may be other triggers or factors as well perhaps...?
Replied By Ellen (Denton, Tx) on 04/26/2011
For me, the issue is definitely not with fluoride. I have been detoxing fluoride for months and the only thing that has helped me is anti-viral therapy, which makes sense as my fibromyalgia developed after a bout of the swine flu.
Fibromyalgia is not a new disease. In fact Charles Darwin had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. It was described as what Job had in the bible and there are ancient Greek /Roman accounts of fibromyalgia as well. It was only recently given its most modern name. It did not appear upon the advent of fluoride in municipal water supplies and antibiotics. For some, it could be the cause, but unfortunately there is no magic bullet cause and cure and we all have to figure out what works best for us and what our individual issues are. Mine were viral and metal toxicity issues as well as yeast.
Replied By Robyn (Melbourne, Australia) on 04/27/2011
Ellen, I developed fms, cfs, mcs which has led to osteoperosis, blocked arteries etc etc its a real mess after glandular fever, barvon forest, ross river virus. What have you been doing to kill the virus? Ive done everything on here - garlic, colloidal silver, etc etc and yes, some antibiotics just to ruin my gut some more. Have you heard of Marshalls protocol - is that what you are suggesting?
Replied By Ellen (Denton, Tx) on 05/14/2011
Robyn, I have been taking a multi-pronged approach of destroying biofilms that pathogens hide in with enzymes, boosting the immune system with IP6 inositol, AHCC, vitamins D, E, A, B's, zinc, E, taking thieves oil internally & applying externally, detoxing metals with sodium thiosulfate & DMSA, etc. I'm not 100% but I think I'm making a slow but sure recovery. I used to be so bad that I thought I was dying and now I can go hiking. I also drink borax as suggested on the site, and ACV baking soda. I'm not sure if the ACV baking soda does anything. (please email me at s. Genteel85(at)gmail.com if you have any questions)
Replied By Robyn (Melbourne, Australia) on 02/07/2012
I can't believe I've been combing this site for 2 years and never looked on this page. I've done all you are recommending except the dmsa. I've had edta IV and orally and every other detox - except ala - have it to take the way Bill recommends but Andy cutler takes it quite differently. Some say it's dangerous. Is anyone of the belief that this is a brain injury? Is anyone using Gupta successfully? It hasn't helped me which makes me think my fms must be something else.