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The Opioid Epidemic and Fibromyalgia Patients

Sunday, October 8, 2017, Arizona Republic

“FDA warns of drug shortages. Hurricane killed power to factories in Puerto Rico.”

“The Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned that U.S. drug shortages are possible because power outages in Puerto Rico have stopped or limited production at many medicine factories there.”

With all due respect to the people of Puerto Rico and the destruction of homes, economy and loss of life this bit of information on the possible reduction of drug production is a positive. The head of the FDA stated that there were 40 crucial medications that could face shortages without naming any of them. Do you really think that there is no storage of medications that drug companies have salted away for “emergencies” like this. After listening to the program “60 Minutes” that literally exposed how our government passed a law that restricts the DEA from keeping drug companies under control from indiscriminate distribution of millions of drugs including opioids. Congress in effect weakened the DEA’s ability to go after drug distributors. In one town in Virginia, population 400 the drug companies sent millions of opioids. You do the math as to how many pills that is for each resident in the town.

Am I upset?? Yes, a great deal because I have Fibromyalgia patients come into my clinic loaded down with medications. Many of which are opioids. Many of the prescribed drugs for these patients have nothing to do with there condition. It’s like doctors are just throwing something against the wall and hoping it sticks without thinking of the consequences.

Here is an example of one of my patients, a young female diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2009. Her prescriptions included 13 medications including Fentanyl, an opiod deadlier than heroin, Zofran for cancer patients that went through chemotherapy or radiation, this patient does not have cancer, Clonidine for hypertension, she does not have hypertension, Movantik for opioid induced constipation which was brought on by other opioids she was taking and Gabapentin for seizures which she does not have.

The opioids she is taking includes Fentanyl, Hydromorphone and Movantik. Three opioids out of 13 medications. I guess that’s not too bad except for the side effect from the drugs.

These drugs have side effects that mirror this patients symptoms. Would you like to see the side effects that mimic this patients symptoms?? Sure, why not. For those of you that are suffering with Fibromyalgia you can have heart with what this patient is going through.

My patients symptoms that are the same as the side effects of the drugs she’s taking are the following:

fatigue, irritability, nervousness, depression, apathy, impaired memory and concentration, anxiety, non-restorative sleep, generalized morning pain , stiffness in muscles and joints throughout the body, frequent urination, hives, bumps, blisters, brittle nails, super- sensitive to touch, heavy sweating, headaches dizziness dry eyes, blurred vision, nasal congestion, numbness and tingles hands, face feet, leg cramps, weight gain, greater susceptibility to infections.

These are not the only side effects from her medications that directly relate to her symptoms. The side effects of these medications are much more numerous.

There is no reason for taking drugs that are making your symptoms worse or adding new symptoms to your conditions. Over prescription of medications is not new. You as a recipient of these drugs must take it upon yourself to ask questions as to the drug side effects and how they relate to your existing symptoms. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor pointed questions. Remember, your doctor is not a god. He needs to know all the medications you are taking. some medications including Movantik can interact with certain medications that cause more side effects.

The OPIOID Epidemic starts with each of us. Asking questions and saying no is a start. Just look at the side effects mentioned above and you can surmise that all of those symptoms can have a severe negative reaction to our work, friendships and most of all family life. Think smart and act smart when it comes to anything you put into your body.




FIBROMYALGIA for the Rich, Poor, Famous and maybe You.

Talk about “coming out”. Lady Gaga announced she had to enter a hospital and cancel a number of future engagements due to severe body pain and fatigue that has been diagnosed as Fibromyalgia. She was very positive but she had no time schedule as to when she might be able to return to a regular schedule of work. If you have Fibromyalgia or know of someone who has this disease you know that this debilitating condition can literally change your life’s ability to function in a normal fashion. Hopefully Lady Gaga will not be just drugged up to be able to perform. I’ve already had some patients and marketing individuals try to send her information on my almost 30 years of working with Fibromyalgia patients. This just goes to prove that whoever you are if you are genetically tagged for Fibromyalgia it can be triggered by any physical, emotional or chemical stress. As a high intense performer I’m sure Lady Gaga has had many stressful moments. Regardless of an individuals position we should all be praying for Lady Gaga’s health.

A number of years ago an individual in the entertainment business told me that he new of a number of performers that had Fibromyalgia but were afraid to “come out” because even years ago this condition meant that their ability to work, be on time, remember their lines or just be functional was compromised by their Fibromyalgia condition. If you are performer and you are causing production to lag due to your illness that’s causing a money loss for the investors you might be labeled as not reliable. That could mean the end of your career. For many of you who are suffering with Fibromyalgia it has already meant the loss of your job, spouse and a normally functioning life that you once new.

In almost 30 years working with Fibromyalgia patients I have had almost every manner of individual including rich, poor, famous, females, males and children and the common thread is the loss of the life they once new. Do not give up hope. We have successfully helped those who have followed our protocol. Getting back to the life you once new is what we help you achieve.

Check our web site: www.fibrowellnesscenter.com




Woman’s Day Article Validating What We’ve Been Preaching

On a recent visit to Barnes and Noble book store with my wife, she picked up a magazine, Woman’s Day, to peruse. I was involved in other literature. As I was sitting enjoying an iced tea and reading a magazine my wife plopped down her magazine in front of me and suggested I read an article she had found. The name of the article was “When the Pain Won’t Go Away”. The article was on Fibromyalgia and was very close to what we have been preaching for many years.

The article included the usual explanation of how difficult it is for doctors to diagnose Fibromyalgia due to any unreliable tests. As we have preached the condition is triggered by some physical or emotional trauma. The ongoing problem of pain leads to chronic long term painful symptoms. Diagnosis is from painful symptoms that last for longer than 3 months and the condition is further complicated by fatigue, brain fog and coexisting health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis, headaches and many other conditions.

As we have preached medications don’t seem to help. The article mentions antidepressants sometimes reduces pain. We find most medications have side effects that mimic the same symptoms Fibromyalgia patients suffer with. Finally it was mentioned that an anti inflammatory diet( cutting out dairy, gluten, sugar, trans fatty acids) filled with fruits, vegetables and fish is definitely a pain reliever that allows the patient to sleep.

We do not agree that stressful exercise reduces pain for Fibromyalgics since most of our patients can barely get out of bed. However, activity such as walking, stretching, eating as mentioned a healthy diet are all an important part of our treatment protocol.

For more information on our treatment protocol check our website www.fibrowellnesscenter.com or my book FIBROMYALGIA,Falsehoods, Fakers, and Facts which can also be found on e-book.




The “Bullying” of Fibromyalgia Patients

There is a lot of news recently concerning “bullying” and how it is affecting our children in schools. I remember when I was in grade school there always a group of boy that seemed to pick on the little guy. It was always the inevitable sneak up and push from behind on the play ground. Name calling was also a favorite if a child did something that was even slightly unusually he automatically got a nickname that usually stuck.

Today I find that Fibromyalgia patients are usually “bullied” by many because they don’t fit in. Fibromyalgia patients that come into our clinic complain of not being understood since most look just like any normal health person. I’m told Fibromyalgia patients are treated “differently” by their doctor because they can’t find what is wrong with them. They get the feeling that the doctor would wish they would go elsewhere for their treatment. This might not be physical bullying but it certainly is psychological bullying.

Speaking to many health professionals I have found no common understanding or treatment for Fibromyalgia. I’m still being asked by physicians for my explanation of what Fibromyalgia actually is and our protocol for treatment.

I am planning on another Fibromyalgia training class for doctors and possibly patients this fall. The more information on Fibromyalgia that we can distribute to everyone will only benefit those that need it the most.

For more information on Fibromyalgia check my book: FIBROMYALGIA, Falsehoods, Fakers, and Facts, also on e-book.




The Other FIBROMYALGIA Cures.

I’ve received a number of responses from people who have taken the time to explain the successful answers for their Fibromyalgia condition. I’m very happy that your symptoms are reduced or gone. If you have found a way to return to health either for yourself or a family member that is a wonderful thing. Having a condition like Fibromyalgia destroys your will to live. The pain and the many symptoms that go along with Fibromyagia are to many to name. As I have mentioned in my blogs I can only imagine what a Fibromyalgia patient goes through on a day to day basis.

Regardless of what herbal remedy or concoction that works for you the end product of no pain and symptoms is what is important. So, why haven’t I jumped on one of these remedy band wagons? After almost 30 years of working with patients on our Fibromyalgia treatment program I have seen the long term results in so many patients. The key to our program is that it is the only one proven by research to attack the condition and by that the symptoms are also reduced or eliminated. This is important because in all my years of working with this condition no one only has Fibromyalgia. ALL Fibromyalgia patients have at least one if not more conditions that are affected by Fibromyalgia. You’ve heard this before from me. Fibromyalgia makes all those other conditions and their symptoms worse. As a medical health professional I always believe in finding and treating the condition and then the symptoms will disappear.

If you have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia you will try anything that will give you relief quickly. I cannot question anyone on that. The proof in what program you are using will be in whether or not it will have long term positive effects.




Time for a National Fibromyalgia Conference Again!

Happy summer everyone. For Arizona citizens it is an extreme hot one which definitely affects those who suffer with Fibromyalgia. We are all looking forward to the cooler more comfortable days. For this summer a group of us are organizing a National Fibromyalgia Conference/Convention in Phoenix In November. We already have Dr. St.Amand and Claudia Marek as presenters. There are a number of groups including Fibromyalgia and other health organizations that will be working on this event. We will have other competent speakers with up to date research at this event.

We would like to know if you would be interested in such an event that would include both patients and doctors in attendance. There will be CEU’s for doctors that attend. The last one 17 years ago was a huge success.

It has been 17 years since there was a Fibromyalgia Conference/Convention in Arizona. In 2000 Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, who wrote the first book on Fibromyalgia, was invited by a Fibromyalgia group to Arizona to introduce and explain his very successful treatment protocol. I was fortune enough to have received an invitation by post card. At that time I was lost as a doctor attempting to treat Fibromalgia patients. I had tried everything at my professional disposal as a doctor of chiropractic. Treatments included chiropractic, acupuncture, physiotherapy modalities, cold laser, supplements, etc. with minimal positive response. To be honest I was about to give up attempting to treat this condition. Professionally I refuse to treat patients that I cannot successfully find answers to their problem.

I didn’t know who this doctor St.Amand was or how he treated Fibromyalgia patients. I’m a natural medical skeptic and when I received this invitation I had more than a few doubts. I decided to attend to see who this doctor was and what was involved in his treatment. To my surprise the conference was attended by both doctors and patients and many family members. Thousands of people attended this conference at a major resort in Phoenix. Patients and doctors were from all over the world. The first day I decided to visit with patients to find out who this doctor was and what his protocol involved. Many patients had stories about being bed ridden, in walkers, wheel chairs, unable to work or function prior to starting his program. Now they were able to function pain free as long as they stayed on the program and kept taking something called “guaifenesin”. I had to meet this doctor and find out about this protocol.

Dr. St. Amand and his staff especially Claudia Marek, president of his Fibromyalgia Research Center in California, were more than gracious with me and many of the doctors explaining his program, how it work and how to assist patients in following through for a successful completion. I immediately incorporated his program into my treatment of my Fibromyalgia patients. Except for my adding a pre-protocol detox program for a faster patient response the initial protocol is the same. For the past 17 years I have been able to introduce to my patients a protocol to treat the Fibromyalgia condition along with the symptoms successfully for those that follow the program.

If you would be interested in this Conference/Convention let us know through this blog or e-mail me at dcken2000@cs.com.

Knowledge through Education!