"I was tired of feeling half-dead, and I am glad that I tried one more long shot. There really is hope for us fibromyalgics! 

I am a young 49-year-old woman.  I have always burned the candle at both ends.  I am not content with being tied down with a cold or the flu, no less the debilitating symptoms that come with fibro. 

I have had a “noticeable” onset of this illness for the last 5 years, although I now realize my symptoms go way back into my youth.  I was normally a very active person.  However, I found myself putting a lot of weight on because I have progressively lost energy and desire to be active because of the aching and pain.  I hadn’t slept soundly in about three years.  I’d continually wake up due to restless legs or from the pain I would encounter every time I would reposition myself.  My husband would have to help me get out of bed many mornings. 

As I trod to the bathroom after rising, I would “plead” with God, to help me figure out what was going on with my body.  A friend gave me the book “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia;” I read it, and was amazed and fascinated because with the nursing background I have, it made sense!! 

I thought, please God let this be from you and lead to my getting well.  I was fully prepared to go to California to see the doctor that wrote this book.  To my surprise, I read that there were a few doctors in other states.  Thank you God, one right here in the Atlanta area. 

I drove 80 miles one way to Fayetteville to see Dr. Gatell - but, sure beats the price of going to California!  Also, while sitting in Dr. Gatell's waiting room, I met a patient who drove from as far away as North Carolina. 

On my first visit, I was full of apprehension because so many doctors before have said there is really nothing you can do to cure it.  When I entered the waiting room of Dr. Gatell, I looked up on the wall over the couch and saw a cross and I knew God led me here.  To make a long story short, I have responded miraculously fast to the medication Guaifenesin, which is the main fibro-reversing drug. 

I was told by another fibro-patient that this medication caused liver damage.  I value my health, so asked a pharmacist for a print out on this medication and it read no known side affects.  Since Guai has been around since the 1500’s and to date there were no known side affects,  that was good enough for me. There is also good news in that this medication is very inexpensive and this is possibly why many doctors are moving so slowly in acknowledging this treatment. There may not be enough money in it for them or kick back from the pharmaceuticals.  Whatever the reason, this medication is the only one that I have used that has given me total relief even if only for several days at a time. 

I believe I’m going to fully have my health back to normal one day, and that gives me hope.  I have been on Guaifenesin for three months now and almost have total reversal.

On a scale of 1-10 regarding pain and aching, I was an “8” when I first saw Dr. Gatell.  In that three-month period, I used only one half a narcotic pain pill. I recently mowed our lawn (3/4 of an acre!) with a self-propelled push mower and bagged the whole thing.  I hadn’t touched my lawn in two years because I didn’t have the energy or ability anymore.  

My recovery has been remarkably swift, but there’s no question for me that I have “almost” fully recovered.  Please understand this is not the case for most people, but if there’s light at the end of the tunnel, it is definitely worth pursuing. 

I will probably be on this medication for the rest of my life, but is a small price to pay to enjoy life again.  I was very pessimistic not wanting to get my hopes up only to be let down.  However, I encourage you to at least” try” this [Guaifenesin] protocol, because you do have a lot to lose. I didn’t realize that you can eventually end up in a wheelchair from this. 

I went to a fibro-support group meeting one day and met a very nice lady who got around in a gerri-chair.  I knew I didn’t want to digress to this state.  Imagine—we practically have a cure and it’s very reasonable at the same time. 

For insurance, I have Cigna PPO and they have remarkably paid very well. 

Don’t sit there and be afraid to claim your health and life back.  No one wants to be sick and hurting all the time.  You’ll never know if this will work for you if you don’t find out for yourself.  All you have to do is follow the protocol to the letter.  I’m “so” very grateful I did! . 

          Dr. Gatell--------this if from Joanne D"