Treatment for FMS

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 17:53:59 -0600 (CST)

Hi Everyone:

This is the article I was talking about in the Chat Room. It's kinda long, but interesting. The Doc, Dr. Kolb, is a very respected doctor in the field of silicone breast implants which often cause fibromyalgia.

So this article was written for Silicone implant patients, but the information is about fibromyalgia. I am also sending two other articles which also back up the malic acid and magnesium theory. I think I'm gonna try it. What do y'all think? I have sent this to a few of you who weren't in Chat when we were talking about it because I though you may be interested if not, just delete. I'll be waiting for some feedback from y'all...Love, Lany

Super Malic

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 17:37:51 -0600 (CST)

This article was in my Silicone Breast Implant Newsletter. A lot of silicone victims, like myself, have fibromyalgia. Dr. Kolb, is a female physician who had implants and got very ill and found this combination fo malic acid and magnesium to be very helpful. If you are a FMS patient without implants, you will still find this helpful for FMS. It's is a lengthy article and contains a copy of a study. Please let me know what you think....Lany

SUPER MALIC FOR THE DIFFUSE MUSCLE PAIN OF FIBROMYALGIA, FATIGUE & NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS: DR. SUSAN KOLB, P/S ATLANTA, GA, WHO HAS HAD HER DOW LEAKING IMPLANTS REMOVED USES!

SUPER MALIC normally reduces the stiffness and myalgias (diffuse muscle hurting/aching pain) caused by Fibromyalgia (FMS) or FMS Like-Syndrome by approximately 50% for those have or had BI's, usually in a few days, the fatigue, generally, within two weeks and also, any associated neurological symptoms by approximately 20%.

Often, those with myalgias describe Super Malic, "It is like the lights went on!" Many have tried just magnesium supplements, even the most expensive with no results to find this particular combination, for whatever reasons, does help.

Two-thirds (2/3rds)+ of those who SUPER MALIC take or start out with a "loading" dosage of 2 every 3 hours the first five days as described obtain relief with 3 or 4 days! In others, it might take longer. It is magnesium and malic acid from apples.

SUPER MALIC is a nutritional supplement; no prescription is necessary. It contains magnesium and malic acid derived from apples. I had heard that magnesium often helped our symptoms and tried some I purchased at the drugstore. It did not help; I went to a health food store and purchased the most expensive magnesium supplement they carried. It did not help either.

A study showed approximately 92% who have Fibromyalgia were borderline line normal or below using the RBC (red blood cells) for magnesium. Even if yours is normal, this test is not considered accurate all of the time. Many probably get enough magnesium from their diets, but for some reason, those with Fibromyalgia or Like-Syndrome seem to have a malabsorption problem. The bottom line is what works is what counts; SUPER MALIC helps most Fibromyalgia or Like Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue and those with Neurological symptoms, also.

In an article that appeared in the May, 1995 issue of the JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY at the end of this and another medical journal, many patients were taking 8 to 14 day before obtaining relief. One woman took two every three hours or 12 a day for over a year with it reducing the diffuse muscle pain by about 50% and improving my neurological symptoms until her body began to recuperate on its own after explant. The manufacturer's insert suggests 6 Super Malic a day, but few silicone victims receive any relief from that many.

Some also find, in addition to two Super Malic every three hours plus two during the night or approximately 12 a day and one or two Centrum a day also helps. Centrum is an inexpensive multiple vitamin. It can be obtained at any drug or grocery store. I would not been able to function without both to do almost anything as the stiffness, fatigue, diffuse muscle pain and neurological symptoms were debilitating.

Super Malic works slightly better for some, if it is taken with a regular Centrum (not the Silver Centrum), a cheap vitamin. However, for those desperately in need of relief from the pain to function, it is probably less harmful than an array of prescription drugs. If you do not notice that the Centrum enhances the pain relief brought about by the Super Malic, discontinue it. You should notice any enhancement of relief within 30 minutes after taking the Centrum and Super Malic at the same time.

You will usually know if your body is getting too much Super Malic. You will develop a mild case of the runs, which maybe lasts an hour. Cut back on it. The iron in the Centrum might turn your stools dark, but this generally thought not to be a problem. If you know your have high iron, you probably should not take Centrum since it contains it or at the very least, consult your doctor first. Check with your doctor on taking this Super Malic also at the dosages you find effective.

Super Malic can be obtained from any Publix, which has a Pharmacy. Publix Supermarkets are in the Southeast. If they do not have any on hand, they can order and have it by the next day.

If you live elsewhere, first call a large health food store near you to see if they carry it. If you have no luck, call Optimox, the manufacturer, to see if they can give you the name of somewhere near you, which carries it; 1-800-223-1601. Super Malic is currently $17.49 for a bottle of 180, if obtained from a Publix Pharmacy.

If you order it directly from Optimox, it did cost $22 for one bottle, including the postage and handling. If you order 6 or more in the future from them after finding it does help, it is about $18.50 per bottle (includes the postage and handling). One bottle by 2 day delivery is $25.50. Optimox is located in California. They do not take charge cards, so ask them for their current mailing address and verify the cost of a bottle to try, so you can send them a check to save time rather than waiting for an order form.

If you have tried similar formulations, such as Ultra Plus from the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Buyers Club or one from the health food store without having significant relief, try Super Malic. For whatever reasons, Super Malic seems to work best.

Several other well known manufacturers have a similar formulation available widely through health food stores, Whole Foods and Wild Oats Markets. There have had good reports on some of these but not on Ultra Plus from CFIDS.

Many experts think Fibromyalgia is often caused by some type of chemical toxicity or occurs after a trauma, seriousness illness or unusual stress. Many of these same experts have observed those with medical implants containing silicone or collagen injections, such as nasal, chin, malar (cheek), TMJ, clips used for a tubal ligation, silicone which covers the leads in a pacemaker, testicular/penile, liquid silicone injections (illegal for very good reasons), feeding tubes, cataract lenses which are rarely as I understand made of silicone any more but were used in prior years, Norplant or the new long acting implanted contraceptive, breast implants or silicone small joint, knee or hip or a nasal splint at times used during a rhinoplasty.

In 100 women who have or have had breast implants, 68 reportedly have Fibromyalgia versus the usual occurrence rate of 2 or 3 per 100. There are a multitude of chemicals contained in any implanted medical device not native to the body that have the potential to cause problems.

After the silicone implant is removed, statistics show that the overall symptoms of approximately 70% or better show improvement after six months and then slowly for up to three to five years. The 70% figure includes those who had a good and bad job of explant done. Those who have a good job done, maybe 80% to 85% of these improve.

Explant is the most important part of treatment and should only be done by a Plastic Surgeon (P/S) who will take the time and trouble to do it in the best manner possible. Consult your support group leaders for suggestions on a P/S for explant. Do not, in the vast majority of cases, run back to whoever put in your implants to have him /her remove them! It could develop into an even worse disaster.

If one year after explant you have not improved, consult your support group leaders supplying them with you original operation report at implantation and Product I. D. tag and the operation and pathology report at explant. They might be able to spot anything which might not have been done in what is thought to be the best manner at explant and compare the weight of your implants when they were originally put in versus what they weighed when explanted. Hopefully, the weight at implantation will be in your medical records from the P/S performing it or on the Product I. D. Tags and the weight at explant should be but is not always, in the pathology report at explant.

If your operation report at explant says the "posterior capsules" where removed, this means the P/S probably left in the back half (anterior) of your capsules in you and this is probably why you continue to be sick! The immune response is probably emanating from the capsules. Also, there could be residual silicone left behind.

Other exposure to chemicals can produce Fibromyalgia Like Symptoms and chemical sensitivities. It is frequently found in those exposed to silicones in the work place or other harmful chemicals. A must to read is TIRED OR TOXIC? by Sherry A. Roger, M. D. Any bookstore can obtain it for you.

The first 5 days, if you physician approves, take two Super Malic, a loading dose; every three hours plus two during the night when you wake-up. Relief normally occurs by the 3rd or 4^th day. After you obtained relief, try cutting back to 2 every 4 hours to find your own level.

However, like prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, you do not want to be tied to a bottle of Super Malic for the rest of your life. You need to correct the underlying problems causing the Fibromyalgia and other symptoms.

If you are taking any magnesium supplement such as Super Mail and are placed are antibiotics, let your doctor know. It can hamper their absorption. Antacids have magnesium in them, as a general rule, and the combination might result in you taking too much.

Super Malic should be short-term use since a proper "balance" of nutrients is necessary for good long-term health. Too much magnesium can inhibit the absorption of calcium and iron. It, however, provides quick relief of much of the discomfort of Fibromyalgia and in so doing signal that perhaps you have a deficiency until your body has a chance over a several months to two years to correct at the cellular level once all the foreign material and retained capsules saturated with silicone are removed.

Treatment of Fibromyalgia syndrome with Super Malic: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover pilot study Author: Russell IJ; Michalek JE; Flechas JD; Abraham GE Address: Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center,

San Antonio 78284

Source: Journal of Rheumatology, 1995 May, 22:5, 953-8

OBJECTIVE. To study the efficacy and safety of Super Malic, a proprietary tablet containing malic acid (200 mg) and magnesium (50 mg), in treatment of primary Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). METHODS. Twenty-four sequential patients with primary FM were randomized to a fixed dose (3 tablets bid), placebo controlled, 4-week/course, pilot trial followed by a 6-month, open label, dose escalation (up to 6 tablets bid) trial. A 2-week, medication free, washout period was required before receiving treatment, between blinded courses, and again before starting open label treatment. The 3 primary outcome variables were measures of pain and tenderness but functional and psychological measures were also assessed.

With dose escalation and a longer duration of treatment in the open label trial, significant reductions in the severity of all 3 primary pain/tenderness measures were obtained without limiting risks.

CONCLUSIONS. Patients reported dramatic relief from pain in FM with short term, open label administration of Super Malic, which contains malic acid and magnesium hydroxide.

From another BI Victim: