By Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D.

Dr. Teitelbaum is medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, a national group of clinics. Dr. Teitelbaum knows CFS/fibromyalgia as an insider. He contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome when he was in medical school and had to drop out for a year to recover. In the ensuing 30 years, he has dedicated his career to finding effective treatment. His website (www.endfatigue.com) provides a free software tool that can analyze and create a complete medical record of a patient's case to help patients and physicians determine the best course of treatment to get well. Learn more below this article.

**See why Dr. T recommends Jigsaw Magnesium w/SRT to his patients.**

February 17, 2010

You Can Go "From Fatigued to Fantastic!"

The new edition of the bestselling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! is out, and it is - Fantastic! For those of you with fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and/or fibromyalgia (FMS), this book will take you through a step by step program to show you how to get well NOW. In addition, at www.EndFatigue.com you can have a treatment protocol automatically created tailored to your specific case (for free) by simply filling out an online symptom analysis questionnaire (the "Short Program"). You can also sign up for a free e-mail newsletter that will keep you up to date on the newest developments and research!

Ready to Get Well NOW?

Our study "Effective Treatment of CFS and Fibromyalgia" (published in Journal of CFS) showed that over 90% of patients improved with treatment, with an average improvement in quality of life of 90%. Many patients no longer even qualified for the diagnosis of CFS or fibromyalgia after treatment!

In support of our work, an editorial in the Journal of the American Academy of Pain Management (the largest multidisciplinary society of pain specialists in United States) noted "The comprehensive and aggressive metabolic approach to treatment detailed in the Teitelbaum study are all highly successful approaches and make fibromyalgia a very treatment responsive disorder. The study by Dr. Teitelbaum et al and years of clinical experience make this approach an excellent and powerfully effective part of the standard of practice for treatment of people who suffer from fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome."¹

What Causes These Syndromes?

CFS/FMS acts as a "circuit breaker," with the hypothalamus decreasing its function to protect the individual in the face of what is perceived to be an overwhelming stress (just like blowing a fuse or circuit breaker in a house). This center controls sleep, hormones, temperature, blood flow, blood pressure, and sweating. In addition, if your muscles do not have enough energy, they will get stuck in the shortened position and you’ll be in pain (think rigor mortis). This "energy crisis" can be caused by any of a number of infections, stresses or injuries.

To Get Well, Think "SHINE!"

There are five key areas that need to be treated for your "circuit breaker to turn back on" and for fatigue and pain to resolve. These are:

1. Sleep. Because the hypothalamic "circuit breaker" that is offline controls sleep, most patients need a mix of natural and prescription sleep treatments. To get well and pain free, it is critical that you take enough of the correct natural and prescription sleep treatments to get 8 to 9 hours sleep each night! I prefer to start with natural therapies. An excellent one that I developed is "Revitalizing Sleep Formula" by Enzymatic Therapies (100% of my royalties for all products I develop are donated to charity). The Sleep Formula includes theanine, Jamaican Dogwood, wild lettuce, valerian, passionflower, and hops. Take 1-4 capsules 1 hour before bedtime. Prescription sleep aids are also appropriate in this setting, provided that the correct ones are used.
2. Hormonal deficiencies. The hypothalamus is the main control center, via the pituitary, for most of the glands in the body. Most of the normal ranges for our blood tests were not developed in the context of hypothalamic suppression or these syndromes. Because of this (and for a number of other reasons) it is usually necessary to treat with natural thyroid, adrenal (e.g., glandulars such as Adrenal Stress End and DHEA), and ovarian and testicular hormones - despite normal blood tests! These hormones have been found to be reasonably safe when used in low doses.
3. Infections. Many studies have shown immune system dysfunction in CFS/FMS, which can result in many unusual infections. These include viral infections (we are seeing dramatic benefits by treating HHV 6 and CMV viral infections), parasites and other bowel infections, and most importantly fungal/candida infections.
4. Nutritional supplementation. Widespread nutritional deficiencies are common and require dozens of nutrients to resolve. This is why I developed the "Energy Revitalization System." People are tired of being part of the "Handful Club" - taking handfuls of supplement tablets each day to get the nutrition they need. The Energy Revitalization System vitamin powder contains 50 key nutrients in 1 capsule and is taken as a good-tasting drink. A new nutrient discovery called "ribose" is also revolutionizing how CFS/FMS, and even heart disease, are being treated (discussed in the next section).
5. Exercise as able. Don’t push yourself to where you crash the next day. You will find your ability to walk increases after 10 weeks of being on the other treatments. At that point you can increase your walking by up to a minute each day.

Ribose - an Exciting New Discovery!

Ribose is an outstanding new nutrient for those of you who want a powerful energy boost! It’s a special kind of sugar - even OK for those who need to avoid sugar - D-Ribose (which is what I am referring to when I say ribose) is a simple, five-carbon sugar that is found naturally in our bodies. In addition to its role in making DNA and RNA, ribose as the key building block for making energy. In fact, the main energy molecules, like "energy dollars," in your body (ATP, FADH, etc.) are made of ribose plus B vitamins/phosphate. That makes these energy molecules similar to the paper that money is printed on - kind of like being able to print your own energy currency!

I recommend the Corvalen form of ribose (made by Bioenergy Labs) as it is the least expensive and highest quality product I have found.

Corvalen (D-Ribose) has many uses, including treating heart muscle weakness (congestive heart failure). Our research center was so impressed with this product that we recently completed a study that was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Two thirds of CFS/FMS patients improved with its use, with an average increase in quality of life of 30% - outstanding for a single nutrient! The use of ribose is a major step forward in treating fatigue - with the average CFS/FMS patient in the study having a 45% improvement in energy after 2-3 weeks. In our study, pain, sleep, and "brain fog’ also improved.

There are many other treatments available as well. As mentioned earlier, our patented online symptom analysis program can analyze your lab test results and symptoms to determine what is causing your CFS/fibromyalgia, and tailor a treatment protocol to your case, with natural alternatives offered for all prescriptions (see the free "Short Program").

In another exciting new development, the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers (FFC) has opened a chain of clinics throughout the U.S. that see patients from all over the world. Launched by Bob Baurys, a wonderful businessman who had CFS and recovered using this protocol, the FFC was established to make effective treatment available to everyone. This was after he experienced the same abusive ignorance that most CFS patients suffer through in our current healthcare system. I was so impressed by this group, that I agreed to become their Medical Director - and I can assure you that they give outstanding, knowledgeable, and compassionate care.

At this time, you now have all the tools you need to get well! We wish you all of God’s blessings and our best wishes in your healing!

- Jacob E Teitelbaum, M.D.

About Dr. Teitelbaum

Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., board certified internist and best-selling author of From Fatigued to Fantastic!, is also the author of landmark published research on effective treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Dr. Teitelbaum is medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, a national group of clinics. He is senior author of "Effective Treatment of CFS and FMS: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study" (Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2001:8(2):3-24) and "The Use of D-Ribose in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Study" (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2006:12(9):857-862). Dr. Teitelbaum is also the author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery/Penguin Group, 3rd revised edition 2007), Pain Free 1-2-3 (McGraw-Hill), and Three Steps to Happiness! Healing Through Joy (Deva Press). Dr. Teitelbaum knows CFS/fibromyalgia as an insider. He contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome when he was in medical school and had to drop out for a year to recover. In the ensuing 30 years, he has dedicated his career to finding effective treatment. His website (www.endfatigue.com) provides a free software tool that can analyze and create a complete medical record of a patient's case to help patients and physicians determine the best course of treatment to get well.

Cited Sources

1. Blatman H. Effective Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome: a Clinician's Perspective. American Journal of Pain Management 2002;12:68-69