Posted by KaraS on August 9, 2004, at 19:34:05
In reply to Re: what I'm planning on trying » KaraS, posted by Simus on August 9, 2004, at 14:44:51
> > > If there was just one supplement I would recommend to people, it would be magnesium (with vitamin C being a close second). That's how strongly I feel about it. (But then I am no Larry.)
What do you think magnesium has done for you? And what are the better forms?
>> > As for Larry, I was doing some research today on the net and found a discussion group that Larry was involved in. My first reaction was that he was cheating on us. How silly is that???? The post was from a couple of years ago in a forum that wasn't censored at all. For some reason a couple of the people were really attacking Larry and saying such horrible things to him. I can see why a moderator is needed on these boards.
>
> Why in the world people would attack those trying to help them is beyond me...I think it was a case of too many roosters in the hen house. These two guys who were attacking him thought that they were the experts on everything and seemed to resent Larry. I could be wrong as I didn't read all of the previous posts that led up the angry words. That was just my impression from what I had seen.
>
> > Licorice is one of the first new things I'm planning on trying.
>
> I read your post yesterday (?) on licorice. I think I should just go for it. I have actually had a bottle of it for a couple of years. These things actually do expire before I get the courage to try them. LOLDo you ever try a tiny bit at a time and then keep increasing the dosage? I bought one of those pill cutters at the drugstore and it has been a huge help.
>
> > > > I did try Wellbutrin once (both capsule and pill form) and felt like I couldn't breathe on it. It was a strange reaction. I've tried lots of things but never had that feeling before. I may try it again. I was very bummed when I had to give it up because I felt that it had the potential to really help me.
> > >
> > > It sure isn't for everybody. As a matter of fact, most people on this site seem to use Wellbutrin as a supplemental med with an SSRI. I think that I managed to get over the initial side effects fairly easily because the Lexapro had me SOOOOO down and it "softened the blow" of the anxiety of the Wellbutrin.So at least the Lexapro had it's value. I think I told you that I tried Celexa and had a horrible experience on it. Yuuuucccckkkkkk. Kind of like the Perika only with irregular heartbeats added on. Just horrible.
> >
> > I could deal with the anxiety of it since I have so little of that now. It's the feeling that it was an effort to breathe that got to me. Call me crazy, but it's something I like to do without effort.
>
> LOL I was assuming that was associated with the anxiety. That was how I used to feel during anxiety/panic attacks. I would "forget" to breath (find myself holding my breath). I didn't realize it until I started to get dizzy, and then I would say, "breathe in...breathe out..."Panic attacks are the worst. So glad I haven't had any of those in ages. I was worried that hotflashes might cause them because sensations going on in the body that you don't feel you have control over are the starting point for panic attacks. So far that hasn't happened but that's probably because my adrenals couldn't muster that kind of response now anyway.
>
> > So many people just can't (or don't want to) comprehend mental illness itself and there's no getting through to them. My brother-in-law told me during this last vacation that all I needed was short-term, medium-range and long-term goals.
>
> HA!!! It's SO simple! The answer was right there in front of you all the time and you just couldn't see it. Aren't we lucky to have people around us with all the answers?Why some of us just can't see what's right there in front of us is beyond me...
> > And have I mentioned yet that "friend" of mine who used to scream at me at the top of her lungs?
>
> As one of my true friends used to say, "With a friend like that, who needs an enema?" =)Good one. I'll have to remember that.
> > She has a very strong belief that anyone who doesn't work is useless. She won't even go out for an evening with another couple if the wife doesn't work. Needless to say, she just sees me as useless and lazy and she used to let me know it in no uncertain terms. Since we are also related it's hard to cut her out of my life completely but I did manage to have very little to do with her for a while. Now she tries to keep her mouth shut but you still know how she feels and what she is thinking.
>
> Wow. I am at a loss. Relative or not, who needs that? My 15 year old daughter just got a T-shirt that cracked me up. It said, "Everyone has the right to be stupid, but you are abusing the privelege."That's another great one. I'll definitely remember that one as well.
> > Getting back to medications, I'm stopping the Perika St. John's Wort tonight. I can't bear the thought of taking it again. I've felt so drugged and awful from it and I'm spending so much time sleeping. I just can't afford to continue feeling this way and I am only on 1/3 of the dosage now. All of the things that are supposed to make me feel energized, including the small amount of Ritalin I took a little while back, make me feel so tired and I fall asleep. I wonder if this is all related to the adrenal fatigue and/or I possibly have ADD which can make you react paradoxically to stimulant types of medications.
>
> Where is Larry when we need him? I know the feeling, but I have no answers for you. I know that SSRIs weren't the best meds for me, and since St. John's Wort affects serotonin (I think), I am not sure it would be the best choice for me either. I would think that after you gave it a fair chance and you still feel worse than before you started it, it is reasonable to stop taking it.
>Actually, St. John's Wort effects many things but is primarily serotonergic - except for Perika. Perika is made in Germany and is supposed to be more dopaminergic and activating than the other brands. That's why I chose to try it. I read on the board here and at SWJinfo.org that many people couldn't use it because they found it too stimulating. My luck I'm grogged out on it like I've taken a bottle of benzos! I'm so glad I didn't take it last night.
> > Actually, one thing that didn't put me to sleep was the selegiline. I only took 5 mg. but it definitely felt stimulating. The other thing that felt slightly stimulating was the DLPA. They're supposed to be a good antidepressant when combined. I didn't want to try that now because of job hunting (the metabolites of the selegiline are amphetamines so I'd fail work related drug tests) but I'll never get a job if I don't get some antidepressant effect going. Selegiline is used by lots of health-conscious people as a life enhancement supplement because of its neuroprotective effect. I figure that if I have to take a drug test, I'll just tell them upfront that I take it. Of course it probably won't work for me either in which case it will be a moot point.
>
> First and foremost, you have to get well. If you do come to a point that you need a drug screening for a new job, I would think that being upfront with them and telling them that you are taking herbal supplements that may or may not cause you to test positive on a drug screening would be the best way to handle it. But you have to keep looking for help...
> >That's how I feel about it too now. The only problem is that selegiline is a drug, not an herbal supplement. I just read on the main board that if you tell the drug testers that you're taking it, then you have to produce a prescription and then they will do another test to differentiate the selegiline from street amphetamines. I will have to find a doctor willing to prescribe it.
> > The selegiline is probably not good for the adrenal problems but it's like you with the Wellbutrin, you just can't afford to not take it now. That's one area I wish that the book had gone into more. I wish it listed medications to stay away from. Wish I could e-mail the author. Maybe I can find somethings out on the net.
>
> I bet a persistent person could find the author and get an answer...I think I'm going to try it anyway. You're still getting well even though you are taking the Wellbutrin. It's only a very small amount of selegiline and I'd take it with DLPA (theoretically 40% of the DLPA should convert to tyrosine which is great to take for the adrenals) so I think it's well worth the slight risk.
> > Oh, where is that selfish Larry when you need him? (LOL)
> Sipping martinis in front of the fireplace (it's chilly in the Alps).
Then why were you all spending so much time in the hottub?
> > I'm really in feel sorry for myself mood now. I'm so tired of hearing about all of these things that work so well for other people and they do nothing for me or I can't tolerate them. Oh well, on to the next trial...
>
> You just have to keep fighting!!! I was where you are now such a short time ago and I saw NO hope. But here I am now! Not 100%, but at least I am in the land of the living.How long ago did you start on Wellbutrin? Did the antidpressant effect hit you fairly quickly or did you have to wait the usual 4 weeks?
> Don't you dare give up,
>
> SimusThanks for the pep talk. Fortunately (or should I say serendipitously?) I read some posts on the main board yesterday about selegiline and how it has worked for those that nothing else seems to work for. Someone named Ktemene answered another post of mine and she just happened to include a lot of really uplifting links for me to check out. It was just what I needed. So I have a strong feeling that this is what I'm supposed to try now. Also, knowing that I can tolerate it after these last few trials, is another huge plus that is keeping me hopeful. And if this doesn't work out, it's on to Parnate. I'd also have to see a doctor for that one but hopefully it would be worth it.
Thanks again,
KP.S. I laughed so much last night at the "WELCOME PSYCHOS" and the "talking biomedical talk until dawn" with Larry and his better half. I'd keep thinking of it and then crack up all over again. My two cats were staring at me. They were convinced that this time I'd finally gone over that proverbial edge.
poster:KaraS
thread:359642
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/375754.html