Posted by Simus on August 10, 2004, at 0:23:09
In reply to Re: what I'm planning on trying » Simus, posted by KaraS on August 9, 2004, at 19:34:05
> What do you think magnesium has done for you? And what are the better forms?
This goes back a few years, so I have to stretch my memory a little... I bought one of Maureen Solomon's books on natural healing, and almost everything that I had a problem with she recommended magnesium for. I had NEVER taken a magnesium supplement up to that point, and I was probably in my late 30's at the time. So you have to consider that there may have been a serious magnesium deficiency in my body. I had allergies to the point of weekly shots, two inhalents and a nasal spray and over-the-counter pills. My lungs wheezed when I breathed. I had chronic bronchitis and sinus infections. All of that turned around when I started taking magnesium. The first day I noticed that my lungs were clearer and it was easier to breathe. Soon I was off of all meds, and I no longer went in for the shots. Last winter when I was so sick from the psychiatric meds, I got real lax on the supplements. Then in the spring, the allergies returned for the first time in years. I am back on magnesium now (with vit C and quercetin) and off of the allergy meds. I'm thinking there were noticable mental benefits too, for instance with anxiety. It has been so long ago and I have been through so much since then with the drugs - I am so sorry that I just don't remember. That didn't stand out as much as the other results though. As far as the best form of magnesium... There are several forms, and I don't know why and what is best for what. I have a magnesium chelate that seems to work well, but then others may too...
> >> > 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.
>
Their loss is our gain.
> >
> > > 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. LOL
>
> Do 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 think the licorice I have is in a gelatin capsule and can't be broken or cut. I believe I bought it originally to raise my low blood pressure, but then I went on a med that raised my blood pressure as a side effect so I just set the licorice aside. There is a story behind every supplement I own, and I have a whole cupboard full of them. I wish I had a whole brain full of memories as to why I bought them in the first place... But I shouldn't complain. My memory has improved greatly and is still improving. (I had a real hard time with memory loss on Lexapro.) Oh, wasn't it you that I told my "Flowers for Algernon" story to? That seems so long ago now...
> >
> > > > > 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 hear ya.
> > > 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.Oh, another side effect of Lexapro... Hormones all over the map... I thought it was making me menopausal at 43. My periods are just now straightening out, and I have been off of it for 7 months.
How are you doing after stopping the Perika?
> > > 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.Ohhhhhh... That was a name I had never heard of and I just assumed it was herbal.
> > > 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?Did he tell you EVERYTHING???
> > > 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?I started it in February, I believe. My doctor took me off of 30mg Lexapro and put me on 150mg Wellbutrin (standard dose is 300mg) on the same day. No decrease in the Lex at all, just cold turkey. The first day I felt GREAT!!! (Remember that "great" is relative to how I felt the day before.) It was the first time in months that I felt functional. But I only slept 2 hours the first night - in two one-hour shifts. I think I got 3 hours of sleep the second night. I was going a little nuts from lack of sleep, but I was "alive" again! Within a few days I was sleeping 7-8 hours a night. It was broken up into 3 segments at first, then two, then the occasional 7-8 hours straight. The sleep thing is still an obstacle, but it is sooooo good to "feel" something other than numbness again. (By the way, this is the med change that sent my adrenals into exhaustion mode.)
>
> > Don't you dare give up,
> >
> > Simus
>
> Thanks 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.Can't lose hope, or all will be lost...
>
> Thanks again,
> K
>
> P.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."WELCOME BABBLERS" just wouldn't pack the same punch... Humor is what kept me sane (?) over the years. By the way, you wrote a lot of things that even though I didn't respond, I got a good chuckle out of. Like, "Why some of us just can't see what's right there in front of us is beyond me...". Priceless!!!
Here's hoping that we make it until Larry returns...
Simus
poster:Simus
thread:359642
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/375853.html