Posted by Jasmineneroli on November 2, 2004, at 16:23:16
In reply to Re: Bowel toxins,enzyme.Help, questions ? » Jasmineneroli, posted by Larry Hoover on November 2, 2004, at 10:34:13
Hiya Lar:
Thank you for spending the time to read and ponder my post :)
> Have you tried a light box? You might be vitamin D deficient, too.* No, not yet, I've seriously been considering it, and was wondering if the "light alarm" version would be the most helpful to me, in getting up in the am??
> RLS is associated with low iron. How is your ferritin level?* Iron levels have been fine every time they have been checked (annually for past 4-5 years). I don't know exactly what the readings were, but within the normal range according to my GP.
Vit D deficiency may be an issue. I do not supplement, now that I've dropped the calcium (the supplement had Calc. + D).
> There are disorders of sleep structure that involve failure to permit the release of consciousness, to move into sleep. This is involuntary. You can't make yourself give up consciousness. Sleep hygiene practises only go so far in relieving this problem. One of the most effective meds for this problem is temazepam (Restoril).* Since I already take Clonazepam for anxiety, I'm not sure my pdoc would go for another benzo. I had an appointment with him yesterday, and we've dropped the Celexa (due to side effects) in favour of L-Tryptophan, which he feels will have less s/e's and be more of a sleep-aid. Just started last night. 2x500mg tablets at bedtime. No change to sleep pattern, last night. But I'm to experiment with the dosage. (Tryptophan by prescript. btw, since I'm in Canada).
>> OCD Traits?
> Exaggerated coping response? You don't want to be a f*** up?*Absolutely!!! Part of my GAD "personality" I think. Over-conscientious, always worrying/anticipating problems. The worst part of that anxiety disorder, it's hard to relax. I'm finding a lot of what look likes other disorders, is just a manifestation of anxiety. Thanks for the reminder!!
> > Otherwise I alternate between high energy, outgoing, creative, scattered thinking, lack of focus (and up into anxiety) and grouchy, irritable, sound-sensitive, "slow" moving and thinking (but my mood isn't necessarily "down").
>
> How long is the period between high and low? Is there any possibility that you might have PTSD?* Um, that's hard to say, it varies so much. I'm probably at the low "irritable" end 1-2 days out of 7 , somewhere in the middle for 4 days, then "up and wired" for 1-2 days. I've been much more "even" since on the Celexa. But still get get "up" 1 or 2 days per week.
Yes, there are things in my past both distant and more recently that could cause PTSD, but I've not really discussed the distant stuff with my Pdoc.> > I'm apparently not bipolar. I dunno about that one.
>
> Diagnoses are only useful in so far as they guide treatment, apart from the obvious value of "saving a lot of words to describe what I'm like".* Discussed this at my Pdoc's app't yesterday. He says I'm definitely NOT bipolar, under ANY description. My dx is predominantly anxiety, as far as he's concerned. He even feels it's the anxiety that has made me "stupid" (my term, not his). Because my pre-frontal cortex keeps shutting down on overload from adrenalin (or NE, whichever term you wanna use). He doesn't feel the drugs are causing it either, dosages too low. But I agree, finding effective treatment is the main issue.
> Have you tried omega-3 supplementation, e.g. fish oil?
* Yes, for over a year I was on a variety of DPA/EHA fish oils (mostly salmon). I felt no changes....suspected headaches and dropped them 3 months ago. I also took Evening primrose oil for many years and have now substituted a Borage/Flax oil supplement for the EPO. No side effects to that. Have great skin and hair, which I think is an "outward" sign that they are working!
> Did you notice an anxiolytic effect of magnesium? Have you tried niacinamide? Taurine?
* More of a drowsiness from 500mg Mag citrate, but I guess you can call it, anxiolytic. I'm back to 250mg Mag at bedtime. I took the "no-flush" niacin for a long period. Take none now. I take Taurine, but sporadically. (Sometimes add it to my Protein shake).I add Glutamine to my shake every day. After reading your regimen, I may start taking Taurine at night. ???> > I didn't have such severe difficulty getting aroused in the am before these drugs, but it still was a bit of an issue.
>
> Do you take the Celexa only in the a.m.?* I actually took Celexa after supper time, because I got so much gut pain/nausea a few hours later, I wanted to sleep through it. This SE did reduce considerably after some months, but I did not change the dose time. Now a moot point, since I'm off Celexa for now.
> There is simply too much variation in the formulation of "hormone balancers" to even consider a response, let alone the fact that some people have paradoxical responses (the opposite reaction to what you'd expect).* Yes, stupid question of mine, really. Not specific enough.
> I wonder if the adaptogen herbs might be a better choice. Those would be St. John's wort, Rhodiola, Siberian ginseng, Ashwagandha....and others. One at a time, of course. Not all together.
* I've tried SJW, gives me headaches ( so MANY things do, it's frustrating). I used Rhodiola for about 2 months, in the am. The first brand, Enzymatic Therapy, definitely helped to "energize" me in the morning. I could'nt get hold of it when it ran out, so used the Now brand and found zero effect. However, I read that Rhodiola has only a limited effective time, so I wasn't sure if it had "pooped-out" or if the 2nd brand wasn't as superior. One of my problems with the whole issue of alternative supplements, is that you never really know what you are getting.
I think I will try to get more Enz. Therapy brand Rhodiola and give it another shot. I had no side effects to it.
I took Siberian Ginseng daily for about 6 months and recently dropped that. Just felt it was doing nothing.> Enzymes fall into the "can't hurt, might help" category. They also aren't the kind of thing that you can take for a day, and decide whether they work, or not. If you take them daily for six weeks, and that corresponds with a general feeling of stabilization and resiliency, then they may be the cause of that trend.
* I will definitely look into supplementing with enzymes, then.> Whey powder varies substantially. Some is hydrolyzed (pre-digested). Some says it is hydrolyzed, but isn't. Some just isn't. If your enzymes aren't working right, you will get a reduced benefit from whey powder.
* I use a PVL (Canadian) brand Whey protein Iso/concentrate blend. Supposed to be good quality and hydrolyzed.
> Some people who have poor protein digestion benefit from bromelain (proeolytic enzyme but also anti-inflammatory), B-12 (It's an essential part of protein digestion, but indirectly. Poor protein digestion, though, leads to B-12 deficiency, so this can be a vicious circle.), and betaine.
* I have been tested numerous times for B12 deficiency, and again score as normal.
> There are some fairly inexpensive multi-enzyme formulas available (check iherb, for example). They pretty much can't hurt you in any way.
* Yes, will follow through on that suggestion :)>
> Mixing an SSRI with an MAOI is not recommended. It's not excluded, but it has risks. If you can get your doctor to agree to that, fine. The absolute maximum dose would be 5 mg, and I'd say 2.5 might be a prudent limit.* Off the Celexa so the MAOI mix not at issue. However, my Pdoc anticipates S/E's for me with Selegiline. He's asked me to take my PM Clonazepam earlier, to help lessen am "slowness".
>> Pdoc appointments:
> Anticipate the questions/challenges, and write things down. The very fact that you struggle with this is evidence for the struggle itself.
* Ha! I typed up a 2 page essay for him to read yesterday...which helped tremendously. He agrees with you, and maintains that the memory/cognitive problems are pure anxiety!
> >I make a lot of silly mistakes.
>
> You're aging, too.* NOOOOOOOOOO! It can't be :)
> You don't mention much about supplements. If you did before, I forget. What are you taking, supplement wise?
* Um, OK here goes: Green tea capsules, an anti-oxidant formula (Vit A, C, beta carotene, thiamine, folic acid, B6, riboflavin, selenium, magnesium papaya & pineapple extract, quercitin, citrus bioflavanoids, acetyl-L-cysteine & grape seed extract), potassium, pantothenic acid, Vit E (mixed tocotrienols/tocopherols) P5P B6, Chromium Picolinate with biotin, Zinc, Mag. Citrate, Keto-DHEA, Omega mix: borage +flax & acetyl-L-carnitine.> We'll get to a solution. It takes patience. And, as long as I'm hanging out here, I'm happy to help.
>
> Lar* Thank you SO VERY MUCH, I truly appreciate you, your knowledge and your desire to help out others!
I hope you hang out here for a LONG time to come!
Take care
Jas
poster:Jasmineneroli
thread:407758
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20041022/msgs/410721.html