Posted by gromit on October 27, 2004, at 1:48:47
In reply to Re: Q about paint dust » gromit, posted by Larry Hoover on October 26, 2004, at 9:02:14
> Perhaps you're working under a less appropriate model for what ails you? It seems that chronic fatigue syndrome might be a useful symptom cluster to consider.
>
> I think in terms of symptom clusters, not diagnoses per se. The reason is that many of my symptoms covary. As one in the cluster worsens, the whole group worsens, and vice versa. My symptoms do not fall nicely into the little symbolic box called major depression.
>
> Non-restorative sleep is a key issue to resolve. I suspect that what you're calling daytime sleepiness is nothing more than sleep failing to do its job of permitting you to wake fully rested.That is what my doctor called it, not me. I think he is a quack which is why I'm searching for a new and improved pdoc. I don't know, I sleep like the dead when I finally fall asleep, but actually I do better with very little sleep over the short term, eventually it catches up to me. I agree a diagnosis is a means to an end and I don't understand why doctors are so hung up on it. I mean I understand the whole scientific method thing, but it seems to me that is important on the research end of things not the business end.
> Only if you're weasing, feeling a struggle to breathe. Emphysema, for example, or asthma that doesn't respond to meds.No, those days are behind me since quiting smoking and breathing toxins 10 hrs a day.
> Yes, not to mention the stuff in the air. You become used to the daily exposure, hardly noticing the smell. Yet, someone comes into the shop for the first time, and it's overwhelming.This made me laugh out loud, I used to really enjoy the suits walking in and watching them go all rubber chicken. I guess the joke was on me though.
> Also, skin contact permits direct trans-cutaneous exposure. Skin is remarkably porous, especially to organic solvents, as they dissolve into the skin.Yeah, and I used to help it by spraying thinner on my hands thru a spray gun.
> I suppose I got a fairly decent helping of intelligence, way back when, but for many years, I just about did my utmost to destroy that all. Have you ever seen the anti-drug commercial where they represent a brain as a bunch of coiled wires, and drugs are like wire cutters, breaking connections? Sparks flying, smoke in the air? I was using bolt cutters, and hey, I came out the other side. One example....I purposely overdosed on PCP every day for over a year. Me and the boys, we were playing overdose chicken. First guy to come to, was a wuss.
Well you don't seem short on intelligence, but that was not your finest hour, I'm not a big religious guy but there was a reason you made it past this and other things.
> Thank you. I am a gifted public speaker. I try to write like I speak.Well I envy you there, I'm more of a private speaker myself although not really too gifted.
> I don't know where your "geek threshold" is, but a guy by the name of Pall has developed a unifying theory for chronic fatigue, PTSD, and multiple chemical sensitivity (your solvent exposure may have been the triggering stimulus). Here's a link to a full-text article. The intervention is antioxidant supplementation, and increased intake of the substances which are damaged by oxidative stress. More, anon.
> http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content-nw/full/16/11/1407
>
> There are hotlinks in the references. Make sure you click on reference #28.Well my geek factor has been reduced considerably as of late, but I did manage to read and mostly understand #28. Arghh, I have been taking arginine for the last month for the purpose of increasing NO. I also take lecithin to try to increase my choline which I though was a good thing, but then I always seem to pick the slowest line at the supermarket too.
Thanks
Rick
poster:gromit
thread:381874
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20041005/msgs/407764.html