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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 22, 2011, at 3:56:03
Ya know, I used to love swinging when I was little bitty...but this type of swing...NOT so much. :/
Have been doing mostly alright on 0.5 mg alprazolam (+0.25 mg as necessary throughout the day...not too often usually) and 150 mg lithium in the AM + 10 mg ambien and 150 mg lithium in the PM.
I've been not so great about forcing myself to go to sleep at a regualr hour and my work 'schedule' (or lack there of) certainly doesn't help anything.
Anyhow, I have been mostly feeling ok, if not, better than okay...and then the swing down started this afternoon. Sooo unbearably self-concious and a little nervous, rush of anxiety then feel insecure and now my brain won't shut the ef up.
So (since I can't sleep; now parusing the iHerb.com aisles) thinking about:
1. Lithium orotate (along with the current lithium to hopefully boost it without toxicity): http://www.iherb.com/Nutrient-Carriers-Incorporated-Advanced-Research-Lithium-Orotate-200-Tablets-120-mg/33149?at=02. Source Naturals Coenzymated B6 (300 mg): http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals-Coenzymated-B-6-300-mg-30-Tablets/12216?at=1
3. Source Naturals Serene Theanine with Relora: http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals-Theanine-Serene-with-Relora-60-Tablets/1437?at=0
4. Himalaya Stress Care: http://www.iherb.com/Himalaya-USA-StressCare-120-Veggie-Caps/23143?at=0
Thoughts?? Anyone try any of these things with good results?
Good thing I can be fake if I have to...just wish the over-thinking and awkward feeling would vanish, it's drivin me nuts.
Posted by morgan miller on March 22, 2011, at 11:25:54
In reply to Gotta love swings...new herbals/supps..., posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 22, 2011, at 3:56:03
Hey BD, good to hear you are feeling a little better.
I would not add more lithium. I like the idea of trying Serene Theanine with Relora for your bad days.
P5P B6 is worth a try and may help. It also might agitate you, I've read reports of this. But still worth a try. 300 mg is a ton, I wouldn't take more than 100.
StressCare is good stuff, it may help or it may stimulate/agitate, it can go either way.
You may want to look into the new New Chapter Perfect Calm multivitamin, I've heard really good things about it. I think this formulation might really suit your needs.
Are you any closer to being able to go see a good therapist? It sounds like much of what you experience may be rooted in issues of self love stemming from childhood. Sorry for being analytical here and playing armchair psychologist. I really really believe you would greatly benefit from a good psychodynamic group therapy. I believe everyone would.
Good to hear things are better!
Morgan
Posted by morgan miller on March 22, 2011, at 11:26:29
In reply to Re: Gotta love swings...new herbals/supps..., posted by morgan miller on March 22, 2011, at 11:25:54
Forgot to ask, did you ever try holy basil?
Posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 22, 2011, at 13:44:21
In reply to Re: Gotta love swings...new herbals/supps..., posted by morgan miller on March 22, 2011, at 11:26:29
Hey Morgan,
Haven't tried holy basil yet, but it is in formulation of the Himalaya StressCare. There were a lot of good things said about it. I'm so on the fence about the stimulation vs. calming...I kinda need both, cause I do get a case of the blahs very very easily...though, I'm guessing most of that has to do with lack of a good sleep schedule...which right now, is almost impossible with the way I work. But, I have pretty distinct distraction factors (off charts ADD) so thought a stimulant might not be a bad thing...especially if I can safely up the effectiveness of lithium by augmenting it with lithium orotate. But do you think that is kind of playing with fire? I do at the same time need the calmingaspect of "something" cause the alprazolam is not holding as well as it was. i went from 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg...and I will admit since being on lithium, if I take the lithium and 0.5 mg alprazolam in the AM I am pretty good for a while, but the last few days have had much less effect and had to take a second dose. I do not want to keep upping the xanax, and I'll talk about it thoroughly with my pdoc once I get home in 3-4 weeks...but til then?!?...I need something that will hold it.
I do have to look for formulations without St. Johns Wort cause apparently it reduces serum levels of the benzos by half. I'll check out the New Chapter multi...that sounds interesting. B6 in the past has been a good one for me in high doses (ie: 600+ mg of the regular vit/day) and was curious to see if the P5P was any different, but I can get it 100 mg formula.
The therapy sessions sound like a good idea, but I am only here for another 10 days or so, and then I travel for another 10 days before I get home again, so...yes, closer to being able to get talk therapy...which is definitely an issue (you've nailed it on the head).
BTW...babblemail me (I tried babble mailing you and it didn't work). I'm going to be in DC area for a few days very soon. If you want to try the MagnaWave therapy, let me know.
Thanks for your response ;o)
Posted by morgan miller on March 22, 2011, at 23:24:08
In reply to Re: Gotta love swings...new herbals/supps... » morgan miller, posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 22, 2011, at 13:44:21
It might be worth trying New Chapter Holy Basil supercritical extract(make sure you get this one) instead of adding more lithium to the mix. A buddy of mine who is bipolar in a pretty bad way cut his lithium dose in half because he started using New Chapter holy basil. I'm not saying it would hook you up like that, just giving you an example of how it really can positively impact how one feels.
If you make to D.C. I would definitely be interested in trying out the MagnaWave Therapy. Umm, let's see if I can use babblemail. For some reason last time I tried I didn't know how to do it.
Morgan
Posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 23, 2011, at 0:49:06
In reply to Re: Gotta love swings...new herbals/supps..., posted by morgan miller on March 22, 2011, at 23:24:08
Might try both. The last time I was on the LiOr it just about eliminated the constant anxiety I was having this past Fall. It didn't help with low mood/blahs, just the anxiety, but it kept me from being dark depressed. ...OR...maybe I could wave a magic wand and make my work schedule obey to normal hours so that I can get onto a regular sleep schedule...bet that would nip most of it in the bud. Also doesn't help I ran out of ambien and am waiting for it in the mail grrr. (was up til 6 AM and had to be at the barn by 9)
My babblemail settings were off, I fixed them...said it sent my message successfully. Maybe it's in your e-mail box? If not: greater good sporthorses at gmail dot com (no spaces or underscores)
Posted by morgan miller on March 23, 2011, at 10:02:02
In reply to Re: Gotta love swings...new herbals/supps... » morgan miller, posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 23, 2011, at 0:49:06
Cool, I'll check my email.
Yeah I don't think one or two 5 mg(elemental) lithium orotate capsules a day on top of the carbonate would really hurt. I would just stay on top of getting thyroid and kidney tests twice a year.
I definitely think the New Chapter supercritical holy basil is worth a try. Or the Perfect Calm Multivitamin(it has holy basil so you would get some more added to what you get in StressCare). These would both be fairly expensive. Hopefully you could just get away with one of the holy basil, this way the bottle would last twice as long. The multivitamin has a 3 capsule serving size, so you may feel the benefit of just taking 2. They are both worth trying.
Morgan
Posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 23, 2011, at 12:42:17
In reply to Re: Gotta love swings...new herbals/supps..., posted by morgan miller on March 23, 2011, at 10:02:02
http://www.vitacost.com/Paradise-Herbs-Holy-Basil-Lotus-and-Bacopa#ProductDetails
Know anything about this company? It's an interesting combo. Also contains ashwagandha, licorice root, and ginger
Posted by morgan miller on March 24, 2011, at 23:41:12
In reply to Check out this one: Holy Basil/Lotus/Bacopa, posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 23, 2011, at 12:42:17
Don't know anything about the company, but it looks good and is definitely worth a try. If you do try it, I'll be interested in finding out what your experience is.
Posted by BetweenDreams81 on March 25, 2011, at 0:23:17
In reply to Re: Check out this one: Holy Basil/Lotus/Bacopa, posted by morgan miller on March 24, 2011, at 23:41:12
Yeah, I definitely want to try it because I have heard interesting things about lotus for other properties...not the reason I'd try it, but interesting the same. I like the idea of the calming of the lotus/holy basil along with the stimulating factors of bacopa. At the moment I am actually trying out homeopathic remedies and am having decent success. Ran out of meds due to untimely delivery of Rx meds from online company...sent to wrong address, so have been without ambien and xanax for 2 days. I can say Hylands Insomnia formula is a really good match for me and I may actually use it in replacement of ambien. It doesn't knock you out involuntarily the way ambien does/can but makes sleep your own idea, and it is a nice restful sleep. I did wake up about 5 hours in, but I am a light sleeper to begin with. The thing I liked about it was that I felt calm and soothed, not just tamped down made to sleep. I picked up the Hyland's Bioplasma Cell Salts for good measure...can't hurt right? lol gaaawd I am going to be a walking pill box! lol and then have both arsenicum album (6C) and ignatia amara (6C) for nervousness and anxiety. I don't think it is placebo, but did notice a definite difference after taking these several times throughout the day. Didn't feel as anxious/self-conscious or have the cycling thoughts that won't let up.
This is the end of the thread.
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