Medication Questions

[Grizzly]

Good read @Friday as usual. Good you hear from you too. I've never been tested or anyone ever gave a shit if I had ADHD. And frankly, who cares at this point in my life?

I'm still fascinated that this trial has in some way helped PTSD and GWI symptoms. But I can say that I am taking huge doses of vitamins and amino's along with this. And I've been researching some of these and seeing links to central and peripheral nervous systems.

I go back to San Francisco in mid January. I'll be anxious to see what type of changes are found in my blood work from the baseline of the test.

 

[combatgoldfish]

ADHD? Shit, I know the whole f*ckin
alphabet.

 

[Grizzly]

SO I just returned from another trip out to SF. It's a bitch flying clear across the country and back in less than 48 hours now. But the rewards have been worth it.

So I discovered the clear intent for the methylphenidate. While visiting the lead at Stanford U. It seems they want to use this to for the body to be able to metabolize the deliver the mitochondrial support formula to the body as rapidly as possible. So in other words, it uses the heart as a turbocharger of sorts.

I have been giving them daily data on my result and how i've been feeling etc. There seems to be some intriguing thoughts on how this has managed to help PTSD symptoms. But let me reiterate that the symptoms are there. I have the intrusive thoughts, flashes of memory, hypervigilance etc that I deal with daily. But I'm now able to more easily rationalize and challenge these thoughts more easily. I don't feel as overwhelmed constantly.

My hypothesis (which has catapulted me into another study) is that their has been significant improvement in my mitochondrial function via lab results. This has improved sleep quality by 60% (as verified with a sleep monitor), improved pain response, improved fatigue and overall well being. My headaches and IBS symptoms have also completely been gone for a month.

This all being said, my cognitive function seems to have improved. This improved cognitive function had allowed me to better process the PTSD symptoms easier. They are still there, but I am able to rationalize those ideas. Being that I am also feeling 100% better physically helps as well. At least this is part of my hypothesis. The other part is the mechanisms in the brain which control PTSD, flight / fight etc. are getting necessary chemical balances from the new trial drug, not the methylphenidate and are improving this norepinephrine and dopamine response in the brain. Don't be confused this trial is not for PTSD. It's for pain / fatigue / CFS DX patients.

I have a 4 more months in this study trial and at one point I will be required to cessate from all the test drugs. I am regretting this point. As I am certain that the symptoms will immediately return.

 

[CyclePath]

PTSD and impacts to mtDNA. Interesting topic. Lots of research on the net about this. Hopefully the changes that you are experiencing are somewhat perminent and not as transient as you think.

 

[vikingr24]

Reminds me of the L-DOPA reaction which succeeded in clearing up Parkinson's. For a while anyway. Even when the dosage was increased, it stopped working and the patients regressed rapidly.

I am sure they are working hard on that further. Good luck with it, Grizz. You got point on this one.

 

[Grizzly]

PTSD and impacts to mtDNA. Interesting topic. Lots of research on the net about this. Hopefully the changes that you are experiencing are somewhat perminent and not as transient as you think.

Don't confuse this study to anything related to PTSD. This is primarily for those with symptoms of Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. Me having a diagnosis of GWI got me enrolled in the trial.

I personally have biomarkers that are indicative to others with this unknown Illness. I also have brain lesions, fiber neroupathy and autonomic neuropathy. Indicators of some sort of toxic organophosphate exposure.

This got me into the study.

Anyway, my point being is that the improvement is helping more than the intended.

Reminds me of the L-DOPA reaction which succeeded in clearing up Parkinson's. For a while anyway. Even when the dosage was increased, it stopped working and the patients regressed rapidly.

I am sure they are working hard on that further. Good luck with it, Grizz. You got point on this one.

I looked at L-DOPA at an the science is interesting. At the moment I don't think it will be the case. From what I can tell in looking at my lab, and how I feel currently the nuticeutial has a short half life. 5 hours maybe and then I slowly feel the pain fatigue creep back in. For the most part the mtDNA supplement is loaded with high levels of vitamins. The big ones which I had been tracking for a while were Vit D. And there is some solid science on it.

There is an inherent immune response that I can tell. I've currently contracted a bad cold / sinus infection. This has pretty well put me down for the count for the past 2 days and nothing seems to help. But in the evenings, once things begin to wear off I begin to feel even worse.

 

[vikingr24]

I am diagnosed (or should I say mis-) with FM and met a lot of CFS guys. The doc said men will go into remission after 1 year if they are lucky; otherwise you're stuck. After a year and a half I took almost 180 trigger point shots all up and down my back and hips. And then another set.

I walked out of the clinic straight and tall for the first time in many years. I still owe that doc so much.

Nothing like having FM. Nothing. It just plain hurts all the time.There are times when I would go back in the bedroom and just cry like a baby. Hopes this works for you Grizz. I know what you are going through.

 

[Grizzly]

I am diagnosed (or should I say mis-) with FM and met a lot of CFS guys. The doc said men will go into remission after 1 year if they are lucky; otherwise you're stuck. After a year and a half I took almost 180 trigger point shots all up and down my back and hips. And then another set.

I walked out of the clinic straight and tall for the first time in many years. I still owe that doc so much.

Nothing like having FM. Nothing. It just plain hurts all the time.There are times when I would go back in the bedroom and just cry like a baby. Hopes this works for you Grizz. I know what you are going through.

Yes, it really sucks. So far it is working very good. It was interesting the since I have small fiber neuropathy (not diabetic related) that my neurologist tried to start blaming the pains on that. But now the neuropathy pain still exists along with the burning and tingling. But the FM pain and fatigue have subsided to nearly 20%. It is worse in the evening once all the meds wear off it seems.

 

[vikingr24]

I think the worst part of FM is that achy-breaky feeling. Sort of rheumatic. And it just sits on you and digs in. I could handle some of the nerve zingers. But once I was able to move without pain, I got better. I still have some problems. Wounds have memories.

It s very interesting to run into so many vets with PTSD and FM. I have read FM studies that weakly link it to AO, our old friend. So glad they are getting better at handling FM. When I had it, you were considered a hypochondriac. Some Swedish Institute finally presented a diagnosis.

 

[Grizzly]

I think the worst part of FM is that achy-breaky feeling. Sort of rheumatic. And it just sits on you and digs in. I could handle some of the nerve zingers. But once I was able to move without pain, I got better. I still have some problems. Wounds have memories.

It s very interesting to run into so many vets with PTSD and FM. I have read FM studies that weakly link it to AO, our old friend. So glad they are getting better at handling FM. When I had it, you were considered a hypochondriac. Some Swedish Institute finally presented a diagnosis.

There are still a lot of physicians who dismiss it as BS. I have one. But I have several who can back up the diagnosis with actual legitimate science.

As you stated @vikingr24, it is interesting to see those who are linked with it and PTSD. The number of Veterans is huge. After dealing with these folks at Stanford, and a few other studies you can see the pathological connections with the disease and the CNS and PNS. There are also some links to the parts of the brain which affect PTSD. It simplest forms, they are brain - blood - chemical imbalances hence why it seems the only treatments seem to be the same they SRRI's and MAOI's to treat depression and PTSD symptoms.

 

[vikingr24]

Well my turn. After years of being reasonably stable without happy pills, the therapists directed me to her psych nurse. She put me on Ativan, right away. Hands were shaking, I knew I was going down the spiral to a nice little panic attack. We are going through divorce and it finally got me. In my mind I associate her with a dead Viet woman who was one of ours. Shot right through the heart, close range.I still see her naked on a gurney. I just broke.
Better now though with rest and some Wellbutrin. Zombie but at least I can drive. Still in the battle.

 

[BaMuoiBa]

Vik, I hear you!

She put me on Ativan, right away. Hands were shaking, I knew I was going down the spiral to a nice little panic attack.

I had serious complications after a botched gall bladder surgery. They gave me Ativan for the pain OMG! It took two day to get me off the ceiling - 4 point restraints. I was seeing shit that Hollywood could not create for the silver screen. Big RED marker in my chart NO ATIVAN EVER.

Ba