tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post3156541626884354094..comments2024-03-27T14:05:22.815-04:00Comments on Live With ME/CFS: There and Back AgainSue Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532098225905355332noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-5781313980826560962009-04-08T14:38:00.000-04:002009-04-08T14:38:00.000-04:00It looks like you definitely hit a nerve! You are...It looks like you definitely hit a nerve! You are certainly not alone on this roller coaster ride. I admire the way you handled the blues -- instead of curling up in a ball until it passes (my preferred coping mechanism), you were doing nice things for others. I think I'm learning that about you!<BR/><BR/>Here's to ice cream, chocolate, and better days on the horizon!Shellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04533995997196611261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-90873238479426021242009-04-07T08:32:00.000-04:002009-04-07T08:32:00.000-04:00Jane - Thanks so much for all the info! I'm still...Jane - <BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for all the info! I'm still trying to stick with the L-glutamine and appreciate the extra advice. I was really hoping it would allow me to increase my exercise tolerance a bit, but I've been so sick lately I can't even take walks.<BR/><BR/>Interesting theory about the depression, too. I take birth control pills for 90 days at a time (it really helps me a lot to keep at least those hormones at a level constant) - I never thought to consider whether these occasional bouts of depression come at a certain point in that 90-day cycle. I will definitely check.<BR/><BR/>And B vitamins are yet another thing that makes my GI symptoms even worse, though maybe I'll try again.<BR/><BR/>Thanks!<BR/><BR/>SueSue Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532098225905355332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-55828311947782758422009-04-07T07:44:00.000-04:002009-04-07T07:44:00.000-04:00I know exactly what you mean. For me, knowing it ...I know exactly what you mean. For me, knowing it is chemical does help a bit - it stops me from analysing every little thing that's wrong in my life to try and find something fixable that would get me out of the depression. It helps me not hash over everything that's bad with DH (I warn him I'm feeling blue, and that it's chemical, and he cuddles up to me and we leave it at that :)). This is one case where giving up control does make me feel better - because trying to figure out what went wrong in order to fix it *definitely* makes me feel worse! <BR/><BR/>And when the chemicals switch back again? Magic!<BR/><BR/>I hope you have a lot more Ice Cream days coming up.<BR/><BR/>Jenna.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-77745638288072276192009-04-07T04:08:00.000-04:002009-04-07T04:08:00.000-04:00Glad you have come out the other side. Great post....Glad you have come out the other side. Great post. Jo xDusty Bogwranglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14378437798741434260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-45745765271040117912009-04-06T20:04:00.000-04:002009-04-06T20:04:00.000-04:00Thanks for sharing your experience, Sue. It's help...Thanks for sharing your experience, Sue. It's helps me so much to know that others have this happen. Out of nowhere the blues just descend on me and just when I think they won't go away, suddenly, they lift (but not without some crying in between). I think of CFS moods as being like the weather -- unpredictable, blowing us all over the place, rain and then sunshine.<BR/><BR/>ToniTonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729837575450453607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-84907152275467224382009-04-06T19:12:00.000-04:002009-04-06T19:12:00.000-04:00I am so sorry that you have been going through one...I am so sorry that you have been going through one of the CFS brain induced bouts of depression. They are awful to deal with. Glad it did not last very long. Keep on resting and pacing and having an extra bit of ice cream if it helps :)...!!Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07089685282700680525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-78094794292333156122009-04-06T18:18:00.000-04:002009-04-06T18:18:00.000-04:00Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time Sue!...Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time Sue! I know what you mean about chemical shifts in your brain and I have a hypothesis which seems to hold true for me but may or may not relate to you. Anyway, here goes...<BR/><BR/>I discovered back when I was trying to take the pill for dysmenorrhea that I could be on it for a certain length of time before I started to have mood problems, crying and moments of despair. There was a chemical shift in my brain chemistry, I would come off the pill and return to normal. The pain would start up again after a few months and so I would go back on. Anyway what I discovered from my gyno in the US while searching for an alternative solution (which I did find btw, but that's another story) was that apparently taking birth control limits our absorption of the B vitamins and that a depletion in Bs can trigger these chemical changes in the brain and thus emotional instability.<BR/><BR/>You're probably wondering how this relates... well in my battle against the yeast I get die off symptoms and I found that these could trigger a similar response. That is, the body is using up it's B vitamins to safely dispose of the toxins so you become depleted and have unwanted psychological effects. I found that by supplementing extra Bs (e.g. Solgar B-100 complex) and other vitamins that help dispose of toxins (like C, D and other antioxidants) during die-offs very helpful for preventing and treating these chemical changes. <BR/><BR/>Of course, I think it's actually absolutely normal to feel a bit down from time to time given what we're all going through, but I do find the above approach has helped me to avoid the unnecessary chemical induced downs. I'm glad you're out of the darkness again, I'm sure both the resting and the ice cream helped :).<BR/><BR/>RE the glutamine, I will write a proper post about it soon hopefully but for the mean time here are some brief answers:<BR/>No I've never had any digestive issues from taking it, in fact it has only been beneficial in that department. I would suggest starting with a quarter or half a gram to begin with and working up to 1 gram once you are certain you tolerate it ok. Take your chosen amount 3x a day immediately before meals (if a powder, or 15 mins before if a capsule/tablet) on an empty stomach. If you are still having gut problems after 3 days I would stop altogether. <BR/><BR/>I am now taking 1g 3x a day, but I take an extra 2g dose immediately after any exertion and usually up the next couple of doses too. The only side effect I have had from it is that if I take a little too much I can tell because it feels funny when I pee. I believe this is because any unneeded glutamine is turned to ammonia and peed out and I am sensitive enough to notice these changes. I use this to pitch the right amount. I have never heard of anyone else having this side effect though, or any side effects for that matter. To prevent muscle wasting of for healing a leaky gut and helping the integrity of the intestinal lining it is important to take a little consistently. For the strength benefit (and even muscle building) it is most beneficial to take glutamine immediately before or after exercise. Essentially I do both.<BR/><BR/>Phew that was longer than I intended! Take care, tomorrow will be better!<BR/>Jane xsecretjanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12598046061797320394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-68191647855990249632009-04-06T17:09:00.000-04:002009-04-06T17:09:00.000-04:00Yes, Lori, it must have been the ice cream! This ...Yes, Lori, it must have been the ice cream! This place has the best ice cream in the world. And the "dear" helped, too!<BR/><BR/>Thanks - <BR/><BR/>SueSue Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532098225905355332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576999.post-90787161051997037442009-04-06T17:07:00.000-04:002009-04-06T17:07:00.000-04:00Dear Sue,(Someone wrote to me recently stressing t...Dear Sue,<BR/>(Someone wrote to me recently stressing the importance of the word "dear") <BR/>I'm so sorry that you're having a difficult time. I don't even know what to say except that many people care for you and are hoping that things begin to look up for you soon.<BR/><BR/>I'd like to think that maybe it was the ice cream that helped! Maybe you should have more. ;-)<BR/>Take care,<BR/>LoriLori Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808703279193470654noreply@blogger.com