Posted by Ron Hill on June 2, 2001, at 9:19:34
In reply to Re: TRUEHOPE, posted by Deb_s on May 31, 2001, at 9:39:45
Deb,
I personally appreciate your posts regarding your experience with the pig pills. It's antidotal, but worthwhile none-the-less. Please continue to keep us abreast of your continued successes and/or setbacks.
-- Ron
--------------------------------------------
> I'm with you 100% !!!
>
> First of all, saying it's a "vitamin pill, available at WalMart" shows an extremely closed mind on the subject. There is a great deal more to it than that.
>
> Two, I have heard that Harvard is conducting a study, and have not been able to "confirm" it, although presumably it will be published when it is completed. I surfed a bit at Harvard's research site and it seems like they're conducting about a gazillion studies, so I reached no conclusions.
>
> The statement by Sulpicia, "I can guarantee you that Truehope stuff is not being tested at Harvard." What's with that????
>
> I have been treated for depression for about forever, and with meds the past 8 years or so. Indeed, for short periods of time, the antidepressants helped enormously. Then not so much. It's been a hell of a roller coaster. Then I hit menopause (I'm 51), so the doctors added in Synthroid (my family doctor said it wasn't necessary, but my shrink said it was a good idea, so just in case ... ), and PremPro (seemed like a good idea at the time; was rather a coin-toss decision).
>
> By January 2001, I was taking:
>
> Wellbutrin 450mg/day
> Prozac 140mg/day
> PremPro 0.625mg /2.5mg 1/day
> Synthroid 0.025mg/day
>
> And just barely getting by. I didn't know who I was anymore. No energy, very little short-term memory, and ziltch confidence about the future. Etc. (you all can fill in the blanks). Since the meds weren't working, the next step was going to be ECT.
>
> I told my shrink I was going to try the "pig pill" program. She gave me all sorts of caveats, but distinctly missing was ANY looking, whatsoever, at the facts about the program itself. Assuming, since it seemed too good to be true, that it was, she put on her automatic allopathic physician hat and essentially gave me the message that I
> had no ability to make decisions about myself. I haven't been back to her since (I can't afford it, for one thing, because my health insurance won't pay for "outpatient" mental health visits).
>
> I posted some of this on:
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010302/msgs/55836.html
>
> I started taking E.M. Power, a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement, on February 4th, and weaned off my medications week-by-week. I did not have any of the dramatic withdrawal symptoms I had had on other occasions. I started napping less, remembering more, and finding pleasure in life again.
>
> I've been gradually improving. I hit a rocky spot these last few weeks when I decided to eliminate the hormones and thyroid medication.
> I now hot flash about every 3 minutes (seems like, anyway) and feel pretty logy (that's midwestern for sluggish). I still don't nap during the day anymore (for at least 3 years, I couldn't get through the day without a long nap).
> I'm functioning very well in contrast to six months ago. I'm more emotional, but it's under control. I don't feel so helpless, although
> I admit it's still scary.
>
> Yes, my case is anecdotal. I'm not advocating the "pig pills" one way or the other. I'm doing much better, and am glad I took this leap of faith. Should I not speak up, because there is not a published, double-blind study out there? How many permutations of individuals, chemicals, drugs, vitamins, minerals, and combinations thereof are there in the world? How long would it take to do a double-blind study of all those permutations? We would have to wait for someone to "think of" a possible solution, then test that particular solution, then try again ...
>
> I am not going to live that long. I admire and appreciate the wonder of antidepressants and other medications, but I do not trust the drug companies.
>
> I started on "pig pills" for two simple reasons:
>
> 1. I felt I had run out of other options, and had nothing to lose.
>
> 2. My husband was a pig farmer, and he knows what an enormous effect chemicals can have on living organisms.
>
> The theory behind the "pig pills" is that the brain needs certain ingredients to do what it has to do, that some people need more of some than others, and that our diet is not providing what we need in the quantities needed. Our farming methods take some of these nutrients out of the soil, without replacing them.
>
> We have a lot to learn about how it all works.
>
> P.S. "Facts" about the "pig pill" program for anyone interested:
>
> cost is about $70/bottle, 2 bottles/month needed initially (32 pills a day - gulp!)
>
> you are assigned a "personal assistant", a real human being who is with you all the way (not a sales person, but someone with experience in this program). I like mine a lot. we keep in touch mostly by email, but we've also talked on the phone a few times. he's got four little kids and his wife has become involved in this, too.
>
> you keep a daily log of symptoms per DSM-IV checklist, and send it weekly to your assistant, who tracks your progress
>
> site is www.truehope.com and yes, it's corny. but just as the information given doesn't prove that there's anything valid here, it doesn't prove that it's NOT valid, either.
poster:Ron Hill
thread:59082
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010530/msgs/65148.html