Posted by bleauberry on October 18, 2009, at 14:30:04
In reply to Help me figure this out?, posted by moonshadow on October 17, 2009, at 19:34:45
Thank God for those good years! Have no doubt, they will return.
What happened? I don't know that we will ever know. Was it an infectious organism all along that went dormant for those years and is now got a new phase? A new infection maybe? Is it some genetic coding? Something changed in the food choices? Hormones changed? Immune system changed? All of these things directly and dramatically impact what happens in the brain and with mood. We probably won't ever know the answers to those questions.
If the theory of neurotransmitter deficiency is correct, then it is easy to test. 5htp for serotonin, dlpa for norepinephrine/dopamine/endorphins, and tyrosine for dopamine/norepinephrine. I don't see any sense in blinding guessing at a SSRI or any other drug until you have done some detective work with these supplements. See what each feels like and what combinations feel like. That will give you some clues. And in about the same proportion as meds, the same potential for partial or total relief of symptoms.
The plant world has an array of agents beneficial to the mind. The most common one is St Johns Wort. If I told you there are people who have had bad experiences and failures with many meds but found SJW wonderful, you might be skeptical. But it is true. sjwinfo.org is just one such place to read what actual people say of their experiences with SJW.
But that is by no means the only one. Rhodiola Rosea has some power and rapid action. As does SAMe. Lesser known mood enhancers include things like Lemon Balm (in combo with sjw usually), one of the ginsengs (Korean, American, Siberian...they are all very different),
Feverfewm, Gotu Kola, and according to Chinese medicine depression involves stagnant blood, liver, and kidney, which means taking herbs that appear to have nothing to do with the brain, and yet enhance mood somehow.Adrenal fatigue might be at play here. Along with undiagnosed unsuspected Lyme complications, adrenal fatigue is the other condition I see on my personal list as silent epidemics in the American lifestyle. It is easily tested with the Adrenal Stress Index test which measures cortisol/DHEA via saliva at 4 different timepoints throughout a 24 hour period. Treatment involves things like Licorice root, adrenal cortex extract, tyrosine, combinations of them, or low dose hydrocortisone pills, and a modified diet.
Diet is important for healing anything. Heavy on veggies and fruits, moderate on proteins, light on the sugars and caffeins, lots of purified water. Experiment with the different B vitamins, with probably B12, B6, B5, or Niacin (the flush type) having the most immediate potential for you to judge. And of course the antioxidants...C, E, selenium.
Any amalgams in your mouth? Ever had any? That would be important.
Any hidden infections you are unaware of? Lyme? Candida? Other bacteria? Virus? Fungi? Protozoa? Worm? Easy to find out. Order the product Allimax, take double doses, and see what happens in 2 weeks. If you feel a Herxheimer reaction coming on (flu-like worsening of symptoms) then you just made a diagnosis. Not sure what you got, but you got something. Whatever it is, you already know it is sensitive to Allicin (the primary powerful anti-microbial agent in garlic), which is what Allimax is. Other anti-infective agents include Olive Leaf extract, Oil of Oregano, Grapefruit Seed extract, and a dozen others, not to mention the powerful stuff from Chinese medicine.
I understand your fear of not wanting to go back on meds. You've been there, done that. Where did it get you? In and out of the hospital multiple times right?
At this point in your history, I think it makes a ton of sense to pretend psychiatrists and psychiatric meds do not exist. Not an option.
Instead, recruit as your a doctor an Integrative MD. They are trained and knowledgable in the things that cause depression, not just in the things that might help with symptoms. And they have a lot more in their toolbox than psychiatrists have, many being natural, safe, in harmony with the body, and suitable for longterm use. Since they are full fledged MDs, should you want a psychiatrict med, they can also prescribe those along with a more comprehensive plan than you will ever get from a psychiatrist.
With a different history I might have a different opinion. I see absolutely no sense in returning to a place that failed you time and time again. That would be insanity on display, my feelings anyway.
I think Integrative MDs should be first-line treatment, psychiatrists are alternative treatment. The American medical profession has it completely backwards. Is that because one is better than another? No. It is because there is a mountain more profit and politics in one than the other. I believe they go hand in hand as partners better than either alone, but that the start, and often the only, treatment needed is integrative. It supports the whole you, the whole body, not just a mood disorder, which is probably coming from somewhere else in the body anyway.
My two cents.
poster:bleauberry
thread:921298
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091012/msgs/921418.html