Noreen

The post on lemon balm tincture tweaked my memory. I was working with a midwife at the time and she recommended Motherwort which I got in tincture form. Ten drops in a glass of water reduces anxiety and helps you relax. As an added benefit, it helps the uterus regain its natural size. this particular one is safe when nursing. the grant I was working on at the time was Improving the Incidence and Duration of Breastfeeding. The midwife was hired by ACOG.

Recumbent bike with arm workout/rowing motion type option has seemed to help. However, it so very slow going trying to get up to any sort of tolerance but I have had a bit going on lately. Three times a day for 5 minutes and one of those times I am now using the arm thingy. I am still not dialling up any resistance yet, though. It is an improvement - started with just 2 times a day for 2 to 3 minutes. The doctor kept telling me I should be doing 30 minutes of aerobic exercise and I kept sliding back to dysautonomia netherworld whenever I tried.

I take 4 grams of fish oil daily for inflammation and for elevated triglycerides. Only buy those enteric or otherwise coated so you don't run into the burp issue. I try and remember to take a basic b complex daily also along with my children's multi. The coated ones cost quite a bit more but are worth it since you will actually take it. I get mine from BJ's Wholesale Club. When I was studying for my MPH and taking Environmental Health, the professor recommended women of child bearing age only use fish oil supplements and not eat fish due to the mercury load in a lot of fish. As you can probably tell, mercury was his research focus along with PCBs. Dean Ornish in his newest book, the Spectrum also recommends taking fish oil supplements again because the pollutants are not present. Neither of these supplements have been a problem with my dys symptoms. I don't take an excessive dose of b complex but do make sure my son, with anxiety issues, has twice my dose.

Oh, you got me laughing. I was all set to say we must be transforming into cats when I got to your 3rd line. I could spare some of their kibble - not the treats, though, they don't share. I am actually curious what responses come in. I lost my gallbladder in 1988.

Carrying the medical information any specialist will decide needs is a nightmare for me. I never know how I am going to feel that day - never mind by the time I get out of the car and get into the office. I carry a zippered binder, with outside folder, containing the most recent stuff but with fatigue and dexterity issues, etc. I still have difficulty getting something out in the 5 seconds of time we seem to have. I ran across this. It runs $21 ($20 plus $5 shpg minus $4 current discount). Medical History wristband I can't tell how the information backs up however. One thing I would not want to do is put the information in and have to recreate it yet again in another format or file. Does this sound good? How does everyone deal with the sheer volume of medical information we have? The more detailed answers the better as I am having a bad day cognitively. Thanks.

Oh congratulations on your new daughter My own personal experience and not necessarily recommended by medical professions is co-sleeping.. I could not sleep without the baby in the crook of my arm. I know you've tried the easy ones like warm milk and deep breathing. Wishing you peaceful slumber and joyful days with your new bundle of joy

Hi Rama- My PCP prescribed Provigil (modafinil) for fatigue probably 4 to 5 years ago now. I can't say how it evolved exactly - i think it started as saving on the med co-pay - I switched to Adderal and now only take the short acting 10 mg in the morning. It definitely helped with the fatigue but, in my case, the amphetamine salts are better. An interesting note - I had an EEG 5 months ago in the morning after my usual 2 to 3 cups of coffee and 1o mg. Adderal. the results of the EEG - "this is a normal drowsy study..." noreen

I'll keep Erika and you in my prayers.

Oh I agree Tearose. Does your wired vest really look like a threat to security? I used to have to go through security all the time and have to explain the TENS unit - stand here ma'am until we wand you. I haven't seen the coolvest yet but your image of it as puffy is one that had not occurred to me. Having a script in mind is undoubtedly a good idea - me I am just afraid of another summer without one. My bigger concern is that someone might not avail themselves of this out of false vanity. Better to learn to actually communicate with others and possibly educate them in the process. Nina has done this admirably. I agree, in theory, with you about the value of work. I think that most people want to work as it helps define who you are in society but knowing when you can't do it anymore is always a tough call.

Those were great videos. The docs seemed really dedicated. Thanks for sharing

Sorry.. I should have checked it. My cut and paste included the http and that was already included. It is fixed. thanks for letting me know

Smiles- You poor kitty! I adore cats and your description just reminds me of a cat with a horrid hairball. But, ya know, you are absolutely right about the choking leading off to an autonomic flare up. These things are so so weird I never put the pieces together. Several years back, the doctor did a swallowing study but that showed nothing, of course. From your post it is easy to picture 'Autonomic Craziness' written on the outside edge of a Frisbee made by the Whammo corp. - But we never know when this frisbee will come out of nowhere and knock us off our feet or hit us in the gut or choke us or smack, us in the head,etc. Enough to make you paranoid. I hope you get some answers soon. {{hugs}} noreen

I mentioned the Alexander Technique in a reply to a post on back pain a few weeks back. I had always believed the technique had merit and just ran across this study done by the British Medical Journal. BMJ Alexander technique study The article contains a lot of cost analysis but what might interest forum members is the imbedded video link in which many patients and practitioners speak on the practice. As stated by a teacher in Brooklyn "The Alexander Technique is a method for regaining and maintaining natural poise. It is a preventative method that has curative value. In simplicity, it works by engaging the cognitive mind, consciously in inhibition and direction. While there maybe great emphasis placed on body function, an individual is gaining insight to how they interact and react with their environment. As a curative method, the Alexander Technique is often taught in tandem with therapies such as physical therapy. To gain insight to the technique, lessons are recommended."

Erika- I put the link in a reply six weeks ago or so when you were going through so much. I tried to find it but am not adept at the search feature. Perhaps someone else could locate the post. hope today is better, noreen

Any medical device that allows one to get out to doctors, grocery stores, places of worship and the like must be considered mobility aids. They aid or allow us to have a fuller life and participate more in society. I went for 2 years without knowing that it was the heat that I could not tolerate and no one could explain to me what was going on. As another recent member posted, the recovery could take from 30 seconds to 3 weeks from one visit to a medical doctor - my brain was fried and, for me, having worked for years after being physically disabled, losing your ability to think on a seemingly random basis is the absolute worst. Just try to remember the Edward Albee play "Flowers for Algernon." If walkers, cooling vests, glasses to drive the car, or whatever prosthetic you care to mention help us to get out of our temperature controlled environment and go to the medical professionals who should be able to help us, then we should make use of it. If we have our brain and ability to communicate then we can educate those around us.

I think my body, especially my brain, produces way too much mush. - lol Thanks for the typo - the chuckle helped make my laugh medicinal quotient for this morning. You have incredible insight into the body's biochemical processes and your input is much appreciated. I've often wished I could get a consult with one of the professors at the local pharmaceutical college.

I have episodes where all of a sudden I feel like I am choking on my saliva. Is a choking sensation and a gagging sensation the same?

Hi issie- Welcome. I can certainly relate to the roller coaster you have been on the past few years with the docs giving you so many dxs. You have found the right place for information and support. The people on this forum are absolutely the best and the volunteer administrators are angels for their work in making this available to us. Check out the information and links on the DINET homepage. I am sure you will find it invaluable. Hope today is a good day, Noreen

Do you think you might be underestimating the amount of exercise you get in small increments throughout the day with the kids? (Mom, do you know where my xyz is, where is the qrt, etc, - miraculously these things only appear if you actually go there and find them). Unless you are flaring big time, I know you will continue to go to kids' rooms to help them locate the missing homework, to go to the kitchen to find the invisible ketchup bottle on the refrigerator shelf, etc. While all this is small, have you ever worn a pedometer to find out how much you really do? I had just been trying to search for a poll on weight - I, too, fall into the medium stocky better watch your diet model.

Does Public Health count?

Not necessarily. Assuming he had valid reasons for changing his number the first time, the phone company could have given him a number that collection agencies still have in their databases

Hey there- I missed this post in the midst of my own chaos. I am so glad it seems like you can work with her. Isn't it great when we can say all that worrying for nothing! {{take care}} Noreen

Simmy- I like the stop light design the best. As long as your knees and ankles hold out, that's great.

FYI- Something that has really helped me with the feeling of cotton mouth is Biotene toothpaste http://www.biotene.com/products/toothpaste...ent={placement}

Bella- The gel or nighttime ointment (depends on brand) is OTC. It comes in a small tube and you squeeze it in your eyes at night and in the AM depending on your symptoms. It reduces the amount of drops needed and helps a lot with wind conditions/fans. They are available in the drugstore in tiny tubes in the same aisle as the drops. My last batch of drops and gel/ointment I got through Swanson Health Products with my vitamins and they have worked well. All the ointment takes getting used, at least for me, as you can't see for 10 minutes or so as this vaseline type product is absorbed through the lower eyelid. ( I sort of freak out at not seeing) but then, blessed relief. My former opthalmologist had me using it in addition to the preservative free drops. It has been 2 years since he forwarded me to the neuro-opthalmologist but since the $120 drops weren't helping I went back to the ointment. Take care, Noreen