blackwolf

I went down about half on the atenolol before switching to the toprol xl. I think it depends on how bad your symptoms are and what your doctor thinks, they are so close that I really don't think it matters that much. best, blackwolf

How are you doing? hope it is better, please get all the rest you need. would you care for my of my "snakes"? (running joke from my string) blackwolf

UMMMM! chenille- one of my favs. I got the electic blanket on too, chilly after an evening of shopping, way over did it, even with a cart. I'll have some tea after I'm done here. As to snakes, I prefer large to extra large rattlers, deep fried of course. OK, OK, I know, I'm probably the only one here who does. "Winds" are no trouble here, I make plenty of my own, just don't go down wind. I would love the almond cookie recipe, if you have time, not till you are rested, thou, YOU HEAR ME! best, and quickest, recovery, blackwolf

I happen to have many wonderfully helpful assistances, my hubby, 2 great kids and a Mom who helps when she can. I do my best to keep walking, but then are times when I am so happy to go to a store with carts, I don't care what people say. Once in a while, I want a wheelchair to, but just haven't approched the docs yet. best of luck, blackwolf PS. check with stores and see if they have "gently used" modles, they often have their warrenties also. When my aunt needed one she got a used one inn good shape for nearly half the price still with a warrenty.

thanks for droppin by Leah, so nice to know I'm not alone, but sorry you have it too. blackwolf

Morgan, my heart and prayers go out to you and yours. I'll dig a tunnel and connect with you in your hole, we can have a chat and a nice cup of tea(or coffee, whatever). cyber hugs, blackwolf

I am also a sugar junky. Have you ever tried a sugar substitute? I am replacing regular sugar with a sugar substitute called Sugar Twin. I was surprised about 2 weeks ago to read that Splenda was not so good for you, they cut out the "bad part" of sugar and replace it with something not so ggod either(I'll look for the article and paste it here for you, if I can find it, or you can check, I read it on Webmd). Sugar twin is a one to one replacement and tastes just like it. I use very little now and only when I'm not sure what to replace it with. Have you tried eating something like fruit, melons, apples, bananas, or something spicy-turkey sausage is my favorite, I make my own. Having one cookie isn't that bad, it is when it is more than one it is a problem. I have a house with two kids and often several neighbor kids so snacks abound here. I just remember that I will NEVER get my weight off by eating those snackes. I have in my frig at ALL TIMES sugar free jello and pudding, with and without fruit, I want something sweet, there it is. Another thing I find very helpful is to right down EVERYTHING I eat, including calories, fat, trans fat, and sodium, if I know it. I hope it helps. best of luck, black-still in the hole-wolf

I also do lap to twin size quilts, I would like to do something. blackwolf

Dear Tearose I'm glad it is done and you are doing ok. Mabey drop down a cookie-those almond ones you where talking about a while back sounded good. I think the hole isn't quite so deep, but i'm not sure.. best of luck in recovery and your results WILL be good. blackwolf

Looking back, I noticed trouble starting toward the end of high school. But I didn't get bad till I had a bought of viral pleursy followed by a blood born infection. black-still in the hole. but trying-wolf

I took Atenolol, starting at 25mg and went to 50mgs with occasional 25mgs for nite, for about 2 years and then switched to Toprol XL 50mgs once a day. I changed for two reasons, 1. atenolol wasn't working so well for me, 2. I could receive Toprol XL for FREE. It works pretty good for me. I have also noticed that when I changed brands that my blood pressure dropped only just after the dose(nite is when I take it) and not again. best of luck blackwolf

best of luck, Tearse, and thanks for stopping by the "hole" earlier, will make room, but I'm SURE you won't need it. blackwolf

I crochet, and I think I could help. I'm in a hole but can still do that. blackwolf

That echo reached me not so long ago, I'ld visit but the walls between here and there .... mabey a conecting tunnel. One more thing, I don't know how often you check, but the higher my sed rate is(regardless of the pian level, not so much since adding neurontin), the sleepier and more foggy I become. I was only made aware of this after a pain mgt. doc ran some sed rate tests over about 3 months(a blood draw every week). I have the strangest sleeping patterns, I try so hard to sleep when I should but... I make the model vampire look like a human. I don't "wake up" till well into the evening and if I'm not carefull, like the last few nites, I'll go to sleep around 5am and sleep till 6-7pm. I'm slowly working back to the right hours(10:30pm-2am till about 7am-11:30am) depending on if my kids are home or not. Napping is the worst thing I could do, even setting an alarm might not wake me up and I can sleep away the day if I'm not careful. thanks for being there, blackwolf

Thanks all, EM-I think I crashed for about 17 hours, not like me at all. Do you get sleepy when you get more confused, I seem to want to just sleep, though I try very hard to keep a regular shcedule. As to the "fog", I don't know if it's the POTS or the CFS/Fibro, mabey both at once, that's why it is so bad. Tearose-Thanks, I do feel better now, not so depressed anyway. I'll leave you lots of room down here for when you get back, if you need it that is. Hope everything goes ok for you and you don't. Beth-I'm afraid that I might be here for a while as I'm getting a little worse in the chest pain/shortness of breath thing. But I intend to attend my Daughter's second grade musical tomorrow and will go no matter what. She is budding into quite a little artist, musically and drawing wise. Morgan-Snakes vs. snacks, oh well, I'll eat the snack and just keep going on and on and on...As to mistakes, just ignor mine, you all seem to be able to read what I mean, thank goodnees. Sometimes I don't know what I mean, I'm glad someone does. Of to supper-spanish rice. Thanks again all of you out there, this hole is kinda deep but so so bad anymore. Blackwolf

Thanks Morgan, Ernie and Miriam. I have upped my fluids, salt and electrolytes, and have gone to really small snakes several times a day, just have to push to eat, and still seem to be "falling". I am hoping that things improve but... I woudl like to get back or SSRI's but just can't handle the effects on my liver. And I'm just fed up with my $*!*# docs. I'm going to crash as soon as my kid s do. Nite all, I'll check in tomarrow. thanks again, all of you, blackwolf

Corina- I too, am often goofed up, but this is getting out of hand, I am a speedy(60-75 words per minute) typer and have crawled to a grinding halt, my mistakes are nearly every word, unless I slow way down, and speaking, don't want to go there. I have never been this bad before and I hope it passes soon. My notebook looks like a major mess and I have avoided talking unless I have to. Thanks for responding, black-in a major potshole-wolf

I really need some advise, I hope you folks can help, here goes... Sunday afternoon I recieved a call from my sis-in-law, wishing us a Happy Easter. We chatted for about 10 minutes, as we got to the end, she asked me what was wrong. I asked her what she ment. SHE SAID I WAS SAYING MY WORDS FUNNY! I know that I have been a little more than a bubble off lately, and had been kind of just blowing of my speaking, writing and typing errors to brain fog. I guess it just didn't hit me till then that I was not doing so well when it comes to getting what is in my brain out. DOES ANY ONE ELSE DO THIS, AND SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE! A side note, I have had alot of chest pain when I breath, I thought it was mabey my viral pleursy come back, but ... no fever, constantly cold and SOB. I'm very depressed by this turn and my gp said to "make an appointment". help, mabey I need a shovel blackwolf

If you drink alot of water, make sure you replace the lost potassium. I also use a regular daily vitamin with extra iron, as well as taking a complete b vitamin and Magniesium lactate. I eat lots of yogurt and drink a special kind of milk (lactose free). I have also stopped eating most red meat, I still eat deer and buffalo(easier to digest). I have also almost completed the change to a gluten-free diet, and feel much better for it. I tested negative for Celiacs', but still seem to have trouble with glutens. For a good, sugar free juice, I like Ocean Spray Light. As for more energy, I'm not so sure what to suggest as most otc energy boosters are bad mojo for me. best of luck, blackwolf

Dear Metoo, Sounds like another doc who needs to be fired to me. I have both POTS and CFS, they have many things that do overlap, however.. I say this doc dropped the ball. It is very common to have several dx's and several overlapping treatments. I'm not familiar with Nadolol, so I can't comment on it's use. But most POTS patients have to try different drugs at different doseages before getting a drug, or drug combo, that works. blackwolf

I twitch almost everywhere, though my left side(and eye) are by far the worst. blackwolf just another potsy thing for me.

I would like to send a HAPPY EASTER to all of those to whom it applies. I hope it is a peaceful time for everyone and that everyone who has to travel has a good, safe trip. blackwolf

Dear Dayna, as a mother of two, son 11 and daughter 7 1/2, I can say only one good thing, you probaly won't die form POTS, be sick yes, die no. My biggest trouble is missing out on alot of fun, especially in the summer as the heat rises. best of luck and Ihope you can get your results soon. blackwolf

my favs are swimming, stretching, light weights and I'm slowly adding some walking and hope to add a total gym soon. make sure to stay hydrated and keep up on those vitamins and minerals. good luck, blackwolf

Dayna, I'm hoping everthing is going ok. I do question the waiting for a month for answers, the tester(s) will know right away what is up. best of luck and my prayers, blackwolf