Jump to content

OCsunshine

Members
  • Posts

    169
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by OCsunshine

  1. So my doctor did this "hair tests" on me. They scraped a bunch of hair off the back of my head, sent it to a special lab, and it tests the levels of toxic metals and also essential elements.

    My "toxic metals" looked pretty good, everything was in the safe zone. Nickel was slightly high, but still in the safe zone barely (my doc said maybe it's from jewelry).

    As for the essential elements, some of them were VERY off. The one that was the worst was "MANGANESE" which I had never even heard of before. ??? Apparently you're supposed to have some, but too much can be toxic. Well I have a LOT of it in me, according to this text. I was off the charts.

    So the info I have read says you can get toxic levels of Manganese by being a miner or a welder and stuff like that, or it can be in the ground at a waste dump, etc etc... well none of those concerns apply to me so... what the heck..?? The symptoms of High Levels of Manganese sound pretty scary, and some of them somewhat familiar. My doctor said he doesn't know why I have these levels. He checked my kidney and liver functions with bloodwork, and they look good.

    Have any of you all heard of this? Wonder if I should be concerned....

  2. I don't have any good ideas, but just thought I'd share that I totally understand. I also have so much trouble in the morning... just walking from the bed to the bathroom can get my heartrate all messed up and I feel the THUMP THUMP if I don't get my beta blocker in my system IMMEDIATELY.

    Sometimes I put my beta blocker on my nightstand and I take that about 1/2 hour before I even need to get up out of bed.

    Other than that small idea, I don't know any way to make mornings easier. I just hate them altogether. :)

  3. Well I think this just depends on what you do to KEEP from fainting. If you can stay standing up and your BP corrects itself, that's pretty normal and most women have that "whooeeyyyy" lightheaded feeling after standing up, feel a little loopey, and then after like 2 or 3 seconds, it's corrected and they are fine standing up.

    With NMH/NCS, however, our bodies don't correct the problem.

    I used to faint (completely black out/unconscious) quite often in my first years of having this illness.

    Now I rarely faint completely, BUT it's because I can prevent it. I do feel lightheaded and can't stand up for very long, but I feel the warning signs, so I sit down or lay down RIGHT THEN and I don't faint. So, just because I don't faint much now (or if I didn't faint at all) that doesn't mean I don't have NMH anymore. That just means I am learning to prevent the fainting and have to be very careful about paying attention to what my body needs. So I still have to lay flat out- but I can stay conscious b/c of prevention measures I take.

    Does this make sense... ? Hope so :) It's late...

  4. Okay so I recently read in Prevention Magazine something about "Butterbur" ???

    It's supposedly some remedy for migraines, and it also helps with allergy symptoms? I Googled it, and the articles I found say that it keeps blood vessels from inflaming (therefore helping migraines) and it helps reduce sinus/allergy problems.

    If this is true and it works, I am going to do a little happy dance?!?!

    So... what's the deal? Has anyone tried it? I would obviously ask my doctor before I took it, but I wanted some input on what anyone thought about it????

    (I went to the organic store today, which usually has EVERYTHING, but they didn't know about Butterbur and it wasn't in their books, they said they couldn't order it... but I googled it and there are tons of sites about it)

    Can't wait to hear some responses!!!

  5. (I thought this was a common topic on here, so I tried to search for it but no results were found.)

    How many of you use Sea Salt?

    What kind do you use? What brand name, or what about it is unique?

    How do you use it- in cooking? As seasoning on foods?

    Does it help raise your Blood Pressure like the normal 'salt' I eat now?

    Why is Sea Salt "special" and different?

    (I bought some today, but realized you can spend from $4 up to $44 on a small package of it!!!) I bought the cheap stuff, hoping to get more information before I shell out more cash) !!!!

  6. It is VERY common for Barium (the lovely drink that it is) to stop you up and really constipate you. It's very, very important that you drink a lot and treat the constipation. Yes, maybe fiber or some kind of laxative? I'm not sure (ask your doctor), but that is probably the problem since it's very common. I was just told to DRINK A LOT after the barium and I have never had a problem.

  7. I did the exact same thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I was on florinef for over a decade, taking 1/2 pill (.05mg) daily. I wanted to wean off my meds to see if I still needed them, and after a week of being on NO florinef, I felt AWFUL. My headaches increased, my heart rate was all out of whack, I really couldn't function at ALL.

    So I got over my pride and went back on the florinef, but now I'm doing 'okay' by taking only 1/2 pill twice a week. I'm happy that my dose is lower, but obviously my body still needs that small amount.

    Thanks for this post!!!

  8. So just last week this new thing started. I thought I had like Athlete's Foot or something (!?!) and then I realized my feet and my lower legs were itching towards the end of a shower, so I thought maybe it was the hot water's fault so I have dry skin. THEN I noticed it happening as I stood at the door to let my doggie outside to tinkle.

    So now I realize, when I stand up for a few minutes (when I am able to) my feet and lower legs get REALLY scratchy and tingly. I can only guess it's the blood sinking down there? Something to do with circulation? I mean, I'm not worried, I know it's a fact of NMH... I was just wondering why it would make my skin ITCH so bad!!!

    It happened before when we didn't own a dishwasher and I would try to stand up and wash dishes when I felt really good. My lower legs got SO itchy I thought I had ants crawling on me, which I didn't (ew gross), and then I took my cleaning supplies out of under the sink cabinet b/c I thought I was having an allergic reaction to some chemical under there. Good grief.

    Anyway, anybody else get REALLY ITCHY when they try to stand up for short tasks? Why would the blood sinking down there make your skin itch so bad?

  9. Oh Katherine

    ((((((HUGS)))))

    I know how hard it is to lose a dog- a faithful friend, a family member. It's heartbreaking. Making the decision is an incredibly hard thing to do, but thank you for being a responsible pet owner. My cousin works at a major vet hospital in Miami, and she knows how hard it is to make that sad decision, but she really praises the loving pet owners that do it and are responsible to not let the dog suffer any longer. I'm sure Sabine had a long, wonderful, happy life. (((HUGS))) again. Give Guiliana lots of hugs, too!!

  10. Well, in ABC's defense, they did point out that this "gary stretch" guy seemed to be 'mocking' the disease. And they DID show him putting on morphine patches b/c his joint pain is so intense (due to EDS). They also showed a 19 year old "normal" guy who didn't have the "skin stretch" symptom, but had loose joints and severe pain and he was disabled by it.

    In the beginning they mentioned the 3 ways it affects the body- stretchy skin, loose joints, loose vessels.

    I have loose joints and loose vessels (Hopkins found this out years ago and explained why this exacerbated my Orthostatic Intolerance). Why didn't Primetime show someone with loose vessels? Maybe they could have then mentioned Orthostatic Intolerance, you know? (Being that if your veins are loose and stretchy, your blood pools into your feet and hands, causing black outs b/c blood is not up in your vital organs where it needs to be). That's my problem. I was bummed they didn't go into that subject.

    Any other thoughts??

  11. YES i am always low on potassium.

    However I am also on florinef which depletes me on potassium. Right now I'm on an extremely low dose of florinef (.05 mg twice a week) and I still have to take 20-40 MEQ of Potassium daily to keep my levels in the safe range.

    Oh and I can tell when my body gets too low on Potassium... my chest feels tight and it feels like a small heart attack, really. Supposedly you don't have to worry much about taking a bit too much potassium because the extra will be removed from the body through your urine.

  12. I have found great success with florinef. Being on it actually decreases my migraines/headaches and I really can't function without it.

    I have found a successful combination with florinef and a beta blocker.

    It does take a lot of trial & error... give meds time to work and give your body time to adjust. Sometimes the first week or two can be rough but things can get better once the med starts to work correctly (that's just my experience). Different combos work for different people.

  13. Thanks so much for posting this article, I just sent it to my family and friends.

    I find this to be a SUPER example of a healthy active guy who loves his job, seems to be in shape, and loves life... and he is knocked down by this illness. I feel TERRIBLE for him to have to suffer through this, BUT I am anxious to see how this pans out as far as awareness and understanding with the general public.

    Maybe Greg Page will join our discussion board. ;-)

  14. So for the past 6 weeks I have been gradually reducing my florinef, which I had been taking for 12 years. Along with the florinef, I had been taking 40 meq of Potassium daily since the florinef depletes your body of Potassium.

    Well, my doctor told me to go off the florinef gradually, stay ON the same dose of Potassium, and when I was off the florinef completely I'd go in for bloodwork to check my K level.

    Well, 2 nights ago I got terribly sick... long story short, the potassium built up in my body b/c I wasn't on florinef and I was still taking tons of K! Aghh!! So I had terrible heart and chest pains, muscle soreness, I was soo weak. My husband was afraid I was going to go into cardiac arrest last night.

    I have began recovering, I've been drinking tons of water to flush the extra K out of my system and this evening I am doing better. Whew. I'm going for bloodwork tomorrow morning to check my K and Magnesium levels... although I'm not sure how that is going to help because I feel like I'm back to a normal level now since I haven't taken my K supplement last night or this morning or this evening. It has evened out, you know?

    Now that I'm off florinef (and was doing okay before this K incident happened), I'm not sure how much K I'm going to need to take... half the amount I was taking? NONE at all? Who knows?? Logically I would think that if I was OFF of the florinef, I wouldn't need any K supplement to counteract it. Right?

    But don't some of you take Potassium, even though you're not on Florinef? Is there some link with Dysautonomia and a K-deficiency?

  15. Hi Lisa, this is a really good question. Allergies are tough. I get a lot of sinus problems, infections, and just general sinus headaches and 'clogging' that hurts pretty bad. Ick.

    I asked my Hopkins doc for alternatives (I have tried lots of allergy meds and they make me feel drugged and dopey... I hate that...). He suggested a "neti-pot" which I did try, b/c I was desperate.

    It's not a cure for allergies or anything, but it does help clear out my sinuses and keep some problems calmer than when I don't use the neti-pot.

    Just an idea. :P

  16. I'm glad the situation worked out and you're off the hook. I do understand what you mean.. you WANT to help. but just aren't capable sometimes. It's hard for people to understand.

    My suggestion was going to be making other arrangements for her. Like calling a cab or tow service or whatever was needed, setting something up by phone, so she isn't stressed out and you are doing a favor by meeting her need, just in a different way.

    Glad it all worked out anyway. :P

  17. I recently made this new yummy punch/drink that I found a recipe for in a health magazine. I put in it:

    -Cranberry/Raspberry juice

    -Water

    -Lime juice

    -Crystal Light (sunrise classic orange flavor)

    It was so yummy I drank and drank and drank. And the funniest thing- I started feeling bad, my head hurt, I wasn't feeling well....

    Then I felt better for a while.

    Then I started craving that punch again, so I made it and drank and drank and drank..

    Then I was feeling bad again and my head really hurt. :-/ ???

    So I'm thinking it's not the juice, obviously not the water, I dont see a problem with lime juice (I'm not allergic)... so... Crystal Light? I have heard things about artificial sweeteners being bad, but never paid much attention to that stuff. I never drink soda (I went off soda years ago, mostly b/c of calorie intake). I only drink water and... well... this new punch drink.

    So what do you guys think? Thoughts on this artificial sweetener....?? Does anyone else have this effect from aspartame or some other kind of artifical sweeteners? What's the scoop?

  18. Katherine,

    I'm glad you stayed home and rested and took care of yourself. I know that sudden feeling like "Whoah- where is this coming from?!" For me it's usually a virus/flu of some sort that exacerbates my usual symptoms.

    If you're dizzy, I agree with the inner-ear thing. Might be some kind of infection, I would see your GP to check that out. To me, "dizzy" is much different than "lightheaded" which is what I always am. If you're dizzy when moving your head side to side... yep... check about an ear infection...

    I hope you're feeling better now, take it easy, drink lots and keep upping the salt, and don't feel guilty for taking sick leave!!! :)

  19. So I have gone downhill a bit lately... am forced to be at home more and with my feet up most days. I am getting BORED and I really want to do this new fun puzzle I bought.

    Problem is- I can't just sit at the dining room table b/c sitting up still is really hard on me, I'll black out after a while... you know the drill....

    So any ideas on how I could position a puzzle on something while I'm on the couch with my feet up? I also want to be able to pick the puzzle up and move it into the dining room when I'm not working on it.

    Ideas please! ;)

  20. Excellent, we're so happy for you to find a GOOD knowledgable doctor! YAYY!!!!!

    Yep those are all very good pieces of advice. Super! Keep reading the board here for more 'tips and tricks' to keep the B/P regulated and the fainting at minimum.

    Yep, doing the leg-shift-and-shake in the Walmart lines can draw attention for sure! I also do the "oops I am Mrs Butterfingers" trick. I drop everything, one at a time. I drop a pen. I drop a grocery list. I drop my nail file. Each time that gives me an excuse to bend down and get some blood back up to my head so I don't black out. I also do the "Oh no, my shoe is untied!" trick and that gives me maybe a full minute of bending down so I don't faint. ;)

×
×
  • Create New...