Verdolaga aka Purslane

In looking for a ground cover to plant in the yard I ran across this information for a plant called purslane, or in Spanish verdolaga. It is used in salads and can help with depression.
Verdolaga is also valued in Latin America for its medicinal properties. Purslane contains more Omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy vegetable plants, and may have positive effects on the brain and may aid in such conditions as depression, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, autism, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity and migraines. For other medicinal uses see: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/medicinal/portula.html#efficacy

serotonin and magnesium THE connection!

I think I have found a major link to my depression: I know that I am magnesium deficient.
My mom was struggling with cramps in her hands. has done so for many years. I know that I and my brother suffer from migraines. I have restless leg syndrome and muscle twitches.
All of these are symptoms of magnesium deficiency. This AM I find THIS! http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fborntoexplore.org%2Fneurochem.htm&ei=_7wGSuaQMs-Etwes54GIBw&rct=j&q=serotonin+++magnesium%2C&usg=AFQjCNHzBLHeauwaPvtaOSuUCbatiNpF7A
Now I am finally one more step towards chemical balance. Also any type of stress, physical, emotional decreases the serotonin.
Magnesium also is a blood thinner.So are the Omega 3 essential fatty acids. In order to prepare for my colonoscopy I have had to stop all blood thinners. Knowing that my serotonin levels would drop I have upped my antidepressants. As of right now mentally I am doing better. But the aches in the muscles are present. Serotonin is also in the muscles as well.
The next question: is there another chemical action that stops the absorption of magnesium?

Body Aches and Pains

The aches and pains got to me finally and I looked up the simvastatin and found out that the cholesterol drug can cause some of the problem. I went off the drug on the 19th. The next day I felt 85% better and it continues to get better. However all the aches and pains have not gone away. I still have upper back tension and migraines. Lot of tension in the jaw area.
My teeth problems continue. They are slowly and surely getting better. Dr Ong works on me weekly now. But there are other teeth not in the work area that are hurting as well. One day at a time.
The  VNS implant is helping the weight come off. I seem to run around here as if I have a firecracker up my butt. And there is very little appetite. Food is not necessary to enjoy life anymore. At least when the implant is turned up to where it should be.
In the last 24 hours I have been more short tempered. So it is one week since I quit the paxil.

Saw Rivera Again

My new setting is 1.50 every 2.5 hours. I have much more enery and have dropped the paxil all together. We will see what happens. I still have body aches and pains. Some migraines. I started my diet on the first of Jan. The  VNS implant helps the cravings to the point that I can go with out food almost all day. I am on slimfast (milk based, which I am allergic to and did not know at the time- editor) and salads at this point. Still do not exercise that much. But if I did maybe the body aches would go away.

Got through Christmas Rush

I started taking the paxil again(on Dec 3), as stated in the last post.This put me at 200 provigal,15 paxil, 60 cymbalta VNS at 1.25 every 2.5 hours). The paxil was restarted at 15mg. This increasing of the amount of serotonin stopped the migraines. During the vacation I was active and moving around more than usual. I stuffed myself daily and ate every night before bed. I began taking the restless leg syndrome drug regularly. I notice with less stress the implant seems to cause me to burn more calories. Not necessarily through action, but sped up metabolism. It also allows me to get more done, mentally as well. I am more willing to do more stuff and combine tasks, and have energy even after that. I can depend on the level of energy. This pleases me to no end.
During the vacation Cheryl called me and told me that Dr. Rivera now had all that he needed to start up therapy again. I made an appointment for Tues. Jan 13th.
As I weighed myself after the vacation, I had only gained three pounds. As I went back to work and stress increased I gained weight eating less than on vacation. So more stress decreases the effect of the implant. Dah. But I was able to handle the stress with out the anxiety and depression coming on. I worked 57 hours in six days, straight, no days off. Only tired on the last day. No depression. Before the implant and on far more medications ( 200 provigal,60 paxil, 50 thoridiazine, 60 cymbalta) I could only work 32 hours in a 5 day period.
I am scheduled to have a scan on the liver,  enzymes are denoting possible problems.
I am going to diet and exercise in the new year to stop the cholesterol and oncoming sugar problems.

Called Rivera Again, Then Cheryl Cisernos

Dr.Rivera still has not replaced the device that was lost, missed placed during storms. It is now the 4th of Dec. I called Cheryl of Cyberonics to see if she could help with this problem and this call was on the first of Dec. She said she would take care of it. I have started taking the paxil again on 12/3. 15mg a day. The migraines and muscle pain went down a tiny bit. Perhaps I should talk to Dr Figeuroa to see if I can convince him to help out. At least I can approach him and start the process.

The Reason for the Migraines

Spoke to a pharmacist last night and found out that migraines are caused by a lack of serotonin. So I need an adjustment to the device or go back up on the medications. This is only logical. I will contact  Dr. Riveria, and if necessary, Cyberonics to see what we can do to get relief from the headaches and a small amount of depression.
Another thing that is causing the stress is the amount of illnesses that I have had.
First the teeth and then the water in the ears thing. Since July I have had issues of the teeth and then the infection in the ears.
The teeth are healed, but I will go back to the dentist in Jan. to have the crown put on the tooth. The tooth that I am speaking of is the second one since July. It is drawn out do to healing time and money. I will need perhaps two more teeth fixed in the coming year. (It ended up being my entire set of teeth, upper and lower were filed down and capped with porcelain crown.-editor)
Doctor Rudiman, my gastro person, has seen blood work that he is concerned about and wants me in to take a CT of the liver. The liver enzymes again.We will work on this in Jan. (The antidepressants were constantly causing the liver enzymes to fluctuate.-editor)

Magnesium Works!

The Tricor that was given to me for high cholesterol gave me intense migraines. I had ordered a book, a health book from Bottomline Books and in there it suggested to take magnesium. I stopped the Tricor and began to take the magnesium and slowly over a period of a week lessened the headaches. I will continue to take the mag every 2-3 hours at 500 mg and see what happens. Hopefully all symptoms will go. I have increased eating spinach and other greens as well. It has also sharpened my mind. I am down to only the Cymbalta and the Provigil now. I have not had to adjust the VNS since July.

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Migraine, Again

A migraine, with quite shocking visual affects in the left eye started full blast seven days after the reduction of the medication. And has continued for, as of this date, 13 days. The dull pain in the neck has lessened, but the floaters have maintained. Although they have lessened in the amount in the visual field over the same time. But there is no depression at this time. There was some panic at 4 days after the reduction, a little of depression for 1/2 day. Then the depression ceased, but the headache continued.

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Ropinirole: Compounding Migraines?

I am still having migraines, but constantly now. Dr. Karabatos has told me to stop the Ropinirole (Requip), which was prescribed to stop the restless leg problem, and see if the migraines are helped. He took my blood pressure an it was very low. Since ropinirole can make a person dizzy and faint, this might be adding to the problem. I wonder if potassium is needed. Or sodium.
I have passed the reduction of the paroxitine (Paxil). I was going into depression and the implant pulled me up at least twice these past two weeks. I seem to be getting stronger in that aspect as the days go by.
Doctor Karabatos as changed my thyroid med to .150mg Synthyroid and I will start taking it tommorrow. He has added a new cholesterol drug in hopes of bringing down the bad cholesterol. It is not generic and will cost at least 50 bucks (I expect). Dr K wants me to have a lower abdomen CT scan to check the liver. I have a high liver enzymes and perhaps the drugs are causing some sort of damage.

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Aunt Martha's health

A letter to Bonnie, my cousin. Martha, her mother has been diagnosed with bi-polar disease.
Bonnie,
I was told late last year that medications could no longer help me in my struggle with depression. So I decided, after much prayer and research to go with VNS therapy. I had been following the developing technology since 1999. This is for depression, and bi-polar problems. The original application was for epilepsy and when epileptics began to feel better more research was done. I was implanted 2/26/08 and the device was turned on two weeks later. I have been steadily improving since. There have been down times because of stressors (teeth problems) and heat (working out in it) that have effected me. But overall my medications are being decreased and I am doing much better. Thinking, motivation, being almost normal once again. The device gets better with time. Most people do not respond as rapidly as I did. But it truly has been a miracle for me. My migraines are less powerful, depression is gone most of the time. Emotions, though right below the surface, are more controllable and I can deal with everyday things more effectively. It was the quality of life that I went for. Maybe that is what we should all look for in the treatment of the mentally ill.
Now back to my comments.
The oral antibiotic Cipro through me for a loop. It increased the depression to suicidal thoughts. Once it was stopped, and the blood level decreased, the depression went away. The infection in the tooth has decreased and I feel much better overall. It still is there, but less painful. I am going to have more teeth problems and I think that knowing that that will effect the depression gives me strength to endure it. (Knowing where the depression was coming from started the come back from it.-editor)

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Back Up to Snuf

Last week I was constantly tired through my days off and only started feeling alive two days after I returned to work. But at least I can say that I regained my feelings of wellness and did not go into depression. I worked 46 hours and was very busy during that time. I did have a slight feeling of anxiety, but did not go into depression. I am three weeks into reduction of thoridiazine by half down to 25 ml a day and down on paxil by one quarter from 60 to 45 ml. I feel great. Migraines are less. I am using a massage pillow on my neck, but only since two days ago. So most of the time I have been depending on the implant to help and I believe it has. I am back up to 40+ hours at work.
I called the hospital to ask where the bill was, since it has been almost two months since the procedure. They said that they have resubmitted it to Aetna and that I should get it shortly, within the next two or three weeks.
Meanwhile I have told many people about it. It seems amazing and God sent. I actually feel good.
I am trying to lessen the amount of food I intake, and I think that is coming into focus as well. I gained at first, because everything tasted so much better. Carbs just don't mean that much to me any more. I thought I would never say that. Exercise is down a bit, mostly because of more time spent at work.

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New setting

New setting is .50/180min. I feel the mechanism a little more when it stimulates. But I compensate by slowly breathing out. A relaxation technique I learned while studying meditation. I went back on a full work week this week and that included OT . I have a few floaters in the eyes. No migraine yet. The symptoms of the oncoming migraine are still there, but the migraine has not come. The muscles in the upper back have not been barthering me so much. Not tensed as much. Mood is very good. Weight down just one pound.

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Things Much better

I feel much better, less tense, mood is up, migraine lights ring my vision. Maybe I am bipolar? Or maybe stuff just over loads me and I go down about every 7-10 days? I am back up and am singing and concentration is better. It seems to come over me once every 7 to 10 days and it has been doing this for years.
My goal is to limit my sleep to just what ever I get at night. Eliminate the nap.I know that it is a small goal, but I have done it before and feel I can do it now eventually .
I am constantly battling the depression and the OCD, and would like to break out of the mold and start thinking of others more. But I am in so much pain mentally. It has been better since the implant. The way I like to describe the pain is what one feels when one has a romantic break up, but multiplied about 100 times. Or what one feels when one can't remember a happy moment, ever.

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Dreams

I am having a dream life that I have never had before. Just weird stuff, some nightmares, some just working stuff out. But so many of them. And I am sleeping throughout the night now.
I am very happy at work, singing along with the nearby music, even dancing to it. I have never been this happy, consistently. Migraines are still here. The silent ones, with the floaters. The visual stuff seems worse in the mornings. No big splitting headaches.
I want to exercise all the time, to move my limbs in time with nearby music. To sing to it. It is joyous.

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Post Turn On of VNS

It is now day four.The first day I was exhausted and I slept quiet well. The next night I slept only 5 hours and last night I slept with nightmares. I was moaning in my sleep and my husband woke me but then I went straight back to sleep and slept until eight AM. So the sleep pattern is already back.
I have more energy and more motivation already. Migraines about the same.

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Bandages off today

The waterproof bandages the doctor applied on the day of surgery have worked fairly well.The incision on the neck is hard to deal with because that one moves the most.  I have two incisions, one on the chest, under the collar bone, and one on the neck. It is irritated with the seatbelt, collars, and every turn of the head. The throat was sore for a few days and is at times, ten days later, still tender. The incision in the chest was way easier to handle, although the left pectoral muscle was sore the first five or so days.
I have been taking more of each antidepressant. Since I have four medications I take five extra of each and put them in a separate pile and out of that pile I choose a med and take one extra dose every day. I do best on the extra dose of Provigil. But when I change back to the generic paxil I really do well for about four days, then back to cymbalta for four-five days. And so on. This is not a good way to handle the problem, but I was going into depression and was seriously thinking about staying home from work to lay in bed all day long, and that would not work.
At the present time migraines are everyday, silent at first with the vision disrupted, and then if not medicated it goes full blown. Thankfully I only need OTC stuff.

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A call in the night

Got home last night to find the doctor's number on the voice mail. Dr. Corbyon. And a call from Cheryl. I have everything set up, but there might be a hitch some where. So today I will call.
Taking more of the medications has helped immensely but I know it will be at a cost later on. At least the thoughts of bloody knives and car accidents have stopped. Migraines are still here daily. I have stopped crying on a daily basis.
I listened to the support call on this past Tuesday. I have gained some hope.
Another thing that helps me is that I tell myself stories that I make up on the spot. I do this on the ride home from work. Stories of adventure, sci-fi, fantasy. Some are stories that mirror what is going on in my life. Some are pure fantasy. It diverts the mind, enhances the creative mind and in so doing releases serotonin. By the time I get home, I feel great. This is while I am on four meds. I can imagine what it would like without the meds. No thoughts other than horror scenes and terror screams.
I think the provigil is doing a stress number on my heart. I seem to have a little pain that I can not explain right over that area since I upped the dosage.
My upper back is in stress, all knotted up. I know that the meds help control the level of stress that I feel in the body and they control the fibermyalgia that I have because of the depression, but why, on a higher dose are the knots in the back not controlled?
I still have food cravings as well. Junk food rules, starchy, salty, anything goes.
At least I am not at the chocolate stage. When nothing helps but chocolate, God help me. Chocolate triggers, I believe, serotonin, or one of the amino acids that makes up what I need in the brain. but by the time that strikes me I am pretty low.

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Finding a doctor

Cheryl at Cyberonics is an angel. Every number I called this AM led down to a dead end, wrong number, can't take your type of insurance. At first I told myself, what's the use to have a procedure done and the only doctor to deal with it is in Daytona? almost 45 miles away? By the forth or fifth negative ending call, I was in tears. So when it comes to dead ends I turn to Cheryl. She said she will try again. May be a neurologist will do the dosing, and I can stay with Dr. Fig. I don't like it, but for the start it could be done.
There is another thing that I have been doing. Knowing that doctor Fig decided that He would not prescribe any more drugs, and I was still going into depression, I decided to
take more of what I have. I know that this will possibly harm the liver, and make me run out sooner than I should. But I can refill my scripts on the fifth day before they are empty. This gives me more meds. I can only take 1/2 a dose of any that i take, and that will help me get through. I don't want to do that, but I don't want to slip into the depression.
I think it maybe time to look elsewhere for a doctor. I think Dr. Fig doesn't know what the hell to do for me.
I am having constant migraines now. Taking OTC med for that. but Migraines can be helped by the implant.
I will wait and pray. but the prayer thing, well, I don't know about it. I still do it,and we will see.

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Letter to Misao

Depression wise I am looking into getting a pace maker for the brain. It is a therapy known as VNS. It sends pulses to the brain and stimulates it in the mood area. It is hopeful to help with the long term treatment of the illness. As it is now I am on the highest amounts of 4 drugs and I still have bouts of depression..It stems from stress. When under huge amounts of stress, the migraines come and so does the depression. Only problem is that I can withstand very little stress before the depression starts. Even loud noises are stressors. So, I await this new procedure and will see what it can do. I can not just give up on life because it stresses me too much. I have to try to manage the disease and put myself in charge of the stressors and eliminate them the best way I can.

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