[martin88]

Thanks a lot Girlwind for your suggestion on tryptophan I'll investigate. I like to be sure when I do something. For melissa I was taking one teaspoon full of herb (dry but very green, in a strainer) in hot water.

For me there is no naturopaths or MD but only good and bad. You can find the two in both. Sure for a serious disease I'll see a MD because he is trained for urgency and severe diseases. Naturopaths are not. But believe me MD can be really "not intellectual" and devastating, even with their long and hard studies. Be careful. MD know a lot but they don't know all. I'm sure we are still in an old age. I have been severely and irreversibly affected by a medication I wasn't supposed to receive in my condition. It was clearly a contraindication for me.
 
An other example, at one time in my life I wasn't able to fall asleep at bedtime. I went to see several MD and I tried all their medications  Nothing was working! It was really difficult for me. One day I decided to stop coffee in the morning and miracle (!) since this I'm able to fall asleep 99.9% of the time since almost 20 years ! A chance I wasn't put on heavier medications like other people I know, now they can't stop and they'll have side effects for the rest of their life.
For several other serious problems I've had it was like that. I was able to cure myself with alternative therapies.
The downside of this is that I always think I will be able to be cured by alternative therapies and I'm waiting a long time to try conventional drugs.

About cortisol tests it's easy to compare both for accuracy. Probably it depends from which lab you order the test.

There is always some good and bad in all, this is my religion.

[demografx]

...IN MY CASE there is definitely a connection between MY POIS symptoms and MY thyroid, something I would have never known had I only tested TSH...

Girlwind, what I'd like to ask you is not being negative or critical. I'd really like to know your thinking. Why do you think your POIS and thyroid are related? Is it basically that the better the thyroid readings the less severe is the POIS?

[demografx]

Martin, thank you very much for sharing your painful experience and shedding more light on the MD vs. naturopath debate. Excellent point re good and bad in both areas. As you pointed out, reasonable caution needs to be used when NOT seeking medical advice for serious ailments for which naturopathy has no remedy. Conversely, naturopathy just may have something for a particular problem that can help avoid a lifetime of adverse side effects. As I like to say often, "don't throw out the baby with the bathwater!"

[demografx]

Naturopathy vs. MD testing

My conclusion is that we are all grownups and should choose our own individual path of enlightenment.

Please read the previous recent posts which address this debate before deciding. Thank you.

Happy testing!

[girlwind]

...IN MY CASE there is definitely a connection between MY POIS symptoms and MY thyroid, something I would have never known had I only tested TSH...

Girlwind, what I'd like to ask you is not being negative or critical. I'd really like to know your thinking. Why do you think your POIS and thyroid are related? Is it basically that the better the thyroid readings the less severe is the POIS?

I don't have that figured out. All I know is that since I began taking some supplements to assist the thyroid, like
seaweed and sea salt and Ashwaganda, I noticed less severe POIS. What has interfered with my observations is a
five week long sinus cold that I can't shake. I'm dealing with multi health issues, so it's really hard to separate one
from the other and assess just the POIS. But in GENERAL during my 30 years with both CFS and POIS I've seen that
when my overall health and energy are better, my POIS is better. And I think my overall health benefits a lot from
getting my endocrine system boosted. At first it was just the adrenal energy I was aiming to repair, and I was seeing
results with just that, but not complete results. Now that I've seen I have a thyroid issue, as the long time missing
link, I have begun to notice benefits from just a few changes to assist better thyroid functioning. It is a NEW find,
but a significant one for me. Time will tell how it pans out.

[girlwind]

Naturopathy vs. MD testing
My conclusion is that we are all grownups and should choose our own individual path of enlightenment.
Please read the previous recent posts which address this debate before deciding. Thank you.
Happy testing!

Thanks for the posting. We definitely have the freedom to choose who we see or don't see for our own
individual personal health care and diagnostic testing.

[demografx]

Thanks for the posting. We definitely have the freedom to choose who we see or don't see for our own
individual personal health care and diagnostic testing.

I think our POIS research is already benefitting from eclectic exploration: Levitra components work, but so do fenugreek and relora, and perhaps garlic.

[demografx]

With regards to prolactin, I spent several weeks trying cabergoline as a cure to POIS last year. Cabergoline is supposed to suppress prolactin prodution in the pituitary gland, however it had little real effect on my POIS symptoms.

So either the drug was not doing what it was supposed to, or in the case of my POIS symptoms, reducing prolactin levels didn't have much effect.

Of course other people's POIS symptoms may be due to different causes to my own, and prolactin may well play a key role for many people here - just wanted to add that there did not appear to be a strong link with prolactin in my own case.

Hurray, very interesting. Prolactin is an interesting POIS suspect. Thanks for posting.

[acronym]

Alternative Medicine vs. MD testing
I think it is in the best interests of everyone on this forum that people go down both paths. They both have their pros & cons. When it comes to CFS/POIS I am using both. I would have to say though that I have made the biggest strides using Alternative Medicine therapies. Like Girlwind and many other CFS suffers you lose faith in conventional doctors after a while. I am currently seeing a great doc who is a laterall thinker and researches, but they are the exception. I agree with the comment most probably don't do much in the way of furthering their knowledge past graduation. If it was not in their textbook then it doesn't exist or it must be depression. For most GPs or MDs (depending on where you live), that is the basket for POIS.
On a private note - it annoys me when I hear recent high school grads with great grades getting asked what they want to study at uni, and they answer..either study law or medicine. Like, I can see the connection...writing a drug scrip is just like writing a clause in a contract isn't it!

My opinion on thyroid tests - listen to Girlwind, I have heard of too many cases where people continue to suffer for years after only having just basic TSH test or having to fight doc to try different drug treatment.

Likewise if you are getting your testosterone tested make sure they test free test also. All I had tested was just total T for a number of years and it came back on low side but just in normal range. I was told well its normal, and you are too young to go mucking around with with taking extra testosterone. (huh!) After number of yrs I finally had my free T tested and it came back abnormal. Hello! Testosterone can be bound to SHBG and rendered inactive, like a number of other hormones can be bound to enzymes or globulins.

Also - I have made a post regarding POIS on a pituitary forum asking if its members can relate to POIS. I heard of someone who had hypopituitism who also had POIS. I have been diagnosed with hypopituitism. On this pituitary forum there are also numerous stories of people getting dicked around by incompetent/negligent/lazy medical specialists.
I will monitor my post there and report back what I get.
Cheers

[demografx]

Alternative Medicine vs. MD testing
I think it is in the best interests of everyone on this forum that people go down both paths. They both have their pros & cons...

...On this pituitary forum there are also numerous stories of people getting dicked around by incompetent/negligent/lazy medical specialists.
I will monitor my post there and report back what I get.
Cheers

Acronym, excellent post. Thank you!

And looking forward to hearing more about the pituitary forum!

[demografx]

TESTING, SUPPLEMENTS, Rx, MD's vs. ALTERNATIVES

To Everyone: None of us are here as your medical practitioner or healthcare provider.

Some of us may have strong opinions, but it is your body, and your decision!

So please: follow your best knowledge and intuition, including which healthcare provider can best help validate or augment your decisions.

I only ask you for one thing: PLEASE don't hold back in sharing your experiences by posting them here, good and bad. THAT is how we will ultimately find the best POIS remedies!

And PLEASE don't be swayed from reporting your experiences here just because someone disagrees with your methods or remedies. I, for example, have found POIS relief with Levitra, a somewhat risky drug which may not please those who favor a more naturopathic route. But I still wish to learn from the alternative methods because I suspect there are more benign supplements that may do the trick, including fenugreek and relora! I, however, choose to wait to test my supplements because i don't know how they interact with my Rx meds (especially relora, which is not in my pharmacy's Rx-interaction system...but fenugreek is).

But others here, as they have indicated, have chosen to try fenugreek and relora and may not have those interaction concerns.

As to "required testing", there is no such thing here! Only if you wish to do so, or your healthcare provider suggests that.

I look forward to reading about your latest adventures! Soon!



 []

[demografx]

My opinion on thyroid tests - listen to Girlwind, I have heard of too many cases where people continue to suffer for years after only having just basic TSH test or having to fight doc to try different drug treatment.

I assume a Comprehensive Male Profile such as ZRT Labs provides will include this thyroid test plus Free Testosterone?

[demografx]

B_Jim, I'm on Day Zero and I just went on The B_Jim Protein Plan! (Hope to avoid those nasty carbs!)

 []

[martin88]

thank you very much for sharing your painful experience and shedding more light on the MD vs. naturopath debate.

No problem Demo. We have had a similar debate already in the forum with the same people involved. It's just a remake!

Alternative Medicine vs. MD testing
it doesn't exist or it must be depression. For most GPs or MDs (depending on where you live), that is the basket for POIS.

I finally had my free T tested and it came back abnormal.

I heard of someone who had hypopituitism who also had POIS

Nice post Acronym. Did you try to take antidepressants or testosterone ? If yes what were the results ? I'm wondering how you can arrive to a diagnostic of CFS. I heard you have to eliminate all other possible diseases before. Thanks for your answer if any.

I have never done a test for hypopituitarism in pois.
It could be interesting. However my FSH and LH were both normals 15 days after release while I wasn't symptomatic. At 23 my GH was normal, I was mild symptomatic during the test.

[girlwind]

Like Girlwind and many other CFS suffers you lose faith in conventional doctors after a while. I am currently seeing a great doc
who is a laterall thinker and researches, but they are the exception. I agree with the comment most probably don't do much in
the way of furthering their knowledge past graduation. If it was not in their textbook then it doesn't exist or it must be depression.
For most GPs or MDs (depending on where you live), that is the basket for POIS.

My opinion on thyroid tests - listen to Girlwind, I have heard of too many cases where people continue to suffer for years after
only having just basic TSH test or having to fight doc to try different drug treatment.

I have made a post regarding POIS on a pituitary forum asking if its members can relate to POIS. I heard of someone who had
hypopituitism who also had POIS. I have been diagnosed with hypopituitism. On this pituitary forum there are also numerous
stories of people getting dicked around by incompetent/negligent/lazy medical specialists. I will monitor my post there and report
back what I get.

Thank you, Acronym, for your post. It is very validating to hear the experiences of another with both CFS and POIS.
What I wouldn't do for a great doc who is open to research....  I have been looking for this for 30 years!

And yes, regarding thyroid, I am one of those who has suffered for DECADES, without anyone even bothering to seriously
investigate my thyroid levels. THis is why I have been so strongly urging others to take initiative to do thyroid tests. It's
a simple action that could save you from many many years of worthless exhaustion.

As for the pituitary... PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TEST(S) YOU USED TO CHECK PITUITARY FUNCTION. I would like
to check this out on myself. 

[girlwind]

My opinion on thyroid tests - listen to Girlwind, I have heard of too many cases where people continue to suffer for years after only having just basic TSH test or having to fight doc to try different drug treatment.

I assume a Comprehensive Male Profile such as ZRT Labs provides will include this thyroid test plus Free Testosterone?

The ZRT tests in the Comprehensive Male Profile I are mostly saliva tests. Only the thyroid is tested via blood. There is
another panel that is mostly blood tests. If you want to know more, you should read about them, or call the lab and get
your questions answered directly through them.  http://www.zrtlab.com/Page.aspx?nid=12&action=view&category=3

ZRT LAB   (1-866-600-1636)

[demografx]

The ZRT tests in the Comprehensive Male Profile I are mostly saliva tests. Only the thyroid is tested via blood. There is another panel that is mostly blood tests. If you want to know more, you should read about them, or call the lab and get
your questions answered directly through them.  http://www.zrtlab.com/Page.aspx?nid=12&action=view&category=3
ZRT LAB   (1-866-600-1636)

Thanks, girlwind, as you can tell I'm new at this. Ever since my less-than-ecstatic alternative therapy experiences I've avoided this route. But it seems like you know who "the good guys" are in this world, thru painful trial and error.

[Limejuice]

It is as if i become diabetic after orgasm.

Me too.  It's just weird...and quit unnecessary

Relora Results - after taking relora for a week I noticed a reduction in POIS symptoms and duration of period - approximately 50% for each.  I've decided to stop taking relora altogether because I didn't care for it's side effects - extreme relaxation, low motivation, and I would feel a weird content glaze affecting my personality.  I seem to be quit sensitive to it.

I'll now try fenugreek - just purchased a bottle of solgar at vitamin shoppe.

[demografx]

POIS DIARY

Just wanted to check in: I took Levitra yesterday and today is Day 1. 75% relief. It's continued to work well for over a year now, but I'd still prefer the naturopathic route.

[demografx]

Relora Results - after taking relora for a week I noticed a reduction in POIS symptoms and duration of period - approximately 50% for each.  I've decided to stop taking relora altogether because I didn't care for it's side effects - extreme relaxation, low motivation, and I would feel a weird content glaze affecting my personality.  I seem to be quit sensitive to it.

I'll now try fenugreek - just purchased a bottle of solgar at vitamin shoppe.

Limejuice, thank you for this!

As I mentioned earlier, "bad" experiences, such as side effects, are very important for all of us to know.