[demografx]

quote from John21 today
I've had two more NEs over the last few weeks and still good (no symptoms). I have continued taking bilberry supplements, along with eating sweet potatoes at supper and the yogurt/berries. I have also been eating trout or salmon the day after an NE, going on the inflammation theory. Something is working. My insomnia is still present, but I am taking steps in my career to try to minimize stress levels, hopefully it helps.


                        


Congratulations, John, and many thanks for reporting!!

[demografx]

Lucid Dreaming Mask

Has anyone tried the lucid dreaming mask?

Years ago, I was able to induce some fantastic Lucid Dreaming experiences via Stanford's Dr. Stephen LaBerge's - I met with him twice -  MILD (Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreaming) technique (although it did take me a month of repeated attempts before it worked):
http://www.lucidity.com/LucidDreamingFAQ2.html#mild

But then it became too difficult for me to do as the years went by (partly because I simply became too impatient with the amount of effort required), so I wonder if a lucid dreaming mask can work (they weren't available when I began the adventure). As just one example, here's how lucidity.com's NovaDreamer works:
http://www.lucidity.com/LucidDreamingFAQ2.html#novadreamer

A friend bought one from lucidity.com, so maybe I'll borrow his before buying it.
http://www.lucidity.com/novadreamer.html/novadreamer.html

Besides lucidity.com, there are others who offer and/or write about the device, including making your own!:
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=lucid+dreaming+mask&rlz=1W1DAUS_en&aq=f&aqi=g1g-m5&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=b6a1a41915c22091

[demografx]

this guy is good for lucid dreaming

Thanks for posting, db!

[daveman]

Lucid Dreaming Mask

Has anyone tried the lucid dreaming mask?

The lucid dreaming mask which is a mask that detects the initiation of a dream state (detecting rapid eye moviments) and begins flashing light in front of the (closed) eyelids. The idea is that entering a dream state you should be able to detect the flashing and become aware (lucid).

It still takes a bit of practice, but is easier than most methods.

This is very similar to my favorite method, which is using a recurring dream to trigger lucidity.

I used to have dreams of planes crashing. I would be waching an airliner fly overhead and then it would begin to have problems and crash nearby. I taught myself to recognize the crashing planes as reccurrant and therefore must be dreams.

It was difficult to take control, because the dream of the airplane always seemed too real. I had to convince myself it was a dream. I did this by raising myself above the ground about a foot, and glide without moving my legs.

When we are dreaming, we don't know we are dreaming. Often, if you ask yourself the question (within the dream) you answer, no, I'm NOT dreaming. That's one advantage the mask has over other methods. The flashing is more evidence that it is a dream, although, usually the lights are somehow incorporated into the dream. A real hummer is while using the mask, try to follow the consiousness state through the transition. That one is SUPER cool if you can acheive it. And the mask makes it easier.

For NE's it would be easy to detect a sex scene as the trigger. To distinguish an upcoming NE from the real thing, use the second technique, elevating yourself a foot or two above the ground (or bed). If it's the real thing, you don't have to risk exposing yourself that way, you're obviously not going to float! If it's an oncoming NE, you can just FLY AWAY []

By all means, buy the mask. If it doesn't physically wake you up too much, having that thing on your face.

Let me know.

[demografx]

Lucid Dreaming Mask

This is very similar to my favorite method, which is using a recurring dream to trigger lucidity.

The method you describe, daveman, is the one that became more and more difficult for me to do.

One reason is that I don't have great dream recall. Those who DO I think would have an easier time of it.

I also wonder if aging doesn't have something to do with it. 20 years ago, it was difficult to master but not "impossibly" so, as it seems to me now.

Oh well, I do miss it a lot, even after all these years, so I hope I can regain mastery, if nothing else than for the sheer thrill of it.  []

By all means, buy the mask. If it doesn't physically wake you up too much, having that thing on your face.

Let me know.

Thank you, I will!

[demografx]

If it's an oncoming NE, you can just FLY AWAY []

daveman, help, what if I fall in love!!!! []

[demografx]

db, do you have a website link(s) for the TMB blanket? 

http://www.scenar.com.ru/production/olm/index_e.htm
http://www.scenar.com.au/products-2/healing-blanket/research
http://www.acuvision.org/template.php?ID=25&PageName=tmbblanket

Thanks, db!

[demografx]

                       


Come on over!
http://forums.delphiforums.com/POIS/chat

[John21 (OP)]

John, can you give the brand or the ingredients of your bilberry supplement ? Some supplements are made with fruit, leaf or both.
I want to test again your diet.

What is the color of your sweet potatoes ?
Some sweet potatoes have anthocyanins, especially purple colored varieties.

A lot of purple colored fruit and vegetables have anthocyanins.

The sweet potatoes are orange inside.



This is my second type of bilberry supplement, it is from Life Extension and is 100mg of "Certified European Bilberry Extract" 25% Anthocyanidins. I purchased these from iHerb.


I hope you try 'em both!

[demografx]

I love sweet potatoes. They're part of an every day diet? (I couldn't tell from the description at the top of this page if it was every day or days after NE)

And bilberry extract means we don't have to down a ton of blueberries!

[Bowdon]

Hi all,

I only recently discovered this forum and thread and I am so relieved that I’m not the only one with this problem!

I believe I have POIS has I’ve got all the symptoms mentioned in the thread and so far the doctors haven’t really come up with much.

Here's my story, sorry that its a long'ish post.. just putting it on record really  []

I did get sent to an Endo after my FSH and LH were very low. The Endo re-tested the FSH and LH, and did some other tests including testing testosterone. The result came back that I was just inside normal range, but the Endo said it was low enough that he wanted to re-test, which also came back the same, so he proscribed testosterone replacement. The FSH and LH came back normal. It should be noted when I had the first test done I felt I was in the bad stages of POIS. On the re-test I wasn’t as bad.

Because of the weakness and excessive hunger the Endo thought I had hypoglycemia so did a glucose tolerance test. Instead of showing low glucose, my levels went slightly out of normal range and held there for 1 hour 30 minutes before dropping rapidly back to normal. It should be noted that when I did come back to normal I was shaking abit. I had some sandwiches they provided and I relaxed again. They did keep checking my blood sugar levels but like the people here say, so far I’ve never been low or really high, even when I’ve been experiencing the worst POIS symptoms.

So in line with the tests that people have tried and given an opinion on, here is my list and opinions that worked or didn’t for me;

Testosterone Replacement
Comment: Picked up my sex drive. Noticed my facial hair and nails started to grow again. I felt slightly stronger. Only downsides I’ve seen is that it seems to promote weight gain and possible higher BP. Also because of the increased sexual desires it increased my chances with NE.

Pregnenolone Cream
Comment: This cream has certainly helped me as far as body stamina. I usually put on 15mg in the mornings. If I don’t put any on I feel weaker during the rest of the day.

DHEA Cream
Comment: I noticed minimal positive differences when I started using this cream at 30mg per day (15mg on both arms). I eventually stopped this as it wasn’t really having any improving effect.

Progesterone Cream
Comment: I tried this for a short time at 20mg per day but noticed nothing significant. So eventually stopped taking it.

Whey Protein
Comment: Seemed to fill me up instantly. It’s low GI so there is no immediate burst and fall. Gives me temporary relief from symptoms such as fatigue, muscle strength and cognitive function. Only bad signs from this is possible weight gain, and dehydration.

Choline Bitartrate
Comment: This seems to keep off the hunger urges I have. I usually have 500mg of this in the afternoon. If I wake up during the night usually because of an hydration problem I no longer feel anxious when I’m regularly taking this.

L-Tyrosine
Comment: I tried this as an experiment to see if I had a deficiency in dopamine. Not sure if I do or not but this didn’t help me at all. It’s supposed to increase dopamine. If it did then it actually made my condition worst. Made me feeling hungry more often, especially during the night. I ended up having similar night symptoms to what I have when I’ve been having solo action the afternoon / day before. So maybe high dopamine levels is my problem?

L-Theanine
Comment: This so far seems to only work very mildly to ease anxiousness. I haven’t felt really any difference at the moment. I’m still testing it.

Vitamin C (Powder)
Comment: I tried taking this in small doses but when I mix some in water it makes me feel very thirsty afterwards. I’ve not felt any positive effect of taking it. I eventually stopped as it was upsetting my hunger urges.

Omega-3 with Vitamin D liquid
Comment: I can’t really point to any specific improvements after taking this. But I’ve not had any negative problems either. I’m still including this in my current testing.

B-Complex Vitamin
Comment: I tried complex which is B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12. I’ve not felt any improvement at all in this. I’m still testing it in my current tests.

Alkaline Drops
Comment: Because hydration seems to be an issue for me I tried alkaline drops to help with the absorbing of water. Though I felt a difference when I drank water after administering the drops I eventually run in to problems as I’ve found out that adding a pinch of salt (Sodium) to my water helps with absorption, so with the potassium in the alkaline drops I found this was countering my salt, so I stopped the drops.

So at the moment I’m taking Testosterone gel, Pregnenolone cream, Whey Protein twice a day. Choline Bitartrate, Omega-3 and vitamin D liquid.

I think there is something in the theory about their being too much adrenaline in our bodies. Maybe it pushes down the prolactin and that gives us insomnia. I’ve experienced weight gain, which could be a side effect of not resting properly, and also hydration problems which could be consistent with a body always on the move, even though I’m just wanting to relax.

That’s my experience and theories so far. I don’t have the answers so far. But I’m in this for the long haul. I don’t want to let this beat me.

[John21 (OP)]

I love sweet potatoes. They're part of an every day diet? (I couldn't tell from the description at the top of this page if it was every day or days after NE)

And bilberry extract means we don't have to down a ton of blueberries!

Yes, I am eating sweet potatoes typically at every supper. But I make sure I eat 'em after an NE.

[demografx]

Bowdon, welcome to the POIS thread of The Naked Science Forum!




Here are some POIS resources which may be helpful to you:


Our new POIS chatroom (realtime chat). Invite or visit another member(s) there, ANY TIME. We can all get to know each other better:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/POIS/chat

Our new POIS Information Website, built by "mat780", is here:
http://sites.google.com/site/POISwebsite/

Please see "B_Jim"'s POIS Summary of All Cases, here as well as others on the Web. This includes remedies that we have tested, and results.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6576.msg149009#msg149009

"Girlwind" has created an excellent POIS Video:

And filling out the POIS survey created by "Counterpoints" will enable you to share POIS information and details with others here.
http://pois.olympe-network.com/

POIS Research Study

We have a copy of the first and only formal medical investigation on POIS by Dr. Marcel Waldinger,MD and Dr. Dave Schweitzer, MD.

There are 2 ways to get it: (1) if you want a PDF copy, send me a Private Message (PM) with your regular email address (use "AT" instead of "@" ) and I'll send you back the PDF. Or, if you prefer, (2) I can simply reply with a Private Message (no regular email needed) and provide you with a simple text version embedded in your PM.

To send a Private Message, click on "Messages" at the top of this page. At the Messages page, click on "New Message". From that point on, it works just like posting a message here, except that it only goes to the person(s) you designate.

Remember to put a quote around my name, i.e., "demografx".


New York Times article,

January 20, 2009
Mind
Sex and Depression: In the Brain, if Not the Mind
By RICHARD A. FRIEDMAN, M.D.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/health/views/20mind.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=friedman%20sexual%20January%2020&st=cse

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In addition to serving our own informational interests, the resources listed above can be useful for you to show our credibility to the medical world - which often shows little understanding and is sometimes skeptical of our condition: POIS has scientific underpinnings and POIS is not "just another psychological problem" related to sex - to be treated by the psychiatric/psychotherapeutic community. All of this information can greatly help you to fight the immediate reaction of some doctors: so just tell them, "IT'S NOT "ALL IN OUR HEADS"!

Also, it can be helpful when dealing with medical professionals to point out the successful existence of our rapidly growing forum, which has already been referenced in respectable sources such as the British Medical Journal and wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postorgasmic_illness_syndrome

For for over 3 years, our POIS forum has attracted over 150 POIS sufferers worldwide who have posted here, plus over 600,000 page visits. Not bad for a rare malady!

[demografx]

Bowdon, this post will help you find information about POIS that we have already discussed, by tailoring a Google search to this forum:


SEARCH THE FORUM WITH GOOGLE

We have an overwhelming amount of data: 3 years' worth of posts (over 7,000 posts!) from 150+ Forum members, and an additional 150 POIS sufferers found elsewhere on the Internet by Member B_Jim.

In the Google search box, type
whatever-it-is-you're-interested-in-finding-out[space]POIS[space]site:http://thenakedscientists.com/

for example, I tried
demografx POIS site:http://thenakedscientists.com/

and 1,000+ results came up for "demografx" within the Forum.

be careful with spaces (you can use them before the word "site") and no-spaces (everything after the word "site")

Google even provides you results with the Message# for each result. But Message #'s do change, so be patient and look for the approximate Message#.

[Bowdon]

Thanks demo!  []

I've been reading the thread off and on for a few weeks now. Its so good that there is at last a source of information for this problem. I can't believe how we've all got the same symptoms. I'm sure one problem is causing a knock-on effect to other things.

I'm still testing some things, and hope to test some things mentioned on the thread too  []

I do think there is something in the adrenaline theory as when I used to go out with my friends at the pub, when I'd be speaking for a while, intensively, suddenly I'd get a feeling of anxiety. Usually I'd stop talking and go to the toilets where I'd calm down and within a minute I'd be ok again. This only started happening on the run-up to this.

It's an interesting subject for sure  []

[Limejuice]

I had a 'one time success' last night where no symptoms occured after an O.  It might be fluke but it feels good and obv hope it continues. Here is my regime:

I tried progesterone again (from same bottle dr. prescribed months ago).  NOT RECOMMENDED - I wanted to 'over do it' a bit to rule out the hormone once an for all (I tried it before but it was a weak effort - took a pill 15 minutes before).  So, I took 10mg at 12:00pm, 5mg at 6:00pm, and 10 mg 30 minutes before. Here is what I noticed: for dinner I loaded up on carbs and DID NOT have any sensativities.  Later I O'd and did not have any symptoms.  I also power slept for only 6 hours and feel good, something I've never been able to do. /NOT RECOMMENDED  I really took a risk here.  I don't even feel good writing this cause, like always me, others will try it if it worked AND THIS COULD HAVE HUGE NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS.

I've also taken Zinc (Optizince?) for 2 weeks, now.  I've had no noticable gradual effects until a big bang right now.

It should be noted I was 3 weeks celibate prior.

It could all be a fluke.  We'll see, time will tell.

[daveman]

Welcome Bowdon,

Fantastic work you've done, especially being on your own. I think you will really be a good contributor here!!

LimeJuice:

WOW! let's hope it works consistently for you! As you say, others have to be careful if they want to copy you, but at the same time, if it works, there are several that are in your group and that could then find a doctor to guide them through the process based on your results.

By the way, do you have something on hand that describes the potential downside of this type of treatment.... so we know what we're dealing with?

[Limejuice]

The side effects are hidden online but they are serious.  I suggest reading them.  I don't have time to find and post them now but I will later, if this still works.

[daveman]

Triggered by LJs post, and the potential that his cure might have on a given group, it's come up for me before, that there are several groups of us. It has been said that we are all different, but I tend to feel that we are different in groups.

I seem to be in a relatively small group for instance, that is porbably effected by some pre-existing injury (operation procedure) that is causing an auto-immune reaction.

There are others that are part of a group that have low testoserone levels or problems with the testoserone production equipment that triggers the symptopms, and others that effect neurotransmitter balance, etc.. etc..

Is there a way we can more formally try to define and separate these groups and identify more clearly which group is which.

A doctor would say to a new patient for instance, if he saw that LJs procedure worked for LJ, "OK, lets prove that you are in LJs group first". You would need a defining pre-requisite, besides all of the other tests to assure that one is compatible with the rigours of the treatment.

Also it would help us to better apply the potential of other's successes in more properly directed testing. LJs approach probably would have any positive results what-so-ever for me, but that doesn't mean it should be rejected.

[daveman]

I took this from a WEB Page, but it is directed at effects on a woman.... so ignore the negative vaginal effects [] and of course most of us are men so we would probably have other negative reactions as well.


Side Effects by Body System

Genitourinary
Genitourinary side effects have included breast tenderness (27%), urinary problems (11%), vaginal discharge (10%), vaginal dryness (6%), breast pain (6%), breast carcinoma (2%), breast excisional biopsy (2%), breast enlargement, leukorrhea, uterine fibroid, vaginal dryness, fungal vaginitis, vaginitis, dysuria, cystitis, and urinary tract infection

Nervous system
Nervous system side effects have included headache (31%), dizziness (15%), confusion, somnolence, asthenia, increased sweating, nervousness, migraine, tremor, and speech disorder. Syncope (with and without hypotension) have been reported.

Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular side effects have included chest pain (7%), hypertension, angina pectoris, syncope, and palpitations.

Gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal side effects have included abdominal pain (20%), bloating (8%), diarrhea (8%), nausea (8%), constipation (3%), dyspepsia, dry mouth, gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic rectum, hiatus hernia, and vomiting. The side effects reported during clinical studies evaluating the use of progesterone gel 8% have included constipation (27%), nausea (22%), and diarrhea (8%).

Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal side effects have included joint pain (20%), musculoskeletal pain (12%), back pain (8%), arthritis, leg cramps, hypertonia, muscle disorder, and myalgia.

Psychiatric
Psychiatric side effects have included depression (19%), anxiety, impaired concentration, insomnia, forgetfulness, and personality disorder.

Respiratory
Respiratory side effects have included cough (8%), bronchitis, nasal congestion, pharyngitis, pneumonitis, and sinusitis.

Dermatologic
Dermatologic side effects have included acne, pruritus, rash, skin discoloration, seborrhea, verruca, and wound debridement during therapy.

Additional dermatologic side effects have included case reports of familial autoimmune dermatitis.

Ocular
Ocular side effects have included abnormal vision.

Hepatic
Hepatic side effects including reversible cases of hepatitis, elevated transaminases, and cholecystectomy have been reported.

Other
Other side effects have included viral infection (12%), hot flashes (11%), fatigue (8%), irritability (8%), worry (8%), night sweats (7%), earache, tooth disorder, anorexia, increased appetite, peripheral edema, edema, accidental injury, fever, abscess, lymphadenopathy, and herpes simplex.

Immunologic
Immunologic side effects have included autoimmune dermatitis during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Test results using interferon gamma release in vivo and vitro tests confirmed the diagnosis.



Read more: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/progesterone-side-effects.html#ixzz0nRVkAGEn

Additional Note
It almost seems that some of us naturally have some of these symptoms in POIS.... indicating the potential for heightened progresterone as part of the POIS process for that group.