I would love to be med free. My meds just got tweaked again, that is how many times since Thanksgiving? 8 or 9? With 2 hospitalizations?

I am at the point where I am sick of the illness, sick of the pills, the cost, the pain and wear and tear on my body, and am seriously thinking of making 08 the year I go med free as well. After all, I have better things to do with my money than give it to big pharma.

First, thank you for your faith in me and your support! Really.

But I have to say, why dismiss orthomolecular without seeing what happens. I've been at this more than a few months it's been 3 years with 1 1/2 of those being really intense. Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree, but I've put a lot of study into this and I've learned that amino acid combinations among other things can soften the burn of withdrawal. Yes BURN---because it feels like my central nervous system is on fire sometimes. If I actually do speed up the withdrawal on my trip because that is my goal in seeing this doctor then the ortho will have worked without a doubt. I come to screeching burning halts with some frequency. Key is that I recover from each of them and am on ever decreasing amounts of meds. So yes it is my spirit doing the work now. However, see me out before concluding It will have little to do with orthomolecular cures Though I do get that ultimately, one way or another, it will have more to do with me than the "cures." It's taken great determination to even find all available resources to make the journey easier. And again, I'll credit you with the fact that up to this point it's unclear what is helping save one or two supplements that are clearly intermittent easers of the suffering.

I have a hunch she'll get to where I am at these days.

Thanks so much for the vote of confidence. All the support I get from the people out in the cyber realms helps so much in moving me forward!

ahhhh!!! orthomolecular cures (though those may help)

I missed the (thought those may help)!!! I'm sorry, but I still like the stuff I said in the last post so go ahead and post it! But you're are great and I'm sorry I misread you. Stupid, knee-jerk reaction on my part!!! Mostly because I probably have fears that it won't work---though I'm approaching it optimistically and cautiously as the excerpt you show reads.

I do so appreciate all the support you've given me! And are giving me now! And your website gives me hope every day and you yourself too, are an inspiration in your recovery.

twenty five years of BP1 and many, many different drugs had left me confused, hurt and defensive. Three years ago I started using methadone and marijuana, both in moderation and with my doctors understanding. Now I use only these two and am doing better than ever before. Methadone is very good at pain reduction and the herb is best at smoothing out the BP. My family and friends, few as they are, comment on the change.
No more big pharma meds for me. Mother Earth seems to have natural remedies.
Just my two cents worth but this combo is worth looking into.

best wishes Gianna, I know how hard is has been for you.

I think your determination and the will to be off them will help you realize your goal.

Rooting for you, Gianna, in a big way.

I once met a musician in Barbados. He told me he was bipolar (manic depressive) and whenever he gets out of control on the "up" side he goes to his wife's uncle in St. Vincent island. The uncle rubs him from head to toe with salt, then pours alternating hot and cold water over him. The physical shock grounds him and helps his balloon to land.

I thought this sounded very sensible and lots less harmful than the ice baths, ECT, insulin shock, firehose water "treatments" and (now) crappy dangerous drugs used in the US.

We got to talking pretty openly and he told me he has seen the music of god. In turn, I confided I have seen a light I believed to be from god (it had a different quality than other lights). I'm an atheist, by the way, but also a true Celt so the invisible never seems far away to my Irish psyche. Happily, I grew up in a culture in which this was pretty accepted, with family members seeing ghosts and praying to saints and assorted dead people.

Anyway, I pointed out that I usually do NOT tell people this sort of thing because I would be considered crazy in my own culture. "That's because you live in a culture that's lost its soul," he replied. I've never forgotten that observation and pass it along to you. We've been deemed "crazy" in only one culture amongst many on the planet and let's never forget that.

I did orthomolecular stuff years ago, Gianna. The doctor also put me on a hypoglycemic diet, whilst his colleagues sneered. The fact is, since I've lost 70 pounds in the past five years, I have discovered in my efforts that no matter what the heck you call it--you FEEL BETTER when you eat properly! I'm not sure how the hell I missed that little factoid all these years.

This doctor also told me that he suspected, from my laundry list of symptoms, that I was hypothryoid although I tested "low normal". The poor man dropped dead of a heart attack before he could actually treat me, so I don't know if the orthomolecular megavitamins would have helped.

But I suffered for 30 reeealllly long years before they changed the way they read thyroid test results and finally treated my hypothyroidism. I still have PTSD and always will, but the daily drain of disthymia (catchy, huh?) is gone.

My point is that this kind orthomolecular doctor had a lot of the answers for my problems 30 years ago. It doesn't matter what you call it, a good doctor who listens can probably help you with a piece or two of your puzzle. And every little piece helps. The fact you're on less meds doesn't meet your goal, but it's sure an improvement. This doc may not do *all* you hope, but I'll bet you'll have some sort of net gain. It's certainly worth a shot. I've done my share of travelling in search of answers.

Best wishes,
Sherry

Has anyone successfully come off of Lamictal and Prozac? I just started the second taper off of Lamictal as I tapered too fast off the first time. I'm tapering 10% from 100 mg and am having dull headaches. I've been incorporating the Point of Return products, but find that they are expensive. Any advise/suggestions would be helpful. Do not hesitate to reply to me directly at jfbenson@sbcglobal.net. Thank you!

Joy