Below are the 7 most recent journal entries recorded in michamarie's LiveJournal:

Friday, December 4th, 2009
12:49 am	Celexa-Free I did it!!!!!!!!!!!! I am off the Celexa completely, now into day 5 with no effects. Don't know if it'll be helpful to anyone else, since each person reacts differently to these meds, but the way I did it was to take half-doses every day, then a half-dose every other day, then a half-dose every fourth day, then stopped. I upped my 5-HTP intake to 300 mg daily on the days I didn't take the Celexa, so that may have helped level out serotonin levels. The only side effect I've noted, and it is diminishing, was a rhythmic 2-pulse whoosh-woosh sound in my head (kind of like a Cabasa, the percussion instrument that's constructed with loops of steel ball chain wrapped around a wide cylinder fixed to a long, narrow wooden handle). In the beginning that sensation was accompanied by a lightheaded feeling, but it only lasted 2 seconds tops, enough to be noticeable, but not enough to be more than a curiosity. (Comment on this)
Thursday, November 19th, 2009
1:03 am	Better R-Alpha Lipoic Acide Looks like there's a pretty important difference in the various R-Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements, and that's stabilization. From what I was reading, this one seems to be the most stable. Will have to do more checking on this, but it's just a tad more expensive than the other. http://store.wellnesspartners.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1261-RA01 (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
11:27 pm	Blown Away Well, yeah, sure the weather here is super-gale-like, one of those good old-fashioned Pacific Northwest pre-winter blows, but actually I'm really blown away by a gift from a friend today -- a gorgeous 36" across scrying mirror with a beautiful carved wood frame. I love doing mirror magick, have for years, but a tool of this nature, WOW!!!!! (Comment on this)
8:57 pm	Cha-cha-changes I'm likely taking on too many nutrition/supplement things at once, but something tells me it's going to be ok. Have put Ambien tapering to stabilize mode for the nonce (half dose every other day) and working on getting off Celexa by Yule. Some people have no probs getting off it, especially if they taper, some people have a hell of a time. I plan on supplementing the days I don't take the Celexa, which will be every other day, 20 mg, with 5HTP at 300-400 mg. That should keep a good level of serotonin flowing. It may have a paradoxical effect (that's what happened a couple of nights when I took 5 HTP, melatonin and tryptophan) but we'll see. All those years of magickal journaling are transferring well to nutritional investigations! As always, any suggestions are welcome. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, October 25th, 2009
1:19 am	2 Days In Not sure if it's the dietary change of eating something every 2 hours, no matter how small, or if it's the new supplements for insulin control and glucose support, but whatever it does appear to be working well.  I'm looking forward to eventually breaking down the constituents of it and refining my own version, tho, as $45 a month for the pre-packed stuff is stiff and we have a lot of the ingredients on hand (PABA, alpha-lipoic acid, manganesem molybdebum, chromium polynicotinate, chromium polynicotinate chelate, NACL, inositol and choline).  One week more and I'll have the results of the different blood tests and even more info to work with. Current Mood: optimistic (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
10:59 pm	Allopathic versus Alternative Note:  This was posted "locked" in error.  All input welcome, Well, my grandpa had a favorite saying, as gramps often do: Every day you learn something new is a good day. I sure found that to be true! Working on quality of life and longevity with my allopathic doctors has, for the most part, been unsatisfying and disappointing in their lack of ability to educate and assist in the optimization of my physical well being. Just started working with a naturopath, and he's pointed me in interesting directions regarding long-term resident subclinical infections and autoimmune syndrome -- one of those Yay, we might know what's going on and Yuck, that sucks moments, so time to "learn something new". Zing -- TMI; page after page of info that is either sales pitch, inaccurate, prejudiced, but not -- as I'd hoped to find -- verifiable info. Alobar suggested I post here and see what comes of it, so here goes. First step is finding a source regarding neurotransmitter facts and whether this is true: > “The blood brain barrier surrounds the central nervous system. It > protects the brain by only allowing specific molecules to pass into > the brain from the blood. Neurotransmitters do not cross the blood > brain barrier into the brain. This means that taking neurotransmitters > orally or by IV will not allow them to pass into the brain. > Administering neurotransmitters is not an option for raising neurotransmitter levels in the brain. > > The only way to truly raise the overall neurotransmitter level in the > brain is to provide the nutrients (amino acids, vitamins and minerals) > needed by the body to build neurotransmitters. These nutrients will > cross the blood brain barrier into the brain and are then synthesized > into neurotransmitter molecules in the brain. Thus, providing the > proper nutrients accomplishes what prescription drugs are unable to > do. Improperly used amino acids (unbalanced use of amino acids) can > actually deplete other neurotransmitters in the system” > > Well, hell, that sure was informative – if I’d taken biology, that is. > Willing to do the research to educate myself more, but no clue where > to begin. Any input appreciated :-)  Note, this question originated in relation to replacing Ambien and Celexa with something as effective, but non-prescription, something that works with seretonin naturally. Current Mood: hopeful (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, January 3rd, 2005
1:28 pm	New Year Post Well, another year, another chance to hopefully impact positively in the universe. It's hard, this year especially, for all that needed changing in my youth, all that I've striven in ways I thought best to change, has come back gangbusters . . . more people are going hungry and homeless than ever before, more sick are going untreated, fewer and fewer people are getting even the most rudimentary of education, evidence of global changes continues to escalate. So little seems to have been achieved by the work of the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. Are we taking the wrong actions, is that the reason for the inefficacy? Or are the forces too huge to work against? All I know is that results or no results, I must continue to try, it is my heart's oath. (Comment on this)