Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho
PCSLearner,
If your daughter wants to get off the Elavil, why has she not tried a more intensive vitamin therapy? Especially the brain vitamins, B-2, B-3, B-6, B-12, folic acid, thiamine, D3, E, C, and all of the other anti-oxidants?
I am surprised that she was on 20 mg of Elavil (amitriptyline). The common dose for PCS is 10 mgs. The anti-depressant effect is not the main goal. Just the head ache relief and insomnia.
Regarding triggers, they are not all bad. They can be helpful at understanding how she may need to moderate her life. Many triggers that I have can be easily moderated. The noise and other chaos triggers make PCS symptoms return but they also effect the non-PCS person, just not in a life changing way. So, learning to understand these triggers cam lead her to a more normal and calm life, for the rest of her life.
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Mark: As for the vitamin therapy-I've printed out the vitamin regiments you and others have posted, but the dosages seem so high that I've stuck with a multi. I will go over the dosages with her doctor when she calls about the thyroid testing and get them started. It sounds weird, but her lips crack when she takes magnesium. Anyone else notice that?
As for the Elavil, she was originally on 30 mg (worked up from 10). Our neuro said the antidepressant effects of Elavil don't show up until 100 mg. 30 mg gave her heart palpitations.
Triggers: I appreciate this view. I told her that her PCS will be just like the ankle she broke a few years ago that likes to remind her when she has pushed herself too far. Following your lead I mentioned that this might just help her keep herself in balance emotionally and physically. She seemed to think that was a reasonable suggestion.
I like your suggestions for therapy alteranatives (latch hook, sorting, etc.) My daughter is a drummer and has continued to drum throughout her PCS. Oddly it has never increased her symptoms and it is the only activity she didn't have to give up. I have often wondered if the repetition and learning new music has offered her some type of therapy. I also noticed early on when she had lots of eye twitching that she intentionally moved her eyes in an exaggerated way. I wonder if that, too, was a sort of self-directed therapy?