Drugs or no drugs?
 

Hi everyone,

I've been battling this PCS for three and a half months now. Still plagued by daily headaches and light sensitivity in right eye. Haven't taken the nortriptyline yet. Have gone to chiropractic neurology and acupuncture and taking vitamins and chinese herbs. Both my chiropractic neurologist and acupuncturist have really discouraged me from taking any perscription medication and have even mentioned that nortriptyline taken longer than two months can cause permanent cognitive impairments.

Anyway, I Havne't really seen a noticeable improvement really from all of my alternative therapies. I'm just really tired honestly :( I know this is also causing me a lot of stress and haven't been sleeping well.:( I'm thinking of honestly just giving up and taking the nortriptyline if the L-trytophan doesn't help me. I"m just scared of all the side effects of nortripyline and I dnot know want to have a drug just mask my symptoms and I dont want to be dependent on a drug.

But on the other hand, i feel stuck and really tired . So do you think the nortriptyline will somehow help me heal faster? Thank you so much.

This is a hard road to recovery because we are dependent upon other's for their advice for our healing bodies.

The L-tryptophan will not help headaches-it really is for anxiety and sleep (which lessen headaches). I think you will have to ask yourself if having good sleep and fewer headaches outweigh the possible side effects.

The only one who can decide is you-we become informed through this forum!

Good luck!

Thank you! May I ask who your acupuncturist is? I find its so hard to find an acupuncturist who knows what he or she is doing. I've been going to mine for 6 weeks and not sure if I've seen a difference. I think I should by now right? Thank you!

Sleep
 

Blue, I've had patchy sleep for years. I am taking liquid valerian and it keeps me asleep. It might work for you. I got it at a food co op -- it's not a prescription medicine.

So sorry about the headaches. Those are the devil and I have no idea what may help.

Hang in there Blue!

pm

Actually, L-Tryptophan has been studied regarding head aches. The studies have been small but the results look good. L-Tryptophan has no or minimal side-effects. It is an essential amino acid that the body uses well. It can lower stress resulting in a lowered or stabilized blood pressure than can result in less head aches.

It starts to act quickly and does not require a long build-up. I have had very few head aches since starting L-Tryptophan. I used to have daily head aches. Now, maybe one mild head ache a week.

It is easy to try and not too expensive.

Drugs have helped me
 

But sometimes it's trial and error to find the right ones. When I tried to up my Topamax dosage, I had facial spasms that were incredibly unnerving. When I tried to up my Adderall dosage, it caused me to feel lightheaded and even pass out once. So not all good experiences, but right now I feel like the Wellbutrin I'm taking to deal with my depression and lethargy is a total life saver. I feel so much better than I did just a month ago, it's honestly amazing. I also don't know what I would do without Adderall, which I've used for years to treat my ADHD. I take Nexium for acid reflux, which is unrelated, except to say it's another drug I couldn't live without and paradoxically another drug that has caused undesirable side effects. It has impacted my bone density, but because I have such terrible acid reflux, I really have no choice. I would be vomiting and constantly miserable without it. I suppose surgery would be an option, but instead I just started taking lots of calcium. I also take thyroid medicine for my hypothyroidism. Again, I don't know how I would live without it. All of this is just to say that medication can save lives, can drastically improved lives, and are not all bad or all good. I know the possible side effects are daunting, and I know no one wants to take a bunch of medicine, but they can really help you.

I also went to an acupuncturist, one who is actually very well regarded and a professor of integrative medicine at a major university. It didn't help me. It just doesn't work for some people, no matter how great the practitioner is, so I wouldn't pin your hopes on it. I do believe in an integrative approach and trying everything available to get better. Medications can be part of that.

If you are not comfortable with the medications that you're thinking of taking, I would talk to your doctor about other options. There's more than one drug you can take to deal with these symptoms. Maybe find one that you are more comfortable trying. Good luck!