Just to remind. Dr. Lam told me that his work was done. It was end of October or beginning of November last year. But I still had a few symptoms left. In December, I decided to try acupuncture ( I saw business card in barber shop while i was waiting). The TCM doctor claimed 50 yrs of experience; graduated from Chinese academy in 1960. This time acupuncture work really well. I felt relaxed; a strange feeling: feels like brain finally relaxed. This was accompanied by very deep sleep with vivid dreams, which i cannot remember. Muscle tone also changed. I started to feel that can exercise now. When I do, i feel better, more energy. longer hours of uninterrupted sleep. The tongue coating became thin and white. The TCM doctor said it is a good colour from his point of view. People say that my hair started to grow. I do not see big change.it is still diffuse on top.
However, I do not have drive to do things. I cannon enjoy things i used to enjoy; everything is plain and grey for me. I do not have adrenaline rush, cannot get angry - cannot be in a good mood (when one wants to lough). I still have low sex drive. I tried Maca powder about 150 gram in a week Brad King brand. It did not make me feel any different.
I found a post by Dr.Marianco from California (i think he is a psychiatrist). he was explaining that the symptoms i mentioned caused by HPA dysfunction. he recommends exercising. (Dr. Lam suggests the same thing.)
Dr. Marianco mentioned that once the brain (HPA axis, neurotransmitters, etc) starts working properly, testosterone and other hormones would be on the level.
My hubby's hair is going in thicker on top of his head, was almost bald on top, but seeing it get thicker. He had his mercury rmeoved 2 1/2 years ago and on a healthy diet.
Marie
''However, I do not have drive to do things. I cannon enjoy things i used to enjoy; everything is plain and grey for me. I do not have adrenaline rush, cannot get angry - cannot be in a good mood (when one wants to lough). I still have low sex drive. I tried Maca powder about 150 gram in a week Brad King brand. It did not make me feel any different."
Wow does this sound like an issue with Dopamine. I had alot of these symptoms and L-Tyrosine was the big help, especially the 'grey'. Thyroid hormone is also required to active Catecholamines (like Dopamine and Adrenaline) which could also be a part of it. While it's obviously your choice, building up some L-Tyrosine for a few weeks may help. A great book (if you ignore the silly title) "The Edge Effect" explains neurotransmitters well.
Hvagherthi from "the truth in medicine" said the same thing about lack of dopamine.
I am trying L-tyrosine. I read on different forums that it could be taken two times a day 3500 mg every time. I have tried to take it 1000 mg 3 times a day and did not feel much different.
Experiencing similar effects - as adrenaline rush dies down and my body begins to heal I've found that I physically feel a bit better and but emotionally very unmotivated and depressed - which is new for me. I was usually very type A.
Has anything other than acupuncture helped with the drab feeling?
That is crazy how much your stories match up with mine. My anxiety and heart palpitations have been gone for over 8 months, my hair is thickening up slightly, the shakiness, dizziness, and postural hypotension are gone as well. I can easily fall asleep now and sleep through the night.
What is left is not really brain fog, but what I guess you could call lazy thinking. I don't have much motivation for anything anymore and nothing really excites me. Just like you, I am very Type A. In the last few weeks, I started taking Armour for the first time and I have been taking large doses of Iodine for the last 6 months or so.
I really think that I have been hypothyroid my whole life (overweight, not much energy, etc.) and getting some sort of infection three years ago stressed my HPA axis to the breaking point. Now that that is much improved, the hypothyroid symptoms remain but to a greater level than before I got sick. I am also sure that my body is still fighting whatever infection I got three years ago. I am strongly considering getting tested for Lyme, EBV, and the other usual suspects.
I recommend the rheumatological aspects such as checking for lymes, EBV, etc and autoimmune issues.
For me the deep long vivid dreaming sleep is rare, but I take it as a sign of powerful healing. Only two things ever do this-
taking melatonin after being very overworked and wired for days or weeks at a time
or doing a juice fast with things like cilantro, carrots, Celery , and fruit
The day after you feel like your body really relaxed. But for me the issue has been trying to stick to a strict juice fast.
I have anhedonia as well, or the lack of dopamine and motivation. But tyrosine never did help me. Schizandra and rhodiola did- at first. Exercise works better than anything. And yes I find that it makes humor, wit, depth and excitement difficult to express.