stampfreak’s Profile

Open Lactose Intolerance

I've had lactose intolerance ever since I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Treatments

Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Working / Worked

I try to avoid dairy when I can but I'm an ice cream freak.

Lactaid Working / Worked

Costco had a good Lactaid Ultra in their own brand. It works in most cases.

Open Back Pain

Generally speaking, my back is "crap." I have DDD L4-L5 and L5-S1, and Stenosis L5-S1.

Treatments

Acupuncture Working / Worked

This has worked better than anything else. I was able to stop the narcotics with help from acupuncture.

Bedrest Working / Worked

I spend most of the day on a recliner due to my back and CFS.

Heat Working / Worked

I've spent many hours with my friend Mr. Heating Pad.

Ibuprofen Working / Worked

I take 800mg 3x/day

Open Chronic Pain

Hi there, I have bad back problems and fibromyalgia, among other things.

Treatments

Heat Working / Worked

I spend many hours with my friend Mr. Heating Pad

Marijuana Working / Worked

I tried it but can't tolerate due to asthma. (I used a lot in high school but can't do anymore. I just cough too much.)

Physical Therapy Working / Worked

I've done several rounds of physical therapy but can't do it anymore due to my CFS.

Open Dizziness & Vertigo

Hi all, because of CFS, I suffer from extreme dizziness and vertigo which makes me unable to drive.

Treatments

Antivert Working / Worked

Works for the most part. I take it before anything that might agrivate my dizziness (movies, riding in a car, etc.)

Open Migraine Headaches

Currently I have 2-5 migraines/month which I consider controlled.

Treatments

Acupuncture Working / Worked

Just started this treatment.

Maxalt Working / Worked

This works most of the time. Insurance company only allows 9 pills/month so I try to stock up for months where I have more.

Open TMJ

Hi there, I've had TMJ for several years. I use the mouthguard as often as I can but especially during stressful times.

Treatments

Mouthguard Working / Worked

Works great when I use it.

Open Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

I've had IBS all my life, though it was diagnosed about 15 years ago.

Treatments

Acidophilus Working / Worked

I use before each meal.

Colace Working / Worked

I use for constipation.

Imodium Working / Worked

I use when I use too much Colace

Probiotics Working / Worked

See Acidophilus section

Psyllium Working / Worked

I use this most every day.

Zelnorm Not Working

I tried this but it didn't work.

Open Arrhythmias
Type: Tachycardia

I have Mitral Valve Prolapse and Mitral Reguritation and suffer from Arrhythmias.

Treatments

Corgard Working / Worked

I had to stop this because it caused my asthma to flare.

Diltiazem Working / Worked

I was allergic to this.

Verapamil Working / Worked

This seems to work fine.

Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Working / Worked

I avoid stimulants and caffeine which helps. Also when I have palpitations I drink lots of water which helps.

Open Anxiety

I've had anxiety most of my life and am glad to finally have good treatment.

Treatments

Acupuncture Working / Worked

Just started

Ativan Working / Worked

works for the most thought

Lexapro Working / Worked

Also helps with my depression

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

Having a good counselor helps.

Open Insomnia

I slept like a baby before Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, now I need drugs to sleep every night.

Treatments

Ambien Working / Worked

Ambien CR gives me about 6 hours of sleep most nights.

Ativan Working / Worked

This helps get me back to sleep after Ambien CR wears off

Lavender Working / Worked

I LOVE lavender and use it for tea, air mist and pillow spray.

Lunesta Working / Worked

This worked for awhile but stopped working.

Rozerem Not Working

This didn't do ANYTHING for me.

Trazodone Working / Worked

This worked great for awhile but stoped working.

Valerian Working / Worked

I take this every day and helps.

Melatonin Working / Worked

This helps me fall asleep.

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

I've struggled with depression for many years. Mostly related to my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Treatments

Celexa Not Working

This worked for ahwile but then my depression got worse.

Effexor Too Soon to Tell

Just started 6/2008

Elavil Working / Worked

This also helps pain.

Lexapro Working / Worked

This helps with both depression and anxiety

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

I see a counselor every 2 weeks who helps me deal with my chronic illnesses and disability.

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

I'm blessed to have a great support system.

Writing Working / Worked

I journal on bad days, am working to journal on good days too.

Open Codependency

I'm a huge Co-Dependent, most of my life.

Treatments

12 Step Program Working / Worked

AlAnon helped some.

Celebrate Recovery Working / Worked

This worked better for me since I'm a Christian.

Talking Working / Worked

Group meetings and counsling are crucial to me.

\"Codependent No More\" Working / Worked

This is a great book

Open Fibromyalgia

I've had CFS for 12 years but Fibro is fairly new to me.

Treatments

Acupuncture Working / Worked

Just started this week.

Elavil Working / Worked

This does help with the pain

Heat Working / Worked

Mr. Heating Pad is my friend.

Vitamin B12 Working / Worked

I inject 1 cc B-12 3x/week IM which helps energy.

Open Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

I've had CFS for 12 years and recently went on disability for good.

Treatments

DHEA Working / Worked

Have tested low so take a supplement.

Lexapro Working / Worked

Helps with depression related to CFS

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

Counseling is helping me to accept my illness.

Open Degenerative Disc Disease

I have moderate to major DDD in L4-L5 and L5-S1. I've done physical therapy many times but now am too sick with CFS to continue. I'm trying acupuncture. I take Darvocet and Motrin for the pain.

Open Bereavement
Type: Loss of a Parent

I lost my father 5 years ago but sometimes it seems like yesterday. The grief process is a roller-coaster. Each loss brings back the pain of other losses (father-in-law, grandparents, aunts, etc.)

Treatments

Crying Working / Worked

Sometimes out of blue I'll hear a song or have a thought that brings it all back.

Helping Others Working / Worked

Mom and I worked together after Dad died. She continues to volunteer though I'm too sick to at this time.

Keeping Busy Working / Worked

I stay busy on "anniversaries" and holidays. This helps some.

Music Working / Worked

There are certain songs that remind me of Dad or Father-in-Law that brings it all back. Sometimes I need that.

Pets Working / Worked

Mom got a dog shortly after Dad died. It gave her a reason to get up every day and has done wonders for her.

Prayer Working / Worked

I know Dad is with the Lord but I pray for strength for our family to cope.

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

This helps me on a number of levels.

Reading Working / Worked

I read a lot of books after Dad died which helped. One was "Death of a Father" but can't remember who wrote (I passed it along to someone else who needed it.)

Scrapbooking Working / Worked

I love papercrafts though right now too sick to do them.

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

I've been blessed in this area to have good support.

Support Groups Working / Worked

I found a great support group at my Mom's church that we attended for a couple of years. We met new friends that we still keep today.

Talking Working / Worked

It's very important to talk about it. Otherwise it doesn't improve.

Time Working / Worked

Each birthday, anniversary, holiday is a little easier to cope. I learned to deal with it over time.