UPDATE ON LOW DOSE NALTREXONE

New study.

Old pills.

Can we tell the difference.

I wrote about low dose Naltrexone for the use of pain management in Fibromyalgia back in 2010. Stanford University was just preparing for a study on them. I didn't keep track of the study but, I guess, it's winding up and they are publishing results.

Low Dose Naltrexone is an anti-addiction drug but in low doses it acts differently. It has been prescribed off label for Fibromyalgia for the past few years. It is FDA approved, in low doses, for helping those with autoimmune diseases and central nervous system disorders.

Bingo.

On the home page of Low Dose Naltrexone is is suggested that people with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia are helped suggesting that "these entities probably have an important autoimmune dynamic as well." On the page where it outlines the diseases it helps, under other autoimmune diseases, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue are listed as well.

Is there hope on the horizon??

Yes, it is most definitely a central nervous system disorder and I also believe it is an autoimmune disorder of that central nervous system. Anyone who was prescribed Low Dose Naltrexone and had an autoimmune disorder, none failed to respond and in many patients there was a MARKED remission in signs and symptoms.

Are there side effects?

Contrary to what I found before, the home page says there are virtually no side effects but there are cautionary warnings. For example, for me, I'd have to start out on the lowest possible dose because I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. If I took a large dose there is such a marked improvement that I could swing over to hyperthyroidism very quickly, so I have to be careful.

Plus, if you are already dependent on opioid for pain management, you'd have to be off those for a few weeks before starting the Naltrexone. That, in itself, poses a problem. If you're on opioid for pain being off them for a few weeks is just more than deciding to stop them. Stopping pain medication suddenly can throw you're body into a real tailspin and this needs to be done under the supervision of a medical doctor. Not to mention that being off them will cause some of us to curl up in the fetal position and feel like we want to die.

There is some possibilities here but I think that we need to put it on the balance bar and weigh the benefits as opposed to the side effects. Other sites state that the list of side effects includes, dizziness, headache, nervousness, insomnia, fatigue, joint pain and excessive muscle contraction. These side effects are what I experience on a daily basis so how would I know if it helps?

The problem with a drug that promotes itself as a cure-all for every autoimmune disease is a little suspect, in my opinion. How can one drug help so many diseases that have different causes and symptoms? 

Increasing immune activity doesn't always mean that it's helping the immune system.

In fact, couldn't that make it worse?

On the other hand, big pharma aren't real interested in a drug that will make them no money. Naltrexone isn't real expensive and clinical trials are initiated by the drug companies. Why do it for a drug that is already out there and no big profits?

I think it bears watching.

Whatever it is we will be caught in the crossfire.

Big Pharma can't make money, so it's no go.

Doctors don't believe it, so it's no go.

When do we get a chance to say what we want?

QUESTIONS BUT NO ANSWERS.....YET

So, what is it?

Will they ever know?

Or do I just continue to question?

I'm really sick of going to doctors. I guess what I mean to say is that I'm sick of feeling so lousy that I have no choice but to go to the doctor. I have to say one thing. I do have a great doctor. He's very curious and he believes me when I tell him that I feel lousy. This, however, means going for more blood tests.

Do I have any blood left?

After 18 vials...........

Evidently, my thyroid is still borderline. The autoimmune thyroiditis is in full force. Plus, the thyroglobulin ab is very high. They found a nodule in my thyroid. So now I have to go through another ultrasound and then if it's growing there's another fun test. I've been through a few of them already and the nodules just keep getting bigger. Tomorrow, if it has grown again I get to move up in the ranks of testing. What test? A biopsy. If that happens I think I'd actually be relieved. At least then I'd know why I feel the way I do. 

The problem is the symptoms are so intertwined.

I don't know if it's the thyroid or the Fibromyalgia. 

The fatigue is overpowering. I won't even count the pain because that is always with me. It's just that my hands have hurt more than usual. I don't think its the Fibro because I just feel so..........

Different.

I asked her why I can't lose weight. She stated I need to eat less calories. I told her that at, at best, I eat between 1200 and 1500 calories a day. Her advice? Go down to about 700. Do you believe that one????? She's a doctor????

I'm just tired of blood work being out of range and the endocrinologist shrugs her shoulders. 

If the nodule has grown again and nothing is done....

If she shrugs her shoulders again............

I'm going to another doctor.

Pronto.

THE MUSCLE REBELLION OF 2015

Oh, what a beautiful morning!

Oh, what a beautiful day!

I've got a wonderful feeling....

blah, blah, blah....

What a crock.

First of all, I've never been a morning person. Ever. My body just isn't set up that way. When I say that I walk into walls, I mean it.  As long as I can remember I've loved to stay up late, sleep late and  I tend to do my best thinking late in the evening.   However, as I entered the work force I gradually re-adjusted my body clock. My dream schedule would have been actually adding hours to the day because there never seemed to be enough. Yep, I was on hyper-drive. 

Past tense.

About 90% of the people with Fibromyalgia experience muscle stiffness in the morning. The stiffness can occur in your muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints throughout your body. I know that it takes about 15 minutes before my feet can hit the floor, There are times that it's much longer.  My back, hands, arms, legs and feet feel like the Tin Man without his oil can. It takes some time to get body parts moving. Every muscle in my body is screaming and they aren't screaming that they love me. 

The muscle rebellion is in full force.

Actually this doesn't just occur in the morning. If I sit down or have any period of time when I'm not moving, the stiffness and muscle pain hits. Sometimes I can't even walk for a few minutes because of the pain.  I feel like an old woman trying to get up and move. I probably creak too. 

The package just keeps looking better and better.

It's interesting how the pain fluctuates and radiates. The stiffness is bad in the morning and then gradually improves in the afternoon. Then it starts to return in the evening accompanied by muscles spasms. Throw in a little fatigue and insomnia and there you have my day. I spend a lot of time in the jetted tub because the swirling water helps the pain. Some days there isn't a place on my body that doesn't hurt. 

Well, I exaggerate..........maybe my eyebrows don't hurt.

All I seem to do lately is live in management mode. 

And I'm not doing a real good job of it.

Like I said.

Beautiful morning?

What a crock.

BABY, IT'S COLD INSIDE

Localized or whole body?

Freezing or sub-freezing temperatures?

Are you in?

Think for a minute. You are ready to get into a chamber to expose your body to temperatures of up to minus 250 degrees. You only wear gym attire and are given gloves for your hands and a headband for your ears. You also get a covering for your mouth.

You are supposedly safe to walk into the chamber and stay there a few minutes.

Can I say, "hell no," right now?

Hell would have to freeze over.

I've become a wimp in cold weather. I have to say that I like it much better than the weather in the summer. Temperatures in Las Vegas reach up to 115 (or greater) and you can fry that egg outside. I hate the extreme heat and I hate the cold too. I don't think I'd be up for this.

To top it all off there is a warm up process and you have cardio exercise for ten minutes to bring fresh blood into the muscles and to release the stagnant blood. See, this is where they lose me. Blood doesn't just hang around in your body. It is constantly pumped by the heart. Stagnant blood? Anyway, back to the cardio. I envision a warm up period with a warm body massage with heated oil. I have to exercise and sweat??

I'm not surprised that there have been reports of frostbite. Any moisture on your body would automatically freeze. I'm also not surprised that there are conditions that shouldn't use cryotherapy. High blood pressure, heart disease are a couple of them. I don't know about you but my blood pressure would be sky high just standing and waiting to go into the chamber!

Cryotherapy has been used in pain management for quite some time. You can freeze and deaden irritated nerves and it's also used to freeze abnormal skin cells. I understand this. It's done by physicians in a doctors office or surgery centers. 

It's stated that it helps with inflammation and chronic pain. It boosts metabolism and helps with joint pain. It improves circulation and sleep. 

Whoa.....wait just a minute.....it helps with weight loss?

That could be a game changer.....

I know that this type of therapy has been used for athletes for years. I can honestly say that i don't know if I'd try this. 

I understand it but.......

I just don't know.

Has hell frozen over?

Here is some great information:  Three levels of Cryotherapy